Such a pitiful-looking house, isn't it? This particular structure, as unstable as it may look, is still standing, almost two years after I snapped this picture. Hard to believe that a strong wind hasn't completely toppled it already.
Perhaps you feel that, like this house, your Etsy shop has been a bit neglected lately, especially during the summer months. Take the following steps now to avoid neglecting your Etsy shop any longer:
1. Pull the weeds
As you can see in the picture above, the grass has recently been cut, but the weeds are taking over! Weeds do nothing more than suck nutrients from other vegetation. They grow out of control, distracting the eye from a home's landscaping.
Are these aspects of your shop distracting your customers from making a purchase?
* inconsistent backgrounds for your photos
* grammatical errors in your shop wording
2. Reinforce any sagging timbers
Where are your shop's weakest areas? Are your item descriptions less than convincing? Are your tags a bit sparse? Take the time to check every single listing (no matter how long it takes). Do any areas need improvement?
3. Apply a new coat of paint
How about your shop's appearance? Do your photos or graphics need some va va voom? Consider a new look to spruce up your shop.
4. Weekly upkeep
Just like many homeowners have a checklist of weekly upkeep duties, Etsy shops need frequent updates. On a weekly basis, you should be:
* marketing your shop via Facebook, Twitter, blog commenting, etc.
* updating your shop announcement with current sales/specials
* checking your Google Analytics account to see your shop's progress
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How about you? Has your Etsy shop been a bit neglected lately? Share with us your plans to get things back on track.
P.S. Stay tuned for a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT coming soon about Fine Tooth Comb! :)
Listen up, small biz owners . . .
Holly of The Accounting Spot blog and Etsy shop has created a free Profit & Loss income statement for you! This spreadsheet is great for Etsy and small business owners, as a means to simply track your income and expenses on your own.
Simply visit her blog to download. Thanks so much, Holly!
First, I encourage you to read Part 1 of this series if you haven't already.
We've already talked about the fact that Etsy sellers should avoid the praying mantis's tendency to "wait unmoving," and today we'll discuss another one of its characteristics.
The praying mantis has many enemies such as birds, so it must blend in with its environment to avoid being eaten.
Etsy sellers should never "blend in."Etsy is jam-packed with many wonderful shops; so many, in fact, that shopping can become overwhelming. For example, do an Etsy search for "jewelry," and you'll be faced with 1,271,319 listings. Yikes!
So, how can you stand out and get noticed on Etsy?
1. Specialize in something.
Etsy seller, you might be a jack-of-all-trades with the ability to create a variety of different items, but consider sticking with just one or two types of items. Too many different items in your shop can overwhelm your customers.
Think about it this way, when you're shopping in a brick-and-mortar shop for a special gift, do you prefer a one-stop shop (like Wal-Mart, for example) or a small boutique that specializes in the items you're looking for? I'll take a boutique over Wal-Mart any day. :)
2. Have a distinctive shop "look."
All of your shop graphics/marketing materials should work together as a cohesive brand.
* banner / avatar
* product photography
* advertisement graphics
Hire one of the many talented graphic designers on Etsy to create a custom graphics package for you if you don't feel comfortable tackling the task yourself.
3. Be everywhere at once.
Take advantage of as many social media venues as you have time for. Spread the word about your items on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, forums, etc. Caution: these sites can be time-suckers, so use common sense and balance when telling the world about your shop.
Bottom line . . . be creative, be different, be YOU! Don't blend in with the crowd -- be unique!
Any other ideas for distinguishing your shop from the thousands of others on Etsy? Do tell.
While doing some yard work together this past weekend, my little boy and I discovered a praying mantis resting on a green vine (seen above). We studied the insect closely for a few minutes, and it occurred to me that many Etsy sellers are like this praying mantis.
The praying mantis "waits unmoving and is almost invisible on a leaf or stem, ready to catch any insect that passes by."
This tactic may be a great idea for a praying mantis, but not so much for an Etsy seller.
Etsy sellers should never "wait unmoving."
Some Etsy sellers list their items and then wait.
And wait.
And wait -- hoping that some customer will saunter by, ready to make a purchase.
This "waiting unmoving" rarely produces many sales. Think of ways that you can promote your shop. Be proactive.
Lisa of Maui Dive Girl Designs is one Etsy seller that has impressed me lately with her proactive marketing efforts. She is having great sales in her shop this month, but instead of expecting customers to stumble upon her sales, she sent an email to me (and other bloggers, I'm sure), letting me know about the sales and asking me to promote them on my blog.
I was glad to promote her sale on my blog, and I even devoted an entire post to the promotion. Now, I don't promote every single sale that my readers have, but I chose to promote Lisa's because she has been a regular reader of OTDC for months, she comments on some of my posts, and she has corresponded back and forth via email with me. All of these made an impression on me as a blogger, and I was glad to mention her promotion.
A few suggestions to avoid "waiting unmoving":
1. Read blogs that feature Etsy products.
2. Comment on those blogs.
3. Make a connection with the authors. You never know when this connection might turn into a nice shop mention on those blogs.
4. Start a blog if you don't already have one.
5. Mention your handmade items and any sales you're having.
6. Discuss your creative process, share photos, etc.
7. Wear/display your handmade goods (if applicable).
8. When people ask you where you purchased the item, tell them about your shop.
9. Pass out business cards if the subject of your shop comes up.
Be proactive. You might be pleasantly surprised with the results.
