13 best Etsy alternatives for selling handmade items

Handmade products are big money, with the North American handicrafts market expected to be worth an astonishing $744.1 billion by 2032.

If you want to claim your slice of that delicious (homemade) pie, you need to choose the right ecommerce platform for your needs. One that’s:

• Easy to use
• Affordable
• Trustworthy

Etsy has long been the go-to choice for selling handmade items. But in recent years, the platform has been beset by negative headlines over decisions to increase transaction fees and withhold sellers’ money…

…prompting many merchants to seek out alternatives to selling on Etsy.

To help you out, we’ve rounded up 13 of the best Etsy alternatives, from household names like Amazon and Shopify to lesser-known platforms like Finnalby and Art in the Heart.

Let’s get into it…

Finnalby

Who are they?

Finnalby is one of the newest kids on the handmade items block, having launched in September 2023. Billed as an independent marketplace for artisans and independent retailers, it specializes in handicrafts, wholesale products, online courses, and tutorials.

👍 Pros

• Finnalby vets all products listed as “Strictly Handmade” to ensure authenticity, meaning you won’t be competing with cut-price bulk manufacturers.
• As well as selling handmade items, you can make money from online courses and tutorials. Plus you can sell the products required to participate in your classes, giving you the potential to generate multiple sales from the same customer.
• The platform offers a simple and affordable fee structure, charging a flat 5.5% commission on all sales.

👎 Cons

• Finnalby is currently only available in the US, so if you (or your audience) are based elsewhere, you’ll need to look for different Etsy alternatives.
• The platform is still relatively unknown; at time of writing, the term “Finnalby” only generated 90 global searches a month on Google, per Ahrefs. So you shouldn’t expect much passing traffic.
• Its lack of brand awareness may put off potential customers who haven’t heard of the platform.

What do merchants say about them?

Unfortunately, we can’t tell you — they’re so new we couldn’t find any reviews!

Fees

Finnalby charges a flat 5.5% per sale commission, with no listing fees or monthly fees.

Shopify

Who are they?

Shopify is one of the world’s biggest ecommerce platforms, with Shopify merchants generating combined sales of $235.9 billion in 2023. Unlike marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy, Shopify gives you the tools to build and manage your own dedicated online store, with the flexibility to sell pretty much anything you want.

👍 Pros

• Shopify lets you build your own handmade items store from scratch, giving you total control over your branding, products, and pricing.
• Because you’re running an independent store, you’re not competing with hundreds (or thousands) of other merchants on the same platform.
• With thousands of apps and hundreds of themes to choose from, Shopify lets you customize your store to your specific needs.
• Shopify’s prebuilt themes allow you to launch and customize your store without requiring any coding skills.

👎 Cons

• Building and maintaining an online store is more expensive than running an Etsy store.
• Setting up an attractive, high-converting store can take days or weeks of work.

What do merchants say about them?

“Easy to set up, easy to use. Many integrated products to help me get things done. Easy-to-use integrated apps. Customer support is very good. I use it every day.”

– Jim E., G2 customer reviewer

Fees

Shopify charges a subscription of $9 – $2,300+ per month, depending on the features you require. It also has an online credit card processing fee, which varies depending on your price plan and location (e.g. merchants in the US pay 2.4% – 2.9%, plus $0.30 per transaction).

Artisans Cooperative

Who are they?

If you’re looking for alternatives to Etsy that are 100% dedicated to handmade items, Artisans Cooperative could be for you. The marketplace has a human-driven verification process to ensure all products are made by genuine artisans, so you won’t be competing with bulk producers. This helps merchants charge a fair price for their goods.

👍 Pros

• All applications made through Artisans Cooperative’s voluntary verification process are manually checked by two human reviewers, so customers can be sure the products they’re buying are made by genuine artisans.
• Merchants can access extensive marketing and promotional support, including a branding kit, marketing plan, and social media toolkit.

👎 Cons

• The platform is still relatively unknown, with only a few hundred followers on Facebook and Instagram, and minimal search volume for its brand name.
• Membership costs and transaction fees are higher than most other marketplaces.

What do merchants say about them?

"I love that my handmade work has a place among a community of other authentically handmade artisan products. I really appreciate that Artisans Cooperative puts its artisans first. And it’s exactly the marketplace I want to do my shopping in, too."

– Artisan member

Fees

Artisans Cooperative charges sales commissions of 8% – 12%, depending on your membership level. To unlock the most attractive rates (and various other benefits), you’ll have to pay a buy-in fee of $100 – $1,000.

DeviantArt

Who are they?

DeviantArt is part-marketplace, part-social network, but wholly dedicated to showcasing artworks from independent creatives. Members upload tens of thousands of original pieces every day, from paintings to digital art to sculpture to films. The platform has 90+ million registered members and hosts over 550 million artworks.

👍 Pros

• Sellers can tap into a huge, engaged community of art enthusiasts.
• Membership and transaction fees are comparatively low, especially for original commissions.
• Setting up a seller profile is quick and easy.
• Groups and forums give you an easy way to engage with other members of the art community, get tips, and promote your work.

👎 Cons

• With so many creatives using the platform, it can be hard to stand out.
• The site has seen a significant dropoff in popularity in recent years:

What do merchants say about them?

“DeviantArt is great! The layout is user friendly, the community is great and I have had an account on there for a few years now.”

– Aron, Trustpilot reviewer

Fees

DeviantArt charges a membership fee of $7.95 – $14.95 per month (although it often offers discounted rates on these prices). Transaction fees range from 0% – 20% per sale, depending on your membership tier and the product type you’re selling.

Handmade

Who are they?

Handmade is another marketplace specializing in handcrafted items, from fashion to home decor to jewelry. All sellers on the platform must take Handmade’s ethical pledge, under which they commit to take care of the environment, do business in a responsible way, and respect other artisans’ intellectual property.

