Help everyone :)

[TheSandbar]

Hey guys and gals!

I've noticed alot of new shops joining the team...this is awesome!
With that said, most of them have not yet had a sale.

Let's help everyone! The more shops that participate, the more helpful this thread will be.

Post one thing that has helped your shop's sales/views.

Thanks in advance!

[TheSandbar]

I'll go first:

One thing that made a significant difference in my sales... was filling my shop.
I quickly learned it's kind of hard for buyers to find your shop if you only have 3 or 4 items. I noticed increases in sales when I started listing more than 20 items at a time.

[TheSleepySeahorse]

I started getting more views when I made treasuries and viewed and favorited many other shops/items. Being really active on Etsy helps. And you get the benefit of seeing a lot of great handmade stuff!

[MermaidMakena]

Great! thanks for the post I was just going to ask on here what is the best way to get business. I just opened this month. keep the awesome comments coming and I will totes check out other sellers, and favorite other items I like! :) lots of aloha nicole

[Former_Member]

I just opened two days, I dont know how to let people view my items. nobody visits my shop, so sad!

[TheSandbar]

Lasha your items are available to view. By participating in team discussion boards/games you will get more views. You can also promote your shop through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Blogs, etc. Another way to get more views...create a treasury. Just a few ways to get your shop out there. :)

You might also want to reconsider your titles. Although they describe the items exactly, such as "coral necklace" maybe try doing a search for similar items and see what tags/titles other shop are using, just for inspiration. I might list it as "Handmade Nautical Red & Silver Beaded Coral Frag Necklace". Think as though you were a buyer...what words would you use to find an item? Describe what makes your necklace different than the other coral necklaces on Etsy. :)

Just remember: Views do NOT equal sales. Some days/weeks I have 500+ views, but no sales. Other times I have less than 50 views and have multiple sales.

Hope that helps!! :)

[MermaidMakena]

Jess thanks for the good advice you gave lasha! :) Im def still learning the ropes here on etsy. Like I can't figure out how to post one of my items in a discussion thread. I've noticed a lot of people doing that.

[Former_Member]

2 things really helped me. As Jess said, filling the shop makes a huge difference. I aimed for 100 items, and really noticed an upturn in sales once I had about 80 or so listed. The target for 2014 is 200.

The other thing is to be active - post your listings in as many threads as you can, favourite items in other shops, especially when they favourite yours. Get out there and have some fun :-)

[TheSandbar]

Another great way to promote Ewan!

Nicole, if you right click on one of your listings and then click "copy link address" (sometimes this phrase varies depending on which internet service you are on. ex: Google chrome, internet explorer, firefox, etc.)
Once you've copied the link, then right click and paste where you want your item to appear. The discussion posts give a little time to edit your post if it's not popping up the way you'd like you can click "edit" to change your post.

Also, I've learned sometimes it is easier to open a shop page in another window....rather than going to a shop, finding an item, copying, then going back to the discussion boards.

Keep the ideas and questions coming!! :)

[Former_Member]

Keeping your shop stocked seems to be the key for me, every time i've deactivated items for a show, and my inventory has dipped below 100, I haven't had any sales til i reactivated items and kept my inventory over 100. I read in several places that most people seemed to have better sales when they had over 150-200 items listed, so i'm slowly working towards that.

I also have a lot of business that comes through facebook, and i do contests and giveaways on my facebook business page, and quite often i have sold things i put pictures of up on facebook before i ever got to list them on here. So getting a facebook page going would be a good thing to boost sales too!

[Former_Member]

This one is said way to often, but good photos! When I first started my photos were terrible and so were my views. As I've improved my photography my views/sales have gone up.

[Former_Member]

In real estate, it's location, location, location. Ecommerce, it's SEO, SEO, SEO.

If they can't find you, they can't buy from you.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I've been open a few months and have only had a very few number of sales.

I've been trying to get more active on Etsy, learned what treasuries were and how to make them, and have joined a whole bunch of teams that I visit daily.

One thing I did recently that seems to have helped at least increase views is re-titling my items. Check out this link for how to improve your chances of being found in a search:

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/putting-your-shop-on-top-etsy%E2%80%99s-most-relevant-search/

[Former_Member]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all of the ideas. I just opened my shop a few weeks ago and am working to add items and ramp up on the environment. Any feedback on my shop and listings would be greatly appreciated.

[Former_Member]

I love this!! Everyone putting their heads together to help each other :) I started my business about 6 months ago. I've definitely noticed more views when I have more inventory, Facebook helps too. Treasury items are fun to make-- it's a fun way to be a personal shopper, party event decor planner all in one day!!

