Recovering from Vacation Mode

[Former_Member]

I have read many, many threads about the downside of using "Vacation Mode" so like many folks whenever I have been on vacation I have just announced it in my Shop Announcements, Message to Buyer etc. Well, I got pretty sick at the beginning of September and was forced to put my shop on Vacation Mode because I could not keep up with orders and I did not want to risk getting negative feedback for super slow shipping....

I am on the mend and feeling a lot better, so I took my shop off Vacation mode over the weekend (it was on Vacation for about 2.5 weeks total) and exactly what folks said would happen has indeed happened. My shop has completely dropped off the face of the Etsy-earth. Before all this happened I was averaging about 200-250 views/day with regular sales. Since coming back from Vaca-Mode, I am lucky if I get 30 views/day and I've had 1 sale. {sigh}

I know I did not really have a choice without risking the reputation of my shop, and I am trying not to be too bummed out about it, but I would love to hear any words of encouragement or suggestions on how to get my shop back in the Etsy-verse again. I have been busy renewing/updating listings, adding new items, etc. I've read in some of the threads that some shops said they never quite recovered from vacation mode. I am hoping that is not the case.

Any ideas or suggestions would be most welcome! Thanks :)

[Untwistedsister]

I'm so glad you posted this. I just fav'd an item in your shop to help you rebuild. Glad you're feeling better.

[Former_Member]

Thank you Terri :)

[LeeliaSupplyVintage]

I just got off vacation mode last night after 10 days away. I am still a new shop so I really did not know what to expect. So far, I have increased my views again, but no sales yet...I will keep my fingers crossed. Hope that you get 100% better soon!

[Former_Member]

Thanks Pamela. I am glad to hear that you are experiencing an increase in views after returning from Vacation mode! That gives me hope :)

[Former_Member]

Hi Claudia, I remember shops from other teams we have in common. I'm glad to see you back ;-)

I think you can recover, especially with the amount of sales you've had, you have a following and I'm sure people will be slowly seeing your shop back :)
To get yourself back, I think participating in teams, renewing, adding new items, which you are already doing, are all things that will help you back out of the vacay-mode rut! :)

One thing I've heard is that you can see if there are new keywords in googleadwords that are being searched and you can add them to your keywords (get new hits).

[ArtbySuzanneLaPierre]

I read those negative things about vacation mode too and it really worried me, but like you I just couldn't risk having people not see the announcement and buy something and then be upset that it didn't ship right away. I am very conscientious about prompt shipping so it would just bother me too much if that happened. So I did the vacation mode this summer and I don't think it did me any harm. I offered a discount for my "re-opening." I checked for messages while I was away. I listed a lot of travel sketches I made on vacation when I returned and my sales continued. How long has it been since you've been back? Maybe you just need a few more days to rebound?

[PrettyPictureGiftsCo]

It took me about 2 weeks to start to build my views back up after my vacation mode debocle...but I was only away for 4 days. I too read the posts...but only after when I went down to 2-3 view. Ugggg