Creating a candle business is a great way to turn your love of candles into a money-making venture. But to be successful, you’ll need to make sure that your business stands out from the competition. Here are some tips for promoting your candle-making business and ensuring it succeeds.
1) Create Your Website
Create a website for your business and make sure it’s well-designed. The website should include photos of your products and information about your company, and how to order products from you. You can also use the website to accept orders online.
You can create a website through either WordPress or Shopify. We discuss the benefits and negatives of each below and how you can set up your site with ease.
WordPress Benefits
- You can create a website for free using WordPress.com or buy your domain name and hosting and use the self-hosted version of WordPress.org.
- WordPress is accessible, and tons of resources are available to help you build your site, including tutorials, templates, and plugins.
- WordPress is a good choice if you want to eventually add eCommerce functionality to your site.
Shopify Benefits
- Shopify is an eCommerce platform that enables you to create an online store quickly and easily.
- Shopify provides everything you need to run an online store, including a customizable platform, payment processing, shipping, and marketing tools.
- Shopify is an excellent choice if you want to start selling products online immediately.
The Negatives
- WordPress can be more challenging to use than Shopify if you’re unfamiliar with building websites.
- Shopify is a monthly subscription, so it will cost you more to use in the long run than WordPress.
How to Set Up Your Site
- Choose your platform – If you want an easy-to-use platform with built-in eCommerce functionality, choose Shopify. If you’re looking for a more customizable option, go with WordPress and use the woo-commerce plugin for your site.
- Choose your domain name – This is the web address people will use to find your site, so make sure it’s something easy to remember and type.
- Set up your hosting – This is where your website’s files will be stored. For WordPress, you can use WordPress.com or a self-hosted version of WordPress.org. For Shopify, you’ll need to sign up for a monthly subscription.
- Install WordPress or Shopify on your domain – This software will power your website.
- Choose a theme or template – This is the design of your website and will determine how your site looks and feels.
- Add your content – This includes your text, images, videos, and anything else you want to have on your site.
- Publish your site – Once you’re finished adding content, hit the publish button, and your site will go live!
- Start promoting your site – Your site is live; it’s time to start promoting it. You can create social media accounts, write blog posts, and reach out to local media.
Congratulations, now you are up and running – we will explore these promotion methods below.
2) Start A Blog On Your Website
One way to start promoting your site is by writing blog posts. You can write about anything related to candles, from how to make them to the benefits of using them. Not only will this help you attract new visitors to your site, but it will also give you a chance to show off your knowledge and expertise.
Create a blog on your website and write a few posts to get started. Then, promote your blog by sharing your posts on social media and reaching out to other bloggers in your niche.
With blogging, consistency is key and a longer-term strategy for your business to build organic traffic within the search engines. To make the most out of your blogging strategy, you will want to conduct a search analysis on the candle niche and understand what topics are underserved for what you are looking to sell.
You will want to find search terms with very little competition for your questions so that you are more likely to rank on the all-important first page of google.
3) Build Your Subscriber & Mailing Lists
As your blog brings in more and more organic traffic, you will want to start building your list of subscribers. This can be done by creating a newsletter sign-up form on your website and adding it to your blog posts.
Many plugins are offered on the Shopify and WordPress platforms that will allow you to do this. Go to the Shopify app store or the WordPress plugin store and search for “Mailing List.” Find a plugin that works well for your candle business and install and embed it within your site.
You can also offer something for free in exchange for people’s email addresses, such as an eBook or a guide to making candles. Then, once you have a list of subscribers, you can start sending out regular newsletters with the latest blog posts, product releases, and special offers.
To maximize your chances of people seeing your newsletter, you will want to segment your list by interest. This way, you can send more targeted emails to the people who are most likely to be interested in what you have to say.
4) Make Use Of Social Media
Another great way to promote your site is by using social media. Create accounts on major platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, Tiktok, and Instagram, and start sharing your content. Make sure to post regularly and interact with other users to get more exposure for your brand.
You can also use social media to run ads and promote special offers. For example, you can create a Facebook ad campaign and target people who live in your city and are interested in candles.
Regarding social media, it’s essential to have a consistent plan. Decide which platforms you’re going to use and how often you’re going to post, then stick to it. Otherwise, you’ll quickly become overwhelmed, and your social media presence will suffer.
Tiktok
Tiktok is an excellent platform for promoting a small business, as it allows you to show off your products in a creative and fun way. You can create short videos that showcase your candles, how to use them, and why they’re the best on the market.
Make sure to include hashtags in your videos so people can find them, and consider running ads to reach a wider audience. Tiktok is a great way to connect with potential customers and show off your products uniquely, so take advantage of it.
Pinterest is another excellent platform for promoting your candle business. You can create boards with photos of your products, infographics, and other types of visuals. Make sure to include links to your website so people can purchase your candles, and consider running ads on Pinterest. With its large user base and visually-focused platform, Pinterest is a great way to reach potential customers and promote your business.
You can also use other types of content, such as blogs, infographics, and videos, to promote your candle business on Pinterest. Just make sure to mix things up and keep your content fresh, so people don’t get bored.
Youtube
Youtube is an excellent platform for promoting your candle business, as you can create informative videos that show people how to use your products and product demonstrations. You can also run ads on Youtube, which can be very effective in reaching a broad audience.
To get the most out of Youtube, optimize your videos for SEO and create informative and engaging titles. You should also include links to your website in the description so people can purchase your candles.
Facebook is a great way to promote your candle business by creating a business page and engaging with your audience. You will also be able to join Facebook groups within the candle niche to help you better serve your customers.
