I’ve been busy plugging my advice and tips today. I really do love to help people! I thought maybe it was about time I started actually blogging on my blog instead of just offering advice so here goes...
It’s getting me a bit down at the moment – people don’t seem to want to help me out as I have got sales under my belt. Why do we do that? Ignore those who we preserve and doing well in favour of those who haven’t even started yet? We will happily offer help and advice to those who haven’t even attempted to sell yet – asking for advice to get a 1st sale but we don’t stop to consider those of us who are selling and trying to take the next step to make our shops a full time thing. I personally cannot survive on $10 a day so why can’t I get help and advice as well?
Am I being selfish by asking for help to get more sales when I have 71 in less than 3months? I have worked so very hard to get to where I am and I in return offer people all the help and advice that I have used to offer a helping hand.
Yes I’m venting. Sometimes it’s needed.
Peace out Etsy lovers!
Natalie xXx
Saturday, 11 April 2009
How to trade
How to TRADE
So you want a trade?
GREAT! What better way to survive in this ressession mad world then to trade!
How do I find some one to trade with?
There are several ways to hunt down a trade -
Just ask! If you find an item you love but cant buy untill you make more sales just convo the seller and ask. Be prepared for a NO. Not every seller is trade friendly.
For more chance of them saying YES why not check out shops that have hearted your store or items? Check out this link for a list of hearts you have and those with shops http://www.craftcult.com/heartomatic.php
Search “trades” in the forum titles. There are often some great trade lists in Promos.
Post your own trade request in the “Promos” forum. (only use the promo forum or admin will come down on you like a ton of bricks!)
Check out the chat rooms there is often a trade room.
I’ve found my trade and they said YES! What now?
It may be worth RESERVING items – just change the title to “reserved for .....” and again in the item description write “DO NOT BUY UNLESS YOU ARE .....”
How do I pay for my trade without paying for it?
The last thing you want to do is paypal each other money – this means FEES! You should work out the total cost including postage for BOTH sellers and if there is a difference in price then then the buyer trading for more should paypal over the difference.
Example – I want a $20 bag that has $5 postage total $25 and you want $15 necklace from me with $3 postage total $18. I would pay YOU $7 which is the difference between what I want and what you want.
How do I set up “OTHER” payments?
Setting up your account for “other” payments allows you to complete a sale as a trade with out money exchanging hands. To set up “other” payments on your item go to -
My Etsy
Payment Metods (found on the left hand side under shop settings)
Check “other” and save it.
Now when some one trades with you they can select “other” payment from your payment options and you will have their details for posage as usual. However you will need to make sure you check the box for payment recieved under “sold (orders)” as it will show no payment.
HAPPY TRADING!!!
So you want a trade?
GREAT! What better way to survive in this ressession mad world then to trade!
How do I find some one to trade with?
There are several ways to hunt down a trade -
Just ask! If you find an item you love but cant buy untill you make more sales just convo the seller and ask. Be prepared for a NO. Not every seller is trade friendly.
For more chance of them saying YES why not check out shops that have hearted your store or items? Check out this link for a list of hearts you have and those with shops http://www.craftcult.com/heartomatic.php
Search “trades” in the forum titles. There are often some great trade lists in Promos.
Post your own trade request in the “Promos” forum. (only use the promo forum or admin will come down on you like a ton of bricks!)
Check out the chat rooms there is often a trade room.
I’ve found my trade and they said YES! What now?
It may be worth RESERVING items – just change the title to “reserved for .....” and again in the item description write “DO NOT BUY UNLESS YOU ARE .....”
How do I pay for my trade without paying for it?
The last thing you want to do is paypal each other money – this means FEES! You should work out the total cost including postage for BOTH sellers and if there is a difference in price then then the buyer trading for more should paypal over the difference.
Example – I want a $20 bag that has $5 postage total $25 and you want $15 necklace from me with $3 postage total $18. I would pay YOU $7 which is the difference between what I want and what you want.
How do I set up “OTHER” payments?
