Saturday, August 30, 2014

How Can Treasuries help you improve your Tags and Listings?

When you spend too much time with your own work, writing an rewriting your own item descriptions, you might get what we call "tunnel vision": it gets harder and harder to think outside the box we have created around ourselves and our creations.

One of the secrets for choosing effective titles and tags for your listings on Etsy is to think like a buyer. But what does it mean, exactly? How can I put myself in my customers' shoes?

It is a very good question. I have been asking myself for quite some time now.

How do others see us?

As you know, SPSTeam has many threads and games in its Team forum on Etsy, including a game called the "Inspiration Challenge". To make a long story short, the participants must create an Etsy treasury using a specific item as their inspiration. The winner of the game gets the chance to choose an item for his or her own shop for the following challenge, and so forth.

I had the privilege to win the Challenge a few months ago, and I chose a pair of my Hanji barrettes as the Inspiration item. I was quickly amazed by the creativity of the other members, but most importantly I was stunned to see how the players perceived my item!

The themes they chose, the color combinations and, more importantly, the words they selected to describe my item simply amazed me!

After the Challenge, I started to pay more attention to the contents of the Treasuries I was featured in. What was the main theme of the collection? How does my item fit in there? How does the Treasury describe or place my item in a certain context? Those questions led me to some very interesting discoveries!

Hippie → Bohemian → Boho-Chic

One of the first things I noticed is the appellation "hippie" that a few Treasury creators used to describe my Hanji earrings and barrettes. I never considered my jewelry to be hippie, but now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense!

I then started to do a little research on the word hippie, and the concept and history led me to bohemian, and then to bo-ho chic!... As you can see, a single word, used by another Etsy user in the context of a treasury, has lead me to add three new adjectives I can now use in my tags to increase my chances of being found by potential buyers!

I am learning everyday about trends and styles (Etsy is an excellent place to learn, especially for someone like me who isn't naturally fashion-inclined), but I wouldn't have known where to begin to describe my own creations. Just one treasury ended up opening at least three new doors for me!


Another treasury, titled "Romantic Mix", was featuring one of my Hanji French barrette, along with other soft tones items. The idea of romance led me to softer adjective and qualifiers, such as "girly", "feminine" and "pastel".

The impression that an item can give is almost as important as the item actually is; the idea is to find as many paths as possible to lead your potential customers to your shop.



Colors, Textures, Materials

Another important element to qualify our items on Etsy is its physical properties: its color, texture, dimensions, and material. If someone is looking for something specific that corresponds to one of your items (for example, someone looking for "brown and beige earrings") you have to make sure that they can find you!

Colors are an essential element, and it can be a surprisingly vast topic! The color "blue" can be described and categorized in so many ways : navy, teal, cobalt, turquoise, iron blue, indigo, aqua, aquamarine, royal... Doing some research on the different color appellations can be a very useful and interesting venture! And once again it opens more doors through which your buyers can find you.


You can also select tag and key words that are more general, such as "earthy tones", "bold colors", "pastels" or "metallic".


Cultural Inspiration

Another interesting way to choose and write your tags and descriptions is to look at the "cultural" aspect of things. In my case, I work and create using traditional Korean paper; therefore, the asian influence is an important element for me.

I have to put myself in my customers' shoes and think about the way the perceive Asian culture... Concepts such as zen, feng shui, buddhism, Japanese design, kawaii, samourais and ninjas, kung fu, chopsticks and black lacquer dishes, minimalism, Chinese characters, dragons or even sushi can all lead to my shop!


Boost your descriptions with meaningful key words

When it's time to write your item descriptions, keep in mind that the text you use is also analyzed and taken into account by search engines, like Google. Making sure to include meaningful key words in your descriptions might increase your chances of being found outside of the Etsy! Do not hesitate to make your descriptions more colorful and complete by using different adjectives that describe your items well, and inspire your visitors!


A few interesting links

Here are a few useful links, to inspire you and help you choose new tags and key words for your listings :

List of colors :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colors_(compact)

List of chics :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_chics

Understanding Fashion Types :
http://colorconnection.yuku.com/topic/891/18-Strangers-Understanding-Fashion-Types#.U_60dMWSwkQ

Clothing Types and Styles :
http://fashion-history.lovetoknow.com/clothing-types-styles


Do you have any ideas to help our Team members improve their business? Do you know of any great online resources that can save us time, effort or money? Share your tips with us! Leave a comment below!

