Frustrated

[Former_Member]

I am really getting frustrated... I have no sales and only real traffic that is coming to my shop is thru Etsy... I am starting to think I'm wasting my time. I have gone thru and made the suggested changes that people have given me, and I've made a few sales thru friends not on Etsy, but I just am reaching the point that I don't think this is going to work for me... maybe it's just a bad day or the dreary rain that is making me depressed, but I would love to sell my items... I think they are worth buying, so why don't others??

[RomaMiaTradingCo]

You've only been open since August. It's going to take some time. Etsy has a ton of sellers on here, so its easy for smaller shops to be found. I can only suggest that to add more stuff to your store and look into doing self promotions. Find ways to plug into your target market. You will only get so far if you just post stuff on Etsy and hope that people will find you.

I'm sure others will love to buy your works, but you need to make sure that those people know your here!

[Former_Member]

Thanks Nikki,
I am trying to keeping a positive outlook, and I am going to keep painting :)

[SpangGangDesigns]

My first mistake was to think that Etsy is like Ebay. Etsy takes time!

I know you've said that you've changed things. But, for your baby elephant and giraffe, your title reads: "Original hand-painted baby giraffe and elephant by Katie Jardas". May I suggest a couple of changes that may help you get noticed? How about "Elephant and giraffe nursery print. Baby shower gift", etc. Think like a buyer or show your items to someone not involved in your shop and ask him/her to describe it. I can tell you that I wouldn't be searching for "Original hand-painted" or "Katie Jardas". In fact, your title doesn't say whether it is a print, lamp, an actual animal, artwork, etc. Think about it, WHO would buy your items and WHY. New baby gift, shower gift, nursery decor, etc, etc. Use these terms in your titles, description, and tags.

How about showing your artwork framed in your second, third photos? Do an Etsy search for elephant nursery artwork. This can all be done digitally if you find a good background.

Lastly, your tags could use work. The tags of "friends, yellow, blue, baby, toddler" are very generic. For example, the search term "blue" brings up 2,869,065. Why waste your chances of getting found this those odds? Take the tag "giraffe nursery artwork" (just as a quick example), brings up 463 results. Your odds are much better being found this way.

hope a couple of these tips help! Your shop is lovely! Hang in there!

[Former_Member]

Thank you Erica. I think I am in the same boat as you thinking that Etsy is like ebay, lol! I always am thinking that if I add my name to my title it will help my SEO. I will also try to revise my tags to get better search results. I'd appreciate any followers, and I will follow those who follow me :)

[ConcertinaPress]

Bummer! Have you ever tried selling at a local craft show or something similar? Sometimes I can go aaaaages between etsy sales, and doing one weekend show where I sell a bunch of stuff at once can lift my spirits, plus I can see what people like (and make more for my etsy shop) or don't like (and discount it, or let it expire)

[Former_Member]

This team always gives excellent advice! You just need to stay on top of things ... the holidays will also bring customers to your shop looking for unique gift ideas!

[PETCREATIONSBYJANE]

You have beautiful itms but you definitely need to work on your tag lines and shop title. Use your shop title as a tag line. No one is going to search for "beautiful",
Go to Google Adwords. You will have to create an account but do not pay anything. Use their keyword tool. you enter say watercolor painting and it will give you the top keywords. Use all 13 taglines. Always think like a buyer. What would they search for?
Also, search Etsy for your competitors who have a lot of sales. See what they are doing that you are not.
The more listings you have the more likely you will get noticed after you .adjust your tag lines. I do not think I made a sale until I had 50 items listed.
Also, this is October and sales are always slow before the Christmas season starts. Good Luck.

[MaxplanationPhotos]

also look at SEO teams to learn a lot more :) On Etsy you have to do your own advertising, so SEO helps

[Former_Member]

I am like you. I am on etsy since April. Have a few sales but mostly from friends and family. I am also questioning keeping going or not. My prob is I can't keep adding items ongoing without sales as I I need something to pay for the investment in materials. I have currently 35 listed. I will struggle to get to 50 I think but I suppose I will keep going until Christmas rush starts and hopefully I will see results then.
Wish you look Katherine.

[KiltedWoman]

Etsy is not for everyone. It is time-consuming and can be very frustrating when you have poured your heart in your creations and no one buys them. Etsy is going to work really well for some but not great for the majority. It helps to have a niche, something no one else is creating or something that appeals to a group of people. My shop appeals to people with Scottish heritage. Think about a group of underserved people. What do they like, what do they need? Tie it into your interests and you will have a target market with whom you will love to interact.
If you make it, they will come is not true of etsy.

