CRAFTCATION AMBASSADOR PROGRAM GUIDELINES
THERE IS A LOT OF INFO BELOW BUT IT’S ALL MEANT TO HELP YOUR UNDERSTAND YOUR DUTIES AND TO MAKE YOUR JOB AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE READ ALL THE INFO BELOW IN FULL!
LET’S REVIEW THE AMBASSADOR DUTIES
AS ALUMNI, YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT OUR COMMUNITY IS TO US.
Craftcation can be overwhelming to newcomers but they aren’t the only ones who might need a friendly face. We have a lot of introverted and quiet attendees that may be too shy to start up conversations or meet new people on their own. As an Ambassador, we ask that you keep an eye out for anyone who looks like they could use some help. This could mean answering questions, directing traffic, offering support, introducing first time attendees to new people, being available to presenters in workshops if you see they need help with something, etc.
We want all of our attendees to feel welcomed and supported. As a result, Craftcation Ambassador responsibilities will now include tasks before, during and after the conference. We’ve outlined the requirements of this revised role below.
Think of yourself as a Craftcation “Camp Counselor”. Let’s be the people that help nurture and grow this community while we’re at the conference just like we do online before and after the conference.
PRIOR TO CRAFTCATION:
- Post about Craftcation on your most engaged social media accounts, newsletter and/or blog on specified days during our promotional time period. To make it even easier, we’ll provide you with sample posts, images, hashtags and links. We’ll also send you reminders a few days before the scheduled post dates – we know you’re busy!
- Sharing posts from the official Craftcation Facebook Event Page, Dear Handmade Life Facebook page and Dear Handmade Life Instagram that include announcements and conference information to help with exposure and social media traffic.
DURING THE CONFERENCE:
- At least two social media posts per day tagging sponsors, presenters and Dear Handmade Life. More information will be included in our Ambassador Onboarding Information you will receive if accepted.
- We will select one or two ambassadors to host a “story takeover” at the conference. This takeover will capture a day in the life of a conference go-er. The takeover will need to be very involved and informative showing the conference environment, our amazing community and the range of workshops, panels and events throughout our 4 days together.*
- Be on call to volunteer at special events. This could mean assisting a presenter of a workshop you’re attending, decorating, cleaning up after an event, etc.
- Provide photos of your swag bag and its contents. We will include a list of MUST HAVE pictures and specific sponsors to tag as we get closer to the conference.
- Attend welcome meeting with Katie Mac where we go over the game plan, answer questions, receive Ambassador goodie bags and review responsibilities.
*This task is not required for acceptance into the Ambassador program. You can opt in or out of this opportunity in the application below.
AFTER THE CONFERENCE:
- Email us any recaps or thoughts/feelings about the conference. This can be in the form of a blog post, social media post or by simply sending us an email.
- We value your opinion and are always looking for ways to improve the overall conference experience. In addition to our post-conference alumni survey, this year we will be sending a longer and more in-depth Ambassador survey. This is another way for you to relay to us your thoughts, feelings, feedback, critiques, etc.
JOINING THE AFFILIATE PROGRAM
If you haven’t joined our affiliate program yet and would like to, please click HERE to join. Affiliates receive 10% of the ticket price for every attendee referred with their custom affiliate link (this will be provided to you once you register for this program). This means that for every attendee that signs up using your custom link – depending on which ticket they purchase – you’ll receive between $36.00 and $47.00 PER TICKET!
To make it easier to share, we recommend using a link shortening site like bit.ly to create an easy to remember link. For example: http://bit.ly/cc20katiemac. It’s free to use and makes it so simple to share your link with others, write it down quickly in conversation, include in Insta captions since they aren’t clickable, etc.
REMEMBER: You will only get affiliate commission when someone signs up using your custom affiliate link!
After Craftcation (usually about three weeks), we will disperse commission payments to the PayPal account linked to your affiliate account.
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING GUIDELINES
When posting on social media you must always tag us with our social media handle (listed below) and #Craftcation2020. Be sure to tag us in your photos as well as your captions so we can track your posts and enter you into our Grand Prize Giveaway!
Our Social Media Handles:
- Instagram: @dearhandmadelife
- Facebook: @dearhandmadelife
- Twitter: @dearhandmadelif
- Pinterest: @dearhandmadelif
Always include the Craftcation web page link: https://dearhandmadelife.com/craftcation-conference/. We suggest adding this link to your Instagram bio so that it’s clickable to your audience. If this isn’t an option, you can use a short link that is easy for people to remember so that they can manually enter it into their browser since Instagram captions aren’t hyperlink friendly. You can use our shortlink: http://bit.ly/DHLcraftcation or feel free to make your own using Bitly.
