Road Blocks To Etsy Shop Sales

This post was made by HeyMichelle one of my favorite Etsy Admin Peeps. My comments and additions are highlighted. Some of this post has been edited.
HeyMichelle says                   

YOU'RE GETTING VIEWS, BUT NOT SALES
1.  Perhaps the buyer has questions that are not answered in the listing. Between the photos and the descriptions, the buyer should know everything they need to to make the purchase decision. If you get a convo with a question( Take this information and add it to you listing asap) consider that there may have been more buyers with the question, but they didn't want to ask!

From another post ...here is what customers are looking for..

1. What color is it? The color on your computer monitor may not be the same as mine.
2. How big is it? As a buyer I don’t want to guess if that painting will fit over my fireplace or if those earrings are going to hang past my shoulders.
3. What is it made from? What materials and techniques are used?
4. How do I care for it? Can I wash and dry that wool sweater?
5. Who should buy it? or Who should NOT buy it? Is it appropriate for pregnant women? Children? Pets?
6. What is it used for? Is it decorative? Does it have a function? Both?
7. What does it feel like? Is that scarf soft to the touch? What’s the texture like? Is that necklace very heavy?
8. How does it work? Does it slip over my head? Is there a clasp? Do I tie it around my waist?
9. Why is this one better than the one in the next shop? What special skills, materials, or ideas do you use that make your item the best?

If you find that you're getting views but no sales, post in the Critiques forum ...I recommend the SASSY Team.

2. Shop policies that are blocking the sale: for example, saying that you're not responsible if the item doesn't arrive will turn the buyer away. Include insurance in the shipping price. See Shipping Choices Post for cost effective private insurance.

3. "Convo me before purchasing": do everything so the buyer can just purchase it.
4.  Add more items to the shop. Buyers like selection! (magic 100 number reminder here)
5. Prices are unusually low or high (I rarely see prices that are "too high"- almost not worth mentioning). Very low prices are more common, and may make the buyer question the quality of the item, and whether it's actually handmade. See Hitting the Sweet Spot Pricing Post.
                                                                                                                                                                                     

6. Shipping is unusually high:
Calculating Rates
Depending on the shipping service you use, you may need to calculate weights. For example, US First Class Mail uses weights, while Priority Mail rates may depend on the type of box or envelope you send the item in.
So whip out your measuring tape, kitchen or shipping scale.  You can get shipping scale cheap on eBay. Now that you know the weights and dimensions of the packages you offer, you can use your country’s postal service shipping calculator to determine the domestic and international rates for the countries you want to ship to. You may decide to factor in the price of your shipping materials into your shipping cost.

• USPS shipping calculator
• Canada Post – Find a Rate
• UK Royal Mail – Price Finder
• Australian Postage Assessment Calculator

7.  I read a while back that 30% of transactions involved a buyer and seller from different countries. Since buyers can choose to show only sellers who ship to them, having international shipping will increase your exposure. Again See Shipping as Part of Your Marketing Plan.

Confess ONE lesson learned & spare a newbie :)

This etsy forum thread currently has 195 pages of answers...this is impossible for the reader to wade through so...I am presenting an edited version with the "best of" comments and some comments of my own...

Original Post

seattlebeadcreations says

I'm still a newbie, but I've learned from my mistakes on Etsy & never plan to repeat them. I have many new bad ideas to try. BUT let's each list ONE BAD IDEA that might spare some other newbies. Then explain WHY it's a dumb move. I don't mean Etsy Rule Violations -- Read my big dumb move & you'll see what I mean:

LESSON: DON'T post your products on Etsy at one time! ....

WHY: Shortly after you add an item to your store, ETSY shows pics of it on its home page for the top 2 (3?) 'tags' on that item. Example: Etsy will show my new listing for a bracelet in both its 'Jewelry' and 'Bracelet' home pages. This is a few minutes of priceless publicity that brings looks into your store, if a buyer clicks on those pics!

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catiesblue says

I guess my lesson (and I'm still learning it, btw) is not to under price yourself. If it wasn't for me finally asking for help, and for a very kind seller pointing out specific examples from my store, I wouldn't have known. ....

how to price http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/02/price-hitting-sweet-spot.html

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TattooAnnie says

I had problems with shipping prices, too...I charged a buyer $3 to ship an item, the actual shipping ended up being almost $8!!! After shipping and fees, I barely broke even...but I learned my lesson!

how to ship http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/02/shipping-choices-are-part-of-your.html

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squrlgurl says

don't expect things to just "happen" on Etsy. You have to work hard to make sales... promote your work! Let people know you are here! You have to be a little shameless in these efforts

newbie advice http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/04/best-advice-for-total-newbie-etsy.html

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patereeves says

I would have to say don't ask too many times to be critiqued, LOL I fell into that one and I think ended up with some people thinking I was begging for them to buy from me. Promoting is one thing, begging for a sale acts as a big negative!

ask the Sassy Team for a critique they are pros...   http://www.etsy.com/teams/search/sassy

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SusyJack says

oh! I thought of something else. It is 100% worth it to learn how to use your digital camera to take great pictures. The reason for this is 2fold.

