If you’re a quilt business owner running things mostly on your own - a pattern designer, teacher, or service provider - YouTube can feel like the most sustainable place to show up. And it is! The Quilters Survey, presented every year at h+h Americas, showed that YouTube was the number 1 platform quilters turn to when looking up information about quilting in 2024. You can teach, explain, model, inspire, connect, and you can build trust without dancing for an algorithm.

This post is inspired by her journey, the lessons I’ve learned from helping her and others like her, and the strategies we’ve both used successfully. If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping back from social media (or leaving it entirely) while still growing your quilting business - this is for you.

If you’ve been running your quilting or crafting business online for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard the term SEO (Search Engine Optimization). SEO is what helps your website show up when someone types into Google: “modern quilt pattern PDF” or “how to start free motion quilting.”

When you hear “SEO” (search engine optimization), you may think: keywords, backlinks, Google rankings. But a new sibling is emerging: GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). This is shifting what it means for your website, your content, and how people find you via AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.). If you run a quilting business, teach classes, write patterns, or sell online, understanding both can give you a real edge.