Every scrapbook is unique
and inviting; as a creative scrapbooking professional, your marketing should be
as eye-catching and irresistible as your creations. Even if you have only a few
hundred dollars to spend, you can absolutely woo clientele using grassroots
methods to showcase your creative scrapbooking acumen.
Educate
Others in the Art Form of Creative Scrapbooking
One of the fastest ways to turn yourself from an
unknown scrapbooker into a creative scrapbooking “expert” is to teach a class
on the art of creating a fabulous, memorable scrapbook.
Though you might initially be wary that if you tell
others your creative scrapbooking “secrets”, they won’t use your creative
scrapbooking business, that usually doesn’t happen. Instead, what occurs is
that your students see you as a professional in the arena of scrapbook design
and development. Thus, when they want an important scrapbook (e.g., for their
daughter’s Bar Mitzvah or husband’s retirement celebration), they will immediately
think of you. After all, they might enjoy creative scrapbooking, but they don’t
necessarily feel confident enough to construct a special scrapbook on their
own.
You can work with many community centers, schools,
college campuses, and libraries to offer your creative scrapbooking courses.
Expect to spend a bit of money on advertising, room rental (though you can
often snag a free space if you’re a start-up), and creative scrapbooking
paraphernalia, though it’s still much less of an investment than if you paid
for a full page, 4-color ad in the Sunday paper.
Write About
Scrapbooking
Another way to become an instant creative
scrapbooking “guru” is to write articles or tips about creative scrapbooking.
Sometimes, smaller community papers will print such items as “filler” for their
circulars. Alternately, if a local sewing center or arts and crafts store
offers a newsletter to patrons, you might be able to become a “guest
columnist.” (Or perhaps you can offer to
write your own “creative scrapbooking newsletter” gratis if they agree to pass
it out to consumers.)
Will you receive a ton of creative scrapbooking
business from this type of subtle “marketing”? Probably not. But you will be
building your reputation as your area’s premier creative scrapbooking authority.
You will also be able to tell prospective customers that you’ve published items
on the topic of creative scrapbooking, always an impressive credential to tout
(and a resume booster as well.)
Start a Scrapbooking
Blog and/or Web site
In today’s cyber society, blogs and Web sites are
fairly inexpensive, so there’s no reason not to get online and start talking
about your creative scrapbooking know-how and burgeoning creative scrapbooking
company.
For example, you could quickly set up a blog 100%
devoted to the tricks of the creative scrapbooking trade in an effort to
attract persons from around the world to your site. Though most of them won’t
become clients, you stand to gain instant exposure. And who knows? The family
down the street may wind up stopping by your creative scrapbooking Web site and
hiring you to redo their three sons’ baby books!
Never Stop
Selling Yourself or Your Scrapbooking Abilities!
It’s critical that you never stop selling yourself
and your creative scrapbooking business if you are serious about succeeding in
this infant industry with huge profit potential.
This may mean stepping out of your “comfort zone” and
becoming a master at self-promotion. If
you have an innate fear of networking, it’s time to overcome your worries and
learn how to shake some hands. Remember
that you won’t be the first entrepreneur who took a plunge into the unknown.
To become a better press generator on behalf of your creative
scrapbooking business, you’ll have to force yourself to try again and again. However, if the process becomes achingly
difficult and hampers your desire to scrapbook, it may be time to hire someone
to promote your business on your behalf.
Yes, this is a “last ditch” measure, but if it keeps your dream alive,
it’s worth the cost to bring on a partner who isn’t afraid of a good sales
pitch. (And many individuals will work
with start-ups on a commission basis, which is terrific news for your budget!)
A Final
Note about Ethics and Your Scrapbooking Venture
Though it’s imperative that you keep up standards and
operate ethically and legally (the tax man will cometh whether you like it or
not!), that doesn’t mean you can’t be innovative. Constantly seek out ways to differentiate
yourself from other scrapbook artists and allow yourself to grow personally and
professionally.
Love your work, and that positive attitude mingled
with creative scrapbooking talent will draw customer inquiries and have you
wondering why you didn’t begin your creative scrapbooking company sooner.
