Help! Shop over a year old, not making sales....

[wordforwordfactory]

Dear Everyone Etsy,

I joined Etsy a few years ago as a buyer/customer. I then decided to take my card business, Word for Word (established in 2004) onto the site. Unfortunately, I didn't change my screen name to my business name (Word for Word), and am still "cole177" - which I see as bit of a problem.

#1 Would it be life-changing for the better or worse were I to close my shop and rename it starting at zero, after I've already gained some favorites and views, and am nervous to lose them, as they took me awhile to get.

#2 I've gotten a fair number of views 30-150 per product, but have only made 6 sales in over a year, 3-5 treasuries at most, and nothing else. I've been trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong for awhile, but to no avail. Can anyone offer me advice to pump up my sales just a little, even? (I already frequently like other etsy sellers items, and try to create a Treasury a month or so).

I also worked Renegade LA this summer, and while I sold a bit of items, overall I got a ton of compliments, and all my (free) business cards were sucked dry. But no increased sales after on etsy, no emails, no extra likes. What am I doing wrong here? I think I have a unique product, and people are maybe interested, but aren't buying anything. I'm about to give up and go back to just being an artist (making non-sellable/ $$$ things), but I do think there is something to my paint chip cards, and I hate to give up.

Please help me, anyone!!!!!!!!

Word for Word: www.etsy.com/shop/cole177

Many advance thanks,
Nicole
Word for Word greetings

[GrowingUpWild]

Nicole,
I think in your case it would be worth it to open a new store under your shop name. You don't have to close your current account right away. You can include a message in your new profile or shop heading with a link to show your prior feedback.
You do have a unique concept! I thunk it might help to make it more clear in each title or description as to what each paint chip says. I am on my I-pod and I couldn't read the print on the card itself.
Best of luck whichever path you choose!

[Former_Member]

I checked your shop, though I am a 'newbie' to Etsy and the advice that I've read here on Etsy.com comments is that the shop owners need to have a lot of items. The best example that I heard is that if you have 22 items of jewelry, the total amount of jewelry on Etsy.com is 2,200,000, then you have a 1-in-200,000 chance of someone finding you. It sounds grim. However I have found people with just a few items and lots of sales, they cannot keep up with the orders.

I looked at your items and I think using paint chips is a cute idea but its so easy for someone to get those at a store and make their own, rather than pay for yours. Why not cut the chips into interesting shapes? Or combine some drawing skills with the chips to make something unusual...

So, number of items and being more creative would be my suggestions.

I am trying to do that also, make more items and be more creative. I look at others ideas and think of my own spin-offs. I go to crafts shows, Halmark shops, on-line shops like Ebay and look and think.

[DesignsbyCher]

Perhaps rather than closing this shop entirely, you could open a new one... start fresh with your proper name/logo and gradually migrate your items one or two at a time from this one to the new one, putting your new shop's location in your present shop's announcement and profile.

You'd lose the hearts and views, but you would get the benefit of new listings and the shop name you want (hopefully). Your photos are very good, your titles and tags seem relevant and you do have a unique product.

I like your clean, modern style... a very nice aesthetic ;)

I particularly like this piece...
http://www.etsy.com/listing/75199079/geometric-paint-chip-collage-blue-green

[Former_Member]

Hi Nicole,

Your pictures seem to be a bit dark and maybe having an example of what some one would write in on the card would be helpful.

I take advantage of being able to post 5 photos for each item so maybe you could include the written in example in one of the 5 spots so that your customers can get ideas on how to use your cards.

Hope that helps!

Best,
May

[isavirtue]

wow, i definitely think there is something to your paint chip cards too - i LOVE them. i do agree with a lot of what scorpio said however. man, i think your shop is really great i'm curious as well why your sales are so low!

[Former_Member]

I think that having your shop name different from your
Busniess name may be confusing and hard to remember. I recommend taking that leap and starting over. Also, make sure you're advertising online and off, and I've heard many say that it's a good idea to do shows in addition to Etsy. Just use Etsy as a venue, but don't base everything off of it.

