Prioritizing shop tasks? Advice please.

[StarJewels]

I've been building my store, listing items, promoting, learning, optimizing search, etc for the past three weeks.

I know I have more to do, namely
-adding more items (I plan to add more grand opening sale items and mid-priced items, more earrings and some bracelets)
-doing a new banner with my name and shop description/brandin
-adding more items
-further optimizing titles/keywords
-promoting more off-etsy
-create a policy page
-learn how to use my new camera and see if I can improve my photography with it
-learn more about everything etsy
-figure out what circles are suppose to do

I added my first item October 17th and I have only had 45 views total from search since I've been open, and 16 category views. As these seem like the ones most likely to lead to sales, I feel this is low, though I know I am in a saturated category (jewelry) I have 831 total views, 68 listing favorites, and 6 shop favorites. 3 sales, which were all from one order (promo items).

I haven't "launched" on FB yet to freinds and family because I want to put in more promo priced earrings and put up a branded banner first.

I'm feeling overwhelmed by all the tasks I know I need to do, let alone all the stuff I probably need to do that I'm not aware of yet.

Would be great if some of you could take a look at my shop and critique/help advise me on what you think my top priorities should be. Adding more items? My banner? Policies? Photos? Promoting?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

My shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/StarJewels?ref=si_shop

[Former_Member]

I can relate to you! I have had a store for a while, but I have been SO busy the last few months that my etsy to-do list is overwhelming!!! That being said, here is my advice...


First, I would create a policy page. You want that to be in place BEFORE people start buying in case you run into any snags. It just seems safer.

Next, I would try to get items listed and tagged! Try to pick relatively good tags to start with, but in my experience you are never finished improving them, so don't stress about that too much!

I would probably say the banner is important for creating a brand image, but I have been needing to update mine and haven't yet!

So, maybe that will help...that's probably the order I would do things!

Good luck!!

[Former_Member]

i just looked at your banner...its pretty cute already!

[StarJewels]

It's just a cropped photo of a necklace I made...I don't know how to put my name in text on there. I was thinking about creating a banner with the image from my profile, which is what I have on my business cards, and my shop name/description. Is photoshop the best program to use? I was trying to silo out the flower in my profile and it was all fuzzy, and I got frustrated and gave up.

[Former_Member]

You have lovely shop. I would find a way to add the shop name on the banner. It will be the first on to do list. Good luck.

[poisonpear]

You can use a free program called gimp to edit your photos or add words to your banner - www.gimp.com I think. I haven't used it myself, but have heard many great reviews.

I agree that having policies is probably the most important first step. Take a look at a few other shops for ideas, that's what I did.

Best of luck!

[JoArtyJo]

Lovely shop!

I would say- do your policies first as it won't take too long, have a look at some successful jewelry shops for ideas what to write.

Then maybe get your name on your banner, as once you figure out what you are doing this shouldn't take too long. Definitely make it match your avatar and business cards.

Then maybe spend a day doing tags. If you start typing into the etsy search bar you will see commonly used search terms. These are a good place to start. Again, check out successful shops who appear high in relevancy searches. Once you have sorted out the tags of your current items, you can copy listings when you add something new. I do this and then change a few tags each time so not all of my listings are tagged the same.

Then start adding new items. But. Try not to spend more than a day or two on the above if possible- as said above remember you can come back to change things.

As for promoting, maybe spend 10 mins a day on twitter startin conversations, referee a few people, just get started. And for a fun way to unwind and promote, join pinterest (convo me your email if you want an invite!!) this is a fun way to start getting your items out there and seen.

I am realising that we really are playin the long game- so I think it is with a little time spent at the beginning setting up your shop just right. There is a brilliant blog checklist by the sassy critiques team: http://etsymentors.blogspot.com/p/critique-your-own-shop.html

In fact read this ^ before you do anything else!! It REALLY helped me out at the beginning, and is not as overwhelming as the seller handbook.

Hope all of that helps out a little! Good luck to you and your shop :-)

[GreenOrchidDS]

I'm a newbie so I'm going thru the the same process as you,,,(who new so much was involved???) but....I really like your banner.

[JoArtyJo]

LOL referee should say retweet. Another disagreement between me and the iPhone!

[Former_Member]

www.workflowy.com

also, etsy is a long process... do not expect your shop to be picture perfect in just a few weeks, but do work, slowly and steadily every day to make it better... at least that's what I do, and even if there's no tangible results so far, there will be

cheers

[StarJewels]

OK, well I just did a policy page! I didn't check out what any other sellers have done, would any of you mind checking it out and telling me if it sounds OK or if I forgot anything big?