please help! shop/items/prices critique please!

[Former_Member]

I am doing everything i can think of, renewing, search ads, facebook promotions, twittering, doing craft shows (which sell quite a a lot at these prices), listing new items, and making treasuries.

I have been at this 2 years and have had only 14 sales. please tell me what I am doing wrong!!

Any help or constructive criticism would be appreciated so much!

Thank you!
Emily
tousledddolly

[Former_Member]

Hi, the one thing I do notice is that it's hard to see your items well in your pictures. Like this listing.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/83682670/flight-of-the-honeybee-locket-necklace
The necklace fades into the background. Try taking pictures with a less complicated background.

[Former_Member]

Hello Emily. I have been with Etsy for 4 months and only had one sale so I am probably not the person who should offer constructive criticism, but I will share what I saw when I looked at your site. When you click on an item to view it looks absolutely beautiful, but the item in the initial photo on your shop page is lost because of the detailed background. Therefore, in a search your item would not stand out which would not attract a window shopper. I also thought your tags could be more detailed and there is room for you to add more tags eg phrases - instead of just 'victorian' you could have 'victorian necklace' etc.

I hope this helps but please realise, this is coming from a novice. I wish you all the luck in the world.

Karen

[Former_Member]

i will work on my tags ..i thought you weren't supposed to use phrases? the tagging thing seems rather murky and grey to me!

[Warmth]

Murky and gray for sure. The trick is to look at other shops that are doing well and take a close look at their tags.

[Former_Member]

They recently introduced the ability to use phrases as long as it keeps in the 20 characters limit and in materials it is 45 characters I think. I am just reading all the advice that comes through and have looked at the promo videos and am trying to follow the advice of those who are successful. Just don't put a comma between words you wish to phrase. But it gives us a lot more options.

[Former_Member]

i am researching tags right now!

[LBlackbournJewelry]

Hi Emily -- Your work is lovely and should sell! Prices are good, IMO. I see 2 things off the bat... One -- you need your titles to get to the point. Necklace should be upfront, and think what people are going to seach for. I would say "Steampunk Necklace" first, then move on to the make up of the necklace. Make sure, then to have those words be first in your description.
Two -- I would shake up your photos. Some in the format you have are good but I think some should appeal to a different buyer, and some are hard to read. You may need a more neutral background in some. And clarity needs to be first priority. If I can't tell what it is I will not click.
Anyway -- good luck!