With all the time required online...

[Former_Member]

...for marketing, how do you manage that, actually creating, a day job, and kids (if you have them)? I really would like some tips because it seems I'm having to spend a lot of time trying to promote online, when I should be painting.

[Former_Member]

I came up with a schedule for myself every day so that I have blocks of time for marketing vs. creating. I would say that the marketing piece is more than 75% of the time spent on my business overall for the week.

I justify it this way - there's no sense in building up my inventory if nobody is looking at it.

[Former_Member]

Very true!

[Former_Member]

I am just starting this week making a schedule. I am a stay at home mom so it's different then having a day job. But I really feel that if I don't set a schedule I feel guilting of not taking care of everything that needs to be done. So I have told my husband that I need 3 hours every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday to get my art or computer stuff done. Now this does not include the extra times I may stay up till 2 am. But at least I know and the family knows this is mommy time.
Now when I post something new I try to edit all my new things at once and write the copy in a word file. Then when I am ready to post ( during high times) I can just cut and paste. I also do this for treasuries. I get way more done with it's uniteruped time then when I try to fit it in.

[Former_Member]

I'm a student so I don't have a massive budget and I can't make as many items or buy advertising like I'd like to. I have a Facebook page though which I update about twice a day and I find time to chat in my Etsy teams which brings some views to my shop. Then I realise I have an assignment due the next day and have to get on with that!

[Former_Member]

If you market well in the beginning then over time you will have enough people who know about you that you won't have to market as much because they will do it for you!! I was told that it takes about 2 years and then enough word of mouth has happened that you will be able to paint to your hearts content! :)

[buffalogirls]

I wish I could hire somebody to do my marketing so I can only create. Wouldn't that be nice. I spend most of my day in from of a computer screen, actually two screens, working on marketing for my clients whose website I am designing and developing, but there is not much time to do the same for me.
The cobbler's children have no shoes:)

[Former_Member]

Wow. Apparently I need a marketing plan. I have a facebook page, which I am lucky to update once a week - I'm not quite sure what to even put on it other than if I list or relist a product. And I have a twitter account, but that's mostly for personal use with occasional rbdesign stuff thrown in.

What else do you guys do to market?

[beadsofaquarius]

i agree with buffalogirls , me too, i need someone for advertising my shop and pages , then i have all the time to create! this is my dream!!! ;))))))))

[FalconandFinch]

I invested in a smart phone and unlimitted data plan, which has been one of the soundest business choices I've ever made. Not only can I return convos ultra fast and do research when ever I'm free, but I can network and market on the go. I tweet on my morning bus commute to work, check the forums in btween customers at work, blog while I'm waiting for people. It is a challenge to stop, however, and I've had to set rules to curb my obsession...