Craft businesses are hard to get off the ground initially. Traditional advertising can be expensive, tedious, and not as productive as you had hoped for. At this point you should have a rather permanent spot set up for your business, whether you are working out of home, or running a store, either way, these tips can be applied to either location. Although, you may want to alter the advice to fit your needs exactly.
Marketing online can be easy, and other than your monthly internet bill, it can also be free or at least very inexpensive.
Blogs: Write a blog about your handmade items. Include your inspirations, ideas, and sales in the blog (along with any other topics you like). Also some blog sites will allow you to include a program where you run online advertisements that you are paid for. So not only can you market your product, you can make money just from people reading about it.
Email: Gather your customer's email addresses. Send newsletters that include coupons, notify them of sales and new items that you are in the process of making, also include tidbits of information, perhaps there are some local events that you could add to a calendar segment of the newsletter, etc. Of course always include a way for them to opt-out of receiving the email. In your email you could ask them to forward your email along to anyone that they think would enjoy it.
Auctions: Do you have items that aren't selling on your website or in your store? Join some of the online auctions or sites that are dedicated to selling solely handmade goods as a way to list some of those items and to also use their forums to help promote your blog; which will lead people to your store or website. It could also help to sell off those stubborn items.
Classified ads. There are some classified ad sites that are free to use. You can advertise your store or website on them, as well as just advertising individual items.
Real world marketing still hasn't changed much since. There are always the tried and true methods.
Business cards: either print up your own, or go to a printer and have some made. Be sure to include enough information that it is possible for people to get in contact with you. Now, give these to everyone! The person standing behind you at the grocery store, your server at a restaurant, everyone in your spinning class.
Flyers: These are easy to print out yourself if you want and are great to include with purchases. If someone has ordered something from you online include 2 or more so that when someone says "Hey, where did you get that?" They have the information to give them right there. Also if you have a booth at a craft fair, put these in bags so that your customers know how to find you next week, then the fair isn't there any longer and they realize that they really wish they had bought that other item that caught their eye. Local stores sometimes have bulletin boards where you can hang up your flyers.
Word of mouth. This is the absolute most tried and true way to market your items. If you have a happy customer they will sing your praises. But if you have ticked someone off, they will absolutely grumble about you to anyone who will listen. So do all you can to make your customer's happy, but keep in mind that there are some people that no matter what you do, they just are not going to be happy.
There are so many ways to market yourself and your handmade goodies. Join a crafting guild if there are any in your area, the more people you meet and tell about your business, the more that will know about you. And we know where that hopefully leadsmore income!
Take these ideas and use them to market your craft business, and don't be afraid to build upon these marketing techniques. Find what works for you and make it your own. The more memorable your business the more likely that you will make an impression on people and in business, that is always a good thing.