Selling Handmade Crafts and Social Commerce

Social commerce explained

Social commerce involves selling products directly within social media and other messaging platforms. The entire selling process is started and finished in-app, removing the need for a redirect to an external website for payment or checkout. 

Users/potential buyers typically spend more of their time within a social feed than browsing websites externally. As a result, it can be beneficial to capture their attention within these feeds.

 

 

Is selling crafts through social media a good idea?

Social media is generally one of the best places to sell crafts because showcasing your creations and their quality visually is the number one way to generate interest. Social media also allows for direct interaction with customers, allowing you to build a community around your craft and brand.

That said, social media does require consistent time and effort, as occasional low-quality posts/content won’t take off. To successfully sell via social media, you’ll need a consistent strategy and approach.

Enquire About Craft Insurance to Sell Online

 

How to use social commerce to sell handmade crafts

Using social commerce to sell handmade crafts involves using built in tools to let users discover and buy your products without even needing to leave the app:

• Set up native social shops – You can connect existing stores such as Etsy or Shopify to the Meta Catalog Manager. This enables direct selling through ‘Facebook Shops’ and tagging products to Instagram posts. On TikTok, you may be able to apply for a TikTok shop seller account to showcase products in videos and link directly to them.
  
  

• Develop a content strategy – Ideally, your content should focus on four main pillars:
  
  

• Relatable – Show the ‘tough’ side of running your small business. The efforts and work that go into crafting your products in a meaningful way.
• Educational – Provide insight into how your crafts are made, the materials, the production methods and how you achieve perfection.
• Inspirational – Showcase ‘finished products’ in a lifestyle setting to inspire purchases.
• Promotional – Include occasion ‘call-to-action’ content in which you directly encourage viewers to buy.

• Build a community – Users often don’t buy at first contact. Many of your sales will come from individuals who subscribed/followed some time ago and became aware of and accustomed to your brand. Engage with your audience through comments to increase retention.

• Utilise selling features – Ensure you take advantage of live selling opportunities (through live streams) where possible. On top of this, encourage users to directly message you with enquiries or questions about your crafts.

 

Social commerce takes time, effort and dedication, but it can be one of the most fruitful methods of selling because of its easy accessibility, low setup costs and visual appeal. It is also important to consider your insurance requirements when selling online.

 

Selling through social media and insurance: How it works

Many social media platforms don’t actually explicitly require proof of insurance in order to sell, and some may include some forms of protection by default.  

However, selling any crafts online without comprehensive coverage is risky, and can lead to serious claims for minor problems, even if they’re not entirely your fault. 

We’d recommend considering the following insurance types for selling through social media platforms:

• Public liability insurance – Generally only required if customers are visiting your property/premises, or you ever decide to sell in a public space. However, many policies include public liability as standard, which enables you to sell at craft fairs or other in-person events.

• Product liability insurance – Covers legal and medical costs if a faulty or broken product causes damage or harm. This can happen no matter where you sell your products.

• Employers’ liability insurance – A legal requirement if you have any employees or volunteers who help you with crafting, selling, packaging or any other step of the process.

Finding the right insurance is easy through a craft insurance specialist such as CraftCover. We provide tailored policies based on your exact needs and nothing more. We’ll assess your needs and deliver coverage which keeps you fully protected for the lowest possible premium.

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