getting more sales...

[MyDistinctDesigns]

I realize this is the age old question. But here goes.... My shop has been open for about 4 months, I have spent hundreds ( like over 500 ) of hours on pictures. Still have more work to do on them. I am technologically challenged so SEO is a struggle to put it mildly.
Anyway, I am wondering if I should even bother? Or just chalk it up to a learning expereience. It is very discouraging to spend this kind of time on something and still be so far from getting it right. I have learned so much from this team that maybe someone has a suggestion that could help me with what to do to generate some sales. I get views, usually 70-150 per day.
I guess I am just having a bad day!
But any suggestion would help.
Thanks Ya'll

[OneUrbanTribe]

I like your work. Your views are not all that bad, actually. There are always things to improve in this business, to find out what they are I would recommend going to Sassy Critiques in Teams. They have thorough shop critiques.

If you love what you do you should keep going. I make less than minimum wage so far in this business, and it is my only job. I am continuing to improve things every day, and every day I wake up excited to paint more beads and string more necklaces.

[aclhandweaver]

Sometimes it's good to let it all sit and then come back to it and see what you think.

Don't forget to breathe. It's only Etsy. You have learned some things, too.

When I figure it all out myself, I try to let you all know.

[Former_Member]

Don't feel bad about having spent that many hours on photos at all! When I set up to do a photo shoot, I'll shoot for about 5 hours to get just a few great product shots. Over the years I've probably taken at least 50 photos of each item in the shop.

Don't let SEO get you down. Its just a term for 'being able to write a title that so that a buyer can find what you are selling".

When you write a title, think of a single sentence that you would use to describe the item to someone if they couldn't see a photograph of it. Then condense that sentence into phrases. Its really that easy! Just don't over think it.

If you just dump every adjective you can think of in your title, people will never find the item! When was the last time you felt the need to purchase a

""Beaded Topaz Dangle Earrings Victorian Antique Silver Faceted Glass Beads Pierced Light Topaz Swarovski Crystals Handmade Jewelry ""

From looking at that title, I wouldn't even think to search for something like that! A title that is just a string of miscellaneous words strung together really isn't helping you at all.

What is being sold? - topaz Antique dangle earrings with swarovski crystals

Then in your tags I would include
topaz
topaz earrings
dangle earrings
swarovski crystal earrings
jewellery
earrings


You might find the Etsy Mentors blog post 'critique your own shop' to be helpful
etsymentors.blogspot.com/p/critique-your-own-shop.html

And remember that Etsy provides you with the store front but does NOT bring you buyers. Its up to you to do your own marketing to bring in your buyers!

[Former_Member]

I think your photos are great, and I can tell you've spent a lot of time on them. Personally, I think it takes time to get sales. Keep promoting outside of Etsy, and keep up hope! It takes time to get sales. :D

In your tags, I see that you use earrings several times. I would consider thinking more like a customer when it comes to the tags - like gift for her, gift for friends, weddings, prom, etc. Think about all the creative and fun ways your jewelery will be used and incorporate that into your tags and descriptions. The best advice I learned is to really give your customers a reason why your items are needed in their life. :D

[LetterLuxe]

Don't give up!!! It took me a couple months before I started making consistent sales. I am constantly finding ways to improve my site -- photos, tags, product descriptions, etc.

Your photos are amazing, by the way. I wish I had photos like that for my products! Maybe you could use some of your photos in your banner -- a signature piece -- I think that would look great at the top of your page and give the viewer a great visual.

Amanda

[give1]

I think your pictures are lovely! Since you are getting a good amount of views per day, I would say your pictures are doing the job quite well of getting potential customers to click. Maybe it's just a slow time right now? Don't be discouraged though. Maybe try and focus your efforts on learning the ins and outs of advertising to bring more customers to your shop and fiddle with your titles and tags. Research other jewelry shops that you admire to see what might make them successful. Best of luck to you! I'm sure the sales will be pouring in soon. :)

[MyDistinctDesigns]

Thanks to all of you for responding. I guess 1st I need to seriously take a look at my descriptions and tags. Then work on more photography when my patience aren't worn so thin.

[aliciawatkins]

Your pictures are wonderful.

And I love this: http://www.etsy.com/listing/87642699/steampunk-vintage-elgin-pocket-watch

The trouble, from my perspective, is that I can't tell from the description what exactly that item that I love IS. Is it truly a working pocket watch? (If it is one, I'd like to see the clock face in the photos.) It says it's from the 1900s, which is awesome, but I want to know more -- where was it made? Or is it a replica or reproduction? Did it look like this when you got it, or did you make it yourself (I can't tell)?

This also means that I have no idea whether your price is a steal (as it seems to be?) or more than I'd like to pay for the object. Since I can't tell, I don't buy.

In other words, I would say work on your descriptions next -- and don't just clarify what the objects are that you're selling, but tell a story with your descriptions. I read an article recently (maybe we all did -- I'm going through Etsy archives and can't tell what I've read that's recent and what's "classic"!) that really clarified this for me: your descriptions are helping your buyer to imagine herself as the person she wants to be, and telling her how your item helps her become that person.

That's a lot of swagger for any product or object, and I'm not saying any of us are selling anything life-changing here, but we ARE part of the handmade movement, and that is something -- and the items we make with our hard work, or pick out from history to repurpose and use now, those are significant because of what we put into them. And because of the stories they tell -- oftentimes the stories they tell about US, not about how practical or pretty the object is...though the descriptions should be clear on that, too.

I'm a bit of a writer, and my descriptions tend to be pretty long (because I have fun writing them), so I'm probably biased in this area. But that's where I'd spend the next portion of time you have ready for Etsying, because your photos really are gorgeous, and I think you should be getting a lot more sales.

[MyDistinctDesigns]

Thanks Alicia,
I am not one to write a long description. Guess I need to expand some. Just to let you know it is the inside works of a pocket watch. No face on this necklace.