help getting started please! :)

[#1]

Hello,

I finally got the courage to open up an Etsy shop! (yayy) & I'm wondering if anyone might take a look & offer me some constructive criticism!

I have been artist my whole life & have been showing & selling artwork in local galleries around where I live in NY. I've made quite a few sales & have had really nice compliments on my work... so I decided to try opening up an Esty shop! Only thing is... I don't know what I am doing wrong that I haven't made a sale yet... or have at least had many "window shoppers." Maybe I am being too anxious...

Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thanks:)
Jessica

[ElegantKnitting]

RoseMarysGlass,

I am only 3 weeks here, so, bear with me, but, I looked at your shop for you. I love your banner and avatar. Your items are beautiful, you do gorgeous work. I have a couple of comments...1) can you tweak your prices at all? The plates seem a little high, but, I'm no glass expert, so, perhaps you are right on.

2) the vases are very cool and intriguing, but I''m not sure how they work. Could you show them with flowers in them in one photo?
3)same w/ the business card holder, until I read it, I thought it was a napkin holder
4) are you open to custom work? If so, mention that

That's all...very pretty shop and beautiful stuff!

Lorraine

Oh, if you buy a few things, you would get feedback, right now you have none, which doesn't look great.

check out my shop and comment too if you could, I'm also a newbie in need of suggestions.

[Former_Member]

@madlittlehatter busy time is probably when I'm taking my kids to school here in Aus. I'm from the UK. I noticed you are from Brighton my mum was born there.

So pleased your daughter likes my work, the kids are the best critics!

I'll convo you when I blog about your hats.

@ElegantKnitting you have done well for only 3 weeks lots of clear photos.
Good Luck.
Rachel

[madlittlehatter]

@elegantknitting you do have nice clear picture good luck

[SillyLoaf]

Hello all! I'm new too.. well new to selling anyway. I've been spending on Etsy for what seems like a long time! ;) hehe.

I'd love it if any of you could have a look at my shop and offer me some advice :)

I love the suggestions about listing an item a day, I only wish I'd discovered this thread before I listed all my items! And I love the suggestion about favouriting other shops and items - I don't know why I never thought of that, because every time someone adds me to their favourites I check out their shop. I love to spend just as much as I'd love to sell, hehe.

RoseMarysGlass - I love Elegant Knitting's suggestion of adding 'uses' to your first photograph. I, too, was unsure what the business card holder was until I read the description. Aside from that you have lovely, clear photos :))

ElegantKnitting - Some of your thumbnails don't show of your pieces to their best. On some of them the top of the image is cut off and some, the bottom, or both. As the thumbnail is what is seen around Etsy, could you do anything to make these better? I know it's difficult, I discovered the same problem with my first photographs when I had the item off to the side in the image.. it was getting cut off in the thumbnail.
Also, maybe you could have one of the images accessorised? In my day job I work for a clothing company and it's amazing how many people don't know how to dress! Perhaps you could show one image of the wrap layered over a blouse or t-shirt in a complimentary colour? That way a potential buyer may have the under garment shown and therefore know they won't need to buy additional garments to go with their new wrap.

MadLittleHatter - Your items are really stunning, but I wouldn't personally wear them. They are obviously for a very niche market. Have you thought about advertising on Google Adwords and/or finding a blogger with a large following on a subject related to your items? You could send them a free hat to review on their blog or create a discount code for all their followers?

CreativeLittleStars - Love your shop! Very cute :)) Perhaps your initial thumbnails images are too busy? I wasn't quite sure what was going on in the picture/what was for sale. And although when you view the item and see the larger pictures you see how lovely and well put together they are, you need to get a person's attention from the first thumbnail.

Nostalgitripp - I can't think of any advice to offer you, I think your photos are clear and descriptions spot on. I guess it's just about exposure. I'm in the same boat with jewellery - there's just so much of it!! (I love your yellow flower earrings!)

Jleesyn - Gorgeous items!! I would add enough items to at least fill the first row in your shop. Definitely add a separate listing for custom items.
Maybe add where a person would use such an item? Personally I think they are stunning, but I wouldn't know what to do with them! For example one of my items is a print of a cake stand filled with cupcakes and I've written something like, "Hang in your kitchen to inspire your inner bakery goddess."

I've tried to give a little advice to everyone who has asked.. have I missed anyone? My advice is from a customer point of view, however, since I have made one sale and that was from a friend ;)

Good luck to all!

[Former_Member]

Hi,I opened my shop last November and I,ve had only one sale. Their hasn't been many lookers. I'd be greatful for any advice.

