Skip to content
You want to make more money with your maker business. But you’re wondering how.
My name is Emily, but many know me as That Mom With a Laser. I have a thriving maker business, and I teach thousands of other makers how to do the same with my courses, YouTube channel, and Facebook Group.
One thing you should know is that I didn’t build my business the traditional way. I dropped $8K on my first laser engraver before we had the money, and I built my entire business while also staying home with my three young kids.
So how can I help you make more sales for your business? By sharing one of the most powerful formulas I’ve learned over the years, which I call the 3C formula.
It goes like this: Consistent Connection = Conversions.
Now, you may be thinking, is that it? Yes, it’s simple, but most people don’t do it.
So in this post, I’m going to explain everything you need to know to make this formula work for your business.
If you're a maker who wants to sell more products, this will change everything for you. So let’s get started.
Connection is Your Fastest Path to Profit (Even in a Crowded Market)
You’ve heard it (or maybe said it yourself): “But the market is saturated...”
You wonder: Maybe there are too many businesses crowding my industry. Maybe it’s impossible to sell tumblers anymore.
I call B.S.
There’s no such thing as a saturated market. You can sell anything if you give people a reason to care.
The fastest way to make people care about your products is to build a personal connection with them. When you tell your stories, share your process, and show your humanity, people start to care about you. And once they buy into you and your business, they will want to buy your products.
Building connections looks different for everyone.
Consider strategies like:
- Networking and meeting potential clients
- Posting content to social media
- Pinning on Pinterest
- Asking for referrals
- Running ads
- Hosting or participating in fundraisers
The more you connect with people, the more they will care about you and your business.
It’s a well-known fact that customers need at least three to five interactions with your business before they decide to buy, and that number has only gone up as people are bombarded with ads and promotions everywhere they look.
When I started my business, yes, the laser engraving market was already crowded. But instead of trying to be the best or sell at the lowest price, I simply tried to share my story and experiences on social media.
People enjoyed my content, which made them interested in my products, and the sales started rolling in.
So if you’re ready to stand out in your market and start selling products (no matter what they are), it’s time to start connecting with others, whether you do it online, in person, or over the phone.
You've Got to Be Consistent to See Results
Now you see how important it is to connect with others if you want to grow your business.
But you can’t do it just once and hope to see the sales come rolling in. This needs to be a daily or weekly thing, depending on your business goals.
If you’re trying to network, go out and visit potential B2B customers once or twice a week (don’t forget your sell sheets and sales samples!). Or pick one big networking event per month. Search on Meetup.com or Facebook Marketplace to find opportunities to connect in your area.
If you’re going after word-of-mouth referrals, include a care card with your information on it in every shipment so recipients know where their gifts came from. Or give each new customer a discount code to share with a friend.
And if you’re creating content, you might decide to post short-form videos every weekday where you share more about your products and process.
Let me talk about the social media stuff for a second.
Posting content doesn’t have to be complicated.
Here’s an example of how I would create short-form videos to sell a Cuba-inspired tumbler design (my family is from Cuba):
- Day 1: Play a Cuban song and show myself taking the tumbler apart to engrave it
- Day 2: Show my laser actually engraving the tumbler (without revealing the design)
- Day 3: Show off the finished tumbler
- Day 4: Talk about what inspired the design
- Day 5: Show myself packing the tumbler in my bag and going on an adventure
On the first two days, I’m piquing their curiosity. By day three, new people are following my account. And by day five, people are adding my Cuba tumbler to their carts.
Notice that I’m not asking people to “buy my tumbler” or talking about the price. I’m simply telling little stories and inviting people into my process. And I’m genuinely excited about what I’m doing. People can feel that.
I always say, “Facts tell, but stories sell.” This is the kind of content that you can make in 5 to 10 minutes per day, but will generate interest in your products.
Something that works well on platforms like TikTok is geo-targeting. This is where you highlight products that resonate with your local community, like zip-code ornaments or engravings of local landmarks. These types of products not only grab attention in your local market but also build a stronger connection with customers in your area.
When you make this a regular habit, whether through in-person networking or consistent content, you'll start building real connections with people. And that naturally leads us to the third C.
Pay Attention to Your Conversions If You Want to Grow
Finally, I will say this. Conversions should be on your mind if you want to grow your business.
So ask yourself:
- Is what you’re doing in your business actually converting?
- Out of all of your business activities, how much of it is turning into profit?
- How profitable is each activity?
Not enough people think this through, but conversions are literally the foundation of any business. If you’re not converting, you’re not making money. That’s not a business.
So I urge you to approach everything you do in your business with the stance of, will this convert?
Before sending out free products, take a close look at their social media metrics. Ask:
- What percentage of their videos actually perform well?
- How engaged is their audience in the comments?
- What percentage of their content gets shared?
- Can they provide these numbers?
You don't want to be rude, but you do want to be intentional about who you give your hard-earned work to.
When you go to networking events, calculate how many potential customers you’re getting out of it. That’s your ROI.
And when you create content, don’t stop after posting. Review your analytics and see if it’s actually working. If not, try something new. The goal is conversions.
I’m not saying you need to track every metric in a perfect spreadsheet. I don’t do that either. But I know that my main business activities are converting into customers and repeat sales, and I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t.
Make connections, do it regularly, and figure out what converts.
"But Emily, You Don't Understand..."
- You connect with people because of your personality. I’m not like you.
- I want to promote my products more, but my website isn’t ready yet.
- I’m not comfortable on camera, so I could never make content like you.
Listen, I’ve heard it all. Here’s what I have to say:
Personality Doesn’t Matter… Just Be You
Just be yourself and don't be afraid to do it messy. You won't get it perfect the first time, or even the second or third. But like anything in life, the more you practice, the better you'll get, and the more you'll find your own voice and rhythm in the process.
The goal isn't to copy someone else, it's to show up as you. You can model from others temporarily if it helps, but ultimately, people will connect with your authenticity, not a polished act.
Your Website Can Look Like a Potato And Still Convert
If you’re selling online, you may want to revamp your whole website or tweak your product pages a little more. That may be your main “excuse” for not marketing yourself.
A messy or unbranded website has never been an issue for me. When I started creating content, people simply wanted what I sold. Even now my website isn’t 100% polished, but you know what? It doesn’t affect my sales at all. Don’t let it stop you!
Sure, could my site perform better with some fancy SEO magic? Probably. But until that day comes, I'm perfectly happy knowing my sales still come through even with a less-than-perfect site.
You Don’t Need to Show Your Face Online Or Even Make Videos
Finally, if you’re interested in creating content, but you don’t want to be the “face” of your business, let me encourage you.
There are plenty of people out there making faceless content. You can engrave tumblers, pack boxes, and share your stories without ever showing your face.
Or don’t post content at all. Plenty of people make a killing on Pinterest without ever posting to Instagram. If you spend time learning how it works, you can do it too.
Will You Try It?
If you’re looking to make more sales for your maker business, this is the way forward.
Find one or two ways that you can make connections with potential customers, and make it a regular habit.
I’ve given you the formula and shown you why this can work for literally anyone.
But it’s up to you to take action. So let me ask you, what’s one thing you can do today to create a connection?
Connect with me on my website, That Mom With a Laser, my YouTube channel, my Facebook Group, Instagram, or TikTok. I’ll see you there!
Thank you, Emily, for sharing your insights with us! Connect with MakerFlo by joining our free MakerFlo Makers Community and following us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Next up, find more great resources for growing your maker business by visiting our MakerFlo Pro resource hub.
