AAA Daily Chat February 18, 2015

[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!!

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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
* Etsy Banner Maker: bannerfans.com/banner_maker.php?bnew=1&pses=1a256d05
* Craftcount - craftcount.com/teritory.php
* Google+ tutorials blog.kissmetrics.com/personal-google-plus-account/ and moz.com/blog/tips-to-use-google-for-s
* Chrome Treasury Box: brittanysbest.com/treasurybox-chrome-extension/
* Google+ information plus.google.com/communities/112658132414010568954
* Etsy team page: www.etsy.com/pages/aaasupport
* Check your keyword relevancy in search: www.tools4etsy.com/Wall-e/Relevancy/Keyword
* 50 Reasons you're not getting Etsy Sales: www.handmadeology.com/50-reasons-youre-not-getting-etsy-sales/
* Betsi Lite: www.blugrin.com/ (make sure you click on Lite at the bottom of the screen, as that is the free edition!)

Please don't forget to post in the AAA Support Team thread in the promo forum :)) www.etsy.com/uk/teams/21915/promos/discuss/15267796

Good morning. Hope everyone is keeping warm and that some have a mild trend. Not here, though. Still very cold.

Today, let's chat about the new categories. In yesterday's thread I saw some mention that there was no category for cowls. As far as my shop goes, there is no category that I can find for either Vintage or Digital. Not sure what that will mean for me, but time will tell.

QUOTE of the DAY:

"All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward."
~ Ellen Glasgow

[Former_Member]

Almost had me again, Mary. Had to check where you are to see if I'd missed a few hours. Are you going by Greenwich mean time for starting the chats?

[naturepoet]

Better, LOL I always start the threads at night because I often don't sleep well and then sleep in the next morning. I'm going by Mary time. haha

[NaturalClocks]

Good morning all!

Mary time... love it! :D Well, I checked my items and there still seems to be a category for clocks, under Home and Living and Home Decor. I'm pretty sure that I used to be able to enter a subcategory for wall and desk clocks, but the boxes stop at clocks. Watches have now been moved from Accessories to Jewellery. Go figure.

So, as far as I'm concerned my items still have a category that makes sort of sense, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to be so for everybody. I don't think that some sellers kick up a fuss just because they can, there are genuine reasons for being unhappy about the latest changes, namely suddenly finding your items in no category or having to move them all around if Etsy has mis-categorised them and figure out where to put them, which can be quite time consuming.

Still, do you guys get lots of hits under categories? I don't, since the beginning of the year I've only had 12 Traffic Sources on Etsy under categories, so I'm wondering if it's me that doesn't get found in Categories or if people don't use that way of searching much.

Got to start getting ready. Have a great day everybody!

[naturepoet]

Val, I hope you have a good day at the B & M. I'm sure Blake will be thrilled at the prospect. Seems he likes social situations. Dakota, not so much.

I finally found a place for photography, but not for digital photography. The categories end and there are no sub category after that.

Check your tags. Etsy has put some things into the wrong category. No fun when you have almost 700 items to check. I think I will just do them as I relist.

Not sure yet where to put Antiques and vintage. Guess I'll have to figure it out. Right now, I'm going to try and get some sleep.

New
https://www.etsy.com/listing/223085794/after-the-storm-digital-downloadable?

[NaturalClocks]

Gorgeous photo Mary! Oh yes, Blake is luckily highly sociable, much more than I'll ever be lol. He's got to be kept on a lead (I use an extending one) at all times, because he thinks that trotting up to complete strangers for a bit of fuss and to make new friends is perfectly acceptable. Alas, not everybody is a dog lover, some people are actually scared of dogs (or allergic), so a big German Shepherd may actually cause some panic...! My first GS, Iggy, was the complete opposite, and I would have had problems taking him to work...!

It looks to me that Antiques and Vintage now comes under Art and Collectibles, and prints are there too? The list of categories is here https://www.etsy.com/uk/categories?ref=fp_nav_colors

The weather is miserable, cold and grey (but at least not raining) so I'm procrastinating from going to open up shop lol! I really need to make an effort now...

[Former_Member]

Good morning, Mary and Val.

Mary, you can bulk edit your listings to change categories. Just select the items to be changed, then click on More Options. A drop down menu will appear, and you can click on Categories. A list of categories will appear. If there's a sub-category, another box will pop up once you've chosen the main category. For example, my totes are in the category Purses and Bags, with the sub-category Totes.

I did this yesterday after reading about it in the Forums. It saved a LOT of time. Granted it's more difficult if you don't know which category to use, but you can play around with one listing and then bulk edit for similar items.

My back was killing me yesterday, so I didn't do any embroidery. Today it's feeling much better, but I have to clean off the SUV and take out the trash. I don't know how my back will feel after doing all that. I will wear my backbrace, take it easy, and rest often.

Have a great day, everyone!

[Former_Member]

Good morning everyone -

Snowing again today and winter weather watches out for today and tomorrow.

Seems they have taken away woodworking altogether which is not good for any of the woodworkers and replaced it with home decor and on from there with other category choices. Also I saw a few other category names are gone as well. Hopefully over time things will get worked out and make sense. I found some of my listings in the wrong categories as well.

Hopefully today after work and plowing again, I will be able to work more on my new line of signs.

Have a terrific day!

[910woolgathering]

as of last night during my investigating where to put my stuff

To get to crochet you have to go to...
Art & Collectibles then

Fiber Arts then

Crochet

74 total items

for knitting its 37

there is no sub under any of those.

