Is there any interest in community-based arts and crafts websites?
I’ve created a community based site which is totally free and offers features such as user profiles, online chat, a community forum, an event planner/scheduler (for guild meetings etc.) and an area where artisans of all types can list their company and items.
While the site is still very new (16-days old) …most of the opinions I have received about ” knotty crafts “, is that it should be designed solely as an Item listing website, that the added features “take away” from the purpose of the site, which according to these critics is, “to allow people to sell their items”.
I thought artists and crafters would be more interested in the package I’ve put together. Is everyone so hung up on making money through their varied expertise that they’ve lost all interest in talking and sharing amongst their fellow peers. I really want the “community” aspect of the site to be the main focus, and the listing and selling of the items (which I have no part in) be simply a side bonus for the users of the site.
Sorry if this sounds more like a rant then a question, I’m just a little frustrated. …is there no room for an artisan-community-based website as I’ve described among the people? …does anyone else like my site’s mandate but me? Thanks for letting me vent and thanks for listening.
http://www.knottycrafts.com
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It’s sad that you have had quite a negative reaction after setting up a site you obviously have a passion for, and you probably put a lot of work into it. It’s early days though – and there’s time to develop a site that succeeds.
One thing about providing services is that it is sometimes difficult to know if your own ideas and methods actually fit in with your client’s/customers needs.
I wondered if you had consulted with members of your intended audience before setting up your site? Do you have a list of people who asked for the site to be set up the way it has been? Have they given you any feedback?
What it sounds like to me (I could be wrong of course!) is that the people you have attracted to your site are expressing a need they want to be fulfilled. Webmasters need to be responsive to their client’s needs, of course, but not at any cost. Is the clientele you are attracting really the audience you wanted? If not, where could you advertise to encourage the people you DO want to come to the site?
I started my own (free) paper craft website about 20 months ago and have seen a steady growth in interest and visitors over the time I have developed it. Nothing happens over night, but success can happen if you persist
If you want to see my site it is here:
http://www.papercraftcentral.com
All the very best.