DISSEMINATION AND MARKETING OF
ARTISANAL PRODUCTS FROM INDIGENOUS

PEOPLES AND COMMUNITIES ON DIGITAL

PLATFORMS: REVIEW OF STRATEGIES AND

CHALLENGES

DIFUSIÓN Y COMERCIALIZACIÓN DE PRODUCTOS ARTESANALES
DE PUEBLOS Y COMUNIDADES INDÍGENAS EN PLATAFORMAS
DIGITALES: REVISIÓN DE ESTRATEGIAS Y RETOS

Maria Cristina de la Cruz Galicia

Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto Tecnológico de Villahermosa

Laura Vidal Reyes

Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto Tecnológico de Villahermosa

Clara Ivette Rincon Molina

Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto Tecnológico de Villahermosa

Citlalli Irais Martinez Soberanez

Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto Tecnológico de Villahermosa

Andrés Abelino Villalba Chamorro

Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto Tecnológico de Villahermosa
pág. 14539
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37811/cl_rcm.v9i5.20651
Dissemination and marketing of artisanal products from indigenous peoples

and communities on digital platforms: review of strategies and challenges

Maria Cristina de la Cruz Galicia
1
M24300082@villahermosa.tecnm.mx

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3199-4049

Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto
Tecnológico de Villahermosa

México

Laura Vidal Reyes

Laura.vidalr@villahermosa.tecnm.mx

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1360-8111

Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto
Tecnológico de Villahermosa

México

Clara Ivette Rincon Molina

clara.rm@tuxtla.tecnm.mx

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2156-9549

Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto
Tecnológico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez

México

Citlalli Irais
Martinez Soberanez
Citlalli.ms@villahermosa.tecnm.mx

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2316-9754

Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto
Tecnológico de Villahermosa

México

Tomasa Rodríguez Reyes

Tomasa.rr@villahermosa.tecnm.mx

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4615-449X

Tecnológico Nacional de México Instituto
Tecnológico de Villahermosa

México

ABSTRACT

Crafts represent the history and evolution of civilizations over time. Their preservation and

dissemination are vitally important so that regions do not lose their cultural identity. The aim of this

article is to highlight research that has focused on the
importance of training artisans in digital marketing
strategies for using existing platforms to market their craft products. It is noteworthy that they have

mainly opted to use social networks such as Facebook and Instagram for this purpose. In conclusion,
it
is emphasized that these training support strategies for artisans are of utmost importance in reducing the

technological gap in this sector of the community and improving their quality of life. It is recommended

that these strategies be strengthened an
d that new digital channels be leveraged to increase training and
support for artisans.

Palabras clave:
handcrafted products, digital platforms, digital marketing, artisans
1
Autor principal.
Correspondencia:
cristy.galicia@gmail.com
pág. 14540
Difusión y comercialización de productos artesanales de pueblos y
comunidades indígenas en plataformas digitales: revisión de estrategias y
retos

RESUMEN

Las artesanías representan la historia y evolución de las civilizaciones a lo largo del tiempo. Su
preservación y difusión es de vital importancia para que las regiones no pierdan su identidad cultural.
El objetivo de este artículo es destacar aquellas investigaciones que se han enfocado en la importancia
de capacitar a los artesanos en estrategias de marketing digital para el uso de plataformas existentes para
la comercialización de sus productos artesanales. Se destaca que principalmente han optado por el uso
de redes sociales como facebook e Instagram para dicho objetivo. Como conclusión, se destaca que estas
estrategias de apoyo formativo a los artesanos, es de suma importancia para disminuir la brecha
tecnológica en este sector de la comunidad y elevar su calidad de vida. Se recomienda fortalecer estas
estrategias y aprovechar los nuevos canales digitales para incrementar las capacitaciones y apoyos a los
artesanos.

Keywords:
productos artesanales, plataformas digitales, marketing digital, artesanos
Artículo recibido 18 setiembre 2025

Aceptado para publicación: 05 octubre 2025
pág. 14541
INTRODUC
TION
In Mexico, as in other Latin American countries, the word “craftsmanship” is closely related to

indigenous communities and their rural life. Through them, we can see their different cultural

expressions, inherited from generations past. Their production pr
ocesses are manual, supported by
traditionally basic tools, their raw materials come from the region where they live, and they are

organized into family or community workshops.
(de la Cruz Ramos, 2022).
A handicraft is an object of cultural identity, made by hand using raw materials from the region where

the artisan lives.
(FONART, 2014).
In terms of raw materials, Mexico's inventory of plant and animal species used in traditional crafts,

available from CONABIO (National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity) has

information on 666 species, of which 536 are vascular plants, 3
are fungi, 2 are algae, and 125 are
animals (marine invertebrates, marine vertebrates, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals)

(CONABIO, 2022).