[FlowerFairyMonograms]

Hi everyone! I just joined your team and can't add alot of insight but can tell you what I have found out on hours of research I have done on Etsy trying to find a way to be seen in the mass of other great shops. I opened my shop in January and have listed appx. 47 items and have sold one to someone on the other side of the U.S. That one sell inspired me to keep plugging.
1. Join Teams they offer lots of great advice!
I have joined about 7 teams which have all been helpful. One team featured my shop as their "Shop of the Day" and I had the most views of my shop on that one day.
2. Tags (There is a tag team)
Tags are how people search and find your merchandise. There are all sorts of tools out there that will analyze your shop tags, use them.
3. List or relist at least one item per day.
4. Check your shop "Shop Title" not the shop name but title make sure it provides a good description of what type of items you have in your shop. Check out one of the SEO teams.
5. I am now trying to learn more about blogging, google crawling and all the technical stuff about the internet that I understand little about.
6. From what I have read Etsy changed alot of stuff on their site just recently and even the older shop owners are not happy and are having a hard time.
7. Showcase an item, $7 for a 24 hour slot. Today is my first showcase of a Spa Wrap in the Bath and Beauty Section. I will let you know how that turns out.
8. Be patient, which I have little of but this process is making me learn to acquire some.
Please feel free to take a look at my shop and offer any advice or opinions. I love and take advice to heart.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheFlowerFairyShop?ref=hdr

[Former_Member]

Hi all, I am fairly new to Etsy, so far little luck but still hoping. I would welcome any comments on my shop and what to do. Thanks for the advice on the new items each day, made the mistake of listing too many in the beginning. Hope you will take the time to give my shop a look and let me know what you think. I try to add someone to my favorites whenever i get a chance, it can only help them out and if we all help each other maybe we will get things going for all of us. Have a great day all of you and good luck selling!

[Former_Member]

Hi to theflowerfairyshop, just went to your shop and want to compliment you. Your pictures are very good quality, the colors came out great. I have trouble getting my jewelry pictures to come out nice, i am going to try a light box but havent made it yet. Thanks for the wonderful suggestions. I am going to check them out now. Added you to my favorites. Have a great day! Marge

[Former_Member]

I'm new to Etsy and the wonderful world of business actually. Any suggestions on how to get my jewelry into local boutiques? I also have not had a sale yet on Etsy(got a good number of lookers though. Any suggestions would be helpful...Thank-you!

[Former_Member]

Hi! I've been on etsy for almost a year now, but haven't been real serious about selling until recently. So far I've only had one sale. I've read some of the comments and will try some of the suggestions. The Flower Fairy Shop has some good ideas. Thanks! If anyone has suggestions for my store, please let me know. I'd really appreciate it! http://www.etsy.com/shop/silverdaisygirl

[RoseMarysGlassArt]

Elegantknitting and onetenzeroseven:
Thank you, thank you for your comments. I wonder about pricing all the time. As I want to continue with the plates, I think I may reprice them. Right now I have to dash off to get ready for a class. I'm on a waiting list for a welding class at the local college. So I'll work on this later today. Thanks again.

[ElegantKnitting]

Thank you oneten for your critique it is very helpful. Sounds like I really need to work on my photos.

I am having a lot of trouble with the lighting, I don't get enough natural light in the house and when I try to maipulate the artificial lighting, you see the results...washed out and it's hard to get the colors right.

Does anyone have suggestions on lighting for photos?

I will go take a look at your shop now, oneten, and others.
Lorraine

[ElegantKnitting]

You're welcome, Rosemary. enjoy your class!
Lorraine

[ElegantKnitting]

Oneten, I just came from your shop and have a few suggestions.
First, your avatar is very dark, I would think about using a different image that is easier to see. One that you can read your name on would be good, as well.

You have the right idea in your photos, but, need to clean them up a bit. I would suggest using the hanging photos of the earrings as your 1st photo in every case. I like what you tried to do on the red pitcher, but, the design on the pitcher is distracting. Can you find some kind of unique, yet plain, single color vessel to hang the earrings on? I think the earrings would show up much better.

You can still feature them at different angles laying down, but, they can be your alternate views.

So, that's my 2 cents! Hope it helps!
Lorraine

[nanarosedesigns]

I have just opened a shop but not listed anything yet. I read that lisitng a few things at a time is better then all of your items at once. I plan on making a facebook page for my Etsy store and then introducing the products and page on my personal FAcebook profile page so that my 150 friends can see what I am doing. I am going to ask them to 'like' my shop page on Facebook and please recommend it to their friends. That could go viral since they all have 100-400 friends each. Also, my two daughters-in-law are going to recommend it to their Facebook friends (over 1000 people combined). Whenever I list a new item it will show up on Facebook to all of my friends and anyone who 'liked' my page. My favorite shops have a Facebook page so that is why I decided to do the same.

[doveandflower]

Great advice RubyandJane. FB and Twitter, especially, are worthwhile too. I had some really good luck with Google Ad Words as well. They have a newcomer freebie offer (mine just expired :( I got an Explosion of sales (around 35) just from those, of course, that was before Christmas, about 75% of my sales were gifts for others, but free exposure is free exposure!