How about you? What creative ways do you market your shop?
Stay tuned for part 2 of this post coming soon.
Have I mentioned lately that my family is still in the midst of a major house renovation? Eleven months and counting (sigh). We're coming down the home stretch now, and the end can't come soon enough for me. :)
Needless to say, I have spent many an evening in the local home improvement store. When my husband bought some sandpaper the other day, I had another one of my light bulb moments. "Hey! I can write a blog post about this!" (Yes, I get excited about writing these posts for you. I'm weird like that.)
So what does sandpaper have to do with an Etsy shop?
You probably already know that sandpaper is organized by levels of grit. The higher the grit number, the finer the sandpaper. The lower the grit number, the coarser the sandpaper.
That said, it struck me that our Etsy shops can sometimes use a good dose of sandpaper to smooth out the rough edges. So, which sandpaper grit does your Etsy shop need?
Super Fine Sandpaper
This is used for "fine sanding of the finish to remove some luster or surface blemishes and scratches."
This Etsy shop already has:
* great product photos
* clear item descriptions
* appropriate pricing
This Etsy shop might need:
* a wording critique
* an updated shop announcement (current sales, etc.)
Ask a friend/family member to read through your shop's wording, checking for unclear or wordy descriptions. Check this post for more suggestions.
Fine Sandpaper
This is used for "a final sanding pass before finishing the wood."
This Etsy shop already has:
* enough listings to fill the shop
* mediocre product photos
This Etsy shop might need:
* a photo makeover
Does the shop look cohesive and organized? Are the lighting conditions for each photograph the same (indoor or outdoor lighting)? Are the photo backgrounds distracting? Take an honest look at your shop, or have a friend/family take a look with fresh eyes. You'll be surprised what improving your shop's photographs will do.
Coarse Sandpaper
This is used for "heavy sanding and stripping, roughing up the surface."
This Etsy shop already has:
* a way-too-long shop announcement
* product photos that are too dark, too distracting
* ineffective tags for each item (not enough, not appropriate)
This Etsy shop might need:
* completely new photos of every listing
* a major "trim" of the shop announcement
* a new shop banner and avatar
* a tags makeover (use all 14 spots if possible)
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Whatever grit of sandpaper your shop might need, don't become discouraged. Your home shop improvement project won't take too long if you get started right away. You can do it! :)
What other tips would you add to this post?
The following post is based on true events.
After my four-year-old son's bath this evening, he pleaded with me to let him comb his own hair. I finally consented after he promised, "I'll do a good job, Mommy."
I left the room to retrieve his pajamas from his dresser drawer, and when I returned, what I saw gave me an instant idea for this post.
The front of his hair was neatly combed straight down and actually looked pretty decent. "I combed it all by myself, Mommy," he stated proudly.
What my son couldn't see was that the hair on the back of his head was terribly tangled and messy. Because he couldn't see that angle of his head, he thought he had done a good job. The only trouble was that he was looking at his hair from only one perspective: his.
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The same goes for your Etsy or other online shop. Asking for someone else's perspective of your shop can be an invaluable process.
Before taking your shop/website "live," try the following steps:
1. Read each section of your shop aloud.
Read your shop announcement, your profile, every item description, etc. This is one of the best ways to catch errors in your writing that you might otherwise overlook.
2. Ask a friend or family member to look through your shop with a critical eye.
a. Ask him/her to search for wording that isn't clear or convincing. Have you provided enough details about each listing? Would your friend/family member consider purchasing your item? Why not?
b. How about the photos of your item? Do they display the item well enough that your friend/relative would feel comfortable enough to purchase it?
3. Give it some time.
One of the best tips for proofreading any writing is to leave your writing for a bit and come back to it later. You'll be surprised how many errors you'll find when your mind has a chance to "forget" what you've written.
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How about you? What other advice do you have for getting someone else's perspective on your shop? Have you ever asked a friend/relative to look through your shop? Were their opinions helpful?
So, you're ready to list an item on Etsy. How can you be sure that customers will take notice of your product?
1. Photograph your item.
Much has been published online about product photography. Simply Google product photography tips, and you'll come up with more ideas than you can shake a stick at. :) One quick tip that I'll mention here is to take lots of shots of your item at different angles. This will come in handy for step 3 below.
2. Edit the photographs.
Again, so much could be said on this subject. At the bare minimum, you'll need to do the following:
a. Edit the exposure of the photos (brighten them up a bit if needed).
b. Crop the photos (I talked a bit about cropping in this post and this post).
c. Resize the photos for the web.
3. Use all 5 of the available photo spots on Etsy.
I can't tell you how many Etsy listings I've seen that use just the main photo spot and leave the other four spots blank. Remember that your online customers cannot touch or hold your products, so you must provide them with as many photo angles as possible.
One Etsy shop that does this well is b u d. Just take a look at the photos in this particular listing:
I love it that the first photo angle is a bit unconventional. It makes me want to look more closely at the other photo angles and learn more about the piece. I also like the fact that some photos show a close-up view of the necklace, and others show the entire piece. Bravo!
How about you? Do you have other product photography tips to share?
Today's question:
How can you make a good last impression on your Etsy customers?