*WHEN POSTING BEFORE REGISTRATION OPENS (BEFORE 10.15.19):
Include this link: https://dearhandmadelife.com/craftcation-conference/. Do NOT include your affiliate link before 10.15.19 as it will not be active until registration opens.
*WHEN POSTING AFTER REGISTRATION OPENS (ON/AFTER 10.15.19):
If you have an affiliate link be sure to use it instead of: https://dearhandmadelife.com/craftcation-conference/
SAMPLE POSTS:
Personalizing your posts and sharing your specific experiences is super impactful. However, we want this to be as easy for you as possible so we have included some sample posts below. Feel free to use them to help you save time!
*At the bottom of this page you’ll find all the images you’ll need to create your posts.
POSTING SCHEDULE – BEFORE REGISTRATION
9.23.19 | 9.30.19 | 10.7.19 | 10.11.19
For these posts, be sure to link to: https://dearhandmadelife.com/craftcation-conference/ when including a hyperlink. Your affliate link will not be active until registration opens.
10.14.19 – This is the day before registration opens! Start using your link letting others know that it will become active at 9am PT on 10.15.19. Encourage them to bookmark that link and set an alarm for 8:55am PT on 10.15.19 to take advantage of the first 50 deal! (The first 50 attendees to register will receive $50 off their registration price.)
POSTING SCHEDULE – DURING REGISTRATION
10.15.19 – This is the day registration opens! Please post as close to 9:00am PST as possible. You can use your affiliate link from this point forward.
10.22.19 – Registration will have been open for one week. Be sure you’re using your affiliate link!
10.25.19 – Include a reminder that early bird registration closes on 12.01.19. Don’t forget your affiliate link!
11.15.19 – Ok we’re in the home stretch! Affiliate link should be in full force!
11.27.19 – Four more days to register before early bird registration ends! Use that affiliate link!
After 11.27.19 – Please post at least twice a month on as many social media outlets as possible. We’ll also send you info about special promotions and important info and updates during this time. Be sure to include your affiliate link. (Are you tired of reading that yet?)
*Feel free to post more if you’d like but these are the MUST-POST dates.
JUST FYI: Regular registration will remain open from 12.1.19 – 1.17.20. At that point, we will move into late registration from 1.18.20 – 3.1.20. Tickets will be available until 3.1 but early bird is definitely the best price option.
Before your affiliate link is active, you can add the Craftcation web page to your bio to make it easier to direct your audience to more information. LINK TO: https://dearhandmadelife.com/craftcation-conference/
SAMPLE INSTAGRAM POST: Join me at #Craftcation2020 by @dearhandmadelife for four life-changing days of creative business classes and DIY workshops in Ventura, CA! Save the Date: April 15-19, 2020. Early bird registration opens 10.15.19 at 9:00am PT and The first 50 people to register get $50 OFF! For more info, click the link in my bio or head to http://bit.ly/DHLcraftcation.
INSTAGRAM USERNAME: @dearhandmadelife
INSTAGRAM HASHTAG SUGGESTIONS:
- Business hashtags:
#creativebiz #creativebusiness #creativepreneur #diybusiness #handmadebusiness #handsandhustle #smallbiz #womenentrepreneur #womenentrepreneurs #mycreativebiz #smallbusinessowner #craftblogger #craftbloggers #supportsmallbusinesses #smallbusinesslove #yourhandmadebusiness
#iloveetsy - Craft/DIY hashtags:
#abmcrafty #craftblog #crafting #craftsposure #crafty #createmakeshare #diy #diyordie #waketomake - Creativity hashtags:
#calledtobecreative #createmore #creativehappylife #creativeminds #creativityfound #flashesofdelight #iamcreative #freestylecreativeliving #diyconference #creativecommunity - Maker hashtags:
#modernmaker #makersofinstagram #makers #makersgonnamake #makersmovement #wearethemakers #makermade #ourmakerlife #makerlife
*Remember Instagram only allows 30 hashtags per post so choose the ones that are the most relevant for each post. These are just suggestions. Feel free to use any other hashtags you can think of that are relevant.
JOIN OUR CRAFTCATION EVENT PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/events/444316826376868/
We regularly post updates on this page. We’ll let you know of any changes of the schedule, presenter announcements, class schedule dates, etc. This group and our newsletter are your best places to stay on top of Craftcation news!
You can share this event to your Facebook business page or personal profile. Be sure to include #Craftcation2020 so we can give you your entries into the giveaway!
