6 Effective Ways To Sell Crafts Online

Are you wondering how to sell crafts online? You’ve come to the right place! Discover everything you need to know to start a crafting business and earn money doing what you love.

Platforms for Selling Crafts Online

First things first! To sell handmade products online, we need a place to showcase our creations, process payments, and manage customer orders. Fortunately, there are several options available, both for those who dare to create their own website from scratch and for those who need something simple to get familiar with the world of online sales.

Selling on Etsy

Etsy stands out as one of the most popular and renowned platforms for making money through crafts and artisanal products. It’s particularly suitable for beginners, as you can start selling your handmade items in just an afternoon and gain access to a global audience of art and craft enthusiasts.

Ventajas de Vender en Etsy

It’s a platform specializing in handmade products and vintage products. Buyers turn to Etsy in search of items they can’t find in traditional stores, creating an ideal market for craft sellers.
The most challenging aspect of selling online is reaching your buyers, however, with Etsy, you already have part of the work done, as it has a big audience.
Getting started with selling your crafts is easy, as Etsy provides intuitive and user-friendly tools. Sellers can set up their online store in a matter of minutes and without investing more than €0.20 to list their first product for sale.

Disadvantages of Selling on Etsy

There are a large number of sellers, and therefore, the competition is higher. Although Etsy overall attracts a large number of visitors, it can be difficult to attract traffic to your specific store, though not impossible.
You have to pay fees for each sale, in addition to expenses for payment processing, taxes, etc… In the end, Etsy will take between 10% and 15% of what you generate. This is part of online sales, as with any platform, there will be certain expenses, but it’s very important to take this into account when calculating your selling prices.
Although Etsy offers some customization options for your store, these options may be limited compared to other e-commerce platforms. This can make it difficult to create a unique and differentiated brand. However, with a bit of creativity, sellers can still stand out and create a memorable shopping experience for their customers.

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Selling on eBay

Although it may seem a bit outdated, eBay has been a pioneer in online sales, offering a wide variety of products to millions of users worldwide.

Advantages of Selling on eBay

eBay has a diverse and global user base, allowing sellers to reach a wide audience of buyers from different countries and cultures.
One of eBay’s distinctive features is its flexibility in selling options. Sellers can choose to list their products in an auction, where buyers bid on the item, or set a fixed price for immediate purchase. This variety of options allows sellers to adapt to customer purchasing preferences and maximize their selling opportunities.
eBay accepts a wide variety of products, from new to used items. This diversity allows sellers to adapt to changing market demands and find a specific niche.

Disadvantages of Selling on eBay

Due to its size and popularity, competition among sellers on eBay can be fierce. With thousands of sellers offering similar products, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd and capture the attention of buyers.
eBay charges fees for listing products on the platform, as well as a commission for each sale made. While these fees are part of the online business world, they can reduce profit margins for sellers.
Although eBay accepts a wide variety of products, the platform has a lesser focus on handmade and artisanal products compared to others like Etsy. This can make it difficult for craft and handmade product sellers to stand out and find their target audience on eBay. However, with an effective marketing strategy and attractive product presentation, sellers can still succeed on eBay.

Selling on Amazon Handmade

Amazon Handmade is an e-commerce platform launched by Amazon in 2015, specifically designed for artisans and creators who want to sell crafts online.

Advantages of Selling on Amazon Handmade

One of the greatest advantages of selling on Amazon Handmade is instant access to Amazon’s huge customer base, much larger than eBay’s and Etsy’s.
Amazon Handmade is distinguished by its exclusive focus on handmade products and artisanal items. This dedication to craftsmanship and creativity can attract buyers looking for unique and high-quality products.
Amazon Handmade sellers benefit from Amazon’s robust shipping infrastructure and customer service. This includes order management, storage and shipping logistics, and Amazon’s world-class customer service. This infrastructure can help sellers provide a seamless shopping experience and keep customers satisfied.