Firstly, it looks better to buyers (duh)
But second...many people who write blogs LOVE to put beautiful images in their blogs. If your pictures look good, then people will probably be more likely to feature your items in their blogs

great camera for $15, light cube free, photo editing free...

http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/02/tools-of-trade-right-camera.html

http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/02/after-right-camerayou-need-right.html

http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/02/final-touch-photo-editing.html

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paolodesigns says

Proof read everything. :)

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thirteenthstory says

Put dimensions in your descriptions.
description check list... http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/04/product-description-that-answers-buyers.html

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beadsnall says

Create, beg, borrow or steal (OK, don't steal) a spreadsheet to keep track of your costs/profits - and keep it up to date. I now have a huge bag of receipts that I need to enter and I just can't bring myself to sit down and do it. Once it's done, I will (I promise) keep it current

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scrapbookingmama says

Do not go on defense when your customer ask why they have not received their package..........
As sellers it is our job to help our customers not make them feel like they wish they had not spent their money with us.
If you know you sent it, explain to them nicely that it was sent on such date and you have no control after it is out of your hands.
Ignoring your customer do not help.
I say this because I have felt this way before and donot want my customers feel the way I did.

great customer service advice... http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/04/3000-sales-and-three-strange-ways-of.html

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HeyMichelle says

Great thread, everyone!

My tip is to not be afraid to jump in and start doing it! I sorta psyched myself out before starting my shop (not this account), and I was surprised at how fun (and addictive!) it is. Oh, yeah! And stay positive- take things at your own pace, join the community, and enjoy the process of learning...

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Reyney says

Don't stare at the computer all day long. It will give you a headache.

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JewelsbyJenny says

One thing I noticed while I was reading this thread is that catchy avatars make me want to click on them and check out the store.

How to make avatars....http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/03/conquering-phototext-editing-to-make.html

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rheta says

Good tags are critical.

Great SEO advice ....   http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/04/src-httpplayer.html

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CreativeSundries says

Join your local street team! You can meet fun people who share your interests. There are also specific craft-based street teams.

How to pick a great team.. http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-you-joiner-why-join-etsy-team-how.html

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feralspassage says

Don't listen to everybody in the forums, I kept changing everything to fit what others said was wrong, only to be stressing myself out. Didn't make much of a difference, now i do as what i think my shop needs. Every shop is different.

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BusterBooKids says

Well, the $7 you spend on a showcase spot might get you some nice numbers of views, but when you calculate the actual return on that spend, versus the 35 renews that you could do for the same amount of money, it just doesn't stack up. I did some showcases, and made 1 sale each time I did it. The profit margin was almost nil on those sales, after taking out the $7 showcase cost.

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artpassionsdesign says

Buy delivery confirmation. It's the best use of 19¢. When a buyer says they didn't get their package, you can track it...

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JazzCatGems says

Get started on Google Analytics right away...

Here's how...  http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/03/etsy-shop-sales-stats-daily-views.html

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fallingforpieces says

I agree with the blog giveaways, thing, if you're going to do it, choose carefully. I did one that was basically $30 down the drain. On the other hand local giveaways (to charity events) have really paid off for me in off etsy sales
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ChellysShoppe says

Write up your policy, etc...BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE! That's really, really important for buyers to know you're serious and know the terms.

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RockArtiste says

Don't let your shop sit idle. List something new as often as possible to stay at the top of the viewing order. Relist if you don't have anything new. Just keep popping up and you will be seen, eventually

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Crystalsidyll says

Don't expect instant feedback for every sale.

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ponypretties says

If you don't like your shop name, change it sooner than later! I signed up on etsy as a buyer first and my username wasn't a very memorable shop name. I kept it as my store name for 3 months before finally opening up a new shop. I would have saved myself a lot of time and effort (and useless business cards) if I had just done it sooner!

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particlesofstone says

I think my biggest blunder was not coming to the forums before I opened my shop! I could have learned a lot and avoided the mistakes....

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Brightstar109 says

I mis-typed my paypal address, I didn't notice for ages because I was selling with no problems in my supplies shop, but when I sold some jewellery the payment didn't go through.

I, too, have done this.

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KathyPanton says

well when i started a whole 2 months ago i bought a whole lot of RECYCLED post paks. They are a recycled version of a padded bag. God knows why, i was just sending paper prints.

Anyway.... the recycled post paks turned out to pretty much DOUBLE my postage costs ( i just shouldered the cost) because the recycling material , being old newspaper or whatever it was that was inside it , weighed double that of the ordinary postpaks. Its unfortunate, because i would have liked to continue using recycled ones.