Setting up your account for “other” payments allows you to complete a sale as a trade with out money exchanging hands. To set up “other” payments on your item go to -
My Etsy
Payment Metods (found on the left hand side under shop settings)
Check “other” and save it.
Now when some one trades with you they can select “other” payment from your payment options and you will have their details for posage as usual. However you will need to make sure you check the box for payment recieved under “sold (orders)” as it will show no payment.
HAPPY TRADING!!!
Sunday, 8 March 2009
How to feature your items
Here is a step by step guide to setting up your featured items in your Etsy store.
- Go to "Your Etsy" you will see a list of items in your shop like that in the picture bellow.
- Click on the little stars to make them turn GREEN. This means it is now a featured item.
- You can and should pick more then 3 items so when one sells it will be replaced.
- To change the order of your featured items click "rank featured" as circled bellow.
5. Now use the arrows to move your items up and down your featured list. The top 3 will show on the top of the 1st page of your shop. the extra items will be used to replace sold items.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Forum dos and don’ts
DO
Search for threads before you post – see if you can find the answer
Be friendly – remember your messages can not be deleted
Use the forums for help and advice
Be grateful for any help you receive
Be patient. Threads get lost during busy times so if you do not get the answers you need try again later.
Post in the correct sections – posts will get move otherwise.
Be gently when critiquing – this is some peoples lively hood.
DONT
SPAM – this means posting off topic such as “I’m offering free shipping in my store!” randomly in threads.
Excessively bump a thread (this means typing one word or making a meaningless post to make the tread go to the top of the list)
Use abusive or aggressive language
Search for threads before you post – see if you can find the answer
Be friendly – remember your messages can not be deleted
Use the forums for help and advice
Be grateful for any help you receive
Be patient. Threads get lost during busy times so if you do not get the answers you need try again later.
Post in the correct sections – posts will get move otherwise.
Be gently when critiquing – this is some peoples lively hood.
DONT
SPAM – this means posting off topic such as “I’m offering free shipping in my store!” randomly in threads.
Excessively bump a thread (this means typing one word or making a meaningless post to make the tread go to the top of the list)
Use abusive or aggressive language
How do I mark a forum thread?
Question - Everybody talks about "marking" a thread so they can come back and read it later. How do I do that?
Answer - Just type in the thread and it will show up in your "veiw topics ive posted in" section - this is at the top right hand side of the main forum page. You can go back and read the posts at a later date.
Answer - Just type in the thread and it will show up in your "veiw topics ive posted in" section - this is at the top right hand side of the main forum page. You can go back and read the posts at a later date.
Restrictions on imports country by country
Afghanistan
Articles liable to compete with national industry.
Articles of silk. Chessboards.
Children toys except sports goods.
Literature, publications, other articles prejudicial to public order or offensive to religion or morality.
Tapestries and lace.
Albania
Extravagant clothes and other articles contrary to Albanians' taste.
Items sent by political emigres.
Literature, publications, and other articles prejudicial to the State public order.
Used articles.
Algeria
Household articles made of tin.
Used clothing, accessories, blankets, linen, textile furnishings, footwear and headwear.
Watches and clocks.
Australia
Goods produced wholly or partly in prisons or by convict labor.
Seditious literature.
Cambodia
Coins; banknotes; currency notes (paper money); securities payable to bearer; traveler's checks; manufactured and unmanufactured platinum, gold, silver; precious stones; jewels; expensive jewelry; and other valuable articles.
Canada
Commercial tags of metal.
Oleomargarine and other butter substitutes, including altered or renovated butter.
Plumage and skins of wild birds.
Prison-made goods being sold or intended for sale by a person or firm.
Reprints of Canadian or British works copyrighted in Canada.
Reproductions of Canadian postage stamps unless printed in publications in black and white only and with a defacing line drawn across each reproduction.
Used or secondhand hives or bee supplies.
China
Manuscripts, printed matter, photographic negatives, gramophone recordsMeat and meat products.
Used clothing and bedding.
