Handmade seller Steff, from Etsy’s steffmetal, recently shared her tips for blogging in “Staying Organized While Blogging – Seven Simple Tips“. Steff is back with some other great ideas for readers of HandmadeMarketing.org.  In this article, Steff talks ebooks.“In the past, when we wanted an answer to a question, we headed down to the library or local bookstore,” Steff says.  “Now, we google, squidoo, stumble or otherwise browse the internet until our information needs are fulfilled. The people profiting from our quest for information write “information products” – articles, blogs and ebooks.”

Steff says she’s been reading and writing on the Internet for a few years, and she’s witnessed firsthand how the ebook industry has gone crazy.

“And it’s no wonder,” Steff tells HandmadeMarketing.org.

“Ebooks are cheap to produce, easy to sell, and you can profit from them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – even while you’re sleeping.”

Steff says she likes this part best of all – it makes checking your email every morning a delight!

“If you sell any kind of product or services online, you can add an ebook to your website – and that goes for handmade businesses,” Steff tells handmade crafters.  “Not only will you increase your income stream, you’ve also helped your search engine ranking, and stamped yourself as an expert in your field.

Steff says some sellers think ebooks are always about how to make money online, how to lose weight, and or even how to write ebooks.  She often hears handmade sellers reject the value of ebooks for their own business.

“It’s true that weight loss and online marketing are very lucrative markets for information products, but they’re also glutted markets,” Steff says.  “You’ll compete with thousands of high quality sellers with loyal customers.  But the handmade market, say homemade jam for example, is a potential gold mine.  That’s because it is a niche market. How many people try your delicious jams and decide they would love to make their own.”

Sticking with the jam example, Steff says a seller may currently teach jam and preserve classes at home. With classes, you can only reach a small local market. Steff encourages sellers to think big.

“Why not write an ebook about making jams and preserves?“  Steff suggests.  That way, those interested can download your ebook to learn – even though they live a world away!

Some sellers may have questions about the ins and outs of actually writing an ebook.  Luckily, Steff has some great tips.

“Now you’ve found the topic of your ebook, you need to fill in the content,” she says.  “If you’re not a competent writer do not write the ebook yourself.  A poor ebook will reflect badly on your business. Hire a professional writer to write your ebook for you. You get what you pay for – a professional writer will return a high quality product, and anything with your name on it should be high quality, right?  Alternatively, you can produce your ebook yourself. But whichever route you choose, you need to decide what content will appear in the ebook and write out a plan.”

When thinking about what to write about in your ebook, Steff tells handmade sellers and crafters to give your ebook a simple focus.  For a crafter who makes homemade jam, for example, How to Make Homemade Jam would be a simple and effective title.

“Don’t choose a poetic title – Jamming with Aunty Jean – because people typing ‘how to make homemade jam’ into a search engine won’t find it,” Steff advises.  “Think of your customer as a friend who has come to you – the expert – with their question, and you’re providing them with a detailed answer.”

Next, Steff suggests writing down each step in this process as a series of headings.  Then, add sub-headings and even sub-sub-headings.  Using an outline in the planning process to help organize your ebook can provide many benefits in the writing process later.

Below is a basic beginner example of how your outline should look.  You will see two headers (”What You Need” and “Jam Recipes“) followed by sub-headings.  The “Fruit” sub-heading even has some sub-sub-headings (”Choosing Fruit“, “Storing Fruit“, etc.)

“Next, fill in under each heading with your information,” Steff says.  “Keep your sentences uncomplicated. Watch out for passive voice. Likewise, keep paragraphs short and snappy – only 1-4 sentences each. The ebook format means you’re not limited to words. I started off writing 5-10 pages ebooks for clients – and I now write my own 250+ page ebooks.”

Steff says handmade sellers and crafters can add some fun extras to their ebooks such as step-by-step pictures, tables, graphs, videos, links to websites and blogs, or even links to items in your online Etsy shop or ArtFire studio.

“If you’re having a writer produce your ebook you’ll probably still have to complete this plan – the writer goes over your notes, expands each of your points, tidies up your writing (some writing needs a TON of tidying, trust me) and ensures everything fits together in a logical order,” Steff says.  “Your writer will then email you a PDF copy of your final book for your approval.”

