AAA Cafe' Daily Chat 02/20/2014

[naturepoet]

Welcome to new members, welcome back to returning teammates! If this is your first time here - this is a place to ask questions, share your most embarrassing secrets, or just chat about the slow and boring bits of your day…we want to hear from you!!

Be sure to check out the discussion board. There are games to be played and threads to explore. The more you promote your fellow team mates, the more you get promoted, so be sure to participate on a daily basis. Check out our blog and our Facebook page, as well as the other links provided below.

IMPORTANT LINKS:
* Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/301427606658253/
* Etsy Calculator: salecalc.com/etsy
* Etsyology: www.etsyology.net/
♥ Online Photo Programs: fotoflexer.com/ or www.picmonkey.com/
treasurypin.com./ and editor.pho.to/
arwmedia.net/tools/pixlr_express.php
* Etsy Craft Tools: www.mycrafttools.com/
* Etsy Gadget: www.estygadget.com
* Craftopolis -Edit multiple listings: www.craftopolis.com/#com=ee

We have quite a few new members again, so let's discuss what it takes to get your shop off the ground. Today's discussion can include such things as tags, photos, why you should have an About Page, why you should have a profile and also why you need to fill out your Policies Section.

QUOTE of the DAY:

"In every aspect of life, have a game plan, and then do your best to achieve it."
~ Alan Kulwicki

[Former_Member]

Tags are very important and I always put the most important aspect of my photos first. Think like a customer when you''re doing your tags and be sure to think outside the box.

Photos should be clear and sharp. If in doubt, use a photo program software. If you don't have software, there are many places listed above that work remarkably well.

[Former_Member]

I started my shop in January and the main thing it's taken has been a lot of time and a great deal of effort!

Mary's right, filling out my policies section was one of the first things I did, it clarifies for you as well as the customer where you stand re returns, shipping etc.

I also joined the Etsy school which has been running through February. I joined a UK team for this and working in pairs we've been looking at one another's shops, a fresh pair of eyes and all that. The first week the focus was on shop critique, second week reviewing our photos, this week it's SEO and tags. Next week we'll be looking at marketing. I've found working with a partner and having other team members to bounce ideas off has been invaluable.

I've also been working my way through the discussions here and again the info from experienced sellers has been invaluable - so my thanks to you all.

I hope everyone is happy and healthy today, just getting light here and it looks like another windy day.

Breakfast calls, whatever you're doing today have a good one.

[Former_Member]

ps it hasn't gone unnoticed how much support I've been getting from team members here and I'd like to say thanks very much to you all.

[NaturalClocks]

Good morning all! Another great sunny day here... NOT! sigh... I got back from work yesterday to find an order from Jeannie of the HookingWench!! What a lovely surprise! I thank you publicly too Jeannie :))))

Photos, good titles and tags are the most important thing in my opinion. Photos are what encourages the buyer to click on your item and titles and tags are what get you found. Needless to say, I haven't mastered either, and there is always room for improvement!

Next, descriptions: be as detailed and as clear as possible. I've come across so many listings where the size for example is not specified that it beggars belief. Mind you, it is true that some people do not read descriptions, as I get convos sometimes where buyers ask what the size of the clock is, despite measurements being given in both cm and inches for every listing, but I don't mind, better safe than sorry!

Policies: well said Lagney. Cover every single angle, so that the customer knows where they stand, and you, as a seller, are covered as much as possible. Again, I don't think that many buyers read them, as for example my policies clearly say that there is no tracking number for international parcels, but I still get convos asking for a tracking number if the parcel is slightly delayed in the post. Again, I don't mind at all replying to these convos, that's what I'm here for, I'm just saying as an example. In any case, whether they read them or not, policies have to be there, I would never buy from somebody without policies or with very vague ones.

About page: it adds the personal touch and it shows the buyer that there is a real person behind the shop. So many sellers don't have one, and funnily enough they tend to be those that, shall we say, may actually leave some doubts whether the items are actually handmade or not, especially when they refer to them as "we" instead of "I" in the item description.

