many of us like to create in some form, right?! and wouldn't it be wonderful if we could bring in oodles of dollars for making what we love?! well, while i am not an expert in this matter, i DO have a few opinions and ideas on how to run a successful etsy shop... [side note: yes, my own shop is empty for now but it's for a very good reason... and it will be back up by spring]
1. show off your work....
flickr is a wonderful spot to display your work and let others see the goods you offer... while you cannot put prices on your stuff within flickr or have a link on your photo page to your shop , you CAN have that link in your profile... there are TONS of groups in flickr that you can join and this will help you get your goods seen by many others... groups range from specific crafts to illustrations to specific colors to general topics [including an etsy group]
of course, you also have your blog for advertising... before you even put items in your shop, you can show what you're offering... especially if you are going to sell one of those items [like a unique handmade skirt]... in fact, my big suggestion is making a specific date for adding a ton of goodies in your shop.... this will allow people to get their funds together and anticipate that date you will put it up... even if you have an etsy shop already up, you can do a "grand re-opening" and advertise a month in advance... everyone always enjoys going to a store on opening day and it's no different than online...
2. but, what if you don't get much feedback or hits on your blog or flickr photos?! how will people even see your advertisement?
3.find other spots to advertise...
melissa garrett has a special spot on her blog that supports entrepreneurs... her prices are so reasonable! the first 3 months are free and after that, it's only $5 for an additional 3 months... it's a good start to advertise and it won't break your piggy bank... [note: i am sure there are other blogs and sites that small fees to advertise]
4. for those who do illustrations and like to sell them, try out illustration friday...
5. for those who do crafts or other handmade goods, you can submit your work too!
there are many contests out there that you can enter... you can submit your work if it fits... whip up has info on their submission guidelines... they also have whiplash, which is a contest... while you cannot use it to sell your work, it is A GOOD WAY TO JUST GET PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN MAKE... [again, its all about getting your work out there for others to see]... there is also craftzine, which does reviews of work... you can even suggest your site...
6. have a variety of prices and items...
pricing is always tricky when it comes to selling your handmade work... often you don't get the amount you deserve and rarely do you get paid for your time... but of course, you ARE selling to customers and NOT to big magazine clients or agencies... these are people who want your goods for personal enjoyment and not for resale or for advertising... so it's good to have a variety of items with prices ranging from high to low... you can sell your big items quite pricey... and you can have lil doo-dads for small dollar amounts...
here's my theory: there are people who are tight on cash but would love to enjoy handmade work SOMEHOW... for instance, they like my work... while, they may not be able to enjoy a custom illustration, they could afford and enjoy a mini illustrated notebook... once they SEE how good my work is, they will WANT to save money to buy something more expensive later on... even for those NOT tight on cash, allowing them a chance to buy something small and inexpensive will give them a chance to review your work... they see how well crafted your item is, and they WILL come back...
7. be willing to adjust your prices for a period of time...
hint: sometimes if you start your shop with lower prices at first, it lures more people in... again, it gives people a chance to buy your work and review it [and rave about it]... you can slowly raise your prices and most people won't even complain... in fact, some may tell you "your work is worth WAY MORE than you charge!!!" and right there, it proves that people will be willing to pay the real price in time... but you have to give people a chance to know your stuff...
8. when you ship items from your etsy shop off to a customer, add on...
9. have a giveaway... 10. lastly, don't get too discouraged if you don't make many sales at first...
you can host your own giveaway or
contest, which will help you in a
number of ways... one, it brings people to your blog... it will give
them a chance to view your site and take a look into your shop... it
motivates people to check out your blog more frequently [especially to
see if they won]... and for that person who wins, not only will they
get a chance to review your work for FREE, they will [hopefully] rave
about the win and tell others..
note: please know that this post is NOT a 100% guarantee of 100% success in the etsy world... these are my opinions based off my experiences as a seller and as a buyer... i took the time to post this in hopes that some of this WOULD be of help :)
This is really great Ellia!! I am sure there are those that do appreciate the time you took to write this:)
Posted by: Nina | January 30, 2008 at 08:07 PM
wow!! oodles of great information...thanks for being so generous with your experience and advise!! it helps - greatly appreciated sweetie!
Posted by: Anastasia | January 30, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Thanks for all the great information! My shop is pretty new and I can use all the help I can get....
