Be A Guest Writer For Hudson Valley Etsy's Blog!

We love blogging and sharing with you what is new with the team, but we are also looking for guest writers to contribute to our blog.  If you are based in the Hudson Valley with a small business or you provide a service in the Hudson Valley helping artist and small businesses, we would love to hear from you!

Maybe you're an Accountant in the Hudson Valley with some tax preparation tips for small businesses. Or you're a Wedding Photographer and would like to share how you scout locations in this beautiful part of New York state.  You can be a Farmer or Gardener - we love locally sourced food too!

We would also love to hear from charities in the Hudson Valley.  With the Holidays approaching, we know this time of the year puts people in the giving mood. We would love to help you spread the word for your cause.

Our goal is to not only support our local handmade makers, but the greater community that we live in.  If you are interested, please email us at hvetsy@gmail.com and we'll get back to you!

In My Studio: Instagram 2.0

Recently our very own Hudson Valley Etsy started an Instagram account. I wrote a blog post introducing our new account and how to get started with your own Instagram account (click this link to view the original blog post)

When writing it I realized I had only touched on the tip of the iceberg and there was so much more to discuss. In this follow-up blog I hope to give some more tips and suggestions on how to get the most out of this uber popular social media platform.

To curate the best possible Instagram feed, create a cohesive look. By making sure your photos are of great quality and similar themes it will encourage people to follow you when they look at your profile. 

Think carefully about your posts content, don't be too "salesy." Bring your followers closer to you by showing them behind the scenes photos, your techniques and tips, your studio and inspiration and most importantly your personality.



Mira's Naturals have great continuity in their Instagram feed

Apps and Programs to enhance your feed:

1) If you generally do most of your craft business on a PC or laptop it is still possible to post to your Instagram feed without using your device. Download Gramblr a free program enabling you to select photos from your desktop and download them straight to your feed.

2) Also a useful program for your PC or laptop is Fotor. In this free program it is possible to manipulate, edit or collage your photos. Alternatively from your device you can use the Overgram app to add text to your pictures or Pic Stitch to make a collages and add frames.

Collage I put together using Fotor

3) To help understand your audience look at Iconosquare. This is a free service to keep track of your statistics, who follows/ unfollows you, which of your posts is the most liked, comments on your posts and successful hashtags

Iconosquare summary of the Hudson Valley Etsys Most Liked Instagram Posts

A bit about Hashtaging:

Using hashtags in Instagram as a way to help you grow your business is really important. The right hashtags will help you get more likes, followers and comments. Hashtags dramatically increase the reach of your post which means more Instagram followers. Hashtags can also help you find people on Instagram with similar businesses, interests as you.

When deciding which hashtags to use after a post the simpler the better and try to be specific. Hashtag what your product is, its color, who its for, where it is for sale, where it was make- anything that will foster interest.  Here are afew good generic ones:

#etsy

#handmade

#shopsmall

#crafts

and of course if you are a member of the Hudson Valley Etsy don't forget:

#makersonhudson

#hudsonvalleyetsy

Linking with your other social media platforms:

Don't forget to share your instagram posts across your other social media accounts. It is very easy to link Instagram with your business facebook page, twitter, tumblr, flickr and foursquare.

1) From instagram go to your profile page (the person icon at the bottom)
2) Click the gears icon at the top of the page.
3) Scroll down to settings and click on 'Linked Accounts'
4) There should be a list of different social media platforms. Tap on the one you want to link.

For example linking to your facebook page: After tapping on the facebook link it will say Share to. Tap on this and the pages you manage will pop up. Mark the correct page.

5) Next time you post on instagram the last page will have all the social media platforms listed. Tap on the ones you want to share your post with before you tap the 'share' icon.