Disadvantages of Selling on Amazon Handmade

Amazon Handmade charges higher selling fees than some other e-commerce platforms, which can reduce profit margins for sellers. These fees may include transaction fees and monthly platform usage fees.
Amazon Handmade has rigorous eligibility requirements for sellers who want to join the platform. These requirements may include demonstrating craft skills, verifying the authenticity of products, and complying with platform policies.
Since Amazon Handmade allows handmade product sellers to compete directly in the Amazon marketplace, sellers may struggle to stand out.
Amazon’s audience is used to speedy deliveries, so you’ll need to store stock in advance, rather than creating your products on demand.

Selling with Shopify

Shopify is an e-commerce platform that offers the possibility of quickly creating your own online store and customizing it to 100% fit your brand and needs.

Advantages of Selling with Shopify

One of the main advantages of Shopify is that it gives sellers full control over their online store, without the need for extensive prior knowledge. All aspects of your store can be customized easily without needing programming knowledge, from design to navigation and functionality.
It offers integrations with a variety of marketing and analytics tools that can help sellers boost sales and better understand their store’s performance. This includes integrations with email platforms, marketing automation tools, and data analysis systems that can provide valuable insights into customer behavior and market trends.
You can forget about website maintenance, as Shopify takes care of the entire process. Additionally, it offers 24/7 customer service to help sellers with any questions or issues that may arise while using the platform.

Disadvantages of Selling with Shopify

Although creating a store with Shopify is simple, it takes time to learn how the platform works and how to make the most of its features.
Shopify charges a monthly fee for platform usage, as well as transaction fees depending on the plan chosen by the seller.
As your business grows and you need access to more advanced features or specific customizations, you may need to pay for additional apps or even hire developers to create custom features.

How Can I Sell My Handmade Products Explained

Selling on Your Own Website

WordPress is one of the most popular and versatile website creation platforms, perfect for building and managing your own online store. And the best part? It’s free! But like anything else, it comes with its pros and cons:

Pros of Building Your Website with WordPress

Selling from your own website with WordPress gives you complete independence and control over your online business. You can fully customize the design and functionality of your store to fit your specific needs and maintain total control over the brand and customer experience.
Your products won’t be displayed alongside those of other sellers, as is the case with Etsy, eBay, or Amazon. Once customers land on your website, you have control over which products to showcase to them.
You can avoid the fees and commissions typically charged by third-party platforms like Etsy or eBay. This can help maximize your profit margins.

Cons of Building Your Website with WordPress

Setting up and maintaining your own website with WordPress requires a certain level of technical know-how. This may include skills in web design, web development, online security… If you lack experience in these areas, it may be necessary to hire a web developer or invest time in learning on your own.
While WordPress itself is free, creating and maintaining your own website with WordPress may incur additional costs, such as hosting fees or purchasing premium themes, although this is usually not 100% necessary.
Selling from your own website means taking full responsibility for all aspects of your online business, including site security, legal compliance, and customer support.

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Selling Crafts Online for Free (or Nearly Free)

There are countless places where you can create an online store for free or at very low cost. The sky’s the limit, really—here are some ideas!

Bigcartel: You can set up your own page to sell crafts for free with up to 5 products, or pay a fairly affordable fixed monthly fee if you want to include more. Perfect for those who want to start learning about the world of online sales.
Classified websites: They are often overlooked, but sites like Facebook Marketplace or Vinted also have a large number of potential customers. The only downside is that the traffic is usually more local, meaning the popularity of these websites varies depending on the country where you want to sell.
Social Media: Although it’s not my favorite option, selling directly on social media without your own website is possible. Payment processors like Paypal or Stripe offer tools to create invoices and allow your customers to pay directly with just a few clicks.

How to Get Your First Sales Online

Opening your store is just the first step; now comes the most important part: getting in front of your audience and starting to make money with your crafts.

