Holiday Boot Camp Week Three: Bring on the Buyers

[Former_Member]

Great job on getting halfway through Holiday Boot Camp! (If you’re not quite there, no worries! Keep following along at your own pace - that’s the beauty of it.)

Now that you’ve got your shop stocked and spruced for the holidays, it’s time to focus on keywords and marketing, two of the key ingredients to getting found by holiday shoppers. What are you doing to ensure buyers find your items this holiday season? Share your strategies below!

Also, RSVP for this Friday’s online video workshop, Bring on the Buyers: A talk with Etsy’s Social Media pro David Morgan, Editor in Chief, Alison Feldmann and Seller Education guru, Cheyne Little.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/event/8639680517

Not signed up for Boot Camp yet? Sign up here: https://www.etsy.com/emails/seminars

Looking forward to reading your thoughts on how you're bringing on buyers!
Shannon

[Former_Member]

Is there a charge for the bootcamp?

[CurlicueCreations]

Still trying to finish my deadline projects so I can get back to work on my shop for the holidays. I'm reading all the posts, though.

[Former_Member]

I've been working on my marketing all year so that my target market is aware of what I have to offer.

By working all year, hopefully when it comes time for them to buy they will remember that I have the items that they are looking for, not only at the holidays but year round as well.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

Good point from crochetgirl!
During the Holidays season buyers come to buy the products from my shop (and outside of Etsy) that they've been having an eye on during the rest of the year.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

Did I just call you crochetgirl? Sorry, crochetgal!

[BlueSkyPotteryCO]

Thanks, Shannon. I'm finding all the worksheets and tips you've provided very helpful...and I've been an etsy seller almost since the site was formed. You can always use refreshers and learn something new.

[Former_Member]

Very happy about this segment of the boot camp. My downfall is my keywords! I'm pretty much stuck after placing what it is, the color, the style and materials which only adds up to 5 or 6 keywords and or tags. What do I put for the other 6 or 7 tags? Hope to learn just that come Friday.

[Former_Member]

Sidney, just in case you haven't found out yet, there isn't any charge for the boot camp.

[MyBrownWren]

I've received my ticket for the online video workshop on Friday but have no instructions on how to access it. Will we be getting an email about that?

[Former_Member]

Hi Tammi-

Once you register, eventbrite will email you a confirmation and you can click the link that reads, "Bring on the Buyers" on Friday or.. go to the Eventbrite and login.

More info that might help from Eventbrite...

How to view:
5 minutes before the start time, visit the Online Labs Page
Create a username to join the chat.
The moderator will prompt you to press play at the start of the event.
Pro Tip: Be sure to update your browser for the best video experience!

I hope this helps!

[Former_Member]

Will it be recorded for future viewing? Though I am signed up (I am not 100% sure I'll be able to attend it in time.

[Former_Member]

Enjoying reading your posts though and trying to implement them.

[Former_Member]

Can't wait for the segment this friday. I still struggle with this part badly and hope to improve my shop after this friday.

What has helped you guys getting found?

[OnceAgainSam]

You guys rock! Thanks for doing this. I'm signed up and ready to learn learn learn!

[SilverLilyJewelry]

My second boot camp and once again I'm scrambling! But I'm o.k with it because I also have 3 boys who demand a lot of attention! I've been keeping a log of my keywords that work through my shop stats and I'm improving on the ones that haven't been working for me.

[Former_Member]

I am doing pretty good. I am working on keywords and pictures and more product. I realize why I don't have sales yet. Hard to swallow but I had to face the truth. I really would love some ideas on pinterest. I am new to it.

[MadewithLovebyDeena]

I have been through my shop - and It seems like a work in progrees. I change something - then look again - and tweek it a little more - and so on and so forth. Constantly looking at things - and comparing to others, etc. My hardedst problem I think is the pictures - I have a very limited place to take pictures and a very limited camera - but I have used photofuze and it seems to help. Still working on them, however...and probably never will be satisfied. Sales are very slow - none this week... ;( yet- but hoping that will change

[Former_Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Team,

I know some of you have already answered these questions, but there seem to be a few areas of confusion that I'd like to clear up:

1) Holiday Boot Camp and the Online Labs event associated with it are FREE

2) To log in for an online lab after you've signed up, follow these instructions (also listed on the Eventbrite registration page)

-5 minutes before the start time, visit the Online Labs Page
-Create a username to join the chat.
-The moderator will prompt you to press play at the start of the event.
-Pro Tip: Be sure to update your browser for the best video experience!

Hope this is helpful!
Shannon

[MrAndMrsWallet]

Hi,
Just registered for the talk to morrow. Thanks for organizing it.

[Former_Member]

With a gazillion sellers on Etsy to compete with, it's easy to get buried alive in Browse and Searches, so in addition to tweaking my tags and keywords endlessly, I focus on driving customers to my shop through outside sources-- my facebook page, blog, Pinterest (all free) and a few strategic ads on favorite blogs and facebook. That, coupled with attention to customer service and encouraging repeat customers, is about all I can think of to do (besides keep my fingers crossed)!

[DLpottery]

I try the social media sites to bring in traffic, but it seems as if everyone is trying to do the same. I feel like I am so buried and can't figure out how to be seen. I read and do all the tips. Doesn't work so well for me. I will also have my fingers crossed this holiday season....praying for sales :)

[Former_Member]

I'm not very adept at outside social media... I know its something I need to work on, but just haven't found the time.
(looks sheepish)
;)

[RaisedBridges]

I am currently re-writing my Titles and descriptions to try to be found with Google Search. It's a lot of work, but have seen a bump in views since I began this. And a slight bump in sales which is good. Still have a lot of tweeking to do. I try to tackle a few each day and then promote at least 1 to 2 items per day on the Social Media Sites.

I recently joined an etsy team called Promo Oasis, they have threads dedicated t each Social Media Site as well as conduct "Social Media School" where they dedicate 2 weeks to concentrate on each social media site. So far they have conducted "Twitter School", " Google School", "Wanelo School
and "Pinterest School". Right now they are doing an Etsy School. It has really helped me with Social Media Marketing.

[AppalachianVelvet]

My marketing strategy consists not only of being a lot more active on my business Facebook page and Twitter page but also joining Pinterest and building boards there quickly. It's still not that easy to get found if you're a little shop out there by yourself; joining Etsy teams and being fairly active at least 3 days a week has given me a huge boost in views and increased my Klout.
I use Google Analytics, Twitter's Analytics and Klout to keep track of changes in visibility. It's always good to look at hard numbers and they also show you what is working and what isn't. Being active in Teams makes a big difference! Like other Team members' social media pages and their shops and these efforts are more consistently reciprocated in a much larger percentage than just random favoriting, liking, pinning, etc.