👍 Pros

• Handmade has a large audience, with customers in 100+ countries.
• New sellers get free platform fees for the first 12 months and can list their first 50 products free of charge.
• Active merchants can invite up to five other sellers, then earn bonuses on the sales they generate, giving you a whole other revenue stream.
• Handmade is owned by Novica, which has partnerships with big global brands and organizations like the National Geographic Society and the Grassroots Business Fund.

👎 Cons

• The transaction and credit card fees are more expensive than some other marketplaces.

What do merchants say about them?

“Thank you for the confidence and perseverance in being part of our growth process. You have shown us a new market with many opportunities to continue growing and showing the traditions that define us.”

– Delfina Ruiz, weaver and Handmade merchant

Fees

After the first year, Handmade charges a flat monthly fee of $3, while standard listing fees are $0.15 per item. Merchants also have to pay transaction fees of 9.9% plus $1.95 per sale, as well as credit card fees of 3% plus $0.49.

Amazon Marketplace

Who are they?

Let’s be honest: you know what Amazon is. Marketplace is the platform’s service for third-party sellers, allowing them to generate sales by reaching Amazon’s huge customer base. Shoppers on Amazon buy approximately 7,400 products a minute from sellers in the US.

👍 Pros

• Amazon is one of the world’s most trusted ecommerce platforms. If someone finds your products on the platform, they can feel pretty confident they won’t get ripped off or have their card details stolen.
• Tap into a global audience of 310+ million active customers.
• You can start listing products on Amazon in a matter of minutes.
• Take advantage of additional services like Fulfillment by Amazon.

👎 Cons

• Competition from other sellers is huge, making it tough for your products to stand out.
• Depending on the types of handmade items you’re selling, Amazon’s referral fees can eat up as much as 45% of your earnings.

What do merchants say about them?

“When we launched on Amazon, I had expectations that Amazon would be about 10% to 20% of our total business. Within the first six months, it was 50%. It just exploded. And it really changed the way I thought about the future of our business.”

– Dee Murthy, Co-Founder, New Republic

Fees

Amazon has two seller plans: 

• Individual: $0.99 per item sold
• Professional: $39.99 per month

You’ll pay referral fees of up to 45% per sale, depending on the product category. Plus there’s an extra cost for services like Amazon Ads and Fulfillment by Amazon, and additional fees for merchants with high listings volumes.

My Community Made

Who are they?

My Community Made (MCM) isn’t specifically dedicated to handmade items, but it is focused on supporting small businesses. Merchants on the platform sell everything from personalized gifts to vintage treasures to unique artworks across a wide range of categories, including fashion, jewelry, and interior design. All products on the marketplace are made in the US.

👍 Pros

• Probably the cheapest of all the alternatives to selling on Etsy.
• The MCM team ensures all products on the site are handmade, self-designed, or vintage — so you won’t be competing with bulk producers or dropshippers.
• Sellers can add keywords to their product metadata to stand out in search results on the platform.
• Customers can follow your store and get updates when you add new products, increasing your chances of driving repeat sales.

👎 Cons

• Lacks the brand awareness of larger platforms like Amazon and Etsy.
• Only for products made or designed in the US.
• Upper limit of 50 product listings at a time limits scalability.

What do merchants say about them?

“I started selling on My Community Made early last year. I also have an Etsy shop. MCM is by far more user-friendly, and the fees, if any, are reasonable. I don’t feel lost on this platform as I do on Etsy. Vendor support is beyond amazing. There is always a quick response and a solution to any problem, even if you’re not that techy.”

– V. Chin, Trustpilot customer review

Fees

My Community Made doesn’t charge any transaction fees. You can list up to five items at a time with a totally free account, or upgrade to the Basic Package for $5 per month to list 10 times more products.

IndieMade

Who are they?

IndieMade launched in 2010 with the vision of providing creators with a user-friendly web presence to promote their products. Unlike platforms like Etsy and Amazon, IndieMade isn’t a marketplace. Instead, it’s an independent website builder that allows merchants to create their own online space.

👍 Pros

• Use IndieMade to create your own, unique website, with full control over your store’s appearance and marketing.
• Simple fee structure; you only pay for the features you need, with zero transaction fees.
• If you already sell on Etsy, you can create a store through IndieMade and list your Etsy products in minutes.

👎 Cons

• You’ll have to build your own audience rather than targeting visitors to an existing marketplace.
• Far fewer themes and apps than other ecommerce website builders (like Shopify).

What do merchants say about them?

“I just can't believe how great my experience has been. I have used Weebly, HostMonster, and HostGator -- NO one has support like you guys do. I wish I had been with you 5 years ago! I'm sure my business would be much bigger if I had. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! I have NEVER had such great tech support, EVER! IndieMade rocks.”

– Sierra, Dakotadesigns

Fees

IndieMade’s paid plans range in price from $4.95 – $19.95 per month.

Art in the Heart

Who are they?

Art in the Heart is a UK-based platform that supports merchants selling handcrafted gifts, artworks, and other unique items. It started out as a physical store, before transitioning into an online marketplace in 2018.

👍 Pros

• Art in the Heart allows you to import your existing Etsy products to your new storefront.
• The platform doesn’t have any monthly platform charges or listing fees.
• Create a unique storefront with its own online address and leverage the easy-to-use seller dashboard to track sales.

👎 Cons

• Art in the Heart takes 25% of every sale you generate.
• It doesn’t have a ton of brand awareness (especially outside the UK), so you can’t rely solely on the platform’s own traffic.

What do merchants say about them?

“I am very proud to be a seller on the Art in the Heart online store. It is a truly unique eclectic mix of stores brought together by the inspiring CEO Dawn Birch-James. In a world full of stores that stock the same mundane work, Art in the Heart is a breath of fresh air.”

