How Can Facebook Help?

[MeadowSongArts]

I'm trying to figure out how to use facebook to promote Etsy. I'm having a hard time.

Here's my facebook link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Meadow-Song-Arts/234936559886067?sk=app_169505045786

[VLapsaHomeSweetHome]

Well,I also don't really get facebook..I don't know.I'm not very lucky with promoting in other sites :(

[Former_Member]

I just cross-post my new listings to my personal facebook page. I have a lot of friends who are knitters and crocheters, so they do come and browse and then they often post my listings on their pages as well.

It's kind of mini-viral. :D

[Former_Member]

My concern with facebook is avoiding being too spammy with it. I don't want to constantly barge people with "omg look what I just listed!" posts, because I know that can turn people off from checking out your page and keep being your "fan."

What I try to do instead is use facebook as a way to build the personal connection for which a lot of people turn to etsy. For example, I'll have statuses like "It's triple digits outside, and I'm here crocheting hats and scarves. Wow, can't wait for cooler weather!" or if I do share a listing (because I do), I say why I'm excited about it: "I've been working so hard on this design -- it's so great to see how it finally came out! Yes!"

I also keep my photo albums updated with one pic of each item I've listed, and when people comment, then I respond back with the listing url and something else personalized.

Not sure how successful this is, but at least it makes me feel better about not being a spammer. Only problem is I need to figure out how to get potential buyers to "fan" me -- right now it's other etsy sellers and my personal friends. And hey, in case you're interested, here's the page: http://www.facebook.com/danadooleydesigns

Hope this helps! I'd be interested in hearing what other people do.

[Former_Member]

You have to work to both update your FB page and draw fans to the page. Start off with friends and family and hopefully other people will start viewing your page, as well. Be realistic though, all the time and effort required to get fans on Facebook might not yield a lot of shop views and sales. Good luck, though!

[Former_Member]

Oh! Also another thing you can do on facebook is have a special coupon code for your fans. For example, I recently reached 100 fans, so to celebrate I created FACEBOOK100 as a code that gives them 20% off. I set it as my status, framing it as a thank-you to everyone for their support.

Now with that said, I have yet for someone to actually use the code, but I think that's because I need more potential buyers "liking" me. Nevertheless, it's a good way to use FB as a promotional tool.

[TheSnapDragonsLair]

My problem is my friends and family do not collect what I sell. They do not care what I'm listing and I think some of them have hidden my posts just so they don't have to deal with it.

I do continue to ask for likes for my Etsy fan page, but even then, I agree with others who say this is not making a big difference, so far, at least.

[Former_Member]

Hey guys, I feel better reading this discussion, because I have a lot of the same thoughts and concerns. I agree with danadooleydesigns that it's good to try and add a personal note. Looking at your FB page, I also think your followers would have fun seeing your latest creations and your smiling face, so I don't think people would mind getting your daily posts even if they aren't buying right then. What I like about fan pages is that they at least tell you how many "impressions" were made by each post. Not sure what exactly what that means, though. But it seems like a good sign when I get more impressions than I have fans. So somewhere somehow is seeing this stuff.

[Former_Member]

Speaking of impressions... on the right side of your fan page, there should be a link to "view insights." That's basically like shop stats of facebook: shows you how many active users you have, as well as post feedback and everything, all graphed. I'm still working on making sense of it and seeing if it's worth my time to think about, but it's a great thing to check out if you're a statistics person, like me. :)

Also, I'm considering changing my facebook page's picture to the one of me in my etsy avatar, but maybe have a d3 to the side in the lighter space. But my only hesitation is that I want people to know it's my business page, as separate from my personal page -- and a face (versus a product) might make that distinction confusing. Hmm, I'll have to think about it....

[MeadowSongArts]

Wow. Almost sounds useless.

[Former_Member]

I've had my facebook page only a short time and somehow people I don't even know are finding and "liking" it. Not a lot of people, but some. They do seem to want to see what new items I post. I think it just takes a while to build up to a point of bringing sales.

[Former_Member]

Wow - this is great! I don't have a FB page but I've heard I should have one to promote my business (and be on Twitter). I get a little concerned as to how many places I need to update when I have a new listing.

For those of you who have FB, is it worth it?

[SevenBlueberries]

I have a deal of the day on facebook, it sold yesterday! I also update regularly on it by posting items I have uploaded here. It helps with a bit of exposure. I have also offered giveaways too!

[Former_Member]

I like to post shop news and what I'm working on on my facebook page. I also use it to stay current on the shops I like. I'm starting to see a separation of my FB accounts and this is a good thing. I've had a few orders from people who saw it on my FB first, and that is wonderful. I also use my fan page as a working section for notes on how I made beads in case I need to make similar ones again. I don't know if this helps, but I love having separate pages.

--Carol

[Former_Member]

@Seven, what a great idea! I love the deal a day! If you don't mind, how do you make it a deal? Is there a way that you create a coupon code just for that one item, and advertise it with the code? Or do you edit the price of that specific listing just for that day? This sounds like a great idea that I would love to adopt, if you don't mind.

I think FB is worth it, if for nothing more than giving me a forum to express excitement over new designs/share shop news/etc, all of which help personalize what my shop has to offer. I can't get myself to Twitter, though.

[Former_Member]

@danadooleydesigns--Have you considered using the photo of you with your handmade purple aviator hat on that in your Etsy listing as your FB avatar? That photo shows both you AND your product, which seems to answer your question about which to use--use both! Just an idea.

In case you're interested, my facebook page is: www.facebook.com/TaylorArts
Sure would love to get some more likes. But mostly I think it's just helpful to see what other people are doing with their pages. We just made a jewelry video.
Good luck everyone!
Christine

[Former_Member]

@danadooleydesigns - you've had a lot of good input on here. I like your approach to being more personal and trying not to spam. I think that's definitely the way to go. Thanks :)

[Former_Member]

I opened a FB page... and then decided to keep it frozen for a while. It seems quite high maintenance and friends and family (who are the first to be the fans of a FB page) are already informed of my listings (via a photo album, so it does not look so spammy), it does seem like a good choice to re-open it in the future, but in the meantime, I should just fill my shop up!

[LittleShopofElleSee]

I only post on Facebook once a day. That is my rule. I find nothing more annoying that a page that updates 4-5 times a day (those are the ones you really want to hide). I sometimes post items that I have listed, and sometimes I post my current blog post, or someone else's blog post that I love or inspires me. I try to mix it up so people aren't bombarded by "my shop! my shop! my shop!"

[Former_Member]

@LittleShipofElleSee--I totally agree that once a day is a good limit to FB page postings. More than that is sort of a nuisance. I tend to ignore people who do the blitz thing.
@lemondear--I do agree that the priority should be making stuff and getting it listed. I try to create one thing and promote one thing a day, but don't always manage even that, since there's so much to keep up with.
Got to run get busy right now. Just sold a bracelet. Yay!