How do you break your dry spell?

[Former_Member]

Lots of us go through them - dry spells

No amount of promotion, team treasuries, new inventory or listing tweaking will seem to make it stop.

Very disheartening for those of us who feel like we give it our best each day...

What do you do during your off-periods when you aren't making any sales? How do you bide the time or break your dry spells?

[lewisandbucky]

I try to make more headbands. Sometimes it brings in more views/favorites, but other times, it doesn't. At least it keeps me busy and enjoying my hobby, which is what this mainly is. I am slowly working toward the "magic number" of 100 items, so as long as I'm plugging away at that, I feel OK.
But I've been in a SERIOUSLY dry spell lately! I know how you feel! Hang in there and good luck! :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks Lewis and Bucky :)

I am doing the same - slowly making my way to 100. I hope to be there soon!

[ForgedMettleJewelry]

I just try to promote more (though that seldom works) and in I have enough materials laying around come up with new items and promote the hell outa them...

[Former_Member]

That's the spirit, Amy! Just keep on keeping on. Keep your head down and power through it.

That is what I am trying at the moment - making more bracelets and headbands and hoping that my next sale is any day now...

By the way - hiya New England neighbor! Greetings from the Cape and Islands!

[Former_Member]

Maggie , I worked on my shop photos. I was relentless, driven and crazy until I had a photo in natural light that I liked. It took days. But, it paid off. We have not had a dry spell for a month! Knock on wood....

[Former_Member]

That's a great question, Maggie!

I make stuff! hahaha I might try a new pattern, make stuff for gifts or for my kids, or just go with it and relax!

And a fuggetaboudit! from NY (although I'm way upstate so... closer to "eh?" lol)

[SallyAnnaBoutique]

Make more, experiment, tweak listings, reshoot photos, hang around in forums!

[Former_Member]

Good idea AKLaser! I've always been in such a rush to get something listed, that I sometimes sacrifice on the photos and tell myself, "good enough." I have some baby hats that I did that with and they hardly have any views at all. This week I am promoting them with the Etsy Ads to see if I should tweak tags/keywords, but I think I should spend this Memorial Day weekend retaking photos for these items.

Regards,
Monique

[HausofAriella]

I use my dry spells to catch up on open orders and implement some of my new ideas. I also try to tweak my older listings to make them more search friendly.

[beatroad]

I give myself a break. Whether it's a "dry spell" just general burn out, I take a break and do other things: read, watch tv, catch up with friends... After I've had some time to re-group, I start making new pieces and get wrapped up in the process all over again. That usually leads to sales. :)

[Former_Member]

I am learning to just let things be and put my attention on creating new products rather than obsess. Of course, I first ask for feedback to know how I can improve on my shop and do the best that i can to improve it. But I notice that shifting my attention from the situation helps not just my mood but my creativity. Also remembering that when it seems that nothing is happening, there really is a lot behind the scenes that is yet to unfold. Giving my best, tending to what is in my power and letting the rest go trusting that it is unfolding perfectly is what works for me...

[WilliamsGiftshop]

I am a designer and maker first.
A seller second.
So I don't have any dry spells. Just more time to design and create.
(And to improve my shop, my photo's, my descriptions, my tags, and to promote promote promote.)
More time to create will result in more new items in my shop, which usually brings more sales.
So, just keep going and enjoy the no-pressure time!

[ramonahall]

I'm new on etsy and found I was obsessively checking stats and tweaking tags and descriptions. Two days ago I made a decision to check no more than twice a day, morning and night. What a difference! I reorganized my work space and starting looking at some magazines to get ideas for new colors and combinations of stones. Had an incredibly successful couple of creative days. :) As a result, I was able to list several new things. Feels great.... I think that I was focusing so much on making the sale (none yet LOL) that I lost my creative energy. So best of luck to all and here's hoping that it starts raining soon.

[HouseOfMoss]

Etsy sales ebb and flow so unpredictably. When this happens to me, I do these things:

Etsy-related:
• Make new, different items (and post them)
• Make larger quantities of best-sellers
• Work on my photos
• Update my tags, titles, descriptions, policies, profile, and shop announcement
• Make a treasury
• Participate in the forums and teams :)

Non-Etsy-related:
• Write new blog posts
• Post on my Facebook business page
• Research and apply to new brick-and-mortar boutiques
• Research and apply to craft fairs
• Order supplies
• Tidy my workspace

...Basically I just use the time to re-group and re-invest. Slow sales times are great for catching up on all the things that get neglected when your shop is buzzing with sales, so be encouraged that things will pick up again and you'll be glad you did all the other stuff while you had time. And sometimes those very things are what get you noticed and end your dry spell! Best of luck to you!

[WatchMeWorld]

I use that time to design new pieces and try to come up with some fresh ideas for my shop. I usually also try to rework some pictures that I'm not totally happy with and just generally kind of do "spring cleaning" in my shop so to speak.

[Former_Member]

I use the time for new pictures, stocktacking and prepare new blog posts. And I try not to became crazy ;-))

[SouthernTrend]

I'm new to Etsy and was woundering what the magic 100 was all about? Is this just a goal or does something wounderful happen?? I've got a way to go before I reach that number. I try to post something new every few days when I can and I'm always working on stuff like taking pics of items i've made or re-do pics if needed, learn new things, work on my shop and make new items. I'm realy excited and hope for the best even though I haven't had a sale yet.
If it's just a goal...that's OK...happy Friday folks!!

[Former_Member]

I got a lot of great feedback earlier from the Business Topics forum. Since there's no orders pouring in (nor was there ever), I'm going to tweak my listings constantly till I see views increase. I'm also studying up on SEO some more, cause there's never enough you can learn! I'm taking a break from creating stuff since my budget doesn't allow more supplies. It's frustrating not being able to make things, but I have a sketchbook and notebook where I plan out what I want to do next. I need to sell sell sell first! :)

Edit to say, Rebecca there's nothing magic about 100. The magic is the more you list, the more you get noticed in searches.

[Former_Member]

Great ideas everyone!

I especially like this one from Bea

"I am a designer and maker first.
A seller second.
So I don't have any dry spells. Just more time to design and create."

That is how I should look at it. I am a creative person, a productive artist first. Selling is second, or always should be.

Thanks for helping me keep perspective everyone :) I am busy creating right now... sales will come when they come.

[Former_Member]

I agree with Alison - I use the time to rest, re-group and re-invest. Working in the garden does wonders for me - oh yeh, & cleaning up my house that gets neglected when I'm swamped! :)

[Former_Member]

I had this same question the other day. I'm in a super dry spell :( I did everything that was already mentioned. I have over 115 items in my shop, I'm still adding, but it is not as fun as when you are busy making orders. Not sure what to tell you other then the summer is pretty slow around here.

[Former_Member]

That's a shame that summer is usually slow! I was really hoping to sell a lot of my summer jewelry

Maybe I should just start wearing it to the beach and when people ask me where I got it - hand them my card?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/100195992/womens-summer-jewelry-yellow-hemp

[CopperLeafStudios]

I make a list of things I wish I could do if I only had the time. When things get slow, I do them :}

That list saved my sanity when I first became self-employed. It had everything from website tweaks, to stocking up on certain items, to contacting galleries, to cleaning my studio, to trying out new items... it had 100 things on it by the time I was done. Over the course of a year, little slow spots here and there, I crossed them all off.

[Emariecreations]

I use my dry spells to either make more items to have in stock or to list, or just RELAX! Sometimes those dry spells can be great times to just step away from the business and enjoy life.