How often do you get discouraged?

[Former_Member]

Not even just in sales- also in the "is this the right thing for me?"

I have only had my store for 2 or 3 months. I've made 13 sales, which I think is okay/good for my genre. Since I've been open I have been on an emotional roller coaster! Falling in love with fabrics, being dejected after listing something I just know people will love. Excitement over a sale or being featured in a treasury. Wondering if doing this and taking time/money away from my family is the right thing. Seeing how much other people are selling; stressing about pricing and budgets...

Don't get me wrong- I love it!!! But I am just wondering if all these emotions are normal and if so, how long do they last? Do they ever regulate?

[SomsStudio]

Every day. And then I pick up the pieces and go again. :)

[Former_Member]

I get discouraged every time I check my stats (which is quite often) and see that nothing has changed over the last 34 seconds:)

But then when there is a sale.......................................

Greetings from Poland and Good luck with your shop!!!!!

[Former_Member]

little reading for you courtney hope it helps some http://etsypreneur.com/the-first-fan-is-you-need-in-your-circles-is-you/

[Former_Member]

If Etsy is the only place you sell it must be hugely daunting. Keep up your efforts here but explore offline ways to sell (if you don't already) through local markets, fairs etc.

[Former_Member]

Yeah.. It happens to me too, I open about the same time, but have just few sales, but I am trying to stay positive. Anyway, it is a good experience in your life to manage online shop and have your own business.

[Former_Member]

I have felt that way since I started too! I have made 5 sales in a month (very grateful for), but have sold the same item and it's a seasonal, so my fear is once fall is over, that's it for me. I certainly hope not.
I try to be positive and really love the things I make, but it's hard sometimes when it seems nobody else does.

[fieldtrip]

um...... every. day. but the sooner i turn it around the better. i used to get distracted/discouraged for days and weeks at a time.

now it lasts a couple minutes or less (but that couple minutes is nerve racking) - but i turn it around and return to work and that's been great for my shop :)

[Former_Member]

All the time! haha :) Yes I think it's normal, Etsy (or similar venues) can be a roller coaster ride. Running your own business single handed is a big job, especially if you're relying on the income.

I've been selling for a year and have had lots of highs and lows. For me there was also a steep learning curve. I thought I knew what I was doing (without being cocky) yet once I'd started I quickly realised that there was SO much more I needed to learn and understand.

After a year I feel like I've got a much better handle on things yet I know for sure there's plenty I still need to get my head round and/or get on with if I want this business to be a success! Time is my biggest obstacle.

You've made 13 sales which is fantastic. It's taken me a year to make around that many :)

If you really want to do this I say put your whole self into it. Learn everything you can but most of all take care of yourself. If you need to take a break, take one and if you need help and support with Etsy, ask. I've always found everyone wonderfully helpful!

[Former_Member]

...and your dresses are gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!! <3

Where do you promote? Promotion outside of Etsy is really important!

Have you considered getting yourself a blog feature? There's a blog team (I'll post you a link in a mo) I'm in and I posted asking for blog features and got several replies /offers

[Former_Member]

Here's the link to the team

http://www.etsy.com/teams/8156/blog-and-sponsor-connection

[ChrisOsCreations]

i think everyone has moments like that
at least i do
when i have bad mood, i start thinking negatively and that doesn't help:(

gl :-)

[Former_Member]

Today...today I am having such a day. So maybe I'll just go and sit in my atelier and create. Shut the head and let hands and heart do their work... A pot of tea may also help...I am deliberately saying pot ' cause a cup isn't enough on days like this.

[KriyaDesign]

When the store have zero views and equally zero sale, I fuss

When the store have 10 sales and more views daily, I still fuss

When the store reaches the milestone of 1,000 sales, and 3 digit views, I still fuss, even more. Now wanting for the "good" thing to continue

When the store about to break another mile stone and pushing through to 2,000 sales, and reaches its 4 digit views, I fuss even harder.

I guess its the nature of the beast, always reaching to tap into the best it could possibly get to

I love the challenge of outdoing myself. Its hard work and, yet, every morning I can't wait to wake up to it

[Former_Member]

Being a new store, I am freaking out about every other minute and wondering if/when that first sale will happen

[Former_Member]

Thanks everyone- glad to know it is normal! I know it makes sense, because we are doing something we are passinate about. It's just exhausting!

I look forward to reading that link. And no, I don't have a blog. I know it will help, but I just don't know what time I would use!

[JewelMeShop]

I sell on Etsy for a year. After an August of no sales at all I got really frustrated and thought that maybe is not the right thing for me. I always have the feeling that I'm doing something wrong.
But I can't leave this place. I love making things and show them to other people. Moreover even If sales does not come from here, this shop is my only opportunity to tell people who like my creations that there is a place they can see my work.

[GabriellasTreasures]

Hi Courtney!
If you didn't feel that way, you would not be like the rest of us! hahaha

I've been here almost a year with 51 sales, so 13 in a few months is truly awesome! (to me anyway).

Your shop is adorable, prices good, photos good, just keep doing it, takes time, don't stress too much if you can help it, enjoy what you do - that is the most important. and don't take too much time away from your family, or you will feel guilty!

Good Luck - do not give up!

[Former_Member]

Yes some days I think why do I do this. ( yesterday was a bad day). Then I woke up this morning with a whole new look. I've been here for 4 years and I do still have those days. So you will get that feeling at times, then you make a sale then you love it all over again....

[ArtistLydiaMakepeace]

Sometimes I feel like a phony and that I'm delusional to think that anyone would want to buy ANYTHING at all that I make. I've even had family say that I expect too much for my creations and that I should sell my stuff cheap or give it away for free just to get it "out there".

Well, I've been giving myself away for years and I want to have more confidence. I don't want to put myself on sale anymore. I want to fight to know that I deserve respect and that my voice and creative point of view are worth something. I need a lot of support fom my supportive friends and family. My husband has been my leader and greatest champion. He believes in me even when I don't believe in myself.

It helps to know that everyone experiences doubt at some time in their creative process.

[Former_Member]

You are doing very well for being open such a short time. I had my biggest month ever in August, since Sept. 1st - NOTHING!! I got discouraged for about five minutes and now I am working on cleaning things up and taking pictures of things I haven't listed yet!

[dalystudios]

I probably question my sanity at least once a week. (Well, more often than that..but I am talking specifically about my Etsy addiction!) I put so much time into all this -- time that I can ill afford. And I am selling very inexpensive items, so it really doesnt make a lot of sense. I estimate that I'm making a penny an hour :-/ But at least it's a profit, rather than a loss...and I'm learning lots.

[EarthlieTreasures]

I have the exact same thoughts.. I have asked for a shop critique.
I do not mind working hard, But I DO MIND wasting my time and efforts on something that is useless... I've been opened since June and have had only SIX sales... totally discouraged!

[Former_Member]

I had five log wedding orders to complete over the weekend. Felt like I was on top of the world....then when I shipped off that last order, sigh. A big fat zero under orders for the day. Whaaaa! Then I checked it last night and another sale. Whoohoo! Top of the world. Today is still a zero for sales. Bah. But who knows about later tonight. :)

Definitely a roller coaster. I try to enjoy being stressed and over busy and I try to stay motivated to keep making things during the lows - hoping that will bring sales and bring back the highs. :)

[Former_Member]

I do everyday. I try to also input some positives to counteract the negative. Or I try to create more things.