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

[Former_Member]

Excited! This will be my first holiday season and I have no idea what to expect? Hoping this will help.

Thanks :)

[Former_Member]

Hi everybody. I'm pretty new to Etsy and just had my first sale two days ago(!)...
I'm looking forward to learn a few things about holiday marketing and I hope this season will be great.
I was wondering if any of you have any thoughts about the promote option? Is anyone using it? What budget did you set? Do you think its effective and recommend it for holidays season?

Thank you,
Anabela

[beauxoxo]

Great idea! I'd highly recommend an advent style marketing campaign. I offer something each day up to Christmas whether it would be a discount one day, giveaway another etc. It really builds traffic and keeps people coming back day after day :)

[Former_Member]

I have been on Etsy for a month now. I have had a few sales. We have unique laser engraved products and I am looking forward to learning everything I can from y'all to help me make my shop a success.

[Former_Member]

I have had my shop open for a few months now, have set up a booth at one of my local festivals and promoted. Still no sales but have had quite a few views and favorites. I have been trying to promote the shop on several different social medias. I am hoping the Holidays will help the shop take off. Any advice/ideas are greatly appreciated for success!

[PamsPawsJewelry]

Hi,

I have done the same as Margaret in the post above but find that the social media sites don't get traffic either. I don't know enough people.

People from Etsy, my teams, which is great, go there and post and fave and like, etc. and same on Etsy.

How can I tap into the millions of would-be buyers out there on the internet and how do they find us?

Everyone on here seems to have either no sales or very little. I thought this was supposed to be a marketplace.

I opened first back in 2011 and then closed due to the bad economy and no sales.

I did things differently this year in Feb, when I opened, joined a lot of teams, am active in them, have a lot more items, work on SEO/titles/tags, better pictures, etc. and I only have 11 sales.

Any help or advice?

Thanks,

Pam

[Former_Member]

I just put my entire shop on sale. And I want to know what is the best way to spread the word, aside from social platforms? As I am still building my following.

[Former_Member]

I've never taken part in an online lab before, but this one might just be what I need right now. I've also been struggling with slow traffic in my store lately.

Just looked up an online time zone converter to see what time I should check in. It will be 10 pm in Estonia (EET). Hoping to put my toddler to bed by that time, to be "all here" and fully focused on all the great advice that will come my way. :)

[Former_Member]

Quite a few people have asked WHAT TIME on NOV 5?

[Former_Member]

always ready to learn more

[Former_Member · Accepted solution]

Hi all!

Thanks for all of you who have submitted questions, keep 'em coming! Just as a reminder, this live session will be happening tomorrow at 3pm (EST) in the Online Labs.

If you're joining us from another time zone, here is a time converter that you can use to calculate what time the live event will be happening for you: http://www.timezoneconverter.com/

Talk soon!
Clare

[Former_Member]

My first christmas too. ANd my first lab!

[NeatoKeen]

Fifth holiday season on Etsy and I'm still ready to learn all I can about holiday marketing! I'm wondering how we "seasoned" sellers can inject new energy into promoting for the holidays?

[AuntMaymesAttic]

I'm happy to be joining this crash course (former teacher and all, LOL). I'm so willing to learn! This is my third holiday season on Etsy, and I have a goal to make 100 sales by the end of the year (have 10 more to go!) Hopefully I'll meet that goal and will have some fresh new ideas as a result of this workshop.

[Former_Member]

Looking forward to hearing the advice on offer. Can always do with more sales. x x x

For those struggling with EST conversion, I found this great - http://www.worldtimebuddy.com/est-to-gmt-converter

[Former_Member]

Happy Wednesday to you! This is the first year that I have my shop fully stocked for the holidays.
I have had a few sales trickling in. My question is this...How exactly do you price shipping 'with another item'? I just put the same shipping cost in both areas...and I know that is not correct. I am afraid it is scaring folks off?
Looking forward to 3:00 today! :) Gay Scanlon

[quincylinda]

I can't wait too!

[Former_Member]

My first live course on etsy. Can't wait to learn how to market my photography
Online ! Thank you
Luana

[BarbBrownsFineArt]

My first Holiday season when I really feel like I am aware enough of logistics to make some positive changes. I really need some good tips. Susan Faye seems to have it all together. Would like to hear more indepth explaination of the logistics / how to's of what she is doing. I still do not know how to do adds, etc. Guess I need some basics.

[Former_Member]

I think this is awesome and I am open to all ideas. This is really my first holiday season with my new look and I have a lot to learn. Thanks!

[eMLeeCrochetGifts]

Totally need the tips. This is my first real season on etsy and I'm looking forward to making it a big one.

[ArtToArt]

I have to go out but I'm hoping to be back in time to join this discussion - (as soon as I find out how?)
First question will be: WHAT'S HAPPENED? No one can find me. I'm even having trouble finding myself!
Since October my Sales have tanked - right to the bottom of the tank.

[CrystalFallsAttic]

Hello, This will be my 1st holiday season and lab. Really looking forward to a great holiday season and a wonderful day to learn from the lab : )

[Former_Member]

I have been a happy member of Etsy since 2009, and have such fun building my shop. 2012 seemed to be my best year. I have added many new items in my Barbie furniture shop, but my sales have dropped to nothing this year. I fear declaring my shipping rates, vascilating averages for domestic prices, and I would like to ship internationally. The new shipping policy that Etsy is promotiing sounds good, but not sure how to reassure my customers. I wonder if this is affecting my sales.

[SweetSequels]

This is my first real holiday season on Etsy (I opened last November) and I'm eager to learn how to boost my sales and keep customers coming. Are there any secrets for luring the customers in to my shop, rather than the other hundreds upon hundreds on Etsy??