Today's guest:
Marisa of Elegant Snobbery
We all know that first impressions are very important for good customer service, but what about last impressions?
Perhaps the biggest way to leave a great last impression is to make sure that the package that your customer receives is professional and memorable. Just how can you do that? Marisa's answer:
"Packaging is very important to me, as that is the very first thing a customer sees. I want every package I send to be a treat for my customers. Here are some ways that I achieve that:
1. Because the items that I sell are illustrations, I place them in a cello sleeve and then in a no-bend mailer. This is perhaps the most important step.
2. I work to make the package the cutest thing the customer has received by mail in a long time! I designed my own stationery and note cards featuring my illustrations, as well as circle stickers and address labels, just for my packaging. I like to use white envelopes so that the colorful stickers and goodies inside really POP!
3. A simple thank you note on a cheerful piece of stationery can go a long way toward making customers feel appreciated, so I always include one.
4. I also like to add a small thank you gift. For that, I give a note card and sticker or gift tag featuring my illustrations. I figure that including a card or gift tag is a nice extra, but it is also something my customer can use.
So far, I've received great feedback about my packaging. As my customers continue to come back for more, I like to believe that I make them feel as valued as they are!"
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How about you? What other creative ideas can you share about making a great last impression on your customers?
Welcome to Part 2 of tips for sponsoring a blog giveaway. If you missed last week's installment, you can read it here.
So how can a small business owner (such as an Etsy seller) benefit from sponsoring a giveaway?
1. Giveaways bring your shop exposure.
Get your name (and product) in front of customers who might not otherwise visit your shop. Even if you don't make any sales during the giveaway week, don't despair. You'll be surprised at how many giveaway participants will come back to visit your shop later.
2. Giveaways often cause participants to mark your shop as a favorite ("heart" it).
Simply put, hearts often produce future customers.
3. Giveaways allow you to get your product into the hands of a potential future customer.
What better way to win over a potential customer than to send a piece of your work, free of charge? Giveaways allow your customers to see and touch your product. Just be sure that the giveaway item you send is your best work.
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Want another tip for making your giveaway experience successful? Make a positive connection with the winner of your giveaway.
Here's how:
1. Communicate
When you learn the contact information of the giveaway winner, contact him/her right away with a word of congratulations. Be genuinely excited, and assure the winner that you will send the item right away. This prompt communication will speak volumes about your attention to detail.
2. Ship Quickly
As soon as possible, ship the giveaway item to the winner. Promptness suggests professionalism. You might consider sending another quick email to the winner as soon as you have mailed the giveaway item, stating that the package is on its way.
3. Follow Up
You might want to send one last email when you feel sure that the giveaway item has arrived. Ask for feedback about the item or thank the person for entering the giveaway. All of these efforts to communicate will surely have a positive impact on the winner and might even turn him/her into a future customer!
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Now, it's your turn. What details about sponsoring a giveaway would you add to this post? Feel free to share in the comments.
Good luck in your future giveaway endeavors!
Giveaways. The Internet is filled with them. From flat screen televisions to Amazon gift cards, there are literally hundreds of giveaways going on each week. Ever thought of sponsoring a giveaway from your Etsy shop?
Here are some tips:
1. Choose your giveaway host carefully.
You may, of course, choose to host your giveaway on your own blog, but you will probably get better exposure if you can find a popular blogger to host your giveaway for you. Do a Google search for "Etsy giveaway," and you'll be amazed at the resources you'll find.
2. Don't give away junk.
You might be tempted to give away that item in your shop that hasn't sold, or an item with few customer views. Avoid that tendency. Remember that the giveaway item should be a reflection of your very best work. You never know who might win the giveaway -- that person could potentially become a future customer.
3. Sponsor a giveaway when your shop is new.
This might sound like a foolish idea, given the fact that new shop owners probably don't have lots of profit yet, but what a better time to introduce the world to your shop than when it is brand new?
4. Use the giveaway comments to improve your shop.
I recently hosted a giveaway for Etsy seller, Busybizzy B. Shop owner Jaime created an adorable polka dotted apron for the giveaway. When the giveaway participants searched her shop for their favorite items, almost every single one of them commented that the aprons in her shop were their favorites.
What is most interesting is that Jaime's shop doesn't specialize in aprons. In fact, a very small percentage of the shop items were aprons. Jaime gained some wonderful feedback from the giveaway experience, and she plans to expand the number of aprons in her shop right away!
5. Don't make the giveaway participants jump through too many "hoops" to enter.
Sad but true, if you require giveaway participants to complete several steps to be eligible, many will simply "pass" on that giveaway. Some giveaways require a Tweet, a post on the participant's blog, etc. While these items would definitely increase the giveaway's exposure, they can be a turn-off and might lead to fewer giveaway entries.
Most people expect the "standard" giveaway routine: visit the sponsor's shop and leave a comment listing your favorite item. Much more than that, and you're probably limiting your giveaway entries.
6. View your giveaway as an investment in your business.
Let's face it, a giveaway costs a shop owner money: the cost of the item, the cost of shipping the item to the winner, etc. You must remember, however, that this small investment could potentially have a big return in future sales. Invest a little, and you might get back a lot.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of Etsy giveaway tips.