I also have made this mistake.

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momomatic says

I misplaced an item! I now put anything that I've taken a picture of for listing in a sealed tupperware bin so the two little kids in my house can't walk off with it.

This happened to me and spurred a total reorganization of my workspace.

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deliverusbeads says

Don't get down on yourself, STAY POSITIVE!

Visit the get inspired page on this blog to regenerate your attitude.

Product Description that Answers a Buyers Questions

1. What is it? It may be totally obvious to you what the item is, but it might not be obvious to your customer. Necklace, bracelet, earrings, set, etc.
2. What color is it? The color on your computer monitor may not be the same as mine. Color can refer to metal white gold, copper, brass, sterling silver, pewter, etc. or stones blue turquoise, red jasper, purple amethyst...
3. How big is it? As a buyer I don't want to guess if that painting will fit over my fireplace or if those earrings are going to hang past my shoulders. Weight in grams. Length x width in inches or centimeters. Many sellers put a quarter next to a piece of jewelry for scale.
4. What is it made from? What materials and techniques are used? 14k gold use the tag solid so that buyers can pick pieces out that are not filled, plated,  ...pearls use the tag genuine, there are of faux pearls listed and its hard to be seen if you have the real thing...sterling and what part..

5. How do I care for it? Can I wash and dry that wool sweater? You might to put care instructions in your policies that get printed out with you invoice.
6. Who should buy it? or Who should NOT buy it? Is it appropriate for pregnant women? Children? Pets? If you have solid gold earrings but plated backs then clearly state that in your description for those with metal allergies.
7. What is it used for? Is it decorative? Does it have a function? Both? Suggest occasions..weddings, proms, casual Friday, office, evening, Easter, mourning, birth...
8. What does it feel like? Is that scarf soft to the touch? What's the texture like? Is that necklace very heavy? Describe texture: satin smooth, hammered, rough, soft leather, lightweight earrings....
9. How does it work? Does it slip over my head? Is there a clasp? Do I tie it around my waist? Can it be worn as a necklace or a belt? Describe clasps in detail.

10. Why is this one better than the one in the next shop? What special skills, materials, or ideas do you use that make your item the best? Great price, can't find it in the next shop, great condition, give better hallmark history than the next shop.
11. Do I get everything in the picture? I see 12 items in your picture, do I get them all? Only one? Does that lovely bauble in the background come with it or is it just for display? Sometimes I sell a set separately and show the whole set with link in description in one pic.
12. Will it fit me? When I shop in a brick and mortar shop I might try on 12 things and find only 1 that fits well. I am taking a BIG chance on buying clothes online. Please make it easier for me by offering extensive measurement and sizing information. Don't assume that your customer will know what you mean by "small" or "large."  If it is a bracelet make sure to give diameter and if smaller or larger than 2.5" diameter or 7.5" length say for smaller or larger wrist. Make sure you have accurate ring measurements and show picture of ring being measured as one of your pictures.
13. What if it doesn't fit? Am I stuck with it? Will you exchange it? Who pays to ship it back? I give very detailed descriptions to avoid this problem but on the occasion that I get  a problem...buyer pays shipping.
14. Is it ready to use? Is that painting ready to hang? Do I need to frame it first? Does the piece need a repair?
15. How does it arrive? Is it gift wrapped? Is it ready to ship or is it made to order? I describe this in my policies that all my jewelry comes gift ready in pillow boxes.
16. Will I get the EXACT item in the photo? Is it a stock photo or do I get the exact item? Selling vintage it is rare that you have two of the same item.

17. Is it gonna stink? Does that vintage item have a funky, musty odor? Does the seller smoke while he creates that item? Smokers need to be up front about smoke odor and/or keep their jewelry in sealed containers away from the smoke.
18. How do I know it's "vintage"? What kind of research did you do to determine how old that item is? Is it marked? Is there a date on it? Are you experienced with vintage and antique items? This were you write about hallmarks and maker history also period according to style...
19. What do those fancy terms mean? Don't take for granted that your customer knows what a cabochon is or what giclee or gocco means. Define guilloche, gold filled, dragon's breathe, etc.
20. Can I live without this item? Chances are your customer can easily live without your items. It's your job to SELL it to them. Let them know why owning this item is so wonderful. Are they going to feel like a princess with that lovely bracelet? Is that platter not only functional, but makes a wonderful work of art? Is that item the perfect gift for hard-to-buy-for people? Does the item evoke certain emotions? Tell us what's so great about it! I remark about the highlight of the piece, the great veining in the turquoise stone, the comfortable earring backs, classic design that can be worn again and again, the fact that it's solid sterling and sterling is only appreciating in value, the famous designer, the unique detail...

questions originally from

Story by daniellexo, sparklerama

Published on Feb 12, 2010 in Seller Handbook

edited by Lisa (see comments in italics) to be more relevant to vintage jewelry sales.

