Best Marketing Techniques For Beginners

[NewScoresVintage]

Hi everyone, 

No one is born a marketing wiz. Getting a new shop’s name out in the world can, at times, be a long learning process. 

If you’re a newbie or a seasoned seller looking for a refresh, this smart start guide to marketing essentials is for you. 

Whether it was business cards, social media, or organic word of mouth tactics, we want to hear from you! What were your best marketing ideas when you first began your business? 

Image by VanilyaCeramics

[SarahLouCraftsUK]

I can highly recommend taking part in Twitter Chat hours. Such as #UKGiftAM. Simply add the hashtag to your Tweets then click on the hashtag to see everyone else's tweets using the same tag and take part in the chat. A great way to meet other sellers, customers and increase your reach. 

[KutanaDesigns]

Thank you for this reminder! I post a variety of things on my personal IG, and often show my process there, but often neglect my business page. I guess because I don't have many followers on my business iG yet. 

[VintageRescueSquad]

Back when I started (over 10+ years ago), my blog was my best marketing. Now defunct. But, nowadays I recommend an active Instagram account. Don't just make it "Here's something I listed on etsy. Here's another thing I listed on etsy." ENGAGE. Show your process, show your item in use.Understand hashtags

[SarahLouCraftsUK]

I love Instagram and am still learning my way around it. 

[MoonMartShop]

Yes, it’s true 

[PoshPark]

Yes I agree, you can use also TikTok to show your process

[TheGeekElement]

Do you think Instagram would be a good fit for digital products?

[FallenAngelBrass]

@TheGeekElement 

Instagram is a good fit for anything that has intriguing pictures and great hashtags.  If your product presentation includes photos that capture the imagination, then Instagram is for you.

[KSoileauDesigns]

I love instagram, however I'm not sure I'm using it to my advantage. I get very few outbound clicks on my post. Maybe it's a generational thing, but social media make my head want to explode sometimes. haha!!!

[Goodmerch7]

Yes, ENGAGE!!!The process, and letting people see that

[ShiraniJewellery]

How do you find the correct hashtags. 

[Portafoliodesigns]

I agree with you. We have an Instagramaccount and we try to engage with our audience. Also, we try  to tell a story in every post. 

[shopSUUS]

My best marketing is definitely done through Instagram, however I feel like I could definitely use some help in the area...

I've heard Twitter is the new best thing but I've been hesitant to start one for whatever reason. Anyone have any experience with Twitter and marketing their business? 

[amicastylestudio]

for my IT business Twitter works best. for this sellers business never tried. 

[Jackson8LLC]

Hi. I too have a full-time job so social media postings are time consuming so I hired two Fiverr freelancers to manage my Etsy and FB accounts. I am now working on YouTube and Instagram to boost traffic and sales. If you can't do it, hire someone; Fiverr is affordable. 

[crowinghenfarm]

@Jackson8LLC

It's good to remember that if you give someone access to your Etsy account, they have access to your private financial data.

Also, if they log into an account that breaks Etsy Policy, every account they have accessed could also get banned.

It might be better to hire someone to work on the social media and manage your Etsy account yourself. 

[CoquetteBath]

I don't currently use any social media. I know, I'm a dinosaur (much like the cute green one in the main photo!) but I have so few hours to devote to anything...due to the day job.

I keep saying that I need to learn, but honestly, what I really need is a teacher/mentor on this. Who has a lot of patience.

[MNHDigital]

Honestly, one of the biggest mistakes I see with people using any type of social media for promotion is using it only for promotion. 

My advice would be to get a Twitter account (as a for instance), follow some accounts that post about things you're interested, and start tweeting some personal things mixed in with promotion. Being a human is much more likely to bring in followers and then customers than just continually posting links and promotion. 

I just left an Etsy Sellers group on Facebook because the owner of the group never posted at all, except to promote her "How to Sell on Etsy" package about 10 times a day. The rest of the group was great but the constant spam was overwhelming. 

Social media is a bit of a maze, but it can be a lot of fun when it's used for more than just promotion : )

[CoquetteBath]

that's the problem. I actually left all social media about 3 years ago due to the time suck that they were. And that was just Facebook and some Twitter. Oh, I do still use Pinterest, but for my own needs.

I have a Insta account that I've never used. At least I think I still have one...

if you have a few hours a day and want to do this, I applaud you. I just don't. The only thing I could do is get one of those 'tweet' or 'post' bots that would post stuff from me from time to time...so that I didn't have to be online. Or very much. Which defeats the purposes I think.

[MNHDigital]

Oh, it's definitely a time suck. I try to spend as little time as possible on social media (but I'm a dinosaur too lol)

[CustomDecodenCases]

Hi, I think you helped me with my shop issues yesterday. Thank you so much for that . I know you said you don’t use insta, but have an account. I’ve only just started using it. It seems to be quite easy. You’ve got some lovely pics in your shop of your products which you could very easily/quickly put on insta. I taught myself it. How to put up a quick post, how to add hashtags to get your things seen, and how to get followers easily who are interested in your product. I try and put a phone case design up on there a day. Due to the nature of my product it is relevant to do so, but in general it’s recommended to post 2/3 a week. A post takes about 3 mins to do. You can use things like copy and paste to speed things up. You can also easily add a button onto your profile linking it to your lovely Etsy shop. Re directing all those on insta to your shop. I am only a novice, no means a wizz but could try and explain step by step how to do things?

[crowinghenfarm]

I'm one of those weirdos who read the terms and conditions before clicking "I agree"

For that reason, I'm not going to be using most social media.  Seriously, if you want nightmares, read the FB terms and conditions - it's something out of a post-apocalyptic movie.  

I know some of my customers find me via FB, and I've been featured there by influencers.  But I also get a lot of customers who don't have electrical or internet hookup.  They have to visit a friend to buy it.  Magazines are still a powerful marketing tool. 

Basically, if you do use Social Media, read and research.  Get to know the community first and read the fine print!  Just like anything financial, one wrong step can cost a lot of money.  

[FallenAngelBrass]

The social media platform that works is the social media platform that you enjoy.  No social media is going to work if the seller isn't having fun being there and every platform offers a different experience.  Instagram is fun for me to browse around on, so it's a smooth slide into posting my own photos once or twice a day. I don't experience it as a time suck or as work, it's just fun.  If you don't like social media in general, then that marketing avenue isn't going to be a smart or successful use of your marketing time.   Better to devote all marketing energy into learning about and keeping up with good Etsy SEO, then. And working on those photos. 

[amicastylestudio]

haha..same for this platform especially i am so new that i need a teacher too.