September Workshop: Mentors and Mentees

[#1]

Etsy admin send me a convo accepting us to the SEPTEMBER MENTORS WORKSHOP so lets go to talk about what we will do during this next month!

I am still preparing the participants list, so please let me know if you are interested posting here.

If you have any question do not hesitate to ask!

<< More information about Mentors workshop >>

Here you have the video explaining what we are going to work with:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwmnxlpY8AY

Please let me know which ones of you are interested to be in the workshop and let me know too your mentors skills (if you have) and your help needs (if you have). I mean something like this:

Mentor skill:
I am good in photography
I am good in SEO
I am good in....

And I would like to be a mentee because:
I need help in promoting myself,
I need help in, how to do xyz..
I need help in..

Not necesery to be both, you can only be a mentor or a mentee, depending your needs, or you can be mentor and mentee of course.

During September we will work about improving our shops in pairs, but we will talk about it later.

Please let me know if you have any question and who is interested in it! We have to send the final participants list before 30th August.

Thank you!

[Former_Member]

Thank you Martina for your confirmation!
See you tomorrow!

[CrystalGirlz]

HI Eli

I am available for the whole week. I'm currently using picmonkey for my photo-editing.

I have a Canon Powershot.

Kitty Hu and Brenda

[Former_Member]

Hi Eli! Thank you so much for organizing this! I will be available. Also, I work from 8-5 EST but am absolutely committed and will log in periodically while at work.

Should I reach out to my mentor to introduce myself?

I have been doing other Etsy workshops and will certainly become a mentor next time around. Thank you!!

[Former_Member]

#Kitty Hu and Brenda Thank you for your confirmation!

#Xiomara Ortiz Thank you for your confirmation! Please let me know your camera and if you have any photo editor program in your computer.
Yes, you can send a convo to your parter if you like, both are Mentor&Mentee so if all of you want you can help each other, thanks!

[Former_Member]

I will confirm for Krystal, her and I are in contact all the time. I will let her know it starts tomorrow. Question, will all the information be relayed here in this thread, or will we also be watching video also?

[Former_Member]

I have a Canon DSLR. I have Corel Paint Shop Pro X5. New to the Corel and not sure how to use it.

[mitallerdenubes]

Thank you very much Eli!
I have a sony dsc-w350
I'm using Photoscape for my photo editing and then cleared his photo with fotofuze

[Former_Member]

Thank you Eli I have a Canon T3, I have photoshop and lightroom.

[Former_Member]

i have a Kodak EasyShare M530, Coral PaintShop Photo Pro X3 and FotoFuze

[Former_Member]

Raquel, I'm new to this business, but I see alot of positive things about your shop. First, your pictures look great. Second, you have precise descriptions including measurements and materials. My only suggestion that some fellow etsyers have suggested to me is to take pictures of someone wearing your pieces so buyers can see how they look when worn. Eli. May have some more advice. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

I have a Canon Powershot S1IS and for photo editing I use www.pixlr.com

[Former_Member]

Hello sweeties,
Thank you all for your confirmation!

- Jacqueline Swain - CONFIRMED
- Krystal Tucker CONFIRMED
- Tanya Grubbs CONFIRMED
- Kitty Hu and Brenda CONFIRMED
- raquel CONFIRMED
- LikhenPress CONFIRMED
- Xiomara Ortiz CONFIRMED
- Teresa CONFIRMED

I am sorry for all whose pair hasn't confirmed yet, we need keep working so now the actual pairs will be:

- Kristal (mentor) & Jacqueline (mentee)
- Jacqueline (mentor) & Tanya Grubbs (mentee)

The next list will be both Mentee & Mentor at same time:
- Teresa from (nanesbangles) & Raquel from (mitallerdenubes)
- Likhen Press from (LikhenPress) & Xiomara Ortiz from (designsbyxo)
- Kitty Hu and Brenda from (CrystalGirlz) you do not have pair but do not worry about it, i will be yours :)

[Former_Member]

WELCOME EVERYBODY TO MENTOR&MENTEE SEPTEMBER WORKSHOP.

During september, you'll be working alongside other members to reach their full potentian on etsy. It's going to be an inspiring month!

No matter who you pair, it’s important both mentor and mentee understand September will be an intensive month of working on their shops.

Please remember that in this 1st week we are only working on BRANDING & PHOTOGRAPHY improvements.

May be a good way to start for the mentors and mentees to do a BRANDING AND PHOTOGRAPHY shop critique.
This will give the pairs some concrete things to think about working on as the month progresses.

Will be helpful for you write your own TO DO LIST after reading your partner critique and our tips.

Set specific goals based on what you need and want to work on. This will give each pair a concrete set of milestones to work toward as the weeks goes on.

So now please i would like that every body has their own TO DO LIST for this week.

TIPS ON BRANDING:
A new visitor to the shop should be able to describe who the shop is targeting as their customer. If you can’t describe this person or you describe the wrong person, the shop may need some help with their branding.

