Have fun!
Showing posts with label how to. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to. Show all posts
Dominating Small Niches With Keywords
Check out this great article by Tim Adam about dominating small niches with keywords. As always he has fantastic information for the community to absorb.
Have fun!
Have fun!
Esy On Sale-Quick And Easy Way To Put Your Listings On Sale!
Labels:
create sales on Etsy,
etsy,
handmade,
how to,
tutorial
Every Etsy sellers dream....a way to put items on sale quickly and easily! This website, Etsy On Sale, allows you to put a shop section on sale. It simply uses Etsy API to edit your listings for you. I tried it myself and it works great!
So here's how it's done.
Go to Etsy On Sale, at the top right corner, click "Sellers".
Click "Sign In" with your google account (or watch the demo video below it instead). After signing in with google, you will be asked to set a time zone, and to allow Etsy Access. This is necessary in order for the site to be able to use Etsy's API to edit your listings for you.
Now you will be taken to a page that tells you to choose a shop, and you will see your shop banner. Click it!
Next you'll go to your dashboard. To create a sale, click "Sale Events".
After clicking that, click "Create New Sale". Follow the instructions on that page. You will be able to name your sale (this won't show up anywhere on Etsy, it's just a way to keep track of your sale events on your dashboard), choose a shop section you want to put on sale, choose a start and end date, a certain amount of $ or a percentage off your item prices, and also a title that will appear at the beginning of your listings.
When you're done, click "Schedule Sales Event".
And that's it! Now you will see your sale event on your dashboard like this:
One thing though. When it's time for the sale to start, give it 10 minutes to begin. That is how long it takes for the site to edit your listings.
So in other words, if you schedule a sales event for 4 PM, it will start at about 10 minutes after.
For more info, simply visit etsyonsale.com and watch the demo to find out how it's done.
Have fun, and I hope this saves you a lot of time!
Oh, and just so you know, I used this to put my manly sports bookmarks on sale at 25% off! Manly bookmarks for boys and men.
So here's how it's done.
Go to Etsy On Sale, at the top right corner, click "Sellers".
Click "Sign In" with your google account (or watch the demo video below it instead). After signing in with google, you will be asked to set a time zone, and to allow Etsy Access. This is necessary in order for the site to be able to use Etsy's API to edit your listings for you.
Now you will be taken to a page that tells you to choose a shop, and you will see your shop banner. Click it!
Next you'll go to your dashboard. To create a sale, click "Sale Events".
After clicking that, click "Create New Sale". Follow the instructions on that page. You will be able to name your sale (this won't show up anywhere on Etsy, it's just a way to keep track of your sale events on your dashboard), choose a shop section you want to put on sale, choose a start and end date, a certain amount of $ or a percentage off your item prices, and also a title that will appear at the beginning of your listings.
When you're done, click "Schedule Sales Event".
And that's it! Now you will see your sale event on your dashboard like this:
One thing though. When it's time for the sale to start, give it 10 minutes to begin. That is how long it takes for the site to edit your listings.
So in other words, if you schedule a sales event for 4 PM, it will start at about 10 minutes after.
For more info, simply visit etsyonsale.com and watch the demo to find out how it's done.
Have fun, and I hope this saves you a lot of time!
Oh, and just so you know, I used this to put my manly sports bookmarks on sale at 25% off! Manly bookmarks for boys and men.
Bringing Buyers Into Your Shops
How do you bring buyers into your shop?
First you must ask yourself the question, "Why would I buy from that shop?"
Putting yourself in your customers shoes is the first step to becoming a successful seller.
1: A good product.
The first and foremost thing to selling successfully is to have a product everyone wants. Who would buy a product they don't even want?!
2: A good representation of that product.
If your pictures don't do your product justice, it's probably not going to sell very well. Even if your photos are passable, it is always a good idea to keep working on improving your photography. And keep in mind that a good clean background with a prop or too, and some natural diffused light is key to making a good photograph!
