first sale...how long did it take?

[MelsCreativeWishes]

I would love to know how long after opening your store until your first sale?
What has helped with sales?

[Former_Member]

I signed up for Etsy on the 11th March, and completed my first sale (actually it was 2!) on the 22nd. It was pure luck, I have no idea what helped the sale...and it certainly isn't my photography, I was too impatient to wait, and just threw up some pretty average looking shots!

I'd be interested to hear what helps with sales too, as I consider my first a complete fluke...think I'll be more excited about the third or fourth than the first!! :D

[MelsCreativeWishes]

I made my first sale about 2 1/2 weeks after opening. I have only been opened a month and have now made 5 sales.
My first sale happened after I became active on teams.

[Former_Member]

I had one sale under my photography page, but have since changed my shop's focus. I've always been a jewelry addict, and I loved to make my own jewelry before - then one day it dawned on me I should share it with people because I always got compliments on those pieces.

I just started this shop about a week ago and haven't technically had a sale yet - I'm working on a custom order for someone, but other than that, nothing yet. Hopefully as I get more stuff in the shop things will turn around!

[Former_Member]

It took about a month for me.

[Former_Member]

Mine took about 2 weeks after opening. I think mostly someone took pity on me because I didn't have any sales yet haha. But then another one came 10 days later after I had revamped all my photos with white backgrounds - and I think they bought it because they actually CHOSE it over other bows. I consider that my first REAL sale.

[Former_Member]

It seems like 2 weeks is the average. I noticed that you have to market yourself in various areas of etsy and on the internet to drive traffice to your site.

[Former_Member]

I signed up for Etsy on Feb. 22. I opened my shop on Friday March 23rd and made my first sale on March 26th. 3 days!

I've been promoting like crazy and made sure I had a good amount of inventory before I opened. I think a good selection really helps!

[Former_Member]

I opened my shop on 2/20 but did not list anything until 2/27. I sold my first 2 items that day but...it was to a friend's wife. I did not sell my first item to someone I did not know until maybe 6 days later. I have not really done too much marketing though.

I feel sort of embarrassed in a way to market to my friends, family or co-workers....is that weird?? I don't want them to feel as if they have to buy something because they know me! Hmph.

[FenderGemsNCrystals]

I got lucky. My first sale was the first week my shop opened for business. The best part is is that my first customer still regularly buys from me.

[brendascrochetnsuch]

I opened my shop January 19th and had my first sale yesterday. At least it was 2 items. These items were listed on March 20th and were searched for on Etsy.

[Former_Member]

Let's see, about a month. I knew about meta tags from having web pages & making sites, so it was natural. Now the rules have changed, & you need to be more creative. A great challenge, but something more that needs to be done on a shop owners long To DO list.

[Former_Member]

I opened in January, and it was pretty much exactly a month after. My second sale was a month after that, and the n the other 4 were within two weeks of each other! However, I think some is a result of promotions but I am convinced my first was a fluke - my photos were awful! Bless her for trusting that my item wasn't awful too!

[WiredRedheadJewelry]

My first sale to someone I didn't know took about 2 months! I seem to have feast or famine where I get tons of views and then almost none at all. It seems to help if I post new items often. Would love other advice and feedback