I like y'all..

[UniquesAndOddities]

I am just getting around to learning about the teams when I discovered I belonged the the Tag Hags...and I am glad...I'll be lurking over here often...Mildred

[Former_Member]

Hi Mildred

Yuh you do, welcome to an eclectic collection of outcasts.
I have a question.
Are these buttons:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78044391/vintage-buttons-red-buttons-green

Supplies?
or
Vintage?

because if they are old enough, and came from Sears some one might be looking for them in vintage and you are calling them vintage in the titles an supplies in the tags. And the first tag identifies what they will be listed under.

Thus the listing should be cleaned up a bit to better reflect what it is that is for sale
and
reflect the probability of how it will be found.

here:
http://www.etsy.com/search/supplies?search_submit=&q=Red+and+Green+Buttons+on+cards&view_type=list
or here
http://www.etsy.com/search/vintage?search_submit=&q=Red+and+Green+Buttons+on+cards&order=most_releva...

[UniquesAndOddities]

Hi..This listing is for green and red buttons...red on one card,, green on the other....is this what you are talking about?

Does it reduce the probability of being found if title has one thing and tag has another?

I really think they would be found under Supplies easier...they are nothing special.

I am going to, from now on, unless I have something special, list a group of buttons together...trying to sell one card of plain buttons is for the birds lol.

Thanks for advice....needed and always welcome...

[UniquesAndOddities]

You know, I do not know where -or if - each tag, title, category attribute, etc goes. I'm still working on that...

I'm having crisis this AM ..someone ordered something ($3) and I cannot find it...I thought I had my inventories sorted out to perfection lol...thanks again

[UniquesAndOddities]

I do not know if this is trainwrecking something..or maybe just OT.

I did not realize that you belonged to Crochet Gal..She sounds like a level headed, nice person...Take care of her, not many like her left...Mildred

[Former_Member]

UniquesAndOddities from UniquesAndOddities says
I do not know if this is trainwrecking something..or maybe just OT.

I did not realize that you belonged to Crochet Gal..She sounds like a level headed, nice person...Take care of her, not many like her left...Mildred
====================
Does that mean i'm not?

[Former_Member]

UniquesAndOddities from UniquesAndOddities says
I'm having crisis this AM ..someone ordered something ($3) and I cannot find it...I thought I had my inventories sorted out to perfection lol...thanks again
========================
You could try my sorting method. File under miscellaneous, that way you know right where to find it. Unfortunately I am trying to find the Sanyo Air Conditioning Compressor to install on a Car I am building, I thought I knew right where it was in the garage. Can’t find it, probably have to clean the garage to do so, in the mean time I figured out how to use easily the GM R4 pan compressor I did find.
========================
UniquesAndOddities from UniquesAndOddities says
Hi..This listing is for green and red buttons...red on one card,, green on the other....is this what you are talking about?
============
Yup!
============
Does it reduce the probability of being found if title has one thing and tag has another?
I really think they would be found under Supplies easier...they are nothing special.
============
That is one school of thought, the second is list them as to what they are, and that is one that I believe in.
It is my opinion that anyone shopping on the internet does so for a reason and part of that reason is that they are comfortable in doing so.
Being comfortable in doing so means that they expect to be able to find certain items under more or less repetitive identified categories.
Say for example they are looking for used buttons. Why used? dunno, sometimes retail sales make no sense to me but I can remember prowling though a retail sales store in Fort Bragg California that was nothing but used buttons, or something like that anyway.
The point is that a potential customer that is smart enough to know what they are looking for on the internet should also be considered smart enough to have some idea how to find it.
And if you list something that is conflicting in information it is also confusing. And some one confused will go -------NEXT and get on with things.
SO I am an advocate of listing things as they are and on this site, Vintage is defined as being 20 years old or older. So if these buttons are actually that old, list them under a Vintage main category,
If not? then list them as a supply, because as they are listed at the present, they violate the listing rules for Etsy which liked or not, are there to guide people to what they are looking for and it really works.
As to people having no idea what they are looking for or how to find it.
I don’t think it is the smartest business plan in the world to build a business plan around dumb luck or luck of the draw hoping some one will stumble on to something.
Thinking something is easy to find is a sure way to make sure it is hidden if you really think about it.
=======================
I am going to, from now on, unless I have something special, list a group of buttons together...trying to sell one card of plain buttons is for the birds lol.
=======================
Now some times, a marketing plan comes out of the blue that actually makes a lot of sense. It is all together probable that marketed as a package deal that some one would be more willing to purchase a quantity at a quantity price rather than a few of which there is no need for them.
For example, here is a search that yields a quantity of Red Buttons. 84 Listings of them, with prices bouncing from about $5.00 to $15.00 and there are enough of them to be used for something.
http://www.etsy.com/search/vintage?search_submit=&q=Red+Buttons%2C+assortment&order=most_relevant&sh...