– Susie Lidstone, fine artist and Art in the Heart merchant

Fees

Art in the Heart doesn’t have monthly or per-listing fees — but it does charge a 25% commission on your sales, which is pretty steep.

Goimagine

Who are they?

Goimagine is a marketplace for US-based artisans to promote and sell handmade items, including physical products and digital c/reations like graphics and photography. As well as supporting independent creators, the platform is committed to social good, donating 100% of profits to children’s charities like Horizons for Homeless Children and Relief Nursery.

👍 Pros

• Goimagine’s commitment to donating all profits to charity appeals to ethically conscious consumers.
• The marketplace runs its own Maker Business Academy, offering tips to help makers sell online, build a brand, and achieve their growth targets.
• Goimagine has better brand awareness than most independent Etsy alternatives, helping merchants reach a wider audience.

👎 Cons

• Only for merchants who reside and make products in the US.
• The guidelines on what constitutes a “handmade product” are pretty strict, which may exclude some potential merchants.

What do merchants say about them?

“I am a buyer/seller on goimagine, I love the fast responses from real people when I have a question. It's easy to use and I am happy to be on a platform that donates profits to children's charities.”

– Stephanie Stone, Trustpilot reviewer

Fees

Goimagine charges a monthly fee of $2.50 – $10, depending on the number of products you want to list and the platform features you want to use. It also has a 5% transaction fee and a payment processing fee of 2.9% plus $0.30.

Making App

Who are they?

Making App is an Android and iOS app that allows individual creators to host and sell their own digital patterns and projects. However, the platform has plans to expand into additional online spaces and new product categories going forward.

👍 Pros

• Tap into a ready-made community of 22,000+ members.

👎 Cons

• Currently only for makers creating and selling digital patterns and projects.
• You can only sell to people who download the app on Android or iOS.

What do merchants say about them?

“As a new-ish knitter, Making puts inspiration, project tracking and connecting with a knowledgeable and friendly community in the palm of my hand––can't imagine creating without it!”

– MKE Maker, Making App merchant

Fees

Making App charges 8% per transaction. You’ll also have to pay Stripe’s payment processing fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction and 0.25% plus $0.25 per payout (although these fees will be waived for sellers who make <$50).

iCraft

Who are they?

iCraft is a Toronto-based platform for artists, craftspeople, and designers who create handmade, one-of-a-kind art, crafts, and fashion products. Merchants can use iCraft to showcase their ready-made products and accept commissions for custom orders.

👍 Pros

• iCraft’s niche focus and commitment to handmade creators means you aren’t competing with bulk sellers.
• The platform regularly promotes sellers through its “In the Spotlight” blog and monthly newsletters.
• Sell your products to an engaged audience; iCraft attracts ~200,000 visitors a month, with an average visit time of four minutes.

👎 Cons

• Requires a non-refundable upfront fee to join the platform.
• The platform looks a little dated, which might put off some potential customers.

What do merchants say about them?

“I have found that my jewelry receives many more views on iCraft than on any other venues! Being a venue only for handmade, the shopping traffic that comes to iCraft is only looking for quality handmade goods and they are sure to find unique crafted items.”

– Linda, AKA GalleriaLinda, iCraft merchant

Fees

iCraft charges platform fees of $10 – $15 per month, depending on the length of your contract, plus a one-off upfront payment of $25. It doesn’t charge any other hidden fees.

Big Cartel

Who are they?

Big Cartel gives creators the tools to build their own sites selling T-shirts, art, merchandise, prints, and more. Launched in 2005, the platform has supported over three million stores and generated $2.5+ billion in global sales.

👍 Pros

• Get started fast with a free Big Cartel template or code your own unique online store from scratch.
• Choose from three simple plans, including a generous free-for-life plan.
• Integrate with hundreds of third-party ecommerce apps, covering everything from marketing to store management to fulfillment.

👎 Cons

• Offers fewer website templates and less customization than Shopify (although all its templates are free).
• Limited scalability, with an upper limit of 500 product listings per store.

What do merchants say about them?

“What I love about selling my jewelry through Big Cartel is how easy each step, from designing my store front to listing products and managing orders, has been and continues to be. It takes all the hassle out of it, so I can spend more time doing the thing I like the most — making jewelry.”

– Anarres Metal, jewelry maker and Big Cartel merchant

Fees

Big Cartel doesn’t take a cut of any sales you generate. Instead, it offers a free-for-life plan that allows you to list up to five products, while its paid plans range in price from $15 – $30 per month (or less if you pay annually).

Turbocharge your ecommerce growth with AWeber

As you can see, there’s no shortage of alternatives to selling on Etsy.

But whichever you choose, one thing’s clear: you need a reliable way to reach and engage your audience so you can keep driving traffic and sales.

In short, you need AWeber. 

Our simple-yet-sophisticated marketing solutions let you build automated email campaigns quickly and easily using our stylish templates and intuitive drag-and-drop builder.

But don’t take our word for it — see for yourself by signing up for your free AWeber account today!

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The 9 best reputation management services for your brand in 2024

A positive online reputation builds trust and credibility with your audience and helps you stand out from competitors. But sometimes, despite your best efforts, your business might attract negative attention. Whether it’s an unfavorable comment, review, social media post or press mention, without action, these incidents can spread like wildfire online and become a full-blown PR crisis.

Reputation management services help businesses handle and avoid these situations, minimizing professional damage and guiding them through the storm.

But how do you know which online reputation service is the best fit for your needs?

In this article, you’ll learn what an online reputation management service is, how they support businesses’ goals and our recommendations for the best providers in the market.

What is a reputation management service?

A reputation management service is a professional service or software platform that helps individuals and businesses optimize and control how people perceive them.Reputation management services usually include a range of strategies, such as search engine optimization (SEO), content creation, social media management and review management. These services help people monitor and improve their online reputation and quickly respond to negative feedback or other reputational threats.

