Handmadeology: The Timothy Adam Handmade Revolution

Who would have thought Tim, a certified welder and metal artist from Ohio who opened a shop on Etsy in 2007 under TimothyAdamDesigns would have the next Beatles-like following? "The Timothy Adam Revolution" is what I call it. In this case "the following" refers to the eager thousands upon thousands of handmade artists and crafters who are watching his every move. It is here I must admit I'm one of them.

If you listen closely you can hear cell phones going off like hotcakes getting SMS updates from his Facebook account. Those who are hanging on words of his every Tweet, those who subscribe to his RSS feeds or read posts direct on his helpful free website called Handmadeology. For they, the followers, are excited to finally have someone teach them all they need to know - and for FREE!

Handmadeology continues to grow and give readers a plethora of free information-- information that is helpful to Etsy sellers, or anyone with an online shop, or handmade product for that matter. Even those who attend craft shows or are trying to launch a blog, website or online presence. Inside here you will find Etsy tips, tricks, social networking and shopping information. Not to mention Handmadeology is set so that artists or crafters can network, share ideas and concerns can be heard.

This is why I was first in line (virtual line of course) to preorder his new book entitled, "How to Make Money Using Etsy: A Guide to the Online Marketplace for Crafts and Handmade Products.", currently available for preorder on Amazon. (The price may fluctuate based on orders, but should remain under $15, at the time of this article priced less than $12.)

Tim spilled the beans on a live blogging event (as he was teaching a free lesson on social networking recently on Handmadeology) that his book contains 200 pages jam packed with tips and tricks on Etsy, social networking tips, and interviews. Tim recently told me, "I interviewed the top 8 Etsy Sellers and 12 top Bloggers in the handmade and design scene!"

Set for publication in March 2011, this book is going to be helpful to many. Tim says the book includes tip on photographing, posting on Etsy for maximum visibility, branding your business, and using social media like blogs, Twitter, and Facebook to connect with buyers and grow your business.

In my opinion, for a few bucks the information inside is going to be worth its weight in gold. It takes a successful Etsy shop to give advice to others. I am a proud Team Captain of the Recyclers Guild Team on Etsy, and although I'd like to consider myself a helpful advice giver, when I look at Tim I'm in awe. He's done a plethora of research and had no qualms about wanting to share this with others. I was in shock to learn he's not a formally educated computer guru , he is self-taught entrepreneur and makes it a point to keep abreast of things to help him grow his online future. This determination has made him the next success story.

His shop does well and is unique in its own handmade right, for there you will find his metal art offerings from jewelry trees, to camera necklaces, funky metal clocks, or beads for your projects. Tim is looking at the larger picture, he also knows how to network, and finds new online venues for helping promote himself, so this is why he can give you advice to promote you site, yourself, and your Etsy shop. I truly believe he spends more time helping others than in his own shop anymore.

Any seller on Etsy knows that Etsy's walls themselves are full of helpful information and advice, from the "Quit your Day Job Series" to forums where you can network with others. I find as an Etsy seller there is a lot of information on Etsy and sometimes it's hard for me to keep up-often scared I'll miss something important I go right to Tim's site.

I know by doing so, Tim will take the crème de' la crème crop of new Etsy announcements, and breaks them down often showing screen shots and discussions about how they will help me! It's no wonder that often times I hear about things on Tim's site before I read about it or find it on Etsy.

My old Marketing teacher James Heckman told me back in 1990 that one day Walmart would take over the world. At that time Sam Walton was just beginning and offering mostly "Made in USA" products in his stores. Mr. Heckman also said Bill Gates would have so much money he'd give a lot of it away. He also lectured that you can gain a lot of respect when being helpful to others, even if they are your competition and that sharing of information is key.

Timothy has gained much respect among the Etsy and handmade communities and it's no wonder. I bet if he spent all the time in his own shop that he does helping others, he'd be at the top of the Etsy Wiki. (The Etsy Wiki just went away, so perhaps we'll never know...). Instead, Tim sees the bigger picture for the handmade community of artisans and crafters, and he's set out to help others grow along side of him. His online presence is going to make the handmade revolution a zillion times larger than it is already. Shouldn't we be nominating him for "Best of 2010 Guru of the Year" of something?"