Websites for knifemakers

[golok]

I notice not that many knifemakers have their own websites.
Why is this so?

As far as business is concerned, it pays to have a website. That would be the way to go in promoting one's knives.

Perhaps some knifemakers are too busy trying to meet backlog orders and they have no time to go into this Internet stuff. If that is the case, then it is understandable.

But some of the lesser known knifemakers can do with some self-promotion otherwise only their friends and close relatives would know of their knives.

I wonder if somebody could tell me why these unknown knifemakers don't make use of this wonderful and often free Internet tool to promote their knives and themselves.

 

[Phil Tham]

My guess is the time involved. I know it was hard for me to take the time to get started on the internet, but I'm glad I did...it has been worth the effort.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I would think that a lot of them are intimidated with making their own site and can't afford to pay someone else to do it for them.

 

[george tichbourne]

Knifemakers are knifemakers, not computer types for the most part so making up web sites and making knives do not mix. Unless they can find someone to put up the web site and more importantly update it regularly it usually will not get done.

I would not have a web site if my wife could not take the photos and manage the site, there is simply not enough time to do everything.

 

[Murray White]

Not sure how many knifemakers there are world wide but in my Favorites/Bookmarks, there are currently 500 makers listed.

Of course besides that are the dealer sites that have offerings of many makers work also. Compared to other artists, I'd be surprised if this is not on the high side as the knife community is quite a tight knit group and continually communicates well between makers and collectors.

 

[Colin Jason]

Ok, I'm going to jump in here on this one, as I've had some personal experience with this.

As was stated before, knifemakers are just that...knifemakers! As it is, they already pour hours of blood, sweat, and tears into creating these beautiful pieces of art that we like to simply call 'knives'.

I've done a fair bit of web design in my time, and still do, but there's one thing I can let you in on; it takes just as much blood, sweat, and tears to create something truly appealing in a website for the world to see. The very same talents that knifemakers use to make knives, are the same ones that designers draw on to create websites. The main difference between the two, is the fluency they have with the medium they've chosen to work with.

Knifemakers work with their hands, shaping steel, and creating physical works of art. Web designers work with a computer, coding, and graphics programs to create virtual works of art. So, they essentially strive for the same goals, but in two very different worlds. I can create a website, through many hours of invested time, knowledge, and creativity...but I couldn't make a knife. I suspect the same would apply to many knifemakers when the topic concerned them building a website.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, and I've seen a small collection of sites designed and maintained by knifemakers that are very well done. But again, this is the exception, not the rule. If I could, I would love to be able to create websites for every knifemaker out there...but we all know what happens when a knifemaker takes too many orders...the same applies in the website world.

I hope this gives some of you a little more of a perspective on why there aren't more sites out there. I haven't even gone into the other details involved with a site, like cost, hosting requirements, finding reliable hosting, etc, etc, etc. Suffice it to say, if you want to continue to see great knives being created, the makers need to focus on making them...not websites.

Of course, that's just my opinion, like that matters....heh.