Social media isn't just for online sellers. If you're a craft fair vendor, a smart social media strategy can be the difference between a slow day and a record-breaking one.
The vendors who consistently crush it at craft fairs aren't just relying on foot traffic. They're building anticipation before the event, creating buzz during it, and staying connected with customers long after they've packed up their booth.
In this guide, we'll break down exactly how to use social media to drive more traffic to your craft fair booth — platform by platform, with actionable strategies you can start using today.
Why Social Media Matters for Craft Fair Vendors
Here's a reality check: the average craft fair shopper decides which booths to visit before they arrive. They scroll through the event's social media page, check tagged posts, and look up vendors who catch their eye.
If you're not showing up in that pre-event research, you're invisible to a huge chunk of potential customers.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- 72% of consumers say Instagram influences their purchasing decisions
- Facebook Events reach an average of 35% more people than regular posts
- TikTok users are 1.7x more likely to buy products they discover on the platform
Beyond driving immediate booth traffic, social media helps you:
- Build a loyal customer base that follows you from fair to fair
- Collect pre-orders and custom requests before events
- Create demand for products before they're even available
- Network with other vendors and event organizers
- Get invited to better, more competitive fairs
Platform-by-Platform Strategy
Instagram: Your Visual Storefront
Instagram is the #1 platform for craft fair vendors, and it's not even close. The visual nature of the platform is perfect for showcasing handmade products, and the Stories feature is ideal for real-time event coverage.
What to Post (and When)
2 Weeks Before the Fair:
- Announcement post with the fair's name, date, location, and your booth number
- Behind-the-scenes content of you making products for the event
- Product teasers — show new items you're debuting at the fair
1 Week Before:
- "Packing for [Fair Name]" Stories showing your inventory
- Countdown sticker on Stories
- Share the event organizer's post and tag them
- Post a carousel of your top 5 products that'll be at the booth
Day of the Event:
- Stories every 1-2 hours showing your booth, the crowd, and products
- Go live for 5-10 minutes during a busy moment
- Post your booth location with a pin on Stories
- Share customer interactions (with permission)
After the Event:
- Thank-you post with photos from the day
- Share your bestsellers and tag customers who bought them
- Post a reel of the day's highlights
- Announce your next event
Instagram-Specific Tips:
- Use location tags for both the fair AND the city
- Include hashtags like #craftfair, #handmade, #[CityName]craftfair, #supportlocal
- Collaborate with other vendors — cross-promote each other's booths
- Use Reels for process videos (they get 2x the reach of regular posts)
- Save all fair-related Stories to a Highlight called "Events" or "Fairs 2026"
Facebook: Community and Events
Facebook might feel "old school," but it's where your customers actually plan their weekends. Facebook Events and local community groups are goldmines for craft fair promotion.
Key Facebook Strategies:
RSVP to the Event Page — Most craft fairs create Facebook Events. RSVP as your business page, then share the event to your timeline.
Post in Local Groups — Search for "[City] events," "[City] things to do," and "[City] buy/sell/trade" groups. Post about the fair (check group rules first).
Create a Facebook Event for YOUR booth — "Visit [Your Brand] at [Fair Name]!" Include your booth number, product photos, and any special offers.
Facebook Marketplace Listings — Create listings for your products with "Available at [Fair Name] on [Date]" in the description. Local shoppers browse Marketplace daily.
Live Video — Facebook Live still gets priority in the algorithm. Go live from your booth for 10-15 minutes showing your setup and products.
Pro Tip: Join the fair's vendor Facebook group if one exists. These groups are where organizers share updates, vendors swap spots, and you can find last-minute openings at events you missed the deadline for.
TikTok: The Viral Wildcard
TikTok has become a massive driver of craft fair attendance, especially for vendors targeting younger demographics. One viral video can bring hundreds of people to your booth.
TikTok Content Ideas:
- "Pack with me for a craft fair" videos (these consistently go viral)
- Time-lapse of your booth setup
- Product-making process videos with trending sounds
- "Day in the life of a craft fair vendor"
- Before/after of your booth transformation
- "Things I wish I knew before my first craft fair"
- Reaction videos when customers love your products
TikTok Algorithm Tips:
- Post 3-5 times per week, but boost to daily the week of a fair
- Use trending sounds — they dramatically increase reach
- Keep videos under 60 seconds for higher completion rates
- Hook viewers in the first 2 seconds
- Use text overlays — many people watch without sound
- Hashtags: #craftfair, #smallbusiness, #handmade, #vendorlife
Pinterest: The Long Game
Pinterest isn't for day-of promotion, but it's incredible for long-term discovery. Pins have a shelf life of months, compared to hours on other platforms.
