As indiepreneurs, one of the strongest marketing tools we have is in our very own personal story. Most people that buy handmade are highly interested in our personal stories, as a way to connect not only to us as creative people but to somehow connect to the product we have to sell.
Each and every one of us has a road we have travelled down to get where we are today as indiepreneurs.
I heard and read this tip everywhere when I decided to take the plunge into selling my own items, and decided to tie it in with naming my business as well.
It wasn’t easy. For most of us, talking about ourselves or even “selling” ourselves is not something that comes naturally. We cringe at the thought of coming off as “sales-ey.” But trust me, something that does not seem all that interesting to you about yourself can often be very interesting to someone that doesn’t know you.
Also, practice makes perfect. Just remember it’s not a sales pitch, it’s your story. Own it.
So how do you find your story? Ask yourself these questions, to start:
What is your first crafting memory and what lead you to create the craft you do today?
What did you do to learn your craft? Was it passed down to you from family, or did you take classes? Who was your mentor if you had one?
Have you always found yourself drawn to creating things?
Are you earning a living crafting, or are you a hobbyist?
What spurred you to begin selling your crafts?
Think about what you would want to know about yourself if you were at a show and buying from you. What questions would you have for yourself? What would you find interesting?
What’s next? Keep on telling your story!
Incorporate it into your brochures, web site and blog. Add an “About Me” or “About the Artist” page to your literature (online or offline) that tells your clientele about you. Share photos of your studio space, current projects, or even the history of your craft to draw your customers closer to your story.
Make sure to greet your customers at craft fairs and tell your story to interest them. Oftentimes, browsers can become so engaged in your story they may see you and your craft in a different light and change their mind about buying. After telling your story several times, you’ll become much more comfortable with it and telling it will begin to come more and more naturally.
Every chance you get, tell your story. As I’ve said before, one of the single most powerful assets as independent crafters and designers is the human connection we have with our customers. This connection will make people feel closer to us and our work, and makes us memorable to our customers. Share your story!
Contributed by:
Jessica Cripps
Liebling Designs
www.lieblingdesigns.etsy.com
www.lieblingartcrafts.wordpress.com
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