Online Money Making Crafts: The Complete Guide for Beginners

Looking for creative ways to make extra money from home? Selling homemade crafts online is an amazing work-from-home opportunity for crafty entrepreneurs.

With the right craft niche, marketing approach, and ecommerce platforms, you can absolutely turn your hobby into a lucrative side business or full-time income stream. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share all the proven steps for crafts to make money based on my own success selling handmade products online.

Let’s dive in!

Choose a Profitable Craft Niche

Not every handmade craft translates well into a money-making endeavor. Your first step is picking a specialty that buyers are actively searching for and willing to pay decent prices.

Some of the most popular and lucrative DIY craft products include:

• Jewelry – Necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, anklets, and more made from materials like metal, string, beads, resin, clay, wood, gemstones.
• Candles – Sculpted, poured, and container candles (coffee mugs, jars, tins) made from wax like soy, beeswax, paraffin.
• Soaps – Cold processed and melt & pour soaps shaped into bars, cubes, and unique molds. Formulated for face, body, beard, shaving.
• Accessories – Handbags, totes, backpacks, hats, scarves, headbands, sunglasses, phone cases. Can incorporate embroidery, applique, patchwork, beading, knitting.
• Home Décor – Wall art prints,macramé hangings, wreaths, ceramics, pottery, quilts, baskets, bentwood furniture.
• Clothing – T-shirts, jackets, sweaters, baby clothes incorporating techniques like tie dye, bleach art, stenciling, screen printing.
• Paper Goods – Wedding invitations, greeting cards, art prints, planners, journals, bookmarks, coasters incorporating letterpress, calligraphy, mixed media.

Do thorough research before committing to ensure there is sufficient demand for what you want to make, and products can be priced profitably.

Set Up Your Online Craft Store

Once you’ve selected a winning craft product, it’s time to build out your online storefronts. While you can eventually sell across multiple platforms, start with just 1-2 to avoid being spread thin initially.

Selling on Etsy

Etsy is the #1 marketplace for selling handmade, vintage, and craft supplies. With millions of active buyers, it’s a must for any new craft business.

• Create an Etsy seller account
• Set up your Etsy shop sections like “About” and “Policies”
• Connect bank account and payment processing
• List your first handmade products!

Etsy charges a $0.20 USD listing fee per item plus takes 5% of final sale value. But they provide an instant, targeted audience.

Selling on Your Own Website

Having your own dedicated site allows you to completely customize branding, layout, user experience and integrate product reviews, blogs, videos, and visitor retargeting.

I recommend WordPress and WooCommerce to create your DIY craft site and shopping cart. Top web hosting providers include Bluehost, SiteGround, and A2 Hosting. Plan around $5-$20 per month.

Driving initial traffic takes more work without Etsy’s built-in shoppers. But you keep 100% of profits instead of paying fees!

Online Marketplaces

Expand reach by also listing your crafts across large online marketplaces like Amazon Handmade, Facebook Shops, Artfire, DaWanda, and Zibbet.

These platforms have lower barriers to entry compared to Etsy but also less dedicated craft buyers. Weigh the time investment versus incremental sales.

Style Professional Product Photos

Eye-catching photographyshowcasing details is key to sales. Use natural lighting, clean solid backgrounds, and multiple angles.

Invest in a quality camera and basic photo editing skills through tutorials. For a home studio,clamp lights with daylight bulbs paired with poster boards or acrylic sheets make ideal DIY lighting.

Taking the time to style polished product photos pays off tremendously in conversion rates. They immediately convey quality and uniqueness.

Perfect Your Product Listings

Craft the perfect product title, description, tags, and longer listing stories to entice buyers.

Product Titles

• Keep under 60 characters
• Lead with important keywords buyers search
• Include specialty traits, materials, colors

Description

• Add size, care instructions, materials
• Share inspiration story behind product
• Note any variations, personalization

Tags

• Include material names, categories, occasions
• Review competitor tags for ideas
• Use all 13 tag slots on Etsy

Listing Story

• Showcase product in use – lifestyle photos
• Share your workshop and process
• Get personal to build connection
• Set your brand’s tone and style

Price Products Profitably

Finding the optimal price point is essential to running a profitable craft business. You want to maximize earnings while still selling at a fair market rate.

Factors that go into pricing handmade items:

• Materials costs – Itemize all supplies needed and related amounts
• Labor time – Determine your target hourly rate, and multiply per item hours
• Competitor prices – Research pricing for similar items in your niche
• Profit margin – Decide on an ideal markup; 100%-200%+ over costs is common

Additionally, build perceived value through beautiful photography, solid branding, premium packaging and excellent customer service. These supports garnering higher prices.

Don’t undercharge simply because you “make it yourself;” your time and skills deserve fair wage. Start higher, and adjust based on initial response. Offer sales, deals to incentivize larger purchases.

Market Your Crafts on Social Media

Promote your brand and products heavily on free social media platforms to drive traffic to your shop(s).

• Instagram – Post artful product photos, behind-the-scenes of your process, and user-generated content. Use niche hashtags.
• Facebook – Share quick updates, sales, and events. Leverage ads to target custom audiences by interest and location.
• Pinterest – Pin lifestyle images linking to products and blog posts. Tailor pins to what followers search for.
• TikTok – Make short videos showcasing your creative process and workshop. Link to products in captions.

Reply to comments and engage followers. Let your unique personality shine through. Offer exclusive discounts or sales to further incentivize follows and shares.

