I feel really stuck! Tips please

[Former_Member]

Hello all!

First time poster. Started my shop in August 2011, most of my sales have been to friends and family - almost all people I know. I've spent almost 25% of my revenue on Etsy's fees and advertising campaigns - either Search Ads or Showcases - with little to no success.

I do not have a lightbox or a nice SLR camera - only a simple but new point and shoot. I, like many of you, are the sole crafter, supplier, photographer, model and copy writer for my shop. Short of spending a lot of money on a new camera, etc. to join in the aesthetic fray that everyone seems to be on - the bandwagon of simple photos in a lightbox against a white background - not sure what else to do.

How can I improve my shop? I am very frustrated as of now, and looking to start wholesaling to local boutiques rather than continue with this.

Probably familiar to all of you who are hard workers - but it takes a lot of man hours, photographing, editing, writing snazzy descriptions, working on tags... I feel like I make quality products at a decent price, I try to keep my shop tidy and cute looking but I get very few daily views.

I use Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook to promote myself too, in case anyone was wondering...

What are some tips you would give to me to help improve my shop? What ELSE can I do that I'm not already doing? What am I missing? It must be right in front of my nose...

[Former_Member]

Hi Maggie!

You have some really cute items in your shop, my favourite are the amigurumi animals.
Just a few tips from me: Ok, I personally am a big fan of the simple background. I don't think you need a snazzy camera, your point and shoot should do the job with a simple white background. You can edit your photos on Picmonkey, which is free to use and really simple.

Your titles could be used better, the first 3 words are really important. Also your tags could be used more to your advantage. Don't be afraid to use 2 words in a tag, such as wool scarflette, crochet headband etc..

There is and excellent document on SEO http://www.etsy.com/help/article/247, the downloadable pdf helped me a lot.

I hope this helps a bit. Good luck with your shop!

[RosesForClementine]

Wow, you have a lot of followers : )) Keep it simple, and keep working. I agree with Kristina's post; it is important to keep working on key words, descriptions, titles, etc. It is a lot of work; I spent most of my productive hours today tweaking my key words. I think a lot of us are frustrated by low views but hopefully they will come to us!

[Former_Member]

I agree with the great advice here. Some people might not be able to find your cute items because of the tags and titles.

Like this one;

http://www.etsy.com/listing/93281826/moody-blues-flower-headband

Instead of titling it Moody Blues Flower Headband you should be using something with crochet in the first couple of words. Hope that helps and good luck.

[PatsysPatchwork]

Your shop is adorable. I think your pictures are great. Just keep working on new products and and taking the good advice others have posted. Sometimes when things get rough it is natural to want to give up but just hang in there and I'm sure your sales will pick up.

[Former_Member]

Hi, Some of the backgrounds are taking over the products and makes it difficult to see. Experiment with a lighter colours.
Also try photographing people wearing the items. We can all identify with a model and can vision wearing the product better. Good luck

[KittenKabooses]

I think you have a lot of cute items. The first thing I noticed though is that your backgrounds are distracting and I wasn't always sure what I was looking at. I wouldn't invest in a new camera, just maybe bright pictures in natural light with a simpler background. Keep your chin up!

Hearts and favorites and being active in teams is how I get most of my views and sales and that advertising is free, just time consuming. Etsy sellers are my best customers! :)

[Former_Member]

You seem most frustrated by your photos. Here are my tips (and I am by NO means a professional):

1. Make a "light box" using this blog (it's just a cut cardboard box with white foam board glued inside to two sides):

http://www.handmadeology.com/creating-a-white-background-inside-a-cardboard-box/

2. Use the photo box during good daylight hours, but in the shade, never in direct sunlight. I sometimes set it where the sun meets the shade, so I get some reflected light.

3. If you like your wood background (I use my wooden bench myself sometimes), cut the glare from the sun by using the same foam board above your head to make a shadow. You can also use the foam board behind the product on the wood to keep background from showing.

4. Use cheap editing software. Here, I can't really help you. I used to use picnik until they were sold to google. Then my husband purchased photoshop, so I use that now. But I still just use the easy "fix this photo" setting that requires no brainpower on my part.

5. Always use the macro setting. I have to play around with my camera so I can get it to focus correctly and shoot macro. Read the camera's manual or find one online.

Hope this helps!

[Former_Member]

I would agree that your backgrounds are a little distracting.

You can make a really simple background just by using a sheet of white poster-board.

Also, the thing that made the biggest difference for me was making and posting more items! Try to get to 50 within the next month, and you should see a jump in views.

[KittenKabooses]

For photo editing picmonkey has a lot of picnik's features and it's all free for now. It's very user friendly :)

[AliChristineBridal]

I think you need to pick a simple background and use it through your entire shop. Since your items are colorful, a plain background will help your items pop.

It took me a while to get used to titles and tags, but you HAVE to do this most importantly because with proper tag descriptions, no one will find you.

I noticed with my own shop that the more items I had, the more views I received. There is definitely a reaction between the too,

Work on those things and I think you will find success here on etsy!

Good luck :)

[Former_Member]

Don't make yourself crazy with your photos!!! However, you do want to show contrast between your item and your background.

In this one:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/97108088/turqoise-and-tweed-flower-headband-sale
The fabric blends to the background that I can't clearly see from the thumbnail where it begins and ends.