“If you’re writing your own ebook, you will need to complete several rounds of edits. Check for spelling and grammar, complex sentences and consfusing language, pictures that don’t show up, broken links and links to bad websites,” Steff says.

When you’re happy with your ebook, Steff suggests taking some time to design a cover and convert your ebook to a PDF file.  “You can do five online for free at Adobe,” she tells sellers.

Next, sell your ebook!  Steff suggests adding your ebook to your website as another product.

“Write (or have your writer produce) a sales page – look at other popular ebooks for examples. Send out free copies to popular food blogs for review, inform your regular customers via your mailing list, add a note on your craft-fair flyers, and any other promotional activities you can think of.”

“All this talk of jam has made me hungry. It’s also made me keen to find a Homemade Jam ebook. Ebooks are really something to get excited about – they can be a true asset to your business!” Steff says.  “And remember, if you ever need any help writing your ebook – drop me a line.  I’ll even let you pay me in jam!”

Thanks to Steff for the awesome advice!  Ebooks are very exciting and we hope to hear more tips for how to make great ebooks from other sellers.

For additional tips on how to write everything from Etsy item descriptions to creating a brochure or leaflet, visit Steff Metal on Etsy.com.  You can also follow Steff on Twitter @steffmetal.

Share your tips for writing and selling ebooks with us!  Our team publishes ideas from handmade sellers, artisans, and crafters.  Be sure to include links to your social media sites or handmade shop site in your article.  Sellers receive free press for lending their knowledge, and both new and experienced sellers alike get new ideas.  Share with HandmadeMarketing.org here.

Handmade sellers and artisans are notorious for loving social media and blogs.  If you are having trouble keeping up with the websites and blogs you visit, Google Reader may be a great solution for you.   Google Reader allows users to read updates in one place.  Google Reader promises keeping up with your favorite websites is as easy as checking your email!

Google Reader was released by Google in October of 2005 through Google Labs.  In September 2007, it graduated from beta status, and now includes features like a mobile interface and a version specifically formatted for the Wii web browser.

To be sure you don’t miss a thing, Google Reader constantly checks your favorite news sites and blogs for new content. You can also share content with your friends and family.  Google Reader has a built-in public page, making it easy for users to share interesting items with other.

Best of all, Google Reader is free and can be used anywhere.  It works in most browsers, without any software to install.

If you like using online tools available from Google, be sure to read this HandmadeMarketing.org article “Google Docs – Create a Form“.  In the article, handmade seller Amy Vander Vorste tells you step by step how to use forms to help track sales.

Share the resources you use online with HandmadeMarketing.org!  Do you have a favorite tool?  Is there any resource online that has saved you time or money? Is there a tool that is essential to running your craft-based business?

Our team publishes ideas from handmade sellers, artisans, and crafters.  Be sure to include links to your social media sites or handmade shop site in your article.  Sellers receive free press for lending their knowledge, and both new and experienced sellers alike get new ideas.  Share with HandmadeMarketing.org.

Our HandmadeMarketing.org team searched Etsy’s handmade blog “The Storque” for must-read articles for those selling on Etsy.com!

1.  The Etsy Seller Basics: Get a Jumpstart on a Stellar Shop – This article was published on the Storque in March 2010.  This article has 10 things every Etsy shop owner should be doing to sell more handmade.  Our team’s favorite suggestion was shipping internationally (#9).  Looking for additional tips from sellers?  Etsy seller CrochetGal shared her ideas for how to improve your Etsy shop in this article “Sell Handmade Online – 12 Ways to Improve Your Shop“.

2.  Wednesday Workshop Wrap-Up: Gift Certificates in Your Shop – Since Etsy.com does not offer site-wide gift cards, some sellers have listed gift certificate that shoppers can use in their store only.  This article has the do’s and don’t of gift certificates, and is a great resource if you are thinking of utilizing gift certificates during the holiday season.  For tips on how to keep your branding consistent when incorporating gift certificates, check out this HandmadeMarketing.org article from reader Jessie McCann “Handmade Branding – Keeping Consistent and Smart“.

3.  Quit Your Day Job: 5 Tips from 50 Who’ve Done It (and Counting!) – Looking for some entrepreneur inspiration?  This June 2009 article from The Storque is a must-read.  It lists five tips from those who have left their day job to become entrepreneurs on Etsy.com.  Tips include great photography, which has been a common suggestion from readers of HandmadeMarketing.org.  If you are looking for more photography tips and tricks, read these tips for photography here.

