Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Absolutely Brilliant Idea for....the absent minded!
I'm the type of person that can be walking down the street and BAM, 3 completely new ideas pop into my head and then by the time I've make it to the crosswalk, they're all gone!
So after lurking (which sounds kinds of creepy) in the Etsy forums, I came across 1 of the thousands of Etsy tips & tricks threads, someone posted that they keep a journal. Well, I started thinking (I was NOT the type to keep a journal or diary as a kid) BUT if I could remember to write important stuff down....drum rolll...EPHINANY...then I wouldn't lose all of my ideas all the time!
So I ran over to Michael's (with 40% off coupon in hand) and bought a small sketchbook for like $6. Now, I carry it wherever I go (it fits in my purse) and I've written down things like:
- sketched out new ideas (even though I can't draw, I get the idea)
- printed off pictures from tutorials, products I like, supplies, etc
- printed off pictures from tutorials, products I like, supplies, etc
- places I want to try advertising at
- places I want to think about networking with (Facebook, Twitter, EtsyLove, etc)
- new packaging ideas
- useful tips & tricks that I come across
- ways to expand my business (like newsletters, wholesale)
- blog topics that I might want to write about
- things that I like that other sellers are doing
- photography ideas, pictures of how other's have done things I've liked
The list goes on and on, each page has it's own theme, otherwise I would never be able to keep it at all organized.
Anyway, this notebook has been an absolute lifesaver. So I figured I would share the idea!
Let me know, if you decide to try it!
Offering a coupon or gift certificate on Etsy
A great way to encourage repeat business is through exclusive sales to current customers, event attendees, etc. Unfortunately, Etsy isn't setup to automatically to calculate a discount. So, what do you do?
Option 1:
1.) Give your customer a predetermined code or message (something that you'll remember).
2.) Let them know that they'll need to add it the "Message to Seller" section during checkout.
3.) You can either send them a revised invoice or refund the difference via Paypal.
- When refunding via Paypal, remember to use the "Refund" button at the bottom of the transaction page, otherwise the customer will be charged for accepting the refund.
- When refunding via Paypal, remember to use the "Refund" button at the bottom of the transaction page, otherwise the customer will be charged for accepting the refund.
Option 2:
1.) Have the customer convo you before they purchase, this allows you to adjust the price of the listing for the customer beforehand.
You can also add gift certificates to your shop for current and new customers.
- Remember to add a line in the description, that the gift certificate is accepted in your shop (and not for the entire Etsy site).
Well, I came across a few people with a few questions and I hope I cleared everything up. If anyone has any suggestions or questions, please let me know!
Finally finished my new lightbox!
So after a bit of searching, I finally found a light box tutorial that I liked and FINALLY put it together. I can be such a procrastinator! In case anyone was curious this is the tutorial I used:
http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/light_box_light_tent
It is made out of PVC pipes with a white cloth draped over it. I'm using 100 watt daylight bulbs on tripods, that I picked up at Princess Auto for $40 each.
http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/light_box_light_tent
It is made out of PVC pipes with a white cloth draped over it. I'm using 100 watt daylight bulbs on tripods, that I picked up at Princess Auto for $40 each.
I've included some pictures of my new setup!
Let me know what you think!
Let me know what you think!
Flickr = A Promotional Tool?
As I posted earlier, one of the big keys to success on Etsy is to promote yourself outside of Etsy. That means outside advertising, it doesn’t need to be expensive but you should have at least a basic plan and it should be well thought out.
A lot of people mention Flickr as a promo tool, and yes, it can be an effective one at that! HOWEVER, right in Flickr rules and regulations, it states that Flickr is not meant for commercial use! Meaning, if you’re a business and you want to use them, you have to follow their rules! What are their rules, you ask? Here they are right here and if you don’t play by their rules, your account will be deleted:
The rule of thumb is that you can have one link on your profile page to a commercial webpage.
You cannot have tags, descriptions, titles, or comments that indicate that an item is for sale or where to buy it.Having a watermark across the image that is a commercial URL will also cause accounts to get in trouble.In addition, if your account is predominantly commercially-oriented images, and gives the impression of being an online catalog, you may find the account deleted.Something else to keep in mind:
Joining Flickr groups is another great promotional tool BUT be careful and make sure to read group descriptions fully and only post in appropriate groups with relevant photos.
- Posting against the group rules can get your account in hot water.
Flickr is about passive marketing, meaning you can put up pictures of you, your work, your studio, any craft shows you attend, how you create, your personal photos, etc. It’s all about sharing yourself through your photos. It’s not about, ‘look at this, it’s for sale’!
All in all, follow the rules and you’ll have a fun, free way to promote your shop!
For the all the official rules and regulations, click here:
http://www.flickr.com/guidelines.gne
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