Share Your Links to Blog Posts with Helpful Tips Here!

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone,

I think having an official thread for sharing blog posts with advice is a good way to keep things organized, so I'll be closing all threads with blog links and forwarding them here.

Please share!

Best,
Gabriella

[Former_Member]

TangledMetal created a list of his Top 10 Tips for Etsy Success! You can read them here:

http://marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/09/top-10-tips-for-your-shop-to-succeed.html

[Epheriell]

I just wrote a post today on Scoutie Girl - 10 Steps to a Successful Handmade Product Launch - http://www.scoutiegirl.com/2011/09/10-steps-for-a-successful-handmade-product-launch.html

I also blog daily at EpheriellDesigns.com :) x

[Epheriell]

Here's a few helpful posts from Epheriell Designs (I work full-time on my crafty endeavours):

How to turn your passion into a successful business - http://epherielldesigns.com/how-to-turn-your-passion-into-a-successful-business

Time management - how I keep myself on-task and focussed! - http://epherielldesigns.com/crafty-biz-the-4515-rule-how-i-keep-myself-on-task

A lovely little infographic - 29 Ways to Stay Creative - http://epherielldesigns.com/29-ways-to-stay-creative-gorgeous-infographic

Thanks for the opportunity to share, Hedy! x

[SleepingKnight]

Thanks so much for starting this thread, Gabriella. It is much needed and a great way to keep all the blog posts together.

I wrote a new post this morning about ways to gain visibility for your shop. I included info about free advertising, paid advertising, interviews and press releases. Here is the link: http://marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-get-your-shop-noticed.html

Be sure to check out my archived articles. There is a lot of great tips and such.

[Former_Member]

TangledMetal just created a new blog post about taking better photos. You can check it out here:

marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-take-better-pictures.html

[Former_Member]

Oh my, I have a bunch! Reciently I've posted about:

•Editing photos quickly in GIMP here: http://pareandfocus.com/index.htm/so-easy-step-by-step-photo-editing-in-gimp/

•Using a window and a $5 reflector to get beautiful light: http://pareandfocus.com/index.htm/no-fail-lighting-techniques-easy-as-1-2-3/

-and-

• How to make 3 different kinds of Etsy Banner in GIMP: http://pareandfocus.com/index.htm/etsy-shop-gimp-text-banner/

Thanks for this thread! I wanted to let everyone know about the posts but I felt kinda bad for putting links everywhere :)

[Former_Member]

Thankyou so much for this thread...I have learned heaps and am busy applying it all now
patricia
www.mypostedtoast.blogspot.com

[SleepingKnight]

Today's blog post: Etsy search vs Google search, how to optimize for both. The search algorithms are very different and you have to know how to get the best of both worlds: http://marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/09/etsy-search-vs-google-search.html

Let me know if you have any questions. Feel free to follow the blog. Followers often times give great advice in the comments and ask questions that might help someone else out.

[Former_Member]

I posted this in the Business Forum yesterday: Why Buy Handmade
http://babydustdiaries.com/2011/09/20/why-buy-handmade/

[GoTo]

Great idea!


~~Shipping Basics~~
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/business-topics/discuss/6382394/


US: Sales Tax & Business Registration--links to official state websites
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/business-topics/discuss/8756329


US Sellers: Help for Filing Income Taxes for Your Small Business
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/business-topics/discuss/6773969



Shipping Through Paypal
http://www.gotogreatpanes.com/blog/2008/02/25/shipping-through-paypal

Shipping Through Paypal Regardless of How the Customer Paid
http://www.gotogreatpanes.com/blog/2009/08/25/shipping-through-paypal-regardless-of-how-the-customer...

[SleepingKnight]

Today's blog post is about Etsy Search Ads. http://marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/09/etsy-search-ads.html

[Former_Member]

More Photography!

I made a video on using a 4 year old Point and Shoot camera to take DSLR style pictures. This video is part one, The Setup.

It's a great intro to photography for those just starting out on Etsy too...

Check it out!

http://pareandfocus.com/index.htm/point-and-shoot-challenge-come-watch-the-setup/

Let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help :)

[AtTheXroads]

awesome, I see I have a lot of blogs to check out for some tips!

[Former_Member]

Here's a great visual explanation of SEO, how it works for you, and how you can use it!

Literally, the best 3 minutes you can spend for your business!

http://www.willwrite4food.co/2/post/2011/09/seo-for-dummies-finally-a-simple-explanation-of-seo-sear...

[Former_Member]

Laura of janewearjewelry posted a link to a beginner's metalsmithing tutorial, using cold connection techniques!

makesilverjewelry.com/bar-earrings

[SleepingKnight]

10 Customer Service Tips that can help you get more sales:
http://marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/09/10-customer-service-tips.html

[Former_Member]

TangledMetal posted:

We would all like to see more views in our shops because it means more potential buyers in our shops. There is a lot of information out there on how to attract more customers. Today I wrote a short blog post with a few ways that you can potentially increase your views and maybe your sales. If you have some ideas feel free to add them to the list: marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/09/get-more-views-on-etsy.html

[Former_Member]

Hi! I'm back with part 2 of my Point and Shoot Challenge! In this video I go through how I brighten and add contrast to my photo without making the highlights too bright.

There's a getting to know GIMP video in the link just above the P&S Challenge video, so if you're new to GIMP make sure to check that one out too!

http://pareandfocus.com/index.htm/tone-that-down-how-to-brighten-and-add-contrast-without-making-hig...

Hope it helps, and if you have any questions, ask away :)

[SleepingKnight]

There seem to be a lot of people complaining about the new search ads. Most people I have seen are not having much luck. In fact I have seen more threads saying they get nothing and not one single success story.

I am in that same boat. Perhaps my niche is so small that the people who are going to find me are going to find me no matter what. Or maybe people just do not like my items. So, I am going to stick with trying to make my shop reach a broader audience another way.

I am going to try and optimize every bit of my shop for Google and other search engines. I want my shop to be as relevant as humanly possible. That way when people are looking for items like mine they find me.

A lot of people still do not understand relevancy and SEO. To me they are one in the same. Optimizing for one optimizes for the other and vice versa. (Not sure about that spelling, sorry) I wrote another blog article on relevancy this morning in hopes to better explain it for everyone. marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/10/relevancy-revisited.html

I am going to try and continue this over the next few days and would greatly appreciate any and all input on the matter both here and in the comments section of my blog. I am sure I will miss something and I want to help everyone to understand. Let me know what you think.

[SleepingKnight]

I just posted part 2 about relevancy and titles:
http://marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/10/relevancy-revisited-part-2-titles.html

[SleepingKnight]

Just wrote part 3 about descriptions:
http://marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/10/relevancy-revisited-part-3-descriptions.html

[Former_Member]

Just been featured on this lovely blog by Lisa Crone
http://abeadaday.blogspot.com/2011/10/having-halloween-moment.html
and here's my latest post
http://amth13thefoundry.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-in-store.html

[SleepingKnight]

Here are 23 tips to help with Relevancy:
http://marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/10/relevancy-revisited-part-4-tips.html

[Former_Member]

Since people are always asking why buying handmade (and sometimes spending more) is worth it I wrote up 10 reasons to buy handmade this holiday. Feel free to share it with your customers.

http://www.storybuildertoys.com/blog/?p=271