4.  Etsy Seller Inventory Worksheet – This article was published in January 2008, and is very much relevant to handmade sellers today.  In addition to Etsy sellers, other handmade sellers on venues like ArtFire, 1000 Markets, and even their own website shop can benefit from this article.

Don’t worry if you are not tech-savvy.  These tips for inventory can be utilized easily on a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel.  Our HandmadeMarketing.org team recommends utilizing Google Docs for this tracking. Google Docs allows users to create basic documents from scratch or start from a template. It allows for all the basics for document prep, and it’s as easy to use as computer’s word processor, spreadsheet software, etc.  However, it beats out traditional methods because it’s free!  Since it’s web-based, you can update it from anywhere – a WIFI stop on vacation, from your next craft fair, or from a friend’s computer.  Looking for other ways Google Docs can help you manage your craft business?  Handmade seller Amy Vander Vorste recently shared her idea for creating a form for her Etsy shop using Google Docs.

5.  Etsy’s Treasury: Finding Focus – This article was published in April 2009.  The Treasury feature on Etsy.com was launched in August of 2006, with the goals of creating an interactive place where members could create and share their own featured lists of Etsy items.  This feature has truly developed into a community feature, and is loved by many Etsy sellers and buyers alike.  This article on The Storque outlines some revised guidelines for the Treasury feature, as well as thoughts out where this feature is headed.  Look for more info on Treasuries?  Read tips from HandmadeMarketing.org reader Leah Mackin about how to get featured in Etsy Treasuries.  Be sure to also check out Tips From A Pro – Etsy Treasury Questions Answered from Etsy seller Jen Bennett Gubicza.

Tell us what you have found in The Storque that has helped you sell more!  If HandmadeMarketing.org publishes your information, we’ll link to your shop or website.  Sellers receive free press for lending their knowledge, and both new and experienced sellers alike get new ideas.  Share with HandmadeMarketing.org.

Technology guru Amy Vander Vorste, from Etsy’s Avlor’s Imprints, is back with a time-saving and easy-to-learn tip for online handmade sellers.

In the past, Amy has shown HandmadeMarketing.org readers how to create a Tweetable link, steps to creating a Facebook username, how to manage your time marketing your Etsy shop, and other valuable tips.  In this article, Amy explains in her recent Google Docs blog post how using Google Docs can save handmade sellers time and money.

Google Docs allows users to create basic documents from scratch or start from a template.  Users find that doing all the basics for document prep is as easy on Google Docs as it is when you use your computer’s word processor, spreadsheet software, etc.  The Google Docs overview on the website says “making bulleted lists, sorting by columns, adding tables, images, comments, formulas, changing fonts and more” are just as easy as using computer software… and it’s free!

To get started, a user simply creates a Google account (if they do not have one already) and uses the Google Docs feature to upload existing files.  “Google Docs accepts most popular file formats, including DOC, XLS, ODT, ODS, RTF, CSV, PPT, etc.  So go ahead and upload your existing files,” the site reads.

A user’s existing documents can now be “web-based”, meaning no more emailing documents to yourself because you are not going to be able to be at your computer.  You can also create new documents using Google Docs.

So… how can this feature be used for handmade sellers?

“If you have a product or set of products for which you are consistently asking your customers the same questions, need a place to track all the information for an order, or need a poll – here’s a solution: Google Docs – Forms!” Amy explains in her article.

Amy writes that for her Etsy business, Google Docs has become a time saver.  She creates upcycled labels and generally has to ask the same questions over and over to my customers.

“Putting them in a form means I can ask the questions all at once and have all the information in one spot,” Amy explains.  “Easy on the customer and easy on me when I’m working on orders.”

“Here’s where either the customer or I enter the information,” Amy explains (form shown above.)

At the end of the form, Amy has implemented a “submit” button.  “After the submit button is pushed, the information is entered into a Google Spreadsheet where I can access the information or keep it for reference,” Amy tells us.  “Slick and simple!”

