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Discover New Marketplaces & Etsy SEO Secrets for UK Makers

and even more Makers tips & insights inside

Author

Rob & Ali Mobberley
September 02, 2024

Good Morning Makers.

Welcome to this week's Makers Digest!

We're excited to bring you a treasure trove of insights, inspiration, and practical advice to help you thrive in the vibrant UK Makers community.

This edition is packed with everything from Etsy SEO strategies to sustainable packaging solutions, featuring a deep dive into recycled tissue paper options.

We also give you a sneak peek at the upcoming Creative Craft Show in Exeter, plus, we've got essential tips on powering up your market day and using AI to boost your social media game.

Let's dive in and elevate your craft business together!

Marketplaces

Six Alternatives To Etsy In The UK

Are you an Etsy seller looking for alternative platforms to showcase your handmade creations in the UK?

Whether you’re seeking a platform with lower fees, a more community-focused environment, or simply want to diversify your sales channels, we’ve got some excellent options for you. Here we explore the top alternatives to Etsy, each offering unique benefits tailored to UK makers.

So, let’s find the perfect platform to help your business thrive!

  1. Amazon Handmade: This platform gives your products exposure to Amazon's massive audience, but it requires a rigorous review process. Products listed may qualify for Amazon Prime, and sellers benefit from comprehensive reports on product performance.

  2. Not On The High Street: A premium marketplace with high standards for product listings. Although it has a paid membership and higher commission fees, sellers benefit from extensive marketing campaigns, including TV ads and magazines, ensuring high visibility.

  3. NuMonday: A UK marketplace for makers that charges no commission on sales, allowing sellers to keep 100% of their profits. It features unlimited product listings with a flexible "pay what you can" membership model. Secure payment processing is handled through Stripe, and the platform fosters community engagement and sustainability initiatives.

  4. Folksy: Often referred to as the UK’s version of Etsy, Folksy offers a customizable online storefront with monthly or annual payment plans for unlimited listings. It’s exclusively for UK sellers and focuses on handcrafted items.

  5. Crafter’s Market UK: A community-driven marketplace created by Makers for Makers. It offers flexible commission plans, no listing fees, and additional features like SMS notifications, customer coupons, and shop analytics. The platform actively promotes vendors on social media, creating a supportive environment for UK makers.

  6. Made By Mums: A low-cost alternative for UK mothers selling handmade products. The platform allows sellers to retain more of their earnings by not charging fees until a sale is made. It actively promotes its vendors, providing increased visibility and support tailored specifically for mumpreneurs.

These platforms offer various benefits tailored to different needs, whether you're looking for affordability, extensive marketing, or a community-focused environment.

Choose the one that best fits your business goals and start selling your handmade and personalised products today!

Tip Of The Week

Etsy SEO: Crafting Your Perfect Titles

Are you struggling to get your Etsy listings noticed? Improving your Etsy SEO could be the game-changer your shop needs. Let’s explore some practical tips to help boost your visibility and increase sales.

Crafting the Perfect Title

Your title is one of the most crucial aspects of your listing. Instead of stuffing it with generic keywords like “gift for her,” focus on long-tail keywords that describe your product’s unique qualities. For example, rather than “Handmade Jewellery Gift,” you could use “Sterling Silver Flower Necklace for Mum – Unique Birthday Gift.” This approach targets specific searches that match what your ideal customer might be looking for.

Tips for Writing Effective Etsy Titles

  • Be Descriptive: Include colour, style, and material in your titles. For example, “Rustic Oak Dining Table” is more specific and appealing than just “Wooden Dining Table.”

  • Think Like a Buyer: Consider what your customers might type into the search bar. Are they looking for “cosy knitted blankets for autumn” or “boho macramé wall hangings”? Cater your titles to these search habits.

  • Avoid Repetition: Don’t just repeat the same words in different orders. Instead, diversify your keywords to cover more potential searches.

  • Avoid Generic Keywords: Instead of using broad and generic terms like “gift for dog lovers” or “handmade jewellery,” focus on what makes your product unique. For instance, rather than “Dog Wall Art,” a more effective title would be “Colourful Dog Wall Art – Cute Puppy Print for Child’s Bedroom” This approach narrows down the audience and increases the chances of your product being found by those looking for specific items.