Best Advice for a Total Newbie Etsy Seller

Lots of brand new etsy sellers asking for the best advice, on the forums, when starting up...here is a very helpful response, with link additions edited in,  by EweniqueWoolWorks says:

There are a lot of really important things to know if you want to be successful on Etsy. Don't let it overwhelm you, just learn as you go.

One of the most important in order to be "found" is to work on tagging, descriptions, and item titles. This is often called SEO, or search engine optimization. It's how Google and other search engines find you. There's lots of great advice here in the forums and you can find "teams" that you can join that will help you learn more. Just Google it an do some research too.
For more SEO info click here.

The most important thing you need once someone is looking at your shop is fantastic photos. And I mean really good. Livjewellery isn't kidding. Take your photos very seriously.
For more information on taking great photos please check these posts: http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/02/tools-of-trade-right-camera.html , http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/02/after-right-camerayou-need-right.html ,
http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/02/photos-with-personality.html ,
http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/02/final-touch-photo-editing.html

Pricing is very tough. Don't forget that Etsy takes a small percentage of your sale, and PayPal will too. Remember that you also have shipping, so make sure you're not having to pay above what you are charging for that. It will cut into your profits very quickly.

You mentioned wanting to see what other people are selling. If you go to someones shop (on the items for sale page), look on the left side of the screen and you will see a little ways down the list of various options that it says "sales" with a number preceding it. If you click on this, you can view everything that shop has sold, although it won't give you the price paid.
Here is a link on pricing:
http://decoratingyourself.blogspot.com/2011/02/price-hitting-sweet-spot.html

Hope this helps! Good luck, and Welcome to Etsy! :0)

Choosing an Etsy Team That Will Help Your Sales

Etsy Teams are groups of  sellers with similar needs many  for promotion, some for friendship and most for both. There are many questions of the Etsy forums about the value of teams and how to find one.

HomeCharm says :I'm interested in joining a team but there are so many. I've been to the list of teams an it was a bit over whelming when i saw how many there are. How do you narrow it down to find the best fit?

First do a search to Vintage Jewelry teams http://www.etsy.com/teams/search/vintage+jewelry .

PearlGem  says There seem to be a lot of teams for each selling category, so how do you choose? Number of members, activities, ease of joining, exclusivity? I don't like jumping through hoops to join, so ease of joining too?

Look at what the team has to offer you. Are they active in treasury making? Do they are an active discussion thread? Do they are a team facebook page? Do they offer coop advertising? Are they open to trying new marketing techniques? Does the team have social network experts that could help questions? Does the team have a team twitter bot.? Do they have coop team sale promotions.? Are they kind to one another and support each other through personal challenges? Do you know any of the members or seen their tweets or blogs? Are they an open group is accepting new members? What are the team requirements and can you meet them? My vintage jewelry friends and I started a team that does all of the above. It's called Ecochic and here is our link. http://www.etsy.com/teams/6717/ecochic . There are also 52 other vintage jewelry team choices. Also teams send out invites to potential members, think about joining if you get one.

Or there is always the organic path to team finding:

secondarycreation  says :I  belonged to two teams before the forum was reorganized: one for my craft and one for my local area. After the forum changed, I joined one team that seemed as if it could be a general replacement for what I'd been getting in the forum. I didn't plan to go beyond that, but have run across three more that I actually *wanted* to join. I don't remember, but I probably ran across them by reading about them and finding their links in the forum. I haven't gone looking for teams - they just seem to find me.

Or like , LivingVintage,  you can get some friends together and start your own team. Etsy has made starting your own team very easy. http://www.etsy.com/teams/create

LivingVintage says : Actually, I was thinking of starting a local team.

Whatever you do --don't miss:

We Love Vintage! Do You? Promotion & Chat Team

It's run by MrFilthyRotten (Captain) , waalaa , &  auntsuesoldnewlovely ...Some of the best Vintage Sellers around!

Etsy Shop: Sales Stats, Daily Views Comparison, & Where are the Visitors Are Coming From

EASY   If You Just want to Look at Your Etsy Shop Sales and Your Orders (Daily or Monthly)

Click On Your Account->Orders -> Click on Sales Stats

HARDER   If You Want to Check Out Unique Visitors, Page Views, Items Hearts, Shop Hearts on a Daily Comparison
Check out Craftopolis . You need to give access to your etsy shop info and to your google analytics info. Please see next paragraph for setting up Google Analytics.