Finally, least but not last, teams are indeed a great help in taking your shop off the ground. Those of you that have been around the AAA Team for a while know my feelings about this team: I simply love it, as it's full of great advice and help and I have learned a lot here, and the games are designed in a way that helps everybody, very interactive. I play in other teams too, it's good to spread your items far and wide of course! I read regularly on the forums of people leaving teams because they don't want to be forced to fave items they don't like. Fair enough, each to their own of course, what works for some may not work for others, but my view is: I'm here to earn some money, to promote myself and my fellow team mates, not to run a competition on who's got the nicest, trendiest, more sophisticated colour coordinated list of favourites :))

Have a great day!

[Former_Member]

Good Morning!

You're welcome, Val ;o)

The single, most important piece of advice I have about opening a shop is to be willing to do the work and research. It's a lot of hard work. I've spent hours upon hours researching about SEO, titles, photography, etc and after 8 months I still feel like I need to learn more.

There is a huge wealth of knowledge and experience on our team...use it. Ask questions & be open to constructive criticism and suggestions.

Since it's still super early here in Connecticut and I've only had one cup of coffee, that's about it for me right now LOL. I'll pop in a little later, once i've been properly caffienated ;o)

Have a great day!!

[DoorCountyVintage]

i have a large mason jar of various buttons that I have photo'd and will soon list...not even the slightest clue what to charge?

[DerBayzVintage]

Good Morning All,

The item not on the list above is an attractive banner that send the right message. When I first open I had an angel surround by crosses that my husband designed to represent our family. One of the ladys from the forum gave me a critique and told me as soon as she hit my page she assumed it was religious and wanted to leave. She told me I need a custom banner that represented what I was selling not my family. It was a great point and I spoke to another Etsy shop owner who designed the owl for me, which is also significant to me just not in your face significance. So please design or buy a custom banner they are important to make your store front look profession and convey your message.

I would also like to touch on policies, they are important to protect you and your buyer. With any business there have to rules on what you will take back and under what circumstances. I had a woman in the UK purchase a bronze flatware set, when it arrive she was angry because it was missing a cake knife, which I showed in the pictures and described in the description, according to my policies we do not take returns for damage or missing items that were disclosed in the listing. I ended up giving her a $25 refund and I search for the knife daily for her. In the end there was no anger and she understood. She said she did not fully read about the product before purchase. It was a heavy and expensive item to ship to the UK and return would have been a nightmare, but we avoided that because of my policy page.

Tags, dear lord us all of them and don't just type one word orange, brown, elephant, india, decor, vintage are not good tags. vintage elephant, orange brown decor, made in india, those are good tags.

OK I think I am done but I might come back to say more later and I look forward to reading and learning what everyone else has to say.

[Former_Member]

Good morning everyone -

Chris: I searched through and it looks like mason jars with various buttons have prices from $5 - $30. By the way, has it thawed enough yet for your pipes to get worked on?

Another thing would be to have consistency throughout the shop. Having like items grouped together and if you sell items that are different like many of us do now, then make sure to rearrange the shop to keep items that may be buried on pages further back the chance to rotate to the front page or featured items slots.

I know I am taking time to go through my listings and double check tags, titles and descriptions since sales have slowed way down. If anyone else wants to check though, it is appreciated.

Have a good day!

[Former_Member]

Good morning, everyone.

When I first opened my store, I had no clue about what constituted good tags and titles. I had done some research on other sellers of embroidered totes, and immediately saw the necessity of policies that were clear and explicit. I had no problem with my About page, as I like to talk about myself, lol.

I didn't get a clue about tags until a very nice person in the forums told me what I was doing wrong. Then I read some forum posts about lengthy descriptions, and I immediately shortened mine by using bullets.

I've always had problems with photos. At first, I put the embroidery on squares of fabric, and took pictures of those. Then, once again in the forums, someone told me she could not tell what I was selling, since I had no pictures of totes. So I started embroidering totes. From this team, I learned I should probably use a white backdrop instead of the beige one I was using. That made all the difference in the photos.

