Tuesday 27 April 2010

Build a Successful Online Craft Business

Opening a store in a Craft Mall is just the beginning, building a successful online business is a slow process that takes work and commitment.

You start by creating content for your new shop, customers coming to your shop cannot touch and feel your unique handmade crafts like they would in a brick and mortar shop, so it is extremely important that your images are crystal clear and your descriptions are detailed. It is also very important that you tell your customers about you and your craft and maybe even add your picture so that your customers can see who you are, this makes the customer feel like they know you.

Being in an online crafters mall can give you an advantage because there are already customers coming and shopping there, but that doesn't mean that you can sit back and do nothing, "well actually you can" and you might even get a few orders, but if you really want your business to succeed you will have to work at it.

So where do you start!

You start by focusing on getting traffic to your shop. By spending just a few hours a day promoting your new shop, you will find that little by little the customers will start coming and buying.

So where do you promote!

You can start by writing a couple of small adds about your unique handmade crafts and post them in online shopping classifieds, in your local newspapers and in online craft directories. You can place ads on sites like Craigs List or Kijiji for free. Join forums relating to your craft, start a Facebook page, open a Twitter account, post to Craft Blogs, start your own Craft Blog. Tell everyone you can about your unique handmade crafts and your new shop. It might take a year to build your business but in the end your hard work will pay off and you will have a steady flow of loyal customers coming and shopping in your online store. At this point you can start expanding your business.

There is no overnight success in any business on or off line, but with a little effort your handmade craft business can and will succeed.

About the Author
Catherine Stabler is the owner of the GLC Arts and Crafts Online Mall, http://www.glcmall.com the mall is designed to bring together Artists and Crafters with interested buyers worldwide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Stabler

Tuesday 20 April 2010

Tips to Craft a Public Relations Plan

A good businessperson knows the importance of stretching a dollar. In the current economic climate, it is important to constantly evaluate your company's ROI (return on investment). For managers who utilize B2B business to business marketing this is especially important because advertising costs are high and sometimes it is difficult to prove results.

To help stretch that almighty dollar marketing managers are returning to the highly effective practice of public relations. PR is an invaluable tool that marketers have at their disposal. It is a great way marketing managers can implement B2B marketing strategies, and produce interest in their company's overall mission statement and core values.

Incorporating Public Relations in B2B Advertising and B2B Marketing Strategies

In the current technological age it is easy for people to find information readily, and direct communication with your audience is vital. To promote a company's message, a good public relations plan utilizes traditional PR methods, as well as a host of at-your-fingertip social media options, including: blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other outlets. Online newsrooms, online directories, podcasts, webinars and other tactics can all be incorporated into an effective PR plan. Public relations strategies such as these give marketers the opportunity to showcase a company's expertise and to discuss how the organization is addressing issues and trends of interest to customers and prospects.

Public relations practices are only effective in a B2B marketing strategy through consistent cultivation of relationships with media and industry analysts. By forming these strong relationships, opportunities to highlight the capabilities of your organization will come to you.

The Dollars and Cents

An effective public relations plan does not have to be expensive. The cost to implement a strategic, initiative is considerably less than other B2B marketing strategies, such as direct mailings, radio or television campaigns, and print advertising. The backbone of PR is relationship building. While this can be hard work sometimes, it does not require a large budget.

Important Points to Consider

Conventional advertising and marketing is one-way. People want to feel involved and enjoy having a dialogue - they want a voice. In this online era, PR allows companies to interact with prospects and communities in a manner that will foster positive two-way communication.

The goal of advertising and public relations is one in the same - to communicate key messages to a specific target audience to influence attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors. Advertising and PR are different so directly comparing costs is difficult; however, it is important to consider both these B2B marketing strategies. Before spending thousands on your next ad placement schedule, consider whether or not a good PR program might deliver better results.

Rhonda Ryerson is a PR Specialist at TriComB2B, a Vandalia-based marketing company that focuses on technical writing for B2B marketing campaigns.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Ryerson

Thursday 15 April 2010

Make Your Kids a Craft Space

There are many things that children are able to do when wanting to have fun and study things at the same time. One of the better things that they have the ability to do is to create crafts. At a young age when kids are in school they are able to make anything they want, from paper bunnies to hearts.

It is stunning to see what youngsters are able to do when they put their minds to it and you need to encourage each minute of it. The best thing you could do is to create an area specifically and just for their crafts. It could be a whole room or merely a small space in the living room.

The first thing you need is something that can store all the paper, glue, stickers, and crayons. Target has a number of storage bins that are colorful, soft, and easy to set up. Kids love them and they are easy to utilize. Everything will have its own special drawer and you will not need to spend a fortune.

Get a writing desk or easel that they can use or you can purchase them both. It is not difficult to purchase these colorful desks at Wal-Mart or Target under $200. They are the right size for your child and yes they are able to take anything your kid has to bring to it. Position this next to the storage so that everything will be close to them.

Lastly you need to put together a bulletin board where they have the ability to display their arts and crafts. Buy a simple corkboard for $15 or less. Many individuals would utilize thumbtacks - but this is not something you need children handling. Instead put Velcro dots all over the side of it. Your kid can peel them from each other and stick them quickly and easily to the board.

Make a Craft Space that your kids will love and that will give them inspiration to draw and paint. Find out what essentials like Velcro Dots you need to put things together.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Naomi_West

Monday 5 April 2010

Craft

A lot of benefit from a craft, in addition to beautify the room, give meaning and other crafts are also helping us in making recycled goods that can not be recycled naturally.

Lots of creative now produces a unique craft, not rare even favored by sharing circles. Ditampilakan uniqueness in creating crafts Pali is the most important thing in making the work of extraordinary and admired