How to Get Your Google Analytics Set Up for Your Etsy Shop

From Etsy Help

Etsy Web Analytics is a powerful set of web traffic tracking tools and reports, powered by Google Analytics. Etsy Web Analytics allows Etsy sellers to track metrics such as pageviews, site visits, popular content and page referrals. This is a free service available to all Etsy sellers, but it requires a separate account with Google.

Step 1: Getting Set Up
To create a new Google Analytics account, visit http://www.google.com/analytics/
Here are some helpful hints during signup:

• When asked for your Website's URL enter Etsy's URL (www.etsy.com)
• When asked for your Account Name enter your Etsy shop website address (shopname.etsy.com)
• Hit Continue when you arrive at the page titled Analytics: Tracking Instructions
• Once you arrive on your account overview page, locate the tracking code which appears to the right of your shop website address. It will appear in this format: UA-XXXXXXX-X.

If you already have a Google Analytics account you can instead login, click on Analytics Settings, and then choose Enter New Profile.

Step 2: Enter Web Property ID
Then you can enable this feature by going to Your Account > Options > Web Analytics. Enter your Google Analytics Web Property ID in this format: UA-XXXXXXX-X. Click Save.
You should be all set. To view your Analytics, you must sign in to your Google Analytics account. Since Google Analytics works on a delay, you may not see data in your reports for up to 24 hours.

HARDEST How to Find Out Where Your Views are Coming From ...and other things....on Google Analytics 

This video will get you started witn understand google analytics. It was produced byTim Adams.  Handmadeology .

Alternative Video made by Google
Beginning Analytics: Interpreting and Acting on Your Data (You Tube Video)

How to Make a Banner/Avi/Button Without a Fancy Program

This tutorial was inspired by HappCloudMoments tutorial on making a banner....but I found an easier, better way.

You need the Picasa 3 / Picnik programs and your product photos. Picasa3 (click on this to get free program for photo editing program)and with it comes Picnik (text editing program). If you use Etsy, you will need to make a banner and avatar for your store. If you are using eBay and Etsy you will need to make ad buttons and banners when you buy blog/web site ads. Banners for Etsy are 760 x 100 pixels. Avatars are 75 x 75 pixels. If  you buy an ad, the size will be stated when you buy the ad.

Step 1: Pick your photos. Just click on the ones you want. Ctrl-Click (Option-Click on Mac?) to select multiples.At this point you can also import your logo.  You will noticed that the ones you picked are stored in the tray in the lower left hand corner. If you are picking pictures from different directories, you have to "pin" them in the tray by clicking on the little green thumb tack. To unpin something, click on the picture you want to unpin and then the red circle button.

Step 2: Click on the Collage button in the bottom toolbar and once you are on the collage page click on 10.6 x 1/4 Real Banner. You can also set background color.

Step 3. In the left panel, select picture pile and make sure the draw shadows option is checked.

Step 4. Scale and arrange the pictures to fill collage. Just click on the image and it will pop up that gray circle with the little dot. You can rotate and scale using that.

Step 5: Click Create Collage.

Step 6:  Click on Picnik Icon.

Step 7: Click Edit to Resize. Unclick use percentages and unclick keep proportion. Type in 760 x 100 for banner (75x75 for avatar).

Step 8: Click Create to add Text. Choose font, color, size, etc. Click add.

Step 9: Pick a frame if you like. I have used drop shadow.

Step 10: Save to Picasa. Save to your computer picture file.

When you do the avatar add text and frames before you resize.

Entry Level Twitter

First go to twitter.com  and open up an account.

The following tutorial was generously created, for our EcoChic Etsy Vintage Jewelry Team,  by the husband and wife team: Terri of  sodear2myheart and Dennis Weaver@WebSelling4U Southern Indiana USA Web developer & marketer with BSC & 30 yrs experience. Need help with Etsy, Artfire, others? How about a low cost custom website or ad campaign? Msg me today!

Tweeting Vintage Jewelry on Etsy in Five Easy StepsBe sure that you’re logged into your Twitter Account.Example: I have this item listed: Vintage Green Black Onyx & Glass Intaglio Charm Bracelet 1950s Jewelry

1) After listing your item (or for any item you currently have listed in your shop), click the "share" button on the item’s listing page & select "Twitter". "Sharing" your item via this button will automatically generate a "plain" Tweet for you.