When you start a store from scratch, with no reviews or ways to prove your credibility, getting your first sale can seem like an impossible challenge. But with patience and certain strategies to increase online sales, you’ll see how the snowball effect kicks in:

Find your niche: It may seem counterintuitive, but trying to please everyone when you’re a sole individual selling crafts is very difficult. Even big brands follow this strategy: identifying a niche will help you stand out and attract customers interested in your products or services.
Offer the best experience to your customers, both on your website or store, by explaining in detail everything necessary (for example, delivery times, shipping costs, steps for customizing products…), offering secure payment options, and delivering products that meet the quality you promise.
Show yourself as an artist, post your photo and explain what has led you to sell your products, what inspires you, and what your creative vision is. When it comes to selling crafts and handmade products, the audience highly values getting to know the artisan behind them and their story.
Post high-quality photos that showcase your products from all possible angles and in different contexts. (for example, if you want to sell illustrations, show them in a living room, in a bedroom…)
Use different marketing strategies to reach your customers and stick with the ones that are sustainable for you. Although promoting yourself on social media is the most popular and it seems like you have to be on every possible platform, it can also consume most of your time. There are other methods like SEO and email marketing, through which you can attract your audience and, most importantly, retain them.
Ask for reviews from your customers, not only to showcase the quality of your products and build trust with new customers, but also to learn from them.
Keep an open mind, the world of e-commerce is constantly changing! Pay attention to trends and try to see how you can adapt your products to them, as long as it makes sense for your niche.

I Have Everything Ready… What Now?

While there are many videos online that show how easy it is to get rich with an online store, the truth is that selling crafts online and starting to make money requires effort and, above all, a lot of consistency. This doesn’t mean it’s impossible, far from it! If you persevere, you’ll already have won a big part of the battle.

Once you’ve created your store, it’s crucial to analyze what’s happening in it to improve it and create a sustainable business for the future:

Analyze your prices to ensure fair compensation for your time and materials. Trying to compete for the lowest price isn’t always the best strategy, especially when it comes to selling crafts online.
Get to know your customers. The more you understand what they’re looking for, when they’re looking for it, and why, the easier it will be to create successful products, as well as predict your busiest and quietest times.
And don’t forget about your competition, not to copy them, but to learn from them. By knowing your competitors, you can better understand the market you’re in, discover if there are too many sellers, and figure out what to do to stand out.
Accept negative reviews because, let’s face it, they’re going to come at some point. Negative reviews can highlight specific aspects of your products or services that don’t meet expectations, allowing you to improve them over time. If you have the opportunity to respond, do so proactively and professionally, so that future customers can see that you care about resolving any issues that may arise.
Learn, learn, and keep learning! And also don’t be afraid to delegate the tasks that you find most boring. Let’s be honest, not everyone has the time or desire to learn how to handle store accounting or marketing… if something gives you a headache, it’s worth investing some money to free up time and focus on what fulfils you the most. Pages like Fiverr offer professional services for all budgets!

We hope this basic guide has provided you with valuable and useful information to start your adventure. Remember, the path may be full of challenges, but it’s possible to overcome them with dedication, creativity, and perseverance. Don’t be afraid to experiment, learn from your mistakes, and adapt to the changing needs of the market.

With time and practice, you can build a solid and profitable business that allows you to make a living doing what you love. The most important thing is to take the plunge, take the first step, and put into practice everything you’ve learned!

Ana Castillo

Email Marketing & SEO Specialist

Hey there! I’m Ana Castillo, your friendly guide to the world of arts and crafts entrepreneurship! With more than 10 years of experience in email marketing and SEO, I’ve been there, done that, and even ran my own online shop selling handmade goodies. Now, I’m here to share my passion for creativity, along with my marketing know-how, to help fellow artists like you succeed in the online world. Let’s turn your creative dreams into a booming business together! Get to know more about me here or follow me on Linkedin »