Guide for sale How to Sell Handmade Crafts Online
howtosellhandmadecrafts.com
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ARE YOU READY TO START CREATING AND SELLING YOUR HANDMADE ITEMS BUT
ARE OVERWHELMED BY THE PROCESS?
HI, I'M RICHARD WALKER AND I’VE BEEN THERE AND I CAN HELP
Here is is my journey of selling my handmade items online.
I started with the idea that I would create something, make it
myself, then start selling my creations around the world. I couldn’t
find the information I need to answer my questions so I just got
started and learned the HARD WAY. I had the misconception that I could
make some nice things, show some good photos of what I could do, then
people would let me know what they wanted me to build. WRONG! I found
out real fast that nobody was even looking at my items and when they
started to, they didn’t have ideas for custom projects, they just
wanted to purchase something that I designed.
_BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD_
I got inspired, found my unique personal style, and learned how to
come up with a lot of great designs that people would be interested
in. I then made a lot of different items in a lot of variations and
offered them up for sale.
I was in business now right? _KIND OF_
I searched around and had to _experiment_ with a lot of different
ways to sell, online marketplaces, classifieds, and my own website.
Some places worked better than others and I spent (_and wasted_) a lot
of time trying them all.
My photos were no good so I had to _stop_ and learn how to photograph
my items correctly, and then research how to set up the photography
area, and then figure out what camera to get. Taking the pictures
ended up not being difficult _but learning how to do it took a long
time_.
The photos were getting better and I had finally found a place to
sell online. Orders started coming in and I was ECSTATIC over my first
$12 sale.
_THAT WAS UNTIL I GOT READY TO SHIP IT OUT. _
I had seen what others were charging for shipping so I set similar
prices. _That’s what you have to do right?_ You can’t have higher
shipping prices than everyone else right? I bought a box, some bubble
wrap, packing peanuts, and wrapped my item up and went to ship it at
the local shipping store. Not only did I spend more on the shipping
materials than I charged the customer for shipping, but the shipping
quote was also $5 more than I had figured. Actually I didn’t figure
it, I just did what everyone else was doing and _lost money_ on that
sale.
NEW STRATEGY
I had to stop what I was doing and really learn how to ship to get
these costs down. It took a lot of trial and error, and some expensive
lessons, but I was finally able to charge reasonable flat shipping
rates and actually break even.
I created more designs, figured out how to sell internationally, and
was doing well and staying busy.
_UNTIL PEOPLE STOPPED LOOKING AT MY ITEMS._
How do you keep building up momentum and then all of a sudden start
losing views? Items that recently sold well, weren’t even getting
looked at. How does that happen?
It wasn’t the items, they were exactly the same. It was the way I
was _marketing_. I was relying on others to bring customers to me.
They stopped doing a good job and I had a major problem.
MAJOR OVERHAUL _AGAIN_
I spent weeks researching ways to do my own marketing. I tried a lot
of advertising that _did not work but cost a fortune_.
Eventually sales started coming back. This time though, I was in
control. I was not paying commissions on sales and I could track the
results of my efforts to make sure each type of advertising was
working. I also took time to figure out ways to make my items more
quickly, with higher quality, while paying much less for materials and
while saving a _ton_ on shipping.
SO WAS IT WORTH IT?
_Absolutely!_ I am glad I stuck it out. I am now able to make and
sell items that I am truly passionate about and I get to work with
some great customers that really enjoy their purchases. There is an
enormous sense of satisfaction that comes with doing what you enjoy
every day and receiving positive feedback. It is the most rewarding
thing I have ever done.
_However. _
I will say that the process took more effort and time than I had
imagined at the start, but that is because I DID NOT KNOW THE PROCESS
and COULD NOT FIND THE ANSWERS I needed without a LOT OF
EXPERIMENTATION.
_BUT THAT IS WHAT THIS BOOK IS FOR_ and I would not have been able to
write it had I not learned so much along the way.
SO HOW DOES ALL THIS HELP YOU?
Simple – Learn from my mistakes and DO THE RIGHT THINGS FROM THE
START.
_BUT WHAT IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR THINGS TO MAKE?_
GREAT! That is one of the first topics of the book.
The book goes step by step from not having an idea to ultimately
expanding your business. Everything is in a natural order. With each
chapter I outline all the options available, from the easiest and
cheapest, to the best. If there are free ways to do things, I list
them. There is no need to spend more if you don't have to. Everything
recommended is based off of actual experience. I have personally used
all the products recommended. I have done all the research and have
found ways to save money on all of the things you will need.
_WILL THIS INFORMATION APPLY TO YOUR SPECIFIC ITEMS?_
ABSOLUTELY. It does not matter what you make, you will still need to
purchase materials, figure out ways to take payments, buy shipping
materials, learn how to ship, and market your items. The ideas here
will apply to anything you decide to make and sell online.
WHAT TOPICS ARE COVERED?
* HOW TO DECIDE WHAT TO MAKE AND HOW TO COME UP WITH IDEAS
* HOW TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR ITEMS
* HOW TO PRICE YOUR ITEMS AND COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PRICING
* HOW TO TAKE BETTER PHOTOS AND WHAT YOU WILL NEED
* HOW TO DESCRIBE YOUR ITEMS PROPERLY AND WHAT TO INCLUDE
* HOW TO START ACCEPTING CUSTOM ORDERS
* WHERE TO SELL YOUR ITEMS ONLINE
* THE BASICS OF SETTING UP A WEBSITE
* HOW TO BEST COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS
* HOW TO ACCEPT PAYMENTS FOR YOUR ITEMS
* HOW TO SHIP YOUR ITEMS
* WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO INCREASE SALES
* WAYS TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS
At the end is also a RESOURCE PAGE for all the services and products
talked about in the guide.
SO HOW MUCH IS THIS GUIDE?
I am offering it at just $47.
WHAT FORMAT IS IT IN? PDF - You can open it in Adobe Acrobat
After you’ve paid, you will get a download link ( I’ve made it
very easy and it will only take a couple minutes)
I think this guide is an invaluable resource, one I wish I had when I
started. I know it will save you weeks worth of experimentation and a
lot of frustration. I also realize that life is hectic and you may not
be able to find the time to read it. I’ll be disappointed because I
truly believe it will help you immensely, but _I AM ALSO OFFERING A 60
DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. _
Why? – Because I am positive this guide will help you, and I really
want it to.
Sincerely
Richard Walker
richard@howtosellhandmadecrafts.com Copyright (c)
Richard Walker 2012