[Former_Member]

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement!! I am building up to doing some craft and art shows locally, and I am still pumping out the paintings and adding them to my shop. I have made 3 sales yesterday, one on here and 2 paintings from a friend, so things are looking up!! I will continue to revise my tags.

Julie, I wish you luck as well and I will follow any who follow me :)

[Former_Member]

reopened my shop recently from year and half vacation. It different world. Little bit frustrated like you are. realized that i need to rethink my tags and listings descriptions. team advises are very useful. thank you.

[PennyBirchWilliams]

Katie, I'm a painter too, and I think for most of us it takes a lot of patience to wait for sales to come on Etsy. There is a substantial learning curve with how SEO works and everything else that goes along with being a seller as well as an artist. (I didn't actually start listing things until June 2012 though I "Opened" in Jan 2010) I think I sold my first painting after 6 weeks but then it was several months until the next one. During that time I learned everything I could through Etsy's seller handbook, teams, forums, and looking at other seller's shops, for an understanding of how to become successful. I'm still learning and working to improve, and since things keep changing you have to stay on top of it.

I started with just a dozen or so paintings, like you have, which is really not enough for many shoppers to find you. There are thousands of painters here, probably millions of paintings and prints; it's easy to be lost in this vast ocean. I added more paintings, prints, and other painted items I enjoy making to see what would appeal to more people and to fill up my shop. I have 77 sales now, including paintings of all sizes and other smaller things I make. I have 117 items in my shop at the moment.

So my shop is doing better, but I'm not what I would call successful. Not yet anyway. There are some painters who have thousands of sales, some who have hundreds, but most of us I think struggle to get seen among the crowd, and get some sales, and keep trying to improve.

Katie, honestly, I think if you aren't prepared to be patient and let your shop grow, and take the time to learn everything you can about how to sell here, then you may not be ready for this. It is not an easy thing to do. You have to decide if you can hang in there for the long term, or try something else, but there will always be lots of competition, and more supply than demand, for artists and art. Best wishes to you :)

[Former_Member]

Etsy is getting better but takes a lot of time, I cannot depend on Etsy for any income. Etsy simply pays for 1/2 of my supplies, no income.
So if you change your way of thinking and consider Etsy a way to clear some of your expenses you'll feel better.

[Former_Member]

Join as many teams as you can

[Former_Member]

It is raining today, so lift your spirits, go to Michaels for some frozen custard.
I added you as a fav so all my followers get to see your work. Hope this helps.
Carol

[Former_Member]

Exactly PerfectFudge, Etsy isn't a full time gig for many people, it takes years of hard work to get that and most likely those sellers are selling outside of Etsy as much as they are on Etsy.

Katherine, my good friend is a painter and joined etsy recently but she has been selling her artwork since we were teenagers, almost two decades now.

She has built a long reputation as an artist by traveling for art shows, putting her work in galleries and having a website. She sells her work all over the country and thanks to technology of etsy and the web, now international.

Etsy is one way she sells her work but it's not the ONLY way she sells art. I bring her up because she is the best example of how to succeed as an artist.

You need to get yourself out there and submit your paintings in juried shows, galleries, etc. set up a website and social media, just keep plugging until you find what works. Everyone has to find their own way. What may work for one person may not work for the next. Just remember, it will take time and may seem impossible at times but it IS possible. It just takes hard work and determination. I wish you the best of luck! :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks Everyone for the feedback!! @Penny, I am going to hang in there and be patient... @Perfect Fudge, I am going to start art shows and fairs as soon as i can, not too many shows nearby here as our winters are pretty cold.
@Everyone, thanks for the favorites and please give me a follow, and I'll follow you!!

[Former_Member]

Don't give up! I started this summer and have only 6 sales. I think your paintings are adorable, and really well priced for gifts! In addition to the above comments about your titles and tags, perhaps offer an option of selling them framed for an additional cost. If I am buying for a baby shower, I don't want to have to find a frame myself. If you had a picture of your prints matted and framed, and maybe a pic of them ready to ship out in a gift-worthy box wrapped in cute ribbon, that would go a long way towards helping buyers see what they are buying. They can also envision them on the nursery wall! Good luck! I will add you to my list of faves and add a print or two to my Pinterest toddler page! :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks Erin!! I will add the option for a frame and matting at an additional cost. I am in the works of getting pictures of my paintings framed and matted on my site. Thanks for the faves and the pins!!!