P.S. Speaking of giveaways, my July August calendar is completely open for Tuesday giveaways. Contact me today if you're interested in sponsoring one!
photo by Piccalilli Days
Got some old magazines lying around the house? Did you know that those magazines are filled with ideas to improve your Etsy shop? I found a 4-year-old copy of Martha Stewart's Kids magazine, and in ten minutes, I had found at least six ideas that can definitely apply to any Etsy shop.
Let's take a closer look.
1. Table of Contents
Every magazine has a table of contents, and so should your Etsy shop. Organize your shop into sections, and your customers will easily be able to find the items they're looking for.
2. Letter from the Editor
Introduce yourself to your customers and let them know what inspires you to create. Use the profile page for this purpose. By the way, contrary to what you might see in some Etsy shops, the shop announcement is NOT the place to do this.
3. Article Photographs
Magazine article photographs are always so well-staged and appealing to the eye. Work to improve your shop photographs so that customers will browse through your entire shop, looking for that must-buy item.
4. Coming Soon
Many magazines include details about upcoming issues, and Etsy shop owners can do the same thing by mentioning upcoming product lines, sales, etc. in the shop announcement. Resist the urge to share too much information there, though.
5. Fine Print
Turn to the back of a magazine, and you'll find at least a few pages of fine print. These pages might include details from earlier articles, legal jargon, etc. Etsy shop owners should also include some fine print in their shops: return policies, payment options, shipping details, etc. Use the shop policies page for this.
6. Subscription Card
If you read magazines, you are already aware of the subscription cards inserted in the pages. Etsy sellers can encourage customers to subscribe, too, simply by clicking the "Subscribe to Shop Feed" link on the right side of the shop (near the bottom).
Some customers might not be aware of this feature, so sellers could mention it in the shop announcement or policies page. Sellers should also mention their blog, Facebook fan page, Twitter account, etc. so that customers can use those venues to keep up with additions to the shop.
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Now, over to you. What other aspects of a magazine might be helpful for small business owners?
Once we get our Etsy shops "up and running," we often get busy with the day to day tasks of the business and forget that our shop's first impression is very important. Sometimes all our shop needs is a little sprucing up.
My real-life story:
At the office where I work my day job, a group of board members visited for a meeting today. These individuals rarely visit our office, and we wanted to make the office spic and span for their visit.
We dusted, vacuumed, scrubbed, and polished . . . all in an effort to make a great first impression.
Was it the primary purpose of those board members to see how clean our office was? No, definitely not. They came to our office for a much more important purpose. So why did we spend the time cleaning and preparing for their visit?
Because we didn't want the office surroundings to be a distraction from the real reason they were there. The application for online sellers:
How long has it been since you viewed your shop from the perspective of a first-time customer? Is your shop filled with distractions? Does your shop need some sprucing up?
1. Clean out the junk.
Let's face it, some of us have items in our shops that aren't really our best work. Perhaps it's an item that hasn't sold in months. Perhaps it's a shop announcement that keeps getting longer and longer, filled with unnecessary details. Let's clean it up!
2. Wash the windows.
Distracting elements like dirt and dust can hinder the view through a window, just like unclear, dark photos can hinder the view of your products. Brighten up those photos with editing software (or the free online editor Picnik). Get rid of blurry photos. Consider making the background of all of your items similar. Ask yourself this question: Do my photographs do my items justice?
3. Smile and say hello.
When those board members stepped into our office today, we didn't ignore them and expect them to know their way around. Neither should you. Now, I realize that online customers can't see your face or hear your voice, but they can get a sense of your personality through your shop's appearance.
Here are some ideas:
* Be pleasant in your shop announcement and profile. You did fill out your profile page, didn't you?
* Be approachable. Share the URL of your blog, your Twitter username, etc. Make sure customers know how to get in touch with you.
* Organize your shop items into categories. This will help your customers browse through your shop with ease.
How about you? What are your suggestions for sprucing up your online shop?
Today's question:
Is Etsy feedback truly helpful for your business?
Today's guest:
Di of Auntie Di's De-Lites
As we all know, feedback is a wonderful tool for any business. Feedback affects our business decisions and can make or break our success.
Etsy allows buyers and sellers alike to provide feedback for each purchase made on the site. You'd think this feedback would be extremely helpful -- but is it really? Di's answer:
"I definitely use customer feedback to guide my shop in the direction I want it to go. My customers generally leave me detailed feedback, so I can see what needs to be improved on, or even what I did just right.
Sometimes it's something as simple as a scent suggestion for my candles. I take all my comments to heart, and try to use them to improve or expand upon my current practices."
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Now, over to you. Do you find Etsy feedback truly helpful, or is it mostly just "pats on the back"? What are some ideas for providing truly helpful feedback?
Customer service is the cornerstone of a successful business, and communication is perhaps the most important aspect of customer service. Sometimes a breakdown in communication can cost you a customer.
My real-life story:
A few weeks ago, my in-laws were in town for a weekend visit. We decided to treat ourselves to lunch at a very nice local steakhouse. Good food with people we love . . . what more can you ask for?
After placing our order, we began talking and catching up since our last visit together. And we waited.
And waited.
No food, no waitress, just 5 hungry stomachs.
And the most frustrating part of it all? The waitress did not stop by our table to give us a status update. She could have said, "I'm so sorry, folks, but there's been a mix-up in the kitchen. Your food will be delayed for a little bit."
