Ways to get "noticed"

R

Redneckknifer1

Joined
Dec 8, 2012
Messages
20
Hey guys, I'm kind of new to the whole "pimping" thing, I've recently gotten comfortable enough to do knives for customers , does anyone know of ways to get noticed or get customers?
 
Thanks for asking. I'm pleased for you.

1. Pay for a Bladeforums Knifemaker/Craftsman membership. You get credibility and more. In fact it's a must. Worth every penny.

2. Stop using a screen name. Use YOUR name in every signature, and I'd highly suggest paying to have your screen-name changed. People want to deal with people. Not the internet. :)

3. Have an online album or even a website available to show your work. Spend time creating albums and a Gallery. Include your link in the signature line.

4. Post your work in the Gallery on Bladeforums. This forum is not for pimped knives, but they are very popular.

5. All successful businesses, businessmen, and craftstmen understand this: Underpromise and Overdeliver. In other words, make sure you exceed expectations, not just match them.

6. Make communication a clear priority.

Good luck.

Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
Thanks for asking. I'm pleased for you.

1. Pay for a Bladeforums Knifemaker/Craftsman membership. You get credibility and more. In fact it's a must. Worth every penny.

2. Stop using a screen name. Use YOUR name in every signature, and I'd highly suggest paying to have your screen-name changed. People want to deal with people. Not the internet. :)

3. Have an online album or even a website available to show your work. Spend time creating albums and a Gallery. Include your link in the signature line.

4. Post your work in the Gallery on Bladeforums. This forum is not for pimped knives, but they are very popular.

5. All successful businesses, businessmen, and craftstmen understand this: Underpromise and Overdeliver. In other words, make sure you exceed expectations, not just match them.

6. Make communication a clear priority.

Good luck.

Coop
Click to expand...

Words to live by! Great advice


A top notch product will bring buyers back. Getting noticed is important but repeat sales will keep you in business.
 
Get a knifemakers subscription here. Really, you can't buy instant exposure like this site gives.

There are knife nuts all over the world looking at this site daily!

All of my knife buying decisions in the last 6+ years are a direct result of this site. You have some of the best knife makers in the world who actually frequent this site and give feed back!
 
Coop knows.

I'll add a little, from a guy who's a few years in but not at the top.

1. Learn to make excellent knives. Get your designs nailed down and your fit and finish up to par. I haven't seen your stuff, but there's no use trying to "get noticed" if nobody will like what they see when they notice you.
2. Put the knives in front of as many people as you can. This means shows, internet forums, and your personal website. If you don't have a website and don't do shows, you stand very little chance of "getting noticed."
3. Coop's #5. Don't over reach too early. Over deliver.
4. As part of #3, continuously make progress. If you're not pushing yourself to get better, you won't reach some folks, and you'll underwhelm those who notice you. You need to make a "wow" knife once in a while.
5. I had a seminary professor who put it this way, "Lest a man toot his own horn, it shall not be tooted." Take an active role in self promotion. Don't wait around to "get" noticed.
 
Good advice stated above. Wake up in the morning and go to bed at night thinking "Fit and Finish". You might make a knife that would skin a Volkswagen Van, but if the Fit and Finish is not there, it won't get much attention.

There is no one aspect of knifemaking that you can single out as being most important. You have to create the "Total Package" in order to be successful.

Robert
 
If you can, join ABS and Knifemankers Guild as well as CKCA. Always be sure to have prices on the knives offered for sale. Attend all the shows you can either with or without a table. Attend seminars and meet other makers -- often they may recommend you to a user or collector looking for something.
 
If you feel your work is advanced enough for Professional Photography, Pros like Coop will capture the beauty of your work, then submit them to different magazines for publication. This reaches great numbers of people, some that visit forums frequently and some that don't. Professional photography is just another important part of the business.

Bill
 
Redneckknifer1, something about your thread really bugs me. Maybe it's the fact that even after all this great advice you still haven't identified yourself.
You might be a lost cause :)
 
Unless I read it wrong he is not a maker. He "pimps" knives. Taking production knives and maybe customs and improving (used very loosely)?
 
Thanks, David Sharp,
I always wondered what people meant by saying they "pimped" knives. The common usage didn't seem to fit knife making.
Tim
 
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