In Parts 1 and part 2 of this series, I covered the basics of setting up your online crochet business, including websites, platforms, and VAT rules. Now, in the final part How to Sell Your Handmade Knits or Crochet Creations, we’ll focus on the essentials of marketing, product photography, and crafting effective product descriptions. These are crucial if you want to succeed in selling your handmade creations. After all, a website alone won’t bring in customers.

In this post, we’ll discuss:

• Crafting product descriptions
• Product photography tips
• Telling your story (Who are you?)
• Basic marketing strategies

Let’s dive in!

1. Writing Effective Product Descriptions

Starting an online shop is exciting, but products won’t sell themselves. Even major fashion brands, now household names, started small—and many did so before online shopping even existed. With today’s consumers increasingly shopping online, it’s essential to write engaging product descriptions. Without these, your items won’t appear in search results, and customers won’t find you.

Keep it Concise but Informative

A lengthy description isn’t always better. Large platforms like Amazon may have long, drawn-out descriptions filled with keywords, but you can opt for a more streamlined approach, especially on platforms like WordPress. Most shops allow for a short and full description. Use the short description to highlight the essentials: what it is, what it does, and its size. In the full description, provide more details like color options, yarn types, and care instructions. This helps Google find your products, even though your customers may not read every word.

Example:

Internal Links and Product Suggestions: Don’t hesitate to cross-sell in your product descriptions. For example, if you’re selling a crocheted bracelet, suggest a matching necklace you also have available. It helps guide customers toward making additional purchases. This way you Sell more handmade creations in one go.

2. Product Photography Tips

Good product photography is crucial. Clear, high-quality images can make the difference between a sale and a missed opportunity. Remember, the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” is especially true for online shopping.

Include Size Comparisons: Help customers visualize the size of your items. Place a ruler or a common object, like a coin, next to your product in the photo to provide context. This prevents misunderstandings about the size and saves you from unnecessary returns.

Choose a Neutral Background: While it’s tempting to get creative with your photo backgrounds, be mindful of how this can affect your product’s visibility. Keep the focus on your product. Use a neutral or light-colored background to make your item stand out.

Capture Multiple Angles: Showcase your product from various angles, especially if it has details that might not be visible in a single shot. This could include close-ups of the texture or intricate features like the eyes on a doll or the stitching on a blanket.

3. Telling Your Story: Who Are You?

Unlike big brands, you don’t have instant recognition. That’s why it’s important to build trust and connect with potential customers by sharing a bit about yourself on an “About Me” page.

What to Include on Your ‘About Me’ Page: Share your journey: Who are you? How did you get into crocheting? What’s your specialty? Are there other hobbies or activities you’re passionate about? This personal touch helps customers feel connected to you and builds trust, increasing the likelihood of a purchase.

4. Marketing Basics for Selling Crochet Work

Now that you’ve followed the steps from the previous posts, it’s time to bring in customers. But without a big marketing budget, how can you attract attention to your shop?

Social Media Presence: Make sure you’re active on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, or Facebook. Choose the one(s) that feel most natural for you and post regularly. Share photos of your works-in-progress, finished products, or even your yarn stash. Engage with your audience, show what you’re working on, and direct followers to your website or shop.

Start a Blog: As you’re reading this blog, you’ve already seen its value firsthand! Consider starting your own to drive traffic to your site. Share your experiences, review crochet books, offer free patterns, or walk readers through your latest projects. A blog keeps your website fresh and relevant, which search engines love.

Offer a Newsletter: Once you have a few customers, create a newsletter to inform them about new products, sales, or exclusive offers. Tools like Mailchimp make this easy to set up.

5. Paid and free methodes

Should You Use Paid Ads? You may have seen sponsored posts on Facebook or Instagram. These are paid ads targeting users like you. To test the waters, you can try this out with a small budget, say $10–20. See if it results in likes, follows, or even sales. However, avoid spending too much at first. If it works, you can always scale up later.

Free Marketing Opportunities: Word-of-mouth is incredibly valuable to sell handmade creations. Don’t shy away from telling friends, family, and coworkers about your shop. Your local community can be a great source of support.

Backlinks: Backlinks are links from other websites that direct users to your site. These boost your credibility in Google’s eyes. Reach out to fellow creators or bloggers and offer to exchange links or guest posts. This simple strategy can help improve your search engine ranking.

Conclusion

Now it’s time to put all this into action! Take what you’ve learned and improve your product descriptions, photography, and marketing efforts, and start to sell handmade creations. Remember, selling crochet work is about more than just the craft. It’s about presenting your creations in the best possible light and making them easy for customers to find.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments. Happy crocheting, and good luck with your shop! That’s it!