Shop critiques and help setting up

[Former_Member]

a few people have mentioned they dont have a shop yet or a nervous about setting one up.

there's enough of us here to help other members set up shops and there is a wealth of info on Etsy for setting up shops

so if you're worried about setting up and need help, post here and we'll find somebody to hold your hand and give you a little pat or a good whack over the head to get started

[Former_Member]

Hello! I joined a few shop critique teams but they don't seem very active and of course aren't specific to lampwork or even beads. I have a thick skin and would welcome inputs about my shop so I'll start this off.... I'm looking to get more views - sales too of course but I think I really need more views to begin with.

So far the thing that has helped me most is adding more items. Still working on that. I also got a tip about putting more relevant words in the first 3 of my listing and I haven't fully implemented that one yet.

[Former_Member]

Heidi I've seen your work before, it's precious! OK, I looked at tags on the pink kitty. One thing I've learned. USE EVERY TAG. Every tag. Go look at some of mine. I use all thirteen material tags too. Yes it's glass but what about, pink glass, streaky glass, black glass, kitty glass (hey, why not, I get creative like that and it seems to help). On descriptions, pink kitty, striped kitty, happy kitty, purr, furry, etc - no the beads not furry but kitties are! Just go nuts! Look at some other kitty beads including non-lampwork, what are they using for tags? Research research research. It helps!

[Former_Member]

You need to fill out your shop announcement a little bit more and while you should load it with key words it should be in a real sentence. Also, I am having a hard time seeing some of your earrings, especially the parrots and the fish, because the photos are a bit over exposed.

You have super cute items, I think, like the rest of us, you just need to get it out there. I have been going and looking at the tags and titles of the people who show up consistently on the first couple of pages and am making a list.

[Former_Member]

thanks!

[Former_Member]

copied from twinklesnsparkles on the Aussie team site

Some helpful Etsy guides for evaluating your own shop, or for new people. Thought I'd share...

Critique your shop: www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/etsy-success-critique-your-shop/

Make your shop more relevant: www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/make-your-shop-more-relevant/

Reevaluating your prices: www.etsy.com/blog/en/2010/etsy-success-reevaluating-your-prices/

What's in a name: www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/shop-makeover-series-whats-in-a-name/

Writing an engaging profile: www.etsy.com/blog/en/2010/getting-to-know-you-tips-and-tricks-for-w...

Creating policies that work: www.etsy.com/blog/en/2008/service-tips-for-sellers-creating-policie...

Connecting your shop with Facebook and Twitter: www.etsy.com/connect

[PrimaDonnaBeads]

Oh cool! I let my shop *go* when I get discouraged... I hope that by being on a team that is filled with people I actually *know* through the internet that I will be able to list more and be more proactive about listing and promoting...

With that said, go ahead, let me have it. I already know I don't have enough stuff listed and that I don't use all the tags.

Also, I still don't know what "relevancy" means either, so I don't know how to fix what I'm missing.

[Former_Member]

I'm finally starting to get it about the tags and relevancy thing after those comments above. Especially about the first few words of the title where I had things like "set of small..." or "pink and purple..." as those words and that could be ANYTHING! And I could not for the life of me think of other materials besides glass. So now I'm working on it.

Along those lines your ribbons made of kimonos could have a lot of things in the materials besides "cotton" like "kimonos" or words about how they are recycled cotton or repurposed kimonos or upcycled and "green", etc.

Hey, do you have a bigger variety of patterns/colors coming on the kimono ribbons? i was thinking it might be cool to suggest them to people as something to hang my Japanese lucky cats from. I have plans to make a listing for wiring them up into pendants and I could maybe put a link to a ribbon that goes well with a given one. They tend to be on the "bright" side though.

[Former_Member]

thats a good idea

i hate supply chains etc with my pendants, its just a pain, maybe we should cross promote to other shops in the team that supply hanging stuff

[Former_Member]

Donna, I had a quick look at your shop. Your right, you definitely need to list more lol! Over all you shop looks great. I wonder if you could photograph your ribbons on the same surface you do your beads? That would give the whole shop a cohesive feel to it by tying it all together.

I would love to see more of your ribbons and of course, more beads lol! I have noticed that the more I list, the more views I get and the more treasuries I am in. I usually get more sales the more active I am in listing as many items as I can.

[Former_Member]

I know my shop still needs help. But I have a stupid question.
When you answer the questions for listing do you say it is a supply or finished piece when it is just a bead?

[Former_Member]

i maintain that lampwork beads are a handmade supply, so they should go under handmade/glass/bead/lampwork with a supplies tag

other people put them under glass/bead/supplies

i guess it depends on the type of bead, spacers and such might be supplies but i think classing a focal with hours of work as supplies cheapens the work

then again, not putting supplies might affect how you get found

not very helpful am i :)

[PrimaDonnaBeads]

Thanks for the tips ladies.

Heidi I love the idea of using the words, upcycled and green in my tags!

Sonja, I can definitely photograph the ribbons on the same surface as my beads...

I do have other colors of ribbons, just haven't renewed the listings yet =) Maybe I'll take new photos tomorrow and relist tomorrow.

[Former_Member]

Trying the idea of linking to Donna's ribbons on this listing:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/100771593/lampwork-lucky-cat-bead-traditional-most

[nlcbeads]

Love your cats, Heidi!

I know titles are supposed to be keyword heaven, but why doesn't everyone put their shop name in it? If I'm hovering, it lets me know who made it, and some people may look for a maker as well.

[Former_Member]

I'm still trying to figure it out but I did put my shop name into tags on some of my listings. my shop stats do show it being something at least a few people searched for.

[PrimaDonnaBeads]

Heidi! Thank you so much! What a great idea... <3

I still need to go in and add the new key words... But I'm going to rephotograph the ribbons on the same background I use for the beads... just want to do it all at once.

[Former_Member]

I have to agree with Deb that I don't think an incredible focal belongs in the supply category. I do simple spacers and *those* I put in the supply category. My BHBs list as finished product.

[Former_Member]

I don't think I have any of my beads listed in supplies, they are all listed under handmade finished products.