For a reminder here are all the team instagrams:

Elena Rosenburg is  @elena_knitsandbits

Pulp Sushi is @pulpsushi

The Pudgy Rabbit is @thepudgyrabbit

Quarter Life Luck is @quarterlifeluck

So Handmade is @sohandmade1

Hudson Naturals is @4crispycorncakes

Melissa Anna Designs is @madcat03

Cynla is @cynlastudio

Twisted Thread and Hook is @twistedtah

Beyond the Picket Fence is @beyondthepicketfence

Lollypups is @lollypupspetwear

Hesters Studio is @hesterkeith79

Charms of Faith is @Jackie_charmsoffaith
Karmabee is @karmabeekaren
Miras Naturals is @mirasnaturals
Pve Shop is @pvedesign
Pergamena NY is @pergamenany
Harp & Thistle is @harpandthistlestitchery

Good Luck and Good making!

Sarah

SO Handmade

In My Studio: Label Making

How to make your own Fabric Labels

In order to save money buying in professionally made custom labels I have been making my own. The results look great and are very easy and cheap to do. In this tutorial I give you the steps in order for you to make your own:


Materials

Printable transfer paper
Fray Check
Iron
Sharp scissors
Ribbon

Method

1) On your computer take a copy of your logo and insert it into a word document. Measure your ribbon and scale the logo so it will fit onto the ribbon. It will look best if the background of your logo is left white. 

2) Once its the correct size click the 'format' tab at the top of the word document. Find the 'rotate' tab and click the option 'flip horizontally'. This will invert your logo so that it will be the correct way around when printed.

3) Copy this version of the logo and paste in columns on the document (as below left). Print this document out onto the transfer sheet making sure you print on the correct side of the paper. Cut into strips (below right)

 4) Heat the iron to its hottest setting and iron one strip of logos onto the ribbon. Make sure the iron gets really hot and then before it cools down quickly remove the backing paper.

 5) Apply the fray check to the back of the ribbon in the area between the logos and leave to dry.

6) Once dry cut the labels

7) Apply the labels to your products, remembering not to iron over the label once its been attached as this will melt it.

Good luck and good making!

Sarah Omura - So Handmade

How To Plan Your Own Craft Fair

Today we have a guest post from one of the co-leaders of the team, Jess from Knot by Gran'ma who is currently planning not one but TWO local craft fairs in the Hudson Valley.

This year I have been pretty fortunate to start wearing another hat in the fine arts and craft fair (and even non-arts) world. My opportunity to organize shows and events seems to be snowballing into something that is just about a part time job. Needless to say, I drink quite a bit of coffee these days.

I’m sure there are books out there for putting together arts and craft shows, but I’ve been learning as I go. It’s been a wonderful learning experience and is also helping my business grow. I’m able to connect more with other artists and shoppers, and see what other people are looking for in craft shows. There’s opportunities to network at every step of the process. I get to implement others’ “show wish list” into a fair. As an artists, I remember shows that were set up with both the artists and buyers in mind, so getting that information as feedback from everyone is really important to throwing a great show.

Growing your contacts list for a show is also a wonderful tool in putting together an art or craft fair. Your show will only be as strong as your vendors. If you have top notch artisans selling their pieces, you will draw in happy buyers. I’ve been using an email newsletter list that artists and other types of vendors can sign up for. This enables me to easily let everyone know that I have a show coming up in the future and am looking for vendors whenever an opportunity may arise. I like to keep this separate from a buyers’ list, which I use my own business lists , which I use to let my buyers know about shows.

The hardest part (for me) is the PR end of things. I tend to have no budget (which hopefully won’t be an issue in the near future). The trick is finding places you can get your show’s call for vendors and actual show date up and available to the public. This is also a great list to grow… places to add your press releases, flyers, or event to calendars. It’s imperative that people can find you to sell and to shop. Here’s an example of the flyer for the next show that I have in planning. All of the information for both groups is included on this particular flyer. I like to use these kinds of flyers for online posting and getting into public places that give you permission to hang them.

In the meanwhile, you’ll find yourself making list after list after list of things to do, contacting your vendors, setting up spaces, and pulling all of the information together. You want to know exactly what you’re going to do on the day of the show, keeping your stress minimal. This was all very overwhelming at first, but now that I’ve got a few shows under my belt, I feel more confident with each one I do. It’s also over before you know it, and you can go home to relax.