[shopwhimandvigor]

Hi Nicole,

I agree that opening a new shop with your business name is the thing to do.

I understand it feels scary to give up your hard-earned hearts and followers, but I think you'll regain those (and then some) when you open the new shop.

I think your shop is terrific, and your products are lovely, but there is no way that I could ever remember - and be able to tell others - a shop name that's a difficult combination of letters and numbers.

Good luck to you!

[Former_Member]

Hi Nicole. I like the idea of the paint chip cards. The simplicity breathes and is very pleasing. Your tags seem relevant and your photos are crisp and nice.

I might recommend looking at your description. Some seem to have a mistake

ie) http://www.etsy.com/listing/73006749/paint-chip-card-gentlemancorsage

You say it is off-white card stock but it appears brown. I know in this listing I cannot vision the color just because my monitor the color looks flesh pink and neon yellow. don't know why.

Also, I was a little confused on the dark cardstock? on the brown cardstock, is there any light color paper inside for people to write on? or do they have to get a special pen to write in it? maybe taking advantage of the ability to add more photos?

I also like the Geometric collage as well as mentioned above.

As far as opening a new shop. I like the idea of not closing this one yet and creating the new one and put a link to it on the old shop and give it a time limit and that way those that have added you as a favorite can find you.

good luck. I am fairly new on etsy. I figure I have to have patience, a lot of patience.

In general, nice shop and I like the idea. I love using things that would otherwise end up in landfills. etc....

[creationsbylr]

I think handmade greeting cards are just hard to sell anywhere. For some reason people will spend money on a Hallmark card but don't on a handmade card. I also make cards but have not tried to sell them because too much time goes into them to make any profit. I have gone to many craft shows and seen people practically giving away their cards in order to sell them.

[Former_Member]

Some of your listings are not set up for search engine optimization (SEO) at all.

To make a sale, your item has to be found buy a buyer. How does a buyer find your item? By searching. What would a person search to find a pink print? Would they search "pepto bismol?" Or "pink eye?" Or "blind date," "backlash," or "white trash?"

Search results on Etsy come from titles and tags! So your titles and tags should be filled with keywords and keyphrases that an actual user types in (check your Shop Stats to see what your top keywords are for the past year). Unless someone is looking specifically for a pink paint chip print, you have to capture search results with "art print," "pink print," etc. Think like a buyer.

I would personally title the pink print something like this: "Pink Art Print, Paint Chip Art, Fine Art, Pink Abstract Art, Office Home Decor, Upcycled Art, 8 x10."

I typed "pink print" and "pink art" into the search bar and let it auto-complete so I could see the suggestions it gave me.

Your tags are also in dire need of help. What does "blind date" have to do with your item? Even if one of the colors is titled that, it has absolutely nothing to do with your item. Your tags should describe your item: pink art, fine art, art print, home decor, office decor, pink print, pink colors, gradient, paint chips, paint chip art, etc. Also, you might want to consider using words like "upcycled" to describe your art.

When I'm in doubt, I read Etsy help articles and blogs. This is a great place to start: http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/the-etsy-seller-handbook-all-our-how-tos-about-selling/

You have an interesting product and I'm sure it would sell if you tighten the nuts and bolts of your shop.

[Former_Member]

You might find this post helpful: http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2008/shop-makeover-series-whats-in-a-name/

It gives a list of tips for changing your shop name, and how to do it gradually, like moving items over as they expire, for example.

I agree with a lot that has been said above, I think more pictures of your cards would be great, giving detail shots of the color names and showing the inside of the cards, you have 5 slots available so take advantage of them. Another thing I noticed was your titles, I think that even just changing to "Paint Chip Greeting Card" would be helpful with the new relevancy based search. I also felt that the descriptions left a bit to be desired, I'm sure you could have a lot more to say about these cards, what they could be used for, your inspiration etc. Also you should be sure to pay close attention to the Google preview box, and describe the item in detail at the top of the description so it will be seen on Google searches.

Hope these tips help some,
Mandy
DrapesOfWrath.etsy.com
DrapesOfWrathAprons.blogspot.com
BehindTheDrapes.etsy.com