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Making Money Marketing Your Crafts
By Natalie Goyette
Your marketing materials are a valuable and necessary part of
your craft business. They create a consistent and professional
image that causes an initial as well as lasting impression of
both you and your craft creation. If you've ever heard the term
"branding," you'll understand the need to create a look that is
your business identity. You may need to hire a graphic designer
to create a logo and typestyle for your business name. Once you
have your look, use it everywhere¡ªon your stationery, business
cards, brochures, displays, hangtags and anything that has to do
with your business.
Most crafters know that their most critical marketing piece is
their hangtag or price tag as sometimes, that's all your
customer has to remember you or contact you again. A
well-designed hangtag can add considerable value to your work.
You can use it to describe your craft and its process, how to
care for the item, any guarantee you offer and how to contact
you. If your crafts do not lend themselves to a sizeable tag,
create postcards or brochures to give to customers with all this
pertinent information. You may even want to offer a postcard,
brochure or well-designed, informative business card to everyone
who stops at your booth, whether or not they purchase anything.
If you have enough items for a catalog, make sure to have enough
catalogs on hand at every show. Just because you don't sell to
everyone who stops by, doesn't mean you can't make a future
customer out of them. You do that with your marketing materials.
Another common marketing tool is a monthly newsletter¡ªeither
mailed through e-mail or snail mail¡ªso if you've created one,
have sample issues at your booth. In addition to a monthly or
even quarterly newsletter, some professional craftspeople mail
postcards to past clients with their upcoming show schedule. You
can offer a 10% discount on the postcard if they bring it to the
next show. That way you can see if the postcards were effective.
Also have a guest book, sign up sheet or entry form (for a
drawing) to capture names and e-mail (or snail mail) addresses
from as many people as possible. Consider having a portfolio of
your work at your booth if you don't have your full line with
you.
If you belong to a local craft organization, the benefits of
sharing knowledge and maybe even the cost of hiring professional
will ease your budget and learning curve as you embark upon the
craft business full time. And now that you are indeed in
business, you're ready to seek out the right shows¡
About the Author
Natalie Goyette is the best selling author of Craft Show Success. Her e-book shows you how you can finally make money at craft shows.
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/19538.html
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