Is Social Media Effective?

[StorylandAmis]

Hi guys,

What do you all think about promoting your business through social media? Do you think it's effective? I'm currently not on any social media, but I've been thinking about giving it a try. And what would you say is the most effective social media to be on?

[BlueJayBay]

I am in my 3rd month as an Etsy seller, so I am still learning a LOT. That being said, I have found that Instagram is the most enjoyable method for me to promote my business. I also have a Facebook page but I haven't done much with it beyond making it a presence on FB. I also have a Twitter account but haven't used it much (I don't enjoy Twitter). And lastly, I have a Pinterest account and have tried to pin my own listings there as well as a variety of other things that are relevant and interesting to me.

[LeedsRadio]

It depends on what kind of product. For me it was useless - in fact worse than that; It was a waste of time. I know some people that have had success but they have professionals handling the posts.

[AuraRosesTreasures]

that's like asking if you like vegetables.
there are so many ways to go about promoting using social media
and there are so many different social media to use.

[Former_Member]

I've been on Twitter since well before I opened this shop in 2008 and I thoroughly enjoy it.

If people want to see what I'm selling, there is a link to my Shop.

Most of the time I spend my twitter time chatting with people.

[TheOrangeApp]

My suggestion is to choose 1 or 2 social channels to begin with and focus on these. Once you have developed an effective strategy for these channels, you can consider adding a new channel.

Your choice of social network should be based on: (a) your target audience & (b) your personal preferences.

a. Your target audience:

Each social network has a different audience. See which network is the most popular with your target market and start there. (For your products, I would probably try Pinterest first).

The more clearly you can define your target profile, the easier it will be for you to market to them – not just in your choice of social channel, but also in deciding the content that you will share, the tone of your posts, the style of your visual content etc.

Some of the factors you can consider when defining your target profile:

- Who are they? Age, gender, average income, geography etc.

- What do they enjoy? Hobbies, where they shop, which websites / social channels they frequent. This will help you figure out where to market to your target audience .

- What do they want from you? Exactly why they are buying your product. This will help you create the right kind of content for them.


b. Your personal preference:

Social media requires time and effort. You are more likely to succeed if you choose a channel that interests you. For instance, if you hate photography then Instagram is probably not the channel for you. Whereas a pithy sense of humor would be great for Twitter.

You can find a chart of which channel works best for your target audience here:

https://orangetwig.com/blog/7-deadly-mistakes-new-social-media-marketers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them/

Hope this helps!

[LeedsRadio]

I finally gave up on Facebook.
I've been on twitter since 2011. It may be fun but from the business side it is a total waste of time. Twitter is, as has been said, a whole lot of people talking and very few listening. If everyone is selling, no one is buying

and Sahiba why don't you take your advertisement for your app back to your own team where no one is allowed to question your "wisdom?"

[ClassyClayJewelry]

Richard, you always have good advice.
Thanks.

[CozyDawg]

Instagram has been good for me. Now that they are changing the way posts are displayed to users, it will probably go the way of Facebook.

[Former_Member]

Hello Holly,

Twitter has been the one for us so far. In 2 months flat we generated 1800 plus views by active participation on various twitter events like #handmadehour and #crafthour. We have recently started getting on Instagram and Pinterest as well but still learning the trade there.

Hashtags work on twitter and other social media sites as well. Easy and free way to get eyeballs on to your shop.

All the best.

[LeedsRadio]

You don't judge effectiveness by counting hits. I get 20,000-30,000 hits a month on twitter. I got 4000 last Sunday alone. But if it doesn't generate DOLLARS. All my bills, vacations, clothes, supplies, food, etc are paid with dollars. If it doesn't get you sales that end in profit it's not working.

My 3700 tweets have generated on two small confirmed sales
Let's say each tweet took me 20 seconds. That comes out to over 20 hours. I could have worked at a McDonald's or shined shoes for 20 hours and made much more money than I did on two crappy sales.

How many sales did twitter bring you?

[Former_Member]

Interesting input Richard. For us getting our first 2 sales itself was a big plus for us.

But your point is well taken and understood. I honestly feel then you should share what would be an alternative to it. Maybe the strategy that worked for you.

Thanks.

[MariasWorkshop]

I think this would be a good spot to share the link below. I got it from an Etsy member who posted it long ago here or in one of my other Teams - I apologize for not crediting the posting Etsian, but I really do not remember. What I do remember is that it made and impression on me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVfHeWTKjag

[LeedsRadio]

Harmeet-

Getting 2 sales IS a big deal and I congratulate you. I was referring my 2 additional sales received via twitter.

