This is a money making post by Ellie Jo.
image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-payroll-clerk-counting-money-while-sitting-at-table-4475523/
If you’ve always had a talent for craft but have only got your products as far as a school festival or local fundraiser, you could consider branching out and starting your own business. If you set up an online store you can make a little extra cash on the side. You can also become part of a wider online community and network with other crafters. It’s a great way to share your passion and showcase your amazing products. Here are a few more reasons to consider creating an online store.
Easy and cost-effective
With so many eCommerce platforms available at the moment, it couldn’t be simpler to set up a website. If you’ve been holding back because you’re not particularly tech savvy, don’t worry. You won’t need any coding skills. It’s also cost-effective to start an online store. You can set one up with just the basics and if your business begins to grow invest in more equipment such as a packaging machine and design software.
Helps you gain a competitive edge
Setting up an online store will help you gain a competitive edge. You will help to boost your brand recognition and be able to reach out to a wider audience. If you optimize your website for SEO you can ensure it gets to the top of search engine results pages and then you won’t have to rely on word-of-mouth alone. Ensure your site is user-friendly and full of plenty of engaging content. Here are a few more tips for selling handmade products online.
Retargeting opportunities
If you advertise homemade products on a marketplace platform you won’t have access to customer data unless they buy something. With your own online store you can collect customer information from those who have visited your site. You can then use this to retarget them. You can set up a retargeting ad on Facebook, for example. The products they were interested in will show up on their feed and this could help seal the deal.
Boost your social media presence
Social media is a very useful tool for networking and building trust in your brand. If you open an online store you can advertise your products on social media with a link back to your site. You can also offer discounts, promotions, and referral deals on social media. With a solid social media marketing strategy, you can help draw plenty of traffic back to your website.
Make extra cash
The best part of creating an online store is that you get to be your own boss and make some extra cash on the side. It’s important to learn to side hustle, however. Make a realistic budget for supplies and materials. This way you can figure out how much to charge for your products to make a return on investment. The important thing is to do what you love so if you have a passion for handicrafts, this is a bonus in itself. Who knows, you might also turn it into a lucrative business.
