1.) Clean up your listings Whether you are using Etsy or another online shop you definitely want to take the time to make your listings look professional. This means photos AND text. I still have work to do on some of my listings, its not the fun part but it is definitely an important one. Buyers want to be CLEAR on what they are buying so you really need to spell it out (this will also cover you later if they say "I didn't know" Put your policies right in the description to avoid trouble later. For example, I sell digital invitation files so I state the item description, time it will take to be completed,what size the item is, and also clearly put that I recommend sending it to a photo center, that the item is not physical etc. So far so good.
Also the pictures need to clearly show your items from different angles. Since my items aren't physical I usually post my JPEG item photo and also another photo of the item on a faux background because it makes it look more real to the buyer but I plan to eventually take photos of physical prints too.
2.) Create a Facebook page dedicated to your business Although my business page hasn't gotten many followers yet (I haven't paid for advertising yet) it is much better to start with a small following that cares rather than try to bug all your Facebook friends with frequent business posts...trust me they will get annoyed. This also gives you a link to share with your customers so they can keep up with your items in the future. It hasn't lead to many new sells for me yet, but once I get more items I will probably promote my page with FB advertising and hopefully it will spark some new sales.
3.) Business Cards this is particularly important if you are shipping out physical items. You can get some basic cards printed at places like Office Depot or online via Vista print and they start out rather cheap! Vista print often offers x amount of basic cards for $10. I am currently working on creating my own design but most sites will give you a template to customize if you aren't into making your own. It would be a great idea to attach a business card to a nice thank you note when you send out physical items. Since my items are digital I will probably use my physical cards to tap into the local customer base by doing some personal handouts and maybe attaching some sample files for them to see.
4.) BLOG While the purpose of this blog is not for me to promote my business, it does offer me ways to network for it. Posting "how to" videos and subtly promoting my items can generate interest. Also if you get a decent following you can start networking with other bloggers and doing guest post for one another. I am no where near that point now but I really hope to be there after some hard work and a few successful posts! Blogs do take time and effort so don't think it will quickly bring in lots of customers, but if you are in it for the long haul it is definitely a worthwhile time investment.
There are many more options and ways to promote, but I think this is a good starting point. If you have any questions or tips for me please leave a comment! If you want to check out some of my designs you can view my shop here!