Wrist-watchesCuba Musical letters or cards that play a sound recording when opened.
Cyprus
Postcards of private manufacture having illustrated designs not previously approved by the Cyprus Post Office.
Denmark
Dried or powdered milk, and food mixtures containing it.
Dominican Republic
Roulette games and other gambling devices.
France
Measuring instruments marked in units not complying with French law.
Germany P
laying cards, except in complete decks properly wrapped.
Iceland
Toys made of lead.
Indonesia Books and periodicals printed in any Indonesian language and published outside of Indonesia, except educational books approved by the Indonesian Department of Commerce.
Cloth and batik designs and sarongs.
Used articles including clothing.
Ireland
Hay, straw, including articles made of straw.
Prison-made goods.
Israel Agricultural tools and accessories.
Blank invoices with headings.
Games of chance.
Spices exceeding 1 kg. Used beehives.
Italy
Albums of any kind (of photographs, postcards, postage stamps, etc.).
Artificial flowers and fruits and accessories for them.
Bells and other musical instruments and parts thereof.
Clocks and supplies for clocks.
Footwear of any kind.
Haberdashery and sewn articles of any kind, including trimmings and lace; handkerchiefs; scarves; shawls, needlework including stockings and gloves; bonnets, caps, and hats of any kind.
Hair and articles made of hair.
Leather goods.
Nutmeg, vanilla; sea salt, rock salt; saffron.
Perfumery goods of all kinds (except soap).Playing cards of any kind. Salted, smoked or otherwise prepared meats; fats; and lard. Tobacco.
Toys not made wholly of wood.
Kuwait
Magazines or other printed matter containing illustrations of nude or partly nude human figures.
Nicaragua
Communist material or literature.
Paraguay
Plastic toys.
Soaps.
Stocking and socks except those made of jersey.
Suitcases; leather bags. Wool blankets.
Peru
Artificial flowers and interior ornaments.
Ceramic products and imitation jewelry.
Clothing, accessories, and underwear.
Communist propaganda.
Footwear, shoes, boots, and accessories.
Furs and clothing made of fur.
Gloves and hosiery.
Household articles of iron, steel, copper, and aluminum.
Household linens.
Perfume products or soaps.
Playing cards.
Textiles and carpets.
Toys and dolls of all kinds.
Travel articles, suitcases, attache cases, kits, or similar articles.
Waxes and creams for shoes.
Wooden utensils.
Sri Lanka
Paper and writing products (envelopes, ink, pencils, pens, erasers, chalk, etc.).
Sweden, Switzerland, and Portugal
Lottery tickets and advertisements concerning lotteries.
United Kingdom
Goods made in foreign prisons, except those imported for a non-commercial purpose or of a kind not manufactured in the UK.
Horror comics and matrices.
Vietnam
Products made from non-Vietnamese tobacco.
Used clothing, blankets, mosquito nets, and shoes.
Articles liable to compete with national industry.
Articles of silk. Chessboards.
Children toys except sports goods.
Literature, publications, other articles prejudicial to public order or offensive to religion or morality.
Tapestries and lace.
Albania
Extravagant clothes and other articles contrary to Albanians' taste.
Items sent by political emigres.
Literature, publications, and other articles prejudicial to the State public order.
Used articles.
Algeria
Household articles made of tin.
Used clothing, accessories, blankets, linen, textile furnishings, footwear and headwear.
Watches and clocks.
Australia
Goods produced wholly or partly in prisons or by convict labor.
Seditious literature.
Cambodia
Coins; banknotes; currency notes (paper money); securities payable to bearer; traveler's checks; manufactured and unmanufactured platinum, gold, silver; precious stones; jewels; expensive jewelry; and other valuable articles.
Canada
Commercial tags of metal.
Oleomargarine and other butter substitutes, including altered or renovated butter.
Plumage and skins of wild birds.
Prison-made goods being sold or intended for sale by a person or firm.
Reprints of Canadian or British works copyrighted in Canada.
