Keeping Your Facebook Followers Engaged

It's not a secret. Your Facebook news feed features posts from pages you interact with regularly.

This can have a HUGE impact on cottage businesses, like Etsy sellers, who use a Facebook page to market their shop. Even if you have a million Facebook followers, if your followers do not frequently like, share or comment on your posts, you will eventually disappear from their feed.

So how do you keep your followers engaged?

Post Frequently

If you are only posting once or twice a month, your stories will get lost in people's news feeds. You simply won't be seen. People will think your page has become inactive and eventually un-follow you.

There's no magic number for how often a business should share on Facebook. I like to post once or twice a day because not every post is seen by every follower. If that seems like a lot, you can start off by posting 3-4 times a week.

Welcome New Followers

Everyone likes to feel special. Post a welcome to your newest followers every week or two. You can make it extra special by including a pretty picture. Think of it like sending a little greeting card to say hi.

If another page has liked your page it's nice to include an @mention in your welcome. (An @mention is just the "@"symbol followed by the page's user name. It creates a direct link to the other business page and sends them a notification that they have been mentioned.)

Thanks for new likes from DeUno Art, Viktoria, Pearl, Lucy, Mis Stepp, and Zelda! Hope you enjoy our posts!

Posted by Echidna Art and Cards on Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Be Personal

Indie businesses have an distinct advantage on social media because in addition to selling products, we each have a very personal story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell your followers about your triumphs, struggles or even just things that make you happy.

A beautiful handcrafted necklace for a beautiful friend!! Couldn't be prouder :D
Posted by Hanji Naty on Sunday, June 28, 2015

I am 3 items away from 1,000 items sold. I think I should do something special for whoever buys the 1000th item from my shop. Should it be a surprise? Still thinking about it. Feel free to offer suggestions!

Posted by Catching Waves Artisan Jewelry on Monday, July 13, 2015

Can you find Mr. and Mrs. Goldfinch?I hope they leave some cosmos seeds for me!#chillin #inthegarden #birdwatching

Posted by North and South Shabby on Monday, July 13, 2015

Ask Questions

Everyone wants to share their opinion from time to time. Asking your followers specific questions not only engages them, it also makes them feel like they are an important part of your business.

I have been thinking of remaking a few of these in other colors but it seems the more I think the less I figure it...

Posted by Knots & Sparklez on Thursday, June 25, 2015

Spread Some Love

Small businesses aren't always competitors. If you regularly promote other indie shops, people will remember and possibly even promote your shop.

This is my journal recently purchased from this lovely shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/CarolaBartz Please visit and find some lovely treasures for yourself!
Posted by Joliefemme on Saturday, June 13, 2015

Found another artist I like. Check out this glass blower:https://www.etsy.com/listing/214506940/black-eyed-susan-lampwork-hand-blown?ref=shop_home_active_7
Posted by Babywear by Babs on Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Follow Others

Don't forget to put the "social" in social media. "Like" other relevant business pages, including the SPS Team, as your page. Also, interact with other pages by liking, commenting and sharing posts you enjoy.

You can find a list of other SPS Team members in the Facebook Directory on our Etsy team forum.

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.

shop The Chilly Dog

For free craft pattern's, tutorials and inspiration visit my blog, The Chilly Dog.

Where's the URL?

If you are active in the SPS Team forum on Etsy, you may have noticed that a lot of our newer threads ask you to share the URL of an item, pin, post or tweet.

The URL is just a link that goes directly to the item, pin, post or tweet that you want to share. It sounds easy enough, but for those of us who are new to social media, finding the link may be easier said than done.

Before we begin, you'll need to locate the address bar in your web browser. It's the box at the top of your screen that has the internet address of the page you are visiting. Here's our team blog with the address bar circled.

The address bar is where the magic happens, but there are still a few more things you need to know about finding the link for specific items, pins, posts and tweets.

Etsy Item URL

We'll start on Etsy. I'm going to look at an item from one of my favorite SPS Team shops, WookNook13. Let's take a closer look at the address bar on the top of the page.

To use this URL in the team forum or on social media, you only need to copy/paste the information before the "?".

So what are the extra symbols and words in the link? The information from the "?" to the right simply tells Etsy how you arrived at this page. For example, I clicked on this item link from the shop's home page.

Pin URL

Now let's find the URL of a pin on Pinterest. I'm going to pin this item from WookNook13 to my Etsy All-Stars board.

After I pin the item this window pops up and I click the "See it now" button.

The link to my pin is in the address bar and I can copy/paste it as needed.

Tweet URL

Now let's take a look at Twitter. BohemianUp tweeted about another SPS teammie on her twitter page.

It looks like she tweeted this on April 20. Clicking on the the time stamp (in this case Apr 20) opens the expanded version of the tweet. The URL of this tweet is in the address bar at the top of the page.

Facebook Post URL

CarolaBartz shared a picture of one of her items on her Facebook page. Just like on Twitter, you can find a link to this post by clicking on the time/date that it was posted.

The expanded version of the post appears and the link is now in the address bar.

Google+ Post URL

Finding the post URL on Google+ is a little different than the other social media platforms, but it's still pretty easy.

