New Shop Format: Emergency Changes I Had to Make

[PaulZozem]

Hopefully you are not one of the many shops being tested with this new shop format. I really loved the old format with the big Star Seller banner, telling all my customers how responsible I am. Now they may never know. All that remains of the Star Seller announcement is a little tiny purple icon no one will think to click on. Oh well. I'll get used to it.

Then I noticed that my Shop Announcement was gone! With the old format this info was immediately present right at the top of my shop page. It's very important info as I use it to introduce myself, and explain what's entailed in placing an order. But with this new format it's no where to be seen. Oh Yeah. Now I found it. It's WAY at the bottom of all my listings! Only to be found by accident, if by chance a potential customer actually scrolls through all my listings. Bad, bad, bad. How can I make sales, if I can't introduce myself and inform customers of my policies.

The new format includes a BIG bold Policies link at the top of the page. Well that wouldn't be bad at all if it actually went to my policies. Now it only goes to a stark nearly blank page which I cannot edit. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PaulZozem#policies I'm in big trouble here. How to I get my shop announcement and policies in front of new customers?

Well, here's what I had to do. Next to the Big Policies link, there is a BIG About link. There was nothing much there. Just some old stuff about how I got started. Me? Whenever I purchase something on Etsy I always check out the About button to find out who I'm dealing with. So... I placed my Policies in the About link. Voila! Now customers are sure to get the info they need to make a purchase.

As you're probably heard, there's lots of problems with this new Shop Format. My best guess is it will be updated or eliminated. So I'll be keeping and eye out, to make sure my shop Policies are always readily available. 

You may want to check your shop as well. See if you're part of this new Test Format.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PaulZozem

[NanaLetha]

So you are saying that shops that don’t have star seller are irresponsible? I beg to differ. 

[luxcrafter]

True, but I confess I do look for that when entering a new shop. It does mean something.

[PaulZozem]

Sorry. Didn't mean to imply that. But I work very hard to keep my stats up. And even if I don't meet the Star Seller criteria one month, at least I'd get two of the three, big criteria badges, telling customers what a good job I'm dong. Now with the New Shop Format that's gone. You're right. The Star Seller program is not really fair. That's probably why they are trying to de-emphasize it.

[BlackMarketChicago]

@PaulZozem 

Your shop's rating is 5.0, so that's all that counts, isn't it?
That's what people are trained to look at across the entire online selling experience.
  I notice you don't have a FAQ section. Mine still exists and is found under the Policies - not a separate tab anymore as it used to be.
 Etsy wants buyers to buy and not be bothered with all the 'noise', except that noise is important.
 Make your super important info a graphic in your listings. I have used the 2nd photo in my listings for this purpose, because people can't find the Item Description anymore, being tucked way down below the reviews if using a phone.
 We have to be creative in getting the important info to our buyers.

[WitticismsRus]

Just to clarify...accounts are in the tests not shops. Meaning your account is in this particular test so you are seeing the test layout when you view your shop. I am not in the test so when I look at your shop it looks totally normal and everything in the same place it has been. Announcement is up top where it has always been, Star seller bits are up top saying you are a star seller and displaying all the star seller individual badges etc. 

[PaulZozem]

@WitticismsRus Thanks. I don't know that. Hopefully only a narrow segment of my traffic is seeing the new format.

[TrinketDrawersUK]

@WitticismsRus Ah, so that means that every shop I look at (including yours) is the new format because my account is in the test? 

[BagmakerSupply]

@TrinketDrawersUK: Yes - it is the viewing account that is in the test. So some people looking at your shop will see the "test" layout and others will see the "normal" layout. Two things we do not know is what percentage of accounts is in each group nor how many typical buyers actually look at your home page (it is probably much less than you think).

[TheVintagePineapple]

Sellers have been complaining about the way the shop front looks with this new test for over a month now.  Thankfully, after 4 weeks, I'm finally out of the test group and see everything the way it's supposed to be.  The Announcement is back up top, the SSB info is back where it was before and the seller avatar is back in its spot and clickable.