Are you as excited as we were about using Amy’s tips for your business?  Here are steps to making your own form:

1. Once you have a Google account, simply visit http://docs.google.com and log-in.
2. Under the “New” tab at the top of the screen, you will see a number of options for a new project including “document” and “spreadsheet”.  Click on “form” to create a new form.
3. “Then you’ll be taken to a screen where you set up your form,” Amy explains.  “The “Add Item” menu will give you a variety of choices for your questions.”
4. “You can move form items around on the form so they are in the order you want. Just keep in mind, the spreadsheet that all of the data goes into will have form items in the order you add them, not the order you have them arranged on the form,” Amy says.
5. Next, Amy says you can pick a theme for your form with the “Theme” button.  From there, Amy suggests previewing and testing your form.  “To access your data and spreadsheet from the form editor, click on the “See Responses” menu,” Amy says.  “To get back to the form or the edit form menu from the spreadsheet, click on “Go to live form” or “Edit form”.”

To share the submissions form, Amy tells crafters to go to the submissions form and copy the URL at the top of the window.  “From the spreadsheet click on the Form menu “Go to live form”,” she explains.  “Send this URL/web address to anyone that you need to fill out the form.“

Now that you have a great form set-up, how to you go about using your collected data?  What if you want to view the records individually in a readable format?

“If you’re like me,” Amy writes in her part two Google Docs tutorial, “you know generally what you want on the form – but didn’t plan it out in detail and nade a few changes and additions along the way. Google forms can handle this no problem. But the corresponding columns in your spreadsheet will be in the order that the matching form items were created. You can technically move the columns around – but then they won’t match with the form anymore. I tried. My submissions columns were out of order. No good.”

Amy says she would love to see a human readable page with the vital info to print out and look at while she’s working on an order from her Etsy shop.  “I don’t want to be scrolling through columns and rows in a spreadsheet or even be running back and forth to the computer. (Too much of a temptation for me to be distracted!)” she writes.  “So far, Google hasn’t provided a tidy little way to view individual records/submissions in the submissions form. (Though Google, if you would do this – we’d love you forever!) This leaves rolling up our sleeves and using formulas – not so glamorous. Never fear though – I’ll walk you through it. We’ll actually just be using 1 little formula to pull the data for this tutorial. We can handle 1 measly formula.”

Amy has a great solution to this problem.  Here is her step-by-step guide to making Google Docs work for your craft business.

Do you use Google Docs for your business?  Have you utilized for “Forms” feature before?  Any tips for those new to Google Docs for using this tool to save time on craft business tasks?

Share your tips for selling more online with our team at HandmadeMarketing.org!  The community thrives off tips and tricks from sellers.  If you have an idea you would like to share with us, submit it via our “Join” tab!

Are you debating whether or not online video tutorials are for you?  Our HandmadeMarketing.org team wondered what handmade crafter Cindy Lietz, from the website Beads and Beading, had to say about why online tutorials are emerging as such a prominent trend in learning.

In an article on her site, Cindy discussed why a local newspaper article about continuing education craft classes suffering from low attendance caught her attention.

“As you can see by the headline that was clipped from a local newspaper in my area just a couple of weeks ago, the School Districts are making cuts to Continuing Education programs. No more guitar lessons, sushi making 101 instruction or craft classes!” Cindy wrote on in this Beads and Beading article.

Cindy thinks that just a few years ago, news like this would have been a huge blow to her personally.  “That’s because I was teaching a wide variety of craft classes including tile mosaic, painted wine glasses, handmade paper, tea bag folding, and more,” she shares with her readers.

Cindy taught classes three nights each week, in addition to Saturdays classes, in 13 different local school districts. “Creativity develops the brain in ways that other disciplines do not,” Cindy said.

“It was my livelihood at the time, and I enjoyed it very much. But as the kids got older, it became difficult to balance the night school routine with all the stuff that comes with raising a family,” she explained in the article.

Cindy explains that the cutbacks happening at many Continuing Education districts across the United States are primarily due to low student enrollment.

“With the birth of online video, it a sign of the times,” she writes.  Cindy says she knows this because of comments that she receives regarding her online video tutorials on her website.

Cindy shared some of these comments:

“I like that I can view your home tutor videos at any time from the comfort of my home, in any order,” said Roberta, a fan of Cindy’s tutorials.

“One of the reasons I like to take classes is to learn all the tips that you normally don’t see in books. Your tutorials are a way of taking a class without having to leave home!” writes Katina, another crafter that has enjoyed Cindy’s video tips.