* * *

PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER: 

 
My name is Natalie. I am a French-Canadian gal, but I live in South Korea. My passion is called "Hanji" : sumptuous Korean paper made of mulberry pulp. Hanji has been used for a thousand years in Korea to create decorative or ceremonial objects. For me, it is essential to offer useful and practical objects, that can enjoyed on a daily basis. Tissue cases, pen holders, jewelry, fridge magnets, hair accessories: let the beauty and unique character of Hanji paper make our everyday life objects irresistible!

  
  



www.etsy.com/shop/HanjiNaty

Follow Natalie's Blog For The Latest Updates To Her Shop:


www.hanjinaty.com

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Meet our Members! -- Bob and Pam from ZzBob

The SPS Team is an international team of artists, artisans and creators working together to promote their finest work!

Every week we are happy and proud to introduce a member of our outstanding team! They come from different backgrounds, countries, cultures and artistic horizons, but they all have one thing in common : they are driven, creative, dynamic, and dedicated to their Etsy business and to their team, SPS Team!


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

Today we are thrilled to introduce Bob and Pam, a couple of artisans and shop owners from Louisiana, USA! They opened their shop called "ZzBob" in March 2008. 

In Bob and Pam's shop you will find a gorgeous selection of wood items handcrafted by Bob, as well as ornaments, sun catchers and jewelry, created by Pam.

Let's meet Pam and learn about her Etsy adventure with her husband and business partner, her daily routine as a full-time seller and her numerous sources of inspiration! 



     





How did your Etsy adventure begin? 

Bob and I retired early, so that we could follow our son and daughter-in-law, and our 2 grandchildren, to Louisiana. All of us agreed it was important for the children to be close to family, and this seemed to be the best way to accomplish that. For the first time in our lives, we suddenly had time to see what we might enjoy doing. Bob discovered his love of wood, and I found that I am obsessed with playing with broken glass. Our daughter-in-law told us about Etsy, as a possible place to sell what we made. I checked it out, and started experimenting with listings. Our first sale was a whale shaped keepsake box, that Bob made from some reclaimed walnut.




Is your Etsy shop your full-time job? or a hobby? How do you manage your time between Etsy and everyday life?

Our Etsy shop is our full time job. The hard part is finding enough time to make things---or maybe, it just seems like that, because that is what I always want to do!  

I start the day on Etsy, answering questions from customers, performing team activities, etc., and, hopefully, printing a few invoices. :) I spend about 2 hours doing this, in my pajamas. Then, I wake Bob up, and get ready for the day. I pack up sold orders, go to the post office, etc. Then, I check back in with Etsy for about 30 minutes. After that, I can make things, until time to pick up the children. After dinner, I work on whatever I am making, for about an hour, and spend another hour on Etsy, and then, shut everything down. 


What inspires you for your designs?

As far as our designs, we are inspired by the beauty all around us, by our grandchildren, and the other children in our lives, by our pets, and the animals at the shelter, where we sometimes volunteer, and by the lives of our heroes.


SteamPunk Clock Ooak Functional Art Original Mosaic Steam Punk

What does the SPS Team mean to you? How does it help you run your business?


I have learned so very much by being a member of the SPS Team, about marketing my business, and the best way to highlight our products. The team helps promote our business every single day. It, also, gives me a way to have fun, while I am doing my daily marketing, so that it is much less of a chore!



Are you a buyer on Etsy as well? What do you usually look to buy?

I am totally an Etsy buyer. I buy supplies for my mosaics, reclaimed wood, from an Etsy seller,that also has a cabinet shop, gifts (lots of gifts!), everything except milk and bread!


Fox Bank Handmade from Reclaimed Oak and Cedar


What is the one thing you would like to change most on Etsy to accommodate your business?


Etsy seems very accommodating, to me.I can't think of anything, at the moment, to wish for.



Which is your favorite social media to use and recommend to other sellers for cross-promoting and why?