In fact, she avoided our table completely. She buzzed around her other tables, happily serving them drinks and talking with them, but it was almost as if she was afraid to check in with us.
If she had just stopped by and told us what was going on, we would have been much more patient and understanding. Was our food good when it finally did arrive? Yes, but our experience left an unpleasant "taste" in our mouths about that restaurant.
The application for online sellers:
Your customers might not be hungry, but they probably are eager to receive their online purchases. Make an extra effort to keep your customers "in the loop" and informed about shipping dates and/or custom orders.
They will appreciate it, and they might even become a repeat customer, simply because you communicated effectively with them.
photo by Julia Rosien
Today's question:
What do I do if my products sell well offline (at craft fairs, etc.) but don't sell well online?
Today's guest:
Bethany of Annie and Olive
This is a wonderful question, first posed to me in a comment on this blog. I'm sure many of you Etsy sellers might be wondering the same thing.
photo: xsbaggageandco
Bethany's answer:
If you are selling well at craft shows but not online . . .
1. Improve your photographs.
* A craft fair is a feast for the eyes and appeals to our tactile nature. You must re-create the look and feel of your product for the two-dimensional world of the computer customer.
* Get your product in natural lighting to take the photos.
* If you have some money to invest, purchase a macro lens which takes great close-up shots.
* Gain some knowledge of a good photo editing program. These help when you are color-balancing or when your white pictures look dark and grey straight out of the camera.
2. Keep a consistent look throughout your shop, and make it the same as your craft fair presence.
* Have a cool and funky tablecloth you use at craft fairs? Incorporate those colors into your logo, banner, and background.
3. Have fun, and don't give up!
Hand out business cards, and those loyal customers who fork over the bucks at the fair will follow you anywhere.
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Now it's your turn! Do you have any ideas to add to Bethany's?
Today's question:
Which is better on Etsy: a one-stop shop or a specialized boutique?
Today's guests:
AmyLiz and Space Dog Studios
First, a quick introduction:
A common debate among Etsy sellers (and other online sellers as well) is whether to have a variety of items in a shop or specialize in one type of item. Let's read on to learn the opinions of today's guests:
Space Dog Studios on the Benefits of a variety of items:
"I really like to have options when I shop, and as a seller, you never know when someone might buy a journal from your shop but also purchase a piece of vintage dishware that you have for sale. Plus, offering multiple types of things seems to broaden your exposure."
AmyLiz on the Benefits of a variety of items:
"I have many customers who purchase one of my dishcloth sets as a gift, and then also add some paper tags to their purchase. This has been true especially during the holiday selling season. Selling a variety of items makes it a one-stop shopping experience for customers."
Amy Liz on the Downfalls of a variety of items:
"Customers can become overwhelmed by too great a variety of items in an Etsy shop."
Space Dog Studios on the Downfalls of a variety of items:
"I sometimes feel lost in a really cluttered store, unless the categories are very clear and well-organized. A store with too much happening can give off the impression that the artist is still searching for who they are."
"Another danger of being too diverse is that it is easy to neglect your best product lines. While I believe it might seem boring to have my entire store filled with only bookmark books, neglecting to offer a wide enough range of colors and styles can hurt my changes of selling those books.
If people don't like the few styles offered, they might decide to pass on your idea entirely; whereas, if you had just focused on expanding that product line, they may have found something they liked."
Now, over to you. Do you prefer a one-stop shop or a specialized boutique? Please speak your mind in the comments.
Is your business card so boring that it usually ends up in a trash can mere minutes after your contact receives it?
Or for that matter, do you have a business card at all?
If most of your business is transacted online, you may be wondering if you really need a business card. How often do you come in physical contact with your customers, anyway? Can a business card really bring you more business?
Most definitely! . . . if
If what? you ask.
1. If the image on the business card is memorable.
Rather than using a standard business card layout, why not choose an eye-catching product photo from your shop and use that as your marketing strategy?
MOO.com is a wonderful resource for business cards, and I can tell you from experience that their cards are of the finest quality.
Here is an example of a fabulous product photo from Two Little Tots used as the front side of a business card. Because MOO prints on both sides of the card, you could put a product photo on the front and your standard business card information (name, company, contact info.) on the back side.
MOO.com even sells MiniCards, which are the same length as a standard business card, but half the width. And they're just so cute!
2. If you are memorable.
If you want to keep your business card out of the trashcan, you must make a personal connection with the recipient of the card. A friendly smile, an elevator pitch about your shop, along with a pleasant personality will go a long way toward making a great connection, possibly one that will bring you some future sales.
Here are some other suggestions for distributing business cards:
* Give a card to your hairstylist (or other service provider) along with a tip. Write a discount code on the back of the card, if you wish.
* If you give gifts from your shop to your child's teachers, include a business card with the gift. Teachers love creative, handmade products.
* Include a few business cards with every order that you ship. If your product makes a good impression on the customer, he/she will be more prone to give your card to a friend.
To sum up, be memorable and make your business card memorable. More business is bound to come your way.
Thank you. Those two words take such little effort and time to utter, yet they leave such a lasting impression. By the way, not saying those two words can leave just as lasting an impression.
My real-life story:
A few months ago, my family and I visited a local fast-food chain for a quick drive-thru meal. I won’t mention the name of the fast food restaurant, but suffice it to say that this chain is located in just about every town in America.
