This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Social Media Networking for Artists and Crafters
Read Part 1 Use LinkedIn to Build Your Art or Craft Show Business

Being an artist or crafter is about so much it's about having an idea, a talent, and a skill and developing that into a business. It's about learning there are proper ways of marketing those skills and that when done properly any business can succeed to some degree of success. It's about knowing what you define as success-as each person defines it differently.

The stigma surrounding home based businesses comes from the many mistakes that you see home based businesses making. For instance:

• posting hard sale messages
• posting numerous sales messages
• lack of marketing skills
• lack of salesmanship
• lack of customer service skills
  
• the idea that all home based businesses are MLM
• the idea that it's impossible to make a living selling your own hand crafted arts and crafts.

Many hand crafters make the mistake of posting messages that are self serving with no benefit to the readers of the group. When posting messages on social media sites like Facebook be sure your messages really benefit the reader on their path toward success. Gear posts toward providing value to the readers not toward yourself.

So my piece of golden advice would be to be sure when ever you post on Facebook think about 5 things:

1. Why am I posting here? What am I trying to accomplish? Am I trying to drive someone to visit my website, my blog, get them to follow or like me on Facebook, LinkedIn etc.?
2. Am I in the right place to do that?

Facebook is a great place to drive sales when your posts are providing value to the reader, but will harm your reputation done incorrectly.

Don't try a hard sale with people who aren't interested in your product or service instead try posting in a place where people are looking for your product or service.

Hard sells don't work and that is why so many people receive complaints about the self serving ads. Instead...

try giving relevant information to the topic at hand tie it into why your product is necessary to the reader and include a link to your site.


3. Have I given the reader information that is valuable to them?
4. Have I included a clear call to action that accomplishes my goal in #1?
5. Am I developing a relationship with the reader or am I pushing them away?
   

Guide each of your contacts gently to the desired goal. Don't expect anyone to buy from you when they first meet you. Give them several chances at getting information that is relevant and valuable to them with each piece taking them a little closer to the desired goal-making a purchase from you.

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Art and Craft Show Expert Shasta McLaughlin provides articles, hints and tips, checklists and more for artists and crafters that sell handcrafted products who want to save time looking for shows, packing for fairs, and get more sales at festivals. Now she is revealing how to collect your customers contact information, follow up with them and make more money while working less. Go to http://www.extravaganzacrafts.net to get her newsletter, The Extravaganza Craft News, that will help you avoid mistakes, save time and money when preparing your craft show booth.

Press releases are informational articles sent to the press. They are meant to inform the public of things happening in the area. They are free and will be printed in most publications as space allows (so send them early and often).

Press releases are a great way to advertise your art festival schedule and your craft product. A press release includes certain necessary parts:

• Exciting and newsworthy headline


• Summary that clarifies and defines the rest of the release


• Body answers where, when, who, what, why and how

The body contains 6 parts they include:

1. Lead paragraph
   - City, State – Month Day, Year – Your Business Name
   - What is happening
2. Quotes – From previous newspaper articles, quotes from show promoters, other crafters, or previous customers about your product.
3. The Why and How paragraph – Tell the reader why you are attending this craft show, why you make your product, why someone should come see your product and how to attend the event.
4. Call to Action – Ask the audience to do something i.e. See me at The Extravaganza or at my other upcoming shows.

Include your schedule of art fair, holiday arts and craft show, street fairs, and festivals and shows.

5. Corporate Summary – Include a short summary of your art festival business here.
6. Contact Information – Name, Business Name, Phone Number, E-mail Address, Website

For samples of press releases look in your local newspaper, also examine the People in Business Section to determine the best place for your advertising.