There are numerous expressions of traditional craftsmanship: tools; clothing and jewelry; costumes and

accessories for festivals and performing arts; storage containers, objects used for storage, transportation,

and shelter; decorative and ritual art objec
ts; musical instruments and household utensils; and toys, both
for entertainment and education
(UNESCO, 2025).
Currently, handicrafts are still a source of employment for many families from diverse cultures, although

sometimes with very low pay. This is due to various factors, forcing existing artisans to migrate to other

locations to sell their products at low pri
ces in order to earn an income (Villanueva Guzmán et al., 2024).
In 2021, handicraft production generated 479,655 paid jobs, representing 37.7% of the jobs in the culture

sector as a whole. The two areas with the most paid jobs were: plant fibers and textiles, with 111,771

jobs, and traditional foods and sweets, with 92
,150 jobs (INEGI, 2023).
Despite the historical value and uniqueness of handicrafts, they often do not achieve the visibility they

deserve in broader markets, thus limiting economic opportunities for those who produce them. Within

the handicraft sector, the adoption of technologic
al tools marks a new path to follow and a challenge to
face in the face of the unequal economic, social, and political reality experienced by artisans
(Araque
Geney, 2021)
. These technological tools not only facilitate direct connections between artisans and
pág. 14542
potential consumers in different parts of the world, but could also act as a bridge for the preservation

and promotion of cultural riches.

Technology plays a central role in the economy, and the use of digital platforms can significantly

transform the way artisanal products are perceived and purchased. This research analyzes various

initiatives that have emerged to promote greater recognition
and appreciation of cultural wealth. By
highlighting the authenticity of these communities, it contributes to the enhancement and preservation

of their cultural heritage, generating a positive impact both economically and socially, seeking to create

equal
ity, within the framework of the social and solidarity economy, for all artisans who are left behind
due to a lack of exposure.

Some research focuses on the social and solidarity economy, which, according to
(INAES, 2021) refers
to a set of socioeconomic and cultural initiatives based on a paradigm shift toward collaborative work

and collective ownership of assets. The SSE seeks to generate relationships of solidarity and trust,

community spirit, and participation in socie
ty, strengthening processes of productive integration,
consumption, distribution, savings, and lending to meet the needs of its members and the communities

where they operate.

METHODOLOGY

The type of research carried out is documentary or bibliographic review
(Esteban Nieto, 2018), which
consists of a review of the literature, seeking to identify and analyze various contributions to the

dissemination of artisanal products using digital platforms.

The documentary research method is mainly used in qualitative studies. It involves an indirect approach

to reality, based on secondary sources. Therefore, data available in written or visual sources that have

been generated by individuals, researchers, or
institutions for various purposes is accessed (Diaz & Sime,
2009)
.
In this research, various articles related to the dissemination of artisanal products through the use of

technological platforms were consulted. These studies show that global digital transformation has led to

the emergence of technological platforms
social networks, marketplaces, specialized websites, and
mobile applications
that offer unprecedented opportunities for indigenous artisans to overcome
traditional marketing limitations
(Sánchez Gándara, 2025).
pág. 14543
The vast majority of studies found use digital marketing through social media, while others make use of

e
-commerce technologies. All agree on the importance of promoting artisanal products online to increase
visibility and boost sales, as well as contributing to the preservation of culture.

In the article entitled Technological tools for communicating the emotions generated by indigenous

crafts
(Allende-Hernández et al., 2023), the authors focused their research on analyzing the context and
production systems of indigenous craftswomen to identify the emotions, sensations, and symbolic

elements that are present in the design and creation of their crafts. The research focused on
the Central
Coast Region of Oaxaca. They propose strategies that allow indigenous artisans to venture into e
-
commerce, contributing to their empowerment in decision
-making for the commercialization of their
crafts. One of the contributions of the research
is the development of a software tool called Sidisart,
which integrates a database with a domain of images and key attributes that identify the emotions,

sensations, and symbolic elements of the crafts
(Figure 1).
Figur
e 1. Technological tool for the semantic differential of handicrafts (SIDISART) (Allende-
Hernández et al., 2023)