Your computer should take you from your jewelry ad over to your Twitter desktop so that you can see the tweet it generated:
Vintage Green Black Onyx & Glass Intaglio Charm by sodear2myheart http://etsy.me/eShQJo2) Press "Tweet" .
In the above example, it gave a few words about what it is that I’m tweeting about, it identified me (or the shop it came from), where it was located and gave it a somewhat shortened link via "etsy.me"


2) You’ve just "Tweeted" your item! Congratulations! Going a step further…"neaten" it up and add #HASHTAGS:  In order for your item to be "searchable" by the Twitter community, you need to add those important #hashtags…using the example above:
#Vintage Green Black Onyx & Glass Intaglio Charm #Bracelet http://etsy.me/eShQJo #jewelry #ecochic I used the existing word "Vintage" to add a hashtag to it,
I removed "by sodear2myheart" because the tweet is coming from me and will be shown coming from @sodear2myheart when I send it.
- I added "bracelet" so that people viewing it on Twitter will know what I’m selling
- I added the hashtag jewelry because it is a popular search
- I added ecochic so it will be found by our group members and our ecochicVTG
"bot" (this is meant for use only of ecochic team members).
- 　
3) One more step…Add some "personality"...Just listed in my #etsy shop  #Vintage Green Black Onyx Glass Intaglio Charm Bracelet http://etsy.me/eShQJo #jewelry #ecochic I let everyone know that this is a newly listed item in my Etsy shop.
- I hashtagged #etsy, because other Etsians search for the term…MANY do re-tweet them!
- I added a "smiley" so everyone would know that I’m super friendly and excited about this new offering! Lol
I still have four characters left! Finally…rearrange & shorten your tweet so it’s easy for others to retweet & comment…
New on #etsy!  #Vintage Onyx & Glass Intaglio Charm Bracelet http://etsy.me/eShQJo #ecochic #jewelry This leaves 37 characters for others to retweet & leave a comment about your item after they look at it…
The clickable "link" is toward the middle of the tweet, so there’s no concern that it will be cut off when it is retweeted
People who retweet are more likely to do so if they don’t have to do a bunch of editing themselves, so make it super easy for them to do!
Neat hint about retweets, especially by "bots" If you move your "bot" hashtags toward the middle of your tweets, there’s less chance they’ll be cut off when someone retweets your items.
Tweet to 20 followers – item is then automatically re-tweeted by
#EcochicVTG – who has 23 followers
@SoDear2MyHeart – who has 20,975 followers
@WebSelling4U – who has 21,576 followers
When your item is retweeted, #ecochic hashtag are still in the "retweeted" tweet, so they can be picked up AGAIN and retweeted yet another time! So when you are re-tweeted by @ecochicvtg, @webselling4u & @sodear2myheart will find those re-tweets and retweet them again! Try to do the math in your head…I can only get about 2 steps before I’m lost in the sheer volume of retweets & impressions! it’s simply staggering!
　
4)　A word about GRATITUDE… If you are retweeted, then RETURN the favor!!!From your Twitter Home Page, search for mentions of your name using the search box… Search for @(your name). This will return the tweets that "mention" you…either directly, or in retweeted tweets you’ve posted…. If you see that its from someone either in our group or on Etsy, here’s the nicest thing you can do…

I just found this "mention" about my Etsy shop:

From: ienjoysoup　
Wow this shop has the sweetest stuff!　@sodear2myhearthttp://www.etsy.com/shop/sodear2myheart
I clicked her twitter name, which took me to her profile.
It told me that she’s an artist who makes her living with her art and that she likes good clean fun.
It gave me a link to her website, which included a link to her Etsy shop, so I clicked over.
I went thru her listings and found an item that I found pretty neat…she’ll take a photo of your pet and turn it into artwork…
So I "thanked" her with the following "reply"
@ienjoysoup Thanks for the love! Pet Portrait You Give Me The Photo I Make You A Portrait http://etsy.me/gfzl92 Super Cool Gift Idea!Also, while I was at her profile, I noted that I was already following her and that she was following me. If you get a mention by someone that you’re not following, then by all means, FOLLOW THEM! Most will reciprocate, especially if they’re talking about you already!



5)  READ what people are saying about your shop…make a note of who retweets you the most…gauge who is tweeting and retweeting everyone else the most and give them all the love you can!!! Create relationships with beneficial Twitter members…and reciprocate! You’ll get more free advertising from consistent Twitterers who enjoy talking about you than from any of your original tweets…

Use the hashtags to search for tweets that mention things you enjoy: #Jewelry, #Vintage, #Juliana, #D&E, #Coro, #Rhinestones…if its something that interests you, it might be of interest to someone else…when you find people using these hashtags and you like what they are offering or saying, FOLLOW THEM…most likely, they will follow you back! This is a great way to expand your follower base!

List of helpful Links:

Social Oomph: http://www.socialoomph.com/88940.html

Follow FridayHelper Twitter App: www.ffhelper.com

This app (also includes: Follow (anyotherday),#Gratitude & #TY [thank you])

Just Unfollow

From Twitter Business 101:

Glossary

Twitter users have developed short-form syntax to make the most of 140 characters. Here are the fundamentals.

• Mention

  Once you've signed up and chosen a Twitter username, you and others can mention an account in your Tweets by preceding it with the @ symbol, eg: "Glad your shipment arrived @janesmith!"

• Retweet

  When you see a Tweet by another user that you want to share, click Retweet below it to forward it to your followers instantly.