Pinterest Strategy:
- Create boards for each product category
- Pin your booth setup photos (people search for "craft fair booth ideas")
- Create idea pins showing your process
- Link pins back to your website or Etsy shop
- Use keywords in pin descriptions that people actually search for
Content Calendar: Your 2-Week Pre-Event Plan
Here's a plug-and-play schedule for promoting any craft fair:
| Day | Platform | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 14 days out | Instagram, Facebook | Announcement post with event details |
| 12 days out | TikTok | "Getting ready for [Fair]" process video |
| 10 days out | Instagram Stories | Behind-the-scenes product creation |
| 7 days out | All platforms | Product showcase carousel/video |
| 5 days out | Share to local groups + event page | |
| 3 days out | Instagram, TikTok | "What I'm packing" content |
| 1 day out | Instagram Stories | Final prep, countdown sticker |
| Day of | All platforms | Live updates every 1-2 hours |
| Day after | All platforms | Recap + thank you + next event |
| 3 days after | Instagram, TikTok | Highlight reel + bestsellers |
Photography Tips for Social Media
Your phone camera is all you need, but how you photograph matters enormously.
Product Photos:
- Natural light only — no harsh overhead fluorescent lighting
- Clean, simple backgrounds (a piece of fabric or kraft paper works great)
- Show scale — include a hand, a common object, or style the product in use
- Take photos from multiple angles
- Batch your photography — shoot everything in one session with consistent lighting
Booth Photos:
- Arrive 15 minutes early to photograph your setup before the crowd
- Get a wide shot AND close-ups of product groupings
- Ask a friend or neighboring vendor to take a photo of you at your booth
- Capture candid moments — customers browsing, kids pointing, the crowd
Behind-the-Scenes:
- Film your process, even if it feels boring to you — viewers love it
- Show the messy parts too (packing chaos, early morning setup)
- Time-lapse videos of booth setup are social media gold
Building Your Following Between Events
The biggest mistake craft fair vendors make on social media? Only posting when they have an event coming up.
Stay Active Year-Round:
- Share your creative process regularly
- Post about your inspiration and story
- Engage with other vendors' content
- Share tips related to your craft
- Repost customer photos and reviews
- Talk about your journey — the wins AND the struggles
Email List Integration: Your social media followers are rented — the platform owns that relationship. Convert followers into email subscribers by:
- Offering a discount code for signing up
- Having a sign-up sheet at your booth (with a QR code linking to your form)
- Running a giveaway that requires an email entry
- Promoting your newsletter in your bio
For more strategies on building your email list at events, check out our guide on how to build an email list at craft fairs.
Paid Advertising: Is It Worth It?
For most craft fair vendors, organic social media is enough. But if you want to experiment with paid ads, here's what works:
Facebook/Instagram Ads:
- Budget: $10-25 per event
- Target: 15-mile radius around the event location
- Audience: Women 25-55 interested in handmade goods, local events, artisan products
- Timing: Start the ad 5-7 days before the event
- Creative: Use your best product photo with text overlay showing the event name and date
When paid ads make sense:
- Large events where you've invested significant booth fees
- Holiday markets where competition for attention is fierce
- When you're new to an area and have no local following yet
When to skip paid ads:
- Small, community events with low booth fees
- Events where you already have a strong local following
- If your organic content is already performing well
Measuring What Works
Don't just post and hope for the best. Track these metrics to understand what's actually driving booth traffic:
Key Metrics:
- Reach and impressions on event-related posts
- Profile visits in the week before each fair
- "How did you hear about us?" — Ask customers at your booth
- Sales compared to social media effort — Did higher engagement = higher sales?
- Follower growth after each event
- DMs and comments asking about upcoming events
Simple Tracking Method: Keep a spreadsheet with columns for: Event Name, Pre-Event Posts, Engagement Rate, Booth Sales, New Followers. After 5-10 events, you'll see clear patterns in what drives results.
Common Social Media Mistakes Craft Fair Vendors Make
Only posting product photos — People follow people, not products. Show your face, tell your story.
Ignoring comments and DMs — Social media is social. Respond to every comment and message within 24 hours.
Using poor quality photos — One great photo beats ten mediocre ones. Take the extra minute to find good light.
Not tagging the event organizer — They'll often reshare your post to their (much larger) audience.
Posting the same content on every platform — Each platform has different norms. Adapt your content.
Forgetting a call to action — Every post should tell people what to do: "Visit us at booth 42," "Save this post," "Tag a friend who'd love this."
Giving up too soon — Social media growth is slow. Consistency over months matters more than any single viral post.
Finding Craft Fairs to Promote
Of course, the best social media strategy in the world doesn't matter if you're not signed up for the right events. Use TheCraftMap to discover craft fairs near you and filter by date, location, booth fees, and more.
Planning your spring schedule? Check out our spring craft fair guide and browse upcoming fairs this weekend.
If you're still figuring out which events are worth your time, our guide on how to choose the right craft fair will help you evaluate events before you apply.
Start Small, Stay Consistent
You don't need to be on every platform or post five times a day. Pick one or two platforms where your customers hang out, commit to a consistent posting schedule, and focus on genuine connection over perfection.
The craft fair vendors who build the biggest followings aren't the ones with the best photos or the most followers. They're the ones who show up consistently, share authentically, and make their customers feel like part of their story.
Your next craft fair could be your best one yet — and it might start with a single Instagram post.