Getting over the first sale hump?

[Former_Member]

I've had my shop since late September 2011, now have 35 items and am adding an average of 3-4 new items per week. I currently have 2 sales and 1 feedback. They are both from people I know in real life that I directed to my shop to make their purchase.

I've been working on SEO, photographs etc. I changed my avatar and shop banner to better represent my merchandise. My descriptions may be too long...not sure. I'm pretty comfortable with my price point but maybe some of the necklaces are too high. I'm offering free shipping on 2 or more items and only $2.00 for a single item...I'm losing money on the shipping to tell the truth.

One of the ladies who purchased form me told me that she was showing a friend my shop and her friend absolutely loved my items {YAY!!!}. But because I don't have a lot of sales and feedback this other woman was turned off from buying from me.

How can I get over that newbie hump? How did all of you do it? I'm open to any suggestions about this topic or my shop specifically.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and advice!
~Kat

[littlecherryhill]

Patience is the key. I had to wait a while to get sales. With Jewelry there is a tonne of competition. So initially you need to get yourself found in the first place and then build from there.....but seriously patience and lots of it will get you there.

[Midwestclassiccrafts]

It takes time unfortunately, and unfortunately a lot of people do not leave feedback. I have 82 sales and 19 feedback, it drives me nuts some times.

It does take a little time for it all to happen, but it will.

Do you offer any type of guarantee or warranty with there purchase.

[Former_Member]

Red Necklace Carnelian, Citrine and Tigers Eye Chakra Balancing for Prosperity & Abundance

Your title needs to say what your item actually is. Leave the prosperity stuff for the description. Creative tags are not helpful with relevancy search.

Your item has too many words that buyers won't search. Why don't you have beaded necklace, seed beads, glass beads, handmade, etc. in your title? Buyers search terms like tan, brown, earth tone, orange...not citrine, unless citrine is the name of a stone or something.

Your tags should repeat the keyword phrases in your title. If you search "Christmas ornament" this will NOT match "Christmas tree ornament" in the search results because it has to be the exact phrase. Figure out which keyword phrases buyers are actually using and put those in your title. For example: "Red Handmade Crochet Scarf, Long Wool Scarf, Striped Pattern,: etc. Then repeat those phrases in your tags: handmade scarf, crochet scarf, long scarf, wool scarf, red scarf, striped pattern, red stripes, etc.

You can have the prettiest items in the world, but unless you are one of those lucky sellers who gets easy views, you have to make sure you are "findable" on Etsy by using terms that buyers actually use. I wear jewelry everyday, some that I bought on Etsy. However, I would never search "prosperity" when buying. I am currently wearing one of my fave stud earrings from Etsy. Guess what I typed in when searching? post earrings, stud earrings.

This is the shop I bought from: http://www.etsy.com/listing/85215246/tiny-stud-earrings-post-earrings-earring

Her title and tags matched my search very well. I then bought from her and loved the item!

[Former_Member]

@Emily, Thanks...I had my suspicions about patience!

@Kelly, I do offer a guarantee and warranty.

@Aman, Thanks for the feedback. I've really struggled with SEO...my nemesis! I'll try simplifying my titles further and working on my tags some more.

Thanks to all of you! I appreciate your time and feedback!

~Kat