I never run an online store, but my friend gets good results using Ebay. Maybe you can consider using them to promote your products.
Here is a short laundry list for you: 1. Build authority and expert level status in your niche. Sure, you might be all knowing and such in crafts, but to anybody and everybody else, you have to convey that. Have you thought about a blog or setting up a few press releases to put to press release websites such as prweb? 2. Find a target group to promote to! If you know who would be interested in your craft store, find them and promote! It could be online blogs, forums, and community websites/social niche networks that cater to the niche of whatever craft that you are wanting to promote. 3. Affiliate Programs. Sure you might know what the deal is with this type of program. Surrender a small amount of profits to build more traffic and business to your store. 4. Partnership media buys with related websites. Maybe this falls into affiliate programs, but you can arrange special programs, either revshare or buy a link or a graphic media buy with websites that have a similar niche. Not only does this give serious link juice with the Search Engines, but you will receive overflow from this "network" of websites. 5. Long term, never short term. Remember! My two cents, Tom Howell
There just has to be lots of forums for crafts. I haven't searched for this, but I would even look for specialized craft forums. A Google search would be the way to start.
ebay probably won't work for a craft store. The service fees will eat you alive. While they seem minimal, ebay charges you $1 just to list the item, plus extra for any special features (i.e. pictures, bold headings, etc). It's very easy to cost $10 just to list an item. Additionally, they also charge you something like 5% of the final auction value. The markup on craft stuff is pretty low, and ebay will just destroy your profit margin. Shipping costs will suck up any remaining profits from each sale.
Get some exposure for your site and do some old fashioned SEO. Nothing easier than doing a few articles.
Hi There! Congratulations on starting your own ecommerce business There are few different ways to drive traffic, but some of my favourite are: 1. Getting Ranked in the search engines - think of getting a Blog and posting daily about craft related topics. 2. Pay-Per-Click, this can be a little bit expensive but you sometimes have to spend money to make money. 3. Word of Mouth. This is the best because it converts really well, if your customers are happy they'll go off and tell other people. There are thousands of others but you need to FOCUS on a few and do them well.