Cindy explains that the accessibility of online video has opened up many doors for many people who are interested in learning more craft ideas.

She explains that there are those who can’t fit night school into their busy schedules, or prefer not to head out or drive at night for safety reasons.  Cindy also thinks that online videos provide opportunity to crafters who live in rural areas without access to continuing education facilities.

In fact, Cindy shared a recent comment by a fan of her website tutorials from a crafter living in a rural area. “I really love your videos. I live in a rural area where I don’t have access to workshops, so I really appreciate your workshop-like videos. Thank you!” wrote Karen.

“Affordability and ongoing support are other key factors that caused me to embrace the use of online video as a teaching medium,” Cindy wrote.  “Live event classes can be wonderful for meeting up with people and making friends. But they are expensive to host and to attend. Students at my night school classes had to pay anywhere from $30 to $100 each, for just a couple of hours with me. And there was no way for them to be able to get follow up support after the class was over.”

Online learning is not just a trend in the handmade and craft world.  According to a New York Times article, nearly 3.5 million college or graduate students, took at least one online course in the fall of 2006.  This is equates to one in five students.  This is double the figures of five years earlier!

At the Beads and Beading website, Cindy’s viewers can have access to her online polymer clay videos for under $4 per month.  This fee includes weekly lessons plus access to a supportive online community at her Beads and Beading blog.

“I absolutely love the way Internet video makes tutoring so affordable!” Cindy shared.

Do you subscribe to online tutorials?  Why do you like to learn online?  What are obstacles you see when learning via online tutorials?

We want to hear your thoughts on the online learning trend!  Tell us why you like (or don’t like) online tutorials by clicking the “Join” tab at the top of the site.  If we publish your tips, we’ll link to your shop, website, or blog!

Handmade craft guru Cindy Lietz, from the website Beads and Beading, shared innovative ways for utilize Etsy.com as an online market research tool, no matter where you sell handmade.

In this previous HandmadeMarketing.org article “Craft Market Research – Utilizing Etsy.com“, Cindy discussed several ways to use the site in your market research efforts.

Cindy also told us how she uses the Etsy Color Shopping Tool to help her sell more handmade. To see this Etsy, Inc. tool, visit Etsy.com.

“If you didn’t know about the Etsy Color Shopping Tool, it’s also great for doing market research,” Cindy shared with HandmadeMarketing.org.

If you are looking for a new color combination for your latest product line, have a look at this Etsy.com tool to get some creative ideas!

“With this application, customers begin by first selecting a color,” Cindy explains. “The tool then displays product selections from Etsy sellers that match the color selection. Very innovative.”

How do you utilize tools on Etsy.com to sell more handmade?  What is your favorite tool on the Etsy site?  What other sites do you visit for help selling handmade online?

Share your tips with us!  HandmadeMarketing.org articles are generate from reader tips and tricks.  Click the “Join” tab at the top of the site to share your thoughts on selling more handmade.  If we feature your ideas in an article, we’ll link to your shop, site, or blog as the resource of the great information!

When HandmadeMarketing.org heard about Yaami Handmade, we were interested in learning more about the site’s web resources for handmade sells such as sales graphs, top sellers, and Etsy.com Front Page archive.

The Yaami team thinks the biggest challenge facing handmade sellers online is finding effective ways to promote handmade items.  “Promoting handmade at a reasonable price  is one of the most lacking. There are solutions out there but you have to be aware of them,” they said.

The team says that selling handmade online isn’t easy, and that Yaami aims to make it easier with tools, statistics, and promotional solutions.  “If you sell handmade items online, Yaami can help,” they said.

“We’re always trying to add more ways to help out Etsy sellers,” Yaami’s team told us.  “Yaami Handmade is a community of buyers and sellers of handmade creations. We provide ways to help sellers promote their shops as well as tools to help in the running of their shop.”

“Yaami’s primary goal is to help shops get the word out about their handmade items and to make it easier for buyers to find neat handmade items,” they said.  “We realized there was a need for more promotional solutions and more support tools for sellers of handmade items – and so Yaami.com was born.”

Currently, the team told HandmadeMarketing.org the site’s focus is on providing promotional solutions and helpful tools to sellers.  “However, we want to target handmade buyers too.  We’re currently creating exciting new features that will have a buyer focus,” they said.

