7 Resources for Hobby to Enterprise

Hello Reader,

Since embarking on what at the time appeared to be a simple ambition, I am immersed in learning all I can for my card making craft and my fledging home business. Setting up a craft blog and an online store is essential but only the beginning of discovering you need to learn topics and skills you never imagined ever having to learn. All because you want to have a home business for your handmade products. Very soon I discovered that in order to attract potential customers I must learn about and apply lessons in photography, SEO, social media dos and donts, making comments, marketing and the more I learn, the more there is to diacover and put into practise. In this post I am sharing a personal list of some of the resources I've found useful as a craft blogger and managing an online store. It's by no means exhaustive. Are there any resources you would like to add? Let us know your recommendations in the comments section below.

1. HOW TO: Build a Community on Twitter

Here is a post I found very useful when I first joined Twitter, found on Mashable, a site where I began my education in social media.

Twitter is great for sharing blog posts, your own and others and having conversations on anything you like. The key is to follow people who share your interests or interest you. I've met and made friends with many talented people who inspire me in my work through theirs. You can search and discover people involved in your own particular area of craft and find handmade products that amaze. Twitter is where I discover great tutorials and blogposts as soon as they are posted, receive up-to-date news and more from people I follow. However I do have craft friends who are not on Twitter so it is clearly not for everyone. You may feel that you do not have time for all that tweeting and being a beginner on Twitter can be very overwhelming. Mashable is a good place to start learning about the etiquette of social media but there are other resources aimed at helping you make the most of your blog and/or online store.


2. The Etsy Seller Handbook

When I joined Etsy I was in awe of the variety of the handmade products being offered in the shops. At the time I was only thinking about opening an online store for my handmade cards and as part my research I took part in a few live sessions in the Virtual Labs. Etsy can now also be seen on their Livestream Channel. You can learn about presenting your products, join in Q and A sessions on pricing, SEO, choosing your shop name and more. Time zone differences affected the number of times I could take part. Easier to access anytime is are great written resources for new sellers. The most extensive source of written information, advice and tips for beginners and all the stages you will go through in developing your online store can be found in the above link to the Etsy Sellers Handbook.


3. The Secret to Success is Support - the SITS Girls

I've known of SITS from my early days of blogging however as they are also based on the other side of the Atlantic I didn't get involved in any of the educational events they deliver until recently. They are currently on day 7 of 31DBBB - 31 Days to Build A Better Blog which I reluctantly decided I couldn't realistically take part this time although I do read the posts. I did sign up and joined a recent SITS Class called Think Like A Marketer which ran for two weeks. I met new interesting people and got a chance to do a critical examination of my blog through as we traded comments with our fellow bloggers in the SITS community. We chatted on Twitter or in the SITS forum, sharing our thoughts on each others blogs, our goals and suggestions for possible improvements. Still working on and applying those lessons to improve my blog.

4. YouTube Craft

At the centre of your home business is the craft. Click on the link above for the crafts results of a YouTube search. Whatever you create, design and make YouTube is great for finding videos that educate and inspire. You may also be thinking about making videos in support of your own business. Watching how other craft businesses present themselves in video can encourage you to create your own visual presentation. Below are some of the crafty people I follow. You can also find my channel here and see my first attempt at a video on how to make one of my card designs.


artistnetwork

lawnfawn

MakeItCrafty



5. Folksy Shop Front

The Folksy Blog is, naturally my main resource for seller tips as this is the site on which I opened my online store. Here you will find great posts on various skills and knowledge required to make the best of your Folksy shop. There are photography tips including how to take and edit your photos to the correct proportions for the Folksy site, Google Analytic tips, SEO, writing product descriptions, using social media and more. A valuable resource and very well presented. Here are a few examples to enjoy:

SEO tips - How to grow your network

Shop Front :: Listing and Time Management

Photography tips for selling online


6. Craft Blog UK

If you've got a craft blog and you're based in the UK this is where you will be inspired, discover other great bloggers, learn some great blogging tips, discover and develop the skills and knowledge you need for starting and managing your craft business and meet some highly talented people. You can also submit your blog to the directory of UK craft blogs. I found the Craft Blog UK when I was invited to join the UK Handmade ning community. They also produce a wonderful online magazine which I spoke about in a previous post Read All About Handmade.

This week I've been learning about making use of some features in Google Friend Connect to connect better with followers of my blog. You will see a new reviews panel in my sidebar, which was added as a result of reading this post. I'm looking forward to seeing who will be the first person to use it. I've also begun creating a few questions about interests which you will be able to share with each other not just me.


7. The Academy

The Academy is an exciting education and support service for people managing a craft business. It is run by a team of talented people providing great information that will help you get to grips with marketing your business, something which I personally find very daunting. It's not just about selling and advertising though. We are learning that connecting is the most important aspect of presenting yourself and your products. Check out this post on telling your story, something I've already started working on.

I met the principal of the Academy, Isa Maria @Isa_Noisette of Noisette Marketing on Twitter. She is also the designer of my Folsky shop banner. She runs a couple of her own handmade businesses and is the mother of two small children. What motivates her is a deep love of quality handmade, the people that make them and is intent on sharing the benefits of her background in marketing. If you're struggling with marketing, pr and branding, Isa is definitely someone worth getting to know.

So what do you think of my suggestions? What resources would you recommend for guidance, inspiration and instruction for craft blogging and managing a craft business?

Thanks for reading :)