Link! Link! Link! Self & Cross Promotion

How many times have you stumbled upon something really amazing, by following a link from another site? More times than you can count…yes? We all do it…follow links. it’s why the internet is such a time suck…it’s why we have to discipline ourselves to STAY AWAY from it when we don’t want to be distracted. Because we tell ourselves, “oh, I’m just going to check this one thing out…” but then this one thing will have a cool link…that we click! It’s irresistible, we can’t help it….and then we repeat the pattern over and over and over…until, before we know it, we’ve lost an hour…or 4! :-)

Does this sound familiar? Now, given that you know this…do you have links in your descriptions? No?? Why the heck not??

Now if you do…good for you! But are you using those links in the most effective way? Look at how you word it when you are talking about your link. Is it just factual and informational? Or are you really selling that link? If it’s just information, rewrite it! Make people click that link!

And another thing you might be missing….are you using your links for cross promotion and getting other Etsy sellers to link to YOU and your listings? This could be a huge marketing tip that is super easy to do and most likely, free. Look at shops that have a similar target market but aren’t in direct competition with you and ask to cross promote. Send them a convo and propose a mutual cross promotion arrangement. Super easy to do and it could lead to a lot more traffic.

Can’t hurt to try, right? The worst that could happen…they say no! And the great thing about Etsy is it’s just getting bigger and bigger…so if they say do say no, you have plenty of other shops to choose from!

And if you are drawing a total blank on what shops you could be cross promoting with…I can help!

See this listing!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/54928825/cross-promotion-report-marketing-success

And if this blog post inspired you to do it on your own (I so hope it does!) I'd love to give you guys some ideas...."real world" examples are such a big help....so the first 3 people to comment on my blog or email me, I will look over your shops and make a list of the types of shops (not specific shops, but the type of shops) you should be asking to cross promote with and I will write a blog post with the lists, so that everyone benefits! :-)

Write To Sell

I’m very happy to get a lot of variety for the shop submissions this week. Thank you!

I have chosen MerryDay for this week’s feature.

Below is a link to the item I am writing for and the description she has now.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/38977203/free-shippingset-of-4-greeting-cards

Set of 4 beautiful Simplicity flowers greeting cards

Send your good thoughts to your loved ones in any occasion with these simple but beautiful greeting cards!

• Each card measures approximately 4"x5.5"

• Printed on Linen InkJet Card 240g. paper to give a nice soft texture, making it looks more precious.

• Cards are blank inside and come with pretty, scented cream envelopes

You will receive one each of 4 flowers designs : beautiful magenta, bright yellow, sweet blue and cozy orange.

Cards will be carefully put together, handled and shipped in a protective, cellophane sleeve in a board backed envelope.

Payment and shipping info:
I only accept payments through Paypal. Please see further information about payment and shipping on my shop policies page.

If you have any question, feel free to convo me :-)

Thank you for stopping by and Have a Merry Day!

All work and images © Pavinee Sripaisal, All rights reserved.

Suggested Changes

Send a card that is as beautiful and unique as your relationship is! When store bought just won’t do…use one of these vibrant and beautiful cards to say happy birthday, thanks or even just hello!

Listing includes four 4”x5.5” greeting cards; featuring one of each of my 4 flower designs.

•Beautiful and bold magenta
•Bright and cheerful yellow
•Sweet and tranquil blue
•Cozy and comfortable orange

Details:
•Cards are printed on high quality linen inkjet 240g cardstock to give the card a soft and luxurious texture, making the card look even more precious.
•Cards are blank inside and come with pretty, scented cream envelopes

Cards will be carefully put together, handled and shipped in a protective, cellophane sleeve in a board backed envelope.

Payment and shipping info:
Please visit my shop policies page here http://www.etsy.com/shop_policy.php?user_id=7586383 for information about payment and shipping. .

If you have any question, feel free to convo me :-)

All work and images © Pavinee Sripaisal, All rights reserved

Have a special little girl with a birthday coming? She’ll love one of these original cards!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51474485/free-shippingset-of-2-illustrated

Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on new listings!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MerryDay/rss

Thank you for stopping by and Have a Merry Day!