3 benefits of using a reputation management service

News travels fast in today’s ‘always-on’ social media landscape. Regardless of your intentions, one negative comment or review could lead to a more serious situation that could harm your business’ reputation. Reputation management services protect your brand and help you maintain a positive and professional image through the following advantages.

Proactive crisis management

Successful crisis management isn’t just about putting out fires but actively preventing them in the first place. Reputation management services help organizations consistently monitor and maintain their social media channels, business listings and other online platforms to foster an overall positive and trustworthy digital presence. They also help businesses curb potential PR risks with timely alerts for spikes in message volume or negative sentiment that could spiral into a bigger issue if not handled promptly.

Helps build and maintain your brand community

Social media and review sites are important online channels for engaging with your brand community. Any feedback you get through them, positive or negative, is an opportunity to connect with people. Reputation management services help you quickly address your audience’s concerns, resolve issues and acknowledge their comments, showing your brand community how much you value their opinions and actively listen to them. This will deepen your connection.

Improves the credibility and trust of your brand

According to a 2024 BrightLocal survey, 77% of consumers check at least two review sites or platforms before making a purchasing decision, and 71% of consumers would not consider using a business with an average rating below three stars. While managing and responding to reviews on multiple review platforms manually can be time-consuming, reputation management services streamline this work to keep your average ratings high and ensure your customers feel good about choosing you.

9 best reputation management services for your brand

You might have different reputation management needs, depending on your industry and company size. For example, smaller companies or individuals may prefer to work with an agency that can handle this work for them. In comparison, a large fast-food chain may need software to handle a high volume of comments and reviews.

Here are some of the top reputation management service solutions, from managed services to software platforms.

1. Sprout Social

With integrations to platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook and Glassdoor, Sprout Social helps users centralize their social media and review management. Sprout’s unified Smart Inbox saves you time and stress monitoring and managing reviews across various sites and helps your customer care teams respond to reviews faster.

Additional features like sentiment analysis, social listening and AI-powered workflows let users keep a close eye on their audiences and quickly jump into the conversation if needed.
Here’s a quick overview of some of our most notable listening tools.

• Smart Inbox: Our unified inbox aggregates all of your brand conversations into one place, so you never miss a message.
• Brand Keywords: This custom search helps you keep track of relevant Twitter/X discussions, even if users don’t tag your brand directly or use specific hashtags.
• Trends Report: This report will show you trending hashtags and topics related to your brands, as well as which people and brands engage with you the most.
• Keyword Report: This report highlights keywords related to your brand, competition and industry. Use it to discover keyword usage patterns, track hashtag campaigns and keep tabs on your industry.

2. Reputation

Reputation offers a broad suite of reputation management features, such as business listings, review management, survey tools and help desk ticketing. Notable features include the Reputation Score (like a health rating for your online reputation), a customizable dashboard and a mobile app.

3. ReviewTrackers

ReviewTrackers helps businesses monitor and analyze reviews, improve their online presence through local SEO strategies, and leverage customer feedback to enhance experiences. It also includes noteworthy add-ons like employer and software brand monitoring and app store monitoring.

4. Podium

Podium is a reputation management solution with core features like Google and Facebook review management, calling and SMS messaging and social messaging. It integrates with over 200 tools and systems and has an AI assistant function for quick message replies.

5. NetReputation

NetReputation provides online reputation management services to individuals and companies. The team’s process starts with a reputation analysis, where they identify top keywords, all positive and negative results featuring their client’s name or brand and any ongoing and potential reputational threats. Then they develop your websites and business directory listings and create, optimize, publish and promote content to foster a more positive reputation for you.

6. Google Business Profile

A Google Business Profile is a free business listing on Google Search and Maps. This profile contains essential info like your company’s phone number, location, and operating hours, as well as more personalized content like business photos, posts and attributes to identify your business as Black-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned or LGBTQ+ friendly.

Customers can leave reviews and questions on a Google Business Profile, which owners can respond to publicly. The platform also offers analytics on search keywords and reviews.

7. BrandYourself

BrandYourself offers online reputation management software and managed services for individuals and businesses. Their software gives users a free risk scan, a Reputation Score report and suggestions for improving their online presence. Their managed services include review management, personal branding, employee branding and harmful Google result suppression. They also have paid add-on features for private info protection, dark web alerts, SEO and social media cleanup.

8. Reputology

Reputology, which is now part of ASG MarTech’s suite under the Grade.Us brand, is a review monitoring and management platform that helps businesses monitor, respond to and analyze their online reviews. They offer 24/7 review monitoring, automated email notifications, sentiment analysis and customizable surveys. One standout feature is their analytics, which allows customers to track their company’s performance at the organization, regional and storefront levels.

9. Birdeye

Birdeye is a reputation management and digital customer experience platform for local brands and multi-location businesses. They specialize in review management, social media management, business listing management, messaging, appointments, payments and survey features. They’ve also integrated AI into many of their features, like AI-assisted responses and translation for review management.

Getting started with reputation management

Reputation management services are valuable tools for improving and maintaining your online reputation, but they’re not magic fixes. Improving and managing your online reputation takes time and effort, so you must be patient and realistic about what’s achievable.

It’s also important to note that some services are best for brick-and-mortar businesses with multiple locations, while others are more tailored for individuals with personal brands. So take your time to research and choose one that fits your organization’s needs and budget. Don’t forget to read the reviews and testimonials of these services’ own reputations as well.

Ready to start boosting your reputation? Get started with Sprout Social with a free 30-day trial.

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31 free social media templates that will elevate your workflows

There are social media templates available for virtually any task you can think of—from content production to reporting to team onboarding. If you want to win time back in your schedule, make it your mission to never start from scratch.

Consider this: When you spend an hour formatting a spreadsheet, you’re losing an hour that you could have spent on your social media marketing strategy. Starting with a template provides much needed direction so you can jump right into the work that matters.

