Tags assorted by orange beautiful, $7

Hi everyone! I'grand Brenda, a knit wear designer, who owns Phydeaux and Phydelle. I manage finance and operations for my 24-hour interval task, then come home and design, knit and manage my online shops and businesses. I took a little detour from our marketing discussions final calendar week, to talk about fourth dimension management. This week, we're dorsum to marketing and promotion, to talk about creating buzz near your biz … in a good way.

What would you lot requite to create buzz about your indie business? An arm? A 1000000 dollars? Hiring a public relations rep? I'm here to tell yous that you don't accept to give upward body parts or your entire life'south earnings to create some positive buzz all on your ain, without hiring a PR rep!

You have several avenues immediately available to you, admittedly costless, for getting the give-and-take out virtually what you do, all via the internet:  blogs, social networking sites, local media, word of rima oris. Although you can create buzz without spending coin, yous exercise absolutely have to spend your most precious article:  time.

If you're reading this, you lot're already aware of the power of blogs. Paper N Stitch is ane of many blogs dedicated to highlighting handmade and vintage businesses. Not certain where to find more? Most blogs have links to other blogs, which is a great style to browse new blogs and perhaps even add them to your own reading list.

Instead of just reading these blogs, get involved! Exit comments! You don't want to get out a comment with your shop and other websites correct in the comment box – that tin can be seen as self-promotion (spam) – only you blog comments exercise have specific boxes for yous to add your name, email and website. If you regularly exit comments or questions almost a particular weblog mail, you're then participating in online discussion and community, a edifice cake for getting your proper name out there!

Social networking can exist a fantastic manner to build relationships, merely information technology's not for everyone. We've talked before about basing your marketing efforts on your naturals skills and interests. If Twitter or Myspace or Facebook isn't your thing, you shouldn't jump on the bandwagon just because "everone else" is doing it. Of course, you might want to endeavor one of those sites out – you may just learn that information technology is your thing! Social networking is based on relationships, rather than self-promotion (spam). Yous can definitely build a positive fizz about your business by building and maintaining relationships online – just remember to avoid promoting yourself too much!

thanks letterpress card by paper dragonfly

Everyone has some course of local media and business networks bachelor to them:  newspapers, boob tube, chamber of commerces, small business concern associations, etc. I grew up in a very small town and I withal read the local newspaper from time to time … online! Contact your local newspaper! Pitch them a story nigh your business concern! Join your local chamber of commerce and accept reward of networking events, workshops and seminars. Edifice a strong local reputation is a great foundation for building your regional, national and fifty-fifty international reputation.

The absolute best fashion to create positive buzz is to accept not simply satisfied, but extremely happy, customers! If your customers love what they've purchased from you, they'll tell family and friends about their purchase. If they're knocked out by your fantastic customer service, they'll talk about you, equally well every bit their purchase. Your customer service is how you build relationships with your customers! Thank your customers for their purchase! Let them know when yous've shipped their order!

Package your customer orders nicely, peradventure with tissue and ribbons or special wrapping, and think virtually adding a thank you note to requite your package a special and personal touch. Consider adding a coupon or lawmaking for a discount on their next order, which will help build repeat customers. Or a sample or other freebie, which may create another auction if it'southward a sample your customer really likes. Many shoppers of handmade and vintage accept their ain blogs, and love to tell their readers near their shopping experiences.

Positive buzz is priceless. Negative buzz is a nightmare! Give superb customer service, avoid spam, stay original and unique, treat others with professional person respect, and you'll avoid the negative buzz. People tend to believe what they read on the net, so let'south brand sure they're reading wonderful things about you and your business.

Any other ideas for creating positive fizz? What'due south worked for you? What hasn't work for yous? Thinking of trying something new?

Image credits:  (i)  ; (two) Assorted tags past Orange Beautiful, $seven; (3) Thanks letterpress carte du jour from Newspaper Dragonfly, $four;