In previous articles, we have discussed many aspects of selling your handmade items online. First, we started with an explanation of how to improve your crafting skills. Then we discussed how to decide which items to create. In the last article we covered where to sell your items online. And, now, in this final article in our craftpreneur series, I would like to cover how to find customers.

If you haven’t read the previous articles in this series, here’s where you can find them:

Step 1: How to improve your crafting skills

Step 2: Deciding what handmade items to create

Step 3: Deciding where to sell your crafts online

Step 4: Learning How to Market Your Craft Business

Doing what you love is great – especially when it comes to running a craft-based business. However, there are many reasons that doing what you love is not enough.

Running any business, from a small company making soap, to the largest software company in the world, requires you to understand what your customers want. As a craftpreneur, you have a built in advantage in that your business is inherently personal. Don’t miss this opportunity. Talk with your customers on your blog and in person. Tell your story via articles and videos. Post pictures of your crafts on Instagram and Pinterest.

Most importantly, put yourself in your customer’s shoes. Do everything that you can to understand who they are and what they are looking for. Listen to the words that they use to describe your products and those of your competitors. Are they willing to pay a bit more for items that use the best materials? Are there certain images and symbols that appeal to them? What stories resonate with them about your product? The better you know your customers, the easier it will be to produce beautiful items that delight and surprise them.

Here is a checklist of questions that you can ask to get your marketing creativity flowing:

• What websites do your target customers go to? Could you submit a guest post?
• What articles or videos could you post to your own website?
• Could you film yourself creating the items and post your videos to YouTube?
• Which journalists of bloggers do you want to start building relationships with?
• Who do you know who could help you get the word out?
• What special surprise could you give your customers to get them talking?
• How do your most successful competitors market their products?

Starting a craft business can be a fulfilling, and potentially profitable, experience after 60. All you need to do is start small, build what people want to buy and, most of all, have fun! I hope that the articles in this series have helped you to develop the skills and confidence to try selling your handmade items online.

Even if your new business doesn’t make you a millionaire, it will certainly give you something to be proud of – and that’s something that money can’t buy!

Have you ever tried to sell your homemade goods online? What was your experience and what advice would you give to the other members of our community? Please add your comments below.