Is there a certain way to send customers a request to write reviews?

All advice is greatly appreciated, Thanks!!

[justbeachynow]

Hi, Island Paint everyone else!

I think it's awkward to ask for a review .. but they are so SO important.

Here's what I do: when I ship an item, I send an email or convo with the shipping date and tracking number. I also explain that I want to provide an outstanding product as well as excellent customer service, and if the purchaser is so inclined, I would appreciate an Etsy review on the purchase.

I've received 22 reviews on 150 sales, so I'm not sure how effective my "suggestion" is, but at least I have some. Anyone else have a different and maybe better approach to this?

Hoping to hear some new ideas!

[TheSandbar]

Judy & Tiffany,

That's a great way to ask for feedback. I use a similar approach, I have an auto message sent when I print the shipping label....Something like "thank you for your purchase. I appreciate your business and look forward to your review"....if I have a little extra time, I personalize it to their item and name. I also include the same message in the package.

If I haven't received feedback on several orders, sometimes I'll message them after I know the package has arrived. I don't ask them to leave a review, just asking if everything arrived as they expected. Sometimes this results in a review.

ALSO...I have joined several trade teams. Most traders are VERY good about leaving reviews. ( bartering at it's finest ;)

(all of these things have resulted in a 50% review rate for me)

Hope that helps.

[Former_Member]

I am fairly new too.. Sept 2013. I have had six sales. I have been participating in forums, teams, treasuries etc. I see an increase in views from Etsy members when I do that. But, so far none have turned in to a sale. I would say my views are low as I have 32 items in my shop. I am continuing to add items as I make them. Hoping for a very active 2014!

[AShoreThingCreations]

I'm loving this!! As a newbie to etsy (no sales as of yet, but I'll get there!) all of this advice is invaluable! THANK YOU!!

[RoxysPuptique]

I've been at it for 5 years and opened a second shop last year. My best advice is: stick with it! It really took me until about 2 years ago to figure out my groove and have consistent sales and 2013 was my best year ever. You have to be willing to put the work in. The harder you work, more you promote, the more you list and create new items, the more sales/views you have. Everyone had a lucky number that bumps up their chances of being seen. Mine is 100 so I try to keep that minimum in both my stores at all times (like I said, you have to put the work in!). I know you've heard it before, but fantastic pictures are key too. I am constantly changing and trying new things and I know I have items that need to get some new pictures. Pictures and description are everything in online selling. Think about the questions you have when buying online (materials, size, etc) and lay those answers out in your listings.

I'll stop now, I have about a hundred little pieces of advise and could go on for days :)

[Former_Member]

Emma - How do you find having 2 shops? I am constantly toying with the idea of splitting my shop and having one for the toys and one for the beach and handmade stuff. Any time I mentioned this in a team thread the response was 'Oh no - don't do that, we love the variety in your shop'

I guess there is always the chance that a buyer will browse a shop looking for one thing and purchase something completely different. I have had a couple of sales of mixed items - maybe a couple of toys and one other thing.

[Former_Member]

Be active in the Etsy community in all ways you are comfortable with.

Learn good tags so that people find your listings.

And many have said, stock up.

Happy sales.

[RoxysPuptique]

Hey Ewan,
Well, one shop is my pet items and the other shop is my children's clothing so it just made sense to have two, because the items are so different. It works wonderfully online but makes for a confusing booth at craft sales.

[Former_Member]

I have found that doing Team Treasuries have helped a TON to get favorites on my items, and that in turn bumps me in the searches. I still have a long way to go to have my shop what I envision it in my head...but this is a start for sure!:)

[CarmelasCoastalCraft]

Once I got up to 100 items in my shop, things improved...then I aimed for 500....now that I have accomplished that, my aim is to get 1000 items listed. It does help one to get found. I think its a great idea to start some Pinterest boards, that seems to have helped me as well. I am still working at all this and it is a lot of work to promote yourself. I'd much rather be creating something new. LOL.

I agree that photos are very important as well. I do my best with that, some are good and some are not so good. Ahhh well, I am not a photographer but I have improved since I first started on etsy.

I think its super important to be patient and keep on keepin on! Persist ! There are soooooo many sellers on etsy so when you do get a sale, even a small one...CELEBRATE IT !

I am glad to be part of this group...I just signed up with the team today. Thanks for inviting me to join! I appreciate it a lot.