In this article, we’re sharing every social media marketing template we’ve ever made. These templates are fully customizable and informed by industry best practices, so you can save time and effort.

• Social media strategy templates
• Social media calendar templates
• Social media post templates
• Social media reporting templates
• Social media management templates

What is a social media template?

A social media template is a pre-designed resource that serves as a starting point for a variety of social media marketing tasks. These can range from everyday content creation, to long-term strategic planning and reporting, to frameworks for collaborating with other teams and partners.

According to the 2024 Social Media Productivity Report, nearly half (48%) of social media marketers feel they sometimes or rarely have enough time to get their work done. If they had more time, they’d spend it responding to customers and planning strategic initiatives.

When you’re already spread thin, every minute counts. Social media marketing templates streamline the process of creating new content or resources, helping you make the most of your time.

Social media strategy templates

A documented social media strategy sets the foundation for more consistent messaging, branding and reach over time. The following templates will help you build overarching and network-specific strategies so you can optimize your social media presence.

1. Social media strategy deck

You know the ins and outs of your strategy, but does your leadership team? If your answer is anything other than “yes”, you need this social media strategy deck.

This customizable Google Sheets template is designed to help you break down your strategy to audiences beyond marketing with thoughtful hooks and benchmark data. Use it to pitch a forward thinking vision, or to provide more context around your ongoing efforts.

Download the template

2. Social media audit template

A social media audit is a step-by-step review of your business’ social presence. It’s a straightforward process but when you factor in all of your brand handles across every social network, it can become quite the undertaking.

This spreadsheet template provides a framework for your audit strategy, making the process much more approachable. If you fill out one tab per day, you can complete the process in less than two business weeks.

Download the template

3. Social media campaign brief

A well-orchestrated social media campaign requires more than just brand consistency. In order to truly get the most value out of your efforts, it needs to be aligned to business goals from the initial planning stages, all the way through execution.

This social media campaign brief template encourages you to incorporate insights from across your organization. It also helps set up a reporting infrastructure to simplify performance measurement at the end of your campaign.

Download the template

4. Facebook marketing strategy template

Facebook is synonymous with social media. It continuously retains its crown as the world’s most popular social network by monthly active users, with more than three billion per month.

This spreadsheet template provides a framework for revamping and revitalizing your Facebook marketing strategy. It will help you identify goals, audit competitors and build out an ad strategy, wrapping up with a final, presentable strategic overview and rollout plan.

Download the template

5. LinkedIn marketing strategy template

LinkedIn is more than just a hub for individual networking. A thoughtful presence on the platform can help businesses attract leads, build authority and enhance their employer brand.

This workbook template will prompt you to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your current LinkedIn strategy, so you can identify how to best use the network going forward. You’ll walk away with recommendations tailored to your business goals and marketing maturity, so you can implement strategic upgrades quickly.

Download the template

6. YouTube marketing strategy template

A lot goes into video marketing on YouTube. There’s talent sourcing, production needs, branding considerations—the list goes on.

Success on the world’s second largest search engine starts with a commitment to organization. This workbook template gives you a framework to audit your channel, define your audience and create a performance-optimized distribution plan. Once you fill it out, you’re left with a resource that will keep internal stakeholders aligned and on task.

Download the template

7. AI social media strategy workbook

Artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities extend far beyond text or image generation. When implemented strategically, it can help you synthesize data, automate processes and scale your operations.

This AI social media strategy workbook will set you up with a framework to think through your team’s unique AI opportunities. Use it to outline goals, draft usage policies and vet AI technology vendors so you can continue to innovate with your strategy.

Download the template

8. Influencer marketing brief template

The most effective influencer marketing strategies view influencers as more than just contractors with a task to fulfill. To get the most out of your influencer partnerships, you need to treat them as just that—partners.

Doing so means defining your expectations upfront, while establishing clear partnership guidelines that set both parties up for success. This brief template will help you document both, creating a valuable resource influencers can return to as they work to craft content that resonates with your audience.

Download the template

9. Customer experience audit template

Consistency is a key characteristic of a robust brand strategy. However, as the customer experience expands across numerous touchpoints, maintaining that consistency becomes more challenging than before.

Use this social-specific customer journey map to analyze your social customer experience performance from the awareness stage through post purchase. This process will highlight gaps and opportunities to refine your strategy, so you can create more stellar brand experiences for new and existing fans.

Download the template

10. Social media customer service training deck

The latest Sprout Social Index™ found that 36% of marketing and customer service teams plan to share social customer care responsibilities in 2024. If you’re also looking for that level of collaboration this year, you need to clearly define roles and responsibilities for the channel.

This social media customer service training deck will help you document guidelines for customer service and marketing teams, in a format that serves as a visual aid during training presentations. Use it to set marketers and agents up for social customer care success.

Download the template

11. Product launch checklist

Social media is the new mall. It’s where consumers go to find and research their next purchase, making it an indispensable channel for product launches.

This checklist offers a step-by-step guide to making the most out of your company’s next big launch. It provides actionable guidance on setting goals, managing timelines and reporting on the performance of your efforts, so you can better understand the promotional tactics that work with your audience.

Download the template

12. Employee advocacy program launch checklist

Employee advocacy can increase brand awareness, drive lead generation, build employer brand and position your employees as experts in your industry—but it’s not a set-it-and-forget-it endeavor.

Use this launch checklist as a step-by-step guide to set up an employee advocacy program designed to encourage maximum participation. By following this checklist, you can implement and sustain a program set up for long-term success.

Download the template

Social media calendar templates

All of your social media strategies—content, engagement, influencer marketing, brand, etc.—come to life in your social media calendar. It’s the one place where you can see how everything works together at a glance.

These templates will help you create a comprehensive social media calendar that supports alignment, visibility and creative execution.

13. Social media calendar template

Social media calendars are like snowflakes—no two organizations share the exact same approach. Any template claiming to be universally ready for immediate use is probably overstating its value.