Tweet This!
Luxurious linen greeting cards, when store bought just won’t do!
Because they are worth it….luxurious linen greeting cards for your loved ones.
Bring the outside in with these vibrant and unique flower greeting cards.


Thanks again for all your submissions and I'd love to hear your comments and thoughts!

Write To Sell

This week I've chosen Dogmabeading as the featured shop.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dogmabeading

Here is a link to the item I am writing for and below is what she has now as a description.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/44391972/southern-sunflower-pearl-and-glass

Description
Southern Sunflower Brooch by dogmabeading is crafted from auburn freshwater pearls surrounded by pale lemon, glass dagger beads. A versatile pin that can be dressed down on a denim jacket or up on a dress or suit.

This flowery accessory measures about 2 inches around is small enough to wear on a dress or sweater but also large enough for a jacket or light coat. The warm ginger center and soft yellow petals stand out on a wide range of background colors. This flirty pin would make a signature piece for the sunflower lover!

Suggested changes

Keep your love of beautiful flowers close to your heart and show the world your unique style with this gorgeous brooch. Especially perfect as a signature piece for a sunflower lover.

This versatile pin is the perfect finishing touch to any outfit. From jeans to a cocktail dress this pin will transform an ordinary outfit into a trendsetting stylish one!

Details
•Brooch measures about 2 inches around making it the perfect size. It’s small enough to wear on a dress or sweater, yet large enough for a jacket or light coat.
•Center of brooch is a cluster of beautiful auburn freshwater pearls
•“Petals” are pale lemon glass dagger beads.

Don’t miss out on my other flower designs!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/40953758/southern-magnolia-blossom-flower-wedding
http://www.etsy.com/listing/51835600/southern-camellia-flower-brooch-by
http://www.etsy.com/listing/40951763/handmade-red-shell-flower-brooch-by

Thanks for looking and don’t forget to subscribe to my shop to keep updated on new listings!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dogmabeading/rss

Tweet This

Wallflower no more! This flower will get you noticed!
Your love of flowers can go with your everywhere!
You love to look at beautiful accessories and they will love to look at you, when you wear this…

************************

I am loving doing this feature and I know, from the emails and feedback, that you all are enjoying it too. Now I have a HUGE favor. My goal is to have a really broad range of shops that I am featuring and I would REALLY love it if you guys would pass the word around. If you know of an Etsy seller that would like to be featured...tell them about my blog and ask them to submit their shop for consideration. Having a broad range of shops that I have featured will be such a help to other sellers and I know you guys are the helpful kind, so spread the word and let's get a wide variety of shops submitting!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

No one said it would be easy...

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!

Writing To Sell

Thank you so much for your submissions.
I have chosen MaggieLouQuilts for this week’s feature.

MaggieLouQuilts
Here is a link to the listing and below is what she has as a description.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/52609351/unique-burp-cloth

Are you looking for the perfect gift for a new baby? Do you want something unique, special? Here is the gift for you. This burp cloth starts with an all cotton pre-folded diaper. Fabric covers the center panel as well as the bottom, top and back. It is unique and very pretty. No edges of the diaper are exposed making for a neater, more finished look than just a strip of fabric sewn down the center of a pre-folded diaper.

For an extra charge, I will embroider an initial on the center panel. Embroidered or not, this is a beautiful gift.

I have other fabrics available to customize a look for you.

Suggested Changes

Feeding your baby is a time of bonding that you treasure and you won’t even mind the messy part when you are using a beautiful burp cloth!

Whether it’s for you or a fabulous, unique gift for an expectant mom, a decorative burp cloth is another way to enhance the “new mom” experience and the feeling that only the best will do for your baby!

Details
•Measurements here
•Burb cloth is made from an all cotton pre-folded diaper.

Personalization Available
Make it personal! For an additional fee, your burp cloth can be embroidered with your initials. Please contact me for thread colors and pricing.

Custom Orders (I would suggest adding a custom burp cloth listing and taking a picture of your different fabric options, etc. and then link to it!)

I have many other fabrics available. See my custom burp cloth listing for more details
Link Here.

Thank you so much for looking and keep coming back to see new items!

*************************

Tweet This!

Unique gift for new mom!
Everything your baby uses should be beautiful!
Stylish feeding accessory for new baby!

