Down the Rabbit Hole

[ISLANDTEXTILECOMPANY]

Hi!  This is my first time here, but I have been listing on Etsy for several years now.  I don't know what happened, but it seems that 
Etsy is not promoting my site for some reason.  In 2018 I did very well with Etsy because I know my product reaches a relatively small market.  But, after Christmas in 2018 it is if my site went down a rabbit hole and disappeared.  How can I get Etsy to market me better?  I am still doing all the production myself so I can not take time to learn how to do all the stuff in the background because I do not know how, mostly.  I do all the designing myself, I do not have an ecommerce staff person.  I am still struggling and do not feel that I should be.  The purpose of going on Etsy was that I though they would assist the online marketing work so I could concentrate on improving my line.  No on is even looking at my site now.I cant get sales if they do not see it on Etsy!  Thanks, B

[jbyrd975]

My sales went way down after etsy forced the free shipping thing on sellers. Are you offering free shipping? My products stopped showing up on searches when they made that change and my sales stopped. Once I started offering free shipping they picked up some but still aren't as good as they were - down about 40%. I'm quite disappointed in etsy but I do get some sales. I don't know what else changed but its definitely not as profitable as it was prior to the free shipping thing.

[GraphixGlass]

Your pieces are beautiful! I love mud cloth! The free shipping thing is a big nuisance especially for me(stained glass is heavy and it needs to be packed carefully) but I think maybe it's because of your bad review. I don't know if you can get that rectified?

[JewelryLoveDesign]

Your work is beautiful.  My first impression is that your prices are WAY too low.

As a maker, you should be paying yourself an hourly rate.  Be honest with yourself on how long it took you to design and create your pieces, including the time to select your fabric, etc.

Look at similar items on Etsy and the prices.  Having such low prices gives the shoppers the perception that the items are cheap.

I charge for my labor, and I double the cost of my supplies + shipping + tax all figured in.  I have an Excel spreadsheet with all of that  figured in per bead, finding and length of chain.