Utilising social media

[Former_Member]

The time has come for me to begin using my facebook page more often. I have twitter also but I've never used it. How do you utilise these pages effectively? I don't see how just posting all your listings would be very effective but I don't want to be one of those sellers who go into their private lives on fb or twitter mainly because I'm not a social media fan although I'm more open on Instagram.
Are there any other methods of getting your product out there that you've found successful?

[Paintspiration]

I've found that different venues bring you different traffic. For example, I get lots of views from Tumblr, but the audience is much younger and mostly just browsing, not shopping, whereas Facebook brings me more serious buyers.

One piece of advice I think is really important is to share more than just your products. This will gain you more followers, rather than just spamming people with your items. You can share quotes, related blogs, other shops, etc. I usually just post an item when I first list it.

Hope that helps!

[MaryPowDesigns]

I've found it really helpful to follow other shops and a varierty of business's Facebook pages to see what they do. What kind of interactions do they get from different kinds of posts, and what kinds of posts do *I* like to read in my newsfeed. This has helped me create a Facebook page environment that my fans like to be a part of. I get pretty good interactions on my page and also sales from Facebook fans.

Twitter is another story - I don't get that at all.

[Former_Member]

I don't know about using Facebook simply because I don't.

But with twitter I'll post a couple of items each day. However I spend the majority of time on twitter actually chatting with others who have the same interests as I do. I started my twitter account long before I opened the Etsy shop and there are people that I've been chatting with on and off for the past 5 years on twitter.

[Former_Member]

I just don't get Twitter..........

[Former_Member]

with all these social media net works, how do we get anything done?
Time just keep slipping away...need longer days *_*

[Former_Member]

erika from lancerika says

with all these social media net works, how do we get anything done?
Time just keep slipping away...need longer days *_*
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Actually I get quite a bit done.

I start in the morning processing orders. Then its a half hour activity between the specialized forums I'm active on and catching up with twitter.

A bit of time double checking on supply orders that I'm awaiting and then its back into the shop.

Mid afternoon and late evening I'll repeat the same online process but not need to check on supplies these times.

Then last thing for the day its time to do the shipping and hit twitter one more time.

Overall I think I spend at most about two hours with social media.

[Phoebedreams]

From personal experience social media is an essential part of online selling. Although I get a fair amount of traffic through Etsy and Google, I also get lots through my facebook page.

Like Mary, I try to vary my posts, but I also put up a couple of links to my shop every day, sometimes for new listings, sometimes for offers. But I also spend time 'interacting' with other pages, and sharing anything which catches my eye. I have had quite a lot of sales from people finding my shop via facebook, so for me it is definitely worthwhile.

I'm with Sabine, I don't get twitter either..!

[Former_Member]

I love twitter. I find it really easy to read and talk through - a tweet requires just a thought, whereas blogging and facebooking in my eyes seem to ask you to develop that thought and maybe add pictorial accompaniment to it. ;-p I sort of see twitter as one big chat room, without the pressure of responding immediately... or responding at all. It's fun for me. Can't say it's brought me sales, but I do get some views.

[Former_Member]

I do feel like just scrapping the twitter actually, I can't stomach twitter secretly even if it is for business. I need to begin using my Pinterest more and I think I've only used my facebook page once. What kind of things do you post to Facebook?

[Orchiada]

Hi Alicia,

I only began my fb page for my business b/c prior I was totally like "nope, don't need it and don't want it". I can't say I have gotten any sales from it but I have gotten views and followers.

I don't go post crazy, but I post new items that I list, my blog is linked to my fb page so when I post to my blog it automatically posts on my fb page. I also post any sales I am having and little milestones for me and my business, i plan to post pics me working on my jewelry and so forth.....I don't believe in poting your whole life on any social media (there must be imits) but you I think a reasonable mix gives your potentail customers a good feel for your business and you as a seller.

Hope that helps :)

[Former_Member]

I have a Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Wanelo and a Stumbleupon.

Seriously to post to all of them daily only takes about an hour's time. It may seem like a lot, but I think the more exposure I can get the better. Most of the sites allow you to link posts to other sites. For example, in posting to Tumblr, I can automatically send the post to Twitter. I don't get how twitter is an effective marketing tool, but I have one and I post from tumblr and randomly on things I come across on the web.

Like someone else said earlier, Tumblr is mostly younger people browsing and not really shopping, but they do reblog like wildfire which allows for more exposure. I don't spam and bombard with just products and promotions, but reblog fitting fashion photos, etc. I do post photos of my products and a link to my store. Some days I have upwards of 500 views just from Tumblr alone in my Etsy shop.

I try to post to Pinterest daily from my Etsy shop, especially for new items or renewed listings.

Wanelo: is sort of like Pinterest and I've been posting more to that site lately.

Facebook: I share relative articles about art or jewelry, along with a daily featured listing from my shop. I am a photographer also, so I make my own inspirational quote art and post that as well. I also have a monthly "like" and "share' contests which get some traffic and new likes. I have taken advantage of the paid promotions that Facebook has with a little bit of success. I'm not sure if I got any sales out of it, but I have gotten page likes...which builds my street cred. lol. I really get aggravated that Facebook hides your posts from some readers in an attempt to get you to pay for post promotions, and I almost want to just do away with it. As we all know the whole world is on Facebook, so from a business standpoint it probably is best to keep the page active.

I have just recently started using Stumbleupon and I get a little bit of traffic from it. I am still learning how to optimize it.

I hope this was helpful. I am in NO way an expert on any of the social media outlets. I enjoyed reading everyone else's tips though. ;)

[ShopMissElla]

I like facebook best and indeed it has resulted in more sales, I just can't seem to get my foot in with twitter, feel I'm blathering to empty space! Fellow traders all tell me it's the way to go though. They say it's all about the hash tags and tagging onto whatevers trending. I haven't had much success so def not getting it! I just connect my facebook to twitter so those updates go there too.

I like the fact you can immediately show pics on facebook, work in progress, my cats!(my customers generally are cat crazy too!). I try and chat about what I'm up to as well and rarely actually post links to sell stuff as it makes me feel cheap when so many of the lovelies who comment have become almost like good friends! I post the work as I do it, it's really handy to find out what people like and what may or may not be worth putting in the shop.

I am told that facebook is the older crowd but I notice a really wide range from 18 - 60.

I love pinterest too but I just do not get how search works, I never manage to come up in any search no matter what I tag....