The Yaami.com teams is always thinking of new ideas to help promote handmade items online.  “With new site features currently in development and more ideas to come, we hope that we can make a big difference to the handmade community, supporting all shops – big and small,” the Yaami team told HandmadeMarketing.org.

The work in progress that made our HandmadeMarketing.org editors most excited was the virtual handmade market.  “We’re currently working on a virtual handmade market that will be very different to any other virtual market on the web. It will be virtual but with more of a “real world” view,” they said.

We were also happy to hear that Yaami.com strives to provide helpful tools and promotional solutions for all handmade sellers.  “Right now we provide tools for Etsy sellers, but we plan to offer tools for sellers at other sites too – such as ArtFire,” the team told us.

Yaami.com is centered around promotional solutions for sellers.  “This is the area we would like to focus on the most,” they explained.  “Getting the word out about your items can be extremely difficult.  We would like to make it easier – and more cost effective.”

Yaami’s Shop Directory is one way to promote handmade sellers.  The directory lists handmade shops from all over the web.   “Adding your shop to the directory is free and you get a “handmade profile” for your shop where you can display a bio, tags and a list of links such as your Etsy shop, Artfire studio, website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, etc.” the Yaami team explained.

Another great feature offered to sells at Yaami.com are the “Free Plugs“.  “Submit an item and we’ll plug it for you, free, on Yaami.com (and soon – other sites too!),” they explain.  “It’s as easy as pasting the link to your Etsy or Artfire item and clicking submit.”

You can also promote using Yaami’s “Shoutbox” feature.  “Similar to a plug but you “shout” anything handmade related via Twitter,” they told HandmadeMarketing.org.  “Create a Tweet referencing @YaamiHandmade and we’ll display it on our home and Shoutbox pages.”

Yaami also provides exciting and useful tools for Etsy.com sellers.  By utilizing the shop statistics feature, Etsy sellers can check out their Etsy shop stats.  These statistics include day-to-day sales graphs, who hearts your shop/items, and an overall summary of your Etsy shop.

Sellers can show-off their Etsy stats (such as total hearts, total items, sold items) on their website or blog simply by pasting a small piece of HTML code into their page.  This is Yaami’s gadgets and badges feature.  There are a number of colors and designs available to choose from, allowing for a customized look.

Yaami also reports a list of top sellers from Etsy.com.  “This list is great way to become inspired by some of Etsy’s most successful sellers,” the team said.

Yaami offers an archive of Etsy’s Front Page Treasury items.  “Currently you can only go back-in-time as far as the last 24 hours but we’ll soon allow you to go further back in time,” they said.  “We’ll also soon offer email notifications – so if your items appear on Etsy’s FrontPpage, we can let you know.”

The team suggests sellers remain educated regarding all the different ways to promote craft and handmade items.  “HandmadeMarketing.org is a great way to keep up-to-date,” they said.  “Try out all the different promotional solutions, track the results with web stats (such as Google Analytics) and focus on the solutions that work for you.“

Have you used Yaami.com to help you sell handmade?  What do you think of the site?  What other web resources help you promote your Etsy shop?

Tell us your tips for promoting crafts online!   If our editors publish you ideas, we’ll link to your shop, website, or blog as the source of the wonderful information.  Submit  your ideas under our “Join” tab.

Cindy Lietz, from the website Beads and Beading, shared her blog post “Another Bird Necklace Pendant | Etsy Tips For Your Jewelry Business” with HandmadeMarketing.org.  The article outlines why Etsy.com can be used by handmade sellers as a web resource for marketing ideas.

Although Cindy is not selling on Etsy.com right now, she told us she uses the site frequently for conducting market research.  “There’s only so many hours in a day, and right now everything is focused on building my own websites for direct selling my video based polymer clay tutorials,” she tells HandmadeMarketing.org.

“I would like to talk more about how to use Etsy to conduct online research for your handmade jewelery making business,” Cindy writes in her blog article.  “I have been speaking quite a bit about Etsy.com lately because I feel it is an excellent research tool for the jewelry artist. Perhaps you have looked at Etsy in this way before.”

