A Little Discouraged

[MeadowSongArts]

I had been discouraged about my etsy shop, because I sold nothing, and had thought of quitting. But then I picked up courage, joined some teams, and have been encouraged by how many views and hearts I've been getting. I haven't sold anything, but I got encouraged.
Then I saw a post that someone was quitting cuz they have been here many years and only sold five items. They said it wasn't worth it and that there are better ways to sell your items. It got me a little discouraged again.
Wondering if I can get some positive comments from fellow etsians, to keep my hope up.

[Former_Member]

Try taking your pictures in a different lighting. (outside in the day)
Also some are a little confusing,
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80266134/elsie-sweet-12-inch-gray-baby-bear
are the hearts for sale with it? My items that tend to get the most hearts are the ones with the white backgrounds...don't worry you're a very talented artist, sales will come :-)

[deroucheau]

I just went through a discouraged phase as well. I even posted a thread about it and I got a lot of responses of people telling me that it just takes time for your shop to grow and making a few changes really goes a long way. Some people told me to tweak my titles a bit, so I did, in the process of making few, slight changes I got a sale! So if there is hope for me there is hope for you too.
Give it time. Add new items regularly. Change titles to something a stranger would type in to search for. Promote on Etsy Teams, FB, Twitter, a Blog.
If you would like to see my thread I posted here it is: http://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success/discuss/8937552/page/1
People are so kind on Etsy and will really offer you great advice if you need it.
Don't give up hope!
Hope this helps:)
♥

[Former_Member]

what a great thread, deroucheau... even advise I can use! thanks for sharing!

[Former_Member]

Meadow,

Don't quit until you improve all parts of your shop. Your photos are not that clear, you only have 29 items and you sell very different types of merchandise (paintings and dresses and toys). This limits customer choice; if they want a painting, they only half half of your shop to look at because there are dresses and toys! Think of your shop image and brand...it took me at least 2 months just to begin to look organized.

Some of your titles are also not set up for Etsy's search. For example, if I wanted a chimpanzee painting, I would not search "chimpanzee encounter." Title your items the way that people would search in the search box. You need to do your research about how to write proper titles, because right now they are inconsistent.

You need to do some reading; there are wonderful tools and resources out there. Here is a thread with many, many, many helpful links:

http://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success/discuss/8947434/page/1/

Here is a shop checklist. I think that this should be very helpful to you, as it really helped change my shop:

http://etsymentors.blogspot.com/p/critique-your-own-shop.html

If you feel Etsy isn't worth it and you want to quit, that is your personal decision. But right now, you lack a cohesive image and still have a lot of areas you can potentially improve.

Aman

[Former_Member]

You've gotten some really good advice here. One suggestion I would make, and it's only a suggestion from my point of view - remember it's your shop, so you get to run it any way you like - but I think you might want to focus on one of the 3 types of items you offer. At least until you carve out a niche and get off the ground. As it is it looks a bit confusing. I have a lot of variety in my shop too, from jewelry to housewares, but they are for the most part made in the same style, with similar media. If you want to do variety, it's very important that your shop looks cohesive - either by focusing on one style or photographing your items similarly.

[MeadowSongArts]

I'll try to do some improving. It's very difficult for me, as I am a person of variety and love variety. It's hard for me to do one thing....I've always divided my time over many things and love learning to do new things; so it's impossible for me to JUST paint or JUST sew. That's why I'm in the dilemma that I am.

[Untwistedsister]

Meadow, your painted stones are wonderful. I just think you need more of them listed. More listings=more potential buyers. Hey, I know I sell more quicker at art fairs but I can't do those from my home and I don't have to travel and get there at 6am.

It can take as much as 1 to 2 years to build ANY business, including a brick & mortar store. Be patient, believe in yourself and your art. You're talented!

[Former_Member]

I understand the hard to JUST paint or JUST sew. But right now I am getting best response from my photography so I am concentrating on that on my page (while still throwing in a little jewelry but that seems common umung photographers from what I see)... I don't see anything wrong with have a variety.

I think you have great work. I agree with the backgrounds I would try to keep them monotone so not to confuse the potential buyer from the focus. I try to photograph my jewelry on either white, beige or black depending on the color of the jewelry. You have done great work at adding many photos to your items to see all angles when appropriate.

I agree with the comment about joinging teams, circles and continually following activity as well as creating treasuries. The more active you are on here the more traffic you will see. I admit I spend way tooo much time on here working on marketing so I am too getting discouraged but I have only been on here a couple of months and I am definitely feeling I am improving in my marketing strategies, item descriptions/tags, and connections.

Keep Plugging!

[MeadowSongArts]

Thanks everyone! My mind is turning with ideas and I've read the links given me. I'm going to work on improving my shop in whatever way I can.

[Former_Member]

AlmondCrafts, always has great advise! When I first started my shop, I had a ton of different things to sell, (my first sell was Mork and Mindy suspenders!) I'm constantly trying to improve my store. I started seeing people were more interested in my jewelry than my antiques, and decided to axe the "non jewelery" vintage stuff. I think it has improved the way my store looks. it's a little less confusing.

[Former_Member]

Meadow,

If you want more variety in your shop, try having the same style for multiple items. For example, if you like to sew and paint, is it possible to paint a design on a shirt? Or paint on wood or pots or other items? There are many ways to have "variety" in your shop, but what your shop lacks overall is an image or brand. Look at the front-page shops. They all have a specific style. That way if a customer wants feminine, flower jewelry in bright pinks and purples, they know exactly which shop to go back to.

Aman

[MeadowSongArts]

Thanks. I have lots to think about. It's a little overwhelming.

[Former_Member]

you can also rearrange the way your shop is seen by customers... I do that allot!

[Former_Member]

I support your continuing to stay here! Everyone has given sound advice. Titles of items should be a description of the item...add the "title" after it or include it in the description box underneath the item. I know all these suggestions can be overwhelming, but maybe focus changing your tags and item titles on item a day. You will get there!

I also just favorites your shop and added you to my circle. Good luck!

[MeadowSongArts]

I just edited all my tags and titles, so I hope that will help. I am still brainstorming on how to make my shop more uniform and attractive.
Thanks everyone.

[LaurasLastDitch]

I love that you are offering a hand-painted greeting card. I have NEVER seen that anywhere else. Your little boys' outfits are darling!

May I offer one small suggestion about the paintings? I think perhaps signing your name with a color that is just slightly lighter or slightly lighter than the background it's on would be less obtrusive. I find the white against a darker color to be a bit distracting.

Best wishes to you!

[Former_Member]

One of the best pieces of advice that I was given is that you need quite a few more items. Think of your store in relation to a bricks and mortar store that you would casually visit. If that store only has a couple dozen items then you will most likely leave quickly.
Also remember that paintings are somewhat of a luxury item and we are in an unprecedented recession with 14 million of us out of work.. That means people buy art last, unfortunately. Said by an artist!!!

[Former_Member]

I agree with the advice here, also it takes time.