First of all, the drive-thru employee wasn’t at all friendly when she asked what we’d like to order. No warm welcome, no friendliness, just a monotone voice.
Maybe she was having a bad day.
We placed our order and drove around to pay for/pick up our food. The glass doors swung open and the employee mumbled our total due. My husband handed her the money, and the employee handed him our change and food. The doors closed, and that was it.
No “Thank you, sir.”
No “Have a nice day, sir.”
No “Ya'll come back now, hear?" (yes, I live in the South)
She acted as though we were bothering her by coming to her drive-thru window that day; as though her time was precious and we had wasted it by our mere existence.
Needless to say, our family hasn’t been back to that particular fast food location. Nor will we go back for a long time, I suspect. That’s okay; our bodies probably didn’t need those fast food calories anyway.
Lucky Bee Press, Orange Beautiful, Paloma's Nest
The application for online sellers:
1. When someone purchases an item from your shop, by all means, send a convo thanking the person for the purchase and provide a heads-up about approximate shipping time.
2. When someone visits your blog and leaves a comment, respond to that comment and say thanks.
3. When someone blogs, twitters, or talks about your shop/products, say thanks.
The application for online buyers:
1. If you make a purchase after seeing a product featured on a blog, send the blogger a quick note, thanking him/her for the tip.
2. When you receive your online purchase, be sure to provide feedback for the seller (suggest ideas for improvement, compliment on speedy delivery, say thanks for a great product, etc.).
Saying thank you takes mere seconds but can leave a lasting impression. It’s just a nice thing to do.
P.S. Thank you for visiting my blog today! :)
Today's question: How do you spread the word about your Etsy shop?
Today's guest: Amanda of Vinyl Rocks My World
Amanda's answer:
1. TWITTER
Twitter is one of the easiest (but addicting!) ways to market yourself.
Specific suggestions:
* Post links to your new listings
* Talk about current and upcoming projects
* Brainstorm and get opinions from others
* Get to know your peers
2. MAKE A BLOG
Blogging is pretty easy, so long as you can think of things to say. Again, more people read when it isn't all about you.
Specific suggestions:
* Feature fellow crafters
* Feature resources you're using
* Share a new website that you’ve found
* Host giveaways from your shop or shops of others
* Include pictures in your post – they’re much more interesting than text
3. CHAT A WHILE, WON'T YOU?
The Etsy forums are a great way to promote yourself!
Specific suggestions:
* Post about current sales or new listings in Promotions threads
* Answer the questions of new members
* Provide critiques if asked
4. BUSINESS CARDS
Always, always, ALWAYS carry business cards! You never know when you'll need them.
Specific suggestions:
* Share them with post office employees when you mail your packages
* When sharing your personal phone number/email address with others, hand them a business card; they might just check out your shop!
* If your business comes up in conversations, share a business card
5. MISCELLANEOUS IDEAS
* Create a Facebook fan page
* Post ads on Craigslist
* Add your Etsy mini to your personal Facebook page
* Use Project Wonderful to advertise your shop
Above all, be positive, helpful, and network with your fellow crafters! Helping others will promote yourself more than you can imagine.
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Thanks, Amanda! Now, over to you. How do you spread the word about your Etsy shop?
P.S. Be sure to check out Amanda's shop, where she sells the coolest record bowls you've ever seen!
Welcome to the first installment of Secrets Revealed, an in-depth look at tips from my e-book, Secrets of Savvy Etsy Sellers.
The introduction to the First Impressions Secrets section of the e-book reads as follows:
Let's face it. First impressions matter. Fair or not, customers will make a judgment about you and your products during their first ten seconds in your shop.
I think we're all probably familiar with the phrase above the fold, the section of a webpage that is visible at first glance, without scrolling. For any online shop, the area above the fold is prime real estate -- an important place to "hook" your customers and then reel them in.
For today's Secrets Revealed, I'd like to give some examples of shops with great first impressions.
So, how can you clean up your above the fold area?
1. Keep your shop announcement short. Appropriate items are
* a brief welcome
* a mention of the type of items available in the shop
* a mention of any current specials/sales
2. Put all other information in your profile or policies page. So many Etsy shop announcements go on and on, forcing me to scroll before I can see the shop items. I don't really like scrolling, do you?
Etsy sellers, take a look at your shop announcement. What first impression does it make? Does it make your customers want to browse through your items, or fall asleep because it's so wordy?
Now, how about you? What other details (besides those listed above) do you feel are truly necessary in a shop announcement? I'd love to hear from Etsy sellers as well as buyers in the comments.
Sometimes life's greatest lessons come from everyday experiences. Through the Real Life Applications series, I will share a story from my sometimes hectic, sometimes silly life and apply the experience to the online buying or selling process.
Here's the first installment:
Let's face it. Buying from an online shop can be a bit scary at times. Will the item look in real life like it does on the computer? How big is it? Will it fit me?
Stay tuned for a real life story of an online buying experience that wasn't quite what I expected.
My real-life story:
My family stores our DVD collection in a set of three Pottery Barn CD cases. We bought them new several years ago, but alas, our DVD collection has outgrown the three cases and we needed to purchase a fourth case.
We've searched several Pottery Barn stores in the southeast U.S., but no luck. They simply don't carry those cases anymore. Bummer.
