Crafting the Perfect Gift Guide: How Handmade Sellers Can Boost Sales with Gift Guides

Where to Sign Up, How to Research, and Steps for Creating Your Own

When it comes to selling handmade products, getting featured in a gift guide can be a game-changer. Whether it’s for the holiday season, birthdays, or special occasions, gift guides bring your products directly to shoppers who are ready to buy. In fact, gift guides influence purchasing decisions for up to 85% of holiday shoppers according to a recent survey. That’s a huge opportunity!

But how do you actually get featured in one? And what if you want to create your own? Let’s break down exactly where to sign up for gift guides, how to research the right ones, and the steps to create your own.

Why Gift Guides Matter for Handmade Sellers

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s quickly talk about why gift guides are so valuable for handmade sellers. First, they put your products in front of a highly targeted audience. Gift guides are typically curated lists for specific occasions (think “Gifts for the Mom Who Has Everything” or “Eco-Friendly Gifts for Under $50”), so they connect your products with buyers who are actively searching for items like yours.

Second, being featured in gift guides builds credibility. When your handmade products are recommended by a trusted source, it gives your brand an extra layer of validation, increasing the chances that shoppers will trust and purchase from you.

Step 1: Where to Sign Up for Gift Guides

Getting your handmade products featured in gift guides doesn’t have to be a shot in the dark. There are a few places you can proactively sign up and increase your chances of being included in curated gift lists.

1. Submit to Blog Gift Guides

Many bloggers—especially those who focus on lifestyle, DIY, and eco-friendly living—create gift guides for their audiences. Start by researching bloggers in your niche and reach out to them with a pitch about why your product would be a perfect fit for their upcoming guide. Be sure to highlight any unique selling points of your products that align with their audience.

Action Tip: Use Google to search for terms like “holiday gift guide submission 2024” or “gift guide pitch handmade products” and keep an eye out for bloggers who are looking for submissions.

2. Sign Up for Press Lists

Press lists are curated directories where journalists and bloggers can find products to feature in gift guides, articles, and reviews. One popular option was Help A Reporter Out (HARO), which shuttered at the end of 2023 and connected reporters with sources. It's since morphed into Connectively. You can sign up to receive daily emails with requests for products to feature in upcoming guides. Another option is Press Loft, a PR platform that allows you to showcase your products to journalists and bloggers looking for gift guide content. I've listed my favorite HARO alternatives

Real-World Example: I’ve used HARO to pitch my products for multiple gift guides. While it was nerve-wracking at first, I quickly learned how to craft a short, compelling pitch that highlighted what made my products stand out. It paid off when I got featured in a holiday gift guide that drove a surge of traffic to my shop.

Step 2: How to Research Gift Guides

Research is key to finding the right gift guides for your handmade business. Not every guide will be a fit, so it’s important to do your homework and find opportunities that align with your brand. Don;t try to make a square peg fit into a round hole.

1. Start with Niche-Specific Guides

Focus on gift guides that align with your product category. For example, if you sell eco-friendly skincare, look for eco-conscious gift guides. If your niche is personalized jewelry, search for jewelry-specific gift lists. The more targeted your pitch, the better your chances of getting featured.

Action Tip: Check out major websites like BuzzFeed, PopSugar, and Etsy’s gift guides to see what types of products they typically feature and whether your handmade goods would fit. You can even set up Google Alerts for “gift guide” + your niche to get notified of new opportunities.

2. Keep a Running List of Opportunities

As you come across gift guides or opportunities, create a list with deadlines and pitch requirements. This way, you’ll stay organized and ready to submit when the time comes.

Step 3: Creating Your Own Gift Guide

If you’re not getting the response you want from external gift guides, why not create your own? Crafting a curated guide that showcases your products (and maybe even other makers’ products) is a powerful way to drive sales and add value to your customers. Here’s how to get started:

1. Choose a Theme

Your gift guide should have a clear theme to make it appealing and easy to navigate. Think about who your target audience is and what kind of gifts they’re shopping for. Some popular themes include “Gifts Under $50,” “Eco-Friendly Gifts,” or “Gifts for Self-Care Lovers.”

2. Curate Your Best Products

Now it’s time to choose the products you’ll feature in your guide. Focus on your top sellers, seasonal items, or any new launches that you want to highlight. Make sure to include clear, high-quality images and detailed descriptions.

Real-World Example: Last year, I created a “Self Car Gift Guide” for my brand, Orglamix featuring my top winter products + gifts. I included tips on creating the perfect cozy night in, how to destress, and a gifts by price with my products as the focal point. Not only did it drive sales, but it also became a shareable piece of content that my customers loved.

3. Collaborate with Other Sellers

If you want to take your gift guide to the next level, consider collaborating with other handmade sellers. By featuring their products alongside yours, you can cross-promote and reach a wider audience. This is especially effective if your products complement each other, like pairing handmade bath products with cozy blankets.

4. Promote Your Guide

Once your guide is ready, don’t forget to promote it! Share it across your social media platforms, send it to your email list, and include it in your website’s shop section. The more visibility you give your guide, the more traffic and sales you’ll drive.

Action Tip: You can also create a Pinterest-friendly version of your gift guide to reach an even bigger audience. Pinterest users are always on the hunt for gift ideas, and a well-curated pin could drive significant traffic to your shop. Do you want to create your own gift guide but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered! Download our easy-to-use Gift Guide Template for Canva here. It’s the perfect tool to help you showcase your handmade products and create a beautifully curated guide to share with your audience.

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Conclusion: Gift Guides Can Transform Your Sales

Whether you’re signing up for curated guides or creating your own, gift guides are a powerful tool for handmade sellers to boost visibility and drive sales. By knowing where to submit, how to research the right opportunities, and steps to create your own guide, you’ll be able to make the most of this marketing strategy. Ready to see your handmade products in more gift guides? Start pitching, curating, and promoting—and watch your sales grow!

Question: Which gift guide are you going to pitch your handmade products to first?