Creating Vs. Promoting Time Management

[Former_Member]

How much time do you spend creating and promoting weekly? That's the trickiest part of owning an Etsy shop, IMO.. Just looking for some advice! Please and thank you! =)

Courtney~*

[Former_Member]

I don't have any actual numbers for you, but I know I haven't been creating enough lately! All the promoting is then moot, because people will go to my shop and not see anything that appeals to them. Time to get of the computer and back to work!

[Former_Member]

I have been busy creating and not promoting enough. The way I see it, its a balancing act both have to be done equally but it is hard to do. John Lennon said it the best : " Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans". So in between my job, everyday living, and my etsy shop, sometimes not everything gets done.

[TOMgirlApparel]

I spent a lot of time creating before ever opening my shop, so now I have many items ready to ship and I mainly spend my time promoting. Can't wait to sell out what I have so I can start creating again :)

[AuntBsAttic]

I too have been spending more time creating and not enough time promoting . . . mostly because I like creating better than sitting at the computer! Last year I got so swamped before Christmas I was going crazy - and I posted #'s for each item on my studio wall that I needed ready by August 1st so I wasn't behind the eight ball coming out of the craft show season. Today, while finishing up items and checking them off the list - I thought - What if they don't sell this year ? I laughed and told myself I'd try to remember what it was like to have a life besides Etsy & the day job! Went for a walk and came up and posted Marketing Goals !
Balance . . . Balance . . . Balance = Success.

[spacefem]

heh, I just blogged about this very topic, and the fact that you can't let "promotion" distract you from creating since that's really the best form of promotion there is! (http://etsycontest.blogspot.com/2012/07/1-way-to-promote-your-etsy-shop.html)

basically I only promote if I can't create, or need a break from it, or feel like watching the olympics.

[Former_Member]

spacefem, great blog post...i'm off to create some more. = )

[Former_Member]

I have created a work sheet where it lists what I need to do for creating items & promoting etc. I also have the time limit that I'm 'allowed' to have to do that particular task, so when it comes around to doing it, I set the timer & put my head down.

When task is completed I mark it off. If I find that I didn't have time to do something that day, I then ensure that I put it to the top of my list for the next day. I have been doing this for about 2 wks now & so far its working for me :) I was finding that I was getting too distracted on the internet before I adopted this system. For me it works great :)

I allow myself 4 hrs per day to create my designs & all up I do 3 hrs promoting each day.

I hope that helps :)

[Former_Member]

Lisa would you be able to share that work sheet? I need something like that.