Enticing Customers to Return

I've read tons of articles on how to bring customers to your site but it seems like not a whole lot of articles cover getting those customers to return. I thought I would put together a few tips, I try to implement in my shop to encourage buyers to come back.

1.) Ensure that the first transaction goes smoothly.
- By replying to convos/emails quickly.
- Acknowledging the transaction (a thank you convo).
- Shipping quickly and letting the buyer know that you've shipped the order with a personal convo.
- The packaging doesn't need to be stunning but it should be well-packaged to ensure that the product arrives safe and in the same condition.

*These steps only take a few minutes of your time and make a world of difference.

2.) If something goes wrong, fix it.
- As a seller who accepts payments via Paypal - I am responsible for the package until it arrives in my buyer's hand, safe and sound. If the package is lost or broken, I replace it without complaint.
- Do what you say. When you don't, make it right with the buyer. My policies say I ship within 2 business days, if I can't I let the buyer know asap and if it's appropriate, I refund the shipping costs.
- Many buyers will consider coming back even if something went wrong the first time, as long as, the problem was dealt with properly.
- Don't make excuses - take responsibility for the problem and correct it.

3.) Be friendly and professional - ALL THE TIME!
- Honestly, very few things frustrate me more than pushy or angry convos. As a professional, you should be "PROFESSIONAL" at all times. If you can't be professional at the time, walk away until you can be and read whatever you've wrote at least twice.

4.) Offer Incentives
- Providing first-time buyers with coupons for %-off, free shipping, buy 2 get 1 free, etc. Can help to ensure that they come back for more.
- If you offer too many discounts, too often, some buyers won't come back until you provide them with one (I know I won't go to Michael's without a coupon anymore).
- Listing new items regularly, to a first-time buyer everything is new but to a return customer, only some will be new. Having new items for them, may help to encourage to look for something that catches their eye.

5.) THE MOST IMPORTANT
- Create a product that is well-made, well-priced, beautifully photographed, and ensure that you stand behind your work.

I hope someone will find these points useful and can implement them to ensure they're own returning customers.

I love Firefox!


I've heard for a while now that Firefox was supposed to be the better browser (compared to Internet Explorer) but I had never really taken the plunge to change it. A few weeks ago, I was playing on my brother-in-law's computer (which had Firefox) and I was really surprised how fast and easy to use it was. So, when I got home, I made the big switch on my new laptop. I was really surprised how much faster and customizable it was.

I hadn't used my desktop computer (which is about 4 years old) for a few weeks now, mostly because the internet was always a lot slower than my laptop. Anyway, after what seemed like waiting forever to list some new items, something clicked in my head. Why, hadn't I changed this computer's internet browser to Firefox? So, after a couple of minutes of downloading and installing Firefox, VOILA, new internet browser. Now, I was wondering, how of much of difference was this going to make, if any at all? Sure enough, my internet is 10 times faster than it was before. Nearly as fast as my laptop!

So, if you haven't taken the plunge to Firefox, you should at least check out it and see for yourself.

Thanks for reading,

Teri

Convoing Sellers & Treasuries

I've been in dozens of treasuries over the last few months and honestly, I could probably count the number of times I've been notified by the curator on one hand. The only reason, I know I've been included in a treasury has been through www.Craftopolis.com, which I just check every couple of days.

I just wanted others to know that most sellers like to be notified when they've been included. It's pretty rare when a seller doesn't like to know.

It's really too bad that Etsy doesn't have something in place, to automatically notify the sellers, when their work has been included in something like a treasury, or the front page, or in Etsy finds, etc. Most love the extra publicity, not to mention, something as simple as someone else appreciating their work.

Also, an important thing to note - Etsy does not consider convoing the sellers of the items that you've included in your treasury, a type of spam anymore. So convo away!

Why should I convo the sellers?

- Because it's a nice thing to do!
- Common courtesy - I'm sure you would like to be notified (especially if it makes it onto the front page).
- Extra Promoting - If included, lots of sellers will blog about it, tweet about it, add the info to their facebook page, advertise it in promotions, in turn driving traffic to your treasury.
- More traffic to your treasury can result in more traffic to your shop (which is always a good thing)!
- The sellers will be more likely to look at your shop, increasing your shop traffic.

Every is going to do what they want to do. But I just wanted to say that I would appreciate a convo and I know lots of others would to!

Thanks for listening!

What a goofball!




So, I'm working at the computer (unfortunately editing photos), when I start to here this thumping sound. I turn around and sure enough, it's my dog, Ava. She had reached up and stole the cup I use to dish out her dog food with. I had just changed her brand of dog food and apparently she really likes it!

The thumping noise was here trying to get all of the yummy (ugh) little bits that stuck to the cup!

I posted a couple of photos of her trying to get every little bit!

The Twitter Experiment


So after discovering twitter and this post on the Etsy Forums:

Sharing my Twitter Strategy : 11000 followers by CatherinetteRings
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6127828

I was totally and utterly inspired. I figured that I had discovered one of those essential keys to success, a springboard that would launch my Etsy shop. Well....I was totally wrong, I found this approach was a total failure for me.

Now, don't get me wrong, this approach can work wonders for the right person but it didn't for me. I just want to lay out how I did it and why it failed for me.

What is this approach?
- Basically, using bulk upload programs, you receive hundreds, if not thousands of new twitter followers in a very short period of time.

What's my problem with it?
- When I started using these mass following tools, I was getting so many new followers but sometimes, quality means more than quantity, and honestly, this was one of those times. It was like 1 in every 25 wasn't a spammer (i.e. click here to get rich now, follow my strategy to make millions, look at my boobs, etc).
- I was being flooded by the number of tweets, that were irrelevant or spammy. I couldn't really connect with anyone, it got boring really, really fast.

So after 5500 followers and I'm just going to delete the account, it would take way too much time to go through each and every follower, to filter out the bad ones.

What am I going to do?
- I'm deleting my current Twitter account and I just opened up a new Twitter account. One that I will choose who I follow carefully. To ensure each contact is someone I would like to talk to and here what they're doing.

What do I think the key to Twitter is?
- I think Twitter is about connecting with people have similiar interests, and if your running a business, they should be your target market too.
- Spam Bots are not your target market!

Well, I just wanted to share that will everyone. Hopefully, after reading this post, someone else will avoid making the same mistakes I did :(

Thanks for listening!

JUST ARRIVED - Sterling Silver Chains






After a request for sterling silver chains, I ordered them from a wonderfully efficient wholesaler in the US and they finally arrived the other day. I've just setup new listings for them.

I now have available 925 Sterling Silver Snake and Venetian Box Chains in 16", 18", and 20" lengths.
Chains are available to view and purchase:


I hope to be adding ball chains, silver-plated chains, and wire chokers in the very near future!

New Halloween Jewelry







I absolutely adore Halloween, it's probably a toss up between Halloween and Christmas as my favorite holidays. Since Halloween is just about upon us, I decided it was about time that I started listing some of the pendants I made especially for Halloween. I think they would be a great way to show your Halloween spirit this month or for those who can't/don't dress up for Halloween but still want to show their Halloween spirit!

You can find all of my Halloween pieces in my shop - just search Halloween!

 

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