The same thing for Green buttons!
http://www.etsy.com/search/vintage?search_submit=&q=Green+Buttons++assortment&view_type=list

and one for Red And Green Buttons,
http://www.etsy.com/search/vintage?search_submit=&q=Red+and+Green+Buttons++assortment&order=most_rel...
all under VINTAGE,
but if you try to do the same under supplies?
http://www.etsy.com/search/supplies?search_submit=&q=Red+and+Green+Buttons++assortment&order=most_re...
you get this ^^^^^^^
You can convert the others and see.
Every now and then an epiphany takes place and you say something like;
Shazamm! Why didn’t I think of that sooner?

I am always fascinated the question of should I open a second store to sell widgets when my first store only sells whatnots.

Common!
People product shop, they are looking for a product, not a shop. If they find it, they will go look at it. And find it is in a store.
And go look at the sections list to see what else is there OR if there is any more of what they came to see.
Go look at Crochetgals store.
It is successful! It did not get that way by accident and people did not stumble across her products. She is a smart lady. and as time passed had an epiphany! People wanted to purchase inexpensive wooden Soap Dishes. This from a lady who specialized in Fyber and Fyber Art.
I specialize in wood working, so I made 30 or so and they sold.
Then they were marketed correctly,
Now I make them in batches of 1000 or better.
And you can buy them in her crochet wearable art and supply store under wooden soap dishes.
(I’m getting ready to make my 4th batch this year)
============================
Thanks for advice....needed and always welcome..
============================
That is what this team is about, but remember! It can always be ignored!

[UniquesAndOddities]

Thanks for this...I am looking to buy some buttons myself...I have spent a good bit of time looking for what I want....here and ebay...

Have you looked at my other two shops (the reason I have three is because there are not enough sections..three are not much more trouble than 1).. http://AmandasGranny.etsy.com and KitchenOfGranny.etsy.com. They ave been easier for me to set up and organize....

I know I still have a lot to do, but your insight is appreciated

[UniquesAndOddities]

I remember now why i had vintage and supplies on same thing. I still want some VINTGE buttons because 1. the buttons can be dated (read collectible) . 2. Not made in China (read better quality) 3. The card the button comes on is used sometimes, for collages and other paper assemblages.

I had started putting part of the buttons in supplies and part in vintage..when I had to brain storm...put both on each ...

Something that drives me up to wall, I think I have been told not to start each title the same. words...with potholders (http://KitchenOfGranny.etsy.com ) ... I put a word before the word "potholder" sometimes...would you like to comment on that???

And also tell me what you think about buttons in 2 sections...good night....

Oh,yes..buttons at Walmart are about $1.25 for 3 buttons...when you see a card of 6 marked 29 cents you know it is vintage...

[Former_Member]

UniquesAndOddities says

I had started putting part of the buttons in supplies and part in vintage..when I had to brain storm...put both on each ...

