DaWanda Backstage

Hi everyone!

Last week we posted the link for you to download or stream Holly Becker’s (decor8 blog) talk at the DaWanda workshop in Berlin, on how to establish yourself as an artist or designer through blogging. This week, we hear from Jena Coray (see pic <-) the editor of Modish Blog. Jena’s beautiful blog is not only a treasure trove of beautiful finds, but also a helpful resource as she dedicates a weekly lesson on marketing for independent artists and designers called Modish Marketing. We invited Jena to share some her tips and advice with the DaWanda community on some simple steps you can take to promote your work, whether you may be just starting out or more established with your DaWanda shop.

How to be a Crafty Marketer by Jena Coray {www.modishblog.com}

So, you’ve had your Dawanda shop set up for awhile, made a few sales (mostly to friends, thanks guys!) and feel like you’re headed in the right direction finally selling your creations.  But, you’re floating in a large sea of incredibly talented people…how are customers supposed to find you?  You need to get the word out!  You need some media attention!

It’s time to start introducing yourself to blogs.  Blogs are incredible media outlets for the online shop owner as they provide a direct link (literally) back to your shop, an instantaneous connection between their readers and your potential customers.  Plus, some blogs have the same readership numbers (if not more!) as large magazines and a write-up in one of those “big blogs” can mean lots of sales for you!  But, how do you approach them?

Yes, it’s daunting.  Yes, it’s a little scary.  Yes, you may feel a bit like a spammer while you do it.  But, the best way to approach a blog about writing about you, is to ask them to!

Sending a simple email is just fine

Save the press releases and media kits for the magazines; even the blogs with HUGE readerships (think design*sponge or dooce) are run by a person sitting in their home office, drinking their coffee often with a cat curled up nearby.  Blogs don’t have a bustling editorial office with assistants running around, sorting through leads.  We’re people just like you and we like to be treated as such; approach us casually, personally, as if you’re introducing yourself to a new friend. Every blog editor I’ve had the privilege to email with has been kind and personable so don’t be intimidated!

• What should you say in your email?
  

Start off with a nice hello and address the blogger by name (you should be able to find their name on a contact or info page.)  Make sure you’re approaching the blog with an item that fits their theme, ie: if you make handbags, don’t ask a design blog to write about you.  Next, answer who, what, where and why succinctly and creatively- let us know who you are, what you make, where we can find your shop and why you’re different than your competitors/why we should write about you.  Also, make sure your site looks great (with awesome photos and awesome products) before you start submitting!  Make it easy for a blogger to write about you!

• Tips on what to avoid

1. It’s often hard to describe how incredible your stuff is quickly, but try not to get too lengthy.  If your email is short and sweet with just the info we need to know, it’ll whet our appetites to want to head to your site to discover more.
2. Avoid large attachments of photos and pdf or word files that we have to use another program to open- just tell us what we should know in the body of your email.  Keep in mind, emails with attachments are more often caught by spam filters too.
3. DO NOT sign us up for your email newsletter without asking.  That is spam and a surefire way to annoy.  Just introduce yourself instead, it’s easy!
4. Don’t send out an email addressed to “hey favorite blogger” that’s sent from you, to you (and obviously cc’d to all your other “favorite” bloggers.)  Take some time out to write us individually and be personal- it goes a long way.

• What should you expect next?

You may hear back with a “thanks for writing!  I’ll keep you in mind” type of email (good!), you may suddenly see your creations up on the blog (better!) or you may never hear back at all (darn!). If you send in a submission and don’t hear back within a couple of week, send a reminder email saying “did you have a chance to take a peek at my site?  I think it’s up your alley!” or something to that effect. If you still don’t hear back, move on to the next blog – there’s lots out there! You can submit again to the same blog when you have a great new line of products to present.

• But why wouldn’t a blog write about me? I’m awesome!

You’re right, you are awesome.  But believe me, a blogger not writing about your shop has nothing to do with you personally.  Nothing to do with you personally. I can’t stress that enough.  I’ve been on both sides of this fence- I’ve sent the expectant email only to never hear back from the blogger, and admittedly I’ve never written some people back.  From a blogger’s viewpoint, here’s why that may happen:

• Keep in mind, we blog editors are often inundated with submissions.  There is just no way we can feature everyone who writes to us, even though we may like to.
• I personally don’t like writing about things that I’ve seen on other blogs already, and I imagine other blog editors are the same way.  Be careful submitting yourself to a bunch of blogs at the same time- give the first one some time to write about you before you submit to another blog, or point out different lines/products to each one.
• Many bloggers are well organized, pre-planners (not me, but some are!) that schedule posts in advance, have posts planned for the week and have certain weekly features we have to maintain- sometimes an extra post just won’t fit in.
• We have to stay in line with our own tastes still.  We may think your items are well made and unique, but maybe they don’t fit into our own aesthetic.  Each blog has a different set of readers based on the editors’ different viewpoints and we have to stay consistent and inline with our own personality, just like you should as you create your items.
• We forget!  Sometimes I receive a submission email and have every intention of writing about the shop, only to get sidetracked and forget to put the email in my “special folder” so it then ends up lost in the sea… stuff like that happens, it’s not personal, it’s blogger A.D.D. :)  Remind us about you!
• Don’t forget about the ol’ spam monster.  I’ve found many legit emails in my spam box months later- another reason why sending a reminder email is never a bad idea!

I’ve been writing Modish for 2 1/2 years and at least 40% of the shops and wonderful things I’ve written about were found right in my email, by a simple introduction letter from a shop owner.  How cool is that?  Yes, it can be intimidating, but you have to give the email intro a shot.  Just keep trying, stay positive and above all, stay friendly.  Approach blogs with kindness and eventually that kindness will be returned with an awesome write-up by a blog you love!

For a big list of blogs that you can start submitting your cute shops to, check out this post on Modish.  Good luck and happy crafting!
<3 jena

Thank you so much to Jena for her marketing article! We hope that you find lots of inspiration and helpful advice there! Also remember, going back to a point that Holly made in her workshop-talk on blogging, you may even be helping out a blogger on a low inspiration day by getting in touch with them about your amazing new work!

You can check out Jena’s favourite picks from the artists and designers on DaWanda right here!