5 Ways to Help a Maker for Free
The knitting/crocheting/fiber arts community is generally quite supportive of its members. There’s a lot of help given among potential competitors, and even a lot of cross promotion, just because of an appreciation for another’s work. I’ve written before about the potential benefits to you of Supporting a Fellow Maker. But aside from taking the money and time to buy and make a pattern, or a buy a product from them, there are many other ways you can support makers.
Many makers are running a business. And if you’re familiar with Sewrella or other prominent bloggers, you may be aware that just selling a finished item on Etsy or at a market, or selling a pattern on Ravelry, isn’t the only revenue stream for these businesses. Because of that, buying something from your fellow maker is not the only way to support them. Some of these other ways are obvious, others perhaps less so. Below are some ways you can help, and most of them are remarkably quick and easy, and all FREE for you.
- Like their Instagram post
- Regardless of what algorithm we’re playing with at a given time, upping their engagement will always be helpful.
- View a pattern on Ravelry
- You know that Top 20 List of patterns on Ravelry? Patterns get there based on the number of visits in the last 24 hours. So this is probably most helpful on the day a pattern is released when there’s a lot of buzz around the pattern. If a pattern gets into the top 20, and especially top 5, more people will see it and then you’ve helped them make sales without spending a cent! And you could even favourite it or add it to your queue while you’re there.
- Visit their blog
- Now obviously I have a blog, so this point is not completely altruistic. But it only takes a few seconds to visit their website and click on their blog. You don’t even have to read it. Of course everyone would love to have their work read and appreciated as well, but number of views influences whether someone can get ads put on their blog so that it can be monetized. And if they already have ads on their blogs, more eyes on that page will give them money. Again, without you having to shell out any of your hard-earned money.
- Pin or Re-pin their blog post or pin
- A lot of bloggers see their highest level of traffic being directed from Pinterest. When you’re on their blog, pin a picture, or find the share buttons and share the post via Pinterest (or any other social media platform). And if you see their post on Pinterest, re-pin it!
- Share their post/pattern in your Instagram stories
- Simple, takes seconds, increases their engagement and exposure. And if you have a following sufficient to afford you the privilege of ‘Swipe Up’, if you can take a few more seconds to add that link in, you could really be helping them get more views on their blog post, YouTube video, or Ravelry pattern. And if you are making their pattern, tag them and use their hashtags!
Are there any other ways you like to help a fellow maker? Or as a maker, what would help you out?
