Amazon now has handcrafted listings, but it may not be a particularly good first choice.  Amazon really focuses on new, manufactured goods and books. You may, however, want to set up your own independent store on Shopify.com, bigcommerce.com, or volusion.com. These three specialize in low-cost, turnkey e-commerce sites. They are easy-peasy to set up, no programming knowledge required. All you have to do is upload your photos and write a description. There are other sites, such as Weebly or Wix, that offer e-commerce, too.

The downside of setting up your own independent online store is the challenge of attracting enough visitors and potential customers to your site. Most experienced online sellers recommend starting on one of the big sites like etsy or Ebay or Bonanza, then later, after you develop a following, setting up an independent site.

What to say and show about your handcrafts

Before you list even one item you should comparison shop for similar items. Notice the styles, the sizes offered, the prices, the quality of the goods and any shipping charges. Then, take a careful look at their photos and the descriptions. This is your competition.

Your description should be very detailed including size or exact measurements, weight or washing instructions, if applicable, materials used, and color or colors available. You should also note if an item can be special ordered in a different color or size.

Also be sure to post excellent, well-lighted photos of the items from all angles, especially from the front and the back. Show close-ups of all details. You want your customers to be happy, not disappointed, and eager to tell their friends about you and to order more.

Promoting your handcrafted items online

Because the internet is so enormous now, becoming visible to potential customers is a major challenge.  Obviously you are going to tell everyone you know that you have set up an online store to sell your handcrafts.  And some of the sites where you can open a shop will promote your items at least once. To this promotional effort you should add tweeting on Twitter.com or posting on Instagram.com to attract more potential customers to your online shop.  Do this at least once every day. You can also find people on the Fiverr.com site who will promote your new shop for just $5.  You may also want to develop an email list of customers so you can contact them with special offers or new product introductions.