No matter what you sell, these days customers are being extra careful about how they spend their money. That means we have to work a little harder to educate them about the value of handmade items versus those that are mass-produced. When it is so easy to find cheap faux-handcrafted items, especially in the decorating niche, it pays to help customers understand the quality of your items.

Here are 4 ways to market your crafts, all of them free:

• Write articles about your products. No one wants to read a commercial. Instead, share the exciting details about why you sell what you do, how it is produced, and what customers can expect. If you make handknit items for babies, talk about how these items are often saved from generation to generation. If you sell handcrafted cards, explain how customers say these cards make them feel and that your cards are unique. You can publish these articles for free on sites such as www.ezinearticles.com or you may find that local craft newsletters or weekly newspapers would love really good content. You don’t need to be a fabulous writer, you just need to have a good story to tell and be willing to rework the article until it shines.
• Blog. Yup, I said blog. Although millions of people are blogging now, a really good blog is still an excellent way to connect to your customer base. Your blog can be about your style of crafts, the products you use and make, or about things your customers like to read about. If you scrapbook, there are lots of ways to showcase your expertise. If you quilt, you can talk about the history of quilting, the kinds of quilts you make, quilt shows you attend, and many other topics. The important thing is to make it interesting to read – and to post often. Set a schedule for your business blog and try to write articles in advance so you don’t get caught without one when the schedule runs tight.
• Donate to a good cause. Be careful not to give away the farm. I get requests almost daily from people asking for donations and it is simply impossible to accomodate them all. However, a few well-planned donations can help those in need and still help market your business. Consider donating to PTA auctions or school fundraisers if your products would appeal to parents of small children. Of course, quiet donations are good too, but some strategic donations can help boost your business.
• Team up with a related business. If you offer a service or craft that meshes with, but does not compete with, a local business, try approaching the business owner about trading advertising. If you are a baby photographer, see if a local boutique would be willing to hand out coupons to their customers. In exchange, you can promote them on your fliers or website. Make pet accessories? Talk to a local vet, groomer, or dog walker about sharing your fliers with their customers. Be willing to reciprocate and, if possible, offer to help THEM first.