Finding Time To Market

[Former_Member]

I've come to point where I've decided the best way for me to market my Etsy shop is 1) have a large inventory, 2) a range of prices and 3) market in places related to my goods. All of these are challenging but I find #3 to be the most challenging. That's b/c even though I know I get traffic from these places, I still have trouble finding the time to post items, not alone be genuinely active on the sites.

Just for discussion and learning from others, how are you managing your marketing goals?

[designershelving]

I can only speak for myself, but i am struggling twits these very problems myself.
I need to figure out how to gain exposure. I feel like I'm going to have more success, just having someone stumble upon my store verses looking for what it is am selling.

[Former_Member]

A very good question, Annsliee! I wish I could answer that myself, but I have yet to enter the ranks of opened shops. Soon though! Speaking of which, I applied for my sales tax license just this morning! I'm so excited!

I can't wait to hear what anyone has to share about this topic! It is one that all of us have to learn, in many areas!

[Former_Member]

There is no doubt it takes a lot of work and a lot of time.

My biggest challenge has been the photographs.....getting good images, editing, naming and uploading. This is a huge area of demand and nothing happens until this is done and done well - still working on it!

Being visible and maintaining that visibility is critical so it's an ongoing, constant part of the business. Linking with Facebook and Pinterest are my two main places for cross promoting . Also joining Facebook groups which promote and share the same type of products.

Everyone needs to help each other 'share the love' so it's important to acknowledge any and all attention and return that by commenting, liking and sharing other people's items/products whether on Etsy or Facebook.

My brain is still half asleep after another late night spent on the computer doing all the above.

Will drop back in here later after my coffee kicks in and hopefully be able to contribute more to this discussion. it's certainly a hugely important area to get a grip on and find the most efficient way of attacking it.

Looking forward to reading others comments.

[Former_Member]

Hi All,

Promoting a Sale in my shop today, 10 % off and my repeat clients get 20% off!

Have an awesome day and thanks,
Dori
www.etsy.com/shop/jewelsbymoon?ref=si_shop

[Former_Member]

@Catherine, I agree that setting up products to photograph, then loading them takes a big chunk of time. I have poor lighting in my workroom and find that I have to use Photoshop just to get a white background. It's such a pain fiddling around on Photoshop but it's better than what I use to have--going outdoors chasing the light to get a good photo!

A few months after I had opened in May 2011, I had tried very hard to use Facebook, linked it to my blog, and did FB ads. Many people swear by FB and do well with it. For me, it was nightmare and ate up a huge amount of time. After FB had made several changes which required even more of my time, and after reading that a low percentage of people really click on FB ads, I declared myself FB emancipated! Later discovered I wasn't alone.

I've experimented with many other sites and after a year of that, finally discovered the best venues for me. This year I've started working by a schedule, it's flexible and it has really helped me in meeting my goals for production, record keeping, and tracking progress. Even though I built in time for marketing, it's still difficult to find the time.

I woke up this morning thinking that it's paramount to just drop everything, short of the house burning down, and that 2 mornings a week for 2 hours just focus on marketing.

[Former_Member]

@Annsliee.....I wonder about FB too....Oh the time I've spent!!! I still have trouble negotiating my way around it but for the moment will continue.

In regard to the photos...I bought a lightbox and lights on eBay. Wasn't overly expensive and has been a great help. I also bought a large sheet of white cardboard from the newsagents which works well as a background. I set my camera on auto so it does most of the work and use a tripod to stop camera shake...have the timer on 10second delay so I can get my hands off it all. You probably know more about it than I do but if you want to have a chat about the little that I've learned, more than happy to discuss.

Picasa is a free photo editing program that I use and then I tweak and resize in Corel Photo Paint if I need to.

Good plan to devote specific days and times to marketing - it can all get out of control so easily.

All the best.

[Former_Member]

@Annsliee - just had a look at your fabulous shop! Your photos are excellent - nothing I can tell you there, you've nailed it perfectly.

[MyMarkStudio]

I have yet to figure out the where to start, on finding the right balance between, Work that is not related to my store, Crafts of Ruka (my store), and making products.

[Former_Member]

@Ruth Seiler - I think it all takes a bit of time to find the right balance and the best way to allocate your time.

I seem to be spending so much time working on the business side of it all and then finding that the creative time and energy is lost. If I gain some insight and find the perfect formula, I'll certainly share it with you.

Perhaps it's a matter of devoting specific time to creating the product and letting go of the business work for a day or two each week. i.e. Monday and Wednesday - creative time/Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - Business time. I work 7 days a week - not complaining - as I realize that I need to attend to something every day. It is very demanding and I am still trying to get a grip on it all.

As a one person business I am:

The Creative Department
The Accounts Department
The IT Department
The Marketing Department
The Photographer
The Manager
The PA (to myself)

Sound familiar?

Best wishes to you
Catherine

[Former_Member]

@Ruth Seiler.....just had a look at your lovely shop.....great start.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to work on your product as a priority and fill up your shop with the beautiful pieces that you make. Adding extra items is, in itself, a very helpful in getting noticed.