In the thesis entitled “Marketing Strategies for Handicraft Workshops in the Indigenous Communities

of Nacajuca, Tabasco”
(de la Cruz Ramos, 2022), the author conducts an in-depth study of craft
workshops in the municipality of Nacajuca, Tabasco, Mexico, and the research offers an analysis of the

environment, focusing on sociocultural, political, legal, economic, environmental, and customer factors.
pág. 14544
The main objective of the research was to develop a marketing strategy proposal to strengthen sales and

increase the income of artisans in the indigenous communities of Nacajuca.
Although the author's
research does not focus directly on the use of technology, its importance for this analysis lies in the

generation of various marketing strategies, including digital strategies, where the author mentions the

relevance of social networ
ks such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Another review is titled Social media strategies for promoting handmade macanas from the province of

Azuay
(Romo-Jaramillo et al., 2020); in this study, the authors conducted research with the aim of
designing a social media strategy model for the commercial promotion of handmade macanas that

enhances the positioning and image of the canton of Gualaceo, province of Azuay, in the Republic of

E
cuador. The authors highlight that there is weak commercialization of macanas due to a lack of
commercial awareness and cultural representation of these handmade garments, and they considered it

essential to apply the social media strategy model as a marke
ting strategy to position and improve the
image of the product offered.

Figur
e 2. Social media strategy proposed by the author. (Romo-Jaramillo et al., 2020)
The social media strategy proposed in Figure 2 is developed in five phases:

Phase 1. Promote the product being offered.
Phase 2. Attract users and brand followers.
pág. 14545
Phase 3. Share experiences about the use of the product and its quality.
Phase 4. Build loyalty through offers and promotions
Phase 5. Monitor the behavior of users and followers on social media to determine the level of
promotional feasibility and sales.

The strategies outlined by the author are directly related to digital marketing, which encompasses a wide

range of techniques and strategies used to promote products or services online, including social media,

email, PPC, and SEO.
(Taherdoost, 2023).
In the research entitled
Digital marketing on social networks as a promotional mechanism for artisanal
products
(Vasquez Lopez et al., 2024), the authors conducted surveys of artisan leaders from
Corpomexión (Corporación Artesanal y Cultura Mexión OVOP Tuchín) in Colombia, with the aim of

identifying the current conditions for marketing artisan products, highlighting mainly demographic

aspects, k
nowledge and use of social media, and the marketing methods they used prior to the research.
After that, the authors focused on providing training support in digital marketing on social media, with

an emphasis on Facebook and Instagram, aimed at an initial group of 10 people with basic knowledge

and skills in mobile devices and belonging to the as
sociation under study, mainly young people.
The research resulted in the implementation of various marketing techniques, the creation of Facebook

and Instagram pages, and the monitoring of the behavior of both pages to determine the interactions and

users reached during a three
-month period in 2022. The results are favorable for artisans, increasing the
visibility of their products on these platforms.
pág. 14546
Figur
e 3. Organization, coordination, and training support proposed by the authors. (Vasquez Lopez et
al., 2024)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Since the 2019 pandemic, consumers have become increasingly comfortable shopping online, thanks to

greater transaction security and the ease of comparing prices and products.
(Rapôso & Andrade Júnior,
2020)
.
This paradigm shift in the distribution and marketing of different products triggered the growth of online

shopping, and in this sense, the distribution and sale of handicrafts must adopt these new marketing

channels.

As a result of the above, it is important to have a digital marketing plan, which is currently of utmost

importance for entrepreneurs and companies to develop successfully in today's markets
(Curiel Jiménez
et al., 2022)
.
In the studies analyzed, the authors highlight the importance of digital marketing through social media

platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, due to the number of users that both platforms currently

have. Although it should be noted that TikTok and oth
er video platforms are currently gaining relevance
for the dissemination and marketing of services and products, at the time of writing this article, no

studies focused on these platforms were found.
pág. 14547
Therefore, the result of this research is to highlight that digital platforms are an excellent ally for

increasing the visibility of artisanal products created by artisans from communities in various regions.

It should be noted that historically, artisans
are mainly found in communities far from cities, so access
to technology is limited.

CONCLUSIONS

Social media platforms have evolved as new uses for them have emerged. They initially arose as tools

for sharing feelings, emotions, and news of various kinds, and as a means of interacting with people

located in different geographical areas.

Today, these platforms have become tools for entrepreneurs and large companies to offer various

physical and digital services and products. This evolution eliminates the barrier of having to invest large

sums of money in the development of e
-commerce platforms, since with basic knowledge, anyone can
use them and benefit from their reach.

In this regard, it is important that artisans from different regions of Mexico and Latin America have this

basic knowledge, which in turn allows them to reach more people at the local, national, and international

levels, leading to increased promotion of e
ach region's crafts, promoting the preservation of their
ancestral riches, and thereby increasing sales of their products.