Other Tips.
She hasn’t used all of her tags and here are some suggestions that she could add. Feeding, baby accessories, infant, baby shower, gift, custom, nursing, maternity, cotton, decorative.

Thanks to MaggieLouQuilts!

Keep your submissions coming as I will be choosing a new shop for next week!

Smart Marketing.

My philosophy for marketing is about bringing it back to basics. For instance, instead of beating yourself over your head for weeks, making sure your site and descriptions are SEO “perfect”, that time could’ve been spent, designing some flyers, postcards and making visits to local businesses that your target market frequents, getting to know the owners and asking if you can place your marketing or maybe even your products! This is time MUCH better spent. You are getting a better quality of potential buyers. I believe this is the best way for crafters and artists to market, locally and specifically to your target market. If you think about it, it makes so much sense. The crafting community is by and large, very friendly and down to earth. The vibe of the crafting world is one of community and small town charm. Even with the internet, we love local craft fairs and flock to them. Flea markets have never been bigger. The crafting community has a more “homespun” feel to it and we like it that way! A lot of my marketing is centered on this belief.

A recent thread on Etsy was really interesting to read and I think you guys should all read it and take notes! Here is the link…http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6591674&page=1

This is something I say over and over in my marketing….get to your target market! Get specific! Beyond that, I also encourage local marketing….your community is full of potential customers who would LOVE to support their local economy. In fact, you not marketing to them is stopping them from putting their money back into their local economy. That’s not very nice, now is it? :-)

Work smarter…not harder! Use local business to reach your target market, get to know your community business owners, encourage bartering and cross promoting and the sales will come!

Write To Sell

My apologies for being MIA for a bit longer than I like. My husband left for Alaska for a trip and things were a little crazy!

I am very excited to post today! Because of the overwhelmingly good response to this thread http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6571034&page=1 and the fact that I could not get to everyone and help everyone that asked, I decided I would start picking one shop a week and feature them on my blog.

So today I am starting my "Write To Sell" weekly feature. From now on, once a week, (Wednesdays) I will pick a shop and help them with their descriptions and post it for you guys to see. One thing I learned from all your feedback is that "real world" examples help, you guys really seemed to benefit from it and I love that! So this is a win, win, win! It will help the shop that is featured, you guys get to see a "real world" example and I am helping someone! I hope you will check this out every week!
And if you would like your shop to be considered, email me and let me know! :-)

Here we go!

The first shop I picked was Sugarhiccupllc
Here is the link to her shop....>http://www.etsy.com/shop/sugarhiccupllc and I was writing for the pink and white themed quilt.

My suggested changes

Lay your baby down to sleep on the softest quilt you’ve ever felt. The puffy squares will feel as gentle as your touch and will keep baby cozy and warm. It’s the perfect quilt for traveling so you always have a soft, cuddly place for baby to lay.
Sugar Hiccup Biscuit Quilts are handmade of preshrunk cotton (exclusive of trim) trimmed in contrast piping and white lace and backed with white satin fabric

Details

*Measurements are 27"w x 30"l.
*Machine Washable

Shipping

Quilt is packaged and shipped in a reusable clear bag. (Like sheet sets)

Design Choices:
If traditional pink is not for you, you will love the black and white themed quilt! See it here! http://www.etsy.com/listing/52126828/baby-biscuit-quilt-black-and-white

Thank you for looking and keep visiting for more patterns and colors!

Custom orders welcome. Email or Convo me for details.

Alternate first sentence.
When your baby feels good, you feel good. This soft, puffy and warm quilt will make your baby feel as cozy and comforted, as when she’s in your arms. It’s the perfect quilt for traveling and outings so you baby will always have a soft and cuddly place to lay.

Tweet This
When your baby feels good, you feel good!
Wrap your baby in a quilt that feels as good as your arms
Lay your baby down on a cloud...


Because I like to encourage questions and answers, I'm not going to explain why I wrote anything the way I did. If you want to know anything, just ask in the comments! That way everyone is learning! You may not have any questions, as it might be completely obvious, but if you do, please don't be shy and ask!

And if you'd like to check out my writing workbook so you can write your descriptions just like I did this one, here is the link! http://www.etsy.com/listing/52224744/item-description-writing-workbook