It is no surprise that more and more people are buying and selling goods online. With the ability to research products and compare prices instantly, it’s become much easier for consumers to find the best possible deal. In most cases, online stores allow for a much wider variety of products to be sold than their traditional counterparts. For instance, in addition to clothing and accessories, online stores can offer electronics, housewares, etc.
One area where shopping online is much more convenient is in the world of handmade jewelry. With a click of a button, you can bring up a variety of designs and styles, all at the fingertip. The best part? Since the process of making these pieces is so personal, it makes the item that much more unique and, arguably, valuable. Because of this, it is not surprising that many independent designers have turned to the internet to market and sell their work. Here are some of the best ways to market handmade jewelry online.
1. Incorporate Social Media
If you’re new to the world of social media, you might be wondering what all of the excitement is about. After all, isn’t social media just a fun way to connect with friends and family? While there is certainly a lot of joy to be found on social media, the platforms can also be great for marketing. Incorporating social media into your marketing plan can be a fast and easy way to get the word out about your brand or store. You can use platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to connect with customers and gain valuable insights into what they want and need. In addition, you can use social media to follow the relevant accounts of people in your niche so that you can keep up with the chatter and stay relevant.
2. Personalized E-mail Signatures
Anyone who has spent time on the internet knows that e-mail is one of the most vital components of any marketing plan. Whether you send out electronic newsletters or stay constantly connected with customers on social media, your e-mail is the best way to reach your audience and make sure they remember you. One way to make your e-mails stand out is to personalize them with a unique “signature”, or greeting. While there are a variety of pre-made signatures available, you can also create a unique one using a few simple tools that most internet users are likely to have on hand. Once you have your personalized signature, you can use it in every e-mail you send out. Doing this can help build a relationship with your customers and make them feel like they’re getting some kind of special offer through each communication. For instance, you could e-mail them a coupon for $10 off their next purchase or a special request for a blue-haired Angela Lansbury for their birthday.
3. Offer Free Shipping
A luxury that many online stores offer that their traditional counterparts do not is free shipping. Since the process of shipping a ton of merchandise is quite costly, many online stores will waive the fee if the total value of the items in your order is less than $100. This can help you attract a larger audience and make sure that everyone knows your offer. Although there are some costs associated with having an active social media account and a quality website, offering free shipping is one way to make sure you reach as many people as possible.
4. Use Real People In Your Marketing Materials
While there are a variety of ways to market your product, using real people in your marketing materials is always the best way to go. After all, you can’t exactly say “inanimate objects” when referring to a diamond, can you? Even if you’re using the internet to promote your business, people are more likely to trust and believe in the words of another person. This is why you should always include people in your marketing materials. If you are a fashion brand, you can use models who have an emotional attachment to the clothes they’re wearing. For instance, you can have a model wearing an outfit that is partially the designer’s creation and partially their own. This way, the model will be more likely to promote your brand when they’re wearing it. Additionally, you can have the model wear something completely different, yet affiliated with your brand. This will make them more memorable and more useful to your marketing campaign.
5. Build A Community
An easy way to attract potential customers to your website is to provide them with value. One way to do this is by sharing valuable information about your niche and what you have to offer. If you’re passionate about a certain subject matter, you can use your blog to educate your audience about the things you’re interested in. For example, if you’re a fashion stylist and you’ve got a blog about beauty, you can write about the newest trends and products in your industry. Additionally, you can include useful tips on how to achieve certain looks or use certain products. Building a community of people who are interested in your topic matter can help you find an audience and encourage them to visit your site. In the fashion industry, a good place to do this is on social media. By sharing interesting content and engaging with your followers, you’ll be able to grow your community and make them more interested in what you have to say. Additionally, by interacting with your followers, you allow them to become “influencers” in your niche. This can eventually lead to increased brand loyalty and greater brand recognition (if you market yourself responsibly of course).
6. Make Sure Your Website Looks Expensive
The best place to make sure your website looks expensive is in the design of the page. Simply put, people on the internet tend to look for the cheapest option, if the website design is not expensive, it will seem like a bargain. You can have fancy pictures and the text can be simple and to the point. Designing a luxury website is not as difficult as it seems. You just need to find a good balance between being innovative and looking classic—you don’t want to overdo it and seem like a poser.
7. Provide Great Customer Service
One of the things that make your product unique is the fact that you made it yourself. This is why you want to make sure that your customers have a pleasant experience whenever they go to your website or send you an email. If you provide excellent customer service, you’ll gain credibility with your audience and make sure that they keep coming back for more.
To provide great customer service, you must first ensure that your website is easy to use and accessible. If a customer has trouble using your site or sending an email because of issues with screen reading or bad internet connectivity, you should fix the problem as soon as possible. If you have a phone number listed on your website or in your email signature, you can provide customers with access to the phone number—even if it’s just via a ring tone download. Additionally, customers can contact you via email if they have problems or questions about their order. Make sure that all of your customer service emails are consistent in tone and as easy to understand as possible. If you respond promptly, in a polite and professional manner, customers will feel as though they’re being given priority over other people trying to reach you.
8. Use The Right Video.
Although text is an easy way to communicate, video is an even easier way to present information. Additionally, people love to watch videos about brands they love—so you can imagine how much footage there is online about Christian Louboutin.
To make sure that your videos work, you need to select a theme for the video. For instance, if you want to focus on the quality of the materials used to make your products, you can theme your video around this topic. Additionally, choose a topic that will allow you to demonstrate the skills you have as a designer. If you’re new to video, start small and work your way up. Don’t get so swept away by technology that you ignore the fundamentals of storytelling through video.
9. Use Influencers And Celebrity Endorsers
One way to get the word out about your brand is to use influencers or celebrity endorsers. Influencers are people who have a large audience and can promote your product or service in a well-known platform. Celebrity endorsers are people who are familiar to the audience, so they can promote your product more effectively. There are a variety of ways to find celebrity endorsers for your product, from using search engines to reaching out directly to famous people.