LESSON 1 SUCCESS STORIES

[Studio11Charms]

I have gotten a lot of emails and forum posts about how completing the tasks from lesson 1 has gotten many of our members sales. Please share your success stories with us. This will help other team members to complete Lesson 1 if they have not done so. And for our new members, these success stories will give them a lot of encouragement to participate in Lesson 1. Thank you.

[Former_Member]

While I haven't made any sales just yet, I have been making friends (or contacts I guess is the term) and getting more views in my shop! I was rather upset that we had a rainy day and I didn't get natural light for photos today...better luck tomorrow!

[Former_Member]

I've had an increase in views and inclusions in several treasuries and also had a few sales.

I think adjusting my tags (making use of all of the available tags) and some photos may have helped too.

[Former_Member]

I've gotten 2 sales since completing the first task--not sure how much is connected to the changes I made, but they couldn't have hurt. =D My shop has also been getting more views and more treasury features recently. I know I'm happy to see the activity.

[Former_Member]

I've gotten
increased views
more hearts
increased sales
and I've been featured in more then one treasury!
I pretty much picked a theme, retook some blah photos, and chose a little mascot (my owl) as well as a slogan to go along with my store, that tell the story of why I have an owl as my store mascot.

[PEARLSBIJOUX]

I have a feeling I am failing on this team. I critiqued the shop above me and went back the next day to see my shop critique and could not find it. I cannot find lesson 2. I feel totally lost and I am not sure how to proceed.

[Former_Member]

I haven't technically gotten a sale yet (I have one pending, but it's a friend of mine). But I have gotten a lot more traffic and been added in a lot more circles and favorited more. The hardest part is getting the sun to come out, my city is in the top 10 most overcast cities of the world. Kind of makes it difficult to take natural light pictures in.

[Former_Member]

I think this team has been invaluable for the networking alone. I have added people to my circle, had others add me to theirs. The exposure has increased and it can only get better. This team also helps keep one acocuntable to keep your shop tip top and being open to feedback is always helpful as well.
As I said before-so happy to be here!

[hannahnaomi]

I'm finally really proud of my etsy store! I'm reworking my photos (with one or two different backgrounds), I revised my banner, and I finally feel as though my store looks COHESIVE! I think this whole process of improving my store is doing wonders for my branding.

I've increased my sales, too! I'm not sure if my sales correlate 100% to my work on Lesson 1, but I'm ok with it either way! I still have a lot of work ahead, but now I'm really proud of my etsy store (and my brand)!

[Former_Member]

Pearlsbijoux, there hasn't been a second lesson yet, our team leader has been sick. This group is rather large, so I can imagine that may feel a little lost. But don't worry, this many people can help you get a lot of exposure and advise for you and your shop. I'll take a look at you shop and send you a critique in convo! Good luck!

[Former_Member]

I have to say I was very nervous about joining a team and hoping I could do what was asked of me. The reason I say that is because I am very challenged when it comes to computers and after getting our first assignment, I wanted to go hide. I never thought I could get through everything. But I listened to the captain and took one thing at a time. I read a lot on the forums and joined in some. That really helped me to keep going.
What I'm trying to say is if you have not done lesson 1 or overwhelmed by it...you are not alone, and you can do this. You are on a team that really supports each other. It's a win win situation.

I feel I have had success by having had a few sales. More people are viewing, and a lot more people are adding my store and products on favorite items and favorite store. Which I hope will turn into more sales later on.

[Former_Member]

I just finished lesson one in full yesterday (it's been a week-long process...), so it might be too soon to tell. Haven't gotten any sales since I started remodeling (disheartening since they shot up right before I remodeled, so I hoped the trend would continue!).

I have gotten a LOT more views, some hearts, and... here's the biggie... I've been featured in treasuries now! Woohoo!

The big thing I did was retake all my photos. Fiance helped me build a light box, so I was able to get correct white balance and true colors. I also redesigned my banner using the new photos, and my avatar followed suit. :)

Best of luck everyone! I can't wait to see what lesson two is!

[Former_Member]

I have had 2 sales this month since lesson 1 came on. =) I would attribute to being active in the forum, making friends in FB, getting more views especially being featured in treasuries. I've never been featured in so many treasuries until I joined EE. Definitely retaking photos of items helped too! =) Thank you so much!

[Former_Member]

Someone in this team critiqued my shop and said that my pillow cover pics. weren't eye-catching, so I reshot them all. Since then I've sold two and am having more views and hearts than ever, and have been featured in several treasuries. Thanks very much for all the help and great tips!

