Also, here is a whole load of useful links to resources for new sellers. Improve your shop and learn to promote it. Here's some great tips for your new shop.
IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS: This is - I think - the most important part (which is why it is at the top and has the most links).
Achieving clarity and crispness in your photos:
http://tinyurl.com/yd769eqHow to style your photos:
http://tinyurl.com/ybol7byPhotographing for success:
http://tinyurl.com/yd8jqy8Photograph your way to the top:
http://tinyurl.com/ycfoaqkHow to make your photos pop with histograms and levels:
http://tinyurl.com/2txkyhUsing ev and white balance to make your photos true to life:
http://tinyurl.com/ybplyzvHow to use a lightbox and photo editing to make beautiful photographs:
http://tinyurl.com/yghb2y4KEEP AND EYE ON TRENDS - Etsy specifically chooses to promote items on particular themes. They post these themes ahead of time in their merchindisng desk collum in the blog:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/merchandising-desk/Keep yourself up to date with what is "in" and make sure you tag with the hot words that apply to your items.
READ THE SELLER HANDBOOK BLOG POSTS: Stay up to date with all the best ways to improve your shop buy reading the Seller Handbook:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/seller-handbook/LEARN TO PRICE YOUR WORK CORRECTLY! If you under-price your work viewers will undervalue your creations and be put off just as much as they will be by an over-inflated price.
The Art of Pricing:
http://tinyurl.com/aacc2mReevaluating Your Prices:
http://tinyurl.com/22paz73WRITE GOOD DESCRIPTIONS! Help the buyer connect with your work
How to make the best of your descriptions:
http://tinyurl.com/y93t3p6WRITE CLEAR CONCISE POLICIES for your shop that make the customer clear on what they can expect from you.
Hello Policy:
http://tinyurl.com/3lkrywWhat to write in your shop policies:
http://tinyurl.com/quja5aWRITE A PROFILE that sparks interest in your store! Help your customers get to know you.
Crafting a profile page:
http://tinyurl.com/yc7cvkpLEARN TO TAG EFFECTIVELY! Tagging is how your buyers (and treasury curators) find you! Remember to tag for colors too as those are the most common tags curators use when looking for treasury listings.
Guidelines and tips on tagging:
http://tinyurl.com/39rf6lInternational Tagging:
http://tinyurl.com/yfn7fkrTagging for success:
http://tinyurl.com/c64pnuPROMOTE YOUR SHOP! If no one knows you are there then they can’t see your beautiful creations. Learn to shout about what you do.
Pimp your shop:
http://tinyurl.com/yghs9khPlaces to promote:
http://tinyurl.com/crj8yaEtsy forum threads on promotions:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6120752http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5797668http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5453881&page=2STAY POSITIVE! Maintain a positive, friendly & helpful attitude in the forums -- a cheerful face is more likely to be remembered and added to treasuries than a grumpy one! Negative attitude in the forums affects the way people view you and your shop. Branding is not just about a logo, it is about everything you do in connection with your store. Many visitors to the forums actively avoid aggressive, whiny or rude members and their stores.
JOIN A TEAM! Teams help to promote their members and are also a great resource for honest advice about your shop. Teams often make treasuries featuring their own members. Take the time to be part of a supportive community!
http://team.etsy.com/join.htmlBE UNIQUE! Find a way to make your product different from your competitors. Even if you are selling the same thing as 1,000 other people, you can still find a way to stand out from the crowd.
What's Your Point of Difference?:
http://tinyurl.com/675le7kPurple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable:
http://tinyurl.com/dnxpcoMake a great product:
http://tinyurl.com/ybzfaf6CONTINUALLY RE-EVALUATE YOUR STORE! Even if things are going well, there is always something that can be improved.
An outline to self critique your shop:
http://tinyurl.com/yew6hkzSIT IN ON A WEEKLY CRITIQUE! Even if you don't get critiqued you can learn a lot just from sitting in, watching and listening. Check the virtual labs schedule to see when the next ones will be.
http://www.etsy.com/virtual_labs.phpSo you want a shop critique:
http://tinyurl.com/ygm4yp7LEARN ABOUT SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/seo/READ THE NEWBIE GUIDES – even if you are not a newbie! They are full of useful links and tips.
Newbie guide: www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5581122
A beginners guide to starting a shop on etsy:
http://tinyurl.com/4rk87eFIND A MENTOR - a mentor can help you with the personal disputes you cannot ask about in the forums because of the "calling out" rules. They can also give you great advice from experience on ways to improve your shop and get more out of Etsy. Team Sellers Assisting Sellers list is stuffed full of sellers who can help you with almost anything Etsy related:
http://tinyurl.com/ydkskwqBefore and After With Photoshop:
http://tinyurl.com/4adzjlbOTHER GREAT RESOURCES:
Ultimate Craft Guide - tutorials, advice, suppliers....
www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5453881&page=1
Storque how tos
www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/
Handmadeology – A blog about everything handmade/etsy/business
http://www.handmadeology.biz/home/