And also tell me what you think about buttons in 2 sections...good night....
==============================
Etsy has 5 primary Catagories,
Handmade, things made your self or altered I guess if you will.
Vintage, Stuff determined to be at least 20 years old or older.
Supplies commercial, things used to make other things with so bought and resold.
Supplies Handmade, thing sued to make other things with but made yourself.
And other, things that have not been determined to be any of the above and are also allowed to be sold.
(See Does and Donts;
http://www.etsy.com/help/article/483
end of quote)
Those catagories are identified by the first tag, except for supplies the second tag must be Handmade if that is what they are.
So when it comes down to it, you can not put an item into both catagories,
A button titles as vintage, implies that it is 20 years old or older.
So there for it should be listed for sale titles as a Vintage item if that is what you ae calling it complet with the first tag being Vintage.
If you don't do that in a way it is a listing no no or a violation. As the punishment for violations are pretty much of a joke except the extremm of muting you, calling it a violation is pretty rough, but it is not cricket to titles something vintage and list as a supply.
If you want to sell it as a commercial supply, than don't callit vintage in the title.
If you want to list it as a vintage item, don't call it a supply.
It ain't cricket.
And face it, your customers are smarther than you think they are.
if some one is looking for a bunch of Red Buttons to make a number of things with they are going to check out a supply.
if some one is making a period correct item, the odds are favorable they will look in vintage.
or if like me, they might look both places seperatly.
So
My philosophy is pretty much lable it and list it for what it is, don't try to game it, that irritates people, 'specially those who are trying to find what they want and are temporarily miss lead by incorrect or miss-leading titles.

As to Pot Holders, I'll go look in a second. It is O'Dark 30 and the house is cold and I need some breakfast. Got to check to see if I have any wine. I am sure it is after 5 somewhere.

[Former_Member]

UniquesAndOddities says
Something that drives me up to wall, I think I have been told not to start each title the same. words...with potholders (KitchenOfGranny.etsy.com ) ... I put a word before the word "potholder" sometimes...would you like to comment on that???
==============================
Of course, I got appointed captain, well requested anyway by the founder/ because I am a busybody!
Great pot holders! As a cook (I eat and and I can read, there for I cook!) and I buy what cooking supplies I can here and I like pretty.
I refuse to pay good money for ugly.
I have seen all kinds of recommendations for what the first word should be, many I have checked out as far as I can and in personal opinion which is a minoirity and not to be trusted by many because I am;
1. A man
2. A buyer
thus not to be trusted,
it most if not all are the equivelent of urban legend and are made by people who have no idea what they are talking about and that includes certain representative of this site, which makes me wonder what it is they are getting paid for.
The recommendation of the 1st 3 words are important as far as I am concerned have nothing to do with the odds of being found by a search engine.
I have proven it time and time again to my self and believe me, I AM VERY GOOD AT USING ONE.
If some wants to argue that, this is an open forum, if you want me to buy into it, PROVE IT.
How ever, and there is always a however or a but,
IF you use Gallery Mode to look at search results you see a big picture and the first 3 words of the title.
That makes those 3 words important because that is what is read.
That is ALL in my opinion.
If you use List mode as I do to look at search results, you can read the whole title and then some. AND Scroll Straight Down to look at things and that is easier and faser for me to do and I would rather do it.
That makes the whole title important that it is READABLE.
There is a big HOO HA on the title should be full of nonsense, key words and supposedly is RELEVANT
KNOCK KNOCK!
Is any one listening,
UGLY TITLES ARE JUST THAT, UGLY.
I won't read them, I won't even try.
I won't except that kind of crap from my kids, I don't have to put up with it here
and
I won't.
They are NOT easier to find with the search engine, the search engine does not care.
It is a machine,
I care, I look at and read titles, if I have to decode the dang things, I do not bother.
So if some one things it is cute or clever or some how the in thing to do, that is your problem not mine and I won't make it that way, I just won't read them.
End of rant.
I see nothing at all with your titles, they actually look pretty good.
Most of the two line titles are short enough in my opinon to score well in a search for pot holders,

http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?search_submit=&q=Pot+holders+++Pair++blue&view_type=list&page=1

