If you have a store on any of the online marketplaces, such as Etsy or ArtFire, then you are going to know that it can sometimes be a challenge to make your products stand out from the thousands of others available.

Here then are three ways to give you a little edge over the competition.

❤ ❤ Great Photos and Descriptions ❤ ❤

This is the foundation for starting to make sales and it is vitally important. You can market your store 24 hours a day, but if the people who arrive back at your base don’t see beautiful, detailed photos of your creations and clear, succinct descriptions of what you have to offer, the sad thing is you aren’t going to make any money.

You don’t need to be a world class photographer, or have a very expensive camera, to take great photos of your products, but you probably do need a little guidance. There are many online tutorials that can help you along or alternatively pick up the book ‘The Crafter’s Guide to Taking Great Photos’ by Heidi Adnum, and you will soon be taking studio quality shots.

When you write the descriptions for your products, make sure they accurately reflect your handmade items and that they include details of the materials you used, the dimensions, weight and colors of the product and whether the item can be personalized in any way. Remember an online buyer doesn’t have the ability to pick up your item and see its quality, or to look at it close-up and admire the detailing, so you must try and tell them as much as possible. Also, ensure your descriptions and titles are keyword rich, so that you have a better chance of being found when people are searching.  As well as keywords describing the item, also think about the type of buyers who are going to be attracted to your products, so that then you can include references such as ‘great gift for men’ or ‘baby shower gift’.

❤ ❤ Social Networking ❤ ❤

Once you are happy with your listings on Etsy and ArtFire, the next step is to spread the word about what you have to offer, and social marketing is the most effective no-cost way of doing this. The three key sites that I recommend focusing on are Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. For Facebook, it is best to set up a page, rather than use your own profile, as this will give you the ability to attract more ‘Likers’ and also it will be branded with your business name. Also set up business branded names on Twitter and Pinterest, and then get networking.

When you are updating your Facebook page, tweeting or pinning, remember to share your own handmade items, but only do this about 20% of the time. The remainder of your online activity should be spent opening conversations, asking questions, sharing images of other crafters’ work that you love and talking about your making process and your knowledge of crafting techniques. Remember, social networking is just that, social. These are not the places to go for the hard sell, but the places to generate interest by talking about what you love.

❤ ❤ Low Cost Advertising ❤ ❤

Initially you might not have a very big budget for advertising, but it is worth spending a little of the money that you generate from your store on this as soon as you can, as it will reap dividends. A low cost approach initially, is to get listed in some directories which are highly relevant to your niche. Directories usually only have a very low cost annual payment and thus your outlay is minimal. By listing your Etsy or ArtFire store in a craft directory you can increase both your direct exposure to prospective customers and the potential for improved search engine results for your website. This helps to generate more online traffic to your business thus increasing your opportunity for more sales.

Implement these three steps for your Etsy or ArtFire store and you will be building a strong foundation for your business. To stand out on the online marketplaces you need to have great listings and then to be willing to go out and share your products in as many places as you can. Don’t be shy, you make beautiful items, show them at their best and then shout it from the rooftops.

… written by Alison Wood is passionate about crafts and creating online spaces where she can bring together makers and lovers of all things handmade.