  • Highlight Aesthetic and Use: When describing a product, think about its visual appeal and purpose. For example, instead of a vague title like “Dog Wall Art,” you could expand on 1. above with “Dog Wall Art – Bright and Colourful Cute Puppy Print Perfect for Nursery or Kids’ Bedroom Decoration.” This captures the product’s aesthetic and suggests where it might be used, making it more attractive to potential buyers.

  • Specificity in Titles: If you’re selling something like jewellery, avoid leading with materials that may not be familiar to all buyers. Instead of “Rose Quartz Pendant Necklace,” consider “Rose Gold Necklace with Pink Gem – Thoughtful Gift for Daughter.” This approach focuses on what the customer is likely searching for, which in this case, is stylish jewellery rather than the specific type of stone.

  • Think About the Customer’s Search Terms: Imagine what a buyer would search for. Instead of “Knitting Pattern,” you could use “Christmas Reindeer Knitting Pattern – Ideal Festive Project for Beginners.” This highlights the seasonal aspect and specifies the type of pattern, making it more attractive to those looking for festive knitting projects.

  • Duplicate and Iterate: Once you have crafted a great title consider duplicating the item listing and make some variations to the title for other keywords relating to the audience, time and use i.e. replace “Mum” with “Nan”, “Birthday Gift” with “Christmas Gift” etc

Optimising Beyond Titles

Your title is only part of the puzzle. To fully optimise your listings, consider these elements:

  • High-Quality Photos: Make sure your product images are clear, well-lit, and show the item from multiple angles. This builds trust and attracts clicks.

  • Detailed Descriptions: Use your description to expand on your title, explaining the product’s features, materials, and uses. Engage your customers by painting a picture of how your product fits into their lives.

  • Tags: Include up to 13 relevant tags that complement your title and description. These are another way to get your product in front of the right eyes.

Ready to Revamp Your Listings?

Why not take a fresh look at your Etsy shop today? With these simple SEO tweaks, you could see a noticeable difference in traffic and sales.

How have you optimised your Etsy listings? We’d love to hear your tips! Share them with us in the comments.

Purposeful Packaging

Wrap It Green: The Benefits of Using Recycled Tissue Paper for UK Makers

Do you often wonder about the best way to wrap your handmade products in an eco-friendly way? Today, let’s talk about recycled tissue paper—a sustainable option that’s kinder to the planet and perfect for UK Makers.

Why Choose Recycled Tissue Paper?

Recycled tissue paper is a fantastic choice if you’re looking to reduce your environmental impact. Companies like Eco Craft offer 100% recycled, acid-free tissue paper made from materials sourced in the UK and the EU. Not only is it recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable, but it also comes in various colours, adding that special touch to your packaging. What’s not to love?

The Environmental Impact of Tissue Paper

Traditional tissue paper, made from virgin wood pulp, has a significant environmental footprint. The production process involves deforestation, high water usage, and energy consumption. On top of that, chemicals used in the pulping and bleaching processes can be harmful if not managed correctly.

But the good news? Recycled tissue paper is a greener alternative. By using recycled materials, we can reduce the demand for new raw materials and lower the overall carbon footprint. It’s a small change that can make a big difference.

Practical Tips for Choosing Recycled Tissue Paper

When selecting recycled tissue paper for your products, here are a few things to consider:

  • Source of Materials: Ensure the paper is sourced sustainably, ideally from the UK or EU.

  • Recycled Content: Check the percentage of recycled content—100% is ideal.

  • Thickness and Colour Options: Choose a weight that suits your product needs (like 18gsm) and pick from a range of colours.

  • Environmental Certifications: Look for certifications that guarantee eco-friendly practices.

Is Recycled Tissue Paper More Expensive?

While recycled tissue paper might be slightly more expensive than its virgin counterpart, the environmental benefits are worth it. Prices can vary, with bulk 480 sheet packs available around the £15-£22 mark. So it’s a good idea to compare options from different suppliers to find the best deal for your business.

So, what do you think? Ready to make the switch to recycled tissue paper? Share your thoughts and tips with us—let’s make our packaging as beautiful as our products!

