Here’s an important and fast-growing trend you need to know about if you sell the jewelry you make:
Small businesses - such as one-person jewelry businesses - are becoming more and more successful in competing against much bigger retailers online.
One reason is because putting up a website and shopping cart is becoming easier and cheaper every day, so nearly any “mom and pop” business can develop an internet presence and storefront.
Equally important is the growing number of opportunities for small businesspeople to promote their products directly to their target audiences - for free.
A small business profiled in the New York Times article Small Merchants Gain Large Presence on Web has been very successful by networking online and using social shopping sites to promote their products.
There’s never been a better time for a small jewelry business to gain a big foothold online.
If you’ve been planning to put up your jewelry website someday, I’d encourage you not to put it off.
At minimum, consider putting up a blog that chronicles your jewelry designs and studio happenings, and start posting to it at least three or four times a week.
You can sell your jewelry via an online storefront such as Etsy, and promote your storefront via your blog.
Or you can make your jewelry available directly via your blog using PayPal “buy now” buttons.
If you’re ready to put up a full jewelry website with shopping cart, see my jewelry website tips and resources.
Remember, though, putting up a website or Etsy store doesn’t make automatic jewelry sales.
Your own marketing efforts are what make your jewelry sell online.
So once you get your blog or website up, I encourage you to network with other bloggers and online publishers whose businesses don’t compete with yours but have the same target market.
Also, here’s how to use social shopping sites to promote your jewelry to an audience that’s ready and waiting to shop.
Web merchants took in 18 percent more in dollar sales in November 2007 compared to the same period last year.
Get your jewelry business ready to rock online in 2008!
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