Am I invisible?

[Former_Member]

Im still waiting for my first sale. I was kind of hoping with Christmas round the corner someone would buy some thing....which leaves me to wonder if I am indeed invisible. I work so hard promoting and networking but time is so limited I have a small son which takes up a lot of my time... Maybe the time I dedicate isn't enough and I cannot dedicate any more time to it...should I give up?

[Former_Member]

Just give it time .........:) your shop is very lovely!! :)

[Former_Member]

I understand your frustration, everything is harder with small kids around. :)

Your quilts are gorgeous, but since you don't have many items in your shop it is really hard for someone to find you. I think it's really too soon for you to give up, maybe you could reallocate the time you have available to work on your shop? Take the time you're spending right now on promotion and networking and focus more on tweaking your shop.

I suggest working on expanding your inventory and improving your SEO to start with. Perhaps you could make some small, quick items to fill out your shop a little more. Could you add some holiday themed items like stockings or table runners? Could you create listings specifically for custom work? More items will give shoppers more opportunities to find you. As for the SEO, I noticed that most of your titles start out with 'handmade'. Your items are already in the handmade category, having it in your titles is rather redundant. Use the title for keywords to describe your item, and put 'handmade' in your tags. Also, you may want to look at how your items are tagged. Be sure to use all of your tags for every item, and update them every now and then based on what people are searching for. Check out the seller's handbook for tips on improving SEO, or you could join one of the SEO teams.

More consistency in your photos could help too. Some of them are pretty good, but others have busy backgrounds or look quite dark. Good pictures are key in getting found. Try taking your pictures with a white background and plenty of light. Full spectrum bulbs can help augment the natural light you have available. Take some pictures of the whole item, then zoom in to show the pattern up close. Show your items from different angles, including the back.

If you can spend a few minutes here and there tweaking your tags, or re-shoot photos for an item during your son's nap, or make a new item in the evening after your son goes to bed you could still make your shop work.

Good luck!

[EZCraftingStore]

Nice shop. You are not invisible, but just like Barbara said you need to add more to your shop to be found easier. it was four months before I made my first sale. Best of luck, hang in there.

[Former_Member]

I agree with everything Barbara said, there's some good advice there!

I'd also suggest you try a local craft show or two to get your name out there. Or even donate some items to craft fair swag bags if you don't have time to be at a show.

Also, are you on any social media? I couldn't find any links. You don't have to go crazy, but I'd say at least get a Facebook page.

I didn't make my sale for a couple of months, because in those beginning times it took me awhile to get a hand of taking good pictures, SEO, and so on. Selling online is like any skill, it takes time to perfect. Just remember do to what you enjoy and the rest will follow.

[wildwomanbeads]

Do not give up! It takes time to establish a presence on Etsy, but your work is beautiful, and if you keep adding items and building your shop, you'll have sales, for sure!

If you understand that each item you post is like a window into your shop, and right now, you have only a few windows for people to see what you're selling, while someone else may have 200 windows, for example, you'll have a better understanding of why it's important to keep...well, putting in more windows.

As you add more items, be sure your titles open as many windows as possible too. Also your tags. Every one is a window through which someone looking for beautiful items like yours can find your shop. Everything Barbara has told you is spot on in terms of buyers finding you. Listen to her sage advice.

And good luck! Your items are lovely. Don't give up!

[Former_Member]

thank you all for all the positive feedback...i just feel rather low, i have just had a row with my partner about this as he thinks im a stay at home mum i should look after the house and baby and have it looking clean an tidy so when the weekend comes he doesnt have to do things...he fully supports my decision to do this but doesnt grasp the amount of work making yourself known and now he does know he thinks its all a waste of time. i feel rather discouraged and down trodden at the moment and think if i just gave up it will make life more simple...but i love what i do. thank you all for giving me some really good advice and the will to take another small tentative step forward and into the unknown.

[Former_Member]

I think your things are beautiful - I'm a quilter, too, although I haven't put quilts in my shop.

I pinned one of your lovely pillows and favorited it :)

I've been feeling invisible, too. Last year was a steady stream of sales, but this year has been DEAD. I read the advice you were given, and I think I need to put more things in my shop (although they keep timing out because no one buys them!!).

[Former_Member]

Frey-

You have some really nice stuff that people will defiantly buy. If you take your pictures to ipiccy.com and make a few adjustments to lighten them up it would really help your shop out. @Barbara on everything else :)
Also, try promoting your items through teams to get them seen outside of Etsy once your pictures are all fixed up.

Good Luck
RainbowOrigami