If Anyone Wants Great Exposure...

[MorganRalstonArt]

My circle is at 6000 and rising fast! Between 100-200 new members a day. I only "heart" paintings and drawn art on paper/canvas other flat surfaces... Sometimes other items, but only in very rare cases....

People have been asking me, "How is your Circle so big in less than a year??? and I guess the answer is... I have good taste? I guess this sort of fine art curating is a big hit in the Etsy community... Who knew!

If you're interested in gaining some exposure, leave a post here and let me have a look at your shop. I'll favourite anything I see that I find beautiful. :)

[JBeaudetStudios]

Wow Morgan! That is amazing! I thought I was doing good with my circle...HaHa
not quite! Well I would love for you to browse my shop if you haven't already and hope you find a thing or two of beauty there:) Thanks so much!

[MorganRalstonArt]

I have and I did, Jennifer. But I most definitely will again! :D

[JBeaudetStudios]

Thank you Morgan! Now if you could only help me get 6000 in my circle! Just kidding:)

[MorganRalstonArt]

Well, all I've really done so far is scoured through original paintings and prints over the course of my time here (May 22nd to now). That's it... Maybe Etsy is doing something to highlight my profile... Another test I guess...

[smallimpressions]

Wow! congrats on your success!

[MorganRalstonArt]

Hah! Thanks, Nancy... not sure if it's success though, really... Gaining circle members hasn't brought me any sales... yet.

Should it?

I've promoted some of your items, though I already do on a regular basis. ;)

[smallimpressions]

I don't know for sure, but it seems to me being in a lot of circles would be a good thing. When someone favorites your items, more people will see it. The more the better in my book. It sure can't hurt.

Thanks for the promo!

[Former_Member]

I know you've been in my shop but I'm always open to suggestions

[MorganRalstonArt]

I don't have any suggestions... I've only mad a handful of sale on Etsy and I'm trying to figure out my own little mystery. It seems the only time I get any action is after I've made some changes to my shop... Most recently, I updated my policies to include info on cancelling orders... and then I had my first order since August placed and immediately cancelled. Strange.

Before that I had another cancelled order in September. Right after I added new shipping options using one of Etsy's prototype programs... The order was placed immediately (like 10 minutes) after I updated and then I had to cancel it because it was a bank transfer and my info wasn't entered correctly.... I feel like I'm getting teased on this site!

Anyway, enough about my Etsy problems... that could go on forever! ;)

I've faved some of your items Donna! That should get you some exposure! :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks Morgan, one thing is I hide my favorites and that may not be beneficial..
I'm revamping my shop a bit so haven't posted any new paintings lately.

[MorganRalstonArt]

Well, I've never seen the benefit to hiding favourites. I guess some people get so much spam emails they need to. I will promote more of your items once you've made all your updates.

Nancy ~ Circles only work to show off others work that I promote; and maybe if I'm lucky enough to get myself into a treasury or two, they can see those when I fave them. It doesn't do my for my own shop to have a lot of people in my circle.

[JoJosOriginals]

Congrats on your success so far! I'd be happy for you to visit my shop!

[Former_Member]

Morgan just wanted to let you know that I've added some to my circle......won't hurt.
Thanks again

[MorganRalstonArt]

Visited your gallery Joanna ~ I love your pears so I faved them :)

Donna ~ Do you mean you added people from my circle to your circle?

[BingArt]

Hi all! I've been trying to grow my circle for almost a year now- I've even joined teams for that purpose, but wow Morgan... that's an incredible circle! How on earth? Haha.... amazing! I just love your work. For me, sales took off after about 10 had been made. Then, I think, buyers felt comfortable.

[MorganRalstonArt]

10, eh? I've almost had that many but half have been cancelled ;)

Here's an email from my most recent customer;
________________________________________________________

" Hi Morgan,

Just wanted you to know that the paintings arrived safely and they look so great!! I am very happy with them.

Still tossing around the size I would like the next painting(s) to be, so I will let you know as soon as I get some time to mess with measurements.

Thank you again!! "
_______________________________________________________

She's about to have a gallery worth of my colorful cityscapes! The customer before her actually paid me more than I asked because not only did he love his new custom painting, but I painted it for him in less than a week!

Hopefully there's at least SOME positive talk growing over my art. Not to mention several of my paintings are on iPhone case purchased from Society6.

Maybe one day my sales will catch up to my Circle... I'm not holding my breath until that day comes.

Rachel, as always, I've faved several of your items! Thanks for your support here and on FB! Thanks everyone for your support as well! I wish everyone in our group for painters great success here on Etsy!

This is the only group that isn't all about attacking other sellers over something they've misread.

[SKColeArt]

I like this group very much also. The people are great. Congrats Morgan on your great feedback from your happy customer!

[SKColeArt]

PS--You've already been most generous at favoriting items from my shop so I don't expect anything more. I'll let you know when there's some new stuff posted.

Joanna, I liked your sunflower print and added a "heart." I also added you to my circle.

[Former_Member]

I don't know Morgan .....
I just added people that had fav. my paintings

[MorganRalstonArt]

Aah, I see.

Circles are basically for this; If someone you find on Etsy has similar tastes to your own, that's when you should add them to your circle. Because you'll see the items they've liked in your Activity Feed. And 9 times out of 10, if they're in your circle for the reason above, the stuff they like will be stuff you like or lead you to other great items.

I used to add people to my circle for adding my shop to their faves, thinking; "Oh, well if I show them that I'm active on Etsy by adding them to my circle, maybe they're likely to buy something?" Don't know if that's true and it may still be in some cases.

But, by doing this I always found that my activity feed was full of things I had absolutely no interest in. Not that it matters really I just don't like clutter, unless it's all awesome paintings and illustrations!

Looking at your sales I'm sure you're doing something right... I don't know. I'd keep it up, whatever it is!

[MorganRalstonArt]

Also, boosting this thread I started in the "Ideas" forum would help greatly too.

http://www.etsy.com/teams/7714/ideas/discuss/11409861/page/1/

I've never seen original art paintings or illustrations in "Etsy Finds" emails... I've only been here for 7 months, but still... come on, Etsy! Support your artists like you once did!

[brushnpalette]

Yes, I would really love that. Thanks a bunch!

[MorganRalstonArt]

Done! Lovely stuff, Judi!

[BingArt]

Interesting. Thanks for doing this research, Morgan! Helpful indeed :)