Is anyone using Etsy Mini

[BethWold]

Hi all,

I just looked at Etsy Mini, and it looks kinda cool, but I'm not sure how best to integrate with my website, or blog etc. So I was wondering if any of you were using it, and how you are using it? Can it be used with Facebook? Would love to see links if you are using it.

Thanks!

[Former_Member]

Etsy Mini only generate html code for you to integrate with website and blogs. So far what I know it can't show up on Facebook, unless with third parties apps to do so for facebook.

[studiotuesday]

I use it on my website and blog. It's pretty handy. It works pretty well on the side panel of blogs. I like it because it always changes depending on the first items in your shop or section. Unless I'm mistaken it won't work on wordpress blogs though.
You can see mine here http://studiotuesday.blogspot.com/

[Former_Member]

We've just switched over to using Etsy mini's for our team directory. It adds a great visual to the shop's directory listing. www.supporting-artists.com (the directory can be found using the top navigation.)

Studiotuesday is halfway correct. Etsy mini's won't work on wordpress.com blogs. If you use wordpress.org (self hosted version) you can run Etsy mini.

[Former_Member]

I use Etsy mini on my blog (hosted by blogger)

http://cbijicollection.blogspot.ca/

I like that it's an easy access way to my shop! :)

[studiotuesday]

Thanks for the clarification Whitney. Also that's a really cool idea - that's a nice looking directory.

[HurdandHoney]

Yeah Whitney, I'd agree with David, that's a great idea for a directory - it pulls people directly into a shop!

Amidst all the avenues in social networking, do you all think it's beneficial to run a website/blog in addition to the rest? I feel like I'd struggle to get subscribers.

[Former_Member]

I use it on my blog and so far I'm noticing a few visits from there each day. To be fair though, I just started posting on my blog again after about a year, so time will tell how effective it really is. But so far I'm getting about 6 or so views a day from it. I suspect that will go up once I get my readership back.

[Former_Member]

Thanks everyone! It's nice to hear the decision to use Etsy Mini's in our directory is supported.

@the Honey Shack.

There are many pro's and con's to having a website.

I always feel you don't need all avenues of marketing as long as you use what you have well. There is no point stretching yourself thin by adding a web/blog if you don't have the time to maintain it. It takes a lot of time to run a good comprehensive blog, such as understanding the goal of your blog, writing posts to the effect, getting subscribers, etc. You wouldn't want the momentum you already have in your social network to drop.

Though many people think a website / blog is beneficial.

[BethWold]

Thanks for the responses - I'm going to go add it to my side panel of my blog right away! blog.bethwold.com

I mentioned facebook, because I think there is apps that let you add pages with html... So I was curious if this worked.

Does anyone use Etsy Mini in place of a shopping cart system on the website? Or is it not really practical for that?

[Former_Member]

I love etsy mini, because it always changes with the freshest in your shop, it gives a chance for new items to be showcased.

I don't think it'd work as a shopping cart, because it links back to etsy, so in a sense it kinda is a shopping cart.

[Former_Member]

As for Facebook...
I don't know if the apps you can get to run HTML support external scripts...this is the problem with wordpress.com while you can type in html any external scripts are stripped.

There are two free facebook apps I'm aware of that link back to your shop - and offer more marketing features than the mini would in facebook.

http://www.etsy.com/apps/1690272057/easy-social-shop
http://www.etsy.com/apps/1642448365/etsy-theme-shop-20

one paid app - offers a 30 day free trial
http://www.etsy.com/apps/1025555844/facebook-store

[BethWold]

Ahh... that makes sense. I'll take a look at the links. I haven't actually decided if I want my store on Facebook yet.... Do you use any of those?

[Former_Member]

I don't have my store linked to Facebook yet. Honestly, I'm trying to figure out how to configure the buttons and it's just not high on my priority list lately.

I do have the Etsy mini on my blog/site - tineandthread.com. It works well and although my site doesn't see a lot of traffic, I do get some clicks from my site to my Etsy shop.

[Former_Member]

Hello Beth, I have the etsy mini on my blog and the etsy store app on my facebook. I love the etsy mini.
I think the store app is nice to give a direct view of what you make and have in your etsy shop.

http://housewithaniche.blogspot.nl/
https://www.facebook.com/housewithaniche
Greetings, Karen.

[Former_Member]

For wordpress I use Custom Etsy Widget for my cute little sidebar of products. This links back to etsy and has settings to show most recent or random listings, etc: http://heatherjessica.com