What we don't like...

[Former_Member]

What's your least favorite part of running a shop here on Etsy, or the part that you have the most difficulty with? Is it promoting your items? Coming up with new product ideas? Packaging items properly for shipping?

Personally, I struggle with writing my product descriptions. I try to make them interesting and always end up kind of cheesy instead. :)

[Former_Member]

Promoting in new ways is hard. I have a few simple things that I can go and do to make my views jump a bit for a short time. But after that, I'm not always sure how to promote. I have a blog and a Facebook page, but these are not significant view-bringers, it seems.

Promotion is a thing that needs lots of attention and energy put in to get good results, and I have a hard time doing that.

[Former_Member]

Absolutely. I just set up a Facebook page myself, and I'm trying to decide what other things I should set up (a Tumblr or Twitter account or something). But it just takes so much time to properly network and make those types of things work for you, I'm afraid of over-committing myself. Especially since I really need to focus on making more items to list. Social networking is a like a full time job in of itself! o.O

[knittyMD]

To be honest, I find all but actually making the product a bit of a challenge. I didn't start out with any marketing, business, design, photography, or promotions background. I've learned a lot, but the thing that still really gets me is pricing. Coming from a small town, and a family of humble resulted in starting out way too low. Moving to a city has given me sticker shock many a time. Finding a balance between mom 'n pop shop vs. downtown boutique, paying myself a fair wage, and knowing my target audience is a bit younger is so hard! It's come down to me writing draft listings and then the husband (& business partner) adjusts accordingly. :P

[MaxSeader]

I always post my new listings to my tumblr and tag them under nerdfighters, john green, etc. There seems to always be people looking through them that will reblog them.

[Former_Member]

I find everything challenging as well! The most time consuming is definitely promotion, which is why I want to get our Facebook going because that would be a good one-stop promotion for all of us. I have been starting to use Wanelo to share my items, and of course using StumbleUpon. They usually only work for a little while but it gets my items seen and shared which is good. And I will always tag things on instagram with my shopname and Nerdfighter if it's applicable.
Also, shipping sucks. I am always paranoid of things getting lost or broken, and they always give me a hard time because they say my parcels are too small for delivery confirmation and all of this stuff. I really don't like shipping :[

Another thing is always finding online pricing for bulk items, from craft supplies to shipping supplies. I think we should dedicate a thread to good links to different supply sites so everyone doesn't have to scour the internet for stuff. Sound good?

[Former_Member]

I also find shipping hard! Oy!

[Former_Member]

Pagan, I think that's a good idea. We've identified a few areas people have trouble with so we could definitely start some threads addressing those so we can provide suggestions! :)