Saturday, September 19, 2009

Unusual ways to advertise.

As we all know promotion is the key to a successful shop. Today, I'd like to suggest a few unusual ways to promote. These ideas, like many of the ideas in this blog, are not entirely my own. They come from many sources including: other Etsy sellers, my friends and family, the Etsy forums, and the all-knowing Internet.

-Have a yard sale (not just for handmade items) and give out your business cards to each visitor.

-Call your local radio talk show and think of a way that you can tie your shop into the current topic. Hopefully, they will talk about your shop on the air. It doesn't always work, but free advertising is always worth a try.

-Make a book or portfolio with big, bright pictures of your items. Flip through it while riding the bus or sitting in a waiting room. Make sure that other people can see what you are looking at. Take every opportunity to talk about your shop. I recommend having business cards easily accessible in case you have to go before you've finished talking.

-Wear clothes or carry a bag that advertises Etsy and/or your shop. I love to put pin back buttons on my purse, include a few funny ones to get people's interest, but also include some like the following. (Click on the pictures from some of my favorite Etsy shops to see more information and find out how to purchase these buttons. The third pic is for custom buttons that you can put your shop address on!)



-Make bookmarks with your shop address, a picture and/or description of what you sell, and a coupon code. (Ads with coupon codes get more results.) Give the bookmarks to your local library or walk around and slip them into random books.

These are only a small amount of unusual ways to advertise. Feel free to comment and add your own ideas and suggestions!

10 comments:

  1. Make some stickers & go to an area like the mall thats full of teenagers stick them random places bathroom stalls,food court,phone booths ect

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  2. Thanks for featuring my Etsy buttons! I love adapting an Etsy sellers banner or avatar and putting it on a button or magnet. Makes a great giveaway and helps people recognize your store and know where to find you later!

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  3. Thank you for the suggestions! Those are awesome!

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  4. great ideas...thanks for the tips

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  5. Thanks Melissa - I quite like the bookmark idea! Val

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  6. haha! im soo gonna make stickers and go to the highschool bathroom and put on the stall door!!!!

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  7. Hey Beading! Looking forward to more advice!

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  8. I'll feel weird doing that. Sort of in your face advertising lol. I actually wear my items out and that gets me noticed.

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