Being A Work At Home Mom (WAHM) Is A 24/7 Job

You already created your own website and yet you got only a few hits. Maybe you are thinking how you can get more clients to buy your items if people barely visit your website. Finding your target customers to buy your creations online is not a hard thing to do. There are so many ways on how you can promote your site without spending any cent.

CRAFT SITES: Visit other craft sites and try to add them up on your page. You may also try to exchange links with them. In this way, other people who visit their sites can also see your link and might try to visit your site too. They might not find what they are looking for on your site but who knows? After seeing your beautiful handmade crafts, they would get one.

CRAFT FORUMS: Join forums for crafters. Having some time to mingle and interact with fellow crafters will not only help you to promote your site but to learn lots of things from the experienced people who are in that business for years now. Use your URL as your signature so that other crafters can visit your site. Caftster, Craftzine and Whip-up are some of the forums that you can join for free.

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES: Take advantage of social networking sites. Use these sites on promoting your items. You do not have to make a new account on Facebook or twitter to do so. Post a shout-out inviting your friends to check your latest creations on your online shop as well as the freebies that they can get. You can also post some of the photos of your creations. Update your followers on twitter by informing them that you have items on sale. Your relatives and friends will surely glad to visit your site to find out for it.

CLASSIFIED AD SITES: Look for free classified ad sites where you can post advertisements on promoting your crafts. You can buy, sell, share and publish all things that are arts and crafts related. Some free ad sites are www.adsubmitter.net and www.soqoo.com.

EBAY AND ETSY: You can sell your handcrafted items at any of these sites by posting some of the pictures of your creations. People around the globe might see your items and there is a big chance of getting more sales. These shopping websites offer several types of auction.

You do not have to spend a lot just to promote your website. All you need is strategy and technology to make things work.

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In starting an online business, it is not that easy to find customers. Nobody knows you exist. That is why promoting your business should be done often. You should never get tired of it even no one pays attention to every posting you make. Many successful online entrepreneurs started the same way you did. If you want to be as successful as them, all you have to do is to invest a lot of hard work into it. Think of ways, techniques and strategies to market your business.

In order to make sure that your online clients will visit your site again, have things in mind that will surely increase the possibility of getting them back. Do something to make your customers feel they are also part of your business.

You can earn your customers loyalty to your business by doing the following:

1. GIVE A LOYALTY PROGRAM. Have you ever had a VIP card from any establishment? Have you experienced getting another item for FREE? Many establishments have this kind of program to make sure that they will not lose their clients. It’s their way of holding and keeping them as their loyal buyers. If you want to maintain a good relationship with your customers, you have to show them that they are being valued.

2. KEEP IN TOUCH. Do not forget to email or call your clients. A simple “Hi” and “Hello” would mean a lot to them. Send them greetings during holiday season or update them with any promotional offers and new items available in your online craft shop. You can also thank them for their business with you. These simple things can make your customers feel appreciated.

3. GET FEEDBACKS. Your clients’ opinions are very important in the growth of your business. Ask them how did your services go? Let them give feedbacks or comments, even if it is negative. Through negative feedbacks, you can improve the quality of your services and products. By engaging your clients in the growth of your business, they will feel their importance to your company.

4. REWARDS. If a previous client referred or recommended you to a friend, thank them by sending something that will show how you appreciate it. You can also give discounts to their next business with you. Always ask your clients where they learned about you. If you maintain a good relationship with your clients, they will surely make another transaction or business with you.

5. FREEBIES. Surprise your former clients with something that will surely put a smile on their face and make their day great. You can give them some items for no reason. This act will create a lasting impression to their minds.

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Facebook is the place for many people to connect and network. This is where we keep in touch and stay up to date with our relatives and friends. But it has also become another avenue for other businesses to promote their products for free.

In creating a Fan Page on Facebook, you will definitely attract more customers to patronize your creations. These customers might be your relatives or friends or other people connected to your network. Promoting your site as well as your crafts will not be a problem anymore.

Follow these simple steps to start your own Arts and Crafts Fan Page.

1. Log-in to your Facebook account. Click the word “Advertising” at the bottom of your page.

2. Click the word “Pages” next to the word Advertising.

3. Click the green button “Create a Page”.

4. Create the category and write your company name on your fan page then hit the “Create Page” button.

5. Complete all the necessary details you want to include in your fan page account.

6. Upload the logo of your arts and crafts business as your primary photo.

7. Click “Publish” so that it will become visible in public.

8. Under the primary photo of your Fan Page, click “Suggest to Friends” to have fans and choose all your friends in your account.

9. Don’t forget to be a fan of your own Fan Page to become the administrator.

You can start creating an album for different arts and crafts creations you made. Once your friends become your fans, all of the photos you uploaded will be seen by your friends. Make sure you keep them posted by sharing promos, freebies or discounts you are giving away by purchasing your creations.

There is also one way of gaining more fans in your Fan Page. It is by tagging each of your friends in the photo you posted for an album. The maximum number of friends you can tag per picture is 50. By tagging your friends, the photos you uploaded will become visible to the wall of their friends who can also check the album and be a fan of your Fan Page.

Always visit your Fan Page and respond immediately to comments posted by your fans. Do not forget to acknowledge your friends and relatives for becoming a fan of the page you created. Asking your fans for feedback will be a great way to make them feel they are connected with your online business.

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You already decided what arts and crafts you are going to make and sell. Now the next thing is how to find the best and right supplies and suppliers. Without these, your business will be in big trouble. Search for the possible suppliers where you can get your supplies at the right price. Starting and running a craft business online is not that easy. It entails a lot of planning and preparation. If you want to succeed in this kind of venture, here are some things that you should do to make your business profitable.

