When your biggest obstacles is yourself...

[Former_Member]

I believe that your love for your work shows in your product and that every obstacle can be defeated. But I'm having trouble overcoming my biggest obstacle so far: myself. While I love my craft (knitting), I am having trouble with my confidence in my products. Will they sell? Will my pictures be good enough? WIll the product be quality?

How have you overcome this obstacle?

[SilverLilyJewelry]

I am in jewelry aHUGELY SATURATED MARKET and when I started I had the same issue until some other wonderful seller's as well as watching online lab's helped build my confidence I still don't have a Etsy sale but I know I need to improve I am aiming for the TOP

[Former_Member]

By jumping in. I started out by trying out a few local arts and craft fairs, and selling my stuff there. It's hard putting yourself out there. And there are always people who won't love your "babies" as much as you do, but then there will be some who really do! And it feels so great. And then when I decided to give Etsy a try, I just asked myself, "what do i have to lose?". It's only 20 cents an item, so the cost loss would be nominal. And, if nothing sells, at least I tried. If you don't try, you'll never know. Lots of luck to you!

[Former_Member]

Selling on Etsy is about having the best titles and tags to be found on search. Since people can't touch your items, your photography has to be stellar.

[PoetryUnspoken]

I think it's normal to feel the way you mentioned. My husband has been a great support, with words of encouragement at times. Then I seek out ways to make better photographs, natural light, daylight lightbulbs, made a lightbox, take the time to adjust photos with the computer software, etc. Then I'm trying to absorb any little bit of advice I see in the teams and forums, and applying what I find I need to do. Just keep trying!
For me, my next goal is selling at craft shows.

[GabriellasTreasures]

It's a big pool on Etsy, so just jump in! Read everything you can here, Sellers Handbook, forums, teams, educate yourself. It's much more complicated that I knew at first, much more work than I expected, but I'm glad I jumped into this pool, you won't drown, you'll learn how to swim! Lots of Luck to you!

[KriyaDesign]

If you look closely at the "monologues". They comes and go like waves. Just keep looking at them without trying to jump into making it right or wrong. At one point you'll realize, they do not represent the truth. Folks still buying your stuffs. You knitting improve. Somebody you know (or stranger) comments how beautiful your works are. Life moves gently even with these monologues going on.

My point is just do it! :-) Thinking only get you nowhere except begetting more of the same nature - 'I am not enough' monologue. If you want things to be prefect and the monologues gone then you'll start something. You know it, we all know it. Not gonna happens... anytime.

When you want to do things. Do it. If it doesn't turn out to be the right one. Tweak or adjust it. Then stay open to learning... along the way. The monologues will still be there, but they won't have much influence. There will be time, they will halt completely, gone. That's down the road and it happens naturally when you gain confident through doing and experiencing and living, instead of over thinking.

Speaking from experience from decades of just planning... and thinking and more thinking and then worrying. Until it just hit me, my life is going nowhere except more thinking and planning and worrying. I guess it will continue infinitely if not for the wake up call

Hope this helps a bit :-) All the very best

[Former_Member]

I have a personal story to share.
I have always been artsy and into creating things None of my family has this talent or desire, so I am kind of unique in that way to my family.
When was little, my family was so encouraging. I entered contests at a young age with the supportof my mom, I won the state Smokey the Bear Poster competition fr California in 3rd grade. I also won a lot of prizes at fairs.
When I got older though, I started shying away from showing people my art and it became a very personal thing to me that I kept for myself, I would never have considered trying to sell some. At the same time my art was working as a kind of therapuetic release for me which was another reason I didn't share it with the public.
Three years ago my great grandmother who was 94 was on her deathbed and shemade me promise her that I would try to share my art with the world and make some money at the same time. She really wanted to me to try and sell my artwork. By this time I was convinced no one would pay for it. I was a perfectionist and could sometimes hardly finish a project without tearing it apart because of a tiny 'mistake'.
I felt pressured after my gradmother's death to satisfy her wishes. I was a little annoyed, felt like I'd fail for sure, and thought it a basic crime against my very morals of artistry.
However, I am now enjoying it, have made a sizeable profit through my talent, and am so happy I had my grandma to believe in me and push me toward success and happiness. I am at a place in my life where I am ABLE to share my art with the world, so I will.

[Former_Member]

Thank you for your support. You all helped.

[ElsieStyle]

That is why Etsy is so great! There is something for everyone's taste in one place. No one shop is for everyone.

Confidence was a weakness for me as well but I love my product and others who also do have found me.

Best of luck!

[Former_Member]

I've been on the self doubt wagon since I decided to try Etsy again. I've only been back here for about a week. The more time I spend looking at what's out there and what's selling, the more I start questioning my shop name, my products and everything else I'm doing! I have to keep remembering the reactions my daughter and I got when we sold at a local craft fair and my office last fall. People loved our business name and products. They oohed and ahhed and we sold almost all of our bracelets and about half the bookmarks. That's what I'm trying to keep in my head so I don't get discouraged.

[Former_Member]

Although I love my dresses, I do ask the same questions. Personally, I manage Theatrette annonymously, which I know is quite an odd solution... basically except for a partner in crime, none of my family or friends know I have a Theatrette etsy shop and facebook page :)

My family maybe has a slight inkling but nothing concrete (probably they just think that I'm addicted to dresses and ribbons!). I just like to handle this without the questions and curiosity. It's a bizarre solution, but it suits me for now ;)

[Former_Member]

Just remember...you are one of a kind in a full house!

[Former_Member]

I think we are all filled with self doubt at times. I can spend days worrying about whether or not to add an item, or whether or not to change my profile, or tags, or pictures. The truth is, you don't get anywhere worrying. It's much better to just get on with it & try. If it doesn't work out, then at least you've tried & then you can move onto the next thing. Etsy is such a lovely, supportive place, that I'm sure, regardless of if you sell anything, you'll have a good time & meet some wonderful, inspiring people.
Good luck!
Maree