A handmade NOOB

[Former_Member]

Hey guys! I'm just trying to connect on the etsy world and get in touch with some other handmade crafters/artists. So hello! is what I'm getting at here. I'm brand new to the Etsy world and just recently opened my shop. I crochet all the time... scarves, blankets, and more recently chunky hats. I'm a beginner crocheter and am trying to learn new techniques and patterns to add to my shop. I've had a tough time marketing myself and advertising my shop, so I was just wondering if anyone had any advice for a NOOB like myself. Any suggestions on how to make your handmade, one of a kind piece more attractive to online shoppers?

(I realize this is probably a common thread amongst new sellers but cut me some slack ;) )

[Former_Member]

I am fairly new myself. My sales at the moment are coming from my facebook friends and their friends. I posted a pic from my etsy store and ran a contest. If my friends shared the post on their page they were entered into a contest to win a free bracelet (from my shop). Worked well had 5 sales. Now I am focusing on my teams. Favorite their items so my circle can view them, expanding my circle, making treasuries. I noticed since I have put the time into teams I am getting more views. Hard work! Also making up business cards so I can hand out when I make a sale or when I am in public and someone comments on one of my bracelets. Good Luck!!

[Former_Member]

Hey Guys! I'm pretty new too (opened my shop in December, didn't load a product until Jan). Here's a few things I've been doing, but I am brand new so I can't really say if it's making a big difference yet!

I have a "fan page" on Facebook I just started, I have a blog (also brand new), I have business cards I print at "gotprint" (amazing printer, I'm a designer and I've used them for bazillions of print projects and they're cheap) and standard size postcards. Postcards cost less for postage and you can write notes on the back, they're bigger than business cards and more noticeable and less likely to simply be tossed. I also have marketing emails I send out (there's a QR code on my business card to sign up). On these marketing emails I send two/month, one is a monthly update to my Art Lesson .pdf trial famillies, the second is my Etsy/Product update.

Just a few ideas... =)

[Former_Member]

Thanks Jewel! Have the fan page it is slowly getting around. Love your idea on postcards and emails.

[Former_Member]

Being a newbie as well I thought I should share this, just in case:

Today I had a friendly person tell me that it's not OK to thank individual Etsy people for "hearting/favoriting" an item. I've done it a few times and made some great friends. This person informed me that when she was new she did it a few times and one person told her they were going to report her to Etsy!

So... I took it upon myself to look it up in the rules and it does state that giving a "heart" to someone's item is not an invitation for a conversation. I didn't really look at that way.

Just a heads up, in case you do it too!

[Former_Member]

oh wow I had no clue about that Jewel. Thanks

I was thinking about making a Fan Page on FB. Is it hard to make?

[Former_Member]

It's not hard to make one at all. Just type "create new facebook page" into the facebook search field (top center). Your first option should be exactly that! It will ask you to choose what type: business, brand, organization... etc.

You can link it to your Etsy in two ways: 1) once you've created the page: type "etsy" into the same search field (top center) and the first options should be the big orange Etsy "E". 2) when you publish a new item and it asks if you want to share it on "twitter" or "facebook" (above the title of the new product) click the "facebook" link and get that all set up. Each time you creat a new item you can click that and all your facebook fans will be sent a little notice with a picture!

[Former_Member]

I love the idea of a Contest with your FB friends -- gonna steal that idea

[Former_Member]

Jewel--Thank you for all the info.

[spacefem]

Hi everybody! I'm new to the team today so I figured I'd check in, and heck, welcome noobs to etsy! I'm kinda new too, my shop is less than a year old, although I've been BUYING stuff on etsy since 2008, I'm kinda obsessed lol :)

anyway, good luck everybody, good tips in this thread, sales dust to you all!

[Former_Member]

So I tried to make a Facebook page for a company but I think I did something wrong. Can someone check it out and test it with the first "like". PLEASE!

And as a company can I not like others because it wont let me?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/GO-boutique/396733993687182

[NewLeafPics]

It seems to be working Gina. just gave you your 1st like.
Glenn

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much! I'm glad it works.