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5329225
Posted by: Heather Price | January 30, 2008 at 08:19 PM
This was great! Thanks for all the time that you put into this:) I think that OMSH (www.ohmystinkinheck.com) offers FREE advertising on her blog!!
Posted by: Wendy | January 30, 2008 at 08:23 PM
This is really good information thanks! I started off trying to see what other people were selling under the sold items. Then I tried to "fit in" with what other people were buying. I realized that the only way to succeed is yes to be yourself and make your own unique items that no one else will have. I think this is the most important tip!
Posted by: amy | January 30, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Thank you so much for this very insightful post! All your experience and advice is much appreciated! Thank you for taking the time to write this - it's certainly given me a few things to think about!
Posted by: Kate | January 31, 2008 at 03:51 AM
Thanks Ellia - great information here. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. One day I'll find my niche craft product and get it out there, one day.....!
Posted by: tracey | January 31, 2008 at 07:26 AM
Amazing things! I can't believe you get so much done with too under-the-weather babies. You rock!
Posted by: Rosa | January 31, 2008 at 07:50 AM
Great advice!! Thank you.
Posted by: Margaret | January 31, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Fantastic post Ellia. Good sound advice, I'm on it!!
Posted by: Karen | January 31, 2008 at 09:26 AM
This is such great info, sometimes I do get discouraged. This post just gave me so much more knowledge and inspired me.
Posted by: Alina | January 31, 2008 at 09:37 AM
Very informative and useful information Ellia. I am looking forward to your shop opening again in the spring. Any chance of a peek at the spring collection before then? :-)
Posted by: Simone Whipp | January 31, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Hey! I'm actually doing some of those steps. Weee! I'll be successful in no time :)
Great list, Ellia.
Posted by: kiwi | January 31, 2008 at 12:22 PM
I also found this post very encouraging. I do go a while without a sale but it takes me forever to get things made to post too. It is funny you mentioned advertising when you put several things in your shop at once because I'm a total sucker for that!! There are so many times that a crafter will announce that their shop will be restocked on such and such a day and I even put a note in my yahoo calendar so it alerts me right away on that day. (especially when you restock your shop!!) :-)
Posted by: Kristen Mary | January 31, 2008 at 01:27 PM
This is good advice, and will prove very helpful to me in the near future, Thank You.
Posted by: Sharon | January 31, 2008 at 03:44 PM
I just loved this post, it's amazing how your advices can be so correct!! ;)
tkx sweetie for your kindness in charing these "secrets"!!
xoxo**
Posted by: Ester | February 01, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Thank you so much for writing this!!!! Very helpful! Fingers crossed for all of you (and myself!) who begin a Etsy store!!!!!
Posted by: Anne | February 02, 2008 at 09:49 PM
Thank you so much for sharing. I have an Etsy shop, but don't have anything up right now........you have inspired me, I need to get busy.
Posted by: Chrisi | February 03, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Thanks for the write up :) You are write about not getting replies, though thankfully I use my blog to remind me what I have been doing and have a few friends who check it as our scheduals don't match too much :)
Posted by: Nyx | February 04, 2008 at 03:18 AM
Very practical. The networking part is SO important, as crafty peeps are planet-wide these days. As an antipodian, I need to remember that Etsy is there for everyone... and get on to putting some things up for sale, waving a great big red flag.
Posted by: Jen M | February 04, 2008 at 05:44 AM
Fantastic tips Ellia!
Posted by: Jhoanna | February 04, 2008 at 05:52 AM
Thanks for this. My SIL and I are talking about opening an Etsy shop; this has been very helpful.
Posted by: Deborah | February 04, 2008 at 05:55 AM
thanks so much for the tips! i've been thinking about opening an etsy shop and this information is very helpful. best ... cindy
Posted by: cindy k | February 04, 2008 at 06:47 AM
This post could not have come at a better time, I just registered my shop and am working hard to get some items listed! It is a bit daunting so I really appreciate your advice, it is great :)
Posted by: amy | February 04, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Thank you! Your article gave me the kick in the butt I desperately needed. Off to do some work on my shop...
http://www.peggradyart.etsy.com
Posted by: Peg Grady | February 04, 2008 at 08:39 AM
these are some great tips! i'd heard about illustration friday, but i think i'm going to participate this week...thanks for the inspiration :)
Posted by: rachael | February 04, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Thank you for the great tips. I have been considering making my products also available on esty for quite a while but didn't know if it was worth the leap. Definitely! You will see me soon :-)
http://www.milkmonkey.ca
Posted by: Jane Hurst | February 04, 2008 at 09:34 AM
I just opened a Etsy shop and I am saving your post. Great hints! Thanks.
