Give a tip, Get a tip!

[carriebostic]

It is obvious that most of you who joined are looking for a tip or two on how to get more sales. So give the person above you a tip on their shop. It can be about anything: photos, products, tags, titles, description, target market... you name it. Whatever stands out that needs a little improvement.

KEEP IT NICE but keep it honest. :

As usual, I will start it.

Thanks for participating. :)

[Former_Member]

I think your shop is very cute and your items are lovely. I wouldn't know what to tell you to change! Sorry.

[Former_Member]

Your items are really cute. I would brighten the images and take closer pictures of the jewelry. Also, the photos where you are measuring the jewelry I would make the second or third photo and make the first photo of just the jewelry. :) I think if you do this, you'll sell some of it cause when I look closely at them they're really cute. But the problem is the photos themselves don't catch my eye. Good luck. :D

[Former_Member]

This keyring is a perfect example. SO pretty! :) The photo just doesn't do it justice. https://www.etsy.com/listing/185301590/

[Former_Member]

StitchyLittleWitch.....(love the name by the way!) Just a couple of little things but I think they would make a big difference in the appearance of your shop & therefore the appeal. You need to alternate your listings so that the appearance has a better flow. Actually what I would recommend is the multiple listings of same item, difference size be listed as one listing with size variations. That way you won't have 2 or 3 listings with the same photo & it will actually save you money since you only pay for one listing. I do this with my art prints available in various sizes. It would clean up the look tremendously & that's what's really important because your pictures are what lure people in to your store to look around. The more variation they see initially the more likely something will catch their eye. The first thing I saw was your multiple listings of the same item & that did not pull me in. Alternating color & items gives an appearance of more variety & looks nicer. (And yes, I need to go make some changes in the arrangement in my listings per my own advice!)

[Former_Member]

BagsBeadsBeautified...

I agree with Carrie....step up your photography. It is crucial. Your photos are what draw people in. If your photography is not good, they are not going to look. That being said, photography can be hard...I know, I'm a photographer & it's something I fight with because I do not have the proper macro lens to photo jewelry & other fine small detailed items. For tips search the internet, google it, even search etsy for help. Best tip is daylight. Photo near a window with good sunlight. Keep the background neutral, white or black (some forums suggest white, some black...it's debatable...I say whatever makes your item show up best!) A good research technique is to look at other listings, other websites even & see what is appealing to you. Just remember if people can't see it....it it doesn't jump out & grab their eye...their attention, you are not going to sell it.

Now for the not so fun part....personally I think your prices are to low. I understand we all feel guilty asking for peoples money but think of this... even though a pair of earrings is probably the least expensive item we make in the cost factor material & time wise...it's where you recoup some of your expenses that you never really thing about...like the gas to go buy supplies, or the packaging material...or the cost factor you lose out on because you are to chicken to mark up a more expensive item material wise. The biggest factor though....it you don't price your designs like they are worth something your customers will not appreciate them. We all think our customers will see it love it, say wow, what a great price...I'm buying it. In fact they think, hum it's so cheap, must be something wrong with it.

I will be the first to tell you, I'm not an expert. I know I have a lot to learn. Yes, some of my designs are pricey....they are not for everyone. They are for the person who falls in love with the piece & has to have it no matter what, the person who love having a unique piece of jewelry that no one else will ever have, a person that appreciates the artistry, a person who decides they are "buying that shirt" before even looking at the price tag...someone like me!

Please know I say this out of love because I want to see you succeed as much as I want to succeed. Once again I will tell you, I am no expert, but I am big on research so what I will say to you now is to do that research. I found a post on Etsy a few weeks ago that lead me to April of Blacksburg Belle. April's website has about 10 or 15 different sections packed with information that will help you tremendously. She is actually the one that made me realize my prices were to low initially & made me understand why. Please, please, please, look her up & it nothing else read that one article.

Now with all that being said, I have not sold one piece of jewelry on Etsy yet, but I WILL...just watch & see!

Wishing you the best!

[Former_Member]

BosticPhotoArt...

First of all let me tell you I love, love, love the photos with the daisies where the sun is streaming & some of your shots that have great background blur! You do have some nice shots. On the other hand & you probably know this already....I know it about my work...you have some shots that are lacking some. The photo of the chocolate lab....beautiful lighting on the face, but the shot is really to dark. I understand the concept of highlighting the face but the remainder of the photo should offer something too.

One of the things I am just now learning & trying to implement is to figure out how to pick & choose what photos to show because as a photographer I love every picture (well, almost). What I try to keep in mind is that I only want to show my best & 10 photos of the same thing slightly different is not my best. I need to pick the best & archive the rest. I make tell 50 or 60 pictures of the birds in my backyard, but I only keep 5 to 10 of them.

Again, I am not an expert by any means. The best advice I can give another photographer is to do the same thing I have done. Study, research, study & research some more. Look at other photographer's work...find what makes your heart sing...find the photographs that make you think I want to be able to do that, then study them & that photographer!

Again, I so love your daisy pictures. They are absolutely "make my heart sing" photography!

Feel free to take a look at my website & give me feedback. I can take it. I have good & bad published I know. I too am a work in progress, but I am determined to make this Etsy thing work. Other people do it...we can too!

[Former_Member]

Thank you for your feedback on both of my shops! :)

About the listing on StitchyLittleWitch: I used to have all of the sized on one listing. However, some of the items I make from newborn all the way to adult sizes. So, I list them for baby, toddler/child, and adult (3 listings). I am going to be working on getting models so that they won't look identical, but it's a work in progress. It is a very good tip, and a box on the to-do list that has been irking me.

About the BosticPhotoArt:
Yes, I have been given the tip about choosing only the best and have considered doing this after I get more listings. I think after they expire, I will choose only the ones that I feel are my very best.

To be completely honest, I'm not a huge fan of my "shed" photos anymore. I used to be fond of them, but they're getting old. I have had a few compliments, but I really don't think I will renew them... maybe just 1-2 at most, when they expire.

Honestly, the chocolate lab is my favorite out of all of them, but I have thought about how dark it is. I am considering very seriously about lightening it up a bit.

Again, great tips, and thank you very much for all of the tips!

[Former_Member]

So here are my tips for you Gini. :)

#1 Your photos: very cute items! The only thing I think I would change is to get some natural lighting so that they're not so dark. I think it would make the items pop more.

#2 Your artwork: Wow! Very unique. Do not change a thing about how you're doing things. There are so many paintings that look like they were punched with a stamper... some ol' same ol'. Your work is unique, and your titles using the work "unique" are right to say so. :)

I wish I could give more but right now that's all I can think of. Great work!

[Former_Member]

Thanks Carrie, I really appreciate your comments...so much more than you know. Especially the nice comments about my artwork!

I do know I have issues with my jewelry photography. It's passable but not what I'd be happy with. They are actually taken in natural light with window & Otto lights....still I agree, lots of room for improvement. I'd like to buy a macro photography kit but haven't done so yet.

[Former_Member]

Yes I really want a macro lens for my Canon. A lot of my photos on StitchyLittleWitch are heavily edited and I'm afraid it's diminishing the "true color". Some of the photos are of items I have already sold and are made-to-order so I have to wait until I make another before I can get a new photo anyway.

[Former_Member]

Similar post coming soon