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There have been a number of Cutting for Business readers who have started small businesses making and selling products – and then decided that it really wasn’t ‘their thing’. (And that is totally ok!)
One reader reached out to me on Facebook and asked if I had any ideas of how she could stay involved in the handmade community (and make money) without selling handmade products. Of course I have ideas on how to make money in the craft community without selling products.
I gave her a whole list of things she could do, and today I’m sharing it with you.
Table of Contents
8 Ways to Make Money in the Craft Community without Selling Products
Sell Supplies
Whether you choose to sell blank products to embellish or craft supplies themselves, selling supplies can be profitable.
Host a YouTube/Tik Tok Channel
If you are good at explaining how to create projects, video yourself and put them on YouTube or Tik Tok. Both YouTube and Tik Tok can be lucrative once you hit a certain number of views and start getting paid advertising revenue.
Social Media and Marketing
If you are good at social media, allow other crafters to hire you to manage their social media and marketing efforts in their craft businesses.
Become an SEO Expert
SEO stands for search engine optimization. If nit picky things like keywords and search functions interest you, become an SEO specialist and help craft businesses get found in search engines.
Host an Instagram Feature Account
If you love Instagram, you can start a feature account and have crafters pay you to feature their business on your account. First, of course, you’d need to build up a solid following on Instagram. You can learn more about feature accounts in this post.
Write a Blog
If you are particularly knowledgeable about a particular craft, machine, or aspect of working in the handmade community, put your expertise online and start a blog.
Teach Classes
Whether you prefer Silhouette or Cricut, Glowforge or xTool consider lending your talents to teach craft classes. There’s always new machine owners looking to learn how to use their machine. You could teach online through webcams or in person.
Be a Designer
Working as a designer can mean so many things. Some designers design cut files or patterns; while others work directly with clients on websites and logos. If you’ve got a knack for creating digital goods, consider freelancing as a designer.
Do you work in the handmade community but don’t sell handmade products to customers? Tell us what you do in the comments.
Since 2015, Christine Schinagl has been helping crafters start and run craft businesses through her blog, Cutting for Business. As a Silhouette and Cricut crafter herself, she has a unique take on what works and what doesn’t work in the craft business world. She also enjoys teaching other crafters how to create digital SVG designs, available through the Design with Me series.