I just read an article by Jeff Tullock ( Wrap It Up Jewelry) that will have you wishing you had thought of this sooner....
He uses an electronic picture frame to show off his jewelry and draw customers into his booth.
What a fantastic idea!
" The whole world as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color. Our entire being is nourished by it. This mystic quality of color should likewise find expression in a work of art."
I'm always on the lookout for crafty and creative ways to display my jewelry that makes a great impression but doesn't make a huge dent in my very small budget!
I just had to share this ingenious and downright gorgeous jewelry display case tutorial that is make with a box, fabric, wallpaper, trim and some velcro. NO sewing involved...just a hot glue gun and craft glue.
Check out Carolina Gonzales and her amazing jewelry display case!
On my business to do list right now is to "update" my artist statement/bio. I want to have a "condensed" version and a "long version". I decided that I needed to do more research so that my "voice and personality" comes through and I connect with others (by sharing my story). My current bio/artist statement is "lacking"!
Here are links to a few resources that I've found to be helpful:
Writing an Effective Artist's Statement
How to Write and Use an Artist's Statement
How to Write an Artist's Statement
I feel like I'm back in high school english class or worse my 1st year university literacy course. This is what I currently have for the condensed...
I loved numbers and math as child and left the "art" to my brother who loved to draw detailed cartoons. Now with a Clinical Scientist degree gathering dust, I realize that art and number aren't worlds apart. In fact, they are so much alike because they are universal languages. Experimenting with metal and glass I'm excited by the infinite combinations possible.My voice is heard when the hammering, bending, cutting and fusing is done; my artisan jewelry is my connection with others where no interpreter is required!
I receive the Duct Tape Marketing newsletter and thought I would share this with those of you who run their own e-commerce websites to sell their handcrafted jewelry.
7 Steps to Local Search Dominance
Local shoppers are going online to find products and services in your town - get found when they do!
Right now, in every community in America, increasing numbers of people of all ages are turning to the world wide web to find products and services right their at home.
This trend, known generically as local search presents a huge opportunity for small businesses who focus on winning in this arena. Below are 7 steps every local business should explore today in order to gain a competitive advantage in their local markets. (Someone in your market and industry will do this, why not you?)
1) Register with the primary local and social search engines
Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL, Ask, Local.com and TrueLocal are all awaiting your information as they build local search directories. Make sure you are listed.
Judy's Book, Craig's List, and Insider Pages are sites building directories with user generated reviews. Get in those as well and manage your online reputation.
(You can get this done for you and get a local profile page on Duct Tape Marketing gaining you page 1 results on Google for key local terms with a Duct Tape Marketing Local Search Profile)
2) Optimize your web site for local search
Put local terms in you page titles - not Home page - Kansas City Electrical Contractor
Put local terms in your anchor text - not Kitchens - New York Kitchens
Put local terms in your H1 and H2 tags
Put local terms in your body copy
(If some of the above sounds like Greek to you - check out Harness the Internet
3) Put a map on your site The whole mapping category just keeps getting easier to use. Google Maps, both mapping and local directory, recently added a feature that makes it super easy to embed a map rather than simply copy an image or link to a map. This means that you can use a map with all the functionality right on your web page. Many businesses can benefit from this tool, especially when it comes to local search. To create a map for your business, simply visit Google Maps, conduct a search for your business (you've got to be in the Google Maps directory to show up - get listed), hit the "link to this page" link and copy the HTML code for your map. I've simply pasted that code below so the map shows up in this post, but you could put it on any web page. Then create directions in text to your business from various routes and you've created some nice local keyword rich content. (This is a good web content strategy even if your clients don't need to find your office.)
4) Check your InfoUSA listing
InfoUSA compiles lists for direct mail and telemarketing but they also provide a great deal of the directory listing information for many of the smaller search directories. Go here and make sure your listing is correct and up to date. You can also add things like your web site address to the profile.
5) Add local content
You should create several pages of content on your site focused on local angels. You can report local news, talk about your firm's history in a town, give an overview of non-profit activities, even report on the various suburbs your staff hails from. Don't forget to put your physical mailing address on every page - that's local content too.
6) Add a Blog
A blog - not a free blogger one, but one that resides on your domain - is one of the most powerful local search tools going. You can simply post about things going on in the community, school events, neighborhood block parties, the local sports teams. It's helpful if you can do this and post content that is relevant to your primary business, but as long as the towns and neighborhoods you want to score well in the search engines with are in your posts and titles, you will get some serious lift for those terms.
7) Get local inbound links
The search engines give lots of credit for links that are coming back to your site from other sites. Go out their and find some local directories or strategic partners that will link back to your site but don't have them link back to your business name - Joe's Pet Shop. Have them link back to your site with a local search term like - Toledo's Biggest Pet Shop.
Related article: Basics of Small Business Web Site Optimization
. ~ ~ ~
John Jantsch is a veteran marketing coach, award winning blogger and author of Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide published by Thomas Nelson.
He is the creator of the Duct Tape Marketing small business marketing system. You can find more information by visiting http://www.ducttapemarketing.com
Reprinted with permission.
Wow, can't believe it is the middle of September already. I'm working on the Spring 2008 Signature Diva Collection and have shows booked through Feb 2008. Phew! ;)
Here is part "deux" of Planning Your Jewelry Sales & Marketing for the Holidays. At the bottom of this post, you will find a link so that you can read the first installment. Look for the 3rd installment by the end of September.
