HOW TO MARKET YOUR HOMEMADE JEWELRY

Handmade jewelry businesses have become a very popular cottage industry in recent years. Artisan-crafted accessory pieces can be made from a myriad of different materials and fashioned in styles to appeal to a wide range of buyers. Once you have amassed an inventory of fabulous jewelry art, you may be interested in selling some of your creations to jewelry enthusiasts in local, regional and international markets.
Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need:

    * Digital camera
    * Photographic props
    * Computer
    * Business cards



  1    Wear your creations. There is no better way to market your jewelry pieces than to actually show them off yourself. When in public, pair your earring, necklace, ring and bracelet sets with colorful outfits. You are likely to receive compliments, and when asked where you bought such lovely handmade jewelry, you can proudly hand out your business card.


   2   Create a blog. Because handmade jewelry is as unique as the person who makes it, why not provide your customers with an inside look into your creative life and the inspirations behind your art with the creation of a blog? Sites such as Blogger, Wordpress, and Typepad make setting up a blog a breeze, and the exposure you will receive can be tremendous.

  3 Sell locally. Participate in local craft fairs, consignment shops or craft co-ops to sell jewelry as well as meet jewelry-buying customers. The importance of face-to-face buyer/seller communication cannot be overestimated, as it provides valuable information on market trends and buyer preferences.


  4    Utilize social marketing tools. Do you tweet? If not, Twitter, a social marketing venue, could be a great way to market your jewelry to thousands of customers. Sites such as Facebook and My Space are also useful jewelry-marketing avenues to inform jewelry enthusiasts about upcoming sales, special promotions or giveaways.


   5   Sell jewelry online. Take your jewelry marketing to the next level with online sales. Websites such as Etsy, eBay, ArtFire, Lollishops and FuzzB are great ways to sell handmade jewelry and reach thousands of customers.

  6    Promote your jewelry in print. Local papers are always on the lookout for local-interest stories and may be interested in your story. There is no better way to gain exposure and let customers know about your jewelry business than to have a feature newspaper article written about you and your business.


   7   Create a website. With the many DIY website programs on the market, consider creating your own internet site. This venue provides an "online store" presence and will go a long way toward selling your handmade jewelry creations to an international market.