Where To Buy

Makers Trade Events & Shows

The Creative Craft Show - 26-28 Sept - Exeter

The Creative Craft Show is returning to Westpoint Exeter in 2024, offering an exciting experience for craft enthusiasts of all levels. Here’s a quick summary of what you can expect:

Event Details:

  • Name: The Creative Craft Show

  • Dates: 26th-28th September 2024

  • Location: Westpoint Exeter, Exeter, EX5 1DJ, UK

  • Price:

    • Advance Adult Ticket: £12 (£9 with Code EXWEB while still valid) - Buy Here

    • Children under 16: Free (when accompanied by an adult)

  • Opening Hours:

    • Friday/Saturday: 09:30 - 17:00

    • Sunday: 09:30 - 16:00

The Creative Craft Show at Westpoint Exeter is set to be a vibrant celebration of all things craft. With over 150 exhibitors and hundreds of top craft brands, the show promises a comprehensive shopping and learning experience.

The show also boasts a rich lineup of workshops, offering a unique opportunity to dive deeper into specific crafts under expert guidance. It’s highly recommended to book these workshops in advance to secure your spot.

Additionally, attendees can look forward to demonstrations by skilled artisans, such as ceramicist Vicky Jackson and members of the Woodbury Woodturning Club, who will showcase the art of woodturning.

This year introduces a brand new stitch show, adding even more value to your ticket. Whether you're interested in spinning, weaving, or exploring your genealogy with the Family History Federation, there’s something for everyone.

The show is also conveniently located with free onsite parking and a complimentary shuttle bus from Exeter St David’s station.

Don’t miss out on the early bird tickets, offering a 25% discount for a limited time. The Creative Craft Show at Westpoint Exeter is the perfect event to get inspired, learn new skills, and enjoy a fun-filled day with like-minded craft lovers.

Makers Essentials

Powerbanks - Be Prepared To Power Up Your Market Day

Ever found yourself at a craft fair, just about to close a sale, when your device suddenly dies? Frustrating, right? That's where portable power banks come in handy—they're the unsung heroes of the market scene, ensuring you never miss a beat (or a sale) because of a dead battery.

What’s Your Power Need?

When you're spending the day showcasing your creations, you need reliable power. So, let's talk about a few options:

  • All-around Champion: If you’re looking for a power bank that does it all, the Anker 537 Power Bank (PowerCore 65W) is a solid choice. With a 24,000mAh capacity, it can fully charge most smartphones 2-3 times. Plus, its 65W output means it’s powerful enough to juice up your laptop—whether you're using a MacBook or a Chromebook. Handy, right? It’s perfect for keeping your card readers and tablets charged all day long. Take a look here at price and reviews on Amazon.

  • Power for the Power Users: If you’re someone who’s got a lot on the go—phones, tablets, maybe even a portable fan or some lights to add a bit of flair to your stall—then the Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank (250W) is the one for you. It’s got the muscle to keep several devices running throughout even the busiest market days. Take a look here at price and reviews on Amazon.

  • Pocket-sized Power: Need something more portable? The Anker Nano Power Bank is a nifty little option. Sure, it might not give you a full charge, but it’s small enough to slip into your pocket for those quick, on-the-go top-ups. Ideal for keeping your smartphone or wireless payment terminal ticking over. Take a look here at price and reviews on Amazon.

Why You’ll Love Having a Power Bank

Still wondering if you need one? Here’s why a power bank should be your new best mate at markets:

  • Keep your payment systems running smoothly

  • Stay connected with customers all day

  • Power up your display tablets and digital portfolios

  • Keep your camera ready for product snaps

  • Provide backup juice for lighting or other stall accessories

Choosing the Right Power Bank

When it comes to picking out the perfect power bank, here’s what to think about:

  • Capacity: How much power do you need?

  • Output wattage: Enough to charge your devices quickly?

  • Size: Will it fit in your bag (or pocket)?

  • Number of ports: Charging more than one device at a time?

  • Safety features: Built-in protection for your devices is a must.

Now For An Affordable Curve Ball!

While the Powerbanks above are ideal for your devices there is one essential device that we haven’t yet covered - your car. Who hasn’t had thank sinking feeling when turning the key only to hear “ruh ruh ruh” quickly turning to “click click click”?

So there is an alternative that can cater not only for your smaller electronic devices but also has enough juice to power on your motor. And whilst it might not have the wider number or range of connectors they do come with heavy duty crocodile clip connector to hook straight onto your cars battery.

Ready to Power Up?

Investing in a reliable portable power bank means you can focus on what you do best—showcasing your amazing crafts and chatting with customers—without worrying about running out of power at the worst possible moment. So, which power bank will you choose to keep you charged up and ready to go?

Don’t let a dead battery zap your market day vibes! What’s your go-to for staying powered up? Let us know!