This past November, I decided to search Craigslist for a case to match our set. I ended up finding the exact DVD case that I wanted on Craigslist. Only problem . . . the seller lived in California. On the completely opposite side of the country from me. Yikes.
Long story short, I decided to buy the case. The pictures of the item on Craigslist looked pretty good. Some of the plastic sleeves looked a little scratched and worn, but hey, it was exactly the case that we needed, and the sleeves don't show from the outside, anyway.
The day that the case arrived on my doorstep, I was so excited. At last, our bulging DVD collection would fit comfortably into four cases. I rushed into the house, tore the box open, and set the case on the table to examine it more closely. At first glance, it looked great, but then . . .
Cat hair. Yes, cat hair all over the inside of the case. Gross! Not that I have anything against cats (I don't), but the seller could at least have used a lint brush!
Did I keep the DVD case? Yes. Was I officially grossed out for a while? Yes. Will I ever buy anything from Craigslist again? Probably, but I'll be sure to ask for more photos of the item first.
By the way, our DVDs could care less that their case used to have cat hair on it. It's just a good thing that they don't have pet hair allergies.
Now, what can you learn from my mistake?
The application for online buyers:
1. Study all the photo angles of an online item.
2. Read the product descriptions carefully.
3. If you are unsure of some product details, don't hesitate to send a convo/message to the seller, asking for more information.4. If the seller has a returns policy and your purchase meets the criteria, return the item if it doesn't work for you. Don't waste your money on something that you can't/won't use.
If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you may have noticed that I am gradually adding tips for handmade buyers and sellers.
Don't worry, polka dots will continue to be the primary theme of this blog, but since so many of my visitors are small business owners (or customers), I want to include some resources that will be helpful to you!
Starting next Wednesday, I will be adding a brand new weekly series called One Question Interview.
I enjoy reading interviews of small business owners. It's fun to read about their inspirations, their studios, their lives. Sometimes, though, the interviews are a bit lengthy, and I must admit that I lose focus and click away before reading the entire interview.
The One Question Interview will help get my focus back on track.
Each week, I'll pose one business-related question to an Etsy shop seller, and then I'll share the seller's response with you. I plan to ask a question that would apply to most of my readers, and I hope that we'll all learn from the responses.
And here's the fun part . . . the comments section will be open so that others can weigh in on the topic too.
Stay tuned.
Today's lesson: Use Picnik to add text to an ad
Ahhhh . . . Picnik. How I love thee. Let me count the ways.
Are you familiar with the free online photo editor Picnik? If you spend any time editing photos, you will love it!
Picnik is wonderful for many reasons, but here are a couple highlights:
* It's free. Free is always good.
* It is web-based. No software to download.
* It has a fun, easy-to-use interface.
* It can accomplish most photo editing tasks that I used to accomplish only in Photoshop Elements.
Now, let's use Picnik to add some text to our ad:
1. Visit www.picnik.com, register for a free account, and upload your photo.
2. Once your photo is uploaded (you can upload 5 photos at a time with the free account), click the Create tab, the Stickers tab, and then Geometric Shapes.
3. Add a rectangle on top of your photo. You can choose the rectangle's color by clicking anywhere in the "sticker color" box. For this tutorial, we'll make our rectangle white. On the "Fade" slider, change the transparency to 35 percent (or whatever transparency you like).
4. Once your rectangle is where you want it, click away from the rectangle to get rid of the handles around it. Next, click the Text tab.
5. Now, in the text box, type the text that you want on top of the photo. Then, click "Add."
6. Just like Step 3 above, you can change the color of the text by clicking anywhere in the "sticker color box." I chose black for this tutorial. When you are finished, click anywhere outside the rectangle to confirm the text.
7. The final step is to save your image. Click the "Save & Share" tab and save the image to your computer.
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That's all there is to it! Now you know how to add text on top of an image with little or no white space.
Okay, now it's up to you! If you're interested in entering the drawing for the one free month of advertising, please submit your ad to me no later than Wednesday, May 6 at midnight.
Here's how:
* Email your 150 x 150 pixels shop ad to onthedotcreations{at}yahoo.com.
* Include your first name and your shop name.
* Your ad doesn't have to be new. It can be an ad that you've already been using to promote your shop.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Good luck!
Photo courtesy of Space Dog Studios.
We've talked about choosing a product photo, cropping that photo, finding white space for text, and adding that text.
But what if the product photo that you really want to use doesn't have much white space for the ad text?
Let's take a look at this wonderful photo from Golden Shop:
I love the creative angle of this shot, and it perfectly represents Rachel's shop; but what about white space for the ad text? There is some room to the left of the hat, but I suspect that the spot where the green meets the background paper might be distracting if I place text there.
How about this?
I added a white rectangle on top of the photo, and then changed its transparency to 35%. Now I can add some text.
This is a great solution, because I can still see the product behind the rectangle, and I can also read the text of the ad.
You might be wondering how to add a transparent rectangle with text on top it. You can use most photo editing software (like Photoshop or Photoshop Elements), but there's also a non-software, free way too. I'll talk about that in Part 5 of this tutorial series.
Until then,
So, you've chosen the product photo(s) for your ad, you've cropped the image effectively, and you've created a tag line for your shop.
Today's lesson: Add some text.