To share the event/invite friends see below:
SAMPLE FACEBOOK POST: I’m heading to Craftcation Conference put on by @DearHandmadeLife for four life-changing days of creative business classes and DIY workshops in Ventura, CA! Join me April 3-7, 2019. Registration opens 10.05.18 at 9:00am PDT. The first 50 people to register get $50 OFF!
LINK TO: https://dearhandmadelife.com/craftcation-conference/
FACEBOOK USER NAME: @DearHandmadeLife (start typing it and it should pop up)
SAMPLE TWITTER POST: Join me for 4 days of biz + DIY classes at #Craftcation2020 by @dearhandmadelif – Reg opens: 10.15.19 9:00am PT // 1st 50 get $50 off. https://bit.ly/DHLCraftcation
LINK TO: https://bit.ly/DHLCraftcation
TWITTER PROFILE: @DearHandmadeLif
You can click below to repin the image or upload your own pins.
If you upload your own image be sure to link to: https://dearhandmadelife.com/craftcation-conference/
NEWSLETTER
Grab any of the images at the bottom of this page and either write your own content or use the social media/blog post text we included below to create a post for your newsletter. Please include Craftcation + links in your September, October and November newsletters. LINK TO: https://dearhandmadelife.com/craftcation-conference/ or your custom affiliate link
OTHER PLACES TO POST
More great places to post are: Facebook groups, Etsy groups, postcards to in-person groups, online communities, Instagram Stories (especially if you have the swipe up feature!) Snapchat, YouTube or any other place/group that seems like a good fit.
POSTCARDS
Please email katiemac@dearhandmadelife.com and let us know how many postcards you’d like and your mailing address. Keep them with you so you can give one to people you mention Craftcation to. You can even add a sticker with your affiliate link and use the postcards like your own Craftcation business card!
You should also drop them off at any physical locations where potential Craftcation attendees might frequent. Ex: craft stores, workshops spaces, coffeehouses, events and craft shows, etc. Postcard distribution is crucial for those of you that don’t have large social media followings.
BLOG POST
1. Please create a post for your blog about Craftcation and post it between now and 10.1.19.
2. Please do a second post when registration opens between 10.15.19 – 10.31.19.
Feel free to use the sample post below in its entirety, edit it to suit your story or write a completely new personalized version. Completely up to you!
SAMPLE BLOG POST:
I’m excited to share about an event I’m attending in Spring 2020. Craftcation: Business + Makers Conference is an annual life-changing four-day event featuring industry professionals leading attendees in over 100+ hands-on DIY workshops and creative business classes.
Have you ever thought to yourself…
- I’d love to take a vacation while making things with awesome people.
- I have a great idea for a business that I want to turn into my full-time job but I don’t know where to start.
- I have a successful business and I’m ready to take it to the next level but I’m not sure how.
- I want to make meaningful connections with people in my field but I don’t have the time or opportunity to make it happen.
Craftcation is the place where you can make any one of those things happen!
If you’re a maker, blogger, creative business owner or hobbyist then join me for four inspiring days that you’ll never forget. Craftcation has over 100 hands-on workshops and business classes, so whether you’re coming to craft, grow your business or a little bit of both, there’s lots of making, meeting and learning in store for you.
Craftcation takes place April 15-19, 2020, in the adorable beach town of Ventura, CA just about an hour north of Los Angeles. Craftcation utilizes Ventura’s historic downtown buildings and businesses as well as the beach for special events like networking meet & greets, cocktail socials, a pop-up shop, opening celebration, yoga, as well as food and art tours.
Registration opens 10.15.19 and the first 50 people to register get $50 off!!
*Link to: https://dearhandmadelife.com/craftcation-conference/
*If you want to use quotes from past Craftcation attendees you can find them here.
VIDEOS FOR YOU TO USE FOR YOUR POSTS:
If you’re sharing to Facebook: HERE is the link to the Facebook video. Click share in the lower right hand corner. A window will pop up and you’ll be able to choose where you want to share it as well as add your own caption to your post.
Sharing videos to your blog and other places: you can also download any of our videos from Facebook to share on your blog, Instagram etc. The Craftcation video is HERE.
IMAGES TO USE IN YOUR BLOG POST / SOCIAL MEDIA:
1. Click on any image below to make it full-size.
2. Drag it your desktop.
3. Upload it to your blog post/share it on social media.
*You can also click HERE and download large high-resolution versions of all the images below on Dropbox.
*Images at the bottom of the page are square and ready to go for Instagram.
*Some have text overlays but feel free to edit/add text to any images or use your own images. There are lots of images below so you’ll have plenty to choose from for multiple posts.