Meet Crafters – A Key For New Sellers

April Stanley Njari, seller behind the Etsy shop AprilMist, tells HandmadeMarketing.org that networking with bloggers and other crafters is vital to increasing sales online.

“I’m a huge Etsy fan and had thought about opening a shop for some time,” April told us. “After months of creating my handmade paper beads and studying the resources links and forum posts, I took the plunge and opened AprilMist on June 25, 2009.  I listed several of my funky and sassy handmade paper bead jewelry creations and decided to offer free shipping for as long as I am able because as a customer, I don’t like paying for shipping.”

April says her Etsy business took off quite quickly. “In 10 weeks, I sold 15 items! I’ve really enjoyed the process of creating and selling, meeting amazing people through Etsy and my local craft community, and learning a lot about maintaining my business throughout the process.”

April says two things have helped her have success on Etsy.com – connecting with bloggers and being active in an Etsy Team.

April says her strategy to connect with bloggers has been to really get to know the style of the blog and interest of the blogger. She also focuses on posting helpful comments on interesting posts.

“This is the best way to start getting involved and connect to the community, plus its lots of fun! When I discover a blog that resonates with me and my business, I add it to my favorites and subscribe to the feed and start to interact by leaving comments. I do need to get organized in order to decrease the amount of time I’m spending online,” she told HandmadeMarketing.org.

Currently, April does not yet have her own blog. “I have lots of respect for those who can maintain their business and frequently post interesting articles. Myself and many others enjoy reading, so keep on blogging!” she says.

April’s favorite blogs are Modish Biz Tips, HandmadeMarketing.org, and CraftNouveau.

What makes a great blog in April’s eyes? “I’m especially drawn to bloggers who share their knowledge and expertise, offer advice and suggestions based on their experience, share their challenges and highlight the success of others in addition to their own successes,” she tells HandmadeMarketing.org.

Looking for a way to connect with bloggers, but still have time to craft? April recommends a Modish Biz Tips resource for getting organized, researching blogs that pertain to your work, and documenting your correspondence with them.

“I have yet to completely implement these suggestions, but it’s on my “to do” list!” she says.

April also tells new sellers to think about joining an Etsy Team to connect with others.

“I would absolutely recommend joining an Etsy Team to connect with like minded crafters! I joined the regional EtsyCREST (Capital Region Esty Street Team) since I live in the DC area and wanted to become part of my local craft community,” she says. “Being an active member of this team has afforded me the opportunity to get involved in awesome local crafting events such as volunteering at the Ballston Arts & Crafts Market, and meeting up for monthly crafting and happy hour with Crafty Drinks DC. The friendships I’ve made and advice and encouragement I’ve received through this community has been totally amazing and quite helpful in developing my handmade business.”

Being a member of an Etsy Team has also directly increased April’s Etsy sales. “Through my Etsy team I have met a few friends who have blogged about my jewelry designs and my process of creating handmade paper beads. A fellow member of an Etsy Team (Capital Region Etsy Street Team) posted a photo of one of my listings on her blog and my page views for that item really shot up,” April told us.

Although April’s Etsy shop has slowed a bit, she continues to develop her business. “Recently, business on Etsy has been a bit slow for most sellers, so I’ve used this down time to continue to create fun new designs, research the Etsy Forum posts for ideas on improving my shop, connect with local crafters and prepare for the upcoming holiday season,” April says.

Thank you for the networking advice April! Readers can connect with April by following her on Twitter or via email (aprilmist.etsy@gmail.com). You can also learn more about her craft in her DC Craft Mafia feature.

How do you connect with bloggers? Are you a member of an Etsy Team? Which networking opportunities have been best for your Etsy shop?