Let's use this example photo from my friend Di of Auntie Di's De-Lites Etsy shop:
I chose this photo for several reasons. First, the earrings are simply beautiful. Secondly, I like the strong contrast between the product and the background. Thirdly, this photo has lots of white space that I can use for the text of the ad.
Now, while this crop is perfect for the shop photo, I think I'll try cropping it a bit differently for an ad. Why? Because there is white space in two different spots (lower left and upper right), and the viewer might be confused about where to focus his/her attention.
Let's see . . . how about this?
I like this crop because it's a bit closer and we can see more details of the earrings. However, now there's not much room for the text of the ad. Let's try again.
Ahhh . . . now we're getting somewhere! You might be saying to yourself, "Julie has surely lost her marbles! Why in the world did she crop off half of the right earring?"
First of all, because I can see the hooks of both earrings, I know that these are indeed earrings. And what pair of earrings has one earring different from the other? They're always the same, right?
Because of this, I felt comfortable cropping half of the right earring off. My eye knows that both earrings are the same, and now I can see the left earring much more clearly.
Secondly, now I have plenty of room in the lower left corner to add my text. Let's try that now.
Oooo! This is looking pretty good! Notice that I left-justified the text, not centered it. It's a much cleaner look, I think. You can even right-justify the text if you prefer.
Here's another example of a product photo from the Tizzalicious Etsy shop:
This image is definitely "ad-friendly" because it already has some nice white space in the lower right corner. Remember that white space doesn't have to be white; it just needs to be simple, uncluttered space.
Stay tuned for part 4 of this tutorial, in which I'll explain what to do if the product photo that you picked for your ad doesn't have any white space.
Until then,
I am so pleased to announce that the Secrets of Savvy Etsy Sellers e-book is now available!
Welcome to Day 2 of the Shop Ad Tutorials!
If you haven't already, I hope you'll complete the Day 1 lesson: Research. You'll find details here.
Today's lesson: Select, Crop, and Write a Tag Line
Perhaps the most important step in creating a fabulous ad is choosing the product photos to feature. Of course, you don't have to use a product photo for your ad . . . sometimes well-placed text can be just as effective.
For this tutorial's purposes, however, we'll use product photos.
Step 1 - Select: Search your shop for a great product photo.
* Choose a photo of a bestseller that you already know is popular.
* Choose a photo that really represents your brand.
* If you plan to create an ad with more than one frame, don't forget to choose more than one product photo.
Step 2 - Crop: Using photo editing software (or an online editor), crop your photo to 150 x 150 pixels at 72 dpi. Of course, you can crop the photo to whatever size you'd like your ad to be, but we'll use 150 x 150 pixels for our tutorial.
* Don't be scared of a "close crop" (unless the crop makes the item unidentifiable).
* Consider cropping off part of the item so you have white space (an area without print or pictures).
* Crop the photo so the center of the object is not in the center of the frame.
* Keep some of the object a mystery so the customer will click to see more.
* Attempt to capture a creative angle to add visual interest.
Here are some examples of how to crop a product photo:I love these earrings from the Maui Dive Girl Etsy shop. This is a great example of a product photo that would be perfect for a shop ad.
At 350 x 263 pixels, though, it's too big for a sidebar ad.
Here are some cropping options:
Based on my suggestions in Step 2 above, can you guess which of these crops is my favorite? Option#1 is definitely out, but either option #2 or #3 would work. My favorite is option #3. I love that white space to the right of the product!
Step 3 - Write a Tag Line: A tag line is simply a catch phrase that you use to describe your shop. You probably already have a phrase that you use on your shop header, business card, etc.
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Okay, it's time for you to get to work! Let us know how you're doing, in the comments section, of course.
Tomorrow, we'll talk about adding an effective font to the ad. Stay tuned for that! :)
As I've been hinting for the past several months, I will begin accepting advertisements here on the dotty blog beginning next Monday, May 4.
During this week prior to the ad launch, I will be sharing some tutorials about how to create a visually attractive ad (and for free!). Perhaps you are a shop owner who wants to advertise more, but you don't have a suitable ad. Or perhaps you already have an ad for your shop, but it needs sprucing up.
Either way, this week's tutorials are for you!
Now, here's the fun part: If you participate during this week of tutorials and create an ad for your shop, you will have a chance to win one free month of advertising here at On the Dot Creations!
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Today's lesson: Research
If you've ever spent time visiting crafty blogs, you've probably seen some fabulous ads in the sidebars. Well, drool no longer. Now you can have an attractive ad like that, too!
We all know that it's not nice to copy, but sometimes browsing through blogs for ad inspiration is just what we need to get started.
Here is today's assignment:
1. Visit some blogs that you enjoy (particularly those with sidebar ads).
2. Take note of ads that catch your attention. What makes them visually attractive? Do they inspire you to click and visit the shop?
3. Now, take some specific notes:
a. Are your favorite ads animated (blinking, rotating, changing) or static (stay the same)?
b. If they are animated, how many frames does the ad consist of?
c. Is the animation fast or slow?
d. What color palettes do your favorite ads use? (bright? bold? soft? pastel?)
e. Do the ads show products only, or are they mixed with text?
Here are some of the blogs that I checked while doing today's assignment:
Creature Comforts
Modish
Modish Biz Tips
Heart Handmade
Check the comments section to see which ads inspired me. Please add yours, too. Don't forget about the chance to win one free month of advertising! :)