Reproductions of Canadian postage stamps unless printed in publications in black and white only and with a defacing line drawn across each reproduction.
Used or secondhand hives or bee supplies.
China
Manuscripts, printed matter, photographic negatives, gramophone recordsMeat and meat products.
Used clothing and bedding.
Wrist-watchesCuba Musical letters or cards that play a sound recording when opened.
Cyprus
Postcards of private manufacture having illustrated designs not previously approved by the Cyprus Post Office.
Denmark
Dried or powdered milk, and food mixtures containing it.
Dominican Republic
Roulette games and other gambling devices.
France
Measuring instruments marked in units not complying with French law.
Germany P
laying cards, except in complete decks properly wrapped.
Iceland
Toys made of lead.
Indonesia Books and periodicals printed in any Indonesian language and published outside of Indonesia, except educational books approved by the Indonesian Department of Commerce.
Cloth and batik designs and sarongs.
Used articles including clothing.
Ireland
Hay, straw, including articles made of straw.
Prison-made goods.
Israel Agricultural tools and accessories.
Blank invoices with headings.
Games of chance.
Spices exceeding 1 kg. Used beehives.
Italy
Albums of any kind (of photographs, postcards, postage stamps, etc.).
Artificial flowers and fruits and accessories for them.
Bells and other musical instruments and parts thereof.
Clocks and supplies for clocks.
Footwear of any kind.
Haberdashery and sewn articles of any kind, including trimmings and lace; handkerchiefs; scarves; shawls, needlework including stockings and gloves; bonnets, caps, and hats of any kind.
Hair and articles made of hair.
Leather goods.
Nutmeg, vanilla; sea salt, rock salt; saffron.
Perfumery goods of all kinds (except soap).Playing cards of any kind. Salted, smoked or otherwise prepared meats; fats; and lard. Tobacco.
Toys not made wholly of wood.
Kuwait
Magazines or other printed matter containing illustrations of nude or partly nude human figures.
Nicaragua
Communist material or literature.
Paraguay
Plastic toys.
Soaps.
Stocking and socks except those made of jersey.
Suitcases; leather bags. Wool blankets.
Peru
Artificial flowers and interior ornaments.
Ceramic products and imitation jewelry.
Clothing, accessories, and underwear.
Communist propaganda.
Footwear, shoes, boots, and accessories.
Furs and clothing made of fur.
Gloves and hosiery.
Household articles of iron, steel, copper, and aluminum.
Household linens.
Perfume products or soaps.
Playing cards.
Textiles and carpets.
Toys and dolls of all kinds.
Travel articles, suitcases, attache cases, kits, or similar articles.
Waxes and creams for shoes.
Wooden utensils.
Sri Lanka
Paper and writing products (envelopes, ink, pencils, pens, erasers, chalk, etc.).
Sweden, Switzerland, and Portugal
Lottery tickets and advertisements concerning lotteries.
United Kingdom
Goods made in foreign prisons, except those imported for a non-commercial purpose or of a kind not manufactured in the UK.
Horror comics and matrices.
Vietnam
Products made from non-Vietnamese tobacco.
Used clothing, blankets, mosquito nets, and shoes.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TREASURIES....(well alot anyway...)
To get a treasury you need to wait until some of the current lists expire so there are less then 333 lists left. You will then have a window of time to grab a treasury!
Once you have this your can add items as you go along using the item numbers (the same numbers you use to display items in the chat rooms) you get 12 items and 4 reserve items (incase one item should sell).
The only way to find out if you have featured in a treasury is to go to the list http://www.etsy.com/treasury.php and also http://www.etsy.com/treasury_west.php if you can see a star in any of the titles it means you are either featured or a reserve.
Treasuries are picked to go on the front page – so think carefully about what you pick. You are allowed 1 item from your own shop to feature in your treasury BUT if you get picked for the front page your item will be swapped with an item in your reserve. (Treasuries are not ment for self promotion)
All the front pages are stored here http://www.flickr.com/photos/28488923@N05/ just incase you ever think you may have missed your 5 minutes of fame!
