There are about as many websites on the internet as there are people surfing it everyday. At least, that's how it might as well feel. I know I am personally surprised to always find new bead supply websites when I go searching about the web. It isn't that these websites are new to existing, but only that I am just now finding them. I find myself wondering, how many more competitors do I have for my small, fledgling jewelry supply shop?
In order to be able to swim in the sea of continuing competition, which ranges from other Etsy shops to large companies, you have to use all the tools that are at your disposal. The biggest difference between where I am with my Etsy shop today and where I was when I first opened in the Spring really comes down to my use of selling tools.
One of the most essential tools an Etsy shop can utilize - and often doesn't in the beginning - is all the social networking sites on the internet. At first glance it might be hard to see how twitter, facebook, stumbleupon and any other number of social networking sites could do anything for you besides kill an hour. Yet, these websites are a mecca of free marketing and advertising. When used appropriately, social networking sites can expose you to a new set of potential customers, generate traffic, and eventually bring sales.
For example, a look at my shop stats for views in October so far showed that 67% of my total sales came from Etsy searches, listings, favorites, etc. But stumbleupon and facebook accounted for a total of 15% of my shop views. That is 15% of potential business that wouldn't even exist without social networking websites. If I had 10,000 views of my Etsy shop 15% would be 1,500 people being filtered to me through social networking sites. I have also found that on days when I have nearly 50% of my views being directed from off of Etsy that my actual sales and orders are higher, even if my overall view count is lower.
The bottom line is that by not taking advantage of the vast number of social networking sites when promoting your Etsy shop, you are limiting yourself. There is a very large percentage of the internet surfing population who might be interested in your item - but not even know about Etsy. Or, maybe they never saw something on Etsy they wanted to buy before your shop. By relying on Etsy directed traffic you are stuck in a vacuum with all your competitors, vying for the same limited pool of customers. In order to sustain a business, social networking is essential.
www.stumbleupon.com
www.pinterest.com
www.facebook.com
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Building Your Business
As I have mentioned before, I believed the business would just come to me if I built the shop and put the product up on it. This is a common misconception when people start and Etsy shop, I believe. There is a sea of Etsy shops out there and, without working at it, your shop will get lost.
One thing that really helped me when I was trying to build Fair Lady Boutique was participating in BNRs/BNSs in the treasury section of Etsy. The treasury section is, "An ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery". You get to pick a topic, color, or some other theme for your treasury and then pick sixteen items that represent that theme. BNRs/BNSs are also member-curated treasuries, but with the specific purpose of promoting and generating sales.
What is a BNR? BNR stands for Buy N Replace. A shop owner purchases an item from one of the sixteen featured shops - that have already bought in - and then replaces that shop.What is a BNS? BNS stands for Buy N Stay. A shop owner purchases an item from one of the sixteen featured shops and gets put on a list for the *next* round of that BNS. When that round opens the shop will be featured for the entire round and however many sales they have space for in their next round roster.
I am a much bigger fan of BNS rounds, in general. With a BNR you can only really hope to trade one item for another. Perhaps someone bought your thank you notes for $5, but you spent $6+ shipping to get into the round. I mostly like BNRs if I want an item, regardless, and can use the BNR to "trade" for that item. It does also generate you exposure and help build your feedback (1 feedback for the purchase, 1 for the sale). But you will never get above what you spent to buy-in (most of the time), which is bad business. Any amount of advertising and promoting should bring you in more money than you spend on it.
In a BNS you have multiple opportunities for a sale, limited only by how many slots they have on their next rounds roster. If a BNS has incentives for someone to spend more than the minimum then that is even better. For example, the minimum buy-in might be $4 but if you spend $10 you get 3 rounds. If you have two sales in the BNS, and one happens to be the $10 sale, you are looking at $14 made. If you spent the $4+ shipping to get into the round, you are still up about $8. On top of being UP money you will get exposure and feedback.
One exception to my rule about liking BNS rounds over BNR rounds is if the BNR allows an opportunity for multiple sales. One that does that is Pirate's Booty, by Team Venus, which allows you the opportunity for two sales with one buy in. It also allows for higher sales, with incentives given for spending over the minimum. Another is the Baseball Shuffle BNR, which allows the chance to have 3 sales in total.
Whichever way you decide to go, participating in BNR/BNS rounds will build the amount of sales and feedback you have. This will help build confidence in your shop from new shoppers. It will also get your items and shop favorited and put you in more circles on Etsy. That will also help promote your shop. I have also had people who have bought items from me in a BNR/BNS buy from my shop outside of those treasuries. I don't participate to often anymore in BNR/BNS rounds for my Fair Lady Boutique shop but I get a lot of sales from people who find me through searches. I don't believe people would be so willing to pull the trigger and buy in my shop if I didn't have over 500 positive feedback ratings.
