In Your Face Advertising – The Potential Downside

When thinking of spam, most Internet users think of email spam.  However, forum spamming is becoming an often-times larger issue.  The majority of forums outline clear rules when it comes to what users can post, including the forums found at Etsy.com.

While posting in forums is sometimes a wonderful way to get your Etsy shop or blog in front of a targeted audience, some sellers forget the negative impacts of spamming.  The short lived gain is not worth the bad reputation.

Laura, from the Etsy shop MaxwellStreet and writer behind this blog,  sent us her thoughts on classy, and effective, marketing.

“While I’m somewhat new to selling on Etsy,” Laura said, “I’ve picked up a few tips on marketing along the way that I’ve found to be helpful. Oddly enough, I’ve learned this through sort of a social experiment while marketing myself. Yes, myself.”

“I adore Jeeps, and participate on forum for Jeep owners. Women make up the vast minority of members on the forum, and many of the men think you are less of an asset on the forum. I set out to prove my worth on the forum and had success.“

Using her Jeep forum example, Laura found there are two ways to gain popularity:

“You can post pictures of yourself in a bathing suit sitting on your Jeep, kissing your Jeep, etc,” Laura said.  ”This guarantees the men’s attention, but also can also make you look stupid. The guys like it, but then the comments quickly destroy your creditability.”

However, there is a different approach to marketing that Laura discovered.  “The other option is to slowly and steadily post helpful answers to people’s questions in the forum. It takes much longer, but more people respect you.”

Laura found this experiment on the Jeep forum carried over to her Etsy shop marketing tactics.  ”Don’t throw your brand around while marketing,” she suggest to Etsy sellers.

Recently Laura found herself so eager for a contact to look at her blog and Etsy shop that she skipped her “smart marketing” approach.  “I pretty much just stuffed my link in their face,” Laura explained, “even though it didn’t apply to our email conversation.”

Like many handmade sellers, Laura has found herself asking, “Is what I’m doing really that bad?”  Using the Jeep forum example, Laura knows she shouldn’t let herself get away with less than classy marketing, especially on the Etsy.com forums.

“While the person didn’t find it offensive, I later regretted how desperate that looked,” she concluded.

She observes the same approach by many Etsy sellers in the Etsy.com forums.  “I notice people dropping their name off and running; many times what they said/did doesn’t apply to the topic, but they just wanted to get their brand in there,” Laura says.  “While this practice will get views, it usually results in only quick views and not sales.”

Laura suggests making sure Etsy sellers place their name in a good light. “Stop and help others with their shop, rather than turning the attention on yourself. Make sure you know what you’re talking about regarding your product and techniques. Stay up to date in your field so you can do this,” Laura says.

Although the results may come later, Laura thinks ditching “in your face” marketing will help Etsy sellers.  “It might take longer for people to find you, but it will make more of an impact to them when they do,” she says.  “In the long run, you look much more knowledgeable and professional when you handle your image with care.”

Where do you draw the line between marketing your shop respectfully and spamming?  What advice would you give a new seller about using forums as a marketing platform?  Do you have any tips for keeping marketing classy?

We want to hear your thoughts on effective use of forums!  Submit your thoughts to HandmadeMarketing.org by clicking the “Join” tab.  If our editors like your ideas, we will feature you in an article and link back to your handmade shop or blog as the source of the tips!