Help Help Help!

[Former_Member]

If you need help or got a question just ask.
Anyone who knows the answer can help.**

**No prizes awarded for knowing the correct answer. lol
Just a big old THANK YOU!

[PearlsForGirlz]

Hi, I'm new to this team. I opened my shop last year. Sales have not been what I would like them to be lately. I make and sell mostly necklaces, but some earrings and rings. I see other jewelry sites that sell 5-10 pieces of jewelry daily. I'm lucky if I make 2-3 sales in one week. I'm looking for any helpful tips that I may not be aware of to really help boost my sales. Currently my husband and I are depending on my sales for income as he's in between work with no unemployment pay. I've been using Teams to promote and have had amazing views and items added to my favorites by other shop members, however no sales resulting from them because everyone's main goal seems to be promoting items, not buying items like myself. Any tips and helpful advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

:) ~ Shawna

[FoundForYou]

Hi Shawna,

Cute shop. I noticed that too. A lot of items were favorited and I was getting a lot of traffic but sales were about the same. But then as I continued I noticed that it did make a differance. There is a lot of back door things going on when your doing team stuff.
Like:
Everytime your favorite an item it gets shown to everyone in your circle.
Treasuries that get favorited get shown to everyone in your circle,
So these things are like marketing.

I missed signing up this week for a Mon. -Thurs Treasury Challenge for one of my teams and boy does it make a differance.
I notice you only joined 2 teams. You can join as many as you want. I'm trying to stick to ten since they all stay on one page. Check out SEO Relevancy Stats Team. This team opened my eyes to getting me up front.

I also use Etsy Coupon Code to help bring in traffic it's free and you can list any coupon you want.
www.etsycouponcode.com

I'm sure everyone has there own things they do which is why we created this team for help and promote. You have great Pics too by the way.

[HolsomHeartsAttic]

Shawna,

I like lot's things in different shops and I am not buying them, I'm liking them to
1. come back and look to see which I will work best as a gift for someone and

2. My sister is on etsy as a buyer and she will view what I like, discerning which I have chosen as likes for me and which for my daughters. I then have received from her something I like!

3. I also mark things I think my sister would like.(Or has liked) And I can come back a purchase closer to her Birthday.

For me this is so much easier to find item when I send the links of choices to my daughters when asked , "Mom what do you want for Christmas?"
This is what I did last year and will do again this year.

Also keep in mind that every time your item is liked it goes into that persons circle of friends, who can like and possible buy your item! I have done that. I seen something some one had liked and went =O That's what I've been looking for!!!!


It's like anything in a physical store also. You look at it you like, but... you have to think about. It is a game of patience, sometimes it's hard, just hang in.

[HolsomHeartsAttic]

This link is to Kater's Acres Blog. She has been doing a wonderful series on building your brand.

Her latest is about how to "Stand Out Amongst the Crowd"
It's a good read!
http://katersacres.com/etsy/buildyourbrand/details-make-a-difference/

[PearlsForGirlz]

Thanks for the advice all. Joanna I joined SEO Relevancy Stats Team as advised and have begun reading posts. I'm learning some great tips. Thank you very much.

[Former_Member]

There is a lot of reading material in the SEO Relevancy Team. Good Luck!

[Former_Member]

More info I found under Shop Payment Account not sure if everyone has this as an option to the left of the screen under Shop Settings.


Why Sign Up for Direct Checkout
•Direct checkout is quick, easy, and all on Etsy.
•Direct checkout enables acceptance of all major credit cards, making payment as easy as possible for your buyers.


How Direct Checkout Works
•Buyers will enter their credit card information on the checkout page, without being redirected.
•Funds will appear in your Shop Payment Account and will be available for deposit into your bank account after you ship the sold item, or after 3 days from the date of the sale, whichever is later.
•We will automatically deposit your funds into your bank account once a week on Mondays, or you can request earlier deposits if you want your money sooner.
•In case you ever need to issue a refund, you will do it all through Etsy. The amount will be deducted from your Shop Payment Account or charged to your card on file.


What Direct Checkout Costs
•Direct checkout costs a 3% + $0.25 processing fee per order. This fee is applied to the full order amount including shipping and tax.
•The fee is deducted directly from the order amount at the time of purchase, unlike your transaction fees and listing fees.
•Transaction fees (3.5%) and listing fees ($0.20) appear on your monthly bill.

Terms
http://www.etsy.com/help/article/1883

FAQs
http://www.etsy.com/help/topics/#Direct_Checkout

Plus here is a team for Direct Checkout.

www.etsy.com/teams/11969/direct-checkout

Just read with an open mind, some people are really upset while others like me are not.

[HolsomHeartsAttic]

I guess my biggest issue is what if the buyer's card bounces/ isn't good, who gets stiffed with the bill? PayPal Takes care of that worry. Is Etsy taking care of that?

[FoundForYou]

I guessing Kath that it would be caught right away just like in the stores.
My problem was the shipping label. But I figured out how to create a shipping label through Paypal that wasn't purchased through paypal.

[HolsomHeartsAttic]

I still have yet to figure that one out! i write my own labels for every thing.

