I am sure that it is no secret that I think the internet is a very wonderful invention. It has opened up a lot of doors for people and enables people to sell their products & services around the world.
Doing business online can be a little tricky. There is a lot of competition out there, and you really do have to put some time and energy into promoting yourself if you want people to find you.
Here are some tips:
Just Get Started – You don’t need to wait to set up an online shop until you get your master’s degree in web design! Okay – that’s a bit dramatic, but you know what I mean. Not knowing how to make a website is NOT a valid excuse. You can easily set up shop on Etsy and start selling right away, without having to create a website.
But You Should Still Blog – Yes, you can sell on Etsy. And that’s great, but that’s not the end of it. You need to have a blog. I prefer you to have a WordPress blog on your own domain that you own. But if you don’t want to do that, you can set up a free blog on Blogger.
Hello, Social Media! – Like I was saying earlier, the internet is a vast place. It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. Use social media to connect with people and let them know that you and your business really do exist.
Send Out A Press Release (or two) – You should never ignore your own backyard, even if your goal is to dominate the internets with your craftiness. So send out those press releases to your local media AND to online distribution centers. This will increase your incoming links, and therefore, your Google worthiness. And trust me, you want Google to deem you worth of high search engine rankings. That, my friends, is a very good thing.
Click Here for cut n’ paste press releases that are pre-written and ready to send
Answer Reporters’ Queries – If you haven’t signed up for HARO yet, do it RIGHT NOW. NO JOKE. (sign up on the “Sources” side). This is a free service that will send you 3 emails each day, Monday – Friday, full of requests from reporters who are looking to interview people for the stories they are working on. If you fit one of the queries, answer it. You just may get some awesome press!
And don’t forget to go back and read the tips on throwing your own craft show. The publicity tactics for that can still be done for selling online.
I couldn’t agree more about HARO! It’s a great resource! Yes, you’ll have to look at a lot of requests that will have nothing to do with your biz, but it’s easy enough to skim over the headlines and when something right for you does come along, it can be so beneficial!
I’m interested in doing a press release, but how??? Once a PR is written, to whom do you send it too? Thanks!