There is no crochet or knit category under hats or scarves or headbands etc.

Before if you searched for scarf or head band or hat you could filter out only crochet etc by going over to the categories. You can not now. It does feel like it is tilting to favor manufactured.

As to the divisions of scarves, I had picked the option bib and collar then bib for my triangle scarves. After editing them ALL, I go check to see how that category works. That category does NOT come up as a option on the search page unless you type in that you are looking for a collar. Not sure what the point of having the category for us to choose is, then hiding it unless the people type in exactly that category.

its weird

It is also odd to stick crochet and knitting in a corner in the back room under a shelf on a hand made site...

[Former_Member]

Well, thank god we finally have a category for artist trading cards.

[910woolgathering]

Its lovely how when one can click the bath and body heading and see all the cute little babies and crack pipes all in one page, not to mention the unmentionables that all fall under Bath and Body...so happy that my head bands are there too!

here is a comment from the forums that puts to words my thoughts


"It seems you have no categories in there anymore that specify a craft. Even "Jewellery" is more a product term than a crafts' name. This is disappointing. Categories now look like a supermarkets' or large magazine strore's directions that you find at the bottom of escalators or above aisles,"...

It has become about the product not the process. The process is what I am about.

[Former_Member]

Loving your first paragraph, Rachel. Funny, in the forum people are talking about placing your items in accurate categories. Gee, I wonder if I could be more accurate than the hilarious placements etsy decided on for some of my stuff. They must be accurate if etsy did it, right?

[HollyODesigns]

Hey all!! I've been super busy with a house full and now a really bad cold. I went through all my listings last night to check/change the categories. I'm so confused by some. My views have drastically reduced since yesterday as well. I'm not sure it's due to category changes or what. It's such a bummer though. I felt like I was finally figuring etsy out, but now I'm not so sure. Ugggh looks like more reading to do. I hope everyone has a fantastic day!!

[Viyoli]

Hi to all , so many change in so short time, busy finding the right category for my necklaces, Holy I'm felling the same.
Waiting for the snow. just came so see how all of you are, going back to try and find out the correct categories be save and warm

[COLDHAMCUDDLIES]

Just checked for categories my stuff would be in and find that there are actually only three categories of toys. One would think one would get a better chance of being seen further up the list, and I don't think the Cuddlies are that bad, unusual or unpopular - but I got as far as page 24 (of 106 pages) and still hadn't come across any of my chaps. Mind you a lot of them are in the "replacement" schedule which might account for the lack of exposure, but it's pretty obvious, my tagging definitely also needs some attention. Where to find the time though?

Two lovely crisp winter days with sunshine came to an end this afternoon with cloud coming in from the north-west! Pity you couldn't have stopped it coming our way, Val! Still daughter has been able to get out into the garden and make an indent in the overgrown beds she's inherited and managed to transplant stuff too. So the rain we're promised will help to bed in the plants in their new sites.

Got two days free of outside interference/commitments starting tomorrow. After I've rearranged the pantry shelves from the way the floor layers put them back, hope to be able to get down to some badly needed sewing and Etsy admin.

[910woolgathering]

Yes, I have definitely dropped in search and total views...My items are not coming up on the top pages at all any more.

[Former_Member]

I'm on break looking for if my scarfs are coming up in search,so far no luck.
@Rachel this one of yours I saw https://www.etsy.com/listing/176937881/coral-red-turquoise-scarf-fall-infinity?ref=sr_gallery_40&ga_...
pg 240 I put in search crochet infinity scarf filter handmade.
So far the ones of mine that still show on 1st several pages are coasters & key rings.I'm going to leave mine alone and see what happens.
Have a good day all

[ZingRetroFinds]

Hi All,

I am busy checking the new categories. I do have more options which I am switching to. We will see how that works.

Last week there was a problem with renewing a listing. Does anyone know if it OK to renew listings now?

Have a great day.

[NaturalClocks]

I renewed something the other day and it all went smoothly Donna, so that may be fixed (hopefully!).

John, I have found this thread on the forum for woodworkers: https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/15997584/

My views are at their lowest too today. I like to think it's just a coincidence...! The third and last part of a BBC documentary on Alaska is about to start, sorry, I've got to go and day dream now LOL!

[Tricotruc]

Hi All,
though Etsy has placed most of my items in right categories, I have no search results in my stats today and yesterday it was like 1/4 of previous. My items don't show up they way they used to - the one I found as the first one wasn't so popular before - strange.
Wishing you All good day!

[naturepoet]

I am not thrilled with the new process, but there are pros and cons to it. Too many changes in a short time. They need to allow us to get used to one thing before they move on to another. I think this may have to do with Etsy going public. As I said, time will tell. I'm sure there are other changes coming, so be prepared.

[naturepoet]

A couple of new in my shop. These are fantastic recipe books if you like old fashioned home cooking or are a collector of recipe books.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/223140884/three-hundred-eclectic-recipes-barton?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/223151537/metropolitan-united-church-junior-wa?

[910woolgathering]

Yeah, thanks Nancy, that scarf ( not that popular) was always high on the search before. so it being that low is odd.

I need to take new pictures with it on the white top to help it. Red and teal should be selling better than that.

[naturepoet]

Here is some great information on categories

https://www.etsy.com/help/categories/seller#node-id-1250

[Former_Member]

The browse categories don't match the categories in which to list items. Hmmmm, what's the deep inner meaning of that?
Thanks for posting the link to that list, Mary.