AI For Makers

Using AI To Analyse Your Social Post Successes

This week we’re diving straight into using AI to save a ton of time analysing your recent facebook posts to help determine the most successful format to use in future posts an increase your future engagement.

  1. First while logged into Facebook on desktop or lapton, head over to https://business.facebook.com/latest/insights/content/ - this should show you a list of all past posts and related metrics.

  2. Right click you mouse at the top by Title and drag down to select all the posts you want to include in the analysis and then copy.

  3. Head over to https://chatgpt.com/ and in the prompt box type in “please analyse the following and advise our 3 most popular post types that you would recommend we use for future posts for most engagement:”

  4. Then paste the data copied from Facebook.

  5. ChatGPT will then proceed to analyse the data you have pasted and output your 3 most popular formats for engagement. Simple as!

Here is an example of what it returned for our posts over the last month:

“To recommend the top three types of posts for future engagement based on the provided data, I've analysed the metrics of various post types including their impressions, reach, reactions/likes, comments, shares, and 1-minute views. Here are the three most effective post types based on these parameters:

  1. Event Announcements and Updates: Posts that announce events or updates about craft markets and festivals tend to engage well. For instance, the "Wonderful afternoon at Alrewas Craft Market" post garnered significant attention in terms of impressions, reach, and reactions. Utilizing posts that highlight upcoming events, participant experiences, or special mentions of locations and dates can encourage interaction and sharing, particularly when these posts include engaging visuals or calls to action like sharing personal experiences or marking calendars.

  2. Educational Content and Tips: Posts that provide valuable information, tips, or educational content related to crafts or business practices in the maker community perform well. An example is the post that discussed "Boost Your Market Sales!" with tips on capturing leads at craft markets. Such posts not only engage users but also add value to their experience, prompting likes, comments, and shares as users interact with content that can aid in their personal or business growth.

  3. Feature Stories and Maker Highlights: Highlighting individual makers or stories from the community can drive engagement through personal connection and community building. Posts like the "Inspiring Maker Story: Joe Shmo's Journey" allow readers to connect on a personal level, increasing the likelihood of reactions and shares as users celebrate community achievements.

These types of posts leverage community engagement, educational value, and event participation, all of which are key drivers in maintaining a lively and interactive social media presence for a makers' community newsletter like Makers Digest. Tailoring future posts to these themes should continue to encourage high engagement among your audience.”

Now the above used a really simple prompt in ChatGPT and you can expand and adapt this prompt for your own use and include/exclude what you request it to anaylse i.e reach, engagement, comments etc.

Why not give this a try and see the difference it makes in your social media strategy? With just a few simple steps, you can quickly analyse your past Facebook posts and uncover the formats that drive the most engagement.

Whether you’re highlighting upcoming events, sharing valuable tips, or showcasing inspiring stories from the maker community, these insights could help you craft more engaging content moving forward.

So go ahead, take a few minutes to run this analysis, and watch your engagement grow. We’d love to hear how it works for you—let us know your results!

Special Offers

Going forward we’ll list all the top discounts and offers that we come across for supplies, events and other items that our savvy community can make use of and save some of those hard-earned pennies and pounds.

  1. 20% OFF when you order 3 or more paper tapes at Cascayde PLUS get and EXTRA 10% OFF using this link.

  2. Eco-Craft Clearance Lines - reductions on pillow boxes, craft envelopes, tags, boxes & more

  3. 30% OFF MailerLite for first 3 months (offer ends 1st October)- although MailerLite gives a seriously generous FREE account (1000 subscribers) for anyone who needs a paid plan this is an offer is not to be missed. Use this link.

  4. Tiny Box Company clearance lines - up to 50% OFF selected end of line items - worth a view for a bargain or two.

  5. Craftmill Clearance Offers - wooden items and boxes ready for lasering, painting, pyrography etc

Below you’ll find links to some of our most popular past articles and features. We hope you love them as much as others do:

Thank you for reading this latest issue of Makers Digest! We hope you found it of value. If you do please share details with your fellow Makers. It is truly appreciated.

Stay creative and please share your work with us. Happy making!

Sincerely

Rob & Ali

Joint Founders - Makers Digest

PS - If you would like to be considered in our Featured Maker section, have a Makers Market or Event coming up or can offer a great deal on supplies to other Makers please email us

Makers Digest is a publication of Gifts made Easy and is partly reader supported. When you buy through links in our content we may earn an affiliate commission to help support the production of the newsletter. Learn more

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