That’s why this social media calendar template is designed to prioritize customization. The spreadsheet format can be tailored to the unique needs of your strategy, from campaign association to content approval requirements.

Get the template

14. Social media time tracker spreadsheet

Social media management takes time. In fact, it can take more time than is available during the week, depending on your marketing tech stack.

If you want to make the case for workflow upgrades, you need this time tracking calendar template. Use it to document just how much work goes into executing on a high-impact social strategy. It can also put a spotlight on opportunities left on the table due to lack of bandwidth.

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Social media post templates

Social media post templates are the ultimate time-saver. Use these to jumpstart your creative process and avoid starting from scratch.

15. Instagram post templates

If you’re tired of spending hours tinkering around in design software trying to create the perfect IG post, these Instagram post templates are for you.

This resource is complete with eleven different templates you can use for event promotions, employee spotlights and more. Plus, we included guidance for tweaking colors, typography and images so you can ensure your content stays on brand all the time.

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16. Employee spotlight series workbook

Employee spotlights and “meet the team” series are timeless social media strategy staples, and for good reason. They give brands a more human appeal, creating new opportunities for audience engagement and connection.

This workbook will help you take your teammates from behind-the-scenes to center stage. It includes a process checklist and a 12-month sample content calendar you can rely on as you build out your employee spotlight series.

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17. Social media video content workbook

Video content can take time, collaboration and resources to get across the finish line. While incorporating video into your social strategy is certainly worth the investment, you should think about how to extend the life of your videos to maximize ROI.

This video content planning workbook will help you make the most of your next video shoot. Use the pre-production checklist to plan extended use cases for all of your video content, so you get what you need before it’s time to call “cut”.

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18. B2B social media content plan template

B2B social media content doesn’t have to be boring. Procurement teams are made up of people like you and me, and people want entertaining, visually interesting, valuable content.

This worksheet will help you create B2B social media content that resonates. Use it to align individual posts to an overarching strategy, so you can create an online presence that separates your brand from the rest.

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Social media reporting templates

Data aggregation takes enough time as it is, without having to build an entirely new performance dashboard to go along with it. Use these templates to take your time back, so you can focus on conducting analysis and delivering recommendations.

19. Social media metrics map

There are hundreds of social media metrics you can report on. How do you figure out which ones best reflect the performance and impact of your strategy with so many options?

You use this social media metrics map, of course.

This resource reviews the social media funnel, mapping critical key performance indicators to each stage. Use it to set goals, define objectives and determine the right approach for measurement.

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20. Social media analytics spreadsheet

Paid and organic social media strategies go hand in hand, but more strategies means more metrics to track.

Keep your reporting to-dos in order using this social media analytics spreadsheet template. Use it to track and compare your monthly paid and organic social performance, and to surface key insights and opportunities to the rest of your team.

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21. Social media scorecard template

There’s an abundance of social media data available to report, and leadership teams are increasingly keen to use it to inform business decisions. However, raw data and long, statistic-heavy reports alone often fail to convey a compelling narrative to executives.

That’s where this scorecard comes in. It provides an at-a-glance method of sharing key insights with C-suite leadership on a regular basis. Use it to keep your leadership team up-to-date on your strategy’s impact.

Get the template

22. Creative testing worksheet

A/B testing on social media can help you better understand what messages, topics and creative assets resonate most with your target audience.

The right social media management tool can automate reports on A/B tests, saving time you’d otherwise spend building reports and aggregating data—but that’s not the only way to get answers to your burning questions. This worksheet template will help you design and record the outcomes of social media tests so you can make more informed decisions with your strategy.

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23. Social media market research worksheet

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Social media is the world’s largest, most important focus group. With the right tools in place, brands can tap into readily available conversations to extract unbiased feedback quickly and efficiently.

Market research on social media starts with a question—something you want to know about your audience, your competition or your industry. This worksheet will help you get clear on the question that will make the biggest impact for your business, while also providing actionable steps for gathering intel.

Get the template

24. Social listening insights deck template

You understand the rich audience insights that can be mined from social data. People who aren’t as close to the channel—like your leadership team—might not.

This deck template will help you share social listening insights in a way that’s both digestible and engaging. It’s designed to help you tie insights to their potential impact, so stakeholders beyond marketing can get a feel for your strategy’s full potential.

Get the template

Social media management templates

Social media management is more than just what’s published on your brand’s profiles. It’s everything from people management to internal merchandising to policy development and more.

These social media templates are designed to help you scale your team and social’s impact throughout your organization.

25. Social media annual budget template

Maintaining a birds eye view of your budget ensures spend is pacing on target with expectations, while preventing any valuable resources from going to waste. This social media budget template will give you a monthly, quarterly and annual breakdown of your team’s spend and remaining resources.

Get the template

26. Social media manager meeting template collection

If you want meetings to be meaningful for all parties involved, preparation is key. Coming to the table—or video chat—with detailed notes and agenda items can keep discussions on task and action oriented.

This social media template pack contains meeting agenda samples for brainstorms, skip-level meetings, career development talks, pre-PTO hand-offs and creator introductions. We thought of everything you might need to cover during those talks, so you don’t have to.

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27. Social media management job description templates

You’ve probably thought about what your social media team could accomplish with more headcount. That doesn’t mean all those ideas are ready to spring forward once it’s time to build out a new role.

Craft detailed job descriptions that position your brand as a career destination with help from these social media manager job description templates. The collection includes descriptions for generalist roles by experience level, along with the emerging and support-focused titles you’ll need to build out your team.

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28. Social media policy template

A social media policy is a crucial, organization-wide resource. It sets the expectation for how your employees should and shouldn’t represent themselves and your brand on social media, playing a key role in brand security, privacy and legal interests.