“Sure you can buy and sell handmade jewelery, beads, pendants and other artistic goods on Etsy,” she tells readers, “but I’m not sure how many jewelry artisans have thought to use it as a research tool for their jewelry business. Even if you never plan to sell online, the information you can gather there is very useful!”

For example, Cindy recommends that artisans reference Etsy to learn more about how to grow their craft business.  “You can also discover funky trends or find out if you should consider adding polymer clay beads and pendants to your already successful jewelry business, like many artisans have done already!” she writes.

But what kind of handmade market information can a seller get from the Etsy.com site? And how can this information be used to grow your off-Etsy business?

First, Cindy explains that Etsy.com offers sellers an opportunity to conduct online market research for jewelery businesses. 

“In the past, this type of research was much harder to do because everything was offline,” Cindy writes.  “You had to attend a lot of craft fairs, take lots of notes, and do lots of guessing.”

Second, the options for research using Etsy are endless.  Etsy.com allows handmade sellers to research everything from the amount of competition for a particular product and typical pricing, to current craft trends appearing on Etsy’s front page.

“I find it to be a very valuable resource for collecting information about selling handmade goods online,” Cindy tells HandmadeMarketing.org.  “The real time stats such as pricing, actual solds, descriptions, trends, store design, starting dates, store names, etc. would be impossible to track on “private” web sites. With information gathered at Etsy, you can do realistic business forecasting based on the successes and failures of other independent artists selling their goods. Never before has there been such an easy and accurate way to get this kind of valuable information, specific to handmade niches.”

Thank you for the great tips Cindy!  Cindy also outlines how she utilizes Etsy.com to learn about the power of craft pricing online in another HandmadeMarketing.org article.

Have you used Etsy.com as a web resource for your handmade business?  What have you learned?  What other sites do you visit to learn about how to market your handmade crafts more effectively?

HandmadeMarketing.org readers can share their tips for selling handmade online by clicking our “Join” tab at the top of the website.  If our editors publish you ideas in an article, we’ll link to your shop, blog, or website as the source of the wonderful information!

Our HandmadeMarketing.org team has been hearing some buzz about “Mom Made That!” (found here) for quite some time.  We were excited to get in touch with Amy, founder of the website, to learn more about this awesome mom network!

What is “Mom Made That!”?

“Mom Made That! is the place to list, shop, and support, mom businesses and blogs,” Amy explained.  “Moms are the most innovative creators, writers, inventors and business owners I know. This site is my way of showcasing their amazing products, ideas, blogs and service.”

Why should Etsy sellers stop by the website?

“During these tough economic times,” Amy said, “I encourage you to “buy mom” when purchasing gifts or needs for yourself, family and loved ones. Many of these moms rely on this extra pay to stay home with their children or to help supplement their family’s income.”

What will sellers see when they arrive at “Mom Made That!”?

“The types of businesses you’ll see on Mom Made That! are Etsy shops, clever inventions, boutiques, blogs and more!” Amy tells us.  “Departments range from baby items to music to marketing. If Mom runs it, creates it, or sells it, she Made That!  Since our launch in December, 2008, we have grown from 20 mom businesses listed with us to over 70! Our audience has also increased from 50 subscribers to over 200 subscribers, and grows each day. Businesses and blogs listed on Mom Made That! are getting increased traffic, sales and other opportunities such as offers to sell in boutiques and on other sites. Testimonials and more stats can be found on our site.”

What do Etsy sellers have to do to join “Mom Made That!”?

“Listing a site is easy and comes in many affordable packages, ranging from $5-$15 a month, which can be purchased directly from our site,” Amy explained.  “Listing fees go toward the promotion, by advertising and social networking, of the mom businesses, blogs, and Mom Made That! We provide a list of our current networks and the sites we advertise on, which include Twitter Moms, Moms United in Business, and Mom Bloggers Club. We also offer button advertising to all business, blogs, and sites.  As of February 4, 2009, 10% of all listing fees will be put into charity! Not only are our moms promoting their businesses or blogs by listing on Mom Made That!, but now they are also giving to charity. A win-win situation for all.”

Thank you Amy!  Great reasons to “Buy Mom!”

If you have any questions about “Mom Made That!”, Amy said she would be delighted to answer questions via email at mommadethat@gmail.com.