3: A good price.
I believe most of us struggle with how to price our products. How the heck do you charge enough to make a decent profit without running your customers off at such a very high price? You need to find a good balance for your product and stick with it, making minor adjustments as you go as the price of materials fluctuate.
If you ever plan on selling wholesale, make sure you are charging enough to make a profit when you slash the prices for your wholesale buyers!
4: Great Customer Service.
All business owners need to have good customer service! This doesn't mean you answer your emails in exactly 2 hours, though that is always nice, it's not always possible.
It does mean, however, that you treat your customers with respect, ship their products in a timely manner, and answer your emails and convos as soon as possible.
It's helpful if you can disclose a timeframe in your policies so customers will know what to expect.
Got a busy life? Make sure you tell them in your policies that you will get back to them within (2?) days, or that orders ship within (3?).
As a customer myself, this kind of information is tremendously helpful when I make a purchase.
5: Customization.
If you are up to it, offer custom services! Let your customers know that they can have a product made especially for them that no one else will have.
Perhaps a customer needs several items that match for a gift for someone, or maybe they need something in a different color, etc.
If you offer custom services, you are bound to attract more business this way.
Summarization:
A good buyer experience!
If your customers are able to get what they need from a great seller, they are bound to walk right in!
Your reputation as a great seller will improve over time, bringing more and more business your way.
First you must ask yourself the question, "Why would I buy from that shop?"
Putting yourself in your customers shoes is the first step to becoming a successful seller.
1: A good product.
The first and foremost thing to selling successfully is to have a product everyone wants. Who would buy a product they don't even want?!
2: A good representation of that product.
If your pictures don't do your product justice, it's probably not going to sell very well. Even if your photos are passable, it is always a good idea to keep working on improving your photography. And keep in mind that a good clean background with a prop or too, and some natural diffused light is key to making a good photograph!
3: A good price.
I believe most of us struggle with how to price our products. How the heck do you charge enough to make a decent profit without running your customers off at such a very high price? You need to find a good balance for your product and stick with it, making minor adjustments as you go as the price of materials fluctuate.
If you ever plan on selling wholesale, make sure you are charging enough to make a profit when you slash the prices for your wholesale buyers!
4: Great Customer Service.
All business owners need to have good customer service! This doesn't mean you answer your emails in exactly 2 hours, though that is always nice, it's not always possible.
It does mean, however, that you treat your customers with respect, ship their products in a timely manner, and answer your emails and convos as soon as possible.
It's helpful if you can disclose a timeframe in your policies so customers will know what to expect.
Got a busy life? Make sure you tell them in your policies that you will get back to them within (2?) days, or that orders ship within (3?).
As a customer myself, this kind of information is tremendously helpful when I make a purchase.
5: Customization.
If you are up to it, offer custom services! Let your customers know that they can have a product made especially for them that no one else will have.
Perhaps a customer needs several items that match for a gift for someone, or maybe they need something in a different color, etc.
If you offer custom services, you are bound to attract more business this way.
Summarization:
A good buyer experience!
If your customers are able to get what they need from a great seller, they are bound to walk right in!
Your reputation as a great seller will improve over time, bringing more and more business your way.
Branding Your Shop
Labels:
article,
branding your shop,
etsy treasure chest,
geek details,
how to
When I first looked in to opening an Etsy store, I thought all there was to it was to list my items. I quickly learned the error of my ways and thus started a new series of blog posts on things I’ve learned along the way. One of the first things I learned was branding. I’m still working on branding myself and the look of it all, but I have a fairly good grasp of what is working for my shop. So I’ll tell you what I did, how I did it, and (most importantly) why I did it.
