Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Soapmaker's Guide to Online Marketing
    The Soapmaker's Guide to Online Marketing
    The Soapmaker's Guide to Online Marketing
    Ebook141 pages1 hour

    The Soapmaker's Guide to Online Marketing

    By Lisa Maliga

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Soapmakers and crafters, learn how to grow your online presence! “The Soapmaker's Guide to Online Marketing” is packed with detailed information on designing, building, and promoting your website. Learn how to write a press release. Get loads of free and low cost promotional ideas. Attract customers by blogging, making videos, and showing off enticing photos of your soaps and/or other bath and body products. Written by the author of “The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting” and more than a dozen other soap crafting books.

    You'll get:

    ♦ Successful SEO tips

    ♦ Free online and offline website promotion tips

    ♦ Helpful photo guidelines

    ♦ Video ideas

    ♦ 100+ updated links

    ♦ Getting product reviews

    ♦ Set up your work/crafting area

    ♦ Wholesaling and labeling guidelines

    ♦ Avoiding online fraud

    ♦ Tips on creating your product line

    ♦ Basic soap recipes

    ♦ More than 30 resources

    ♦ Also available in paperback

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLisa Maliga
    Release dateJan 20, 2014
    ISBN9781497738447
    The Soapmaker's Guide to Online Marketing
    Author

    Lisa Maliga

    Lisa Maliga is an American author of contemporary fiction, psychological thrillers and cozy mysteries. Her nonfiction titles consist of how to make bath and body products with an emphasis on melt and pour soap crafting. When researching her latest cozy mystery, she discovered the art of baking French macarons. She continues to bake macarons, always trying new flavor combinations. When not writing, Lisa reads, watches movies, and is a huge fan of "The Walking Dead." Links: http://www.lisamaliga.com https://twitter.com/#!/lisamaliga https://twitter.com/#!/everythingshea http://pinterest.com/lisamaliga https://www.youtube.com/user/LisaMaliga

    Read more from Lisa Maliga

    Related to The Soapmaker's Guide to Online Marketing

    Related ebooks

    Business For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Miracle Ingredient

      May 25, 2020

      Miracle Ingredient
      6 min read

    • Article

      Simply Soap

      Oct 1, 2020

      Simply Soap
      3 min read

    • Article

      Homemade Honey Hand Salve

      Jul 12, 2019

      Homemade Honey Hand Salve
      2 min read

    • Article

      The Ultimate In Appliances

      Nov 10, 2021

      The Ultimate In Appliances
      1 min read

    • Article

      Solve It In 7

      Sep 3, 2020

      So, you want to start a blog? Great idea! But with so many amazing creative blogs out there already, how do you make yours stand out? How do you get people returning for more, and how do you build a loyal following? Experts at employment agency Reed.

      2 min read

    • Article

      Wet Felting Basics

      Nov 26, 2017

      Wet Felting Basics
      2 min read

    • Article

      Cocolux

      Nov 9, 2018

      Cocolux
      2 min read

    • Article

      Inspirations For Your Craft Kit!

      Nov 29, 2019

      * American Crafts 1canoe2 Saturday Afternoon 12x12 paper pad, wood stickers & layered stickers, from Scrapbook * Ribbons * Trims * Brad * Pigment inks – blue, peach & pink * Blending tool Have a go at making an accordion book using your frames! Di

      2 min read

    • Article

      Safe Herbs For Pets

      Oct 10, 2018

      BY KAREN GOLDRICK is a holistic veterinarian at All Natural Vet Care, Russell Lea, Sydney. T: +61 2 9712 5844 W: naturalvet.com.au Most herbs are safe and gentle but there are some we use with care. In holistic veterinary practice we regularly use he

      3 min read

    • Article

      Lessons in Beauty

      Mar 20, 2017

      Lessons in Beauty
      2 min read

    • Article

      6 Fantastic Business Ideas for Moms

      Dec 24, 2020

      Rather than work a 9-5 job every day, what if you could be your own boss and make your own schedule? That's where business ideas for moms play a major role. Starting a work-at-home endeavor is a rising trend that is only going to become more prevalen

      6 min read

    • Article

      15 Small Business Ideas to Launch from Home This Fall

      Oct 18, 2019

      Side hustle, small business, or side project. Call it what you will. In the gig economy that we're living in, everyone can materialize their longing to build something profitable and amazing outside their regular 9-to-5 jobs. Not only are there free

      6 min read

    • Article

      Launch a Side Hustle!

