Help with my shop!Please!!!

[Former_Member]

Hello,
I am reaching to get some help and advice on what I am doing wrong.
I had a couple of sales since I opened for business in late September this year. (even though I set up my account a year ago), and I thought, great this shop is gonna take off. But it didn't. I just stalled. I had a lot of m
I also have a Facebook page but I can get fans and don't have much activity there. Twitter is the same..I am following etsy shops but most just post nonstop new items and that gets on my nerves. I don't know if that really help . I feel I am spamming peoples threads if I do that?
What happened!!
What are tips to have a successful shop?
Thank you for taking the time to help me. I really really appreciate it!
Happy holidays!!

[TheSnapDragonsLair]

Hi,

I don't really have any advice for you. Checked out your shop. The pics and descriptions look like you've followed all the SEO rules.

I did favorite one of your items so it gets some play. I'll Stumble one too. That may help a bit.

Just keep pushing. Read all you can about marketing and SEO and don't give up.

Donna

[BeljaysFelt]

Not sure if I am much help either as I seem to have similar problems. But your shop looks fun when you go to it and you have some really pretty little things, so maybe it is just a case of keep trying until you find the right connections.

I tweeted your shop. It all helps.

[EagleRowe]

February marks my one year anniversary. Here are some things I have learned:

1. Add inventory. Having many listings makes your shop seem full and gives people more of an opportunity to buy. Once your shop is at around 100 items, things seem to pick up. At least they did for me.

2. Time. Having a good amount of sales seems to help. Not sure why. But once you pass a certain threshold, sales get more regular.

3. Thoughtful and organized descriptions. Also, link to other related listings in your item descriptions. This gives people the incentive to go deeper and not just leave. It can even be "See more of my pillows" and you link to a category. And do a search on your shop, grab that link, and input it in the listing.

4. SHARE! I love StumbleUpon and Pinterest. Sharing is fast and easy. You may get a lot of visits that bounce pretty quick, but I've made numerous sales from just Stumbling or Pinning my work and it takes less than a minute.

5. Picture of wrapping. If you specially wrap your items for shipment, show it off in your listing. It takes up a photo space, so one less pic to worry about, and gives people the sense they are splurging--making the increased price for handmade goods seem more palatable.

Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much!!! I really love your input Andrea..Will definitely put to work.

[Former_Member]

I am having the same problem.... I love the list Andrea.... going to start the tips ASAP :)

[Former_Member]

Thank you Donna and Belle!

[Former_Member]

You might also want to switch up the wording of your titles. For example:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87188412/christmas-3-little-monkeys-ornamentsby

I would switch up the wording to something like "Monkey Ornaments, Three Brown Monkeys by Katika".

I would also suggest moving the watermark on your photos to be farther in the corners, so they aren't shown in the thumbnail. The watermark is hindering your chances of being put into treasuries.

Also, show prices for shipping to other countries. I've heard that the UK etsy or any international etsy searches won't even bring up your listings if you don't offer shipping to those countries.

Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Cute shop!

I'd suggest fine tuning your listings. This cute giraffe listing is for 3 giraffes, but only one is listed. The last picture has a hippo and monkey in it. Buyers like to see exactly what they are purchasing. How cute would it be to see 3 giraffes in a row?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87994177/giraffes-ornamentsmade-to-order-by

You could also try tagging your listing with giraffe ornament, felt ornament or felt giraffe.

Your payment policy confuses me a bit -

"After payment is made and cleared, You will receive a confirmation email. This is the time to either cancel or accept the purchase. Either way, please re-send the email and confirm your choice.
After this confirmation no cancellation or returns will be accepted."

So, after the customer purchases the item through Etsy, you send another email double checking to see if they really want their order? I say just send the cute item on it's merry way to the customer! :)

Just a fyi - some customers prefer to purchase from shops with a return policy. Customers like to know that you will work with them to resolve any potential situations.

Good luck! :)

[Former_Member]

Thank you everyone! Great tips that I'll definitely put to work asap!
:)

[Former_Member]

I am having the same problem with my shop.I' ve been open since Sept and I have only got 3 sales. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I am not getting views I have a 10.00 a week search add that really isn't working for me it seems to be working against me. I f you have 10,000 impressions and 80 items is the 10,000 views a week divide up between 80 items.

[Former_Member]

Just looked at your shop. So cute. I was thinking you might want to tap more into the baby shower, baby gift thing instead of ornaments. My ornaments have not been a big hit; I don't know if they usually sell well.

Have you thought of doing mobiles for over the crib?

[Former_Member]

Alexis, I have actually made some of these for baby shower favors. But dine it's the holidays I have tagged as ornaments as well.
But definitely I will go stronger toward that area now.
Thank you!