Social Media Marketing with AI

From Maker to Marketer

🔄 Quick Recall: In the previous lesson, you built a pricing strategy that ensures every sale is profitable. Now you’ll learn how to get more sales through AI-powered social media marketing — consistent content creation without consuming all your crafting time.

Social media drives external traffic to your Etsy shop — and Etsy’s algorithm rewards shops that bring in outside visitors. But most makers post inconsistently because content creation takes too much time. AI changes the time equation.

Platform Strategy for Makers

Not every platform matters equally for handmade businesses:

Start with two platforms. For most handmade sellers, Instagram + Pinterest gives the best return. Add TikTok if you enjoy creating video content.

AI Content Creation Workflow

Video Content (Reels/TikTok)

Step 1: Film raw footage during a crafting session

• Overhead angle of your hands working (phone on tripod)
• 2-3 minutes of continuous crafting
• Multiple angles if possible (wide shot, close-up detail)

Step 2: AI editing with CapCut or Pippit

• Upload raw footage
• AI auto-selects the best clips
• Adds trending music, text captions, and transitions
• Exports in platform-optimal dimensions

Step 3: AI caption and hashtag generation

Write an Instagram Reels caption for a video showing me
hand-stitching a leather wallet.
Tone: warm, personal, slightly playful.
Include a call to action (link in bio, comment, or save).
Add 15 relevant hashtags mixing popular (#handmade)
and niche (#leathercraftsman).
Keep caption under 150 words.

Static Content (Photos/Pinterest)

Use your AI-enhanced product photos from Lesson 2:

• Instagram feed: Styled product shots with consistent visual theme
• Pinterest pins: Vertical format (1000×1500px), text overlay with product name
• Carousel posts: Multiple angles or a mini-story of the making process

Canva’s AI features generate pin designs from your product photos automatically — consistent branding across hundreds of pins.

✅ Quick Check: Why does Pinterest work especially well for handmade sellers? Because Pinterest users have high purchase intent — they’re actively planning projects, gifts, and purchases. A pin of your handmade pottery can drive traffic to your shop for months (even years), unlike Instagram posts which die after 24-48 hours. And Pinterest’s visual search AI helps buyers find products that look like what they’re imagining.

Content Calendar with AI

The 4-Type Content Mix

Balance these content types for maximum engagement:

Monthly Batch Workflow

One Saturday per month (3-4 hours):

1. Film 4-6 process clips during one crafting session (30 min)
2. Edit all clips using AI (CapCut batch editing) (30 min)
3. Generate all captions and hashtags using AI (30 min)
4. Design all Pinterest pins using Canva AI (30 min)
5. Schedule everything across platforms using Buffer or Tailwind (30 min)
6. Plan next month’s content themes based on AI trend data (30 min)

Result: 16-20 posts scheduled, consistent presence, and your weekdays stay focused on crafting.

Social Media Analytics with AI

What to Track

✅ Quick Check: Why track click-through rate specifically? Because followers and likes don’t pay bills — shop visits and sales do. A post with 10,000 likes but zero click-throughs isn’t helping your business. A post with 500 likes and 50 shop visits might generate 5 sales. AI analytics tools show you which content types actually drive revenue, not just engagement.

Key Takeaways

• Batch-create a month of social media content in 3-4 hours — AI handles editing, captions, hashtags, and scheduling
• Focus on Instagram + Pinterest for the best return; add TikTok for viral potential with process videos
• Process videos (hands-only, overhead angle) are the highest-performing content for makers — no face required
• Use the 40/25/20/15 content mix: process, product, story, community
• Track click-through rate and shop visits, not just likes — AI analytics show which content drives actual sales

Up Next: You’ll use AI for design inspiration and pattern development — exploring creative directions for new products while keeping your designs authentically yours.