promoting your product

ScottRoush

ScottRoush

Joined
Jan 10, 2010
Messages
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I've been doing a lot of custom work, mostly through word of mouth and online blog coverage of my website... I haven't gotten into the show scene yet but that is in the works for next year. Everything I've been doing is hand-forged and each piece is unique. I want to continue doing that because that is what I love... but I'm interested in offering a less expensive stock removal type knife that reflects my style... but is a little faster to put together.... the 'bread and butter' type thing. I'm wondering how people promote a new knife style they are coming up with.. .other than just going to shows or putting out advertisements. Is it common practice to send some knives to... say.. an outdoor gear magazine for review to get coverage that way? Or my kitchen cutlery... I'm starting to make a lot of that and I enjoy it. How do I let the world know? What else do folks do???

Which brings me back to advertising. Do most folks feel that magazine ads pay for themselves?

Thanks a lot folks...
 
I try to get an email address or at least a mailing address from past customers. On a regular basis I will send out a "newsletter" with an interesting topic, say how to sharpen a knife or keep a wood handle in top condition. At the end of the newsletter, I will do some selling of my latest design and the like. I like to give them some good information and then an advertisement. Works pretty well and keeps my name out there with people who know me.
 
Send me one of them, and I'll promote the living tar out of it, and send the customers your way! Serious, and a cheap way to advertise. I have done it with my photography biz. Give away a few pieces strategically, and word of mouth is a powerful selling tool.

If you want to take me up on promoting for you, email me. if no, take the advice anyways.

Jim
 
If you choose to send a piece to a magazine make sure to get in touch with them ahead of time. It might not be how they operate. A lot of them are basically a small editing office at the parent company and all the actual writing is submitted by freelance writers either by request or just as "hey, got an article you might like for one of the winter editions..."

In a lot of cases you might be better served contacting one of the established writers about an article about knives. An article that combines a feature about a knife maker and his or her work plus the general information is more interesting to people than a straight forward knife review. Don't try to hide that you're looking at it as promoting yourself, just present it as a win win.

Another option is to look into local or even national charities. If you find one that can use your work as a fund raising tool or as part of a project then it can mean a lot of positive exposure for you at the cost of a knife or two and your time. This is similar to companies that do pink versions of their products for breast cancer awareness. They aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, it's a massive promotional campaign that boosts their sales. A good cause raises money and awareness, but so does the company selling the products.
 
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