• Message

  If you want to privately Tweet to a particular user who's already following you, start your Tweet with DM or Dto direct-message them, eg: "DM @joesmith234 what is your order number?"

• Hashtag

  Users often prepend # to words in their Tweets to categorize them for others eg: "Check out our new products for the Fall: http://t.co/link2 #fallsale" Think of hashtags as the theme of your Tweet. Users can then click on a hashtag to see other similarly-themed tweets and find yours in search.

Best Practices

Build your following, reputation, and customer's trust with these simple practices:

1. Share. Share photos and behind the scenes info about your business. Even better, give a glimpse of developing projects and events. Users come to Twitter to get and share the latest, so give it to them!
2. Listen. Regularly monitor the comments about your company, brand, and products.
3. Ask. Ask questions of your followers to glean valuable insights and show that you are listening.
4. Respond. Respond to compliments and feedback in real time
5. Reward. Tweet updates about special offers, discounts and time-sensitive deals.
6. Demonstrate wider leadership and know-how. Reference articles and links about the bigger picture as it relates to your business.
7. Champion your stakeholders. Retweet and reply publicly to great tweets posted by your followers and customers.
8. Establish the right voice. Twitter users tend to prefer a direct, genuine, likable tone from your business, but think about your voice as you Tweet.

Jewelry buyers: do you want a nice box, or will a clear plastic bag do?

Recently on an Etsy Forum someone posted this question:
Jewelry buyers: do you want a nice box, or will a clear plastic bag do?

AbsolutelyKismet says

Right now, I package in little ziploc-style baggies (with a nice thank-you note, etc). My thought is, almost no one keeps jewelry stored in boxes or organza bags (PLEASE tell me if I'm wrong in this), and the plastic bags are waterproof. I also sell wine charms, and I am guessing other people store wine charms in their "catch all" drawer, also, so the bag keeps the charms clean, together, and is see through so people know what is inside right away when looking.

My questions: Are people disappointed not to have a box or pretty bag? Would it make someone question buying from me again or recommending me? Should I get some nice little boxes to send just the jewelry in, or should I put everything in a box (and would it be overkill to put it in a baggie, then in a box)?

The majority view appeared to be plastic bags are fine for cheaper items (organza bags got panned) and above $15 then use standard padded jewelry box with a bubble wrap envelope. I take a different view of packaging, which is still a work in progress for me. Here is what I wrote back:

I love this discussion...because I have been struggling to find the right combination for my jewelry considering the following factors: eco-friendly as possible, economical for the package and not adding too much weight but sturdy for shipping (esp. international), and aesthetically pleasing . I ship all my pieces (no matter the price point) in dye cut pillow boxes made by an etsy artist :

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/41148269

I wrap the jewelry in lamb's wool (I use a lamb's wool quilt fleece purchased for $25 and is lasting forever) and then cover with shipping stretch film wrap (you can buy in shipping supplies $5, lasts forever) is light and waterproof, then I place in pillowbox, and wrap box obi style with any paper ribbon that I have around (buy a spool of curling ribbon at Micheal's and it will last forever).

Another alternative pillow box idea , that I plan to try is to print out my own pillow boxes. You can customize them with you shop logo. Here is a free printable pillow box pattern: http://printable.tipjunkie.com/printable-pillow-box-pattern/ . The only problem I see is that they are not cye cut and therefore will be harder to fold.

Then I place in very light weight and cheap Poly Shipping Mailer Bag Envelope 10 x 13". All this packaging cost about 80cent/package. Weighs approx. 3oz per package (depending on the jewelry).

Shipping Choices are Part of Your Marketing Plan

99%  of the vintage jewelry I sell weighs between 3oz and 9oz. So the best choices are all from the USPS: first class mail, priority mail, and first class international. You need a tracking number (delivery comfirmation)and  you need insurance.You can go to the post office and pay but that is time consuming and you don't have a paper trail. You can get your labels off of paypal which is a great option for everything except first class international which doesn't offer insurance.https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/ship/center-outside

US Mail Assistant allows you to print First Class International Labels and customs forms (but no insurnace) http://www.usps.com/shippingassistant/  and you can get first class international insurance from Shipsurance
http://www.shipsurance.com/ which I hear has the best service and prices. Another alternative insurer for first class international mail is listed under the esty apps http://www.etsy.com/apps/25219144/shipsaver-insurance .No insurance is offered for all countries so I only sell to the countries I can get the insurance. I don't mail international without insurance.

