I think most of the things I make are things you have to see to want. If you can feel the piece, it has a connection with you and a "need" develops. It is much harder to get that feeling online. I also think that the average person doesn't know what fret-work-portraits are (or how ever else you can describe much of what we do) If they don't know what it is, how will they search for it online? online it is also even harder to compete with lasers and cnc's, because people can't see the difference and are mostly looking for cheap.
I have never bought something online that I could buy at a local craft show. (homemade soap, crocheted or knitted stuff, homemade candles....) It is all online, sometimes cheaper, but I would rather find a craft show or farmers market or something and buy local, and I think there are many people who think that way.
That being said, I do have a page on ETSY.com. to be honest, the only reason I have it is because it is an easy way to have a website that I can put on my business card and feel important because I have a website. Also, every now and then I get lucky and someone stumbles across something of mine and buys it. I bought a domain name and have it forwarded to my etsy page.
For me, also, I have difficulty committing to selling. I like the idea of making some money and getting rid of some of the things I make, but I don't like all the time selling takes. In order to sell online you need to take good pictures, edit the pictures to make them better, write a good description, post the product, then promote your product/business on various social media sites, then do it all again with the next piece. Sometimes I think it is worth the work, others I am not convinced. So personally I half heartily sell online and by word of mouth to friends of friends.