Once you have this your can add items as you go along using the item numbers (the same numbers you use to display items in the chat rooms) you get 12 items and 4 reserve items (incase one item should sell).
The only way to find out if you have featured in a treasury is to go to the list http://www.etsy.com/treasury.php and also http://www.etsy.com/treasury_west.php if you can see a star in any of the titles it means you are either featured or a reserve.
Treasuries are picked to go on the front page – so think carefully about what you pick. You are allowed 1 item from your own shop to feature in your treasury BUT if you get picked for the front page your item will be swapped with an item in your reserve. (Treasuries are not ment for self promotion)
All the front pages are stored here http://www.flickr.com/photos/28488923@N05/ just incase you ever think you may have missed your 5 minutes of fame!
ETSY top tips for every newbie
I'm a newbie on ETSY so the advice I'm giving is advice I have used and made work for me. Use common sence to pick and choose which advice you follow...
1 - good, clear photos are a must.
2 - display earrings hanging
3 - show the reverse of items you will see the back of when worn
4 - use up all your photo and tag slots
5 - try have a cheap item - be it something hand made or some DESTASH to help build sales
6 - get the word out - show off your items and make the most of chat and the forums to get noticed
7 - Offer choices and custom items
8 – go to “your etsy” and click on the stars on 3 listings to make them feature at the top of your shop
9 – keep anouncements short and sweet yet informative
10 – dont be afraid to tell a story in your listings but make sure it is clear what you are selling
11 - offer international shipping - in listings where possible as apposed to by convo
12 – make sure you photograph your items to show what is is but please DONT put earrings in your ears its just yucky
13 – Check out similar items for sale when deciding on your prices
14 – try and put a photo of an item your are selling or a logo as your AVATAR (steer away from self portraits unless it is relevant to your work)
15 – get yourself a great banner! You can get these made for just a few $ on etsy
16 – network with others – join groups and chats for friendly advice
17 – keep your prices rounded up no $.99
18 – dont be afraid to try selling something different it wont put people off it will draw new people in
19 – Don’t pay for advertising until you sales are going well
20 - most importantly continue to ask for help, advice and critiques even when you think you have everything perfect
I really hope that can be of help to some of you. Ive managed 32 sales and been picked for 7 treasury and got 170 hearts in my 1st month. It makes me sad hearing about people with low sale - especially when they do it for an income and I only do it for a hobby. May the sales fairy visit you in your sleep very very soon.
1 - good, clear photos are a must.
2 - display earrings hanging
3 - show the reverse of items you will see the back of when worn
4 - use up all your photo and tag slots
5 - try have a cheap item - be it something hand made or some DESTASH to help build sales
6 - get the word out - show off your items and make the most of chat and the forums to get noticed
7 - Offer choices and custom items
8 – go to “your etsy” and click on the stars on 3 listings to make them feature at the top of your shop
9 – keep anouncements short and sweet yet informative
10 – dont be afraid to tell a story in your listings but make sure it is clear what you are selling
11 - offer international shipping - in listings where possible as apposed to by convo
12 – make sure you photograph your items to show what is is but please DONT put earrings in your ears its just yucky
13 – Check out similar items for sale when deciding on your prices
14 – try and put a photo of an item your are selling or a logo as your AVATAR (steer away from self portraits unless it is relevant to your work)
15 – get yourself a great banner! You can get these made for just a few $ on etsy
16 – network with others – join groups and chats for friendly advice
17 – keep your prices rounded up no $.99
18 – dont be afraid to try selling something different it wont put people off it will draw new people in
19 – Don’t pay for advertising until you sales are going well
20 - most importantly continue to ask for help, advice and critiques even when you think you have everything perfect
I really hope that can be of help to some of you. Ive managed 32 sales and been picked for 7 treasury and got 170 hearts in my 1st month. It makes me sad hearing about people with low sale - especially when they do it for an income and I only do it for a hobby. May the sales fairy visit you in your sleep very very soon.
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