Promoting your Handmade Products
As much as I’d like to think that Try Handmade can do it all, there are additional ways you can promote what you make with your own hands. Below are some resources I’ve collected for you. I’m constantly adding to this list, and if you have any additions you’d like to submit for inclusion, just let me know.
Promote your work on Try Handmade
- Advertise in the sidebar of the entire network.
- Add your work to the Try Handmade Gallery.
- Complete a DIY Interview.
- Upload photos it In My Workspace.
- Leave comments anywhere on the network and you’ll get listed in the ‘Commenters’ section in the footer.
Resources
Learn, network, promote.
- Cool Mom Picks :: A blog which really appreciates the handmade and features the best for kids and parents. Submit your work.
- Craftster :: A social network for sharing your works in progress and getting advice about future projects.
- Cafe Handmade Lounge :: A social network to connect those who love to buy handmade with those that love to create handmade.
- Plumdrop :: Forum for sellers from any venue.
- Handmadeology :: Learn about selling online with tutorials geared to specific venues.
- indiepublic :: A social network for indie designers and artists.
- American Craft Guide Community :: A social network for supporters of all things handcrafted.
- Crafty Crafty :: Tutorials and inspiration.
- Modish BIZtips :: Bright ideas for your creative business.
- ByHand.Me :: A social network just for those who make handmade.
- Handmade in PA :: A regional promotional site for artisans in Pennsylvania, US.
- Promote your Etsy Shop :: A great set of tips that anyone can use.
- Get Crafty :: Home of the craftistas.
- How do I get myself out there? :: Advice for promoting your work.
- Craft Recipes :: Social network for crafters.
- The Switchboards :: Network for creative women.
- Most of the below Venues also have forum areas where you can connect with others.
Venues
Sell your wares.
| per month | per listing | per sale | forum? | payments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 Markets “independent, small scale artisanal businesses” » |
- | - | 5.5% + 50¢ | yes | Amazon |
| Amazon nearly anything » |
$39.99 | - | varies | ? | Amazon |
| artbreak art » |
- | - | 7.5% | - | PayPal |
| ArtFire handmade, fine art, design, media, supplies, vintage » |
$12 | - | - | yes | PayPal, Google Checkout, Revolution Money Exchange, Check, Money Order, and ‘other’ |
| Crobbies handmade |
- | - | 3% | yes | PayPal |
| DaWanda (English) “unique, handmade and customizable products” » |
- | - | 5% | yes | PayPal |
| Etsy handmade, supplies, vintage » |
- | 20¢ | 3.5% | yes | PayPal |
| Folksy handmade, supplies, indie » |
- | 20p | 5% | yes | PayPal |
| FuzzB | I do not recommend you use FuzzB. Here’s why. They did the same thing to me and the site is still up. They also blocked my IP address so (they think) I can’t see what they’ve done. They’re not people I can recommend you give your hard-earned money to. | ||||
| Made It Myself handmade » |
free during beta period | yes | PayPal, Check, Money Order | ||
| per month | per listing | per sale | forum? | payments | |
| iCraft handmade art, craft, fashion » |
$25 CAD setup fee, then 0 – $15 CAD | - | - | yes | PayPal |
| Ruby Lane art, craft, vintage » |
$75 setup fee, then 30¢ / month / item. details | no | PayPal | ||
| Shop Handmade handmade » |
free during beta period – ads will appear in your store | no | PayPal | ||
| Silkfair nearly anything » |
- | - | 3% | yes | PayPal, GoogleCheckout |
| Smashing Darling independent fashion » |
- | - | 18% | no | direct bank deposit |
| Soleyne art » |
- | - | 3.5% | no | PayPal |
| WinkElf handmade and more » |
0 – $5 | 0 – 25¢ | 25¢ – 2.5% | yes | PayPal, GoogleCheckout, 2CheckOut, Authorize.Net, WorldPay, NoChex, Ikobo and Protx |
| Zibbet fine art and handmade » |
- | - | 7.5% | no | PayPal |
| (Fees in USD unless otherwise noted.) | |||||
… or set up a store on your own web site. You don’t get the built-in audience of the above choices, but you get complete flexibility and autonomy.
First you need to buy a domain, then choose what you will use to create your store:
- Amazon
- E-junkie
- PayPal
- Shopify
- BigCartel
- CubeCart
- Ebay
- OSCommerce
- Prostores
- Shopify
- Yahoo
- Zen Cart
- Google Checkout
- eShop WordPress Plugin
- e-Commerce WordPress Plugin
- Quick.Cart
- Virtue Mart
- 1ShoppingCart
- 3DCart
- Agora Cart
- Avactis
- AWD Commerce
- CRE Loaded
- CS Cart
- eCRATER
- FatFreeCart
- FoxyCart
- Interspire
- K eCommerce
- Magento
- Merchandizer
- Miva Merchant
- Network Solutions
- PrestaShop
- ShopSite
- StoreFront
- StoreSprite
- Ubercart
- Volusion
- VP Ð ASP
- WebmasterCart
- X-Cart
Showcases
Promote your existing store through these gallery-like sites.
Supplies on Sale
Discounts, coupons and deals. (Contact me if any of these expire.)
- Artbeads :: free shipping, no minimum order :: weekly specials.
- Create for Less :: closeout / clearance :: weekly specials.
- Dick Blick :: weekly specials.
- Fabric.com :: clearance / closeout ::deal of the day.
- JoAnn :: closeout / clearance ::weekly specials.
- Mr. Art :: 75% off.
- Free business cards, rubber stamps, postcards, and more :: You only pay for shipping. I’ve done this a bunch of times, and where they really “get” you is that the cheapest shipping is really, really slow. Tip: just order early, be patient, and you’ll get a really great deal.
Now what?
Did I get it or did I miss the mark? Let me know what kind of information you’d like to find here, and I’ll see what I can do.
How to spread the word about this page: (thanks :)