      Dec 31, 2019

      Launch a Side Hustle!
      25 min read

    • Article

      For Richer Or Poorer

      Jan 12, 2022

      For Richer Or Poorer
      5 min read

    • Article

      For Richer Or Poorer

      Jan 12, 2022

      For Richer Or Poorer
      5 min read

    • Article

      For Richer Or Poorer

      Jan 12, 2022

      For Richer Or Poorer
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Struggle With The Juggle

      Jan 24, 2022

      The Struggle With The Juggle
      2 min read

    • Article

      Beauty & beyond

      Feb 19, 2022

      Beauty & beyond
      9 min read

    • Article

      A THING of BEAUTY

      Jun 17, 2022

      A THING of BEAUTY
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Soapmaker's Guide to Online Marketing

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      The Soapmaker's Guide to Online Marketing - Lisa Maliga

      Introduction

      The Soapmaker’s Guide to Online Marketing was written expressly for those of you who wish to make soap and/or other bath and body products. It doesn’t matter what type of soap you make or plan to, this book will help you find an online market for your products.

      This new edition was written because so much has changed online since 2013. Not only are more people selling soap online, there are also more outlets available and creative ways to market your business. I’ve made sure that the information is up to date about fees for online shops, website marketing, and the Pinterest section has been expanded to reflect all the new features that are offered.

      New book recommendations have been included along with other resources. More importantly, I know what it’s like to be on a tight budget. Therefore, I included many no and low cost tips to help you get the most for your money.

      Here are the following people that may find reading this book beneficial.

      1. If you sell your soap from a brick and mortar store. Or a kiosk. Maybe you’ve thought about building a website. Perhaps you have one of those freebies made on Wix, Weebly, Webs, or another hosting site. First, decide if you want an informational only website to direct business to your store. Secondly, if you choose to sell soap online then you’ll want to build a website that accepts payments.

      2. You sell your soap at craft shows/fairs, festivals, swap meets, flea markets, farmer’s markets, etc. Many soapmakers wholesale their products to hotels, bed & breakfasts, spas, and retail stores/boutiques. You can choose to use a company website to direct customers to your offline locations. To expand your business, having an online presence will help it grow. The choice of also selling online is one you should make carefully.

      3. In the third category is the person who wants to sell soap online exclusively. Unless you’ve bought an existing soapmaking business, selling soap online is the most difficult if you have no offline venues in which you sell your soap. On the WWW you’re convincing people to buy a product they can’t touch or smell. You’re also competing against large companies, established but small companies, and countless others in your field. However, it can be done—I launched a business in June 2004 with just a simple website and a press release. Admittedly, sales didn’t roll in right away, but the more I kept building my brand name by utilizing all the website building tactics that I read about online and offline, the more business came my way.

      Chapter 1 ~

      Do You Want to Sell Soap Online?

      A Questionnaire

      Here is a questionnaire to help you determine if you really want to sell soap. There is no scoring system but by answering the questions you’ll think even more about whether you should or shouldn’t.

      ♦ Is soapmaking something you want to do seven days a week?

      ♦ Can you be your own boss?

      ♦ Do you have enough money to start a full or part time business?

      ♦ How long have you been making soap?

      ♦ What kind/s of soap will you make to sell?

      ♦ What is your motivation [other than making money].

      ♦ Will you not melt [or otherwise alter the soap base] but simply repackage it and sell it that way?

      ♦ Will you also make complimentary products such as lotion, lip balm, sugar scrubs, candles, body butters, mineral makeup, etc.

      ♦ Will any of the non-soap products be made from scratch or from a base?

      ♦ Do you want to become a soap supplier in addition to or instead of selling soap?

      ♦ Can you handle going for days/weeks/months with no sales?

