Smart Marketing.

My philosophy for marketing is about bringing it back to basics. For instance, instead of beating yourself over your head for weeks, making sure your site and descriptions are SEO “perfect”, that time could’ve been spent, designing some flyers, postcards and making visits to local businesses that your target market frequents, getting to know the owners and asking if you can place your marketing or maybe even your products! This is time MUCH better spent. You are getting a better quality of potential buyers. I believe this is the best way for crafters and artists to market, locally and specifically to your target market. If you think about it, it makes so much sense. The crafting community is by and large, very friendly and down to earth. The vibe of the crafting world is one of community and small town charm. Even with the internet, we love local craft fairs and flock to them. Flea markets have never been bigger. The crafting community has a more “homespun” feel to it and we like it that way! A lot of my marketing is centered on this belief.

A recent thread on Etsy was really interesting to read and I think you guys should all read it and take notes! Here is the link…http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6591674&page=1

This is something I say over and over in my marketing….get to your target market! Get specific! Beyond that, I also encourage local marketing….your community is full of potential customers who would LOVE to support their local economy. In fact, you not marketing to them is stopping them from putting their money back into their local economy. That’s not very nice, now is it? :-)

Work smarter…not harder! Use local business to reach your target market, get to know your community business owners, encourage bartering and cross promoting and the sales will come!