Lets make a plan

[Former_Member]

I want to stop complaining about the low sales and turn myself into action.
I decided to start a plan for june promotions. Steps I have to follow for improve my shop.
I suggest we can make it together and each one of us can say something to add to this plan - schedule.
To start:

*I'll offer a special and important discount for a specific magazine's readers.
*Also, 2 x 1 in some specific items from my shop for my twitter followers (this will increase my followers as well)

What more ideas can you add to this list?

[Former_Member]

Most stores, on and off of Etsy, make their money from repeat buyers. A coupon to give to new buyers to encourage them to return?

[Former_Member]

Great idea! I take my notes... More options?

[PebbleCreekStudio]

I include a coupon with each order. I also list or renew at least one item each day.

[threestonebirds]

I got a couple of sales in May but nothing like what I was hoping for and my views aren't so great lately so I definitely need to step up my promotion. Some ideas I have about how to accomplish that:

• I'm going to start promoting myself on Pinterest. Occasionally I'll get view from products other people have pinned and I'm hoping that by being there myself I can increase that exposure.

• Try to improve my use of Twitter. I know I'm not using it to the best of its abilities either in promoting my shop or in following people and topics that interest me, so I need to work on that.

• Read more about marketing, promotion, and similar small business topics, at least one article every few days. Currently looking at designinganmba.com.

Speaking of repeat customers, has anyone ever done a referral promotion?

[Former_Member]

Kim - good idea about listing/renewing one item per day. I have six new toys to list, but unlike my last batch I am going to spread them out.

Also on my plan for June is a shop wide sale, because the one I had in May was a success.

Good thread!

[Former_Member]

These are all good ideas. Has anyone tried the Etsy search ads to promote their shop? I am trying it this week for the first time. I am definitely getting more views and favorites, but I am not sure its worth paying 25$ per week.

[threestonebirds]

Hey, Mary, I just got through running search ads, $5 for a week for certain items and limited keywords. They didn't bring any sales into my shop and only a handful of views so I don't see myself running them again any time soon.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the info, Vanessa. I was wondering about it. I tried the 5$ one last week and got a whole bunch of views for the one listing. This week I tried the $25 for my whole shop. Views and favorites are up a bit, but I don't know if this would translate into more sales.

[PaperFlora]

This month I am going to do 2 things.
I am going to list and/or renew everyday. That has really made a big difference in past for me.
The other is "paying it forward" I'm going to help promote other shops through Pinterst and Twitter.
And I'm going to keep track of my stats to see how it is working :)

Vanessa just pinned your earrings !
http://pinterest.com/paperflora2/just-because-i-like-it/

[Former_Member]

I regularly tweet other people's listings that I like but I haven't tried pinterest or making a treasury.

[threestonebirds]

Natalie, thanks! :D I've been pinning a couple of Etsy products that I like and it's a great feeling to come back a couple of hours later and see a couple of repins or likes. If I can't bring sales to myself, maybe I can help someone else out, you know?

[MyHoneypickles]

Do you all offer international shipping? I only offer domestic shipping currently and thought by expanding my shipping that may increase my sales. Any thoughts?
thanks

[threestonebirds]

I started offering international shipping about a month ago, Stephanie, and my advice is to invest in a postal scale and have good estimates on your shipping costs. It's better to be able to refund a customer a couple of extra dollars than to have to pull the money out of your own pockets.

[Former_Member]

My "action plan" will be as follows:

1) continue to add new items to the shop. I'd ideally like to be at around 600 items by the beginning of September

2) reach out more to my 'target customer' in my marketing

3) revive my newsletter. I've not published one for a number of months now.

[Former_Member]

@Stephanie, Offering international shipping has been a great help for me. Much of what I sell isn't available in other parts of the world. I ship at least 2-3 dozen packages to international destinations each month.

Since you already know the weight of your items (you needed that when you set up your domestic postage rates), all you need to do is look up that packaged weight for a few other countries (I use Australia and Germany) to decide what your international rate will be.

Usually I'm fairly close when it comes to International postage.

[FreshRetroGallery]

I'm planning to list many more items and keep writing wordy descriptions to help with search engine optimization SEO

[Former_Member]

Making Treasuries always took much traffic to my store. Not much sales, but yes harts and views.
I'm planning also to change some of my pictures. Take them with different lights and backgrounds...
Offering a special cupon code for next purchase sounds fantastic!! thank you for the idea!!

[CDChilds]

My plan is to try and keep my shop "Fresh" with new listings at least 3 time a week. I'm hoping this will keep repeat customers coming back to see whats new and interest potential new customers.

[JewelrybyJakemi]

I plan on continuing to add or relist items on a daily basis. I also hope to become more proficient at my Twitter usage. I don't want to spam people with listing after listing and yet I struggle with something interesting to "say".

I have found that I get many more views from Wanelo than from Pinterest. Even a few sales :-)

[Former_Member]

I don't understand why most of you say post or relist "daily". I usually post all together the same day... That is not convenient? I also usually "rearrange my shop" so people who come and return, see new things (or that's the feeling)

[MyHoneypickles]

Lisa,
What is Wanelo? I'm on Pinterest and enjoy it. I've only averaged about 10 - 15 views of my shop thru Pinterest each month. I too struggle with something interesting to say.

[threestonebirds]

Valeria, renewing pushes your items up in the search and makes them more likely to be found when someone is casually browsing through categories. It can help them be seen by people who wouldn't otherwise have noticed them.

[JewelrybyJakemi]

Valeria, I post daily because it keeps my shop visible on a daily basis. Also, even thought it is not as important as it once was, I believe recency (if that is even a word?) still plays a role in relevance in search. (Someone correct me if I am wrong).

[Former_Member]

My plan is to fill in my shop in a couple of key sections. I would love the have 200 items in my shop. This will involve a little creative juggling with my kids out of school.