How to turn views into sales??

[SunshineOnWater]

Hi,
I have had my etsy shop going for about 6 months. Views are ok and my tags seem to be working well but I wonder if my desciptions are not enticing people to actually buy. I have taken new pictures with white backgrounds for most of my items. I only have US shipping as an option for my shell items due to customs- I know that may limit some people. Otherwise, I wonder about my desciptions- any ideas?
Much of my art is summer-y so I want to take prime advantage of this time of year.

Thank you-
Betsy :-)

[hydeandstitched]

Patience? I've actually only rarely seen a correlation between views and sales, and typically I can only tie the two together when I know the views are coming from a treasury or feature.

Some of your on white photos are a bit blown out (I have the same issue with some of mine too) it looks like you may be hitting them with a light / flash directly? I will say that with your fishy, the outdoor photo features a much more appealing looking item.

Personally, I have a hard time getting a sense of scale from any of your photos and that would deter me. Do you have a beach themed room you could photograph them in?

Also, with regards to your earring listing (http://www.etsy.com/listing/103692735/shell-and-wood-seed-bead-earrings), the second photo is stellar and should be your main photo for those listings. My girlfriend also will be far more likely to walk away from a potential earring purchase if there isn't a picture with it actually in someones ear. Again, another sense of scale thing.

Hope that helps, don't get too bent out of shape over a view to sale ratio. These are also the slower months for Etsy.

[SunshineOnWater]

It's funny because you always hear that items should be taken on white backgrounds and I have retaken a lot of my photos to be this way... Would it be look strange as a shop whole if some are on outdoor and some white background...
Nope, I don't use a flash, just natural light, I think it is the touch of metallic in the paint on some of my items that makes it look as if a flash was used along with the angle maybe.

I totally agee about the sense of scale of my items, them in a setting/room would be a good idea. My plaster art is generally all under 10" so this should be portayed somehow. Thanks for the earring advice, Just changed the first picture.
Thank you!

[Former_Member]

Hey Betsy.. And Brandon (who I'm about to agree and disagree with ;-) I personally love the first picture of your earrings you can see how they hang and the details. I like the lighting and the background and it's cute how there hung on the string, simple and cute I really like it and not a big fan of the send one and really like the third as well, but I do agree that there needs to be a way to tell or visualize the size and length of the earrings. Some people place them next to everyday items like a quarter or a ruler just so the customer can get a better idea. Now as far as the earring in the ear thing in a catalog where there are thousands fine, but in a handmade, only one pair environment no! I don’t want earrings that have been in anyone else’s ears! No thank you.. lol so maybe if you could find one of those styrofoam heads to show them on but I wouldn’t suggest "real ears" lol that would turn me off completely so it’s probably best to stay neutral lol hope this helps and at least now you have 2 different ways to look at things. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

I think you pictures are fine, but you could use more items in our shop. I have a ceramic head with pierced ears that I sometimes use in earring photos, but I don't sell many earrings, mostly pendants. I would never take a photo of anyone wearing my earrings. It is just too gross to think of buying a pair of earrings that someone has worn.

Good luck with your shop. You have some really nice items, but you need more to help people find you.

[PIXELGRINphotography]

Hi Betsy

Your earrings are just lovely! If I wore them I would certainly buy them. I checked out the Beach Starfish listing because I just love beach/ocean themed stuff and everything looked good to me. Maybe you could be a little more descriptive and setting a mood to really hook the reader.

I get a decent amount of views too, and a lot of favorites but not too many sales and chalk this up to a variety of reasons other than something I'm doing wrong. I think 1 sale per 200 views is about an average expected return on just advertising alone. I always keep that in mind..

[Former_Member]

I think you have too many of the same or very similar items on one page. See if you can increase your inventory and spread out your items.

[Former_Member]

If anyone on here finds a guaranteed way to turn views into sales, let us know. If your tags and pictures are really good, you may actually see a little dip in views but an uptick in sales and favorites. The reason is this: you are actually targeting people who may be interested in buying. It's not about having a millions views, but rather having the right views.
People will differ on how your pictures should be done. A human model is always nice, but that's not to say that you can't have success without one. Work on a theme for your pictures, try a model, use a neutral background, use an object for some variety, and see what works.

[SunshineOnWater]

I am agreement with you Jackie and Harriet on the earrings being worn then sold, not a fan! I also agree that I am not about to put on the earrings I make and take a photo, then sell them- I wouldn't do that for the reasons you both metioned. Plus like you said Jackie I only have 1 pair of these earrings.

I could take a pic of them next to something so people could get more of an idea of size. I don't have foam head but something else may work, what about holding the earrings in my hand & photographing?? For a sense of scale...

Harriet- Thank you, I will continue to add more.

[SunshineOnWater]

You all have given great advice and insight!

Ashely- I think you hit the nail on the head with "It's not about having a million views, but rather having the right views!" Good way to look at it, now I just need to find those!! :-)

It seems like most feel my pics are good and of course everyone has their own opinion but I feel pretty happy with them overall, it would probably be good to have a last photo on each listing with the item for sale displayed on a wall or shelf as I have in some of my listings...

[Former_Member]

Oh heymichelle did a great post about that awhile back.... let me see if I can find the link for you

[Former_Member]

here you go... it was a link to a thread about a lab.... I think you can still watch the lab here is the original thread.... http://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success/discuss/10118550/ let me see if I can find the lab

[Former_Member]

Ok I looked at labs... it is there in on-line labs under Etsy Success and then the video by Heymichelle of that same name as thread... You can't link straight to it :)

[SunshineOnWater]

Great, I will definitly check out that lab! Thank you Newhopebeading!

[hydeandstitched]

Hey Jackie, I think you crossed over with the picture recommendation, the one with them hanging on the string WAS the second one...once upon a time ;)

[Former_Member]

I think your items look good, your photography is clean and your prices reasonable. The only thing I think you need to do is fill up a page or two with listings so you look like you are seriously in business.
You might want to fill out your "about" page too, showing your artistic process, this always helps people become familiar with your brand.