In closing, here are some other BNS rounds I have been successful in, when growing my business:
Janet Anderson BNS
Big Spenders
My New Favorite BNS
One thing that really helped me when I was trying to build Fair Lady Boutique was participating in BNRs/BNSs in the treasury section of Etsy. The treasury section is, "An ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery". You get to pick a topic, color, or some other theme for your treasury and then pick sixteen items that represent that theme. BNRs/BNSs are also member-curated treasuries, but with the specific purpose of promoting and generating sales.
What is a BNR? BNR stands for Buy N Replace. A shop owner purchases an item from one of the sixteen featured shops - that have already bought in - and then replaces that shop.What is a BNS? BNS stands for Buy N Stay. A shop owner purchases an item from one of the sixteen featured shops and gets put on a list for the *next* round of that BNS. When that round opens the shop will be featured for the entire round and however many sales they have space for in their next round roster.
I am a much bigger fan of BNS rounds, in general. With a BNR you can only really hope to trade one item for another. Perhaps someone bought your thank you notes for $5, but you spent $6+ shipping to get into the round. I mostly like BNRs if I want an item, regardless, and can use the BNR to "trade" for that item. It does also generate you exposure and help build your feedback (1 feedback for the purchase, 1 for the sale). But you will never get above what you spent to buy-in (most of the time), which is bad business. Any amount of advertising and promoting should bring you in more money than you spend on it.
In a BNS you have multiple opportunities for a sale, limited only by how many slots they have on their next rounds roster. If a BNS has incentives for someone to spend more than the minimum then that is even better. For example, the minimum buy-in might be $4 but if you spend $10 you get 3 rounds. If you have two sales in the BNS, and one happens to be the $10 sale, you are looking at $14 made. If you spent the $4+ shipping to get into the round, you are still up about $8. On top of being UP money you will get exposure and feedback.
One exception to my rule about liking BNS rounds over BNR rounds is if the BNR allows an opportunity for multiple sales. One that does that is Pirate's Booty, by Team Venus, which allows you the opportunity for two sales with one buy in. It also allows for higher sales, with incentives given for spending over the minimum. Another is the Baseball Shuffle BNR, which allows the chance to have 3 sales in total.
Whichever way you decide to go, participating in BNR/BNS rounds will build the amount of sales and feedback you have. This will help build confidence in your shop from new shoppers. It will also get your items and shop favorited and put you in more circles on Etsy. That will also help promote your shop. I have also had people who have bought items from me in a BNR/BNS buy from my shop outside of those treasuries. I don't participate to often anymore in BNR/BNS rounds for my Fair Lady Boutique shop but I get a lot of sales from people who find me through searches. I don't believe people would be so willing to pull the trigger and buy in my shop if I didn't have over 500 positive feedback ratings.
In closing, here are some other BNS rounds I have been successful in, when growing my business:
Janet Anderson BNS
Big Spenders
My New Favorite BNS
Thursday, September 29, 2011
New shop!
I haven't posted a blog since my first initial one, but have found it would be helpful to show a renewed dedication in the blogging world.
I have been busy separating my two Etsy businesses: beads and finished handmade jewelry. I've found that while the bead buyers don't mind the handmade jewelry it can be off putting to those just looking to buy finished pieces. I have found this out from giving my shop URL to people interested in buying jewelry from me and their feedback.
On Monday I finally opened up my handmade jewelry stop, Fair Lady Designs. I then embarked on trying to use some of the knowledge I didn't have when I first opened up Fair Lady Boutique. First of all, I was instantly involving myself in the community. I circled shops I had become familiar with through Fair Lady Boutique. I joined teams and discussed in forums. I bought into a couple of BNRs and BNS rounds, if only to gain some exposure if not sales.
My pictures for Fair Lady Designs jewelry pieces were 100% more refined than the ones in Fair Lady Boutique had ever been. Tagging and titles for Designs were also more strategic and finely tuned than when I had opened up Boutique.
Original boutique picture:
Designs photo:
Although I am now four days in with no sales I don't feel discouraged. I understand better now that gaining that first sale - and every sale after that - can be hard work and it doesn't come easily. I'm going to just make sure I use all the knowledge I've garnered over the last few months of running Boutique to make Designs as successful as possible.
I have been busy separating my two Etsy businesses: beads and finished handmade jewelry. I've found that while the bead buyers don't mind the handmade jewelry it can be off putting to those just looking to buy finished pieces. I have found this out from giving my shop URL to people interested in buying jewelry from me and their feedback.
