by Dolly DeVonderland

Created on: April 03, 2011   Last Updated: April 08, 2011

A popular way to turn a craft hobby into a way to make money online is by selling your creations in an online store.  Whether you enjoy knitting hats or making paper greeting cards, your crafts can turn into pocket money.  With sites like Etsy and Artfire, it’s as easy to open a store as it is to email pictures to friends.  If you can use facebook, you can have your own store and start making money online with your crafts.  Most sites simply require a seller to have an email, paypal, and a valid credit card to prove your age and identity.  A digital camera is also needed, but it doesn’t have to be fancy.

Choose an online marketplace that’s right for your items.  Many niche market sites exist, some for fashion, others for family or ecologically friendly goods.  It may take a bit of research to find that perfect spot to open your store, but careful planning will lead to greater success.  Read over the site’s rules and terms of use for sellers.  Some web sites charge monthly for use, others by the listing or a percentage of the selling price.  Be sure you understand these costs, and calculate them into your pricing.  Look at vendors selling similar items, are they successful on the site you’re considering?

A decent digital camera and the knowledge to use it properly are vital in your shop’s success.  No one will want to buy a blurry item, so take your time and get great pictures of your crafts.  Many guides and hints can be found on getting the best images of your items.  People enjoy seeing detailed pictures of what they’ll receive, so be sure to show off your work in the best way possible.  When you have the pictures, start thinking of how you could describe the item.

Writing an item description is another important step in converting your hobby into a way of making money online.  Look at the paragraphs in catalogs, the way their words bring the item to life is a great guide to how you can really sell your work.  Tell the customers how they might use your creations, tell them something interesting and draw them in.  If you’ve got a story behind what inspired the piece, or a funny source of your materials, share that with the clientele.  Online markets are rather social, be friendly and give the customers something to think about in considering whether they’d like to buy your items.

To use your crafting hobby to make money online, you’ll need to be organized.  Keep your items together in a safe, clean and dry place.  Keeping packing supplies in the same place makes it easy to ship out your orders.  Treat your hobby as serious business, and you’ll be able to enjoy more of it while making money online doing what you love.  Some have even been able to quit their jobs and sell their arts and crafts online professionally.

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