      ♦ Will you join a soapmaking organization?

      ♦ Do you have enough room to make soap? Will you have to rent a studio?

      ♦ Do the laws in your area allow you to make soap in your home?

      ♦ Do the laws in your area allow you to sell from your home?

      ♦ What type of business license will you need?

      ♦ How many varieties of soap do you plan to sell?

      ♦ Can you make soap that stands out from your competitors?

      ♦ Will you sell specialty soaps like fun and funky embed soaps? Art-type soaps? Will you want to sell baby/wedding shower soaps? Make soapy party favors?

      ♦ Can you come up with a catchy and memorable name for your company?

      ♦ How much can you do yourself: making soap/products, taking photos, logo/letterhead design, creating a website, building and maintaining it, ordering, on and offline marketing, bookkeeping, packaging, shipping?

      ♦ Will you be able to do the marketing yourself? Can you afford to hire someone to market your company?

      ♦ Are you consistent with the quality of your soapmaking?

      ♦ Do you want to be part of a crafting community like Etsy or do you want your own website?

      ♦ Can you build a website?

      ♦ Can you hire and fire employees?

      ♦ Are you able to delegate tasks?

      ♦ Will your family support your need to make and sell soap?

      There are many advantages to selling soap online. The first is the lower overhead costs, especially if you're working out of your home. You transportation/gas costs can decrease; you get to spend more time with your family, especially if they're helping you out. If you sell online only, you'll limit your contact with people in many cases, as your main contact will be via email or phone. Maybe that's an advantage to you; or the opposite might be true.

      Selling soap online isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. If you want to make quick and easy money, learn to count cards or play the lottery!

      Premature Selling – Please Don’t Do It!

      When I find the time to visit soapmaking sites I sometimes come across enthusiastic newbies who can’t wait to begin selling their soap. In some cases, they take the term can’t wait far too literally. So they don’t. Rachel the Rookie makes a batch and off she trots to a crafts bazaar, an office/school fundraiser, or a farmer’s market and she's suddenly in business. Maybe they set up an online store if they have some web smarts. No matter what method they use to sell their newfound wares, there are several problems with premature selling. One doesn’t bake a cake and decide to open a bakery. That may be their goal, but first they have to make dozens or hundreds of cakes in order to be a confident and skillful baker.

      Ask yourself if you would prefer buying soap from an absolute newcomer to the soaping scene or from someone who not only makes nice looking and smelling soap, but is able to discuss their products with knowledge.

      ♦ Premature sellers won’t be able to answer questions about the soap’s ingredients, why it lathers well or doesn’t, will they know that you must use cling wrap [film] to wrap their melt and pour soap? Will they know how to wrap their cold or hot process soap? Their rebatch/hand-milled soap?

      ♦ Where do they find all their supplies?

      ♦ What kind of colors will they use? Fragrances or essential oils?

      ♦ What if they use too much fragrance/essential oil and damage someone’s skin?

      ♦ Will they use an organic soap base?

      ♦ Will they make their soap from scratch using a CP or HP method?

      ♦ Will they make unproven claims such as their miracle soap cures a skin condition or contains love as the main ingredient?

      ♦ Does their kitchen qualify as a sanitary facility?

      ♦ Will their soap look the same in three months? In six months?

      ♦ If making other products, has a shelf life been determined? How will they look in three months? In six months?

      These and numerous other questions must be considered. For instance, if a newbie soap crafter starts selling soap they haven’t bothered to test on themselves or others, what if a customer gets a rash from improperly made soap? The problem is that the inexperienced soapcrafter will be competing with others who have far more experience. If they sully the pool with improperly crafted soap, it gives all the other soap crafters and soapmakers a bad name. It then trickles down to everyone as stricter laws go into effect, laws that end up costing everyone time, money, and aggravation. The customer becomes more leery of handmade soap and that affects business for all the experienced soapcrafters out there who have paid their dues and spent their time and money effectively learning their skills.

      ––––––––

      The Goat Milk Gal

      I was part of a small soapmakers group that disbanded a few years ago. One of the members was in the process of launching her soap

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1