Now that you have a color palette and designs created what do you do? How about generating some buzz with these promotional ideas...
People won't buy your handcrafted jewelry if they can't see it . Duh! So simple right.Have you considered other partnerships that do not necessarily cost anything up front to get you the exposure you deserve? It can be a wholesale arrangement (when a piece sells you give them a cut up to 50%).
Although, I run a "virtual" jewelry boutique, I have also partnered with other online shopping sites like Mintd, Bagadoodle, and Artisans Market. I'm currently working on two other online partnerships to showcase my jewelry. At my partner sites, I sell jewelry that meets the "feel" of that particular site; all of these sites, take a small % of the profits but it is still cheaper than advertising. Once they are a customer, I can encourage them to sign up for the Diva Newsletter to keep in front of them.
Offline, I have also partnered with other business's from art galleries to salons. One of my most profitable ventures was with a "travelling" art show for corporate events in the DFW.
My point is by partnering with other business's on or offline you will not only get your artist name, business but your handcrafted jewelry in front of more people which ultimately will help you be more successful.
Do you have any partnerships/venue's on or offline that you have had success with? Drop a comment and share your success!
This weekend, my family and I stopped by the St. Ann's Annual Carnival/Festival. This year, there were 2 large tents with vendors. I was amazed at the "quality" difference at the various booths with very comparable merchandise.
It is important when you do any jewelry show (festival, retail, wholesale or private trunk show) that your "booth" or "table" does NOT have a flea market(messy and unorganized) look; it will hurt your sales because people will assume it's cheap/junk and either not bother to look or think the jewelry is overpriced.
There are several different ways you can approach how you display your handcrafted jewelry art so it looks professional:
Early on in my biz I held a trunk show at an upscale women's business luncheon, I had several women ask how much they had to spend to get one of the pink vellum purse's that was displayed. Yes, that's right the pink vellum purse that was worth 50 cents had that much pull. This is my standard packaging ( I carry the vellum purses in two sizes) so they would get one with any purchase but that's when it struck me how important packaging /presentation is!! One of many light bulb moments for me!;)
Over the course of my business, I have experimented and noted which package and displays did better at the different shows. Yes, I have noticed a difference between the retail, wholesale and private trunk shows. More often than not it's the "creative" less expensive route that has generated the most buzz for me at any of these shows.What has your experience been?
Whatever packaging/presentation you choose, it must fit the look and feel of your jewelry designs and business logo/colors, etc...
I currently get most of my packaging from Nashville Wraps because I can try out new packaging in small quantities and their customer service to date has been excellent. I use custom stickers so hot stamping is not an issue for me. I also sometimes purchase packaging/display items from Rio Grande as well.
Do you have a favorite packaging resource that you would like to share ? Please leave a comment so others can check it out. Thanks!
Do you feel like your spinning your wheels in your handcrafted jewelry biz ? Does your artist self struggle with your business self ? Marketing over your head ?
I have found the forums on The Switchboards to be an invaluable resource in building my business, e-commerce site, marketing and promo ideas, etc...It is a meeting place for like minded creative business women to connect, share and learn.
Just in the last week, I have several things added to my " to do " list as a result of being inspired by these other creative minds...
1. Revamping my current down loadable press kit
2. Marketing to national magazine editors
3. Defining my signature brand
4. Working on Spring 2008 collection
5. Revamping the layout (not template) of my current website
----think of ease of navigation and creating groupings (collections) for a more coherent presentation
That's just my top 5...not in set order...but just what I thought I could do to improve my brand and jewelry biz!
This is a fantastic resource that you should bookmark...and watch our business grow as you learn from a very talented group of creative and successful businesswomen!
Use stamped tags with your signature, company name or logo to the custom handcrafted jewelry you make.
WHY?
With the busy holiday season coming up, I always like to design and carry some fashion conscious inventory that will serve to draw new customers and serve up a dose of "the moment style" for my fashion-forward clients.
Of course, I've worked hard to define my brand that identifies me and my jewelry line as the Designing-Diva. The signature that my customers have come to love is a jewelry collection that is unique .....a woman can express her personal style and taste without having to worry about it being another cookie cutter accessory.
But I can support my brand and signature with some more fashion forward designs that still have my "stamp" on them. These designs will support and complement my signature designs and not compete with my signature. During the holidays, these lesser value fashion-forward designs do well because so many people are looking for unique affordable gifts but still want to pack a punch ( the packaging...designer artisan jewelry gets them all the time).
How do you know what is fashion forward? Easy...check out the malls, open a fashion magazine, etc...Take what you see and translate it into something that complements your signature/brand that will draw in new fashion conscious customers and offer a great unique affordable gift for your current and new customers alike!
I just love this online magazine, N.E.E.T. (click on the photo go to the publication), and advertised in the Sept 07 issue. Would you believe you can advertise for a full page for only $45 ?
N.E.E.T. began in December 2005 as a quarterly, online publication, laid out in a magazine format - as a showcase for grassroots creativity. It would be impossible without the wonderful contributions of all those involved and many thanks goes to a wide network of global talent, with the Internet playing a vital part in research and communication.
