Not getting many views or sales!

[MetalRoosterOrganics]

Hi, I'm fairly new to the whole Bath and Body Business and have been slowly getting my inventory fully stocked and what not. I have made my pictures, worked on relevancy, got top notch labels and packaging and still no sales yet! I'm itching to get some more soap base, and get some more molds to really boost my inventory up since I do sadly know that my items are lacking, but I feel like I'm not doing something right in my shop. Any thoughts? I thought maybe just looking through the other day that I should make each scent or flavor individual instead of doing the whole pricing variations thing well as make it fuller. Any and all advice will help!

[Former_Member]

I checked out your store. Everything looks great! It seems like you are right on track. It's just really slow at first. I think my first month, I only sold like one thing. The second month I think I had two sales. (It looks like I have sold more items, but really most of my sales came from trades that counted as sales. As far as actual sales, not many.) From what I have heard, it takes around a year or possibly too to start seeing regular sales. I know, frustrating though, isn't it? Here are some tips I have gotten from asking other established shops the same question, and maybe they will help you too.

First, buy more things on Etsy. I know the whole reason you started selling was to make money, not spend it. But, you need more feedback as a buyer to be trusted as a seller. I hadn't bought anything when I first started my store either, and I think in the beginning that will hold you back some.

I agree with your thought to list each soap flavor separately also. I have a few items I listed the same way, where you pick multiple scents from one listing. They get favorited less. I think that it's harder to find them in a search. For example, you might sell lavender soap in one of your listings, but when people are typing lavender soap it wouldn't be in the title so it wouldn't pop up as easily. I ended up listing each flavor separately and now they get more attention and more favorites. Also, the more items you have, the more likely to get found, so that's another reason. Some of the more established shops have told me that you need over a hundred items to start getting noticed more. It's true. I recently got my items up and I have had more favorites and sales as a result.

One of the biggest things you can do to help is, join a lot of teams. I am in 18. The reason being, they all have threads to list your new items. The more teams you are in, the more times you can show off. That's free publicity and more sales. Also, it will get you featured in more treasuries, which people search through regularly and this will also get you noticed more. Don't forget to join the teams facebook pages/ twitter pages/ ect and post on those too! Make your own facebook pages and post links to them on the team sites so others can like you on there also.

I've tried search ads, but with little success. That's an option that many people love. I have had more success with renewing an item every day. When you search for stuff, it usually loads with the newest items listed first. If you keep renewing, you are always towards the front. I know, it costs .20 each time, but I found it more effective than search ads.

Also, if you can find any shops to trade with you that counts as sales. You just have to have the 'other' option listed on your list of acceptable payments. Most of the time the shop will leave you great feedback because they know you have to leave them feedback also. It helps you look like you have sales, which makes a big difference also. When people see that other people have bought from you, they're more likely to buy. Many shops will do trade, many won't. Don't be afraid to ask!

These are some things that helped me. I am relatively new too. I know how frustrated it can be in the beginning when you are eager to get started and it's slow. You are doing great though and your store looks professional. You're on the right track. Feel free to write me with any questions. Sorry I am so long-winded!

[MetalRoosterOrganics]

Thank you so much Amy! Your post was really nice and helpful. I know I posted this same thread in the Etsy Success thread and got a few snarly answers. One reason why I switched over from sewing to now soap making is because it seems the soap makers community is well more of a community than anything else. I have not met one person I didn't like in this new fangled community I'm now fortunately a part of! Right now is the Sabbath for me, so no work, got a great glass of some wine and spending time with my husband so thanks again for the advice and Happy Weekend! We all deserve it!

[Former_Member]

No problem! We're all starting out new at something at one time or another. I've asked plenty of people for advice on here. I got some really nice people right back and like you said, some snarly. I think Etsy as a whole has been rather welcoming though. Feel free to contact me any time.

[Former_Member]

Thank you Amy for your wonderful suggestions. I think it is something we all can use. And I agree with Amy on a lot of the points, Cynthia. When I first had my shop, I did not get sales for a long time. I joined a trading group and starting doing trades to build sales and feedback and get my products out there. I also agree that buying products AND joining teams helps. Especially when you list new products, you can promote them in the team threads. Let people know what you've got! I checked out your shop as well and I think it looks great. You are on the right track. So join social media groups, get yourself set up there, and promote and try and get yourself out there.

Good luck and let us know if we can help you at all here.

Jackie

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much, Amy. I have also been having trouble with my store. No sales online yet. Granted, it's been less than a month but it can be a little discouraging. I feel like it'll never happen for me!

[Former_Member]

It's all about getting those first couple of sells out of the way. Once someone has ordered something and left good feedback, people are way less nervous to spend money with you. I really recommend trading in the beginning. I have participated in team trades twice, where you do multiple trades in a week. You receive a lot of good feedback from trades. Obviously no one is going to leave you bad feedback on a trade, because they know you have to leave feedback for the also. Every time I participate, I have traded so that it looks like a store sell. My regular sells really jump the next week afterward, both times.

I am always willing to do a little trading to help you get started, and I know a lot of ladies in some other teams that are also. You are out the cost of supplies and shipping, but then again so are the person you are trading with. If you can afford it, I definitely recommend it. It's a great way to get presents for people's birthday and stuff stocked up too.

[Former_Member]

Amy, I think I may be interested in trading. But I have to be honest I'm still a little confused on how it works in terms of payment. How do you know that once you send an item the other person will send theirs? And won't screw you over basically.

[Former_Member]

One piece of advice I can add is don't get discouraged. It took a while for things to get going for me too. I started off with trades as well and I think that helped. I would also work on your shop more. Renew items, make sure listings are up to date, participate in teams and use social media. I need to do more of this myself, but it seems to work.

Keep us posted on what you are doing and how it is working for you. Then we can all help each other grow. :-)

Jackie

[Former_Member]

I'm adding more candles either tomorrow or Thursday so I hope I can get more attention that way. :)
I've been hanging around in a lot of teams and have been getting some item favorites like that. It will be very helpful to be in a supportive team like this one. :)

[Former_Member]

For trading, you go to your store page. There is a spot at the top that says edit about page. Click that. Then, on the blue list down the left hand side, you go to shipping and payment. Then, from there, there's a bar going across the top of the screen, click the one that says payment methods. Check the box that says 'other'. It's used for trading or sometimes people use it when the buyers planning to mail a check. Then, when you trade, you tell people to ring up the item in your store like normal and to click the 'other' option when they get to payments. This will let the order go through etsy just like a regular sell would, but without money exchanged. Then, you buy the item through their store the same way.

I am not going to say that some people won't screw you over, but if you do it like this, you can turn them in for not sending the item. Etsy views it as a sell, so they will take action against them. You can also leave them bad feedback and they know that, so most of the time you are going to receive their stuff. I have traded probably 30 times and I have always received my items.

Just feel free to message me if you want to trade with me, or if not, I know a lot of girls who would be open to it that I can get you in touch with. I hope this helps.

I also agree with Jackie. I renew an item every day. In the beginning this will cost you more, but it keeps your items towards the top of the list and really helps in the beginning also.

[Former_Member]

Very interesting. I had absolutely NO idea that you could renew your listings before there expiry date or that you could trade directly through your page. Thanks so much for the info Amy, that's great to know.

[Former_Member]

No problem! I have learned a lot through all the teams I have been in too.