Posted by: Aynex | February 04, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Great write up! I'm taking some pointers with me!!
Posted by: Amanda- Wildlifer78 | February 04, 2008 at 09:46 AM
Great ideas. I haven't started an etsy shop yet but I love all your ideas. Thanks for sharing your tips.
Posted by: Heather Grow | February 04, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Great information! Thanks!
I've been selling on etsy for a year now...I shut down my shop for a month and now have it open again. I always value any little tips and tricks that others share...any insight helps...so THANK YOU!
*diane
Posted by: diane meriam | February 04, 2008 at 02:27 PM
Thank you for this article. It has reinforced some of the decisions I have already made, and reassured me to continue on and follow through with my good intentions.
Posted by: beetlegirl | February 04, 2008 at 04:06 PM
Thanks for the tips!! I just started out and you've brough up some great things I never would've thought of! =) off to check out your shop ;) happy day!
Posted by: Michelle Clement | February 04, 2008 at 04:09 PM
I loved your suggestions and am going to pur them in use. I am going to start a blog this week even tho i am not great with words.
Thanks for this info
Posted by: Barbara Mathews | February 04, 2008 at 05:00 PM
i love your suggestions and plan on putting them to use right away. I am goint to start a blog this week even tho I am not very good with words
Posted by: togs4tots | February 04, 2008 at 05:02 PM
Such a great article ... I especially liked the tip about Illustration Fridays, that sounds so fun!
Posted by: Stockton | February 04, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Thanks for all the great info. I love my blog almost as much as I enjoy creating so for me, there is a lot of overlap. Also, LOVE your cute stuff.
Posted by: Sheila | February 04, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Hi! Thanks so much for this wonderful info! I'm new to Etsy, and your advice is greatly appreciated! :0)
http://cloud9designstudio.etsy.com
Posted by: Cloud9 Design | February 04, 2008 at 05:56 PM
I really appreciate this informative article! Thanks.
Posted by: Sara McMartin | February 04, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Thanks for the great tips. Sorry to see your etsy shop is empty:(
Posted by: Cindy | February 04, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Hello! I really appreciate this article on how to run a successful Etsy shop. I agree with your ideas on keeping a blog or having a flickr account as well as your ideas on adding extra touches to the items being sold. I have added a link to your article on my blog (http://mytutorlist.blogspot.com) Have a great day!
Posted by: Marie | February 04, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Thank you so much. Your tips are so helpful!
Posted by: JaK | February 04, 2008 at 07:31 PM
Thanks for the tidbits of information. I joined in December and listed 14 items so far and have not had any sales, but I am taking your advise by not giving up and trying some of your techniques.
Posted by: Grace | February 04, 2008 at 07:34 PM
wow! thank you so much for this valuable info, I've just opened my little shop, and I only have 3 items at the moment, but will keep listing and start advertising somehow! Much appreciated and ps. love your artwork!
www.apriljay79.etsy.com
Posted by: jasmine | February 04, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Thanks for the helpful tips. I just opened an etsy shop so this has been insightful. So far I love the community involved with etsy and it is refreshing to see all the amazing talent out there.
Thanks again for the advice.
Posted by: Heather | February 04, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Thank you so much for this. Some great advice.
Posted by: Allyson | February 04, 2008 at 07:54 PM
I've done no.9. I had a give away but since my blog was pretty new I let poppytalk know about it. They posted it on their blog and I had many visitors thanks to them. To participate I asked people to look at my bags and respond to my post and say which one they liked and why. This was a great way to get feedback and exposure.
Posted by: Laura Bucci | February 04, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Thank you for your inspiring article! It was a great read and it is certainly encouraging!
Posted by: Jennifer | February 04, 2008 at 08:03 PM
This is great information! Thanks so much for taking the time to type it out for us!
Posted by: Chaos Into Art | February 04, 2008 at 08:05 PM
Thanks, great advice! I just started my blog in January. Check it out: www.springchickdesigns.blogspot.com
Posted by: Kari | February 04, 2008 at 08:35 PM