• Hunt for suppliers. Go store hopping. Search for all the possible suppliers that can supply you everything you need. It should be a one-stop-shop where all the things you needed for every arts and crafts project are available. Always compare prices but do not settle for less.

• Once you find a supplier that offer great deals and special sales, get his calling card and include him in your list. Look again for another low-cost supplier. It is better to have a good number of suppliers on hand where you can get your supplies. Prices of materials change from time to time as well as the availability of the things you needed for your business.

• Look for potential suppliers in craft books and magazines or even online. These resources have numerous suggestions of where you can find great deals on supplies. You do not have to leave just to find the right supplier you are looking for.

• Buy in bulk or in wholesale price. Arts and crafts supplies can be bought in low prices if you purchase in large quantity. You can a save a lot of money in doing so. Always ask for the price of each supply and the discounts given for purchasing in bulk.

• Find supplies that are on sale. Purchase these items when they are out of season. Waiting for times like this can save you up to 20% or more. You can also search for garage sale on your area to locate inexpensive craft supplies.

• Join other crafters in buying supplies at any local shop. You do not have to buy in bulk to get the supplies in affordable price. By joining other people of the same interest in buying supplies, you can save cost.

• Purchase only the supplies that you need for a certain project and use them wisely. You do not have to make a stock of your supplies for future craft projects. Remember that you have to spend wisely and cut costs.

• Ask your potential suppliers if they offer free delivery of purchased supplies. There are some shops or stores that offer free delivery of goods upon reaching the minimum amount that they require. Having your supplies delivered by suppliers lessen your problem of leaving your home or being absent from work.

• In looking for vendors and buying supplies, always keep in mind that you have to spend wisely to make your business profitable. Selling affordable items is appealing to buyers most especially in times like this.

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There are many places to sell your crafts online but the possibility to get noticed by many people around the globe is very small. Selling is not the only thing that you can do to have more customers. There are other ways to increase the number of guests visiting your site.

JOIN FORUMS AT CRAFTSTER.ORG

Craftster.org is a website for crafters around the world. Anyone who is involved in arts and crafts can join and make friends with. It is the best place to advertise and promote online products by posting comments and answering questions of other crafters there, and using the URL of your online shop as your signature. You can also post pictures of your creations for other crafters to see. Crafters that you will meet in the forum might befriend you, critique your products or give you lots of advice and ideas to help you succeed in your chosen craft. Be an open-minded person and accept new ideas shared by your fellow crafters.

WRITE ARTICLES FOR OTHER SITES

Share your knowledge and ideas to everyone. You will not only help others out there, you will also earn a few bucks in doing that. You can write tutorials on making some crafts you have in your online shop. Of course, always post the URL of your online store at the end of your article to link your products or shop. Try submitting your articles at any of these sites: ehow.com, Wikipedia.org or howtodothings.com and be surprised of the great outcome.

INCLUDE CONTENT IN YOUR SITE

Writing articles for your site would surely attract guests to visit your site. Post some tutorials that can be easily followed by young and old. You can also include free downloads of templates or post video of some of your tutorials. Visitors will come and go but the visibility of your site to the public can be a great start to have possible customers. Let your clients have something to look forward to in your site. Make sure to post at least thrice a week to keep your guests updated.

PROVIDE BUSINESS CARDS

Who says you do not need one because your business is online? Anyone who has a business should provide his/her target customers a business card. Include in the card your name, contact number and the kind of business that you have. Hand it to everyone you meet and make it a habit. You will soon be delighted of the outcome.

PUT YOUR BUSINESS ON ADS

Tell the world that you are in business. If you have money to spend, have your advertisement in the local classified ads or have your name listed in the yellow pages. You can also use free websites on the web that offer free posting of advertisement. All you have to do is research.

If you want your online shop to be known on the World Wide Web, exert a lot of effort in doing so. Do not just sit there and wait for buyers. They will not come to you that easy. Hard work is the key.

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Your main objective as an online entrepreneur is to sell as many craft products as possible or reach a bigger audience as possible for your services. The more you sell, the more you will earn and vice versa. You need to have a marketing strategy that is going to boost traffic to your website. You can do this quickly by simply creating a blog.

Blogspot and Wordpress are the most popular blog sites where you can create an account for free. You do not have to spend even a single cent just to register. As soon as you create your own blog site, put all the necessary information you need to include.

Your blog should not be similar to your online website. Avoid posting as many pictures of your craft items as possible like in your website. Encourage yourself to connect more with your customers and provide them with great and necessary information and quality customer service.

Maintain your blog and update it regularly. By posting fresh topics and new ideas, you are encouraging your guest or visitors to come back again. You can talk about your interests, write descriptions about your favorite or best pieces and showcase them. Let your visitors know the crafts you have posted on your Etsy site by posting a line that would connect them from your blog to that website.

If someone comments on your blog or some of your craft items, respond back immediately. This simple act can build a connection between you and the readers which makes them more likely to buy your crafts or visit your page again. Keep in mind that establishing a good relationship with your buyers is a good way of maintaining the business you had started.

Try to reach out with your visitors. Start a discussion or a forum where you and your target clients can express ideas, craft experiences and give pieces of advice to one another. Make a contest for your visitors to join and participate. Take this opportunity to get great ideas from them when it comes to re-inventing your crafts. You can ask your guests to express their creativity in designing the craft items you have.

Keep in mind to make your blog a place where you share ideas and express opinions with other people who could be your potential clients in the future. Maintain a good relationship with each and everyone. Sooner or later, you will have a good number of clients patronizing your craft items.

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