If you frequent the forums on Etsy, you’ve no doubt seen this type of post…the “I’ve-done-everything-I-can-and-I’m-not-getting-sales” posts. I love to help people out so often times when I read these posts, I will check out the person’s shop.
Almost always, the shop has an unappealing banner, very little inventory, thrown together descriptions, not all tags are used, etc. I could go on and on. Often times these shops have so much wrong with them that I don’t even know where to start, to help them.
What it makes me want to do is take the seller to a “real world” store that has dirty front windows, a run-down barely legible sign outside, very little stock on the shelves and when a customer does come in (by some sheer force of luck) and brings up one of the very few items the store has and asks questions about it, have the shop owner answer it with “I don’t know.”. I’d then ask the seller, “Would you shop here?” And the answer is going to be a resounding, heck, no!
This “real world” store that I just described is the equivalent of a thrown together Etsy shop.
Just because the internet makes it easier to open an online shop doesn’t mean you should take the easy way and just throw a shop together.
When you are opening an online shop, you’ve got to make it look as good and feel as good as any “real world” shop a customer could go to. You’ve got to put as much work into your opening as you would a “real world” shop. But because, for the most part, the investment in opening an online shop is pretty small and the potential for returns on it is fairly large (in their minds) more and more people that maybe shouldn’t be running a business are trying it.
The ease of the internet gives people the false impression running a shop is easy. It has made people “half-ass” their businesses and think they should be able to get sales from it. Never in the history of business has anyone ever implied it’s easy. It’s not and it shouldn’t be! It is work, people!
But if you have a clear direction and plan, it can be easier to set up a shop that people want to shop at and want to come back to!
Here are some “must haves” when you are setting up your shop.
These are the things you absolutely cannot do half heartedly.
Do it right or don’t bother, folks. Tough talk? Absolutely. But I guarantee if you listen to this advice, you will see better results!
First of all…look up the top sellers on Etsy and browse their shops. See how they do things. There is a reason they are top sellers! Draw inspiration from these shops.
Go to >http://www.craftcount.com/category.php?cat=5 They have a list of top sellers, by category.
•You MUST have a good banner. It is your potential customer’s first impression of you. Make it a good one.
•You MUST have a good shop announcement. It doesn’t need to be long, but it does need to be GOOD. Imagine you have a “real world” store…your announcement is your smile and cheery “Can I help you find anything?” when someone enters your store. Make it feel like that!
•You MUST have good pictures.
•You MUST have a well stocked and organized (utilize your shop sections!) store.
•You MUST have good, COMPLETE descriptions.
•You MUST have clear and complete shop policies.
If you put in the work and do these “must haves” and do them well….you will have a store that people enjoy coming to!
And don’t forget, if you need clear direction and a “plan” one of my services I offer is private shop consultations. I would love to give you the direction and help you need to set up your shop! Email me at joanna@ataglancegraphics.com for more information!
Happy Sales!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
5 comments: