Shop Critique

[#1]

If you would like some advice don't be afraid to ask!

[Former_Member]

Hello!
I would really love some constructive critisism aimed at my shop. I realize that my banner and picture quality need to improve, but any input about my shop would be great!

Kind Regards,
Sarah

[joanfitziart]

Hi Chris, your viewpoint on the shops is great! It is hard when you are so close to what you create to look at it objectively. Can you put me on your list ? Any input would be appreciated!

[DoorCountyVintage]

Just got back from an auction so I'm spent for the night but early tomorrow Sarah and Joan you are up!

[Former_Member]

When you have time, I was just wondering if there are any things I could tweak and improve. I'm learning so many things every day, it's crazy! And I also want to thank you for the service you're providing all of us, Chris. It's really truly awesome of you. ;)

[Former_Member]

Hey there! I just opened this shop on Etsy about a month ago and have had a number of views and a few favorites but not one single sale yet! I'm anxious and really want and need to sell. Please any help or feedback is much appreciated. I know I still need a banner photo and I've been reading suggestions for the other shops to get ideas on changes I can apply to my listings. Thanks all in advance! Great idea!!!

[Former_Member]

Ok so here we go Sarah you are up! First I love your items, your banner and the fact you ship worldwide are all great starts!

Photos... you have one photo that is perfect! (Forever Hearts Friendship Bracelet) Use the same lighting and background on all your listings and you will look like a verified pro which will grow sales quickly!

Titles... You want what your customers will look for first to help get found in Etsy and google searches so for example...

Whimsical Wave Friendship Bracelet - Red, Black, White

I would put...

Custom Friendship Bracelet Whimsical Wave Red,Black White

Calm Waters - Friendship Bracelet - Blue, Green, White

Friendship Bracelet - Blue,Green,White - Calm Waters

Put most searched terms first, then next highest searched etc. just put yourself in the buyers shoes. Also repeat close too if not the exact title in the first line of your description to further boost your search relevance or SEO

Inventory you need to get busy creating and listing for you to make serious sales you need 100 items or more but think 100 for your magic number.

Tags..You MUST use all of your tags! It is crucial to your Etsy success! like with titles what will your buyers search for? (googleadwords.com is a great tool to find keywords)

You want as many phrases as possible custom friendship bracelets,friendship bracelets, bracelets friendship, handmade gifts,gifts handmade,christmas gift ideas etc

I hope that helps let me know how it goes!

[Former_Member]

Joan you are up!

Ok I love your shop and items and you banner!

Now for the critique..

Photos..You have one perfect photo that you should pattern all your photos after and you will be a pro... Hammered Brass Earrings with Steampunk Gear Riveted
A nice bright, light background makes your earrings shine! Do that for EVERY photo.

Shipping..You are cutting off a huge revenue and traffic stream by just shipping in the US for you to really be successful on Etsy you need to branch out and ship worldwide!

Tags..You MUST use all of your tags! If you hope to have any real traffic in your shop you must get your shop on the map. Use keywords your customers would search for..

handmade earrings,earrings handmade,handmade copper earrings,earrings copper,steampunk jewelry,steampunk earrings,jewelry steampunk etc.

Inventory..Get busy creating and/or listing 100 is the magic number for sales to pick up.

I hope this helps! Let me know how it goes!
Chris

[joanfitziart]

Chris, thank you so much. I REALLY appreciate it. Photos' have been hard for me and i will definitely work on that. and the keywords.
I need to study the international shipping, that probably will help.
thanks for taking the time to look, much appreciated!

[Former_Member]

Vito,

Your shop looks great! Nice clear,bright,crisp photos! a great custom banner! You ship Worldwide! Your titles and keywords are on point!

Inventory is your only detractor get busy and get it up to 100 and you should be an etsy all star in no time!

I hope that helped! Let me know how it goes though I suspect I already know!

Chris

[Former_Member]

You are welcome Joan! If you need any other advice or just wanna chat hit the chat thread and as soon as I see it I'll respond!

[Former_Member]

Chris, thanks a bunch! I have been working extra hard lately and have been getting my inventory up. I am trying the 100 listings 'magic' people have been talking about ;) so hopefully it pays off! :)

[Former_Member]

Marla and Jason,

First dont worry about early sales. It is common place for it to take months to get your first few sales. Right now you should be concentrating on getting your shop in order because once the ride starts it goes uphill quickly!

I love your items tags and titles!

Banner..The first thing people notice is your shop banner not having one makes you look like you don't care. I know you just started and I know you definitely do so I would search Etsy for "shop banners" and purchase a custom banner from a fellow etsian this way you make a contact and improve your shop presentation!

Photos..I love how you have them set up but if you want to get featured in treasuries and possibly get front page consideration you may want to go with a white background and increase the lighting and exposure on your camera! Once you take your pictures go and fix them in your photo editor and get friendly with that auto adjust button!

Inventory..Get creative give at least 100 different variations it makes your shop look fuller and makes people think you are professional and they want to give their business to you.

