Exhausted and running out of ideas

[Former_Member]

Please help!

I started the week with fantastic views, which really motivated me to do more. I added more listings to my shop and worked on the items in my shop that weren't getting any views. I've been working hard at my SEO and I've also done loads of promoting through Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.

So, why have my views gone down every day and are now virtually non existent? My sales for August have also been pants (as we say in the UK).

Does anyone else find it an endless struggle to keep up? Has anyone got any advice please?

[purplewyvernjewels]

August is typically a slow month for quite a few people. Views and sales ebb and flo. When things are slow, it's a good time to work on seo, new items, photos etc.

[ColorMyWorldCrochet]

Your shop is adorable! The only thing I would suggest is to brighten up your photos to make them stand out a bit more. I love how colorful your shop is! :)

[Former_Member]

You're selling knit items. It's August in North Carolina, and believe me, I am NOT thinking of cozy, warm clothes right now. August and the first part of September here are the hottest part of the year. Also, school is getting ready to start back for my kids, and we spent a ton of money at the first of the month on new clothes, school supplies, new shoes, more school supplies - you get the idea. August is always up and down - one day will be good views, next day not so much. Keep adding new and hang in there. It's retail - it goes in cycles.

[Former_Member]

Helen, I LOVE your shop, hang in there. Owls are very trendy right now, as is Downton Abbey, I think once the next season rolls around you'll be in very good shape. It's still summer here, that could be an issue for people not looking at knits/ornaments. Try not to get too discouraged, your season is just around the corner!

[AttentionGetting]

Hi Helen

A couple of suggestions.

Give another purpose for the owls. Maybe fill them with drawer scents so they can be hung in a closet to give off a fragrance.

The coin purses are cute (priced too low) but try to make them more fashion current with neon colors, zig zag patterns, etc.

Consider other more in demand products such as iPhone cases. This one is cute:

http://www.bonton.com/shop/handbags-accessories/tech-accessories/the-sak-classic-crochet-smartphone-...

Best of luck!

[BlackCatStudio98]

I think as others have said it's just that the month of August is slow. That's what I'm hoping anyway. My views were never high, but like you my views have gone steadily downhill everyday this month. The day before yesterday I had 2 views for the entire day! And they have gone steadily down ever since I updated my tags and titles. But I know FOR SURE that my tags are better now, so I think it's just a coincidence.

You have great items and I think it will get better for you starting in the fall. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

if you feel exhausted, take a day or two off, do anything else.
if you feel overwhelmed with all the promotiom, figure out what works best for you, if you spend a lot promoting in a venue that will bring you only 1 view per day it´s not worth the work. find out what venues work best for you and promote there. i have stopped promoting every day in all venues and still i get views. the only thing i do on a daily basis is this team and tumblr. every other day i do a little on pinterest and wanelo.

[TheSalvagedEdge]

My suggestion is don't look at your views everyday. Look once a week or even less. We can get so consumed by views and favorites that we stop trying to improve and fixate on the numbers.
So, play around with titles, pictures, tags, listings, etc. Keep improving and listing new pieces. Stop worrying about quantity of views and worry about quality views, the ones that lead to sales!

[WilliamsGiftshop]

You worked hard, now you deserve to take a step back for a few days.
Views will go back up.

And remember that any changes you made will not be picked up by Google untill weeks, even months, later.
Googles 'grazes' internet pages for keywords at certain (rather large) intervals.

[Former_Member]

For what it's worth my views were improving steadily and for some reason are especially low this week.

[Former_Member]

Bea is right about the lag time. I busted my you know what in July and just now in August the work is paying off with increased, sales, views and faves. August has been a very good month for me my sales are higher than they were for August of 2011 & 2012.
Take a couple days to regroup and then bet back to work and prepare for the upcoming holiday season. I am sure your owls are going to be very popular!

[Former_Member]

To follow what Bea and Natasha said....I have written in huge letters on my giant white board above my jewelers bench, regarding Etsy..."What I do now affects sales in 2 months."

[Former_Member]

I knit too, so I share your pain! August is either hot over half the globe or approaching springtime in the other half, believe me, it will pick up and then you won't have time to think, my best months are september through til march, then it slows down and I only sell my summer stuff. Don't worry, your work is smashing

[flauntdesignsjewelry]

Use slow times to come up with new ideas, make stock fro holiday sales and work on SEO, tags and titles... Speaking of which, you probably have some work to do as you are using copyrighted names and, unless you have permission from the actual copyright holder, in writing, could be accused of infringement and sued.... I know other people do it, but they could get their shops shut down too.
You may wish to consider taking those names out of titles and tags and be VERY careful how you refer to them in the description...

[xoxocrocheted]

Your items will be great for fall and winter (especially Christmas) so I wouldn't worry that summer isn't your busiest. Stock up for the holiday season and use this time to list some more items!

[beatroad]

I have to renew items often to keep my views up. While some will disagree with me and say that good tags, titles, etc. are enough, I still renew often (sometimes every day) and it helps. If I don't renew, my views tank. I will say that renewing does not always equal sales...I've had low views and got a sale, and had high views and made no money.

[DaliaShamirJewelry]

Very cute shop! You just opened about 2 month ago and already had 21 sales! I think that's very good, and especially for the summer!

[Former_Member]

Thanks again for all the brilliant advice, I'll definitely take it all into consideration and have a rethink about how I do things.

I'm off to have a catch up with a good friend tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to having a little break.

I've got loads of ideas, so always got plenty to do.

[Former_Member]

I was getting way more daily views in June/July/early August, right up until I tweaked my titles and tags for SEO a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure if lower view counts are because it's August vacations time or it it's related to the tweaks. ? I even renewed a few times.

[Former_Member]

I LOVE everything about your shop personally. I would just pin, tweet, fb, and whatever else and just consider anything sold in August a bonus since it seems to be a slow month for everyone.

[inalittlebit]

I showed your shop to my daughter, AGAIN. Your items are fabulous. I believe here soon we all are going to be working our bums off. Hang in there. All that downtime will be paying off soon. :)

I am staying positive about it all, sales are still slow here.

[maydaylabels]

Sweet shop! I think you'll do better as people start feeling more fall and winter-y; a lot of your stuff seems to be seasonal towards fall, halloween, christmas, etc.

This is pretty awesome: http://www.etsy.com/listing/154453563/owl-phone-cover-or-crochet-sunglasses?ref=shop_home_active

Maybe if you listed the measurements it would get more attention? People sometimes like to know exactly how large things are so they can know if it will fit with their phone or glasses, etc.

Also I agree that the price on it is super low. But that part is up to you of course.

[PaperScissorsPop]

It may not feel like it but you are doing exceptionally well for the amount of time your shop has been open. Having a shop on Etsy takes blood, sweat, tears and TIME. As everyoneelse here has mentioned your shop is really cool and you have a great product. You also have 182 admirers already and you have only been going for a couple of months. That is a really good sign of good things to come. Keep on trucking little owl!

[Former_Member]

Thank you all so much for the positive feedback, I'm feeling much more positive now.

Mathew and Sara, thanks for the tip on including sizes, I have included them on most of the items in my shop, I'm not sure why I didn't include them for my phone covers. I must make amends.

Prices! Looks like I need to be a bit more confident when it comes to pricing. I need to work out a formula that feels 'right' for me.