Craftseller | 97

The language of the internet leaves many craft sellers scratching their heads, but this simple guide should help get you started...

Learningthe Lingo

By GARy BAKER

However computer-savvy you consider yourself to be, the jargon used on the internet can make it a daunting place to do business.

With this in mind, we’ve spoken to a number of online experts and successful craft sellers

to find out what terms they would pass on that they think are the most important to learn.

GettinG foundSearch engines, like Google, are vital when it comes to finding anything online.

Understanding the basics of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and related terms like keywords, tags and links, is important if you want to ensure people can find you.

Emma Jones, the founder of enterprise nation.com, explains: “SEO is the process

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of improving search-engine rankings for your website or shop. If you consistently provide high-quality, fresh content, as well as using words that people use to search for your products, you’ll improve your visibility and subsequently improve your sales.”

Within the realm of SEO you’ll need to master keywords, tags, titles and phrases – these are what you use to describe your products. Annabel Potter has shops on Etsy and Folksy and her own site, animalglassdesigns.co.uk. She’s been refining her SEO techniques from the start: “Use words people will actually search for – the trick is to think like your customers. It’s best to focus on search phrases, such as ‘personalised wedding gift’, not just single words. Search engines don’t like lots of keywords repeated without content.”

Kirstie Perry got hooked on crafting after helping out her mum. After setting up Kirstie’s Allsorts on Folksy, she discovered the importance of Image SEO: “Initially I would upload the images of my products simply using the original file name. This really isn’t very good practice. Image SEO is about naming your images with an accurate description of what they are, before you upload them. It’s just as integral to making sure potential shoppers can find you as the text on your site or shop.”

StayinG SocialThe importance of social networks in the craft world cannot be underestimated. Though Facebook and Twitter are seen as the ‘big two’, other sites like Pinterest, Craftjuice or Google+ all share a similar vernacular.

Linda Cooper sells her handmade items via a number of online shops and also has her own website, uniquelyyours2010.co.uk. She’s had to learn a lot about social media jargon: “When I started, I was advised to get a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a blog. So I did. Initially they were bewildering, but in time I discovered that the more sites you belong to, the better it is for your visibility. It also helps to leave links anywhere and everywhere possible on social networks, to enable people to find you.”

Facebook is a good place to start. “Some people view Facebook solely for keeping in touch with family and friends,” says Susanne Dixon, Social Media expert and the driving force behind bournemouthdigitalmarketing.co.uk “Many people are unconvinced about its business benefits, but Facebook is free, so there’s no reason not to create a fan page and start putting it to use.” You can let people see what you do, set up links to your online shops and website (which all helps with your SEO), as well as interact with your customers.

Thanks to✽� emma Jones enterprisenation.com✽� Kirstie Perry folksy.com/shops/KirstiesAllsorts ✽� annabel Potter animalglassdesigns.co.uk ✽� linda cooper uniquelyyours2010.co.uk ✽� Susanne dixon bournemouthdigitalmarketing.co.uk

For people new to social media, Twitter is often seen as the most confusing. Terms like tweets, trends, followers, hashtags, DMs and retweets can initially seem daunting, but with a little persistence, Twitter can play a pivotal role in getting your name out there.

Twitter revolves around followers – the people who see what you tweet and who you interact with. “I didn’t know much about Twitter at all,” says Linda. “Hashtags, especially, were a mystery. I was always coming across them, so I made sure I found out what they were and why they were used.” Hashtags (the # symbol) are a simple way of grouping tweets on subjects together. Search for #handmade, for example, and you’ll find tweets from people all talking about their #handmade goods – when lots of people use the same #, that subject becomes a trend, indicating what’s popular at that time. By keeping an eye on craft-related trends, you can start following people

who share your interests. You can share what others are saying by retweeting their tweets to your followers, and send private messages with a DM (direct message). Twitter is all about interaction, as Susanne explains: “Build your following by being interesting, responding quickly and by exchanging greetings, observations, thoughts and opinions.”

a Problem Shared...If you’re not sure about anything you find online, simply ask for help. “Forums, blogs and Facebook are full of experienced crafters willing to share their knowledge,” says Kirstie. And Annabel agrees: “If you post a question, fellow crafters will respond – it’s also a great way for people to discover your shop.” Linda, meanwhile, sees her blog as a way to help others: “I love answering questions and giving back for all the help I received when I started out – it’s an ongoing education for everyone.”

“Hashtags were a mystery, so I found out why they were used ”Linda Cooper, Uniquely Yours

Kirstie learnt that it’s vital to clearly label

images of your makes

Annabel tries to think like a shopper when she writes keywords

Linda loves juggling her social media output to sell her craft

1SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) The way you

make your shop or site visible to search engines.

2Keywords/Tags Descriptive terms for the

content on your site.

3Image SEO The file name and image

name of the pictures you upload.

4Links Direct links to other

websites. Link to your own shop or site as often as you can on forums etc.

5The Cloud Information storage that

can be accessed remotely from any computer.

6Google Analytics The best way of analysing

your web traffic (once you’ve mastered the concept).

7Trends What people are talking

about on social media, but mostly used on Twitter.

8Hashtags A way of grouping tweets

that all relate to the same thing.

9Widget An embedded link button

that you can place within your blog or website.

10HTML The language of

the internet. Some simple knowledge of HTML can go a long way. Search the web for some handy tips.

10 terms to know that will make your online life easier

Glossary

Internet Jargon