How do I get noticed?

[AnxiousDesignerShop]

I opened my Etsy shop a few weeks ago and have done a lot of research on marketing and how to get noticed. After reading and watching a lot of videos, I found that the best tips were taking good photos, filling everything out on your page, using tags wisely, updating with new products often and having lots to sell, and networking with other pages.

WELL, i've done all of that, and I'm still not getting noticed! I have very little page views, even after reaching out to other pages and facebook.

I know it's hard to get seen as a card site since there are so many paper product pages out there, but I still would LOVE to get my page up and running. I'm going to keep adding more to sell, but it's very frustrating when no one is looking!

Any help would be greatly appreciated....thanks!!

- Heather

[Former_Member]

Hi Heather,
Your designs are awesome!

One suggestion I have is to maybe print some samples and post pics of them so shoppers can see how nice they look on a card.

Be creative.The one about just meeting the person and providing the number, I see that on a business card, in a drinking glass (just a crazy suggestion).

Hope that helps a little. I am struggling with the same issue as well and working on getting some exposure.

Sherry....

[Former_Member]

Hi! I am new to Etsy myself, so I don't have any secret tips or anything. Some advice that I was given was to fill out everything.

Your policies page is blank, so definitely fill that out. Your cards are super cute with great photos!

I added you to my favorite shops and my circles. I'm not totally sure what that does lol, but hopefully it will gain you some exposure!

[Former_Member]

Oh, also utilize the tagging -- "Name" your items with all of the things you tag it as. I did the same thing you did and just named my items what I wanted to name them lol. Apparently, you have way better chances of popping up in a search if you name your items with all of the tags. Look around at some of the shops that pop up in a search and see what they do differently than you?

I hope this helps!

[AnxiousDesignerShop]

Those suggestions definitely help!

Have to get on the naming better...it's so specific...and must get on the policy page.

I've been meaning to print them out...will do that asap as well.

Thanks Jen and Sherry!

[Former_Member]

Hello Heather....I'm reasonably new to Etsy also. What I have found is that the more you give the more you receive.
Being active in Etsy groups, sharing your latest listings in appropriate discussion threads, meeting and connecting with others in Etsy groups. Encouraging new members.
Create treasuries of your favourite items from other sellers...that's creative, fun and will connect you with others. Create a Facebook like page for your shop, invite your friends to join it, set up links to your Etsy page through Facebook....

[InsideSandysShop]

Hi Heather - You sure got to that policy page fast. You are a worker. I think Sherry, Jen, Robin and Nadine about covered it all. I couldn't think of anything else you could do. Just keep networking. You will soon be a familiar shop site.

I also wanted to welcome you to our team!!!!!!!!!! We are all here to encourage and support one another. Be sure to keep us posted on how your views are doing. Have a beautiful day. Blessings - Sandy

[Former_Member]

HI everyone!! I've been gone...but I'm back!!

Hope you missed me...LOL!

I have started a new group to help us get noticed. It is a BNS and it's going great. If you want to be showcased, come on by!
This is the board I have up. I would love it if you came by for support. :0)
If you happen to purchase anything...your shop goes on the board for the next round! And you can always join my new team for chit chatting and for chances to be featured on the board.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTkxMDgxMDd8MjcyMjk3MzcyOA/preview-red-white-and-boom-best-bnrbns?index...

THANKS!!!
Maja

[AnxiousDesignerShop]

Thanks everyone for the advice, I appreciate it!

[Former_Member]

I am geting so discouraged!! It's not good for a leader to be discouraged...but...I'm having a pity party. Lift me up girlfriends!

[InsideSandysShop]

OH MY MAJA - DON'T GET DISCOURAGED. I don't think anyone has sales. I know I don't. I honestly think this global financial crisis we are in is the culprit. So we will have to be patient and keep on keepin' on. All things work together for good and in HIS time. We sure are meeting a lot of nice people don't you think - and getting a lot of experience :)

You are just the busy one and I must say talented in all you do. Creating your treasuries and now your new group!! Awesome - I don't know how you do it. You are very much more computer literate than I am. It's a struggle for me to learn all these ins and outs and it just seems to be so natural for you. By the way what is a BNS group and is that different from a BNR (whatever that is also)?

You just seem to radiate sunshine and life with an endless supply of energy. I hope you have a beautiful with Blessings abounding. - Sandy

[Former_Member]

Maja:

Please don't get discouraged. I visited your shop for some reason, could see the pics, so I have to assume everything is great!

One word of encouragement is that you have had your shop open for only one month and have made 3 sales!!!! That is good news.

Most shops take a couple months to get their first sale, so you are ahead of the game.

Keep it up!!!!!

[Former_Member]

thanks girls! I'm pulling myself up out of the dump. haha

A BNS is a Buy and Stay. Meaning, you buy something from any shop featured on the treasury board and post your transaction on the comments...then the next round YOUR shop is up on the board for people to "Like" and click on your stuff and PURCHASE items from. It gives our numbers a great boost and gives our shops recognition. You STAY on the board until the next round is full or the time for that round has run out.

