Holiday Boot Camp - Week 4!

[#1]

This week is dedicated to mastering the art of communication. You probably saw our email earlier this week (you know, the one where we announced the fact that you can now change your shop name!). We are working hard to let buyers know there is an real person behind your Etsy shop. Buyers come to Etsy because they want to invest in a unique item made or collected by a unique person. This week's tasks focus on not only getting found online, but to also personally connecting with your buyers.

Let me know how you find the tasks this week and if you have any questions!

[CandiWareArt]

very helpful trying to add a little more to my items :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks for all these great posts.

I've been focusing a lot on live craft sales for the last little while and know I need to put more energy into my Etsy shop. I've had great communication with my previous clients, but have yet to figure out how to get my views up. I have a blog www.kokobaru.ca, a Facebook page www.facebook.com/kokobaru, as well as a twitter account #kokobarucreates, but I find it's been slow going getting people to find my stuff = super low views.

I really appreciate the work that you guys are doing to help us learn and improve our shops.

Thanks so much.

[toriska]

I'm still working on my photos from last week's challenge! Luckily I think my SEO is pretty good. Descriptions are definitely something I want to try to flesh out though.

[Former_Member]

Wow! This is alot of information. I hope my head stays on while i'm trying to process it all. Thank you for doing the research and sharing the knowledge.

[FantasyFairyTaleArt]

Can someone post or send me week 4. It went into my junk mail and I accidently deleted it.

Thanks in advance...

[Former_Member]

FlowerPowerExcessori you have some really cute stuff! It just takes time to build a customer base. I have a new shop to. Trying to work the social media angle - that's been my best source of clients. Message me if you'd like to chat!

[Former_Member]

I added customer feedback to my product listings and my shop announcement. I can tell people how much I love things, but knowing that someone else has had a great experience with them makes people that much more likely to buy.

I have also added the details, like measurements, simply because my customers were frequently asking me about the things that this week is about limiting. I think it depends on the item that you are selling.

[Former_Member]

Lorrie gives some really great tips in her Symposium in the Etsy Success online labs. She mentioned a few easy ways to connect to buyers that I found very helpful. Just a thought in case you want to watch the video!

[Former_Member]

Realizing that things don't happen overnight helps. doing a little each day to improve my store and my designs is part of the process...your tips are such a help...thanks team

[JeannieGrayKnits]

Doesn't sound like it, but has anyone else had trouble with the worksheet? Mine downloads & prints microscopically. It literally takes up less than 1.5 inches in the center of the page. Can't begin to read anything it says. I haven't had any trouble with any of the previous weeks.

[TheWindfallTree]

Marking!! Just got my email and printing it out!

[Former_Member]

I really think this whole boot camp thing is working...I just sold 3 items! I haven't had a sale in quite a while and I was feeling quite down. I'm so happy to have the opportunity to interact with my customers, and I'll make sure to ask for feedback!

Go Team Boot Camp!

[Former_Member]

Jeanie,
My printer auto sets to "Shrink to Printable Area" when I tell my computer to print the checklist. This makes mine TINY! If you click on "Fit to printable area" instead, that will scale it normally, or at least it did so in my case.

[RaskolInkLLC]

Awesome info. I was under the impression that naming things similar but just a touch different was the way to go. Officially I have become the SEO Pitfall icon. Changes are going to be put into effect.
Cheers!

[Former_Member]

Working on editing our descriptions, titles and tags for SEO this week! Keep the e-mails coming!

[Former_Member]

In terms of customer care and service: Don't be afraid of your customers and what they may request of you. Be there for them.

I have learned to relax and not worry about all the twists and turns that come up with my shop. The mantra is "Why not? Let's see where this goes". It's pretty liberating and creates true generosity and friendship between the buyer and seller. To me, this is the most important point. That relationship - nurturing it and keeping it.

So much effort goes into setting up and maintaining a shop and it's easy to get caught there. It's easy to worry when there aren't sales. Lovechrissa is so right when she says that none of this happens overnight. It's a slow process that happens over time and asks for consistency, patience, and ALOT of tinkering and learning of the ropes. That's a good thing because we have some space to tighten up our shops, work on new designs, and learn more what it takes to do online business (so different from talking to buyers face to face).

Selling on Etsy is much more than just selling stuff. I am a better person for my experience with Etsy - they have helped me be with people using this remarkably weird technology (weird for me anyway) and then there's the bookkeeping, photography, writing, SEO etc. etc. etc. tips, advice, encouragement and loving support. It is remarkable what is available to us here. It's the best most fun hands-on business school!

Keep up the good work, everyone! Sorry if this is long. I've been feeling especially grateful to Etsy today.

[Former_Member]

jenniferwhitmer I love your grateful post. It is a nice reminder of all the good things we learn and experience here.

I am interested to know how the worksheet exercise was. Did anyone come up with any interesting customer experience examples to use in their descriptions?

I sell Venetian glass jewelry and many of my face to face customers have been to Italy or Venice and my jewelry reminds them of their trip. I have tried to condense this (because I can be too wordy already) into "bring a little piece of Venice into your world" Am I on the right track here?

[MarysPintsizedPieces]

@ Artcain love your air plant display. I am a floral designer and always look for neat ways to display them. I'm sure our customers would love them in a pumpkin or gourd. Great job!

[Former_Member]

Started on week 4 of the etsy bootcamp today. I mailed my favorite customer, who bought multiple items from me. I wonder what she will mail back. What her customer experience is.
I still have to work on somethings of week 3 though. Photographing has been an uphill battle for me. But i am slowly getting better at it.

[Former_Member]

So how do I make this happen?

I don't have a customer base to communicate with?

Or shop stats.

[Former_Member]

i have not truly made a beginning on week 4. My etsy Boot Camp work was place on hold when I lost a good friend. Photographs are getting better though and I went through my shop and made certain every listing had all 5 slots used. I wish to make an experience of purchasing a win win situation for both my buyer and for myself. I always welcome questions and feedback. I am enjoying Boot Camp. Lots to think about and lots to work on...

[Former_Member]

I too am in the same boat as many that I don't yet have any feedback... hopefully that will pick up soon.

As it is I will just ask for friends opinion of the products to gauge what people think when they didn't make it. I tend to be a little biased (often see the negatives too) where as others have no idea what you saw in your mind to create, just what they would like to get out of what they see.

[Former_Member]

Hello, everyone. I'm not very new, but not with lots of experience in selling here, on Etsy. Though I have lots of fans here, in Lithuania :) Try to ask them, what they think and how to get more noticed. I guess it's lot's of work to do till it happens, but I'll be very persistent and I'll succeed. Wish the same for all of you :)
Some the things that I changed, is that I made some photos on myself. It's hard to do, but I don't have any other model so far. Also made some changes in tags..

jenniferwhitmer, thanks for your time. And your beautiful minds.
..Seems, I'm also too long :D

[Former_Member]

Today I'm working on re-doing my profile - I think it sounds too much like a press release and not enough of a friendly intro.

I've been open since March, but my view numbers are pretty pitiful...have had several critiques on my shop and they've been positive, so I'm still mystified. I participate in discussions and teams, but have to spend more time creating items which limits my time online to promote. It seems to be a catch 22...

[Former_Member]

I have sent out info to customers in order to receive feedback and I plan on updating my tags.