This article could help you to find your Target Market:
https://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2013/how-to-find-your-target-market/

TIPS ON PHOTOGRAPHY:
Obviously photos are crucial to selling online. It’s important to light, style and crop photos correctly for Etsy specifically.
Changing all your photos at once can be pretty intimidating. Consider re-shooting a section or page of items instead of all items at once. To get a better feeling for what to change, examine with your mentee the listings that need changes. Review together how you would improve the images.
This article shows before and after photos from experienced sellers who made some valuable changes to their images: https://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2010/before-and-after-with-etsys-old-timers-full-timers/

Check more before and after photos here: https://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2009/shop-makeover-series-feature-friendly-photos/

You can learn how to crop correctly here: https://www.etsy.com/help/article/204?ref=help_search_result


Now please contact with your partner and try to help each other about photography and branding TO DO LIST.

I would like to know all yours TO DO LIST as soon as possible so please write here yours and let us know what you are going to change in your shop.

Then we will start working on it.

[CrystalFoxTreasures]

Hi Eli,

Sorry I'm behind here. My camera is a Fuji Finepix S. I use Corel PaintShop Pro X5 and Picmonkey. I also have a light box that I use.

[Former_Member]

#CristalFox6, do not worry for it, your pair is Kitty Hu and Brenda, ok? Other people didnt confirm yet so we will work with this pairs now.

I am still waiting all your TO DO LISTS people! Tomorrow we will start with our pictures improvements! Prepare your white backgrounds and charge your camera bateries please!

See you soon!
Eli

__________

My TO DO LIST is for this week is:

- Rearrange my shop better
- Take some new pictures to change the ones that doesn't match with my shop harmony.
- Improve my shop banner (it seems blurred due to the poor quality of the image)
- Take more photos for the listings that have less than 5 pics.
- Try to find a real model and take some pictures wearing my jewelry.

How about you?
Please let me know your TO DO LIST.


Tomorrow we will learn how to take pictures correctly, please try to read what i wrote about picture tips, it will be very helpful.

Start to think too please about how do you want that your pictures look like.

- Surf the net (or etsy shops) and let me know what style of shop you like (i am talking about pictures, not about items).

For example, some cute and EASY pictures that i like are from these shops:

- https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheiaDesign
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/WHEATSHEAFaccessory
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/leanimale
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/filamentostore
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/HomeLivingIdeas
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/CelineH2O
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadmiDesign
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/lacravatteduchien
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/BeautySpot
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/talktothesun
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/Dinabijushop
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/knotandbow
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/CitrusCat
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/gusosos
- https://www.etsy.com/shop/NestPrettyThingsShop

Perhaps it can help you to be inspired or simply to know which kind of photos you like most. When you know which style you like, let me know it and it will help me to teach you how to take this kind of photo.

See you tomorrow and thank you all to be here!
Eli

[Former_Member]

Hi Eli! my partners and i have been in contact and working on our to-do list. We'll reach out ASAP!

-XO

[Former_Member]

I have been in contact with both of my partners, just waiting for their replies. Will have our lists done tomorrow.

I already know, I want to work on a new banner, re take a few pics that are still blurry, or out of focus, and find a model. I was just waiting to hear what their opinion was on what I needed to work on.

[Former_Member]

Dear Eli, my to do list includes finding someone else to take my pictures cause I can't focus on my own! Hahaha! Then I'll model my bangles she they take the pictures. It's a start.

[Former_Member]

my to-do list is,
Make a new banner, re-take some of my pics, make a new avatar, and try to find a model.

[Former_Member]

Whew, I'm already running behind and it's day one... I use a Kodak z650 and edit with Picasso.

Ill be in touch with my partners and start on the To Do list.

[JaniceTanCouture]

Hi Eli,

Thank you for your hard working on this wokshop!!! :D

Currently, I edit photos by PhotoShop Element 9 and my camera is Nikon D90.
The first week I would like to improve on my shop is:

Title and Tag

Getting more search result of my products.

Thanks you!

Looking forward to work with Patricia Peak from (SayItWithaPillow). :)

Good luck, everyone.

[MartinaKnightart]

Hi Eli

My to do list is:

Create a new brand logo

New images for my products on a less distracting background

Go over all of my descriptions and reword them

Use all 13 key words

Add your “about me” page.

I cant wait to get started on this :)

Martina

[Former_Member]

I am posting what Tanya messaged me her to do list is, Krystal is working on hers, and I already posted mine.
Tanya Grubb's to-do list: Make better pics, Make use of all 5 picture slots, get a live model

[CrystalFoxTreasures]

I've been in touch with my partner, Kitty Hu and Brenda, and sent them my to do list for their input. As soon as I hear back from them I will post mine.

[Former_Member]

I have recently redone the majority of the photos in my shop so my to do list is comprised of mainly one daunting task.

- redo the rest of the photos that I haven't already redone

I'd love to find a live model too but for now this is where I'm at.