I use Stamps.com which offers the ability to print any label (including first class mail and media mail) and offers first class international insurance for a very good price. They have a free 4-week trial. You receive a free 5lb digital scale ($50 value), $25 in free postage and a free supplies kit ($5 value). To continue I recommend you use the Stamps.com Pro at $15.99 per month. The scale plugs right into your computer and captures the weight right on the label. Very cool. The cost of the service is a wash for me, with savings on insurance and opening the world market to me for eBay and Paypal .http://www.stamps.com/legal/trial/

Note about Customs Forms: always be honest and never send an item as a gift, if the customer requests it. Warn in your policies that they are response for customs duties. Also, for safety sake, I describe my jewelry as used fashion accessories to deter theft.

I charge flat prices for mailing $3 for US and $7 for all international which includes insurance. If a US buyer purchases something over $35 then I upgrade to priority mail, as a thank you. This upgrade is $4.80 if you use the two flat rate options that I use: flat rate mailing envelope and small flat rate box. This packaging is free via post office or order on line. I don't offer free shipping , it never has worked as a marketing device for me, but the upgrade to priority is a welcome surprise to my customers.https://www.prioritymail.com/home.asp?purl=

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Severe Weather,, War, Strikes....find out how this effects your shipping plans...
http://www.usps.com/international/serviceupdates.htm.

Price - Hitting the Sweet Spot

Before you purchase or list an item...you must think about your projected profit margin on a piece.

There are some helpful calculators on the web, that help you figure your costs that Ryan Olbe has developed. And he has a reserve calculator that helps you reach a projected profit:

Written By: Ryan Olbe

Etsy Fee Calculator
http://www.rolbe.com/etsy.htm



He also offers a eBay calculator:
http://www.rolbe.com/ebay.htm

The other way to look at prices is deciding the market price or what someone is willing to pay to a piece of vintage jewelry. When I am putting a piece up, I search Esty for a piece with the same search words. I then think about condition and positive and negative differences. I come up with a market price and set my price alittle below that. I do that because I am looking for jewelry to sell fast. Other sellers don't mind waiting for 10-20% higher profits. I am of the higher volume at lower profits selling philosophy school.
When I use eBay auctions and I determine the market price in a different manner. I use the same search words to come up with similar pieces and then search under completed listing (on left hand column). This shows what recently sold and for how much and what did not sell. I don't find the "What It's Worth" search button that appears before you list your item under selling helpful. If you want to do in depth research on eBay prices, Hammertap offers ten days free use:
 http://www.hammertap.com/


I used it and didn't find any vintage jewelry prices that surprising. But I did find out that I didn't need it.

eBay prices and Etsy prices are different. You need to experiment to find how the different markets work.

The Final Touch: Photo Editing

You have taken the photo of your piece of jewelry that has been well lighted and interestingly proped. Now you want to edit it and upload it to you listing. I have tried all kinds of editing programs....the winner is Piscasa..which is free see download    http://picasa.google.com/   piscasa also including PicNic for adding words to the photos. It is easy to use (but everything does have learning curve).

I used these eHow instructions to get me started:

How to Use Google's Picasa

By an eHow Contributor

Google Picasa is a free photo organizing and editing program that you can download from the Internet. With Picasa, you can also share your pictures with other people using various tools. You can fix red eye and adjust the colors in your photos. Read on to learn how to use Picasa.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Download the Picasa program from Google. Open up the program and let it search for photos on your computer. It will automatically sort them by date, but you can change their categorization if you want.
2. Double-click the picture that you want to edit to get to the editing screen. From this screen, you can fix red eye, crop the picture and change color contrast and leveling. If you make a change you don't like, you can click the "Reset" button to undo the changes. In addition, you can click the "Cancel" button to exit without saving any of your changes. You can also right click on your picture and left click on "Undo all Edits" to get rid of the changes you made.
3. Add some special effects if you like. You will have the option to change the tone of your picture to sepia. In addition, you can sharpen or soften the picture to create a slightly different appearance.
4. Make a collage, pile, contact sheet or multi exposure with your pictures in Picasa. You can also choose black, white, gray or a picture for the background of these projects. If you create a collage that you like, click the "Create" button to save the changes.
5. Share your photographs and collages in Picasa. You can email them, post them in your blog and create slideshows.

Later you will need to use this program to make shop banners and ads. It took me forever to find the right Picasa tutorial for this step....

http://happycloudmoments.blogspot.com/2009/11/tutorial-polaroid-product-picture.html

Photos with Personality

You need to add some personality to your jewelry photos. You can use live models (but not for pierced earring because of the yuck factor on the part of the buyer). Know that you model pictures can be copied and end up anywhere on the net so leaving off faces is good for security. I use my daughter for necklaces and myself for bracelets and rings. I also have purchased some props on eBay for picture taking. I find antique dishes, wicker purse, geodes and jewelry display stands...(I got two used necklace display stands from a jewelry storefor a few $ on eBay)  http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=2&_nkw=necklace%20display%20stands&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

The most attractive and easiest is just a silver colored mat board you can buy from picture framer or art stores.