I know that when you’re already busy enough with the family, the housework, and making your handcraft items to sell the idea if of making time to socialize on top of all of the other stuff you have to do is perhaps less than appetizing. But marketing yourself is only one of the benefits of meeting people face to face and virtually. There are many others such as:

1. Running your own business (especially in a home situation) can be a very lonely endeavor. Sharing with others what you do is an important socializing opportunity, it’s great fun, and it’s good for your emotional health!
2. It’s a fab opportunity to make like-minded friends. I have!
3. You can share and create business ideas with like-minded people who are just as enthusiastic about craft as you are.
4. There’s nothing like a fresh perspective from a new pair of eyes to point out things than can be modified or improved in your business.
5. There’s strength in numbers; you can explore ways that you can help each other in your business such as material/equipment swaps, employees, suppliers tips, or even forming partnerships.

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Meeting Virtually (Social Media)

Ways to socialize virtually involve joining social media sites. Love or hate them, I think that signing up to some of them is an important way of getting yourself out there; just don’t abuse them. You don’t have to spend ages on them (which is kinda easy to do) rather spend a bit of time posting some quality content, making a few meaningful relationships (as opposed to going for sheer numbers) and your virtual social life is sure to blossom. I don’t even need to suggest ways to get involved with Social Media because Bloggirrl has written A very long list on ways to get blog traffic which is jammed packed with social media ideas and sites.

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Meeting face to face

How about ways to meet folks face to face? Unless you live out in the sticks (which I admit I often wish I did) why not arrange to meet folks for a coffee and a crafty chat? You could try:

1. Asking regular commenters on your blog whom you know live reasonably close if they would fancy meeting up for a Crafternoon, like I did recently
2. Looking for websites such as Meet Up where individuals can set up groups for anything and everything to meet up get together.
3. Check out what craft fairs or exhibitions are happening in your area and arrange to meet new folks there and maybe share a stall. Craftster has excellent international notice boards for such happenings.

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You can meet like minded crafters make new friends, eat yummy cakes together, talk about craft and share ideas and tips, and did I mention you can also eat yummy cakes. What’s not to like?

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PS I finally did it! I have succumbed and joined Twitter. I still don’t quite know what is it yet but so many folks have recommended it to me so please follow me here. I’d love meet you and say hi

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