Join Forces – Etsy Promo Packs

Our HandmadeMarketing.org team was visiting the Etsy.com forums the other day and came across this great thread started by Etsy seller SweetIrie.  With so many threads being created every second on Etsy.com, sometimes Etsians miss the gems.

The topic reads:

“Are you interested in letting me promote your shop for you? I enjoy putting little promo packs together, so much fun! I give out business cards, coupons, promo items, samples, etc. to my customers with their orders! I started doing this a while back and have gotten really good feedback from customers; they enjoy the samples and getting to know other artisans!! I have run out and thought I would offer this again to the Etsy community! You can send me just business cards or the other things listed above (samples of your work if you like)…everything will be included in customer orders! This is a great way to advertise, promote, bring in new customers, and sales!”

Joan Orchard, from BitsyCreations, utilizes the Etsy forums to accomplish the same goal as SweetIrie.  “I’m not new to the Etsy community,” Joan says, “but on a regular basis I am still overwhelmed by the talent I find there! I found myself telling friends about shops they should visit and I thought, “Why not tell my customers?” I simply started a new thread in the Etsy forums & the response was overwhelming!”  Check out more of Joan’s ideas on her blog.

Our team thought this was a great way to promote Etsy shops!  “Many Etsy shop owners are looking for ways to promote their shops and now I’m helping,” Joan explained.  Any seller could start something like this.  Connect with other sellers, cross promote to customers, or to just show a little extra customer service by sneaking in some samples in your orders.  It’s a win-win for everyone!

In addition, this idea has the potential to help Etsy sellers snag nearly free Etsy advertising.  The samples and promo items are sent to interested Etsy buyers, making this idea a great way to reach potentialbuyers directly.  The cost of business cards or other promo items has a greater chance of coming back as Etsy sales!

“I put a few promos in each of my orders,” Joan told us.  “I include a few business cards and a sample or two with each order. I put them in ALL my orders-both Etsy shops and my website orders.
Then,  occasionally, I’ll have someone order off my website who’s never even heard of Etsy, so it’s great exposure for all.  Not only do I feel I’m helping the Etsy community by helping promote other Etsy shops, but my customers love it! I often get comments about how they find new Etsy shops this way and thoroughly enjoy the samples they receive.“

What do you think of this type of promotion for your Etsy shop?

Not quite sure? View an example of a recent promo pack SweetIrie created on the shop’s blog.  You could also start on a smaller scale like Etsy seller Debbie Vine.  “My friends and I have been doing this for awhile.  On my blog, I have a message that if anyone would send me their business cards, I would include them in all my packages that I send out.  I have a great online business here on Etsy as well as a few other sites too,” Debbie says.  “I have received an overwhelming response to this way of advertising. I do not bombard my customers with business cards. I select 2 or three along with my own business card to send out. I rotate the cards I send out so everyone does get put in.”

Let the results speak for the idea.  “One Etsy seller wrote back a few weeks after sending me samples of her work,” Joan said.  “She told me she received a large order from someone who found out about her from a sample I’d included with an order!”

Interested in turning over your promo items or business cards? Convo SweetIrie on Etsy to get more details on being part of this group.  If you are interested in working with Debbie Vine of dvinedesigns, email dvinedesigns@comcast.net to get Debbie’s address where you can send the business cards for promotion.  To contact Joan Orchard, visit her Etsy shop BitsyCreations or contact her by email at joan@bitsycreations.com.

Ready to run with it and make it your own? Consider implementing this fabulous idea into your Etsy shop marketing scheme.  Connect with other sellers and get a promo pack group started.  “It’s pretty simple, really, and anyone can do it,” Joan tells us.  “Personally, I ask in the forums when I’m running low on my ‘promo stash’.  I also have a note in my Etsy shop profile.”

Try asking for unique items from other Etsy sellers.  “I asked for any promos – business cards, bookmarks, magnets, small item samples were all welcome,” Joan said.  By not limiting the promo items you solicit from sellers, you may find unique items come your way!

Have you tried promoting your shop using promo packs?  How do you think networking with other handmade sellers can increase your sales?  Do you think promo packs are essentially free advertising?  Or a waste of your time?

Tell us what you think about using promo packs as advertising for your handmade shop!  We want to hear how you network with other artists online.  If our editors like your ideas, we will feature your tip in a HandmadeMarketing.org article – and link to you as the source!