Has anyone used this website to market their Etsy.com shop?  What do you think of the “Mom Made That!”? We would love to hear feedback regarding www.MomMadeThat.com!  Comment to this post or submit your thoughts here.  If our editors think your comments will help the community, we will feature you in a future “Mom Made That!” article.

Sharon Paradiso, from Etsy’s SeedlingsJewelry “Seedlings: Jewelry Because“, recently shared an insightful article about a under-used Etsy tool for sales – great customer service!  Sharon is back to share her thoughts on the benefits of being green for handmade shops.

“Fair trade, ethically sourced, recycled, green, eco-friendly…the list goes on!” Sharon told HandmadeMarketing.org.  Although Sharon recognizes “being green” it is a way of life, any savvy business owner would surely see the sudden boost of this trend in the online marketplace.

“With all the growing buzz surrounding being green, I thought when I started looking into how I could make my jewelry better from an environmental (and ethical) standpoint, I would instantly find tons of resources and people willing to share their information,” Sharon said.

Sharon said she started the process how she normally does – by asking questions.  “I sent e-mail to the company where I buy many of my jewelry making supplies, including metal wire.  I asked if any was recycled.  If not, where it was sourced from?“

Sharon also looked to Etsy as a source for information on green supplies for her handmade jewelry.  “When I would find sellers on Etsy and other shops stating that their metals were from ethical refiners or that it was 100% recycled, I would send them e-mail or a convo asking if they would share their source.”

Sharon said she started to feel like she had stumbled upon some sort of secret when no one responded.  “If I went this route, I would be doing it for marketing reasons,” she told us.

“I’ll be the first to admit I am not a 100% green person,” Sharon said, “but I try within my circle of influence in ways that I can.  How better than with what I create?”

Sharon said she started to find other handmade sellers through Etsy forums or through Twitter who were sharing information about to create green products.

“I now feel like having improved green goals for my jewelry is entirely possible.” Below are Sharon’s goals to creating environmentally friendly handmade jewelry:

1. What’s the Source? Sharon said she tries to use 100% recycled or ethically sourced metals.  “I discovered that the company I buy wire from (Rio Grande) is currently using 100% recycled sterling silver,” she said.  “That was a nice find! They also buy scrap, so don’t through your tiny bits away.”
2. Bead Work. Sharon’s next goal to going green with her Etsy show is to use fair trade or recycled beads when possible.  “When shopping online, if a company uses fair trade practices, they will have information on their site about their processes,” Sharon said.  “If your sources don’t have any information, I would ask them what their policies are. I’ve also found several companies that specialize in recycled beads (glass).“
3. Chemical Watch. Sharon wants to be mindful about toxic chemicals and replace them with less harmful ones where possible in order to help reach her “green goal”.   “I’m just starting to get into silversmithing and as I don’t want to expose myself to toxic chemicals, I don’t really want to pass that around either,” she says.

Going green may be good for both your handmade shop sales and your environmental footprint.  Sharon suggests that sellers and customers alike should “ask and tell” in order to spread the word about eco-friendly practices.

“While it may seem like folks are touting their jewelry as organic and eco-friendly, as a consumer you can ask them for their sources of materials.”  In Sharon’s opinion, if the vendor if they can tell you the information, then it is not just for marketing purposes.

“Just the same, it is good customer service to let your customers know what is special about your products,” Sharon suggests.  “Ask them to tell their friends that your jewelry uses fair trade materials or was created with 100% recycled materials.”

Sharon thinks if handmade sellers and their customers alike start asking, then the community will all start doing.

“We will have less to worry about in terms of whether our products will harm people or contribute to environmental concerns,” she says.

Sharon also shared with HandmadeMarketing.org some useful links and resources:

• Fair Jewelry
• Society of American Silversmiths Safer Alternatives
• Happy Mango Beads
• Soul of Somanya

Sharon said she will continue to post updated links as well as Twitter about what she finds.  Stay in touch with Sharon by following her on Twitter!  You can also see more of Sharon’s ideas on her blog.

What are your green goals?  Do you use green products to make your handmade goods?  What do you think of Sharon’s links for handmade jewelry sellers?

Tell us why you think going green helps sales and the environment at the same time!  Share you ideas about selling more on Etsy and other handmade selling platforms.  If our editors like your ideas, we will feature you on HandmadeMarketing.org – and link to you as the source!