[HolsomHeartsAttic]

Ok Subject Change!....

Some one had posted a question about how to promote their first Treasury and get comments?

Well Once made (a treasury ) you should message every one who is IN the Treasury! Let them know that it is made and they will come and like it, which now comes in to their freed for their circle group, and some (most ) will comment and that you for using their item and how they like the theme you chose.

Another thing to do is post it on Your Facebook Page! Most have a business page and POST the link to the treasury there. Also we have a team Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Best-Kept-Secrets-Promotion/276344249146486, You only need like it and you can post your treasury link there ( I might not catch all of them and this will help if I am out for the day from the house to get them up and out into the public viewing.) You can also post new items, or sales on this page as well on this page.

Also I had made a page for a few months back on Facebook for Handmade Home Based Businesses .https://www.facebook.com/groups/363060807087539/
I did this because there are so many MLM (Mutil Level Marketing )Type businesses out there and they seem to take over the small business groups. It is set to show up in your news feed and Any of your friends seeing your page would be able to see this. You must be a member to post and leave comments. Just ask and I will let you in.

I am trying to think of other things out there?

Jo Any comments to add?

[FoundForYou]

Your right convo everyone this will bringit to there attention and since you messaged them they will more likely view it and comment. I've noticed lately the activity feed is being shortened.

Also if you belong to other teams post your treasuries there as well.

That's all I can think of.


On another note if your out and about in Etsy land making friends or just want to help out the team, please invite others to join. To create a link back to us all you need to do is right click on our name then copy and paste to give to whoever.

[Former_Member]

Um, forgive me for asking, but are admins the only people allowed to create new threads? I do not want to be obnoxious XD...

[Former_Member]

Yes Varieti, only leaders and captains are allowed to open up threads. We have every possible tread topice listed but if you feel you'd like to see another thread open just convo one of the leaders or captains. We are trying to keep it clutter free.

[HolsomHeartsAttic]

Varieti, What thread topic are you wanting to see?

[Former_Member]

Thank you. I understand.

[FoundForYou]

Did everyone see Etsy is going to have Gift Cards?
Here is the article:

http://www.etsy.com/blog/news/2012/announcing-etsy-gift-cards/?ref=community_blog_title

Also Direct Check Out has free Processing Fees for the Month of Sept.
Another Article:

http://www.etsy.com/blog/news/2012/an-update-on-direct-checkout/?ref=community_blog_title


I just signed my other shop up for direct check out. It's not to bad, takes a little longer to get your money but somethings have there growing pains and its not like everyone is going to use Direct Check Out.

[HolsomHeartsAttic]

Mmmm This sounds interesting. Which if some one doesn't know what to get a person for Christmas they can get them this. Which is why I bet they can up with this idea.

Question, With direct check, you still have to use PayPal for paying your monthly fee ( or credit card)?

[Former_Member]

Yes you still pay your monthly fees through paypal or credit card. Using direct check out puts it straight into your checking account. So you would have to attach it to your checking account. Luckily I have a seperate one for Etsy.

[HolsomHeartsAttic]

I also see that to use the gift card YOU MUST be signed up for Direct Check Out!

[FoundForYou]

Yes you need to sign up for direct check out in order to use the gift cards. I signed my other shop up for it.

[SharingAPassionINC]

Hi everyone --

Question of curiosity =)

I am curious as to whether or not any of you have found that NOT shipping outside of the US has hurt your sales and/or if offering shipping to outside the US has increased your sales or listing views?

I feel like my shipping prices are pretty low compared to what it actually costs me to ship something, and would just imagine shipping outside of the US would only make me lose more $$ and didn't know if it's worth it to do in order to gain more views, visitors, and potential buyers?

Thank you in advance!!
All the best,
Alison

[Former_Member]

Alison I had the same question when I started.
I don't think shipping to other places could ever hurt.
I created a chart for Canada and everywhere else and
it seems to work pretty good as long as the PO doesn't
change their rates again. I have quite a few buyers from
Canada and Australia.

You know when it comes to shipping you should charge what it costs to ship never under because then it comes out of your pocket. I actually charge anywhere from .25 to $1.00 more for shipping to help cover cost of packing materials. That helps to buy more bubble mailers, boxes, and bubble wrap.

When you look at other shops selling like items do you look at the price they are charging? I think some shops up the cost of the item to cover shipping.

Hope this helped!

[SharingAPassionINC]

Thank you so much!!!

I did look at other shops' pricing and then I also got critiqued and was told that my shipping prices were good. I did just go through all my "rates" and priced shipping accordingly and consistently (as I noticed I messed up on a few when copying listings for new listings). I'm hoping that my first shipment was a "bad egg" because I had to do it via FedEx =( which I know is more expensive...

But I have an order that will be ready to go out this weekend and I'll definitely go to the post office, so hopefully that will give me a better understanding of shipping. And I will definitely look at shipping elsewhere because I notice I have visitors, fans that have started following me on twitter from seeing my shop, that are in Europe and Australia.

Thanks again!!!
All the best,
Alison