Be careful how much you change because you never know when or if they'll stop trying out that ridiculous layout or start a whole new test.

(Now watch!  I'll be back in the test tomorrow.)

@PaulZozem You should proofread your 'sorry' post above and add the letter 'i' to one word.

[TheVintagePineapple]

Hey, look at that!  I'm back in the test.  What'd I tell ya?!

[FruteJuce]

My account has just been put in this test. I am not a fan of my info being at the bottom of the page. 

[PhenomenalWomenShop]

Paul… your work is beautiful. 

[lakesidecottage]

Not a fan of the new format, at all.  Also, what happened to the followers, and my name?  For many reasons, it is important for me to know the number of followers for a shop.

Sometimes, older is better, and people get frustrated with constant change.

Thank you. 

[PillowDetails]

@lakesidecottage   I guess there is still the 'admirers" on the left below the shop sections - that's the same as shop followers.  And when I click on the "Contact" button, the message windows opens, and at the top is "Pat from Lakesidecottage typically responds within 24 hours" - so at least there's that!

[SeasideRoseCreations]

Keep in mind, many shop using an app. or search and just land on a listing.

So, not everyone is looking at the shop's front page.

I get it, it's frustrating to be in this particular test.  I'm not a fan.  But these changes happen constantly and we can't obsess because before we know it, a new test takes it's place!

[lakesidecottage]

@PillowDetails.... not seeing that.  I guess some are and some are not.  I want to see my follower numbers.  They have been a crazy mess for quite some time.  I was at about 3500 then it dropped to 2990  went up a few and always lands on 2990.  One day 6 people added my shop and nothing showed up.  ugh. 

[LastCentury]

@PaulZozem I'd rather see your About. The stuff in your About that you call policies look like FAQs to me and should be added to that section of your shopfront. Shops with FAQs have links beneath the shipping details & shop policies button in every listing. A missed opportunity for you.

[PaulZozem]

Thanks for the tip, but I see no mention or link to a FAQ page on any of my items. Nor do I see anywhere in the shop manager (Settings) to define/setup my FAQ info. If these are included in the New Format I don't seen them. I searched everywhere.

[FallenAngelBrass]

@PaulZozem 

Shop home page public view > edit shop > scroll all the way down > Frequently Asked Questions

[PaulZozem]

@FallenAngelBrass  Found it. Thanks! Looks like its limited to 750 characters. Not much. But still useful. I'll have to figure out what to put in there. Thanks for helping me find it.

[LastCentury · Accepted solution]

@PaulZozem 750 characters per FAQ & you can a different FAQ for each different issue you want to cover.

[luxcrafter]

When the trump tariffs were announced and it was imperative that my shop visitors purchased with a clear understanding of what such might entail for them with border services minions, because of the movable announcement page I was forced - simply because it was important enough - to wipe my featured items and instead pay for four bogus listings with nothing but large text, so even those with disappearing announcements would see the important news.  A crappy and unnecessary workaround due to Etsy's inability to apparently not drink on the job.

[AQuiltIsBorn]

Yep, you are not alone,,,they made changes last weekend!  Nice of them over a Holiday weekend!   I’m hearing it is a test and some have said their Shop front page has gone back to the way it was.  Mine has not!   I also heard depends what browsers you use?  I don’t understand it all!    But all I know it’s lousy and I wish they’d put us all back!    Worst part as a Captain of a Team I cannot see anyone’s favorites anymore!   Our Team is monitored since some like to post and run.  Not too many but does happen.   So now faving we just have to trust everyone is playing correctly.    I’ve found some wonderful Shops and items being able to see others favorites.  And have gained buyers and bought items too.  Sometimes I think Etsy has no idea what’s going on??   So odd to me…..   yeah…...so over a week dealing with all the changes.   Fingers crossed changes back soon!   :)). 

[PieceByNumberQuilts2]

@AQuiltIsBorn   Just FYI, those team favoriting games are now hurting your shops more than helping.  Conversion rate (the number of views per sale) is far more important to Etsy algorithms than the raw number of favorites an item or shop has.