Rain Retail Software Blog and Industry News

Social Media for Craft Stores: 6 Pro Tips

Written by Clinton Brady | Apr 3, 2025 10:58:40 PM

Managing social media for craft stores doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With the right approach, it becomes an extension of your creativity — and a powerful way to connect with customers, whether they buy from you in person or online.

For small craft businesses, social media is more than just marketing. It’s a tool for building community, sharing your store’s personality, and highlighting what sets you apart.

In this blog, you’ll find six practical tips to help you create content that engages your audience, strengthens customer relationships, and supports your business goals.

1. Know Your Audience, Then Go Where They Scroll

Trying to be on every social media platform is like cutting fabric without a pattern — you waste time and resources. But the secret isn’t to do more; it’s to show up where it matters.

Start by clarifying who your potential customers are. Are they weekend crafters? Parents looking for creative activities for their kids? Hardcore DIYers? Each group hangs out in different digital spaces, and your strategy should follow them there.

Here’s a quick guide to matching your message to the right platform:

  • Instagram and Facebook: Use these platforms to showcase new arrivals, store updates, and event promos.
  • Pinterest: Make this your go-to for inspiration boards, gift guides, and seasonal spotlights.
  • TikTok: Post quick demos, creative tips, and behind-the-scenes fun on this virtual playground for millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha crafters.

Not sure where your audience is hanging out? Let your sales data lead the way. Most point of sale (POS) systems track customer insights — what they buy, how often, and when. Use that information to build a simple profile and do a little social media sleuthing. You’ll know exactly where to post and what to share.

2. Share More Than Just Products

Posting a nonstop stream of product pics isn’t a social media for craft stores strategy; it’s background noise. If you want followers who engage, get inspired, and buy, your feed needs to tell a story.

Show how your products come to life off the shelf and in the real world. Give your target audience a reason to care with content that connects. You can:

  • Film a quick demo featuring a bestselling item in action.
  • Tease your next in-store event with behind-the-scenes previews.
  • Share how your merchandising displays are created (a little mess and magic never hurt).
  • Spotlight a loyal customer’s latest creation — and tag them (with permission).

When your content offers more than a price tag — like inspiration, ideas, and a sense of community — your followers will keep coming back and start showing up in store or online.

Not sure which products to highlight? Let your POS system guide you. Post top sellers, showcase new arrivals, or feature what’s trending based on real sales data. You’ll always have something fresh to share with these products in rotation.

3. Hashtag the Smart Way

Hashtags aren’t the powerhouse social media marketing strategy they once were, but they can still get your content in front of the right eyes when used strategically.

The trick? Lose dusty, overused tags like #PhotoOfTheDay or #Crafts. They’re too broad and saturated and not doing you any favors. Instead, focus on niche-specific and local hashtags that connect with your audience and reflect what you sell.

Here’s how to hashtag with purpose:

  • Zoom in on your niche: Use hashtags tied to your products, hobbies, or customer interests. Try #DIYCardMaking, #CustomFramingIdeas, or #CrochetLovers.
  • Think local: Tag your city, neighborhood, or local scene to boost visibility nearby. Try #ShopLocalCharleston or #NashvilleMakers.
  • Build a branded tag: Create a custom hashtag for your shop and encourage followers to use it when posting about their projects or purchases. It’s a simple way to build community and track user-generated content (UGC).

Encourage your customers to tag you in their photos and reshare their content. This will build trust and give you fresh material without lifting a finger. Aim for three to five relevant tags on each post, and watch your reach grow without wasting time shouting into the void.

4. Turn Events Into Buzz-Worthy Moments

Hosting a class, demo, or seasonal make-and-take? Don’t just jot it on the calendar — shout it from your socials. Your events are opportunities to create excitement, bring in foot traffic, and build real connections with your community.

Think of your feed as your hype squad. Here’s how to get people talking (and signing up):

  • Post countdowns to build anticipation.
  • Share sneak peeks of what attendees will create or learn.
  • Feature instructors or staff to make it more personal and relatable.

Even a simple “Don’t forget — last chance to register!” post can push someone from thinking about it to actively signing up.

The easier you make the sign-up process, the better. Try linking directly to the class registration page in your posts or bio, making it easy for customers to go from “interested” to “I’m in!” Or use your POS system to track which events generate the most hype and tailor future offerings based on real data.

With the right promo, your next event could be the one everyone’s discussing online. 

5. Run Contests That Spark Engagement

Want to boost your reach without paying for ads? Time to roll out a giveaway! Contests are a fun, low-cost way to get your audience involved — and when people like, comment, and share your posts, your visibility goes way up.

As part of your craft store’s social media strategy, try hosting a “Best Handmade Project” contest where customers show off their creations made with supplies from your store. With their permission, reshare the entries to spotlight their creativity and build community buzz.

Keep it simple with a like, tag, and share giveaway. Ask followers to:

  • Like your post.
  • Tag a friend (or two).
  • Share it to their Story.
  • Follow your account to enter.

These quick-entry contests are perfect for Instagram, where visual content shines and engagement drives growth. Accounts that run giveaways on Instagram grow up to 70% faster than those that don’t. Facebook and TikTok also work well — just follow each platform’s contest rules to stay compliant.

When you offer a well-run contest, you get your brand in front of new people, build excitement, and give your followers a reason to interact and stick around. Plus, it’s fun. And fun sells.

6. Track What Works and Tweak as You Go

Social media for craft stores isn’t a “set it and forget it” deal. What got clicks last month might flop today. To stay visible and keep your audience engaged, you’ve got to track what’s working and adjust your strategy to match.

And no, we’re not just talking about likes. They’re nice, but they don’t always equal sales. Want deeper insights? Focus on the metrics that matter:

  • Encourage shares and saves: Show that your content inspires, helps, or is worth revisiting.

  • Spark comments and DMs: Join conversations, reply quickly, and build relationships that cultivate actual customers.

  • Track reach and clicks: See what grabs attention and drives people to your site, event, or checkout page.

Don’t just post what you like — post what your customers respond to. If your beginner embroidery kits get way more traction than your custom fabric photos, follow the engagement.

Need help connecting the dots? Rain POS makes it easy. Use built-in sales reports to see what’s trending in store, then tailor your content to match what’s flying off the shelves. When your social strategy syncs with your sales data, your posts stop being guesswork and start delivering results.

Social Media for Craft Stores: Make Every Post Count With Rain POS

Social media is great for grabbing attention, but attention alone doesn’t pay the bills. To turn those double-taps into dollars, you need more than great content. You need a system that makes it easy for customers to take action — whether signing up for a class, purchasing a high-quality product, or walking into your store.

Rain POS connects your social media for craft store efforts directly to your inventory, events, and customer data so you can post with purpose and profit. With real-time insights, you can spotlight bestsellers, promote the right classes, and create content that drives actual results.

Stop guessing what works. Start building a strategy that converts likes into loyal customers.

Schedule your free demo to see how Rain POS helps craft store business owners turn social media into a sales tool.