Comment

Comment by Teresa Wooden on December 5, 2011 at 7:22pm

Just a note on Etsy etiquette...it's not considered appropriate to list your own item in a treasury you create.  However, if you have a group working together you can certainly promote one another's work.  Make treasuries that focus on a theme, a color, a mood, a holiday, etc.  Make it an eclectic collection, not just pots. 

Whew...there's a lot to research and learn about Etsy.  For instance, if you are a shop owner and go to some of the Etsy on-site blogs, they will tell you what "themes" Etsy will be promoting in the coming weeks, making it more likely that your treasury may be picked up.  I believe your treasury has to get a number of votes/clicks to make it to the front page...we could vote for one another's.

Another good thing to do is to purchase a featured item spot (your listing will appear at the top of the page on which ceramics are listed).  You have to reserve the spots, and pay for them.  But they do result in increased hits and sales.

You have to track your site statistics to see when people are viewing your site the most, and arrange your feature spot during that time.  Sundays are usually good for me.

Tags are very important.  Use them all, as many as you can get on there.  You can also type more than one word in a tag space, allowing you to actually increase your tag words over the form limit.  Tag for color, use, material, style, also "gift", "wedding", "traditional", "Christmas", etc.

There is a lot to learn about Etsy to be successful, and if you do it "right" it is like running a part-time job.  But it does work.  Shipping is the hardest thing to figure out.

Sharon, on your international order, be sure to stipulate that the buyer is responsible for any and all customs or tariffs fees.  You don't want to get stuck with that.

Comment by Sharon Ivy on December 5, 2011 at 6:28pm

George, we can all learn about Etsy together.  I've learned a lot just today thanks to Victoria and Teresa.  I certainly appreciate what you folks have shared.  Posting some new items to Etsy tonight, so will be tagging some with EC6.  Great idea!

Comment by George Lewter on December 5, 2011 at 6:03pm

My shop has been dormant for about a year. After my final real world sale next week I will try to get my shop up again. Will look into this business of treasuries and join in if I can figure it out. I didn't sell anything on etsy before, so haven't been too excited about jumping back in.  It did help get my pots viewable by interested local people who then made purchases directly with me. 

Comment by Victoria Cochran on December 5, 2011 at 5:51pm

Great. Found you! ;)

Comment by Ceci on December 5, 2011 at 5:30pm

O.K sound good Victoria. I just added that tag to 2 of my pieces. Thanks

Comment by Victoria Cochran on December 5, 2011 at 5:26pm

I've suggested to George that Etsy-ists here tag some items in their shop with EC6.

It would let us find each other quickly AND provide us with each others' items to put in treasuries and promote (we could label treasuries with the same tag & then help promote each other's treasuries, as well).

I "asked" but I suppose we can just do it? Since we're "the group" that Etsies. 

Comment by Sharon Ivy on December 5, 2011 at 4:54pm

Teresa, I got my first international order today!  A yarn bowl going to the UK.  Fitting, I say.  Guess they're used to paying the postage, but it was as much as the bowl.  Thanks for the treasuries info.  I've been in some, but never done one myself.  Need to do that!

Comment by Teresa Wooden on December 5, 2011 at 3:55pm

I found that renewing did drive up views and sales on our vintage shop.  Also, try to get into treasuries.  Those are what lands you on the front page of etsy and can generate thousands of hits.  Listing a "thank you" and link to the treasury of people who have treasured you helps others decide to treasure you as well.

Another main selling tip:  ship internationally.  Makes a big difference.

Comment by Sharon Ivy on December 5, 2011 at 2:42pm

Good advice, Victoria. I read that renewing isn't supposed to help anymore, but I've found that not to be true. It still drives customers to my shop and I plan to continue doing what works! I'm still working toward getting 100 pcs posted. Good to know about spreading out the listing.

Comment by Victoria Cochran on December 5, 2011 at 2:31pm

I should add: don't upload a whole kiln load to your shop in one day. Space it out over several days. Three items per day is enough to keep people coming back. Help them build good habits ;)

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