Everyone tells you to start with a Logo. My first was a letter “g” with “www.geekdetails.etsy.com” going in a circle around it. It was hard to read, it has the “.etsy.com” in there and just wasn’t what I wanted so I eventually ditched it. I knew when I wanted to brand my stuff that I did not want .etsy.com on my label. Etsy is great for selling right now, but I wanted options for the future. I went to www.godaddy.com and bought the domain name “geekdetails.com” for myself and used their redirect feature to point it towards my etsy.com site. This allowed me to have all my packaging printed with my name on it without being stuck with .etsy.com packaging if I decide to no longer sell on Etsy. The $9ish I spent on that was definitely worth it.
So what’s with the teal panda? The teal panda is my new logo. If I’m posting elsewhere on the internet, you’ll typically see the little teal panda next to the post. It’s on everything from business cards to packaging to web ads. If my geek details name is on something, so is my panda.
Speaking of packaging, here’s a shot of some of mine.
First, notice they all have my url in a prominent way that allows you to easily tell where you can buy more of these great items. They also all have my teal panda on them so that buyers can immediately recognize the item as coming from my store. They all use the same style font which is one that isn’t a typical font and is easily read. Basically I took the same elements and rearranged them to suit my needs for a particular packaging material.
Changes I’ve made since I started? The button/magnet/pocket mirror packaging now simply says “button” “magnet” or “pocket mirror” instead of “2.25 inch button” “1 inch button” etc. I change the color of the bumbly band depending on what type of item is inside so that I can easily tell if I’m sending someone a magnet or a button which helps me eliminate mistakes in orders.
At one point I had different packaging for the sizes of buttons, button packs, magnets, magnet packs etc. I decided to simplify and in the process, I made it easier for me to package my stuff.
You’ll notice that the saying at the bottom of my items change from item to item. I do that because we (friends and I) came up with so many fun sayings for my store and it was hard to pick just one. So I integrated the various sayings in to my packaging and it’s random what saying will be on what package.
The new hand painted dishware sticker is going to have the same bumbly band on it that my button packaging has on it now. The original one served its purpose, but I’m not afraid to admit when a design could be improved. The “geek details” at the top could be replaced with "www.geekdetails.com” and then the spot where “www.geekdetails.com” is currently at can be replaced with the name of the item inside. I don’t make tons of different dish styles yet so I can do that without putting too much into label materials.
My business cards are double sided. The front is fairly straight forward with just my logo, my url, and my tag line. I wanted my info on my card without making it cluttered though so I decided to flip the card around and use the back as well. The back states a text wall of all the wonderful things you can purchase in my store. It allows me to give people an idea of what I do without having the front of my card cluttered up. Eventually the back will hold coupon codes for return buyers and/or convention attendees.
So why do all this? If you google “branding” or “etsy branding” you’ll find a host of articles most of which boil down to this one:
* Delivers the message clearly
* Confirms your credibility
* Connects your target prospects emotionally
* Motivates the buyer
* Concretes User Loyalty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This article was written by Amanda of Geek Details. Amanda is an organized creative person. She has a blunt/to the point personality. She also has a blog at http://geekdetails.com/blog/.
Everyone tells you to start with a Logo. My first was a letter “g” with “www.geekdetails.etsy.com” going in a circle around it. It was hard to read, it has the “.etsy.com” in there and just wasn’t what I wanted so I eventually ditched it. I knew when I wanted to brand my stuff that I did not want .etsy.com on my label. Etsy is great for selling right now, but I wanted options for the future. I went to www.godaddy.com and bought the domain name “geekdetails.com” for myself and used their redirect feature to point it towards my etsy.com site. This allowed me to have all my packaging printed with my name on it without being stuck with .etsy.com packaging if I decide to no longer sell on Etsy. The $9ish I spent on that was definitely worth it.
So what’s with the teal panda? The teal panda is my new logo. If I’m posting elsewhere on the internet, you’ll typically see the little teal panda next to the post. It’s on everything from business cards to packaging to web ads. If my geek details name is on something, so is my panda.
Speaking of packaging, here’s a shot of some of mine.
