I love bookish goodies, and etsy is a book lovers paradise for things that you will not be able to find anywhere else. Jessica over at www.bookishserendipity.com has started her own etsy store and she is having a really cool blog tour to celebrate. She is sharing the story behind her store, some of her favorite products and even giving a studio tour. I will link to the blog tour stops below, so be sure to check them out.
Today, she is here at Book Briefs to talk about how being a book blogger has helped her start her Etsy Business.
This week, I launched my Etsy store Bookish Serendipity Co, where I sell jewelry and accessories inspired by books. The entire experience has been phenomenal so far…and it also reminded me a lot of a different experience: book blogging. Here are a few things that blogging has taught me about running a small business:
1. Social media is important.
Blogging has taught me so much about the power of social media. I’ve also learned a lot about the line between promoting your business in a way that actually helps people, and just spamming. Have you ever gotten tagged in a promotional tweet that has nothing to do with you? Isn’t that so frustrating? Social media is a way to genuinely connect with others and sure, it is also used to promote your business, but I think the most important part is networking and getting to know others. Here is one of my favourite quotes by Matt Goulart about social media as a tool.
“Social media is about the people. Not about your business. Provide for the people and the people will provide for you.”
2. Make it personal
Making sure that a customer/ follower knows they are valued matters. On my blog, I run monthly feature called Focus On Followers as a way to thank my followers and highlight their achievements. Nothing is more important to me than making it personal, and when I started planning for Bookish Serendipity Co, I knew that I wanted to include that personal touch in everything I do. That’s why I include a hand-written note with every Bookish Serendipity Co order and whenever I reach out to someone for help, I also aim to include a reason for why they rock, and they matter to me.
3. If you act professional, you are a professional.
Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any book bloggers for whom blogging is their career, but that doesn’t mean professionalism is any less important! As bloggers, we do many tasks (like sending emails and working with authors) that should be done politely and kindly. This builds respect, because really, who wants to be treated like they aren’t important? I learned a lot about respect and professionalism from my blogging experiences, and have been able to transfer that knowledge over when I started Bookish Serendipity Co.
4. Make sure you love what you’re doing
There have been times when I’ve been tempted to stop blogging, but I’ve never seriously thought about it. I love blogging and the community too much! This is the one of the most important things that I’ve learned from blogging. If I didn’t love making jewelry, then Bookish Serendipity Co never would have been started. I opened this shop because of my love of jewelry making and crafting, and that’s the reason that it is going to be around for a long time.
Believe it or not, blogging and running a small business have a lot in common. My blogging experience has been incredibly helpful. It has made the transition between roles much easier, and I’m so grateful for that.
@mybookishfetish shares How #Blogging Has Helped Her Become An #Etsy #Entrepreneur #Ontheblog Share on X
Jessica is a reader, blogger, and entrepreneur. She runs the store Bookish Serendipity Co. on Etsy, where she sells affordable literary-inspired jewelry and accessories for book lovers. Jessica lives in Canada with her family, dog, and a never-ending TBR pile.
About Bookish Serendipity Co.
At Bookish Serendipity Co, you can find a variety of jewelry pieces and accessories inspired by books that are both affordable and beautiful. Bookish Serendipity Co is run by me, a teen blogger and entrepreneur. All pieces are handmade for you, perfect for everyday wear. Looking to share your passion for books with the world? Bookish Serendipity Co is for you.
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Bonus: Jessica is offering extra bonus freebies to the first 25 customers at Bookish Serendipity Co. I’m actually going to have a hard time sending these freebies out, because I love them so much. Good luck!
Wonderful tips and ideas! Thanks for sharing this, I never thought about how blogging could open up other avenues as well.