Good luck
Catherine

[MyMarkStudio]

Catherine thank you for the advice. Your week sounds exactly like mine. We are both, everything for our store. How far ahead do you plan the things you sell? For instance do you start working on your Christmas items in the fall right before hand or some other time? I am trying to figure out what collections and items I can make for this summer. Design them and make them. While at the same time getting ready for next fall and holiday seasons. I learned last Christmas season that I was way behind and needed to plan way ahead for holiday specific items. I try to design my items mostly to go with the season's, not just a celebration but I found having one or two themed items brings in a lot more traffic.

[Former_Member]

@Ruth Seiler - I must admit that I don't plan ahead for different seasons or specific occasions and I must become more aware of fashion trends. It seems as though new season trends start appearing towards the end of each season.

As we're living a global existence it seems it's always one season or another, somewhere in the world. Thinking and planning ahead is a very good idea and factoring that into your product style can only be a good thing.

With my jewellery I think in terms of it being suitable for any time of the year however I feel I should be more fashion and season specific to some degree at least......I'm still working on it!

[Former_Member]

@Ruth Seiler....perhaps if you concentrate on 'all season' items - scrunchies, clothes hangers and coasters as the mainstay of your items and then scarves for the winter season, as a seasonal product line which you would produce during summer, ready for winter sales.

[Former_Member]

Catherine says:
As we're living a global existence it seems it's always one season or another, somewhere in the world. Thinking and planning ahead is a very good idea and factoring that into your product style can only be a good thing.
_______________________________________________
Ditto. I don't create just for specific seasons. However, for this year, I do plan to have create something very specific for Christmas.

[Former_Member]

I think it's a very good plan Annsliee.... will be very interested to see your Christmas creations - best of luck x

[Former_Member]

Hi Everyone! I just joined and by reading your posts, am glad to read some of your helpful hints and struggles. I have literally combed craftshows in my area and am signed up for as many as I could afford. I do have volunteers, thank goodness....family members and that helps with the one person business situation, but they are not able to help all the time either.

Best wishes

Debra

[Former_Member]

Im struggling with it all, it just takes so much time. I've just started an up to 40% off sale so I hope that means less work overall?

[Former_Member]

I've read that some people say that it was the steep sales the actually did not help, whereas others said that it brought in a few customers that would come back. So it might be a good idea--but have you thought of giving some of your pieces for reviews on blogs? I have dived head first in studying whether or not this would be a good choice for myself, and it does seem like it. If you would like links to some of the blogs I have my eye on in that regard, I'd be happy to send you the links! And I'm always setting up links on blog to different places. I'm right in the middle of actually building my first pieces, and I hope to submit some in early May.

[AnitaSperoDesign]

Hi everyone I'm new. Thank you for inviting me.
I run several businesses.
My mentor told me something that really stuck with me.
Your business is 50% product and 50% advertising ...I work on advertising 3 hours in the morning and one at night. I am not a big sleeper (3 hours a night).
I do all the working. I get help with shipping at times...but I do run everything.

If you really think about it you can have 5000 items in your shop..but that is all they are , 5000 items in a shop" if you don't advertise. It comes in second after buying items for my shop.
I really feel SOCIAL NETWORKING is the most important advertising.

[Former_Member]

Hi Anita! So glad to see you here! What is your favorite social media outlet? I'm trying to use blogging and facebook. Still studying and implementing new things, and sharing what new things I learn!

[Former_Member]

I agree with Catherine. We wear many hats. The main goal is organization. I use facebook, twitter, pinterest and soon stumble and instagram. My way to manage these sites is
1. Don't wait a long to update, it get to tedious and you get bored.
2. I spend an hour first thing in morning with my coffee updating these sites, even if is to just add a quick hello how is everyone doing today.
3. Make a file that you can use to copy/paste from. You will learn that you are posting almost the same things on everything. So when I figure out what I am doing I type into my file and copy/paste from that. Sounds a little impersonal but that is our secret.
4. If I find a little time during the day to check on everything I will do it. Usually when I am making dinner, or sitting watching t.v.
You really have to account for every minute of your day and make it constructive.
I hope this helps everyone a little.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the pointers Theresa! I will certainly consider those. ;)

[SouthernBornNBlessed]

Catherine, I made my own light box for a few cents! google it. when I was doing jewelry) picasa is wonderful! & FREE!LOL FB hasn't been very good at all for me. I use Pinterest, stumbleupon,twitter, but need MORE free ways to PROMOTE! I, too, find that being the lone ranger is very time consuming to say the least! Have u ever found that "working at home" seems to be a joke to some!LOL It's kinda like "she doesn't go to a ReAL job! LOL"

[SouthernBornNBlessed]

Theresa, do u ever try to watch tv & feel, -I need to be doing my shop stuff! LOL
I guess with this thing, it's like I've always heard- you'll never feel you have "ARIVED"! Guess I'll just learn to deal with it!lOL And that's because I LOVE WHAT I'm doing! It must be bred in us all if we're on Etsy!