I find I'm constantly revamping my shop, and now I'm completely redoing it with new product (bigger and better totes). By the time I embroider all the new totes, I should have close to 100 items, instead of the 43 I currently have. Having a lot of product also seems to be important, and 100 seems to be the threshold. The more the better.

I have learned so much in the forums and from this team. That's another tip for surviving on Etsy. Haunt the forums, and join several teams. Although this team is far and away the best. Thank you, Chris, for inviting me!

That about does it for me. Have a great day, everyone!

[910woolgathering]

Clear bright photos with a neutral background.

[Former_Member]

I work for a public library as a cataloger. I'm the one who puts the information into the online catalog so people can find the book, DVD, etc. they want to check out. A lot of that work involves identifying items (what it is, who made it, its size and shape, etc.) but also describing those items so someone who doesn't know about that exact item but might be interested in finding it has a pretty good chance of discovering it.

I'm going to borrow one of Val's items as an example:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/168114810/unique-real-leaves-desk-clock-small-wall?ref=teams_post

If I was looking for a handmade desk clock, or a clock with an oak leaf design, or a clock made from natural materials, I could easily find this item. But, if I was looking for a small desk clock, I couldn't. While I can read from the listing that it's 5x5", it's not tagged that way. Etsy only looks at titles and tags in its search algorithm, not the description.

Also, think of what applications your items could have for a potential buyer. Maybe someone's looking for office decor for his or her office desk, or maybe a welcoming gift for a new coworker? To this day I *still* can't believe people use these tags, but people search on Etsy for things like "gifts under X amount" and "coworker gifts." The wedding category on Etsy is full of offbeat and gee-I-wish-I'd-thought-of-that presents and wedding party gifts. It helps to try and see what needs potential customers might want your items to fill and tweak your tags to bring your items to the front of those searches.

(Thanks for letting me borrow your item, Val. Faved it, pinned it, queued a Tumblr post, etc.)

[GlensWorkshop]

Good Morning Everyone,

Lot's of good advice given above already. All I can think of is Learn, Learn, Learn and then Work, Work, Work. I'm doing both every day. My shop has had items listed for about 21 months and still has a long row to hoe to reach my ultimate goals. I think it was Winston Churchill who said: "Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."

Listed another item this morning.

Glen’s Workshop has added a new listing in the Styluses Section:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/179609692/stylus-pen-in-gold-and-vanilla-swirl?ref=shop_home_active_1
Please take a look! Thank you for your support.
Like GlensWorkshop at: https://www.facebook.com/GlensWorkshop (All personal Likes returned. Please leave a message with the link to your FB page.)
Follow on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/glensworkshop/
Follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GlensWorkshop

Have a great day everyone.

[TheEclecticInterior]

Good morning, been MIA the past couple of days! There is just not enough hours in the day.

Everyone has very good points and I know that I need to update my profile, about page and work room photos since I moved last year. I think it is very important to complete your policy page, but I haven't found too many customers that actually read it. Heck many people don't even read the description of the item they are thinking of or actually purchasing.

Photographs are very very important. Just think that your customer can not touch your widget so they have to get a good feel for it with your pictures. I also always try to include some history of the item, especially if it's vintage.

Have a great day everyone!

[beckyspillowshop]

I am having a 20% Off Sale of Everything in my store through March 21!
Check it out, will be adding more items soon! http://www.etsy.com/shop/beckyspillowshop/

[DCArtandPhotography]

Morning Everyone!

I made a simple banner for my shop, but i like the idea of making one that represents more of wha is in my shop. I have added making a new banner to the list of things to do. This list of course, never seems to get shorter! Even as i mark a few things off of it, more things pop up to do.

Photos are definately a big item to focus on. I opened my shop a few months ago, and couldnt figure out what kind of background i wanted. It was not until recently that I found a beautiful white background, and within the first 24 hours of changing the pictures to the white background, I started making sales! Now I am going through each item and making the pictures lighter so that the color is clearer, and it seems to help too.