You can also start using the Facebook marketplace to sell your candles. You’ll be able to set up a shop page and start listing your products. Remember to take great photos, write persuasive descriptions, and offer competitive prices.
When promoting your business on Facebook, it’s essential to be consistent and regular with your postings. Otherwise, you’ll quickly become invisible in the newsfeed.
Instagram is another visually-focused platform that’s perfect for promoting your candle business. You can take stunning photos of your products and post them on Instagram, using hashtags to reach a wider audience. You should also post behind-the-scenes photos, videos, and promotional content such as discount codes and special offers.
Post regularly to get the most out of Instagram and use hashtags relevant to your niche. You can also run ads on Instagram, which can be very effective in reaching potential customers.
5) Paid Ads
If you are looking for a quicker way to gain sales – then paid advertising is the way to go. We will discuss influencer marketing later, another excellent short-term marketing play.
Google Ads
Google Ads is a great way to promote your candle business as it allows you to target potential customers through keywords. You can create ad campaigns targeting people searching for candles online and target specific demographics such as location and age.
Ensure you’re targeting the right keywords to get the most out of Google Ads. You should also create compelling ad copy to persuade people to click through to your website. If you want to learn more about paid adverts, we suggest you take Google’s official free course, where you can gain your own accreditation in PPC (Pay-per-click) adverts.
Bing Ads
Bing Ads is another effective way to promote your candle business, allowing you to target potential customers through keywords. You can create ad campaigns targeting people searching for candles online and target specific demographics such as location and age.
Ensure you’re targeting the right keywords to get the most out of Bing Ads. You should also create compelling ad copy to persuade people to click through to your website.
Facebook Ads
Facebook Ads are a great way to promote your candle business as it allows you to target potential customers through demographics such as location, age, and interests. You can also create ad campaigns targeting people who have visited your website or are similar to your current customers.
Make sure you’re targeting the right audience to get the most out of Facebook Ads. You should also create compelling ad copy to persuade people to click through to your website.
6) Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a great way to promote your candle business, allowing you to reach a large audience quickly. You can find influencers in your niche willing to promote your products in exchange for a fee.
The best part about influencer marketing that allows it to stand out from paid advertising is that your leads will not be cold. The people who buy your products will trust your company as they are familiar with the influencer promoting your product. This will lead to a higher sales conversion with the campaign that you launch with the influencer.
Make sure you choose influencers with a large and engaged following and good reviews from other brands they’ve worked with. You should also create an influencer contract outlining the terms of the agreement if you are operating in a long-term relationship with the influencer.
To get started with this promotion method, search for accounts with high levels of engagement that are medium to small budgets. Larger accounts will require you to pay more for their services which you want to avoid in the early stages of your business.
Contact each influencer you have shortlisted through Instagram, asking their rate for a story and page post. Negotiate a final price and work with the influencer during the campaign launch. In some cases, influencers will promote your product if you send them the product for free with the request of posting it on your site. If money is involved in the transaction, ensure that you pay through “PayPal goods and services” – never pay through friends and family; your money will not be covered if the influencer fails to post your material.
7) Utilize Email Marketing
In addition to social media and blogging, email marketing is another excellent way to promote your site and attract new visitors. Start by building a list of subscribers (as mentioned above), then send regular emails with the latest blog posts, product releases, and other newsworthy updates.
Email marketing lets you stay in touch with your customers and prospects, build relationships, and drive traffic to your website. Plus, it’s a great way to promote new products and run special promotions.
8) Use local newspapers and niche magazines.
Send out press releases to local newspapers and magazines about your business. Let them know what makes your candles unique and why people should buy from you. You can also offer to send them samples of your products.
Local newspapers and magazines are always looking for new stories to write about, so this is a great way to get free publicity for your business.
9) Attend local trade shows
Attend trade shows and craft fairs in your area and set up a booth to sell your candles – this is a great way to connect with potential customers and get your candle business.
Make sure you have a professional setup and plenty of products on hand to sell. You should also have marketing materials, such as business cards and flyers, to give to potential customers.
10) Flyers & Postal Mail
Another offline marketing method you can use to promote your candle business is flyers and postal mail. You can include flyers in local businesses or hand them out to people on the street. You can also send direct mailers to people in your target market.
This method can be very effective, but it’s essential to ensure that your flyers are well-designed and eye-catching. You should also include a call to action, such as “Visit our website to learn more,” so that people know what to do with the flyer once they’ve received it.
Use these tips to promote your candle business offline and drive traffic to your website. With a little effort, you can soon start seeing a significant increase in sales and customers.
11) Call Local Stores & Outlets
If you’re looking for stores to sell your candles, start by calling local stores and outlets in your area. Ask if they’re interested in stocking your products and, if so, what the requirements are.
Some stores may require you to provide them with a certain number of candles per month or season. Others may want you to give them a percentage of the sales. Begin by working with smaller family businesses as they are more likely to accept your candles within their stores.
Walk before you can run with this method of promotion – it is unlikely that you will be accepted into leading high street brands the second you launch. You should be grateful for this in the early stages, as you definitely won’t have the capacity to fill the orders these giants will require.
You must agree with the local business and ensure that whatever is decided is officially documented to avoid conflicts if the business arrangement goes south.
Final Thoughts
Starting a candle-making business can be a great way to tap into the growing demand for scented candles. By following the tips above, you can create a successful business that will continue to grow for years to come. Just make sure to start with a strong foundation and always be willing to adapt and change as needed. With hard work and dedication, your candle business can be a success!
If you have any questions, we would be more than happy to help send us any questions you have through our contact page.