Here's what I think:
1) Decide what you what type of shop you want to be (I mean in feel as I assume product is already fixed) and then make it best reflection of who you are. When I started on Etsy I followed all the dull SEO/titles/tags advice and finally grew tired of if because it's BORING. I don't like being bored so I started playing games with the names of of my Etsy shop sections and adding sometimes personal and sometimes over-the-top anecdotes to some of the descriptions.

An example:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/250928394/tung-sol-6l6g-vacuum-tubes-broken-guide

People here said "No one is going to find your shop with section names and descriptions like that." But that's when people STARTED finding me on Etsy. When your business is uniquely you, you and it become interesting to people. And when something's interesting people talk about it and tell other people.

2) Try to get press but don't force it. Dropping a hint is fine. Nagging a writer or producer is not.
I've been on two magazine covers, featured in a third, an article in a major newspaper, a radio segment, a bunch web interviews and in two movies and I didn't ask for any of it. This type of publicity is better than any paid advertising but again, you can only get it by being interesting and you can only be interesting by being you. If you want to see some of my press, convo me and I will send you links.

3) Meet people in real life. Listen to them. Exchange ideas. Remember them and their names.
You'll be surprised how paths cross and suddenly you're the first call to help with a project.

4) MOST IMPORTANT
You're going to make mistakes and being rigid about trying not to make any mistakes just causes more mistakes. So: Relax and handle every mistake and every problem with a solution immediately. Resolve a customer service issue even if it hurts. Doing the right thing will energize you and allow you to think and create. Arguing with a customer, even though you think you're right, won't. I was in a Hyatt in Chicago once and I really didn't like my room. I went to manager and she gave me an enormous suite that went from the north to the south side of the building for the same price. I've stayed in Hyatt's, when possible, ever since. Customer service IS your job.

A few weeks ago I received an order (non-Etsy) for three parts but in error shipped only one. My customer sent me a nasty email. I replied that I was sorry and that I would send him the two I owed him plus one extra and upgrade the shipping. The first thing he did was email back and apologize for being so nasty. After he received the second package he wrote a glowing review that turned my mistake into an advertisement for my shop.

A friend once told me that owning a business is, for want of a better term, a “ministry.” At the time I didn't believe it, but two decades down the road I think that sometimes how a person feels buying an item from you can be as important as the item. Not everyone you meet is whole. Some really don't need your item but want to buy it because they need something else from you: A few kind words, a greeting, human interaction or to take their mind off something.
Repeat: Customer service IS your job.

5) Remember that your shop is never finished and is never good enough. This will motivate you to fix tiny things when you see them - a comma here, a typo there, a shadow in a photo. I have tons of work to do on my shop.

6) Then you need another web presence that under your control - perhaps a blog or maybe your own website. Simple in format is OK but you have to have quality content and that takes time to generate: Much more time than people imagine. And you need someone to proof read and edit.
On the plus side generating content is every bit as creative as generating product.

All of this is hard work, time, patience, experimentation and an ability to withstand frustration.

[Plektra]

I agree with Richard's about social media and the points in the long post above.

Being YOU will be more memorable than following the trends and the crowd.

[Former_Member]

Agree. Very very very good and important input. More or less this is exactly what I aspire to do over the years to come.

Will send you a message over pm to get those links.

Thanks Richard.

[Former_Member]

Hi Holly,

It's crucial that you use 1 or more social media platforms to promote your shop. Depending on the platform you choose, your store will start getting traffic if you know exactly how to promote your products.

[Former_Member]

Artista, I respectfully disagree. Richard is a good example of how using social media platforms isn't at all crucial. Both he and I have nearly 1K sales and barely or never use social media. I have a few followers on twitter and facebook but I'm lucky if I post once a month. My pinterest postings are littered with coupons so I can track sales, but they have only ever been used a handful of times the 4 years I've been selling on Etsy.

Most of my attention and sales have been generated through apppearances I've made at craft shows and consignment shops, word of mouth between people who like similar things, people who have blogged about my product, and the mention of my name in a newspaper article written about a shop where my products were sold.

Social media does not work for everybody. The key is to find the right avenue of promotion while at the same time selling unique things someone wants and providing excellent service while doing so.

PS - Holly, your animals are absolutely adorable. :) Best of luck.