Start a Niche Blog to Attract Customers

A blog that offers craft tutorials, decorative inspiration, and money-saving DIY ideas related to your products gives visitors helpful free content and builds your expertise. Guest blog posts also grow reach.

Monetize your blog traffic by:

• Publishing affiliate links to related products used in projects
• Promoting your own online shop items within posts
• Selling ad space via Google Adsense
• Using email pop-ups to collect subscriber leads

Content and SEO boost authority, driving free traffic. Add social sharing buttons so visitors help spread posts.

Send Email Newsletters to Past Buyers

Email marketing helps stay top of mind with interested craft buyers and previous customers.

Send out:

• Product launch announcements
• Coupon codes and promos
• Holiday sales and gift idea newsletters
• Customer surveys requesting feedback
• Behind the scenes and personal updates

Collect emails at checkout. Send initial “Welcome!” message to start ongoing nurturing relationship. Personalize subject lines using first names. Offer subscribers early access or discounts.

Grow Online Reviews and Testimonials

Positive reviews boost perceived quality and trustworthiness. Prompt happy customers to leave reviews on your profiles and product listings:

• Follow up after purchase with polite requests
• Offer incentives like discounts for written reviews
• Publicly thank customers for taking time to review

Pull excerpts from five star reviews to publicly share as social testimonials. Peer validation is hugely influential for new customers!

Provide Excellent Customer Service

Delighting craft buyers with caring, attentive service earns powerful word-of-mouth referrals. Communicate clearly and promptly:

• Quickly respond to questions and inquiries
• Send shipping and delivery confirmations
• Follow up to ensure satisfaction after receipt
• Handle returns, exchanges, refunds fairly

Being reliable and helpful encourages repeat purchases. Go above and beyond, and your reputation will grow fast!

Consider Craft Fair and Pop-Up Events

Local in-person sales complement your online craft business. Art fairs, festivals, markets, pop-up shops and even private parties offer opportunities to connect directly with customers.

Benefits of selling in-person:

• Meet local buyers unfamiliar with your brand
• Showcase full product range, customization options
• Collect emails for future marketing
• Network and collaborate with other makers
• Gain real-time feedback to improve offerings

You can keep inventory levels low and customize orders. But focus energy on your online shop which enables 24/7 passive sales at higher margins. Use events strategically to boost local awareness and community connections.

Develop Paid Partnership Opportunities

As your brand grows, pursue revenue-generating partnerships:

• Sponsored posts – Create social content and blog posts promoting or featuring a complementary brand’s products. Rates start around $250-$500 per sponsored piece.
• Affiliate commissions – Earn money for referrals and sales driven to other brands. Popular affiliate programs include Amazon Associates, eBay, Etsy, and Rakuten.
• Licensing designs – Sell licenses for your designs to be used on other companies’ products (stickers, fabric, decals, paper products). Negotiate 5-15% royalty rates.
• Product bundling – Coordinate special product bundles and gift sets with non-competing artisans to cross-promote and provide more value.

Partnerships extend reach while making money. Ensure brand values align, communicate expectations clearly in writing, and start slowly.

Provide Knowledge and Mentorship

Passionate about your craft? Consider paid outlets to share your expertise:

• Teach specialized online workshops – On platforms like Skillshare and Outschool at $20-$50 per student
• Offer digital guides and tutorials – Sell informational ebooks, video courses on your own site at $30-$299
• Private coaching and mentoring – Work one-on-one guiding aspiring artisans at $50-$150 per hour
• Teach local classes – In recreational centers, makerspaces, schools in your community

Leverage your knowledge into diversified income streams while making an impact.

License and Sell Craft SVG Files

For digitally savvy makers, create and sell SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) files of your artwork, patterns, designs, and templates for others to use.

Upload your original SVG files to platforms like Creative Fabrica, SVG Bundle, and Creative Market to earn royalties each time someone purchases and downloads your files starting at $1-$5 per file.

Take care not to violate trademarks or copyrighted works when creating your SVG collection. Focus on original, niche patterns and themes popular with other DIYers, crafters, and artisans.

Outsource Time-Consuming Tasks

Running every aspect of a handmade business alone quickly leads to burnout. Delegate labor-intensive tasks that take you away from income-producing work.

Some craft tasks worth outsourcing include:

• Product manufacturing, especially for rush orders or bulk requests. Find apparel suppliers, craft manufacturers open to production partnerships.
• Social media and email marketing content creation and scheduling. Hire a VA skilled with tools like Hootsuite and Mailchimp.
• Photography and photo editing. Work with freelancers skilled at styling and retouching product images.
• Shipping and fulfillment. Use services like ShipStation, Shippo, or local college students to help with packaging orders.

Focus energy where you add the most value through your unique skills, artistry and customer interactions. Automate and outsource the rest!

Key Takeaways

Selling handmade products online is extremely rewarding. With consistent effort, creative passion, and strategic sales process, this can become a full-time endeavor making a healthy income.

To recap, optimize your chances of craft business success by:

• Selecting a niche with strong profit potential to start
• Professional product photography and compelling listings
• Marketing frequently on social platforms and via email
• Providing 5-star customer service to foster loyalty
• Seeking partnerships and diversified income streams
• Outsourcing time-drains holding you back

I hope this complete guide empowers you to turn your handmade crafts into a thriving business doing what you love! Let me know if you have any other questions.

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