Of course tags are important. If no one can find your item, it doesnt matter how good your pictures are, because no one would see it. I think I have gotten better at tagging, but theres always improvement to be done. I have over 200 items in my shop, so thats ALOT of tags and descriptions to come up with. I still think descriptions are the hardest. When I go to type in the description my brain wants short and simple." 7" Yellow and clear glass bracelet" doesnt sound very fancy, or catching, and certainly is not very encouraging to the customer to buy it. But I dont want every item to sound repetitive. I have tried to start including wording like "Impress your friends!", or "This one of a kind bracelet cannot be found anywhere else". Not really sure how well that is going to work either.


I will be in an out of etsy today. But even so, I hope everyone has a great day!! :)

[KrochetKingdom]

Since I have joined this team I have had a tremendous amount of good information to practice; most of which I have. Thanks to all of you for sharing.

My tags are based on the item, colors and who it is for. Lately I have been using French, Spanish and German words for the item as well in the hope that it will help.

Have a great day!

[CinderellaButtons]

Never thought of adding a different language to the tags? I still struggle with the whole SEO thing. However I am trying to get to grips with it and people in this team are very helpful. For me its just to keep trying.

[Former_Member]

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of making a team Instagram. What do y'all think?

[homecraftframing]

There are thousands of sellers on Etsy and some sellers do fantastic and others limp along. I can only imagine if you asked the sellers who are doing fantastic what their secret might be, they would tell you Hard Work. Opening and running a successful business takes commitment and sacrifice. Unless you have deep pockets to hire people to help you run your business, you need to wear the hats of everyone from maintenance man to manager.

When I open my business in 1993, I went to a workshop and the man from SCORE said the average lifespan of a new business is approximately 3 to 5 years. Of course there is so many variables to running a business, it is impossible to know everything before opening your business. Although, it does not mean you do not continue learning how to run a business after you open your door. A new business is like a new baby and it demands your attention nonstop. There are days it is screaming at you and days you can actually smile that things are working well.

http://www.score.org SCORE is an organization that helps small business owners and if you are lucky enough to find a mentor, you will have someone who has owned a successful business and has retired. These mentors will take you under their wing and give you advice or point out why your business is failing. You have to understand that they are older people and more than likely will not cut you any slack. You do not want someone to pat you on the back and say work a little harder. You want someone who will open your eyes and show you what mistakes you are making and give you direction to fix the mistakes.

The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is turn on my computer and it is the last thing at night. Most of the time I have my Etsy page sitting idol while I am taking care of other facets of my business. One click of the refresh button and I am talking to a potential customer or marketing on the teams or cleaning up my listings. There is always something to do to keep your business shining.

Since 2010, I have been watching how Etsy operates and it kinds of reminds me of the owners of a mall. They rent out space to business owners and business have to abide by their rules. The business owners have to do the work to get the customer to their doors. Etsy gives us business owners a LOCATION and do some advertising but it is up to you, as a business owner to make your shop work for you.

I have shared this Information Below quite a few times and if you read and do what is important for your business, things should turn around for you.

To start, you need to do some work on your listing to get them Search Engine ready. Also, if you list new listings or renew expired listings daily, it will get and keep your products out in front of the customers. Below are some links you should take a look at and work on making your listings Keyword Rich for the Search Engines. I know this is a lot of information to read but take it a little at a time. If you are in a hurry to fix your listings, then read Timothy Adam Designs blog first and then tweak your listing as you go along.

www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/the-seller-handbook/

www.indiemade.com/resource/etsy-tips-using-keywords-item-titles

www.timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/etsy-item-titles-seo....

www.etsy.com/teams/7722/business-topics/discuss/12146836/

Titles, Tags, Descriptions all need Keywords that the Search Engine can use to fine your products. Go to your Shop Stats and look at the keyword people have used to find you, then use these keywords in your Titles, Tags, Descriptions. Look at other shops that have similar products as yours. If they have a lot of sales, what are they doing differently in their shop than yours.

If you cannot get clear pictures, you will have a hard time getting a customer to purchase it from you. If you are using a cell phone to take pictures, try going outside in the natural light. You may want to purchase a small camera if possible. Make sure you can edit the photos with a photo editor program on your computer or online. Use auto correct to brighten the photo. You have 5 pictures you can use, give the customers some clear pictures that will capture their interest in your products.