This increase in sales translates directly into the self
-sufficiency of artisans, raising their quality of life
and also increasing the interest of artisans' children in continuing these legacies that have been passed

down from generation to generation, as
well as attracting the interest of others who do not have an
artisan heritage.

Fortunately, more and more artisans are willing to train themselves and adopt all the strategies and learn

new tools that help them increase their sales, since this not only improves their quality of life, but also

allows them to acquire equipment and tool
s that help them streamline their time in the production of
their artisan products.

There is still much work to be done in terms of digitizing artisanal products, but it should be noted that

government institutions at different levels (local, state, and federal) are supporting artisan communities

in bridging the technological gap through
training, financial support, and promotion on official
platforms.
pág. 14548
REFERENCE LIST

Allende-Hernández, O., Morales-Becerra, I., & Reyes-Espinoza, C. (2023). Las herramientas
tecnológicas para la comunicación de las emociones generadas por las artesanías indígenas.
Anagramas Rumbos y Sentidos de La Comunicación, 22(43), 117.
https://doi.org/10.22395/angr.v22n43a23

Araque Geney, E. A. (2021). Marketing digital como estrategia de posicionamiento para el comercio
artesanal. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7522-5691

CONABIO. (2022). Artesanias. Https://Www.Biodiversidad.Gob.Mx/Diversidad/Artesanias.

Curiel Jiménez, I. I., Hernández Barreto, A. L., Pérez Granados, J., & Almazan Guzman, C. A. (2022).
Marketing Digital. TEPEXI Boletín Científico de La Escuela Superior Tepeji Del Río, 9(17),
5153. https://doi.org/10.29057/estr.v9i17.8077

de la Cruz Ramos, T. (2022). Estrategias de comercialización para los talleres de artesanías de las
comunidades indígenas de Nacajuca, Tabasco. UJAT.

Diaz, C., & Sime, L. (2009). La explicitación de la metodología de la investigación.

Esteban Nieto, N. T. (2018). Tipos de investigación.

FONART. (2014). Catálogo de Artesanía Mexicana.
https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/132508/CATALOGO_FONART_2014.pdf

INAES. (2021). ¿A qué nos referimos cuando hablamos de Economía Social?
Https://Www.Gob.Mx/Inaes/Articulos/a-Que-Nos-Referimos-Cuando-Hablamos-de-
Economia-Social?Idiom=es.

INEGI. (2023). ESTADÍSTICAS A PROPÓSITO DEL DÍA INTERNACIONAL DEL ARTESANO.
https://inegi.org.mx/contenidos/saladeprensa/aproposito/2023/EAP_ART23.pdf

Rapôso, C. F. L., & Andrade Júnior, G. C. de. (2020). ADMINISTRAÇÃO DE MARKETING: Análise
críticas e fundamentais sobre marketing moderno.
Internacional Multidisciplinary Journal of
the Brazil
, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.46343/imjbr.v3i1.18
Romo-Jaramillo, M. V., Erazo-Álvarez, J. C., Narváez-Zurita, C. I., & Moreno, V. P. (2020). Estrategias
de redes sociales para la promoción de macanas artesanales de la provincia del Azuay. Revista
Arbitrada Interdisciplinaria Koinonía, 5(10), 545. https://doi.org/10.35381/r.k.v5i10.705
pág. 14549
Sánchez Gándara, A. (2025). Estrategias para vender productos artesanales y locales en línea en
América Latina. Https://Panamerik.Com/Estrategias-Para-Vender-Productos-Artesanales-y-
Locales-En-Linea-En-America-Latina/.

Taherdoost, H. (2023).
Digital Marketing (pp. 205236). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39626-7_9
UNESCO. (2025).
Traditional craftsmanship. Https://Ich.Unesco.Org/En/Traditional-Craftsmanship-
00057.

Vasquez Lopez, L. E., Negrete Meléndez, J. A., torres Lance, M. M., & Figueredo Sánchez, M. R.
(2024).
Digital marketing on social networks as a promotional mechanism for artisanal
products
. https://doi.org/http://doi.org/10.7769/gesec.v15i8.3696
Villanueva Guzmán, J. C., Gómez Domínguez, E., Arias Peregrino, V. M., Priego Clemente, A., & Olán
Pérez, G. de J. (2024). Sistema para el análisis de datos y toma de decisiones del IFAT. REVISTA
IPSUMTEC, 7(2), 165173. https://doi.org/10.61117/ipsumtec.v7i2.322