Nov. 5: Online Lab - Crash Course in Holiday Marketing

[#1]

On Wednesday November 5th at 3pm (EST) we'll be hosting a live crash course in Holiday Marketing in the Online Labs. Ask your questions here about holiday marketing and we'll take the time to answer as many as possible during our 30 minute session.

For those of you who have been around for more than one holiday season, please don't hesitate to share your seasoned advice with the rest of us, it could be featured on November 5th in the Online Labs - http://etsy.me/labs

[angelinabella]

this is my third holiday season on Etsy. October has been my best month for the first two seasons, but this october my sales went down by 90%. I just don't understand it. I could use some fresh ideas. Thanks, Alice

[UpYonderDesigns]

Oh this is wonderful. Will plan to listen to this. My question to y'all is it recommended to update and/or change some tags to reflect Christmas and holidays? I've had weddings in my tags which have worked great, but my coasters are not strictly for weddings. So am interested to hear how to capitalize on holiday shopping with our tags and descriptions. Thanks!!!

[blissbooksandjewels]

I will not be able to attend the lab on Wednesday, but I don't want to miss out on the info. Will a copy be recorded that can be accessed at a later time?

Thanks!

[Former_Member]

Hi Clare, I don't see how I sign up to participate in the crash course. Thanks for your assistance. Lanny

[Former_Member]

Will be there! Thanks
All I want for Christmas is to start selling :) :)

[Former_Member]

First Christmas here, I have been working hard to expand my rustic wedding paper goods out into my Rustic Decor section while weddings are slow this time of year.

[Former_Member]

I just opened my shop in Sept 2014 and am looking forward to learning about the holiday season and how to make the best use of the information that's shared.

[Former_Member]

Will the video be posted anywhere afterwards? For those of us who aren't able to watch at that time.

[Former_Member]

Im a newbie as well, i have had one sale since my shop opened in August. I was hoping i could get some feed back from my fellow crafters about my shop. I would like to know what is working and what is not. Of course family and friends love everything but no one is buying. Thanks for any and all comments given. Layitonthetable.

[Former_Member]

I'm so excited to join in on this discussion! I am always looking for ways to increase sales and improve customer service to my customers. This is my 4th year as an Etsy seller and I love it! I too have noticed decreased sales since about May and would love to know if there is a new search format that I am unaware of or as mentioned in a previous post, do we need to update old listings to be included in the searches now. I am fortunate to have many loyal and returning customers but am hopeful to gain new customers during this holiday season. I would recommend to new sellers to be prepared and ship items as quickly as possible. Make sure you are well stocked and offer quality products and service to everyone! Best of luck!

[sierrascarves]

I like what Susan Fey has to say about being gentle instead of bombarding consumers with lots of pressure. This is also my first holiday season and I am looking forward to the workshop for a few more tips to success. Hope it's a good one.

[UnexpectedTreasure]

My sales have really tanked as well but I'm looking forward to my 5th holiday season with Etsy.

[osnatharnoy]

Looking forward to this event :)

[kzannoart]

I have a question for the lab. Now that Etsy has allowed someone other than the shop owner to make their items, how do I promoted my handmade by me items to those buyers who are looking to support artisans like myself? Is there something different I can do?

[zzbob]

Kristine, you read my mind! All of our items are handmade. But, customers don't seem to realize that, anymore. They ask questions like, "Are there any things, in your shop, that you make yourself?" How can I get the word out, that Etsy is still about handmade artists, as well as the other things. Customers are acting like we are just another ebay. How can I market our shop, as two people, who make all of our things, ourselves?

[MadScientistsDesigns]

Is Etsy promoting Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday this year?

[Former_Member]

Hello, I advertise international shipping in my shop. How do I know if individual countries charge duties on my goods? Shipping costs from Australia are relatively high, maybe Australia Post includes these charges.
I would like to be able to set this out clearly to my customers. Anyone from
Australia know about this?

[Former_Member]

I've been here 5 years this month and I'm still learning and looking forward to any and all marketing ideas! I'll be there...

[Former_Member]

Looking forward to this! My first holiday season!!

[MysticalRaindrops]

I'm hoping sales pick up this season. It's been slow. And my sons paintings at TidbitsOfColor hasn't made a sale yet.

[SweetBohemianLife]

What has changed on ETSY? Oct. was my first month since I started selling on Etsy that I didn't double in sales. I'm open to any tips/workshops Etsy might have.

[CarolBDesigns]

I am the baby still in the crib! I have been open 1 month now, and I am just happy I finally hit the Open Shop button!! ha But I am excited I'm on Etsy now and look forward to glemming all I can from other shop owners that have been on the block awhile!

[ArtOnAJourney]

This will be my 2nd Holiday season on Etsy, but since I launched shortly before the holiday season last year I basically jumped in without knowing what I was doing. I'm very much looking forward to this season and have learned a ton!

One thing (of many) I wonder about are Shop Sections. I'm not sure if I am diversified enough for the holidays and do buyers search via Shop Section wording?

Sadly, I will miss the online Lab, since I work during that time.

[Former_Member]

Looking forward to the crash course. Thank you for providing us more information and ideas.

[HappenstancePaper]

Looking to gain some great insight into how to amp up sales during the holidays and learning some new tips to market my shop.
Thanks!
Susan