Jess from Knot by Gran'ma 

Creating Success From the Inside Out: Give 'Em What They Don't Even Know They Want

We may be in this Etsy business for a variety of reasons, but I have a hunch that the majority of us have Etsy shops so that we can earn an income doing what we love to do creatively.  If that is the case, then read on for an exercise in finding that sweet spot where you are doing what you love most and giving your customers what they want (but don’t even know it yet!). 

Original card by Wishbone Letterpress

The first step in this exercise is to dig out your top 5 strengths (see exercise in blog article from June 2013, Selling Your Uniqueness).  Read through the list so you have them at the forefront of your mind.  Now think about what your natural aptitudes are.  Consider these questions:

• What am I naturally good at?
• What things come so easily to me that I don’t even realize it?  (Consider that the things that come easily to you don’t always come easily to everyone else, too).
• What things do I love to do so much that hours can go by and I don’t even notice?
• What things do I do in my life that others appreciate and that I enjoy doing (doesn’t feel like work)?

Using these questions, brainstorm a list of between 5 and 10 ideas for ways you can provide value to others while doing what you enjoy and are good at.  It doesn’t have to be directly related to your Etsy shop or business.  It could be related to your hobbies, day job, other interests, etc.

Got your list?  Great!  Now onto more fantastical thinking outside the box… You need to know your ideal customer in order to do this next exercise.  If you haven’t flushed that out, see the blog article from April 2013, CreatingSuccess from the Inside Out: The #1 Thing You Must Do to Prep Your Business for Total Success. 

What can you offer your ideal customers that would make them totally stoked?  This is the time to do some seriously crazy outside the box thinking.  Don’t worry about being realistic or how you will execute.  This exercise is to get the juices flowing.  Write down at least 10 ideas.  

Cupcake Pendant by A Studio by the Sea

Now go back to your first list of things you enjoy doing that could provide value to others and circle the things that you think your customers would pay for.  Then circle the wild ideas from the second list that you would love to provide to your customers.  These items are what business and marketing genius Marie Forleo (www.marieforleo.com) calls the “Sweet Spot”.  Based on this list, you may already have some perspective on new products or offerings that you can develop and sell in your Etsy shop.  If some of them seem too pie-in-the-sky, then spend some time letting them sink in and consider how you can make them do-able in a way that will thrill your customers.

Did you come up with some new ideas?  I would love to hear from you in the comments below!

Wishbone Letterpress

In case you do not get the US Dept of Labor newsletter, you missed team member Danielle Bliss from Wishbone Letterpress from Ulster Park being featured for her small business.  Congratulations Danielle! 

Stimulating the Juices

This morning as I'm reading through some of my inbox postings I thought it might be worthwhile to share a few of the links that I like to keep up with when I can.

Lisa Call has the MOST mouthwatering blog. Her colors and shapes are so gorgeous. And she's got great ideas about marketing her work and shares a lot of tips. So if you're in the mood for a quick little pick me up, or want to spend more time looking through her stuff to see how her ideas might spark your own, check her out.

Then there's Barbara Winter at Joyfully Jobless. She talks a lot about entrepreneurial spirit. Today's post discusses some of the creative marketing ideas that Anita Roddick, the founder of Body Shop, came up with in her early days. I think we get into marketing ruts, same old same old - and reading this makes me wonder - "What else could I be coming up with that would be fun and effective?"

I've mentioned Alyson Stanfield before. She always has thought provoking posts with contributions from her huge following that make for interesting and informative dialogue.

I know we get bogged down, feeling like we don't have enough time for painting, sewing, creating, whatever it is we want to do. And spending too much time on the computer gets to be a time sink. But sometimes the right words and the right time help us pull out of our spin and find our direction again.

Are there people you've found who are good guides, who stimulate your creative juices?