How to Work from Home Selling Crafts

A beaded doll

If you're the crafty type, you might want to try selling your crafts from home to make some extra money, or as a full-time home business. Read this article to learn how to get started.

Instructions

1. Make your crafts. It's a good idea to have a nice selection of items available to sell before you begin marketing.

2. Take good photographs. Since photos are the only way for the customer to know what they're getting, take good quality photos to place online.

3. Store your crafts is a clean, smoke-free area. Bag the items up or put them in closed containers to keep them clean until they are sold.

4. Choose a place to sell your crafts. Some people sell on auction sites like eBay and AuctionQuests, others choose craft sites like Bonanzle or Etsy. Choose the site that has an interface you like, and fees you can afford.

5. List your items. Add the photos, use good titles, and write descriptions with plenty of detail. Imagine you're describing the item to a blind person. Tell what it looks like, the weight, size, and what it's made of.

6. When you make a sale, collect payment and ship promptly. It's important to ship as soon as possible to keep customers happy. If you only ship on certain days of the month, make sure you say so in your listing. When you pack the item, make sure it is secure, padded (if needed) and that the address is clearly written. Good packaging is important to make sure the item arrives safely.

7. Keep your stock up. As you sell off items, make more so you can keep listings up, and keep a good selection for buyers to choose from. Variety encourages a buyer to look and buy.

8. If the site you're using has forums, you may want to get involved. Talking and sharing knowledge is a good way to build trust and a reputation within the site. You should also write good end-of-sale emails to your customers, and address their needs quickly and courteously. Happy customers leave good ratings, and often become repeat buyers.