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Guest Post: Try Etsy For Work At Home Jobs For Moms by Lisa Shoreland

Why search for work at home jobs for moms when you can create your own? Today’s guest post, brought to us by Lisa Shoreland, is one that you don’t want to miss if you’re into crafting or if you know someone who is.

Work at Home with Etsy

When it comes to working, the enlightened advice always seems to be, “Do what you love.”  Unfortunately, people believe that they don’t have the luxury to do so (many of them are right), and opportunities for moms to work at home seem lacking.  If you love to craft, however, Etsy may be able to help turn you from a crafty mom to a work-at-home mom.

For those of you who have yet to discover Etsy, my advice is to go there now and see the wonder for yourself.  It’s a charming website that gives anyone who tries an equal opportunity to work from home and sell their wares to people across the world.  Your wares—be they clothing, candles, accessories, or even baked goods—sell based on who wants them.  This means you’ll have to do your part in advertising to improve your chances of sales, too.

Do you knit or crochet?  Do you make jewelry?  Do you sew?  Can you make soap or lotion?  Are you well-versed in web or graphic design?  Are you a photographer?  Do you want to work from home?  Consider selling your products or services on Etsy.

If you’re met with a positive response, you might even go through your neighborhood and inquire local boutiques if they’d like to sell your wares.  Having a successful Etsy store may give you increased credibility.

Preparing For Business

Becoming a work-at-home mom via Etsy isn’t just about crafting, though.  You’ll need the following materials to successfully advertise, present, and send off your wares to buyers.

  • A computer to access Etsy and communicate with buyers
  • A camera to take well-lit, clear, and high-quality photographs of your wares, which you will upload via computer onto your Etsy store
  • An inventory of products already made to present to potential buyers
  • A business plan to keep you on track with your goals.  How much money do you hope to make?  What is your spending budget?  Who are you selling to?  How will you advertise your business?
  • Enough funds for the monthly membership fee for owning a store on Etsy (generally under $20 a month).  The site has a built-in shopping cart system and payment/fulfillment structure.
  • Access to transportation to the post office, as you will be shipping your products out to people across the country yourself.

Marketing Your Business

  • Evaluate other Etsy stores.  Which ones are popular and what do they sell?  What are other stores selling similar items to yours?  What’s working and what’s not?
  • Choose a niche.  As with blogs, it’s easier to market your business if you do or sell something specific, like painting or photography (but likely not both).
  • Make a memorable logo and store name.  If you’re having trouble with these, you can browse Etsy for people who will do this for you.  Some will even design and print your business cards.  Luckily, most reputable Etsy storeowners are prompt on shipping (something for you to heavily consider when opening your business).
  • Advertise on other forms of social media, like your Facebook page or Twitter feed.  If you have a blog, be sure to add a link to your Etsy store.  Hand out your business card to friends and family like candy on Halloween.
  • Don’t expect to make it big at once.  As with any work-at-home opportunity, success will likely be slow and gradual.  The harder you work and the more avenues you push, however, the sooner and bigger success will arrive.

Bio: Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go College, where recently she’s been researching physicians assistant scholarships as well as occupational therapy scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, practicing martial arts, and taking weekend trips.

 

Be sure to also check out our growing directory of companies that offer work at home jobs for moms. ~Work at Home Mom Center