I love Pinterest. I promote on Twitter, StumbleUpon, Google Plus, and Facebook, but it seems to me that Pinterest is the more product motivated of the social media. I often have customers mention, to me, that they found us on Pinterest.

Mosaic Pendants You pick style and color

Thank you so much Pam for your insight and generosity !

Visit Pam and Bob's shop today : www.etsy.com/shop/zzbob



You can also connect with Pam and Bob on different social media platforms : 

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/zzbobscreativewoodworking/318522368586
Twitter https://twitter.com/ZzpamPamela
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/geepee/

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

If you are a member of the SPS Team and wish to be featured on our Team Blog in the series of articles 'Meet our Team Members' do not hesitate to contact our Leader, Natalie!




Read some other amazing stories from our Team Members :

- Ellen from The Chilly Dog

Shops offering vintage and handmade items : 

Vicky from Fabric Muse, VLL Designs and SoulFILLedExpression



PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER: 



 
My name is Natalie. I am a French-Canadian gal, but I live in South Korea. My passion is called "Hanji" : sumptuous Korean paper made of mulberry pulp. Hanji has been used for a thousand years in Korea to create decorative or ceremonial objects. For me, it is essential to offer useful and practical objects, that can enjoyed on a daily basis. Tissue cases, pen holders, jewelry, fridge magnets, hair accessories: let the beauty and unique character of Hanji paper make our everyday life objects irresistible!

  
  Bat Hanji Paper Coasters, Traditional Korean Design, Handmade Coasters, Zen Decor, Asian Decor, Longevity Symbol (set of 4)   Brown Striped Hanji Paper Dangle Earrings OOAK Striped Beige Brown Hypoallergenic hooks Lightweight

www.etsy.com/shop/HanjiNaty

Follow Natalie's Blog For The Latest Updates To Her Shop:


www.hanjinaty.com


Monday, August 25, 2014

Items Of The Hour 8/17- 8/23


Items Of The Hour is a weekly thread on the Strategic Promotion For Success Team. Each day 4 items are chosen to be promoted by the other team members.  The purpose of the thread is to bring in new views and hopefully some sales.



Shops can promote the 4 items any way they choose.  Team members can promote by adding the 4 items to their favorites, making a treasury, sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest , other social media, and any other way they can think of.  Team members who have promoted the other shops have an increased chance of their shop being chosen for the next round.




Please Join Me Here: Items Of The Hour



PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER :

Hi I'm Amy. In my shop I offer a variety of crocheted items and occasionally I list vintage crochet & knitting pattern books. I enjoy working on custom orders. My customers often come up with the best creative ideas; and sometimes offer me the challenge of creating something I've never done before. It’s always satisfying to take a piece of yarn and create something new from it. 

     


Thursday, August 21, 2014

Meet our Members! -- Carola from CarolaBartz

The SPS Team is an international team of artists, artisans and creators working together to promote their finest work!

Every week we are happy and proud to introduce a member of our outstanding team! They come from different backgrounds, countries, cultures and artistic horizons, but they all have one thing in common : they are driven, creative, dynamic, and dedicated to their Etsy business and to their team, SPS Team!


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



Today we are thrilled to introduce Carola, a German artist and shop owner who now lives in Northern California, USA! She opened her eponymous Etsy shop CarolaBartz in August 2011. 

In Carola's shop you will find a fantastic selection of handcrafted greeting cards and tags, handmade journals, art and photography.


Let's meet Carola and learn about her creative process and inspiration, and how blogging let us to her dream of opening an Etsy shop! 


     

How did your Etsy adventure begin?

Having my own store on Etsy had been a long dream of mine, one I first didn’t dare to realize. I wanted to “go out” with my photography and my handmade items and first started to write a blog (carolabartz.blogspot.com/). This quite naturally led me to open my Etsy shop a year later. 

My first sale was one of my mini journals. One of my blog readers bought it three weeks after I had opened my store. 

One day I hope my Etsy shop will be my full-time job. However, I still have a long way to go to achieve that goal! My next goal is to get more consistent sales. Although it is a licensed business, it feels more like a hobby at times.


What inspires you for your creations?

