Handicrafts or handmade products are not only a way to kill time or a creative hobby, but also – increasingly often – a more or less profitable business.
Do you sell your handmade items on Instagram? If so, I think you might be interested in this guest post by Ania Begierska.
Every craftsman will probably set up an Instagram account sooner or later. And that’s great! It’s the perfect place to reach customers and show and sell your products. And I know what I’m talking about – for over a year I’ve been running an Instagram profile @polscy_tworcy_rekodziela , where I share the work of artists and I love watching their brands develop! However, the downside to the popularity of this platform is that without a good plan and strategy, it’s easy to disappear among other, beautiful works.
When photos alone aren’t everything Artisans collaboration
On Instagram, it’s not your website appears, but no one clicks? enough to “be there”. If you think you’ll set up an account and your handmade brand will simply start growing, you might get disappointed and, as a result, easily discouraged. Few comments or followers can lead to frustration at some point, especially if you think you’ve tried all the ideas without any effect and you nervously watch as the “competition” sends more packages.
So how do you reach the customers who will be queuing up for your handmade wonders? There’s a lot of talk about building relationships with your customers on Instagram. And you’ll probably agree – without proper communication with your audience, it’s hard to build a strong relationship with your audience.
Competition – think about it differently
Customers are of course by analyzing the results the driving force of a craft business and it is worth focusing on them. But what if you went a step further and started building relationships with craftsmen as well – those who you could theoretically consider your competition? You are probably thinking that it is impossible… Not at all!
As I wrote earlier, I run an account promoting Polish craftsmen. And you know what? I increasingly observe how craftsmen stop being competitors and start cooperating and appreciating each other. You may be worried that such actions will “take away” your customers, who will choose others instead of you, but let’s be honest – if your brand is authentic and your work is unique and refined in every piece, you will certainly find a place for yourself in the craft market.
The cooperation with craftsmen can look different and it is up to you what form suits you best – you can create a completely new product with a craftsman who creates using a different technique or work on a joint project with someone who does the same thing as you. You can also simply support someone you admire. If you have any doubts, I will be happy to give you specific examples of such activities.
Appreciate and appreciate again!
Let’s start with the whatsapp database brazil simplest part, which is appreciating other creators. Of course, this doesn’t mean writing random comments under every photo. Such actions can look unnatural and even spammy.
But look at it differently. You definitely have your favorite brands. There are probably craftsmen you admire or those who inspire you. Or maybe someone is selling a great guide or running a cool YT channel with tutorials? Show it on your profile! You can mention someone by tagging them in a post or tell them about it in your Instastory. This is the perfect place for such recommendations, and these actions can make them more willing to recommend you.
One step forward Artisans collaboration
Now let’s move on to the next thing you can think about doing that’s cool for your brand – partner up! The idea is that you can create a completely new product with another craftsman. Something that will have even more value to your customer.
You might ask – why do this? Precisely to reach new people and increase their awareness of your brand. I recently saw beautiful dresses for children sewn by one craftswoman, which were complemented by collars crocheted by another. The result was a beautiful and unique garment that combined two techniques. Simple, right?