Setting your business up with one is a great way to solidify your reputation as a forward-thinking, proactive social media marketer. Start with this template, then review your final draft with your legal and human resources teams.

Get the template

29. Social media crisis plan template

A social media crisis is the stuff of work nightmares, especially if you don’t have any internal procedures in place to address and diffuse a crisis once it starts.

This social media crisis plan workbook will help you form and prepare your crisis management team so everyone knows how to respond quickly and efficiently. It will take you through the key considerations to mitigate risk so your organization can navigate crises with grace and resilience.

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30. Social media management tool scorecard

After three or four social media software demos, it can be difficult to keep track of which vendor said what.

If you’re tired of comparing software providers by combing through your meeting notes and pulling whatever feels relevant, use this social media management tool scorecard instead. This comprehensive rubric will help you vet vendors by comparing their performance across critical categories, so you can make the best possible investment for your team.

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31. Social media software RFP template

A social media software request for proposal (RFP) is a formal questionnaire used to assess whether or not a software vendor can meet the needs of your organization. They typically focus on software capabilities, data governance, product roadmaps and vendor information.

If you’re about to embark on the vendor selection process, this template provides a thorough question list that covers all priority RFP sections. Plus, we also included tips to hold better stakeholder requirement interviews, along with sample questions to support your team’s evaluation process.

Get the template

The only thing better than a social media template…

…is a social media management tool that consolidates efforts into one centralized location. With the right tool, you won’t need countless documents and decks to tell the story of your social media performance. Work that once took hours can be done in minutes.

Of course, it all starts with picking a platform that prioritizes ROI and efficiency (like Sprout Social). If you want to make the best choice for your brand, check out our social media management buyer’s guide. It will guide you through everything you need to know about the vendor selection process—from why it matters to what to ask during demos.

The post 31 free social media templates that will elevate your workflows appeared first on Sprout Social.

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How to go live on TikTok and engage your followers

Going live on social media is a great way to connect directly with your audience, answering questions and getting feedback in real time. This is why going live on TikTok should be a major part of your TikTok marketing strategy.

However, getting access to TikTok LIVE has a few stipulations, the main one being that you need to have at least 1,000 followers. In this article, we’re going to walk you through how to go live on TikTok, how to use TikTok LIVE to engage your followers, plus a secret way you may be able to get access to this feature even if you haven’t yet hit 1,000 followers.

Let’s get started.

• What is TikTok LIVE?
• How many followers do you need to go live on TikTok?
• How to go live on TikTok without 1,000 followers
• How to go live on TikTok step-by-step
• TikTok LIVE tips and ideas for better engagement
• Restrictions on TikTok LIVE

What is TikTok LIVE?

TikTok LIVE is a feature that lets you stream live broadcasts on the app. This creates an opportunity to interact with your audience in real-time. Like your regular TikTok videos, you can add filters and effects using LIVE.

Going live on TikTok creates a more informal and engaging way for you to connect with your audience. Your live video can be anywhere from a few minutes long to share a quick announcement to an hour or two for a live shopping sale, Q&A with your followers, or even some kind of live show you create for your audience.

The biggest difference with LIVE is that the video streams in real-time and can be any length. Meanwhile, regular TikTok videos can only be up to 10 minutes long and are pre-recorded before uploading to the platform. Additionally, there are certain restrictions on who can use LIVE, while every user can upload a regular video.

Source: TikTok

How many followers do you need to go live on TikTok?

There are two main criteria you need to meet to get access to the TikTok LIVE feature. These stipulations are how to get live access to TikTok while fully following the platform’s rules and community guidelines:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Must have 1,000 followers

While we’re going to cover a work around that may help you get live access without hitting that 1,000 follower milestone, this method is more foolproof. Check out our guide on how to get more TikTok followers before trying out the potential “hack” in the next section.

How to go live on TikTok without 1,000 followers?

There is a way that some TikTok users have been able to get access to TikTok LIVE without hitting that 1,000 follower threshold. However, keep in mind that this is a “hack” that some users promote, and we recommend doing it the real way—through TikTok marketing and engagement so you can reach 1,000 followers as quickly as possible.

But if you’re restless (which, believe me, we understand) and want to try out this option, here are step-by-step instructions on how to get live access to TikTok when you have less than 1,000 followers.

1. Go to your account settings

Step one is to head to your TikTok profile and tap the hamburger menu (three parallel lines) in the top right corner. Then, tap Settings and privacy to access your account settings.

2. Tap “Report a problem”

In your account settings, scroll down to the Support & About section. At the top, tap Report a problem.

3. Look at the options under “LIVE”

There are a number of sections available under TikTok’s help section. Tap the LIVE header to look at some of the LIVE-specific options.

4. Tap “Hosting LIVE”

Previously, there was a simple I can’t start a TikTok LIVE option that you could choose. The fact that this interface is updated may be due to an overall update, or it could be due to TikTok catching onto this “hack.”

However, the best course of action now will be to tap the Hosting LIVE option to access more relevant queries.

5. Tap “How to start a LIVE”

There are several queries under Hosting LIVE that are relevant to starting your own live video. The best one to choose will be How to start a LIVE, though you may also want to test out Other hosting LIVE issues.

6. Submit your request

Once you tap How to start a LIVE, you’ll be greeted with a message showing you the steps you need to take to start your own TikTok LIVE.

However, it also details what to do if you feel you meet the eligibility but don’t see the LIVE option. In this sense, it’s a bit of an honor code. But you can still try to submit a request even if you don’t have 1,000 followers.

Follow the instructions, then if the LIVE option is still not there, take a screenshot. Then tap No under Is your problem resolved? Once you do that, a Need anything else? link will appear.

Tap that to get access to this feedback box:

In the box, you can write something like, “I can’t access TikTok LIVE. My followers are asking me to go live. Can you please enable it for me?” You’ll also be able to attach the screenshot that proves you don’t have LIVE access.

