What am I doing wrong?

[Former_Member]

I have really been reading everyone else's advice and trying to apply it to my own page but.... I really haven't received very many views and not one sale!

I am new to this but its very discouraging.

Any advice for me?

[Former_Member]

I'll pass on what advice I've gathered since I've started scouring the net for advice (lol). When I first started, I only had a few items & a really nice woman on Etsy did a full shop critique for me. I've had four sales this month, so I'm doing slowly but surely better (I'm excited I sold anything at all to be honest) She told me that more is better, if you have less than 20 items (according to my informant) you're less likely to have anyone find their way into your shop and have their attention grabbed. I also had a image banner but I was told it's good to have your shop name in it. I love your banner as is, but maybe it'd help to put your shop name in it? If you don't have Photoshop you can actually do it with MS Paint too, just not as many options with the font. (Sorry I'm babbling but I really want to help, other Etsians have been there for me this entire time)

Google for some blogs and etc. that give you free promotion, do treasuries, & honestly, just wait. I've done a lot of waiting and continue to do so but having a few sales always makes you feel better.... Me anyhow... Besides, I love your shop so far, all the items are pretty. :)

[Former_Member]

You items title, chalk board needs to be first and then the other words. It will give you better hits on search results. The chalk boards need to be hung on a wall, decoratively and then a photo taken. Putting them on the ground does not due them justice. I did like how you incorporated the beach with the sea shell chalk board and the cork with the tree but you need to do this on a wall, same idea. (looking at other chalk boards on etsy to see how they display will help give ideas and so would hgtv.com)

You photo's of the volkswagon and the light house, if you could put that into a frame and display like the chalk boards. We as buyers need a little help with our imagination so show us what it can do for my home in your photos.

If you could get more items to sell and on your page that helps with display in your shop. At least a 1 page. My shop has one page and shy 2 at the bottom. I need to add a couple more myself.

I don't know if you know this or not but its is best to add one item a day or one in the morning and one later on in the day. This spreads your items out and not clumped into one time and displayed at one time.

Best of Business to you!!

[Former_Member]

I am also new to Etsy, so my advice might not be great, but I do agree...more is better! Also, was going to say might want to put your shop name in your banner :)
What has helped me (perhaps, at least get exposure) is to go and favorite a lot of other peoples shops AND join circles! That is a great way to get noticed....at least it has been for me!
I think you are off to a good start ~ I hope I am too!!!

[Former_Member]

Hello Ladies!

Another couple of helpful hints such as:

Use the option of purchasing a "Showcase" day under the "Your Account" tab and then down on the left-side for options towards the bottom.

They are only $7.00 per day and get your product out on the scroll bar when people surf using the toolbar, located on the left-sde of the Etsy Home Page, when shopping by "catagories".

I try to buy one once a month, sometime twice, as I find it is great exposure to my shop...especially around the holidays.

Also, be sure to post any new listings with your teams, join more teams... and the new Cirlce feature is great exposure too!

Best of luck!
~The Sentimentalist

[efinegifts]

Hello Lauren,

Great chalkboards and photos!

We agree with the above posters: it would be good to get more things in your shop. More items= more exposure. Be sure to renew your items every now and then, so you hit the top of the search list more often.

Make Treasuries. Be sure to choose items with good photos. Check out the Etsy merchandising link to find out what themes, keywords and tags the folks at Etsy will be looking for every month. When you make a Treasury, make sure you send a convo with a link to your Treasury to each of the sellers featured in your Treasury.

Although you cannot feature your own items in a Treasury, there is a chance the sellers who you feature will feature one of your items. Plus, you know you will get at least 16 people to give your shop a look. And there's always a chance that you will make the Front Page, which means a huge amount of exposure.

Add google analytics to your shop, so you can find out more about what time of the day and week is best for listing (and lots of other interesting info.)

Take a look around Etsy and see if there is anything you can't live without. Buying something will probably get you started on feedback and it is always a good idea to support your fellow sellers, when possible. Do your holiday, birthday, anniversary and whatever shopping on Etsy.

Best wishes,
Marc

[Former_Member]

Thank you all so much for the advice! I will work on the banner and photos!

Fellow Etsy sellers have been so welcoming and nice to me. I really appreciate it!

[Former_Member]

I, too, am new, and find all this interesting. The discussion brought up questions of my own. How do you join a circle? Should you notify the person that you joined their circle? Do circles communicate with each other? Several people have "loved" and item in my shop--should I start a conversation with them?

[Former_Member]

Definitely need more items and your shop name on your banner. Sales will pick up when the first pages fills up and get better the more pages you have. I am new also, but that is the advice that I've gotten. Good descriptions, titles, tags, etc. All lead to good SEO and that will bring sales.

[efinegifts]

ThePerfectParfleche:

Do not convo with those who have hearted your items, unless they convo you first. To do so, is considered spam.

To join a circle, go to the shop owners profile page and click on join circle.