Inspiration can come from everywhere – often it is a certain color combination. Most of my inspiration comes from nature. The desert, the American Southwest are deeply moving for me. So are animals, especially coyotes, birds and owls. Witnessing the upbringing of two baby Great Horned owls in the wild fueled me to several paintings and a photo book.


Describe your workshop and your creation habits : where do you work? when is your favorite time to create? Are you messy or tidy? organized or organic?

In 2012 we bought our home and since then I have had my own studio. I painted it in bright happy colors – warm yellow and orange – and it looks out into my garden and the bird feeding station.

My favorite time to work here is the morning when I’m alone in the house and all is quiet. Usually my space is pretty messy, and in between I have big clean up days. Every time I vow to never let it get that messy again. It never works though… I often listen to music while I create, mainly to Native American music or the soundtrack of the “Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy.



Are you a buyer on Etsy as well? What do you usually look to buy?

Yes, I love to buy on Etsy. I bought jewelry, home decor, paintings and little things for my teenage daughter that goes into her advent calendar.



What is your biggest difficulty/challenge as an Etsy shop owner?

My biggest challenge is self-promoting, promoting my shop and items. I’m simply not good at it and feel awkward about it. I often seem to lack the right language as well. At times it can be difficult as a non-native speaker.





Which is your favorite social media to use and recommend to other sellers for cross-promoting and why?

I have a Facebook business page where I mainly post my photos and receive reasonable response. I also promote new listings or sales here, but not as often as I post photos and try to connect with my readers and/or customers. 

Pinterest is very addictive, but I’m not sure whether I use it in the “right” way. I pin my new listings to it and see that people are re-pinning them, so that is good. I also get quite some traffic from Pinterest.





How does a team such as SPSTeam help you develop your Etsy business?

The SPS Team helps me with all the different events it offers. I don’t participate in all of them, but some – like making several treasuries for each other on a weekend, the CIJ sale event etc. I see that there is more traffic to my shop when I’m active in one or more of these events.




Thank you so much Carola for your insight and generosity !

Visit Carola's shop today : 
www.etsy.com/shop/CarolaBartz


You can also connect with Carola on her blog, and on different social media platforms : 
Blog : carolabartz.blogspot.com
Facebook : www.facebook.com/CarolaBartzPhotoArt
Pinterest  : www.pinterest.com/carolabartz

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

If you are a member of the SPS Team and wish to be featured on our Team Blog in the series of articles 'Meet our Team Members' do not hesitate to contact our Leader, Natalie!




Read some other amazing stories from our Team Members :

- Ellen from The Chilly Dog

Shops offering vintage and handmade items : 

Vicky from Fabric Muse, VLL Designs and SoulFILLedExpression



PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER: 



 
My name is Natalie. I am a French-Canadian gal, but I live in South Korea. My passion is called "Hanji" : sumptuous Korean paper made of mulberry pulp. Hanji has been used for a thousand years in Korea to create decorative or ceremonial objects. For me, it is essential to offer useful and practical objects, that can enjoyed on a daily basis. Tissue cases, pen holders, jewelry, fridge magnets, hair accessories: let the beauty and unique character of Hanji paper make our everyday life objects irresistible!

  
  



www.etsy.com/shop/HanjiNaty

Follow Natalie's Blog For The Latest Updates To Her Shop:


www.hanjinaty.com


Monday, August 18, 2014

Items Of The Hour 8/10- 8/16

Items Of The Hour is a weekly thread on the StrategicPromotion For Success Team

Each day 4 items are chosen to be promoted by the other team members.  The purpose of the thread is to bring in new views and hopefully some sales.



Shops can promote the 4 items any way they choose.  Team members can promote by adding the 4 items to their favorites, making a treasury, sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, other social media, and any other way they can think of.  

Team members who have promoted the other shops have an increased chance of their shop being chosen for the next round.



 Please Join Me Here Items Of The Hour



PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER :

Hi I'm Amy. In my shop I offer a variety of crocheted items and occasionally I list vintage crochet & knitting pattern books. I enjoy working on custom orders. My customers often come up with the best creative ideas; and sometimes offer me the challenge of creating something I've never done before. It’s always satisfying to take a piece of yarn and create something new from it. 
     