[Former_Member]

I had one sale in mid February before the changes and 3 in late February after the changes. My shop has gone from naive newbie to serious craftsperson. I have gone from no page on Facebook to 100 fans. I have a blog (!), a billion ideas, seen the work of local and worldwide artists, read success stories, corresponded with cool artists, started some friendships, have more views, and become the favorite shop of more customers and artists. And last but not least my husband has gotten totally onboard b/c of my results and is giving me a trillion great ideas AND taking some on to help out.

A HUGE thank you to the Founders, Captains, and members of this team. My success is your doing.

[Former_Member]

I haven't had any sales lately, but my views, hearts and treasury inclusion have all gone up! There are still some photos I need to reshoot but I think my shop is looking a lot better.

[Former_Member]

No sales but I have been included in many treasury and am getting a lot of hearts.

[Former_Member]

Got a sale from a few e-mails sent out but waiting on the weather to be cooperative before adding too many more products. Sometimes I'm too much of a perfectionist to let little things go- probably needs to be a resolution to back down on. I did get included in a treasury and my shop traffic has increased fairly steadily over the last week. I did get my Facebook page in order so I could participate in some of the group hugs going on-- hoping to be challenged some more!

[Former_Member]

We have had a huge month. Mostly being bought out of BNRs but have had three or four direct sales that were multiple item purchases though.

Treasury appearance are going up and so are shop hearts and individual item hearts. I notice these increase within a few days of listing new items or a sale.

I have changed my avatar from a pic of my cats (shop is named after them) and alternate pics of soaps or bombs now. In early Feb I rec'd my new camera and love having more control over my photography. I do still need to work on the scent descriptions, that seems to be the hardest part for me.

If only we had smell-o-vision, lol

[PEARLSBIJOUX]

Thanks SummeryCreations. I thought I saw lesson 2 on a day when I was on line. I went back to read an no lesson??? Guess I goofed.
April

[Former_Member]

Even as team leader, I am still working on Lesson 1 so DO NOT feel discouraged. It may take many of us several weeks/months but at least we have some great insight as to what needs to be done in an organized manner to get our Etsy shops ship-shape. Hang in there everyone. Remember, the goal of this team is to collaborate in an inclusive team, community.

I would like to share my successes. I have made terrific friends from this team. For example, StudioCharms and I met in a different team community and were quick to become great friends. We collaborated on what we would like to see in a Team and created Etsy Entreprenuers.

I have gain more exposure for my business, which as you may see, doesn't really "fit" in any of the Etsy categories.

I am also social-network challenged and have worked hard to get a FB up and running. Thru my FB, I attracted a well-known personal stylist in Arizona who purchased almost all my inventory. This was an amazing feeling and was the confidence boost I really needed in order to move forward with my business.

So thru this amazing team, you have all helped to inspire me, push me, encourage me and that is simply priceless.

So if you're feeling discouraged, be patient. Practice good Karma and FB/Heart/Treasury List/Convo your Etsy Entreprenuer teammates. We are all here to help each other succeed so that we can quit our day jobs and work from home, doing what we love most!

Make it a great day and take every lesson or suggestion one day at a time.

We are all in this together,

- Classy Chica

[Former_Member]

Well I have completed lesson 1, for the most part, and still have not made any sales yet :(

I do fear that my crocheted items (hats and scarves) won't really be searched for anymore due to the weather getting warmer. However, I also have jewelry in my store.

I've taken part in many of the activities suggested in other postings like: listing your facebook page and liking the others who posted theirs, circling and favoriting each other here on Etsy, making treasuries and asking for critiques.

I even posted in the thread "critique the shop above you", like PearlsBijoux, and the person who posted after me wrote "I have no critiques; everyone's was nice" <--- this does not help!!!

Are there any other suggestions for my shop so that I can have success like those listed above?

Thank you,

Tyler

[Former_Member]

Hey Tyler! I was looking at some of your tags. It doesn't look like you utilize all the ones that you can. I would also include the type of yarn you used in your tags (worsted) or what not. Stay away from tags (bright fun cute) because rarely people search for terms like that. I learned that after having two other stores. You want to describe the item as much as possible.

I'm mostly talking about this item.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66672395/green-flower-hat
You could also use the tags..flower, beret, multi colored, slouchy.

Also, make your titles pop! Check out my store item titles. You want to highlight some items in capitals. People look for keywords. Work it girl! You can do it!

And by the way, you have BEAUTIFUL items. xoxo

[Former_Member]

Thank you Chelsea :)

I'll take a look at my descriptions and tags and see if I can better describe my items!

Btw I love your items as well; cute clutches!

[LittleCelebrations]

After working slowly through Lesson 1 I feel much happier about my site. I have had more views, more hearts and more questions. Hopefully all of these will eventually lead to more sales. I also signed up at craftopolis and, although completely addictive, it has helped a lot with my tags and seeing my hearts and views.

Best of all though, I have started participating in a community of amazing artists! I love beign a part of this team.