Also, I read in an Etsy thread somewhere, that it takes, on average, about six months for most people to start making regular sales. Wow, huh?

Kathelene

[SillyLoaf]

Thank you, ElegantKnitting! Much appreciated! I will work on my photos tomorrow :))

As for lighting.. could you take your mannequin outside and photograph it by a nice tree or wall or plant? The light will be perfect outside. If not, do you use Photoshop? Or you can download free graphics programs (I used to have 'Gimp' for the PC) and you can enhance the colour as well as enhancing the light so it doesn't look as washed out when you lighten it.

You're welcome, RoseMarysGlass :) Hope it was helpful!

[SillyLoaf]

Nanarosedesigns - Facebook was going to be my ticket to success, getting my friends to get their friends involved. Unfortunately I've been appauled by my friend's willingness to support me. Only a handful have posted my link to their own Facebook pages :( Oh, well. I can't rely on them I suppose, but it's disheartening.

[BespokeKnitsbyCinzia]

I am not an authority in sales (by a long shot) but the shop needs to be fuller. Def post one item a day and be at the top of the list for the day. :)

[JLeeSynDesign]

@onetenzeroseven
Thanks so much for your advice! I think there's a lot of great suggestions you offered. I will try to work on filling my shop up this weekend. Thanks for the idea on the custom listing. I wasn't aware you could actually make a listing like that :) maybe that will help me generate more sales! And your ideas about describing more what to do with my items was VERY helpful!!! I guess I spend so much time making them, not realizing no one else knows what to do with them but me... Haha ;) Thanks so much for the nice compliments on my lightboxes. It's truly appreciated! I think you have some pretty wonderful items in your shop as well! I love your earrings!!! So creative & very vintage-y, unique & intricate... I love your style! I also think your banner and shop name is unique & creative :) best of luck!!!

Jessica

[JLeeSynDesign]

@jacksonswoodworks
I think you have really beautifull vases and bowls! Very nicely crafted & well photographed... Maybe you could make a banner & an avatar! That would probably help. Besides that I'm surprised you haven't had many sales!

[Former_Member]

Is there a secret to getting a showcase? I have checked to see if there was a spot open everyday and of course there are none-Yet.

[JLeeSynDesign]

Thanks for the advice struffoli! Will do!

[Former_Member]

Do any of you renew your listings? I've found that generates a little more interest in my Etsy store. I too am new to Etsy so all of this advice is of interest to me. I believe you have to be flexible and willing to do alot of tweaking to your store/products to be successful.

[Former_Member]

Hi Everyone, It is such a great comfort to know I am not the only one who is challenged by online selling! Already I have learned so much by reading your posts.

My shop is a baby. No sales, yet, so I can’t offer any advice from the standpoint of successful shopgirl! However, several things caught my eye that haven’t been brought up yet…

jleesyn: A couple of questions came to mind when I visited your site: Your light boxes are lovely but what does “encaustic” mean? Second, I am not sure if the face is just paper? Is it protected or backed up by something rigid? In other words, is my grandtoddler gonna poke a hole or spread jam on it and ruin it?

flowerfairy: I am memorizing your great advice! Thanks so much for taking the time.

·TAGS: I am a retired librarian. Keyword searches were my game. SEO articles recommend that you have friends take a look at your site and your tags. Do they see your product in a whole different light than your marketing thrust? Here’s a great example:

madlittlehatter: Your hats are wonderful and fun! That top hat with the dice…I immediately pictured a sassy gambler wearing that hat at a poker table, in a casino, or even to a bridge party with the girls. Maybe experiment with "poker" or "gambling" or "card playing" in your tags or in your description that would capture that huge market!

·I have read that the FIRST WORDS in an item’s TITLE are very important. But it didn’t really come home to me until I visited

rosemarysglassart: and realized that if the items are shown side-by-side, most of the title is cut off! I wasn’t sure the scale of the business card holder (I loved it!). My original guess was a letter holder. I wasn’t sure what the wall vase was because the title was cut off.

Oh my gosh!! I realized I was in deep trouble! I have always viewed my shop by list mode where the entire title shows. I have never even looked at it in the side-by-side mode before! Unbelievable! I start every title out with “one of a kind”... I guess if I include “one of a kind” in my shop description, and mention it in the item description, maybe I should give buyers a little credit and try to tell them exactly what they are looking at!

Prosperitea does a great job with titles. Mmmm the lavender rose petal tea mix look great!

·I also just realized I had to check how my IMAGES look in BOTH display modes. They are being stretched way fat in side-by-side mode and in the list mode the bottoms are being lopped off, so I am going to have to read the article again about image sizing…

Thanks so much, Etsian Newbies!! Oh! And if anyone happens to visit my shop, please let me know your ideas on how to make a sale!