Handmade Business Resources
Resources for of your creative business needs. I’ll edit this page when I find new great tools and services that could help you with your website or marketing and SEO. Enjoy!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I'll earn a referral bonus if you decide to make a purchase. I share and recommend these because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something. I have experience with all of these companies. Please only buy these products if you feel they will help you achieve your goals.
Freebies & Guides
FREE GUIDE: 9 Must Have Website Elements for your handmade business website
Download this quick 3 page guide for an outline of the most important elements to include on your handmade business website. Great for prepping and planning before your DIY your site.
FREEBIE: Website Launch Kit
This handy download includes a website launch checklist, tech recommendations, AND some great free design tools and resources to get you started on your website. Updated in 2017
FREE CALCULATOR: ETSY FEES VS. WEBSITE EXPENSES
Wondering if launching your own website could help you save money on Etsy fees and keep more profits in your pocket? Crunch the numbers and find out!
Website Hosting & Platform
Step 1: Domain
If you don't already own your own .com address (aka "domain name"), Namecheap is a great option. Be sure to check for coupons! New Domains and renewals with Namecheap run about $10/year.
Alternative Option: Godaddy often has really cheap domains (with coupon codes) for your first purchase.
Step 2: Hosting
You need web hosting for your site and I highly recommend SiteGround. It's my fave for so many reasons: easy WordPress installation, automatic WordPress updates, fast and secure, automatic daily backups of your website, free SSL included... I could go on. Just do it. FYI I suggest the mid-tier - "GrowBig"
Step 3: Website Platform
WordPress (.ORG) is a Free Content Management System (CMS) and Blogging Platform. It's very robust and there are lots of free and paid themes to customize your design and plugins to add on. Install WordPress through your web hosting control panel.
My Favorite WordPress Plugins
Drag & Drop Page Builder
Beaver Builder. This plugin will enable you to design and build complex page layouts for your pages. I use it all the time. This page is laid out with BB. You can download the free lite version from your WordPress dashboard or you can upgrade to the full pro version for $99 for so many more modules.
Online Shop
Sell your products on your website by adding a shopping cart and payment gateway to your site with WooCommerce. It's free to get started with Woo. Install the plugin through your WordPress dashboard.
Branding & Graphics Design
Free Brand Design Workbook
If you're trying to develop a cohesive branding style, grab this free 5-page workbook to help you choose a color palette and fonts that match your brand personality and attract your target customer.
Canva
Canva is a free web-based tool to help you design beautiful graphics. These are great for your website or social media accounts.
Blog Posts
Want More Website Traffic? Content Marketing for handmade sellers
Have you heard of “content marketing?” Maybe you’ve heard marketing people say you should be doing content marketing, but you don’t fully understand what they mean and how you can do it for your own handmade business. So we’re all on the same page, let’s define content marketing as:Publishing content…
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Best Website Builder for Artists & Handmade Sellers
Searching for the best website builder for artists and handmade sellers shouldn’t be so overwhelming. I know there are so many options, it can make your head spin. Let’s dive in to see if we can help you out. What are the Best Online Store Platforms for handmade sellers and…
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Sell on Etsy vs Own Website? – Etsy Fees vs Website Calculator
Should you Sell on Etsy or Own Website? Which is better: Etsy vs own website? Seems like so many sellers have a love/hate relationship with Etsy. One minute your shop is running smoothly: orders are flowing in, customers are leaving you 5-star reviews, and all is good in the world.…
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