When you are designing your crochet pattern, it can feel like getting the design written, photographed and tested is the hard part of the job. Getting sales should be the easy part right? You write up your listing, hit publish and then…… crickets. So why isn’t your crochet pattern selling?
First off, it’s nothing to do with your design. Whatever your crochet pattern is, whoever it is designed to appeal to, there will be a whole bunch of crocheters out there who would love to make it. They’re just not seeing it. And if they can’t see it, they can’t buy it.
There could be several reasons why your crochet pattern isn’t selling. Either you are missing something within your listing, or you are not appearing in search results to begin with. Let’s take a look at the more serious problem first
Not Appearing In Search Results
The biggest problem is if you’re not even appearing in search results. This is huge. You stand no chance of earning on repeat without you putting in a tonne of work to drive traffic to your listing everyday. You need to get seen in those all important search results to make profiting from your crochet patterns as easy and the least time consuming as possible.
After all, one of the biggest benefits to writing and selling crochet patterns is the ability to sell on automation. But that can’t happen if your crochet pattern isn’t even popping up in the search pages.
So how do you fix this?
This is all down to the keywords you are using. Your keywords need to appear in your titles, descriptions and image alt text (and if you are using Etsy, your tags too)
Search engines want validation that the words in your title are actually what your listing is about – remember that old spammy hack where a random car game video would add Justin Bieber’s name in the title to appear in more searches?! – search engines learnt this trick, so now you need to give reassurance that you’re not a spammer and repeat your keywords in all the different parts of your listing.
How Do You Know What Your Keywords Are?
This is the all important part – picking the right keywords.
Think about what you would type into Google to find your product. Size, fibre type used, for adults or kids, how it fits, the season it’s for.
All of this builds your search term.
At this point I probably should mention that a keyword isn’t just a single word, it’s really a phrase, a string of words that describes your crochet product.
Instinct says to keep your keyword short, like “Fingerless Gloves Crochet Pattern”. Makes sense on the face of it, after all its going to be a common search term for anyone wanting to make some crochet hardware for the winter.
But stop and think for a second.
Do you know how many results there are for fingerless crochet give crochet pattern?
Thousands
What do you think your chances are of getting on the 1st page of Google when you’re competing against so many others?
Why do you have to be on the 1st page of Google search results? Well think how often you browse through pages of search results when searching for something. Most of the time you click a link in the top half of the page. So you need to be appearing for a keyword that puts you right at the top of the search results.
That means getting very specific with the keywords that you’re using.
You can discover more about how to choose the keywords that will make your crochet sell in my masterclass here
Appearing In Search Results But Not Getting Clicks
What if you are appearing in the search results, but you’re not getting any clicks?
Well this is probably a problem with your images.
Once you get yourself in the search results, your images have to do their job. A badly lit or staged product photo can make or break your chances of getting those all important clicks.
After all we choose to buy based on looks, not words. Your main product image has to be spot on and speak to your potential customer so that they feel compelled to click and find out more.
To compel customers to click your image needs to be sharp, bright and show your beautiful crochet in all its glory.
A photo taken in natural light, in an appropriate setting or with a neutral background.
You don’t need to hire a professional photographer to get these results, you can do it yourself with just your smartphone and a simple setup. That’s all I used to take the images below that I use to promote my own patterns
If you’re not sure how to stage your main crochet image or how to make it stand out and look professional, then take a look at other crochet pattern listings on Etsy or Ravelry and see how others are doing it. What looks good to you? Which images are you most likely to click on to discover more? Base your own set up on the answers to these questions, and you will have fabulous looking photos too.
You can discover more about how to stage and edit your crochet product photos using just your smartphone here in my ebook
Your Listing Is Getting Clicks But No One Is Buying
If you are appearing in the search results and your main image is doing it’s job and getting you clicks, what else could be the reason your crochet pattern isn’t selling?
2 other options are that you are missing extra photos with the closeup details potential customers need to see to make the final decision, or your description is missing essential details.
Do You Have All Your Photos?
Your main image isn’t the only photo that you need. You also need closeups of all that lovely crochet detail.
To feel confident that your design is going to be the perfect pattern for them, your customers need to be able to see things up close. The devil is in the detail after all.
Do you have pictures showing:
- Closeups of special stitches
- An indication of size
- Your design in a setting
- Closeups of different areas of the design
These are all essential images which will give your customers confidence to click the buy now button.
Remember that this entire transaction is happening online. Unlike a high street shop your customers cannot get hands on with your creations. They can’t pick it up, feel it, twist and turn it to see everything they need to make a purchase decision. Your photos have to fill that need. So take pictures of every detail you can along with photos of your creation in use or in an appropriate setting to show it off. Below are some of the closeup images that I use for one of my own patterns. They are showing the detail from different angles so that all the important features can be seen clearly
These extra photos will give your customers the confidence that this is the right design for them when they can see all those lovely details and fall in love with them.
Want to learn more about how to create an irresistible Etsy listing that will sell out? Click here to discover more
Is Your Description Detailed Enough?
You need to have all the necessary details in your description in order to make that final decision to click the buy now button a no brainer action. Like your extra photos, the details are essential to reassure your customers that they are making a good choice in buying your crochet pattern.
Your description is the final point. To get here you have shown up in search results, your main image has compelled your customer to click, they like the look of your extra photos, now they just need a few more details to convince them to buy. So make sure your description clears up any last reservations or answers any questions they may have.
Is your description including:
- The amount and brand of yarn used
- Hooks needed
- Skill level
- The type of instructions included in the pattern
- If you have a Facebook group or alternative for support
- US or UK terms
- Alternative yarn options
- Finished size
- Are there multiple size options
- Are any notions such as buttons or beads needed?
All of these details can help give your customers the confidence to buy as they can quickly see everything they need to know to decide if this pattern is one they are capable of making.
Your customers simply need information. They need to be reassured that your gorgeous design is within their ability, or if they are looking to push themselves, that they will have the resources available to understand what they need to do.
If you get these 4 problems solved
- Get Your Keywords right
- A stunning main image
- Detailed extra photos
- Informative description
Then there is no reason that your pattern listing should not be getting clicks and sales on a regular basis. Most patterns fail to get the attention and sales they deserve because one of the above things is missing or not quite on point.
Get these right and your crochet patterns will start selling like hotcakes.
If you are ready to turn your crochet business into a recurring profit machine, there are 3 ways I can help you :
- Listen to my podcast for more crochet tips and advice
- Sign up to my newsletter for weekly crochet selling tips and resources sent straight to your inbox
- Check out my free Facebook group for daily tips, resources and support
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