What the Heck is Etsy Anyway

I realized that a lot of people visiting my blog may not be familiar with Etsy; and since the majority of my blog is focused around it, I thought I would take a minute to let them know exactly what it is. First, if you are wondering how you pronouce Etsy, it rhymes with the girls' name Betsy

Etsy is an online marketplace where you can buy and/or sell anything handmade. Etsy also has vintage items and crafting supplies. Etsy has over 1.8 million members and there are over 200,000 sellers. Etsy is different from Ebay, in that, there is no bidding; you just find what you like and buy it.

If you have never visited Etsy, you really must check it out. On Etsy, you can find anything from jewelry to pottery and everything in between and with the ever growing number of extremely talented artists found on Etsy you are bound to find something you just can't do without.

My New Treasury

I have had a few treasuries on Treasury West, but I have never had one on the main treasury until today. I am so excited :) It just opened today and will go the next 3 days so if you could go visit it and give it some love I sure would appreciate it and I will gladly do the same for anyone else when they get one. Just convo me :)

Here it is:


Here is the link to it

The Perfect Gift for the Perfect Valentine

This beautiful handmade bracelet is a one of a kind original and would be a perfect accessory for the outfit you are planning to wear on Valentine's Day.

Or for the men, this bracelet will definitely show her how much you love her with all the lampwork silver foil glass beads and bright red swarovski crystals. There is a silver tone metal toggle clasp closure.

This bracelet is only $25 and you can find it at my Etsy shop

Don't forget Valentine's Day is only 38 days away!

Promote, Promote, Promote – Ideas for your Etsy Shop

We all know how important promoting our Etsy shop is if we want to be successful. I have put together a few ideas that you might find useful.

1. Use a signature line with a link to your shop in all of your emails

2. Promote your shop in forums and blogs that correlate with what you sell

3. Develop a free service. Share tips, ideas and any knowledge on your craft. You can create tutorials on YouTube (check out One True Media to help create videos)

4. Have a contest. You can either put this in your shop announcement or post it on your blog.

5. Send offers to your customers. Just remember that they must give you permission to contact them. When you send out packages, insert a note with your business card informing the customer of specials they could receive if they send you an email permitting you to send them correspondence.

6. List your shop’s url on Open Project Directory, the Yahoo Directory and Business.com

7.Register a domain name that you use for the sole purpose of directing traffic to your Etsy
shop

8. Advertise your shop on Craig’s List

9. Sign up with Link Referral

10. Write articles about things you know and distribute them to editors as free content for their email newsletters or website. Ask if a link to your shop and a one line description of what you offer can be included with the article

11. Join a group on Yahoo. There are several groups for Etsy sellers – here is a link to the search query for Etsy

I found these ideas in the Forums:

1. agoodwitchtoo posted this:

How about a FREE way to get your shop’s sales or new items out there?

Blockhead Radio http://blockheadradiolive.com is starting another NEW show on Saturday 12/6. Tune in every Saturday at 5pm EST to hear “The Witching Hours”… where yours truly (me!) will be the hostess with the mostest plugging shops with “Wicked Good Sales”!

Click here to see the thread

2. mshalston told me about Letsets which is a tool for Etsy sellers. They help you upload all of your store inventory to Google Base

