Skills to Thrive with a Handmade Biz

Happy New Year 2018 to all!

The first thing I do as the new year comes in, is to start writing my plans and goals. Have you written yours yet? It is not enough to think about them in your mind, you need to WRITE THEM DOWN! They become more achievable once you see them on paper - or on a screen. Plans need to be clear and specific, and with a deadline. Read your goals often, do something everyday that takes you closer to your dreams, and then watch as the magic happens!

Today I want to dedicate this post to those who are planning to take their handmade business to a new level and start selling online. Ok, so here we go! First lesson:

To succeed (and thrive) in your crafts business, you cannot be just a crafter! You will need to be also: an entrepreneur, a strategist, a designer, a marketer, a photographer, an accountant, a coach, an investor, a planner, an administrator, etc, etc…

The amount of work involved in running an online business is far more that you could possible anticipate. But dont worry, it is not that overwhelming once you get used to the system, and you will find joy and satisfaction in all the duties once you see your sales rolling in!

Here is a quick list of the skills you need to get confident with:

* Photography

The number one key for having a successful online store is your imagery. Just think of when you are buying something online... among a page full of similar products, don't you feel automatically more inclined to click on the item with the most beautiful picture? The importance of photos is crucial. You might want to invest in some photographic tools, and you will most definitely need to get familiar with some computer programme to edit your photos. Learning how to make a video might also be something you want to look into!

* SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

A good SEO incorporated in your online store or website, will allow you to be found on the world wide web. The internet is a universe on its own, so unless you work on your SEO, it will be lost in an infinite maze of other sites. The technique to learn SEO is quite easy, but it must be done well, regularly and consistently.  

* Copy Writing

It is also important that your website and social media posts have good content. The art of writing is what keeps a potential client on your site, and a few additional minutes may very well convert into a sale. Your product descriptions need to be informative as well as a carefully crafted sales pitch.

* Social Media Marketing

Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, these are all platforms that will boost your online presence for free! You do not need to have all of them, perhaps one or two will suffice at the beginning. But once you start using them you need to be regular and consistent with your posts and interactions.

* Branding

The importance of branding in today's competitive world cannot be emphasized enough. Clients need to recognize you and your products and remember you with a unique branding. Branding increases the value of your handmade biz and with it you can start building a company with a reputation and loyal customers.

* Finding your niche

We are all sick and tired of receiving advertising material that we do not care about. But if I am expecting a child and I receive a leaflet of essential baby items, I would be very interested! Finding your niche is about finding your target market and advertising directly to the people who are, or will soon be, interested in your product. 

* Accountancy

It is true that accounts is not everyone's cup of tea, but with an online business, you become a sole trader and therefore you will need to do some of it. Depending on your sales and profit, you may need to declare it in your tax returns and to the VAT Department. If you do international sales, you need to understand how to disclose these sales. 

* Customer Service

Great customer service is essential! If your customers are happy, they are very likely to return and spread the word; and return customers and word of mouth are very precious for a handmade business. It is important to learn how to deal with difficult customers in a professional way. An unhappy client can do a lot of damage, unfortunately, so always strive for a 5 star review!

There are several other methods that you can use to help you grow your online business. A blog, for example, is a great free tool. There are apps that help you remember when to post on social media. There are sites that tell you which are the most important holidays in each country, something you might want to check out if you are planning international sales (For example, mother's day is on different dates in different countries). 

It is natural that you feel overwhelmed in the beginning. Some of these terms might be new and sound scary to some of you. But I promise you that it will all get easier as you go along!

Inside my new project, 'Create and Thrive', you will find help with all of the above subjects and much more. 'Create and Thrive' is meant to be a Community for all of us, handmade sellers, who want to take our craft to a profitable and pleasurable business. Within this community, we will not only learn how to succeed and make sales, but we will learn together in a fun and friendly environment! 

And that is one of my main goals for 2018 :)