Just Good Business

Having an Etsy shop can be a very challenging venture, especially for a jewelry seller like myself. But no matter what you sell, a little customer service can go a long way. When someone makes a purchase from you, do you send them a convo thanking them for their order? Do you let them know when you shipped the item? I know there are many sellers who probably process several orders each day, and convo'g each one to acknowledge their order could take up a good amount of time. But the way I look at it is, if the customer took the time to stop by your shop and buy something, then you should take the extra few minutes to say thank you

Buying something online requires a lot of trust on the part of the buyer. There is no immediate gratification, they are relying on your photos being a good representation of the item and they are trusting that your descriptions are accurate and truthful. If you don't at least let the customer know that you shipped their item, they are left to wonder if their order was even received and they are left to helplessly wait everyday for their item to arrive.

Taking the extra time for your customers could be the difference between a one time sale and a customer for life.

Just A Quick Tip For All The Jewelry Designers

I recently read somewhere that you should name your jewelry pieces. I started thinking about it and while I know that having keywords in your title is essential to the piece 'getting found' in searches on search engines, I believe that naming your jewelry can definitely contribute to the 'click' factor of the piece. The name you give it can be a 'teaser' to a potential customer. The name could have them so intrigued, they'll want to click through to the item to read the description and potentially lead to a sale.

Just don't leave the customer high and dry when they click through to the description. You need to continue intriguing them with a description that 'grabs' them, making them feel like they absolutely need that piece of jewelry.

You want the name to invoke some kind of interest, want, desire or even fantasy. Emotions are what push people to make purchases. If you target their emotional buying power then you are more likely to get the sale.

I have recently listed a few new pieces in my shop and gave them names, I definitely have to work on my descriptions, but I figured I would give it a shot and also share the idea with you. If you do try it, I hope it works well for you :)

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.