3. This list is thanks to LindaCain on Etsy

Promotion/Networking/Sales

http://groups.msn.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/
http://us.vclart.net/vcl/
http://www.amateurillustrator.com/
http://www.artbyus.com/
http://www.artindustri.com/
http://www.artspots.com/
http://www.artwanted.com/
http://www.base.google.com/
http://www.bigcartel.com/
http://www.blip.tv/
http://www.Blogcatalog.com/
http://www.Blogger.com/
http://www.BlogsByWomen.com/
http://www.blujay.com
http://www.bouf.com/
http://www.burdastyle.com/
http://www.Cafepress.com/
http://www.cdhm.org/
http://www.cellspin.net
http://www.considerations.ning.com/
http://www.craftersbuzz.com/
http://www.craftjuice.com/
http://www.Craftster.com/
http://www.craigslist.org/
http://www.creativeartworks.cc/
http://www.Cuteable.com/
http://www.DaWanda.com/
http://www.DeviantArt.com/
http://www.diyscene.com/
http://www.Ecrater.com/
http://www.elfwood.com/
http://www.Etsyfame.com/
http://www.etsymini.blogspot.com/
http://www.etsyminisupplies.blogspot.com/
http://www.Facebook.com/
http://www.fashhh.com/
http://www.fashionindustrynetwork.com/
http://www.FashionSpace.com/
http://www.fecalface.com/SF/
http://www.Flickr.com/
http://www.folksy.com/
http://www.gawker.com/artists/
http://www.gazabo.com/
http://www.girlshopspot.com/
http://www.hyenacart.com/
http://www.ibrsc.org/
http://www.icollectorbazaar.com
http://www.icraft.ca/
http://www.illustrationmundo.com/
http://www.imagekind.com/
http://www.Indie.com.au/
http://www.IndieFriendly.com/
http://www.indieparade.com/
http://www.IndiePublic.com/
http://www.instructables.com/home
http://www.iqons.com
http://www.iupost.com/
http://www.ivoteforart.com/
http://www.jaabu.com/
http://www.kaboodle.com/
http://www.kijiji.com/
http://www.lampworketc.com
http://www.Linkedin.com/
http://www.Livejournal.com/
http://www.lookbook.nu/
http://www.loudfrog.com/
http://www.lov.li/
http://www.MadeIt.com/
http://www.madeitmyself.com/
http://www.merchantcircle.com
http://www.metalchasers.com/
http://www.metalchasers.com/
http://www.miniaturesonly.com/
http://www.Mintd.com/
http://www.modepass.com/membres
http://www.modish.typepad.com/
http://www.moli.com/
http://www.myartplot.com/
http://www.myartspace.com/
http://www.mybloglog.com/
http://www.Mycraftivity.com/
http://www.Myspace.com/
http://www.Neatostuff.com/
http://www.neoloch.com/
http://www.peacefulvalleygreetings.com/
http://www.phirebrush.com/
http://www.Picasaweb.com/
http://www.picturetrail.com
http://www.pieronymuskosch.ning.com/
http://www.pinkdoodle.com/
http://www.poppytalkhandmade.com/
http://www.pownce.com/
http://www.Ravelry.com/
http://www.redbubble.com/
http://www.RenSpace.com/
http://www.RubyLane.com/
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/
http://www.sabet.tv/
http://www.seekingdesigners.com/
http://www.silkfair.com
http://www.smashingdarling.com/
http://www.Smidge.ca
http://www.squidoo.com/
http://www.StumbleUpon.com
http://www.StyleHive.com/
http://www.stylehive.com/
http://www.StyleMob.com/
http://www.TalentDatabase.com/
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/directory/
http://www.terralunasol.net/
http://www.thefairysociety.ning.com/
http://www.thelittlechimpsociety.com/
http://www.thisnext.com/
http://www.trendyshoppes.com/
http://www.tribe.net/
http://www.trilliumartisans.org/
http://www.Trunkt.com/
http://www.Twitter.com/
http://www.typepad.com/
http://www.ushops.com/
http://www.vimeo.com/
http://www.VintagePulse.com/
http://www.vox.com/
http://www.warmtoastcafe.com/
http://www.webshots.com
http://www.weloveetsy.com/
http://www.wench.org/
http://www.wetcanvas.com/
http://www.WindowonWeb.com/
http://www.winkelf.com/
http://www.wists.com
http://www.wwcrafters.com/
http://www.Xanga.com/
http://www.yessy.com/
http://www.youcraftylot.com/
http://www.yourhandmade.ning.com/
http://www.youtube.com/

Click here to view a thread that has a huge list of places to promote/advertise

Well, that's all I can think of for now. If you have any new ideas or fun ways that you promote and would like to share them, post them in the comment section and I will add them, with your name and a link to your store.