From here, you’ll simply have to await TikTok’s decision. The only foolproof way to gain access to TikTok LIVE is by growing your follower count, but hopefully this works for you!

Once you do have access to TikTok LIVE, you can move onto the next section.

How to go live on TikTok step-by-step

Now it’s time to take TikTok LIVE for a spin. If you’re familiar with TikTok and you’ve gone live on other social networks, you should have no trouble learning how to livestream on TikTok. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to go live on TikTok.

Step 1: Tap on the “+” button to open the camera. This is the same button that you use to record or upload your regular TikTok videos.

Step 2: From the navigation bar at the bottom, swipe and then select the option to go LIVE. If you don’t see this option, you may not be eligible to access the feature yet—see the above section to circumvent this.

Step 3: Next, add details about your LIVE such as the title, add any filters you want to use, and make any other adjustments before you go live. Those details will give people an idea of what your stream is about. The right title and thumbnail could convince people to watch your TikTok LIVE even if they’ve never heard of you before.

As you can see below, the thumbnail is the first thing that will catch the eye. The title of the LIVE video tells people what the stream is all about and further entices them to tune in.

Step 4: Once you’re ready to start your TikTok LIVE stream, tap on the red “Go Live” button at the bottom of your screen. That’s it. You’re finally going live on TikTok. During your broadcast, you’ll have the option to add effects and filters or flip your camera. TikTok even lets you add moderators or turn commenting on or off.

TikTok LIVE tips and ideas for better engagement

Since the ultimate goal of going live is to engage your audience, here are a few TikTok LIVE tips and ideas to help you drive better engagement.

1. Interact with your audience

The whole point of using TikTok LIVE is to engage with your audience. And more often than not, the live chat box is often bursting with questions from viewers. For example, the following TikTok LIVE showcasing someone painting pots is getting a lot of questions from viewers.

Source: TikTok

So take the opportunity to actively interact with them. Respond to their comments or answer their questions in the live to let them know that you’re engaged, which could get them to reciprocate. You could even have entire livestreams dedicated to Q&A sessions.

Answering your audience’s questions is especially important during livestream shopping sessions. Viewers might have questions about the features and other product details before deciding to buy the item. So make sure to proactively respond and interact with relevant questions and comments.

2. Hold a discussion around a specific topic

One effective way to keep your audience engaged is by holding a discussion around their topic of interest. Choose a topic that’s relevant to your audience and use it as a subject of discussion for your LIVE session.

You could then add your commentary or ask viewers to pitch in their thoughts, experiences or viewpoints. This is a great way to spark engagement among your viewers and get them to tune into the whole livestream.

3. Give shoutouts to your top fans/viewers

When you publicly acknowledge your biggest fans, it makes them feel valued. This gives them more reason to continue engaging with your TikTok LIVE.

Give your top fans or viewers a shoutout during your livestream and let them know you appreciate them. This is especially important if a viewer sends you a Gift. Make sure you publicly thank them, which might even inspire others to also send you Gifts.

Gifts are a great way to make money from TikTok. Viewers can exchange currency for coins in the TikTok app, and then use those coins to buy gifts. Look at the options offered below underneath the LIVE video:

Source: TikTok

Creators can then exchange the Gifts they receive for income. Although each Gift isn’t typically worth much, the more often you go live and receive Gifts, the more you’ll be able to make.

4. Provide a look into your creative process

The spontaneous and real-time nature of LIVE offers a great way to take your viewers behind the scenes into your creative process. Use your livestream to show them what you’re working on or how you typically create your content.

For example, an artist could launch a livestream as they make a new art piece. A food content creator could livestream their trip to the grocery store as they pick up items for a new video. If you’re running a TikTok account for your business, you could also give viewers a tour of your store or your factory.

5. Start out strong

The first few seconds of your LIVE session give people an idea of what to expect. So avoid starting out with uncertainties such as, “Can you hear me?” or similar phrases. Instead, start out strong with a cheerful and structured greeting to welcome your viewers and make them want to keep watching.

Some tips for how to kick off your livestream include:

• Recap a recent video on a similar topic
• Introduce yourself and your role at the company
• Tell a funny, but relevant, story
• Talk about your business
• Use an icebreaker

6. Make the most of a moderator

While responding to your audience is important, that doesn’t mean every comment deserves an answer. Paying attention to rude or harassing comments can ruin the whole vibe of your livestream. Instead, have a moderator remove inappropriate comments and maintain a safe and fun environment.

7. Choose your timing wisely

It’s not likely that you’ll attract tons of viewers if you go live while everyone is sleeping or at work. Make sure you go live at a time when your audience is most likely to tune in.

Use the Sprout Social TikTok analytics report to find out which post timings work best on the platform. This will give you a better sense of the right time to launch a TikTok LIVE.

Restrictions on TikTok LIVE

You don’t need to have a creator or business account to go live on TikTok. However, there are some age and follower count restrictions to access the TikTok LIVE feature. That means most users should be able to use the feature if they meet the minimum age requirement and have the minimum follower limit.

Users who are at least 18 years of age can launch a TikTok LIVE. It looks like the age limit used to be 16, but it must have been raised recently. TikTok’s support article now states that users must be at least 18.

While 13-year-olds can have an account, they’re limited to the TikTok for Younger Users ecosystem and can’t go live. This is one of the many measures that TikTok has in place to keep the platform safe for users of all ages.

In addition to meeting the minimum age requirement, we’ve discussed how you should also have at least 1,000 followers on TikTok to go live. So if you plan on using this feature—and don’t want to test the “hack”—you need to start by growing your following.

Ready to go live on TikTok?

Now you know exactly how to go live on TikTok and how to use the feature to boost engagement. You can further improve your TikTok strategy by closely monitoring your TikTok analytics to see what works with your audience.

The post How to go live on TikTok and engage your followers appeared first on Sprout Social.

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