After being a part of the handmade market for a few years I can honestly say that social media was the best and cheapest way to promote my items. It's free exposure! This article does not agree with me, however. "While it can make a huge impact on your sales if done correctly, by no means do you need to feel like you have to participate." Although the article may be outdated (the date is not available) I feel it is almost a crime to have this statement visible on the web today. Social media is absolutely necessary in any business marketplace these days, especially the handmade marketplace where marketing funds aren't as available as most would like.
Etsy is a website that allows people to sell handmade, vintage, and craft supplies for a very fair fee (and it is so easy to use even Grandma can do it!). This article explains just how much impact Etsy has had on the Internet. According to the article Etsy has 1.29 BILLION page views in a single month (May 2012).
This article discusses the use of social media and Etsy. In the article the author raves about how social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have grown their customer base and made connecting with their customers easy.
The article found here discusses how handmade sellers can boost sales and increase search engine optimization through social media.
To produce excellent search results, website owners have turned to people-powered social media as a platform to market their site. There is a noticeable connection between social media and an increase in rank in search engines."
Now that we have established that social media is an important tool in the handmade marketplace let's take a look at how it can be used. I am constantly trolling the internet for tips on how to promote and expand an Etsy shop. Although my shop is currently closed, I am really hoping to reopen it after graduation. This article has been the most informational and detailed. It goes into the difference between broadcast marketing and engagement marketing and how the use of social media is perfect for engaging customers.
Here is my home made screencast of a few Etsy shop owners' use of social media.
I feel that the future between the handmade marketplace and social media is long and bright and quite possibly forever. Facebook and Twitter aren't the only social networks people are using to promote. Pinterest and Instagram have made promoting one's shop easier as well. I definitely foresee Pinterest being a huge force behind the handmade movement.
*I highly encourage everyone to buy handmade. It supports our local economies and is eco-friendly. A handmade gift is always a great idea even if it's handmade by someone else. Thanks for reading!