Once you get past 2 lines of title you are in trouble. You need to take the information which is less important out of them and make tags of it such as this one.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/84720800/pair-potholders-red-and-white-quilt
That is seen in List Mode not Gallery
The additional information is both disruptive from what is for sale and if klicked on is probably available in the description.
if not , it should be.
And if you feel that they are important words that might be used to search for them, such as highly probably to actually be used, make tags out of thm. In my opinion, a better location.
And if you don't see what I am saying, go back to the search result and select list option to look at it in.

Square in Square Pattern, Scrappy, Lipstick Cloth

Dang! There are really neat products available here, I really enjoy shopping from cottage industry stores.

[UniquesAndOddities]

Hi..what about putting 2 different cards in two different categories..

.I have plastic bracelets and wooden spools in same situation...the bracelets can be worn w/vintage clothes or use for supplies...the spools...some use them to build with, but the other day I had a lady that had ah old thread cabinet from general store that she was filling with appropriate spools.

I think my computer is sick...it changes zoom sizes by itself *I think) and when I scroll, I cannot get arror to work. I have to put pointer on bar and wiggle it. It will then go into gear, jump up and down and then settle down so that the arror will work....

My house is known to my family as the "House of Broke" Have to laugh about it..

The fence man is coming today to see about fixing chain link fence that neighbors tore down... Later...

[UniquesAndOddities]

arrow=pointer
error=screw up

arror=screwed up pointer

[Former_Member]

UniquesAndOddities from UniquesAndOddities says
Hi..what about putting 2 different cards in two different categories..
=======================
you are now skirting on asking how to be sneaky!
Technically, if you have two cards, and you think they might belong in more than one catagory and certainly I can see that kind of thing happening. You can only list them on one catagory and frankly I don't see a reason where that is a problem.
The problem is overthinking things really and we all do it.
If as you say, the card itself is used for collage work AND the buttons are legitimate Vintage than to me that means that that individual product should be listed as you see it.
Vintage.
If you have a bunch and some way you want to sell them as that and being old is not a benefit then list them as a supply.
I certainly can not say for sure that people would look in both places for essentially the same thing
but
I do, in fact many times I wll use ALL ITEMS which picks up everything as an initial search just to see what my choices might be if I am not sure what catagory to find things in.
As to being sneaky, it would not be correct to say something like list them in both catagories dispite the fact that it is against the rules (see the sellers hand book or does and don'ts.) and becareful you don't get caught because you are supposed to have what is for sale available. if you list in both catagories, you should have both items. Remember, gettng caught gets your store shut down or at least lashed with a wet noodle.
Personally I think that is truely over thinking something and not worth the head ache of doing so. Pick the highest probability of some one actually looking in for something and wright a good description, a short and consice titles and tags using as many single words as tags as you can and phrases when it is important.
A simple answer which every one wants until they see it, is a phrase scores maximim benefits when it is matched EXACTLY by a search. And can put you in the toilet when it is not.
In those cases, the single word matched in the phrase is better off being a single tag word and forget about the others.

[UniquesAndOddities]

I will re-read all this after another coffee..Just to be sure we are on the same sheet of music... I have one card of buttons listed in supplies and another card in vintage...2 cards, 2 sections.

I think I am pretty good with my words -- I try to remember to write on a 7th grade level...(that may be high for me lol) and arrange the words so they can be quickly read....and spaces make reading easier.....(see the bunch of dots between sentences?)

I am concerned about the search engines...thanks

[Former_Member]

UniquesAndOddities from UniquesAndOddities says
I will re-read all this after another coffee..Just to be sure we are on the same sheet of music... I have one card of buttons listed in supplies and another card in vintage...2 cards, 2 sections.
=======================
That is cool, 2 cards 2 sections. I could have miss read something. Normally I try to sound out the words, but I mumble with an accent.