Apps and services that help organize, promote and save time?

[PaperPhine]

I know that I'm quite quiet on this forum even though I stop by at odd hours during the night to have a look at your posts. One of the main reasons is that I just don't have enough time for everything.

There are etsy, my own shop, dawanda (the "German version" of etsy), the blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Tumblr (just started Tumblr and not sure yet what to think of it). I try to "streamline" it a bit and re-use some content at more than one place (e.g. I write a blog article, then post a link of Facebook, pin a picture... and now upload a picture on Tumblr). And I do all of this by hand because I want to have control of what goes where - personally I don't like to find the same content in all the possible media (e.g. automatically link your Facebook with Twitter and then you read everything twice when you follow somebody).

I tried to link the (Wordpress-run) blog with Tumblr and the apps don't seem to work... and also Pinterest with the blog and there is the same problem.

The only service that I've found so far that really helps with saving time is Happy Sunday on etsy (happysundayonetsy.com) that auto-renews all my sold listings.

There are apps and services out there that are supposed to help to
- run the etsy shop
- promote in different media (I heard of "Promoetsy" for instance??)

Do you have any experience with those apps and services and are there any that you would recommend??

Thanks so much - I think this will be helpful for everybody!
Linda

[EurekaGuides]

It's a very good question. I also spend an enormous amount of time promoting, even through the night when I cannot sleep.

I do automate a lot of my tweets (although not all and I do respond to tweets addressed to me) and my Twitter Guide explains how to do that for free. I also link my tweets to LinkedIn as I have a completely different following there.

I do not see the point of having the happysundayonetsy app since items now automatically renew if you set the quantity to more than one.

There is the app for renewing listings (not just sold) and you can find that here http://statsy.herokuapp.com/clockbot I don't use this because I sell every day so this is not an issue for me as my sold items get renewed.

Other than this, I don't use any apps. It would be interesting to see what others think. Thanks for starting this thread.

[PaperPhine]

I checked out Clockbot - but I don't think their interface looks very professional and looking it up on etsy threads because I wasn't so sure about it there seems to be lots of bugs and issues again and again?

Also after all the changes with etsy I don't believe that constantly renewing items is still that important - I think it's much more important that the shops stays stocked at all times (and during "frontpage rushes" etc!).

Therefore immediate renewing after selling is more important in my opinion.
I know it's possible to I know that you can increase quantity on etsy BUT I don't like the "look" of it - not as a seller and not as a customer. As a customer seeing a stock of 10 pieces makes me suspicious and not really believe in "small" and "handmade" and "unique".

There is this review of Happy Sunday on etsy here: http://etsy-preneurship.com/save-time-renewing-your-etsy-items-with-happy-sunday-on-etsy/     and what I said was the "look" is here described as:
- "Creates Demand – Many customers on Etsy will desire a product more when they see the quantity count is only 1 and not 15 or even 100. This service makes your stock look more limited than it might really be – creating artificial increased demand."    

And after testing all kinds of stock levels on etsy I can really say that I sell MORE when the official stock on etsy is "1" (the first test I made with that Happy Sunday were free anyway because they offer a whole month of free service - and even within that month I saw changes on what and how much people bought on etsy).

Twitter: thanks - I just had a look at your instructions - half-automatization sounds good!!

[EurekaGuides]

I take your point but if you weigh up the benefit of relisting immediately after selling, then perhaps the best compromise would be to just add 2. That way you're still relatively exclusive but you will relist automatically.

I've not had any issues with the clockbot and it did help me for a while.

[PaperPhine]

The idea itself is not bad - but listing 2 of each would look weird, too, no?
And Tiffany's doesn't have two of each item in their shop windows either (this is how it somehow feels like)

I guess I prefer to pay USD 5 for Happy Sunday and have them do all the renewing - much less hazzle and no weird looking shop!

[EurekaGuides]

I'm not even sure if it matters that much. If someone wants your item, they'll buy it. It's surprising how little people notice online.

When I do only have 1 of something, I'm constantly asked if I have more so I really don't know what's best.