How do I generate traffic to my site?

[DeeDeeDzyn]

I've had my Etsy shop up and running for almost 2 months now and am having no success. I keep revisiting my items and trying to refine the descriptions. I've changed some of the photos. Nothing seems to help to generate traffic to my site. I've also had no sales. Please help!

[TheSnapDragonsLair]

HI,

Jewelry seems to be a tough market on Etsy. But, your items are lovely, so don't get down quite yet! You just opened your shop. People have to find you and then once they see your items, word will get out...

One suggestion is to add more tags, many more tags.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78852998/handwoven-beaded-black-and-pink-bracelet

for this one, try adding
handwoven bracelet
beaded bracelet
black and pink
Glass cubes
silver toggle

You've had 4 views on this already and it's been listed for less than 2 weeks! That's not bad in the Etsy world.

Next, do you tweet each item you list? If you have not, get moving on that.

What about a facebook fan page?

I'm only the first to send you a reply. Many others will follow so you will have lots of advice.

Donna

[Former_Member]

indeed! Tags!

and treat this link like your Etsy Bible -->

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/the-etsy-seller-handbook-all-our-how-tos-about-selling/

[Former_Member]

I do shopping from the forums often...if you added an avatar pic that would be a draw for me personally.

[PearlesPainting]

I think you should write a profile...so you can tell your potential customers who "we" are. You should also get an avatar or profile photo.
You should use all 5 photo spots in every listing....
I would also make the descriptions a little longer and add a personal touch to them...Like who made the piece and what inspired them to use those beads, those colors or create that design.
Use all tags available. The more tags the better chance to be found during searches. Use tags that a potential buyer might use to look for your pieces.

after you work on your titles, descriptions, photos and tags...promote promote promote...Facebook fan pages, Twitter, sutmble upon...

You have a ton of competition in jewelry...you need to make yourself stand out from the rest.
Good luck.

[DeeDeeDzyn]

Donna

Thank you so much for your advice. I will definitely move on a Facebook page and Twitter.

[JoArtyJo]

I was going to say the sam thing about the avatar :-)

And in general, posting in forums/ joining teams helps to get you noticed!

Good luck, I am in the same boat as you almost 2 months and only 2 sales (and they were from a BNR and a BNS....)

Oh and I have just opened a facebook page and it tweets automatically, seems to be generating some traffic, link is in my profile if you are interested. I also just bought a gig on fiverr.com where someone with 11,000 followers is tweeting my shoo link twice a day for a month for $5! hoping Thay brings me traffic too!

Jo :-)

[DeeDeeDzyn]

I thought my tags were adequate - now I know I need more work on them. What is an avatar picture? What is sutmble upon?

I so appreciate all the advice. Thanks!

[ACleverSpark]

I agree about the tags, they need to all be used. Another thing I noticed is that you put the beaded pink and black bracelet as for women and birthday. Don't limit it to birthday, it is an anytime gift!
I'm no pro at this, but because jewelry is such a big catagory you might look through some of the treasurys that have jewelry and see some of their photos. Maybe you could make them a little more interesting or show them on a model for one of the pictures.
Don't give up, your pieces are beautiful and this is apparently a slow time of year.

[Former_Member]

Just your profile picture, if you look next to our names you will see an image there and yours doesn't have one yet. I think you update it in your shop profile.

[DeeDeeDzyn]

Wow, you are all so amazing! I feel so encouraged by your support. I feel I have a better understanding on how to improve. It is so daunting in the beginning. I tried to add Etsy to my Facebook page, but now realize that I need to have a separate one for my shop. Thanks so much.

[DeeDeeDzyn]

Does the avatar need to be a photo of me or a symbol that represents my shop?

[PearlesPainting]

It could be either...
Whichever you are comfortable with.

[DeeDeeDzyn]

Thank you all so much.

[Former_Member]

That is personal preference, I prefer an item because it draws me into the shop. A lot of shop owners feel the exact same way about a picture of him or herself.

[Former_Member]

@ DeeDeeDzyn
Hi Deedee..I was at your shop and I like the items...but for Etsy and especially jewelry, photography is VERY important. Some of them are really great such as Orange Quartz Beaded Necklace . But there is oppertunity to take even better pics at close range . So, you should invest in product photography or a camera for close range that takes detailed pics. That will go a long way... Hope I helped :)

[DeeDeeDzyn]

Thank you, Sizzlestrapz. I bought a new camera to take better pictures, but I obviously need to learn how to do it better.

[Former_Member]

DeeDee just curious..if you don't mind me asking, what camera and lens are you using?

[CloeNoel]

DeeDee- Your shop is on the right path. See if your new camera has a macro setting. That setting helps with close up shots for jewelry. Also if you have photoshop that will help brighten the white photos.

Kim

[DeeDeeDzyn]

I'm using a Sony Cyber-shot camera with a 16x Optical Zoom and 24 mm Wide-angle lens. I'm not sure about the macro setting - I'll have to take out the manual again.

[Former_Member]

okay thanks, with this camera you will have to look for macro setting as CloeNoel suggested.

Rich

[Former_Member]

I find that I get a lot of hits on my page when I post things on twitter. I don't over post, because it bogs down my friend's feeds. But posting once or twice a day usually gets me about 20 hits on my shop. :) Good luck!

[SeamsOriginal]

Hi DeeDee - I peeked at your shop and you have cute items. To me Etsy is like a maze and everywhere I turn there is more info and ideas !!! Sometimes I feel I am too old to learn all this !! One suggestion I have - is there a way to list what the beads mean (birthstone, healing properties, history of the type of beads) I have a prayer bracelet and a Pandora and all the beads have a meaning to them and I like that. IDK ??? Just a thought. Best of luck - I am still trying to get my 25 likes for FB
www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Seams-Original-on-Etsy/189300794470391

I will like and friend yours so it posts on mine and if you would like to you can like mine too.
We are all sisters here for the same reason !!

xoxo,
Cheri