[IDreamofJewelry]

I agree with all of the above. I was going to put in my 2 cents, but it's all pretty much been covered.

love your chalk boards!

[Former_Member]

I think the biggest problem is that you only have 4 items. I think you need to address that before you start tweaking it.

[HanaMauiCreations]

I think you need more items for sale, It's very helpful when you list and re-list so your shop gets known.

Aloha!

[ShabbyRoad]

Get out there and be seen.
Tweet, use facebook and a like page if you don't.
Promote in as many ways as you can.
Add people to your circle, and make treasuries.

Add more items and variety to your shop.
I think your banner needs your shop name and add each item as featured been as you have a low number of items. It could give the appearance of a fuller shop)

Good luck, it will happen - I've been on etsy 3 years next Month and I get discouraged every week about something or other. LOL so don't worry, you'll get there

HUGS Ember

[KnitzyBlonde]

Hi Window...

You're missing a lot of things that would really help you to get found via searches, which means that right now, you are basically invisible on the internet. Here are my recommendations...

1. Fill out your policies. A fully filled out policy page shows you are a professional and ready for business. Most people will not purchase unless they know how you package and ship and what your return policies are. Here's a good article about what to write in your shop policies: http://tinyurl.com/quja5a
Hello Policy: http://tinyurl.com/3lkryw

2. You need more items in your shop! The most successful shops on Etsy all have over 100 items listed. Why? Because the more items you have listed, the more opportunities there are for Google to pick you up in a search. It's just the odds. The bigger your web presence (even within your own shop) the more likely people will find you in an online search.

Have you heard of the 80-20 rule of inventory? It goes something like this:  For most businesses, 80 percent of sales comes from 20 percent of your inventory. So, in theory, your Etsy shop should be stocked with enough items to sell that top 20 percent. However, I think a small handmade business might look more like 60-40. Each business has its own unique ratio and you can always work on improving it. So stock up your shop for views, treasuries and sales. 

3. SEO: You'll need to work on Shop title, shop announcement, item titles and item descriptions and word them so that they will be more optimized for search engines. You want to be found, and here's what's necessary to accomplish that.

Keywords are the most important thing for SEO. Be sure that your "Shop Title", "Shop Anouncement", "Item Titles", and "Item Descriptions" and "Tags"are packed with keywords that aid those who are searching for you. These 5 things are the main places where google searches. If these 5 things are keyword rich then it is much more likely that you will be found via search engines.

Optimizing your shop for search engines: http://www.etsy.com/storque/seller-handbook/seller-how-to-optimizing-your-etsy-shop-for-search-engin...

Shop Title: (Just under shop name) Again Keywords here. What you sell. Do not repeat your shop name again here.

Shop Announcement: The first paragraph of the announcement should be filled with keywords, in sentences of 12- 16 words max. No links in the shop announcement, and no "Welcome" or "shop names" .

Item Titles: When giving your items titles, you need to think like a buyer who is searching for your item. Your item titles should not be "names" but descriptions of what the item is. Your titles should be what a person would google to find the item. 54-56 characters are pulled. then the title is truncated. The first 2-3 words are the most important. Remove words like and, with, the... they waste keyword space, and lower searchability.

Item Descriptions: Be super specific in your descriptions - measurements, material, feel, color analogy, even scent - help buyers visualize! How to write a great item description: http://tinyurl.com/y93t3p6 And reuse those keywords in the first sentence of the listing description. How to make the best of your descriptions: http://tinyurl.com/y93t3p6

Here is a great 3 part article on Handmadeology about placing keywords in your item listings for better SEO:
Part 1: http://bit.ly/f6JzU1
Part 2: http://bit.ly/dD2L61
Part 3: http://bit.ly/c2u5jT

Hopefully that will help!

Sandie

[Former_Member]

I am new too- this is all great advice. I think I need to put more items in my shop- I have 22 and have had 2 sales but would like some more! Not everyone has facebook including me but I am beginning to realise that I will need to sign up.

[Former_Member]

KnitzyBlonde, thank you for that jam packed info. Very helpful!!

[AVelvetLeaf]

I just spent about a half hour exploring all the links you provided and this will help tremendously KnitzyBlonde! Way to spread the good karma- thank you

[Former_Member]

Thank you to everyone! KnitzyBlonde, you should write a book with all your great Etsy advice. I REALLY appreciate the help! I am going to start working now!

[Former_Member]

Great discussions here....i teamed up with an experiemced Etsian and she has been a dream in helping me learn the ropes..its amazing how things can happen if you just have faith, ask questions, and let the rest atke care of it's self..I love this group!

[Former_Member]

Oh and my mentor suggested to me to even put your shop"s name on your icon so its always out there no matter what..I couldn't get it on my banner..at least yet!..:)

[Former_Member]

I added my shop policy, edited my listings a bit more and changed my shop announcements and shop title a bit. Hopefully that helps! Thank you for all the help!

I will work on my photos and getting my inventory up!

Thanks for all the help!