Wednesday, July 4, 2012

The Product

The Product

You have a passion for making something, soap, and you know people will it buy because it's the best soap on earth. You make earring and yes there are many earrings to choose from, but everyone will want yours. You made it and they should buy, right?


In order to sell a product people must want it. A person does not really need $20 hair tie. A rubberband will hold hair in place just as good. So, why do people buy things that they really don't need, but will spend good money for it? The answer is simple to feel better. Soap does not need to be shaped like a red rose. Jewelry really does not serve a purpose. Yet, we buy it. That rose shaped soap makes an ordinary bath become a soothing spa. The beads in the bracelet are your favorite color and they feel good when you turn the bracelet on your arm. Some people will say it's vanity that makes people spend fortunes on fashions and high dollar common items. Others want to stay in fashion to prove they are cool. Another person stays away from trends because following is not cool. Maybe they have been searching for that special thing you were making just for yourself and you decided others might want it too. Whatever the reason, make sure your craft will fulfill that void.

Products are already wanted but that does not mean consumers will want yours. Customers want quality. If they want a product that looks thrown together using cheap materials, they would DYI. Use the best quality materials you can afford. Make sure the description tells them it is made of wool or cotton v/s acrylic yarn. List the ingredients and why it's good for the skin. People what to be educated about the items they buy, so if your jewelry has a stone that might have special power, let them know it.

Keep in mind that when selling online photos of the product can make or break the deal. It's the items first impression. If the quality of the photo is awful, the customer may feel as if you are not serious about your work. If you don't care enough to take a decent photo of your passion, then you probably don't care about selling it. This craft is still a hobby and you're just sharing what you just made. If you're serious about selling, get a real camera. If you do detailed work and the photo is fuzzy, then all the intricate design is lost. There are light tricks, light boxes, types of lighting, and the such, just make sure the item has enough light to see it. The product should not look like it's in the basement of haunted house. Stay far away from flash, it overexposes the photo and makes details hard to see. Get a camera with macro setting and let it be your friend for close-ups. Sunlight is the best. Be consistant with your back drop. Well, I think the backdrop is part of branding. Personally, the white background is sort of my signature and it also helps when adjusting the photo. Use a photo editor if need be. Watermark your photos if possible.

Your product is the best. The photo is flawless. The description sounds like poetry and you want everyone to buy it, right? No!

1 comment:

Itiel said...

Sounds like this message is coming from a place deep down. A very good message indeed. Also, I would like to add: When making changes it shouldn't always be to get the next customer. Show the people who already have an interest in what you do, who already support you, that you care about their business.