this is maybe a bit of an unpopular/controversial opinion, but I keep seeing posts on ig that say something like “when I work really hard on a piece and people in the comments are just asking for a pattern instead of buying it :(“ and it actually kinda makes me … mad, maybe is the emotion?
for this example, let’s talk about being a crocheter and having an online small business. I understand completely, you put lots of hard work and time into creating a piece to sell, you made a post for it with the hopes someone would want to buy the piece, and people are only interested in making it themselves. I see how this could be very disheartening and frustrating. I make things myself and understand the arduous process.
then my problem becomes the blatant potential these creators who post such things are marketing to the wrong group of people.
so you’re marketing your crocheted piece… something expensive, handmade, and cool… to a bunch of people who can do it themselves and even customize it more to their liking by doing so?? OF COURSE people are in the comments asking for a pattern!!! the people you want to sell to about 90% of the time are those who either don’t craft in general or don’t practice your specific craft, if you want them to buy your creation as a product. very few people I know who crochet would buy something they could make, and if they did, it would be to support a fellow creator more so than not feeling capable of making it themselves—still, it’s a rather rare occasion.
I get that social media can be a bit unpredictable in terms of finding your audience, but I also don’t think it’s quite so difficult that so many people would be having this issue. instead of tagging your post with all crochet tags (or sewing, or knitting, as these tags tend to peddle towards creators and not necessarily consumers), try “clothing” “for sale” “fashion”, etc. you have a higher chance of finding people who are looking to buy already made clothing/products.
not only that, but if for numerous reasons you wanted to peddle to crocheters or crafters similar to you, you can always sell the pattern as long as it’s yours. it just feels like a weird ragebait-y clout tactic to go online and post “I’m not marketing things quite right so people want to make my stuff and not buy it :(“. I also feel like if I posted something cool and people in the comments were wanting to make it themselves, I would be over the moon that people liked my idea so much. it seems like such a compliment.
maybe I’m viewing this too analytically and am missing my somewhat more empathetic human goggles, but to a certain point it becomes a failure of marketing to me.
