What have you gotten from teams?

Sometimes when I invite an unsuspecting shop to a team I lead, just based on the fact that I love their items and they look like good etsians, they message back to say they're unfamiliar with teams in general and aren't really sure what they're for. Of course it's different from team to team, and Etsy has good articles on the "why would you start a team..." sorts of questions, but I kind of want to hear from all of you, I might just compile a blog post about it.

If you ran into a friend on the street who said she was an etsy fanatic, maybe even a seller, but she gave you a blank look when you mentioned teams and asked what those were all about, what would you tell her? What are your favorite reasons to join teams? What have you gotten out of them? What do you look for in a team to join?
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Former_Member
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

i have been a member of several teams since my second year on etsy.... but only in the past three weeks or so have started participating. i have gotten a LOT out of it too! specifically...

meeting awesome new folks

help with a huge array of etsy questions, like photography, direct checkout, promotions, etc.

hits! my views from the 'teams' section are considerable!

many awesome trades (i'm on two trade teams)

networking

leads on good, cheap promotion, and ideas

a look into the way other etsians handle their shops, giving me good ideas or at least considerations for my own

i am active in 3-4 teams, and i love it!
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Former_Member
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

I am Captain of two teams and a leader on at least one more. I'm on 14 teams all together. What I get from teams is support, advice, friends, buyers, hearts, and constructive criticism. The teams I'm most active on are my favorite teams to be on. Lots to learn and teach on teams. I love my teams and my Team Mates. One of the teams that I am Captain of won the Team Spirit Award last year.
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

I have been an Etsy seller since 2006 and it wasn't until the last few years that I began to understand and USE teams. And I have no idea why!

I love teams for SEO advice, as well as more regional/local teams for event info. Half of my brick & mortar shops that I have my items in came from someone seeking me out on Etsy, some even from teams.

I am also a part of a few teams that have ZERO activity. I've tried to get some convo going, but still nothing.

All in all, my favorite is my local team. I've met awesome people through it.
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

I love teams!! I am active in a few teams, but not so many that I get overwhelmed while trying to run my business and work at my day job.

I think teams give us a sense of connection within Etsy and people to go to when we have questions or concerns, or just need an honest opinion. Teams have really helped me out with promotion and increasing views, too.

I'd definitely recommend joining and participating in a few teams to anyone! Sometimes it takes a few tries to find a good fit, but keep trying!
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lippybrand
Inspiration Seeker

Re: What have you gotten from teams?

I learn SO so much from teams, specifically this team. Learn about tricks and tips from etsy pros and warnings about scams.

I also have gotton good promoting ideas and websites for shipping supplies, business cards. Free business card links!
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Former_Member
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

i've gotten a lot of educated opinions of my product photos.

also i've gotten a few supplies and goodies from people i've met through teams. if it weren't for teams i'd have so much more money lol.

this team has been the best by far!
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Former_Member
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

I belong to several teams but this one is the only one I am totally active in and reeived the best advice and information.
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Former_Member
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

Networking mostly, getting good ideas on the ins and outs, what can go stunningly wrong, and how to handle it, what can go amazingly right, and how to handle it. The forums and teams tend to encompass the idea that Etsy is a "community".
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

ya know, I'm in my local teams too but they are tough to get going sometimes! darn small kansas towns :( but I'm still in them just to show support for any activity that *can* go on, and have even had some local sales from them, I'd say they're the best for making community when it comes down to it.
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Former_Member
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

Teams are great opportunities to offer help in the form of ideas or answers to questions to others and to pick the brains of other Etisans!
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Former_Member
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

This is how we describe ourselves + the value our team adds:

A network of handmade goods makers and sellers who refer to themselves as “girls making strides … in fancy high heeled shoes,” The Pink Ponies ETSY team provides professional development and business resources to Gen-Y entrepreneurs through collaborative projects, professional networking and non-profit service supporting efforts to further appreciation of the arts by the general public.
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ElectronicGirl
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

i have gotten alot of really great information and advice. and met some really nice people
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Former_Member
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

Looooove teams!

* Great information for selling!

* Answers to questions I have

* Answers to questions I didn't know I had ;)

* Fun & promotional (favorite the shop above)

* Constructive criticism, critiques

* Viewpoints of others

* More confidence in what I am doing with my shop!

:)

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Former_Member
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

What I look for in a team is activity. If I go and look around and there are posts that are 3 days old and no one has responded then I know it's not a good team.

What I get out of my teams is invaluable advice about everything from photos to SEO to social media and beyond.

Most important to me is the sense of friendship and community. We can't talk about non-business related matters in the general forums very much but we absolutely do in teams.
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Former_Member
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Re: What have you gotten from teams?

From my teams I get:

-Great advice
-camaraderie
-a lot of laughs
-a lot of off-Etsy permanent link promotion
-in a lot of treasuries

And I'm only really in four. The last two I just joined, but haven't been accepted and don't think I will be.
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