But here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/83080030/crochet-butterfly-bookmark-sale
The blue butterfly against the pages of the book is both a wonderful color contrast, and an extremely well-done photo that puts the item in the contest it will be used.

You can have a happy medium between the two! Craft stores sell inexpensive black or clear jewelry displays - I would use something like that but you can still keep your themed designs like this one: http://www.etsy.com/listing/90248507/hogwarts-house-bracelets-slytherin-sale put the bracelet on a stand/display, and use the card/image in the background.

The amigurumi octopus is another great example of using your display items to give context and theme to the item, while still having a great, clear photo.

If you really want a light box, like someone else said you can make your own fairly easily. I bought one on ebay last year and it was $25 and included a 18"x18" box, two lights, and a carrying case that it all folded into. I use cardstock paper or scrapbook paper propped up for my backgrounds (super cheap!) and Picasa (free to download!) for my photo editing.

Hope that helps :)

[designedbyval]

If you don't belong to some treasury teams then join some. I would also recommend joining the Relevancy & SEO for All Etsy Shops Team. There is a lot of misinformation about SEO in the forums and if you join that team you at least get the straight true information.

[Former_Member]

Wow thanks for all the great input! I will definitely be trying to implement these words of wisdom. :D Thank you all so much!

Also I guess I should've noted: I work for a social media marketing company. I know all about SEO and marketing yourself.. which is a big reason why I've been frustrated. I feel like I've already done so much of what they tell you to do with so little success.

Also, seeing the same 4 or 5 names on the front page, every day or every other day is frustrating too. I am happy for their success, but it makes me feel very frustrated.

I am going to be taking ANOTHER big session of photos when we have a bright, sunny day. Hopefully that will help me out. Thanks again everyone

[Former_Member]

http://www.etsy.com/listing/97348655/amigurumi-octopus

You still need work on your titles. No one except knitters and crocheters know the word ""amigurumi"" let alone know how to spell it. So your title should read. ""Blue Octopus toy, stuffed, child sea life" You can add crochet if you want but it's not necessary. Since people are searching cuteness,they could care less if it's crocheted, knitted or sewn.

[Former_Member]

Thanks, that is exactly the kind of help I am looking for. SPECIFIC changes, like how to edit my titles to be more relevant. THANK you :D thank you all

[Former_Member]

Yeah, the busy backgrounds are too much. . .they take away from your products. . .

[Former_Member]

I think a lot of great advice has already been given! As far as improving your shop in general, I have a couple tips on how you can be more easily found by Google:

First,
Your shop header is a great tool to use to your advantage! Try to include as many key terms (terms/words describing your products that you would like to be found by through Google) as possible. Right now you have: Handmade With Love on Martha's Vineyard. "Handmade" is the only real key term in there, so try to include more..something along the lines of, "Handmade Crochet Items, Amigurimi and Hemp Jewelry" but that is just an idea. You can probably sum it up better than me! :)

Also, those shop sections on the side..you have a space between every letter. This will make it hard for you to be found by Google.
Google considers your shop sections meta tags, so it considers what you have there to be what you sell in your shop (makes sense, right?). But as you have spaces between every letter, it is taking it to mean you have "J" "E"...etc. in your shop instead of "Jewelry".
Also try to be more specific in your sections. Ideally, change them from
"J E W E L R Y" to something like, "Handmade Hemp Jewelry". You get the idea! :)

Best of luck to you. It can be difficult to get an Etsy shop going but there are lots of tips and tricks that will help you along the way! :)

[Former_Member]

You have very cute, colorful products. They would stand out with white background!

[Former_Member]

Thanks everyone! I am going to try and build myself a box with the tutorial linked earlier! I will update with hopefully GREAT new photos :)

My other problem, I guess, is that I don't have a model or bust or anything other than myself. My boyfriend acts completely inept when I hand him a camera and I don't feel comfortable giving direction so it's awkward.

[HappyDappyBits]

I love your crochet items! in addition to the great advice that's already been given, I also think your shop could feel a little more cohesive. Perhaps try to develop a style or way you take your photos, using a consistent style or color of background. Currently I feel like your items could be from 4 or 5 different sellers. You have very different styles of items in your shop as well so I think it's important to have a common theme that ties it all together: photo style, products, color palette, etc.

A shop takes a lot of work, hang in there!

[MelsCreativeWishes]

you have some great items in your shop. I have just favored the cute yellow octopus.
the very first thing I noticed was that the backdrops of your photos are very busy and especially with the bracelets like this one.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90457901/hogwarts-house-bracelets-ravenclaw-sale
I really couldn't see the details of the bracelet as it merged with the background too much.

[Former_Member]

I've done a lot of re-working my tags and titles and descriptions! Thanks so much for everyone's input, I think I've made a lot of improvements there.

I'll be using this tutorial to build a great new place for photography tomorrow: http://www.handmadeology.com/creating-a-white-background-inside-a-cardboard-box/

[Former_Member]

Hi.

I'm not opening new thrad, because I have the same problem as Maggie. Her story is just like mine.

I sell to frineds and family and on local fairs, but nothing on Etsy. I opened Etsy shop on July 2011, promoted and relisted a lot, made new photos, I am a memeber of a few Etsy teams, but so far not a single sale. I belive in my bags, all my buyers praise them. What else can I do? Any tips and ideas?

[Former_Member]

Anyone, please?