Do you want to promote and sell your crafts on Instagram? Or maybe you’re already doing it – but with poor results? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, I have something special for you today. I invite you to a guest post prepared by Gosia Firkowska from the account @dreamingyarn . Gosia will talk about the most common mistakes related to selling crafts on Instagram and how to avoid them. Enjoy!
If you are interested in selling handmade products – and not only – on Instagram, I think this article is for you. Why? Often, we unconsciously make mistakes that we don’t even see – sometimes it takes a different perspective. The comments I’m listing apply to all people who want to sell/promote on Instagram – but the whole thing was written with handmade products and their businesses in mind.
Instagram seems to be the perfect place to present your products and the whole process of creating a given thing – the so-called backstage. Even the biggest brands present their products on Instagram. However, in the case of handicrafts, I have noticed that selling is a bit of a taboo subject. So if you offer – or want to start – your work via Instagram – read this article and come out of the shadows!
1. Reason: Why do you want to sell your handmade items?
The first question you need 10 website ideas to create in 2025: discover types of institutional websites to ask yourself is why? Maybe the basic mistake is that you are doing it for the wrong reason and therefore without commitment. If you want to sell your handicrafts because:
Consider whether selling is the only solution. If you don’t know what to do with your work, you can give it to charity, for example.
However, if you want to sell your handicrafts because you love your passion, because you want to make a living from it, because it’s your dream – ACT! I’m not saying that you should immediately quit your job and jump into the deep end – but approach the subject seriously – and not on the principle of “whatever will be, will be”. Here it’s not enough to create something, take a photo, upload to Insta and magic will happen – unfortunately it’s a lot of additional work beyond the creation itself.
2. Unclear message, i.e. lack of information about sales
>>I often see photos of aI has the power to enhance wonderful projects, and in the description: “I recently made such a hat/sweater/bracelet – it’s looking for a new home. Now I can make coffee and admire it.” What does “looking for a new home” mean? Do you want to give it to someone? Or sell it? I’ll let you in on a secret – it’s better to tell your followers directly what you offer and what you expect, then we will avoid many misunderstandings. So next time, instead of describing your day, the weather or saying what you dreamed of under the photo of the product you offer, write directly – “I WILL SELL/MAKE TO ORDER! Write to me”
Selling handmade items on Instagram
3. Description under the whatsapp database brazil photo about everything but the product itself
Instead of a product, we talk about coffee, flowers and sunshine. When we show a given item that we offer, let’s not be afraid to write a few words about it. What was it made of? How long did it take us? If it’s clothing – can I order it in a different size? Is it possible to order something similar – because in handicraft we never have two identical things – but in a different color? I understand that our followers want to read about more than just that and of course I encourage you to write about yourself. Nothing encourages you to support someone’s business like a seller-buyer bond. However, if someone outside of your followers comes across such a photo and finds in the description only “have a nice day! Have you had your coffee yet?” – they may be discouraged from looking for further information. Then add at least the message at the end “you can order the product from the photo from me, you can find more information in “BIO”. And so we move on to the next matter, which is…
4. What? Where? How? That is, no information about the purchasing process
Very often there is no information anywhere that you sell, and even less so how can you order anything. Regardless of whether you have to write a private message, go to Facebook, go to the website where you have an online store – write about it in your BIO, remind in posts and on InstaStory. And note: once is not enough – new people come every now and then or simply not everyone (like us) is on Instagram 24/7 and could simply have missed how you talked about it. Have this information in your BIO or as a pinned story and refer your followers there from time to time.