A BNR means Buy and Replace meaning, as soon as someone purchases something from a featured store, THEIR store replaces that shops place on the board right away. It's faster moving, but I don't have the time to sit by the computer all day and watch for sales to happen and replace people.

With a BNS your shop has more exposure time. If there are slots available at the end of a round...the captain (me) chooses stores at random from our team to fill it up. So you might get on the board without needing to make a purchase at all!

So if you are interested...the URL to my team is:

http://www.etsy.com/teams/12894/best-bnrbns-team-around

and the URL to the treasury board to take a look or become a part of the fun is:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTkxMDgxMDd8MjcyMjk3MzcyOA/preview-red-white-and-boom-best-bnrbns?index...

THANK YOU!

[Former_Member]

I wish Etsy had a "like" button like Facebook does, because I would like Sandy's comment above :)

Thanks for explaining the BNS and BNR groups -- I had been wondering myself! It sounds a little intimidating to me, but I may join anyway..or later.. I don't know.

I've been feeling very discouraged myself. Don't get down, your stuff is all wonderful!

[Former_Member]

Jenn I am in total agreement about the like button! and actually sometime after reading a post...I search around for one out of habit! hahaha....I think we should just add it ourselves... here's mine

Like

[Former_Member]

oh and Jen...don't be intimidated...come by and visit for awhile...see how it goes and then jump on in whenever you feel ready! :0) Even just promoting us to others is a great help.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTkxMDgxMDd8MjcyMjk3MzcyOA/preview-red-white-and-boom-best-bnrbns?index...

[InsideSandysShop]

Hey Girls - Thanks for liking my comment. I totally agree and you both are great on the team!!! :) Blessings - Sandy

[Former_Member]

just stopped in to make you all jealous... I am heading to do some laundry!!! woohooo haven't seen the laundry room floor in about 3 months!

[Former_Member]

^ Like :P -- I'm not jealous though, laundry is my LEAST favorite chore. Hate it! I get to take my dog to the vet and clean my house. Trying to stay out of the 100 degree weather and smoke from this dang fire :/

[Former_Member]

Glad I found your group ! While I have been on Etsy for a couple of years, I had another website and found Etsy really is better. I decided to go full time with my boutique and left what I considered my " second home " of SEO, Marketing and Social Media for 10+ years. I thought maybe I could offer some help with some of the knowledge I have to help your shops advance ( since I am now going full time I am also implementing my knowledge and expertise ).

1. Be positive - If YOU Know your items are worth it, it is going to show. Be worthy of what you create, be grateful you have the opportunity to create them and KNOW that your items will show - it's mind over matter and it really does work

2. SEO is extremely important. Whatever your title is, repeat it in the first paragraph of your description. Use and repeat keywords frequently, like soy wax for example : title : Soy Wax Christmas Tree Tarts ( don't use comma's etc in titles ) repeat your keyword as often as possible in your description - like soy wax is all natural, soy wax promotes farmers etc. us the same tags. Make sure your keywords are in your profile, shop announcement especially, all within the first paragraph and then throughout the body. For extra SEO end with that keyword. Something like : " here's to soy wax ".

3. Push it out, Twitter is especially good. Use places like facebook, twitter, linkedIn, Tumblr, Digg, Pinterest, Google+ and Flickr. I have watched for years some of my clients catapult to the top of google search engines with photos alone through Flickr ( whew, I am so behind on doing mine ). When you add your photos, use your keywords in your title, description and tag and link it back to your shop ! It really works. I highly recommend Google+ because the SEO is amazing ! Your photos will show up like lightning in google. I recommend creating a blogger photo blog of your items - at the end of the post it has the sharing buttons, push it out especially to google + !! I have been watching google+ really take off. I started doing this with some of my Real Estate clients and they boosted above their competition rather quickly.

4. Utilize places like yardsellr, Copious.com etc. It's free to list, yardsellr and Style.li - has an etsy importer so they automatically feed in your listings, you just have to click list and freshen it up. This is a great way to add a link back to your blog and etsy shop ! AND it's free. WOO HOO

5. If you have a blog/website - build a " Specials " page - then add a coupon code from your Etsy shop. Offer a free shipping or 10% discount.

6. Use catch phrases like " last one " will not be duplicated " etc it makes the buyer think it's now or never. Frequently, like an item or join a team. It bumps you to the top of the etsy feed so you can get noticed.

Hope some of this is helpful. If you have any questions or concerns , please let me know. I know a ton of stuff about SEO , online marketing and advertising and will be glad to help :)

[Former_Member]

Just sold my 1st item YAHOO

[InsideSandysShop]

Peggy - That's so exciting! I am doing the happy dance for you! Have a beautiful day and may the sales keep rolling in. Blessings - Sandy

[Former_Member]

well done, Peggy!!!
and Melissa, all your tips and advice are really great, thank U!!

[Former_Member]

Congratz Peggy!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much for all the tips .