Getting ready for the holidays means something different for everyone. For parents, it means trying to figure out what their children want. It's the same for spouses and significant others. For retail employees, it means more work hours in crowded malls. For retailers, it means stocking their stores with, hopefully, what people really want this year. Retailers also hope that people make it into their store.It means all of this for artists. Hopefully, people will want the item that they make. Hopefully, they will al
so be able to find their shop. In the internet age, this seems like it should be easier. However, with so many places that artists can sell their work comes more competition. People know about Etsy and 1000 Markets, but how do they find MY shop among all the others? Do you have any idea how many jewelry artists there are on those sites?
so be able to find their shop. In the internet age, this seems like it should be easier. However, with so many places that artists can sell their work comes more competition. People know about Etsy and 1000 Markets, but how do they find MY shop among all the others? Do you have any idea how many jewelry artists there are on those sites?To be an artist is to be exactly what you've always wanted to do. You're your own boss. You make your own hours. You make a product that you love to create. Hopefully, people love it. But you have to market it. The internet makes it both easier and harder at the same time. You have to be seen in order to be found. You have to market yourself. You have to stand out in a sea of other artists. I haven't figured out the trick to all of this just yet! 
I spend hours on the internet each day trying to figure out how to get my jewelry seen. I buy ads. I relist my items. I have a Facebook page. I Twitter. I Flickr. I blog. I feel ridiculous! I'm supposed to be making jewelry!
What I love is to go to craft shows. I love to meet the people that are excited enough about handmade items to come out to a craft show and support their local artists. I LOVE these people! Handmade art buyers are the best people in the world, as far as I'm concerned. They're helping their local economy. They're helping starving artists! They're also helping keep creativity alive, in a world where art classes are being removed from schools' curriculum.
All of you who buy handmade, thank you! You make my, and all the other starving artists', dreams come true!
All of you who buy handmade, thank you! You make my, and all the other starving artists', dreams come true!
Originally posted on November 30, 2009
Wow, I can really relate your your comments here. I work full time, no kids and do like my day job very much, but my art is my inner passion, something I do just for me. I opened my Etsy store a year ago becuase I just had to do something with all the jewelry I had made. I still get this amazing feeling of satisfaction every time someone buys something I made. The amount of time spent online, trying to market ones self though can be consuming. Just starting to blog. It's a real balance.
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