Saturday, August 16, 2014

Using the New @Mention Feature on Pinterest

I love Pinterest! Not only is it a place where I can promote my own blog posts, Etsy items and treasuries I have been featured in. I can also collect and organize all  my favorite craft DIYs, recipes, blogging tips, Etsy items and treasuries in one place.

Pinterest has many features that are similar to other social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Google+. You can follow other people (or Pinterest boards) that you are interested in so that their pins show up in your data feed. Then you have the ability to like, comment or re-pin the posts that you like. If you are feeling fancy, you can even use #hashtags when pinning on Pinterest. (Learn more about using #hashtags in my post #WhatIsaHashtag.)

Until recently, Pinterest has been missing one of the most common features that every other social network has, the ability to @mention other users.

What is an @mention and what happens when I use it?


This question can be answered best with an example.

I recently received a convo from one of our SPS teammies, RMS Flair from artzest, letting me know that I had been featured in her latest treasury, which I always appreciate :)

Of course I wanted to help promote the treasury so I pinned it.



I follow both RMSFlair and the SPS Team on Pinterest.

So, in the description section of my pin I wrote "Love this black and white collection created by @RMS Flair for the @SPSteamEtsy weekend treasury game."

Abracadabra! This is where the Pinterest/social networking magic happens.

First, there are now clickable links to @RMS Flair and @SPSteamEtsy in my pin. So if people want to see what RMS Flair and the SPS Team are pinning they can click on those links and be taken directly to their Pinterest profile pages.

Using an @mention is a nice way to give an extra bit of promotion and appreciation to other pinners you like.

Then there's a second piece of magic. Both RMS Flair and the SPS Team will get a notification on Pinterest and/or an e-mail letting them know that they were mentioned. (Note: You can change your Pinterest notification preferences in the "settings" section of your profile.)

Here's a copy of e-mail that was sent to the SPS Team.


If the person you have @mentioned likes your pin chances are they will favorite, re-pin or comment on your post, which helps spread it to even more people, which is the whole purpose of social networking.

Finally, as I said before, @mentions can be used on other social networks as well. As long as you know someone's username on that particular social network, you can @mention them.

Thanks to RMS Flair  from artzest for treasuring me and inspiring this blog post!


PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER :


My name is Ellen and I LOVE to design and create things. I find it deeply satisfying to start with nothing more than an idea and finish with a tangible, beautiful, functional piece of work. I enjoy learning new techniques that I can incorporate into my creations. I practice a variety of different art forms, but find I always have at least one knit, crochet or sewing project in progress.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Meet our Members! -- Vicky from VLL Designs, Fabric Muse and SoulFILLed Expression

The SPS Team is an international team of artists, artisans and creators working together to promote their finest work!

Every week we are happy and proud to introduce a member of our outstanding team! They come from different backgrounds, countries, cultures and artistic horizons, but they all have one thing in common : they are driven, creative, dynamic, and dedicated to their Etsy business and to their team, SPST!


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



Today we are thrilled to introduce Vicky, a very busy Etsy shop owner from Idaho USA who actually has... three shops! 

⇛ Fabric Muse is a shop offering a wide range of textile products : fabrics, handmade goods, quilts, linens, crochet, and their vintage counterparts

 VLL Designs is a mix of handmade jewelry and components, housewares, and their vintage counterparts.

Fabric Muse and VLL Designs is summed up “Something old . . . Something new” products both purchased and handmade by this old vintage soul with a little touch of french thrown in and a few family treasures.

 SoulFILLed Expression is a mixed media, photography, stamping supplies shop.

Let's meet Vicky and learn about her Etsy adventure, and how she manages to handle three separate Etsy shops, along with important family obligations.



     



Why do you sell on Etsy?

I sell full time. I chose Etsy because it always came up in my Internet searches! I'd also read good things about Etsy on the Web.


Tell us the story of your shops.