On Monday I finally opened up my handmade jewelry stop, Fair Lady Designs. I then embarked on trying to use some of the knowledge I didn't have when I first opened up Fair Lady Boutique. First of all, I was instantly involving myself in the community. I circled shops I had become familiar with through Fair Lady Boutique. I joined teams and discussed in forums. I bought into a couple of BNRs and BNS rounds, if only to gain some exposure if not sales.
My pictures for Fair Lady Designs jewelry pieces were 100% more refined than the ones in Fair Lady Boutique had ever been. Tagging and titles for Designs were also more strategic and finely tuned than when I had opened up Boutique.
Original boutique picture:
Designs photo:
Although I am now four days in with no sales I don't feel discouraged. I understand better now that gaining that first sale - and every sale after that - can be hard work and it doesn't come easily. I'm going to just make sure I use all the knowledge I've garnered over the last few months of running Boutique to make Designs as successful as possible.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Where to start?
First, let me introduce myself. My name is Georgia and I have been an artist of many sorts for years. The mediums sometimes change, sometimes evolve, but always try and remain a reflection of my own artistic soul. My mother encouraged creative play, making plastic floral arrangements, painting ceramics and doing an array of other craft projects with myself and my siblings as children. When I was younger I went through a stage where I was fascinated with doing pencil sketches of still life objects, trying to create the contours in a way that would accurately display their dimensions. I have dabbled in the fan created video medium, using images from shows and movies I enjoyed and songs I listed to in order to mold an enjoyable piece of "art". I have always strayed back to writing, a starved artist looking to nourish my soul with one of my true passions in life.
It wasn't until my early twenties that I stumbled upon the creative medium that is jewelry making. My now husband is a serial hobbyist who jumps from one craftsmanship to another, also looking in some way to nourish his creative spirit. At one point he begin to delve into the craft of painting small miniatures, a task that demanded his detailed attention. It was during this time that he encouraged me to also find a hobby besides writing that I could work on beside him, thereby freeing him - or so he thought - from my chatter while he was trying to work.
So, I embarked on the task of finding a hobby. Walking through the craft store looking for my new hobby I carefully scanned each section. A retired Fashionista and fashion retail manager surviver, I was drawn to the isle with the beautifully strung beads and chains. Reminded of the jewelry pieces I had so loved to wear when I was in fashion retail, I decided I wanted to take up this... hobby... known as jewelry making. Buying what I would now consider a very basic kit I headed home excited and full of curiosity to embark on my new hobby.
During the months that followed my curiosity led me to different techniques and materials, taking in every detail I could about this new endeavor I had decided to pursue. I used books, magazines, the internet and the local craft stores to absorb as much knowledge as I could. The hobby of jewelry making eventually evolved into an artistic release for me, becoming a staple in my life like writing. I still have much to learn, explore, and create...But don't we all?
Now, my creative journey has led me to Etsy, to try and establish myself and my shop. This blog will share my thought, feelings, and experiences as I go through my Etsy journey. It will share the knowledge I learn and look for answers to the aspects I am still figuring out as I go. I invite anyone who has been on the journey, is now starting that journey, or who might begin that journey someday to come along with me and see if we can't all learn something along the way!
It wasn't until my early twenties that I stumbled upon the creative medium that is jewelry making. My now husband is a serial hobbyist who jumps from one craftsmanship to another, also looking in some way to nourish his creative spirit. At one point he begin to delve into the craft of painting small miniatures, a task that demanded his detailed attention. It was during this time that he encouraged me to also find a hobby besides writing that I could work on beside him, thereby freeing him - or so he thought - from my chatter while he was trying to work.
So, I embarked on the task of finding a hobby. Walking through the craft store looking for my new hobby I carefully scanned each section. A retired Fashionista and fashion retail manager surviver, I was drawn to the isle with the beautifully strung beads and chains. Reminded of the jewelry pieces I had so loved to wear when I was in fashion retail, I decided I wanted to take up this... hobby... known as jewelry making. Buying what I would now consider a very basic kit I headed home excited and full of curiosity to embark on my new hobby.
During the months that followed my curiosity led me to different techniques and materials, taking in every detail I could about this new endeavor I had decided to pursue. I used books, magazines, the internet and the local craft stores to absorb as much knowledge as I could. The hobby of jewelry making eventually evolved into an artistic release for me, becoming a staple in my life like writing. I still have much to learn, explore, and create...But don't we all?
Now, my creative journey has led me to Etsy, to try and establish myself and my shop. This blog will share my thought, feelings, and experiences as I go through my Etsy journey. It will share the knowledge I learn and look for answers to the aspects I am still figuring out as I go. I invite anyone who has been on the journey, is now starting that journey, or who might begin that journey someday to come along with me and see if we can't all learn something along the way!
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