If you have a home based business you have
many types of options for creating success or failure.
Selling at craft shows, on the Internet or through
your own website, you need to ask yourself...how do
I "see" my business? Is it as a hobby or a full fledged
business?
Do you want to earn a regular income or just some
part time extra money?
Do you want to become known in your field, or are you happy
just creating and enjoying your creations yourself?
Whether it be jewelry, candles, crafts, sewing,
painting, rubberstamping and so many other craft venues,
you need to ask yourself the above questions BEFORE you
deem yourself a failure. Most likely you have NOT given it
your best effort. Notice I said failure, not success. We always
go to the negative when things go wrong, but through failure
comes success!
Do you approach people and strike up a conversation
and leave them with your business card?
Do you even have a business card?
If you do craft shows, do you have printed a list
of shows where you are displaying your wares. A show is
a great marketing opportunity to show others exactly
what your home based business is about and a way to
make some money. Start small and ease yourself into
the bigger and more expensive shows.
To promote oneself is not bragging. It's saying, " Hey, I
have a business and a product that might be of interest
to you.
How much time do you devote to promoting your business?
You should be spending at least 2 days per week, every week.
My time in my studio is precious and when I'm creating, I
give it my full attention. When I am at my computer, I am
promoting my business. I spend at least 2 hours every day
in active promotion which includes updating my 5 sites
and writing articles of interest.
Chatting on forum boards is not considered promoting
your work, unless, of course, you are selling items that
would be needed by the forum readers. You need to
venture out into areas that you are not familiar. Visit other
forums and see if you can help anyone with what you know.
Make your answers helpful and then include a signature
at the end, if permitted, which links to your website. You will receive
a lot of hits and notice an increase in revenue.
Create a newsletter so those interested can join. Send them
an email when you list new items or have listed a new auction.
Gather email addresses of those that have bought from you
before, and send them a link to your website when new items
are listed. Soon you will have a mailing list in the hundreds.
Make up color postcards about 1,000 which including a color image
of one of your best pieces which represent your work. On the
back of the card, print up dates of the shows you will be attending,
your address of your website and also include your mailing
address and telephone number.
Distribute them everywhere. Leave stacks of them at the library,
small gift shops, post office, and just consider this method one way
of marketing yourself.
Stay in touch with your customers. Let them know what is going
on. Create a news press release and send it to the editor of your newspaper.
People love to watch other people and see how they are progressing.
It's your career, make it your best effort...unless it's just your hobby!
Then just have fun!