First, notice they all have my url in a prominent way that allows you to easily tell where you can buy more of these great items. They also all have my teal panda on them so that buyers can immediately recognize the item as coming from my store. They all use the same style font which is one that isn’t a typical font and is easily read. Basically I took the same elements and rearranged them to suit my needs for a particular packaging material.
Changes I’ve made since I started? The button/magnet/pocket mirror packaging now simply says “button” “magnet” or “pocket mirror” instead of “2.25 inch button” “1 inch button” etc. I change the color of the bumbly band depending on what type of item is inside so that I can easily tell if I’m sending someone a magnet or a button which helps me eliminate mistakes in orders.
At one point I had different packaging for the sizes of buttons, button packs, magnets, magnet packs etc. I decided to simplify and in the process, I made it easier for me to package my stuff.
You’ll notice that the saying at the bottom of my items change from item to item. I do that because we (friends and I) came up with so many fun sayings for my store and it was hard to pick just one. So I integrated the various sayings in to my packaging and it’s random what saying will be on what package.
The new hand painted dishware sticker is going to have the same bumbly band on it that my button packaging has on it now. The original one served its purpose, but I’m not afraid to admit when a design could be improved. The “geek details” at the top could be replaced with "www.geekdetails.com” and then the spot where “www.geekdetails.com” is currently at can be replaced with the name of the item inside. I don’t make tons of different dish styles yet so I can do that without putting too much into label materials.
My business cards are double sided. The front is fairly straight forward with just my logo, my url, and my tag line. I wanted my info on my card without making it cluttered though so I decided to flip the card around and use the back as well. The back states a text wall of all the wonderful things you can purchase in my store. It allows me to give people an idea of what I do without having the front of my card cluttered up. Eventually the back will hold coupon codes for return buyers and/or convention attendees.
So why do all this? If you google “branding” or “etsy branding” you’ll find a host of articles most of which boil down to this one:
* Delivers the message clearly
* Confirms your credibility
* Connects your target prospects emotionally
* Motivates the buyer
* Concretes User Loyalty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This article was written by Amanda of Geek Details. Amanda is an organized creative person. She has a blunt/to the point personality. She also has a blog at http://geekdetails.com/blog/.
Jewelry Artisan and Photography
Labels:
how to,
photography,
photos,
technique
While surfing the web, I ran across an article about photographing jewelry. I won't give you instructions here, instead, I will let you go read the articles themselves.
I will say this though, the photography is excellent, and I'm a big fan of using glass on top of your background.
The first half of the article is here
http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/jewelry_photography.htm
The second half, which has my favorite pictures in it, is here,
http://tabletopstudio.com/jewelry_photography2.html
I hope you find these useful and enjoyable. Good luck with your photography!
I will say this though, the photography is excellent, and I'm a big fan of using glass on top of your background.
The first half of the article is here
http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/jewelry_photography.htm
The second half, which has my favorite pictures in it, is here,
http://tabletopstudio.com/jewelry_photography2.html
I hope you find these useful and enjoyable. Good luck with your photography!
Tutorials and How Tos
Labels:
business tips,
how to,
tutorial
Crafty Tutorials:
How to make a business card box tutorial.
DIY Felt Sunflower Wreath Tutorial for Fall
DIY Fall Wreath- Pumpkins, Acorns, Pinecones, and Sunflowers for Fall
DIY Cardboard Organizer Cute and Cheap!
DIY Bags for Craft Shows
Photography Tutorials:
How to enhance photos with GIMP tutorial.
Photography Tutorials On Handmadeology
How to make a business card box tutorial.
DIY Felt Sunflower Wreath Tutorial for Fall
DIY Fall Wreath- Pumpkins, Acorns, Pinecones, and Sunflowers for Fall
DIY Cardboard Organizer Cute and Cheap!
DIY Bags for Craft Shows
Photography Tutorials:
How to enhance photos with GIMP tutorial.
Photography Tutorials On Handmadeology
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