Make sure your titles are not more than 80 characters but more than one or two words. Put what the item is, as the First Word in your Titles. Leave out adjective like cute and sweet. Look at the keywords the customers have use in your Shop Stats.

Flesh out your Descriptions with Keyword rich content, so the search engines can find you. Make sure you do not use the same keyword phrase more than 3 times in the same paragraph. Your listing will get knocked out for keyword spamming.

You have 13 tags you can use to get the search engines interested in your listings, make sure you use them all. Try to make them two word phrases.

It is tough opening a business but if you put the work into learning how to make your shop and products interesting, things will eventually fall into place.

[910woolgathering]

new for the day

https://www.etsy.com/listing/180082633/knit-triangle-cotton-scarf-long-fringe?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/180075493/knit-triangle-cotton-scarf-long-fringe?ref=listing-shop-heade...

[DCArtandPhotography]

Here is my new post for the day:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/175934227/36-sapphire-jasper-necklace-gemstone?ref=shop_home_active_1

[Former_Member]

Morning.

Chris, here in S'toon...it's CA$13 a pound of random buttons for craft in shops. That is bran new butons they put together in a jar.

Already this morning, I showed up some love back. Not that I was not doing it, bt I was not talking about it. You got to pick and choose.

Like Langney, I want to be thankful to the team. I am only on two teams, by choice. I may add a third if a pottery-ceramist bunch want to adopt me and my quirks, lows and high as much this team have been welcoming. I have had so much negative pressure in the past 5 years that I will be leaving anywhere negativity will spring again. I am really protective of my little candle and when people want to snuff it, I move it.

I don't know if you guys will have time to notice, but I am in the process to make important modifications to my description and slowly to my shop as well.

TO stay on topic, I think the part I have the more problem with is the policies and the about. I read all the documentation, I know what need to be there. that's not the knowledge I lack, it's the skill. It's NOT my first language and subtlity or to-the-pointness is really really hard.

And staying positive.

Like they keep saying we have to finda why we create to disclose. Why am I on Etsy? Like millions of others, in attempt to be seen. I am being a ticket because I hope winning the million dollars price. But so is everyone else. Why do I create, because it's me... I can't help it. But so is everyone else apparently.

So that is those thing I am stuck with. I don't know what I can disclose I am standing for either. Might attracted OR deter people. I always dreamt to associate with a cause...never foud one more important than the other...plus,I don'tk now how to contact them to say I want to give them half my profit if people buy. Maybe they don't want it or to be associated with me?

At the moment, I am working on some pieces I have been requested to work on about bullying... and I sure would want the money to go where it can change something...for real. You know how many place you donate and it never really get to the people you target, the in-between men got it whole?

Calling again for tea stuff! I did not have anyone coming forth with tea stuff they'd like me to promote for them.

In case you guys have not seen it, I am giving up on the paper goods section of my shop.

I LOVE crafting in paper, but I somehow did not attracted anything with my pictures/paper craft in a year...huh...2 oh my word. It's been 2!


Here is my recent postings you may have missed because I did not find them any place in any game so far:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/179982876/ceramic-plaque-inspirational-saying?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/179961744/bowl-tear-drop-ceramic-painted-with?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/177828652/heart-shaped-ceramic-flowers-vase-with?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/175932940/slinkies-chinese-dragon-moving-out?

And then you may also have seen the yin yang horses plate, the Zebra plate and the mum vase. So I wont bug people again with them all over:)

Yeah, well, like I said in my other team (meaning it 100%)I care about you.

Being an artist for me is not all about business, it is all about BEING.

Take care

Eejee

[910woolgathering]

Does anyone use the Pantone color names for tagging ? I have several items that fall under the spring 'it" colors.

[Former_Member]

I find getting great photos to be extremely difficult.
I see some people's photo are absolutely gorgeous. I just keep striving.


https://www.etsy.com/listing/123445091/spring-table-runner-with-embroidered?