In 2013 it was determined that my husband, who has been fighting cancer since 2010, needed stay at home care 24/7. I was laid off 6 months earlier and my unemployment was quickly coming to an end; the need for income was a strong reality. I began weighing all my options, including the “dream” I’d always held dear at the back of my mind - owning my own business. My first option was to sell everything we did not need. I began cleaning looking for items to list in the classifieds. One day while cleaning out a closet, I came across a box of vintage items that had been made by myself, my mother, and my grandmother. As I began looking through this box, that “dream” started churning, plans started coming together and Fabric Muse was born, followed by VLL Designs 3 months later, and SoulFILLed Expression shortly after that.

The excitement of gleaning and posting products was abuzz in or home. As I researched and uploaded products I shared them with my husband showing the photos and reading the descriptions. One day while sharing I could see his brain literally churning like a washing machine. Then he asked me to get a box from one of his drawers and he started giving me items and telling me stories of how his father had given them to him. His treasures were added to mine, along with their stories, and three shops were born!

Most days you will find me taking care of my husband, immersed in fabrics, linens, jewelry, and photography - creating and/or bringing new life to old things. (and promoting on SPSTeam).

Our days are numbered and we treasure each moment as we walk this journey together with God strengthening and guiding us.



I opened my shop July 11th. I checked it religiously, several time a day for sales. I believe I joined at least one team a couple of weeks after the opening. I started promoted daily, but nothing happened for several more weeks. Then just when I was felt like giving up, my first sale happened and it took off from there. I will say this much, being on a team that promotes, promotes, promotes and participating daily makes a big difference in your sales. You have to keep your products out there and the hearts coming in.


What are the difficulties and benefits of having more than one shop on Etsy? How do you manage your different shops?

This is a difficult one. With everything I have going on in my life, three shops is a bit difficult. Promoting is very difficult. Imagine promoting three times what you do and on multiple teams! 

I make it a point to always promote two of my shops on a daily basis on multiple teams and threads. I try to rotate between the three shops as much as possible.



    



Are you a buyer on Etsy as well? What do you usually look to buy? 

I am a buyer, though not to often. I'm usually looking for supplies for my products. However to keep costs down I am after the best value for my dollar.


What is the one thing you would like to change most on Etsy to accommodate your business?

Although I like the changes Etsy is making, I've found it really slows me down. I don't have time to waste and want to immediately get to what I want i.e. the shop, not the highlights. Give the first page of the shop with the highlights at the bottom. 






Which is your favorite social media to use and recommend to other sellers for cross-promoting and why?

It would have to be Twitter and Pinterest. I can get a tweet out pretty fast and keep working. Blogs take longer to create. And, Etsy made it easy by giving us the icons for Twitter and Pinterest.


How does a team like SPS Team help your Etsy businesses?

Immensely! When I'm having a difficult day and have to chose one team to use it's always SPSTeam due to the multiple threads and the participants. SPS has strong participants daily and easy to understand threads!



Thank you so much Vicky for your insight and great generosity !

Visit Vicky's shops today : 
⇛ Fabric Muse (Textile Products) : www.etsy.com/shop/fabricmuse
⇛ VLL Designs (Jewelry, Houseware) : www.etsy.com/shop/vlldesigns
⇛ SoulFILLed Expression (Mixed media, photo, supplies) : www.etsy.com/shop/soulfilledexpression


You can also connect with Vicky on different social media platforms : 
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/VLL-Designs/1421421818076825
Twitter : https://twitter.com/VickyVLLDesigns
Pinterest  : http://www.pinterest.com/vickyvlldesigns/

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

If you are a member of the SPS Team and wish to be featured on our Team Blog in the series of articles 'Meet our Team Members' do not hesitate to contact our Leader, Natalie!




Read some other amazing stories from our Team Members :

- Ellen from The Chilly Dog




PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER: 



 
My name is Natalie. I am a French-Canadian gal, but I live in South Korea. My passion is called "Hanji" : sumptuous Korean paper made of mulberry pulp. Hanji has been used for a thousand years in Korea to create decorative or ceremonial objects. For me, it is essential to offer useful and practical objects, that can enjoyed on a daily basis. Tissue cases, pen holders, jewelry, fridge magnets, hair accessories: let the beauty and unique character of Hanji paper make our everyday life objects irresistible!


  


www.etsy.com/shop/HanjiNaty

Follow Natalie's Blog For The Latest Updates To Her Shop:


www.hanjinaty.com