Post your questions for the experts!

[HeyMichelle]

Hi everyone!

We are going to host some Online Labs for the holidays, and we'd love to get your questions! The guests will be:

Top sellers: PalomasNest and BlackbirdTees. Ask them anything about selling during the holidays (or more generally, successful selling).
http://www.etsy.com/shop/palomasnest
http://www.etsy.com/shop/blackbirdtees

AND

Emily Bidwell, who is an Etsy merchandiser - she curates emails and on-site merchandised areas. Ask her about popular items during the holidays and her tips for getting your items featured!

You can see the schedule of the upcoming Labs here:

http://www.etsy.com/community/online-labs

Thanks in advance, everyone!

[Former_Member]

I see you are doing shop critiques! I would love to sign up for one, how would I go about doing that?

[Former_Member]

Top Sellers: What is your advice regarding SEO?

Emily: How does one get featured?

I am also interested in critiques, please tell us how to sign up :)?

[HeyMichelle]

Ha ha, I love you guys!

I am writing a thread right now! I may need to wait a sec to post it, but I will definitely post today!

Thanks for the questions, Arielle!

[Former_Member]

Awesome, Michelle, thanks!
And you're welcome :)

[PosyPop]

Top Sellers: Any holiday packaging tips? Do you include anything special with your packaging during the holiday season (gift tags, greeting card, etc)?

[Former_Member]

Top Seller: This will be my frist holiday season on etsy, what should I expect!? :)

[Former_Member]

Top Seller: How has your product/brand evolve during the course of owning your business? How do you handle the change and getting customers excited for about the change?

[Former_Member]

Top Sellers: Last year I got bombarded with orders . So far, I have managed to keep ahead by steadily increasing my inventory. What do you do to keep ahead of the game during the rush season? Do you advertise your products? Use social media heavily?

thank you,
Rich

[colormagicglass]

Top sellers: What promotions did you run during the holidays (if any) and which promotions were worthwhile?

[Former_Member]

Topsellers: how many pages of items do you try to maintain in your shop at all times? Do you increase that for the holidays? When do you find holiday orders start to come in?

[Former_Member]

Also interested in a possible critique.

[rusticcraftdesign]

How do you adjust titles and tags for specific Holiday shopping searches?

[Former_Member]

Top sellers: Do you diversify your stock especially for the holidays and if so where do you get your ideas and inspirations from?

I would like to submit my shop for critique too ( i am working on new ideas for expanding stock)

Thanks,
Sam

[aliciawatkins]

Yes, I'd also like to know how their brands evolved.

ETA: What did they use to determine the directions they pursued (and the ones they gave up)? Was it sales? Was it a sort of inner vision of the "finished product" of their shop? Etc.

[GildedNotes]

How do you manage your inventory when things get crazy busy? Storing/ packing/ shipping etc.

[KilnMasterPottery]

Do you stage your pictures to show how items could be used for holiday or compliment holiday decor? Should we do something in the item description to bring out the holiday? or the season?

[Former_Member]

Do you change the backgrounds of the pictures of your items for the holidays? Are sales helpful to have during the holidays, or do they make little difference in sales?
I am also interested in submitting my shop for one of the critiques, if someone will tell me how.

[lippybrand]

What are the topselling items during the holidays? I have a baby shop. I am wondering if I should expect more business or not.

Do you need to write your deadline for shipping in time for christmas on every listing or is it ok to just have it in your shops announcment?

[Former_Member]

Top Seller: What's a good marketing strategy for small, up and coming shops with a small budget?

Also... make stuff that you want to make, or tailor to the market themes?

[Former_Member]

Top sellers: What, in your opinion, is the best vehicle for "getting your name out there"? What did you do do become so successful as an online shop?

[TerraRhapsody]

I would ask the sellers how they keep up with demand in the holidays! Are they constantly making and dispatching items?
How do you tag your items in line with Christmas and Thanksgiving?
Do you also get all of your new lines photographed and listed before the holiday season, or do you introduce new things while people are buying in the Christmas shopping rush?

[Former_Member]

what do they do to prepare for Black Friday/Cyber Monday?

[PoppyMaven]

I also want to know about the top sellers promotions for holidays.
AND
What are some Free or inexpensive ways to advertise when you are just starting out and cant spend yet??

[Former_Member]

Top Sellers: how much money did you invest in your businesses before you broke even?

AND

What is included in your business plans (if you have one)?

Emily: When is the seasonal merch desk article coming out?