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

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.

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.

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!

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.