Dawn from DeeDeeDesigns posted in the SPS Team's Google+ Community.

When you hover your mouse over a Google+ post a "v" appears in the upper right corner. Clicking on it opens an options menu. Find and select "Link to post".

A small window opens with the link to the post. Just copy/paste the highlighted link. Then select "done" to close the pop-up window.

Now that you know how to find the link to specific items, pins, posts and tweets, join us for some of the newest discussions in the forum:

• Adopt-a-Shop
• SPST Facebook Promo Campaign
• SPST Twitter Promo Campaign
• BEST IN SHOW Game
• Pinterest Cross Promo/ Re-pin the items above you

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.

thechillydog on Etsy

For free craft pattern's, tutorials and inspiration visit my blog, The Chilly Dog.

SPS Team Google+ Community

It's the time of year to start thinking about a little spring cleaning. You know, clearing out the cobwebs and sprucing things up a bit.

We've done just that in the SPS Team's Google+ Community.

To make things more inviting, we've freshened up the community and created more categories for you to promote and share all of the wonderful things you are doing and promote other team members and Etsians, as well.





Here's a peek at the improved discussion categories in our Google+ Community:

• Introduce Yourself -  Tell the team about yourself and your shop, share links to your other social media sites and just say hi.
• General Chat - Ask a question, give an opinion and say what's on your mind.
• Team Member Items - Share links to your items or items from other SPS Team shops.
• Team Treasuries - Share links to treasuries that you have created, been featured in or that include other SPS Team member items.
• Team Blog Posts - Share links to new posts from your blog and we'll be sharing new posts from the team blog, too.
• Sales, Events & Coupons - Tell us about special deals and promotions in your shop.
• Etsy Seller Resources - Share tips, tools apps that might be helpful to other sellers.
• Promote Other Etsians - Spread some love to other Etsians who aren't a part of our team, yet :)

Team members are encouraged to use the Google+ community as an additional place to promote shops, items and treasuries from the SPS Team Forum Discussions on Etsy.

And of course, since it's a community, please take a moment to comment on, +1 and share your favorite posts by other team members.

I can't wait to meet you in the SPS Team's Google+ Community!

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.

     

thechillydog on Etsy

For free craft pattern's, tutorials and inspiration visit my blog, The Chilly Dog.

Renew or Re-Do Old Listings? Bringing a Fresh Perspective to Your Shop for 2015

The Allure of the New

I've been making and selling jewelry on Etsy for about 5 years.  I have found that my "eye" for jewelry design (my own and others' creations) is always developing and changing.  I am always eager to explore new materials and try new ideas.  In fact, the quest for the "new, rare, one-of-a-kind" element (beads, pendants, etc.) that will make the next piece a knockout can become obsessive!

Reviewing the Old

In the New Year, however, I decided to take a critical look back at items that had expired or been renewed multiple times.  Some of those pieces represent a significant investment in materials. But instead of helping me fund new supplies (or recoup past expenses) they were just 'sitting on the shelf.'

The first older piece I redid with a new vision of its possibilities sold almost as soon as it was listed. Other pieces I've redone haven't sold yet, but I'm happy that they better represent who I am now as a jewelry designer.  Not all crafts lend themselves to makeovers as easily as jewelry, but looking back at past creations and reflecting on what worked and what could be stronger can help all artists to grow.


Look Elsewhere

Looking objectively at your own work isn't easy, however.  Here is the single most important tip I've found for bringing a fresh eye to your own pieces:  Look elsewhere first!  Go hunting for inspiration! Look at a LOT (hundreds, at least) of creations by other people working in your craft.  Don't limit yourself to a single style or time period or theme, or to what you already know you like--just look for ANY jewelry (or pottery or fiber art) that makes you catch your breath, makes you want to reach out and touch.

Make an Inspiration Gallery

Use Pinterest or your Etsy favorites to make a good-sized collection of the pieces that resonate for you. Do you notice any patterns, colors, or small details that stand out in the pieces you especially love?  Which ones surprise you or intrigue you the most?

Don't worry about being influenced by other artists' work.  As long as you're not copying someone's creation, there is nothing wrong with absorbing fresh influences and then bringing them into your own creative process.  Artists have always been inspired by each others' creations. Chances are, when you come back to your own pieces, new possibilities will jump out at you.

Here are some pieces by other jewelry designers that caught my eye--and some words for what inspires me in them:
Storytelling, Asymmetry, Unexpected, Bold Colors

Small Changes Add Up

One other tip I've learned from revising my past jewelry designs:

Sometimes a small change can make a piece feel new.  Here is one piece I redid, adding a pendant to give the necklace more interest.

Sometimes, also, a new photo of the same piece may be all that's needed!  Product photography is another topic and a HUGE challenge for jewelry sellers--one I'm still working on.  I just bought my first DSLR camera--now I need to learn how to use it!

There is certainly more to growing and developing your shop than revising older listings. But if you make pieces that can be altered, looking back at older listings might present the opportunity to refresh past creations, revitalize your shop, and boost your sales for 2015.

PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER:

Once upon a time I wanted to grow up to be an artist. As it turned out, I became an English teacher (which I loved) and a mother of two amazing children (which I loved) and somehow I never found much time for art. When I started exploring crafts, it was like a flip got switched. There is now paint and paper, shells and driftwood, beads and wool and more beads spread all over my kitchen and I feel like a child who doesn't want to stop playing...

    

catchingwaves on Etsy

Shop Unique for the Holidays!

Dear Holiday Shopper,

We, the sellers of Etsy want to share one simple reminder . . .

Shop unique.

Shop Etsy for the holidays!

Etsy is a marketplace where people around the world connect to buy and sell unique goods. We know you have to go “big box retail” to buy the flat screen TV or iPhone that is on your sweetie’s list. Just remember, for all the other gifts on your list, you can shop on Etsy. We are the real sellers on Etsy – some of us are running our shop as a side-business, while others are selling full-time. We are moms, dads, sons, daughters. You see us selling at craft shows and boutiques. We are entrepreneurs, risk-takers, and passion-sharers. We want to share our creativity with the world and help connect you to real-life makers – not a robot or a disconnected manufacturer. On Etsy, you can shop by all of these categories: 

accessories, art, bags and purses, bath and beauty, books and zines, candles, ceramics and 

pottery, children, clothing, crochet, dolls and miniatures, everything else, furniture, Geekery, glass, holidays, housewares, jewelry, knitting, music,needlecraft, paper goods, patterns, pets, plants and edibles, quilts, supplies, toys, vintage, weddings, and woodworking!

Regards,

The Sellers of Etsy 

This heartwarming letter has been written in the context of the SHOP UNIQUE promotional campaign, a very inventive and dynamic initiative has been taken by Jason from Etsy-preneurship and Timothy from Handmadeology.

The idea is to work together to promote Holiday shopping on Etsy ! All the Etsy sellers are invited to take part in this massive movement!!

 

How can you participate?

1) Visit the Shop Unique page : http://www.handmadeology.com/shop-unique-shop-etsy-for-the-holidays/

2) Click on the banner "Click Here to Join the Shop Unique Promotion"

3) Follow the instructions : you must use Facebook to like and share the post, and to invite other Etsy sellers to join the movement! There are six (6) easy steps to add your Etsy shop to the list, and to participate in this massive effort to bring shoppers to our Etsy shops!

1. Submit your shop by filling out an online form
2. Like the original post on Facebook
3. Post your Etsy shop link in the comment section (on Facebook) along with a brief sentence about what you sell
4. Comment and like 3 other comments on the Facebook post
5. Share the post and tag at least 5 other Etsy sellers to invite them to join the movement! You can also tag some of your biggest fans to invite them to support the Shop Unique initiative.
6. Spread the word : Tweet, blog, talk about it in Team Forum, etc.!

   

Spread the word!

The sixth and last step is very important!! We have to beat our drum loud and clear to make sure people remember to visit Etsy when time comes to do their Holiday shopping!

Please please share this post on your personal blog or Facebook page! Leave a link to your blog in the comments below, so we can all stay connected!

Together we can make a difference! Go Team, Go !

Check out our Team shop on Etsy to see all the wonders our Team members have to offer :
https://www.etsy.com/people/SPSTeamShop/favorites?ref=pr_faveitems_more




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, ceremonial and daily-life 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

Product Photography: Adjusting the White Balance

Between my blog and my Etsy shop, I take hundreds of pictures of my craft projects and products every month. I am continually looking for ways to improve my own photos because I know that quality photos attract customers and help me tell my crafting story.

You don't need to be a professional photographer, or have a fancy camera, to take decent pictures. There are a few simple things that anyone can do with a basic digital point and shoot camera. For example, taking your camera off of the "auto" setting and experimenting with different features, especially the white balance, can have a huge impact on your photos.

I adjust the white balance on my camera every time I shoot a series of photos. If you have ever noticed that your photos have a yellowish or bluish hue, your camera's white balance setting is probably to blame.

Here's how to show your product's true colors.

Most newer cameras have at least five white balance settings besides auto. They are sunny, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent and daylight fluorescent.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, let me show you how the white balance settings can change a photo. We'll start with a roll up artists case that I just made for my daughter. I took this picture inside with a white background and natural lighting from a window in the room. All of my camera settings remained the same except for the white balance. From left to right, my white balance settings were sunny, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, daylight fluorescent.

Click on the photo strip for a larger view

In this example the fluorescent setting provided a photo where the colors appear closest to the actual item color.

Now let's go outside and look at the fairy garden by my front door. Again, the only thing I adjusted in each shot is the white balance setting.

Click on the photo strip for a larger view

Even though I was taking the picture in the shade, the sunny setting produced the best results.

Here are a couple more examples, a hibiscus in my backyard

Click on the photo strip for a larger view

and one of the paintings hanging in my studio.

Click on the photo strip for a larger view

As you can see, the appropriate white balance setting depends greatly on your lighting conditions.

Don't be afraid to switch off the auto setting on your camera. It only takes a few minutes to experiment and see which white balance setting works best for your situation.



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.

The Chilly Dog on Etsy
The Chilly Dog - Blog

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