10 Lesser-Known Social Media Strategies to Sell More Handicrafts

Selling handicrafts on social media may seem simple, but it’s an increasingly competitive market. Many artisans rely on the same tactics: posting nice photos, using popular hashtags, and hoping the audience finds their products. But is that enough to stand out and actually sell more?

The truth is, there are lesser-known social media strategies to sell more handicrafts that can make all the difference in results. They don’t require big investments and are often overlooked due to lack of knowledge or fear of trying something new. That’s why those who apply them gain a significant edge over the competition.

If you feel your sales are stagnant or want to explore new ways to attract customers, this article is for you. Below, I present 10 lesser-known social media strategies to sell more handicrafts, all practical and tested by experienced artisans.

1. Create ongoing content series

One of the most effective ways to keep your audience engaged is to create content series with a beginning, middle, and end. For example: “7 days of crochet techniques for beginners” or “5 creative ideas to decorate with macramé.” This builds anticipation and retains followers who’ll return daily to follow the full content.

Also, this type of strategy favors the platforms’ algorithms, as it increases engagement and the time users spend interacting with your posts. You can use this technique in both videos and image carousels.

2. Use Instagram’s “Guides” feature

Few people know that Instagram offers a feature called “Guides,” which allows you to group several posts into a single piece of content, with custom titles and descriptions. You can, for example, create a guide with all your Mother’s Day products or with tips on how to care for handmade pieces.

This format is ideal for making navigation easier for your followers and for highlighting content that has already been posted, giving new life to older posts.

3. Showcase behind-the-scenes of your creative process

Only showing the final product might seem enough, but the audience loves to see behind the scenes. Show the step-by-step of a piece, your workspace, the tools you use, or even your daily hits and misses. This humanizes your brand and creates an emotional connection with followers.

You can do this through stories, short reels, or live videos. And it doesn’t have to be perfect: authenticity is what matters most in this type of content.

4. Create a monthly challenge with your followers

Engagement generates visibility. A creative idea is to launch monthly challenges related to your niche. Example: “Quick embroidery challenge – post a piece made in under 1 hour and tag our profile.” This encourages production, sharing, and puts your brand in the spotlight.

Offering a small prize (like a discount or handmade gift) to the most creative participant can boost participation even more.

5. Partner with local micro-influencers

Instead of trying to work with big influencers, who are expensive and far from your target audience, bet on local micro-influencers. These are profiles with 1,000 to 10,000 engaged followers, usually with strong community ties.

You can offer a product in exchange for a shout-out or even propose a creative collaboration. This type of partnership often leads to more direct and real sales.

6. Use polls and question boxes to test products

Before launching a new collection or product color, use Instagram Stories polls or question boxes to ask your followers for input. This helps create a sense of participation and increases interest in pieces that are “approved” by your community.

Plus, you save time and materials by focusing on products with a higher chance of success.

7. Make strategic reposts with personal commentary

Reposting content from other profiles can be useful, as long as you add something of your own. For instance, share a tip from a partner account and comment on how you apply that to your own work. This shows you’re up to date with trends and also values other artisans.

Avoid simply copying and pasting. Personalization is key here.

8. Create quick tutorials using your products

A great way to generate value is to show how your product can be used or how it was made. A 30-second tutorial showing how to tie a fabric necklace or how to use a handmade decoration piece can catch the eye of someone unfamiliar with your work.

You can also use this format to answer frequently asked questions from followers and show the versatility of your products.

9. Explore alternative posting times

Everyone talks about posting at 6 p.m. or 8 p.m., but those time slots are saturated. Try alternative times, like 9 a.m. or 3 p.m., especially on weekends. Each audience has different behavior, and understanding this can greatly increase your post reach.

Use platform analytics to analyze your best engagement times and adjust accordingly.

10. Offer exclusive content for engaged followers

Create a “VIP list” of loyal followers and offer exclusive content, like discounts, special behind-the-scenes footage, or gifts on special occasions. This can be done via Instagram’s Close Friends or through direct messages.

This kind of personalized attention greatly increases loyalty and the chances of repeat purchases.

Conclusion

Applying lesser-known social media strategies to sell more handicrafts could be the missing ingredient to turn your profile into a true sales showcase. You don’t need to change everything at once: start by testing one or two ideas that make sense for your audience and routine.

The most important thing is to stay consistent, be authentic in your communication, and monitor results closely. With patience and creativity, your social media can become your main sales channel — and with much more authenticity.