Shipping..I would get a shipping Scale and go to USPS.com and figure rates for Canada,Mexico and Australia..Use Australia's price for the "Everywhere Elses" price for shipping. You are severly limiting your potential by only shipping in the US!


I hope that helps! Let me know how it goes!

[Former_Member]

You are welcome Vito!

[Former_Member]

Hidey-Ho! :)

So, I've been open since Nov 28 and while I've had lots of views, I don't know what the right combination is to translate those views into sales. I change my tags, titles, I'm in the process of changing my pictures. I've changed my prices and I'm studying other people's shops who sell the same items as me and I've noticed that scarves are really selling...just not mine! Any critiques you can think of for me? Don't be shy, I am thick skinned and will try whatever is necessary to produce those sales! :)

In advance, thanks for all your help! I really appreciate it!

[Former_Member]

Hi Aja,

I'm a bit beat tonight but first thing tomorrow I'll gladly give you a critique :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks Chris! I'll keep my eye out for it! (Not while I'm sleep though) LOL!

[Former_Member]

I welcome any critics, in return I don't mind critiquing yours as well =)

[Former_Member]

Ok Aja here goes...

You have done alot right..good crisp photos,titles are good, your shop banner looks professional,you ship internationally!

Inventory..If you have been reading the above critiques you know how much I stress if you want to be successful you want to hit that magic number of 100 items to appear to have a full shop and make your customers feel confident to spend their money in your shop!

Tags..overall they are ok but your cutting you traffic stream down by not using all 13..try adding handmade scarf,winter accessories

I hope that helps,
Chris

[Former_Member]

Ok Jamie your turn!

I love your shop,backgrounds and that you are nearly to 100 items!

Photos..You should brighten them up a bit and before you post them use a photo editing program and "auto adjust" to clean up the yellow tint and you will have perfect pics..you may be able to just turn the exposure up in those editing programs to brighten them up a bit.

Shipping you are severely limiting yourself only shipping to the US and Canada
I've sold as much, if not more items to Hong Kong and Australia then I have to Canada.

Titles..If you want to be found you have to put what buyers most likley will search for in the first few words of your title..

Oversized Bronze Colored Pink Flower Ring

Handmade Ring Over Sized Bronze Colored With Pink Flower Design

Steampunk Industrial Chic Bow and Gear Earrings

Handmade Steampunk Earrings Industrial Chic Bow and Gear Design

Repeat the title in your first line of text to increase your search engine optimization.

I know it seems like a small thing but some buyers will just float right by a shop without a banner so I'd suggest finding someone to customize one for you here on Etsy to give your shop that professional look.

Tags could use some tweeking as well

Steampunk Industrial Chic Bow and Gear Earrings

Handmade earrings,earrings handmade,steampunk earrings,earrings steampunk,earrings handmade,earrings,earring,industrial chiq,bow and gear,ooak,

I hope that helps! Let me know how it goes!
Chris

[Former_Member]

Hi,

I just paid my first etsy bill 5 minutes ago. Gotta say..I hate paying that bill especially having sold only 1 items and been doing so much updating but still no luck. I'm getting low to zero views a day. I don't know why my items are not showing up. If anyone has time to help and critique my shop, I greatly appreciate it!

Thanks in advance!

[Former_Member]

I will get your critiques going in a little bit Leah and Darcel! I havn't forgotten you..lol

[VioletMuseStudio]

HI ...Leah of LovestringXO...
I was cruising thru this thread and checked out your shop,
can I just say ADORABLE?!
Love your lil guys n baby beanie caps!!

Super cute!

I know I am not a veteran here but wanted to toss in my 2 cents.

* Your lil guys are so adorable I would love to see them pop out from an all white background
* and I LOVE how you hung the beanies from the wooden laundry clips and string..but most pix are kind of dim/shadowed and the front page is the first thing they come to.

* with tag/keyword stuff I would recommend using the word 'handmade' ...a lot. I think the ones I looked at didn't have that in the tags. And you have really adorable HANDMADE goodies you should be proud of!

Love the selection of the baby beanies and I would love to see lots more of your lil creatures. You are talented!

anyway,just a little input hope it helps ;)
Shelly

[Former_Member]

I agree CAPS LOCK looks like you're yelling. Otherwise, I think your shop looks GREAT!! LOL. You do beautiful work, I'll add it to my favorites. Good Luck!

[Former_Member]

Great! Thank you! I'm working my way to 100 - trying to get at least one (usually two) a day. That's been my goal since a few days ago. So now I'll just go in and use those tags!

THANK YOU! (and yes i just yelled that) lol ;)

[KagesKrayons]

Alright. Whenever you are ready to Critique my shop, I am ready for it!

*I should have 100 items up by the first week of January, just waiting for more supplies to come in the mail :) And I also know that the a lot of the pictures are crappy quality due to the background and time stamp(I will eventually get to fixing it)

I am interested in knowing if my prices are too low/high, if my tags are efficient, and if my titles are okay.