Good Source Of Info For Online Sellers

[kmmcrafts]

I just found this blog again when I got on my very old laptop.. had been searching for this blog on and off for a long time.. just thought I'd share it with you all.. 

This info is older and outdated.. I wanted to sort of re-write something similar but more updated and geared more towards more specific to what most of us make and sell.. However.. I'm quite busy and I'm sure I will probably never get around to doing this.. While some of this info is old.. most of it still applies.. there are some dead links on some of the topics.. most can be found doing a google search..

The link is going to take you to a blog.. this blog is what helped me tremendously years ago when I first started selling ( before I was selling crafts ). so yeah it's quite old info..

Note: link just goes to the home page.. Use the menu on the left side to go to specific information.. lots of info in each category with links inside these post for even more information.. Lot's to read if you have any interest in doing online selling.. this is a good start for some info..

Hoping this helps someone here

https://gotogreatpanes.com/blog/about/

 

 

[Roberta Moreton]

That was quite interesting 

[Runa]

Hi Kevin, I dont see the blog anymore. Do you have the info?

 

I would like to better understand how to promote and market online. I have zero visitors and it is a little disappointing :(

[kmmcrafts]

5 hours ago, Runa said:

Hi Kevin, I dont see the blog anymore. Do you have the info?

 

I would like to better understand how to promote and market online. I have zero visitors and it is a little disappointing :(

I don't think this blog had any info about marketing or bringing in traffic to your etsy store.. The info was about business license, sales tax info, shipping info etc etc.. basic info a person would look for in starting a online business..

As for getting traffic on etsy.. I took a quick look at your site.. my first instinct was.. 2 items?  Do you go to the small convenient store to do your major grocery shopping..or do you go to a big store with lots to choose from.. having only 2 items on etsys very large platform of thousands of scroll saw type items your shop just gets lost in all the other stuff.. After clicking on your lamp listing.. I see you have several different lamps under that one listing.. I'd suggest making a listing for each style you have.. while that cost more to list all of those.. it puts more items in your store... and another reason why is this... If a person lands on your etsy home page.. they see the 1 lamp and 1 puzzle.. All those other styles of lamps are hidden in the one listing.. at first glance someone doesn't like the lamp style you have shown in that first picture.. they will just move into another store.. If they seen you have 15 or so different style of lamps on your first page.. they may say "hey those are cool" then they might start clicking on the listings to see if you have any other styles or what other options you might have.. Online selling is all about the presentation.. visual because they cannot physically touch the lamp.. I'd do several pictures of each lamp at different angles and do separate listings for each style..

When describing what you are selling.. think of how you would describe it to a blind person.. ( there are actually blind people shopping online) so describe the item to the blind person.. How is it made? does it need assembly? what type of wood? what type of finish is applied if any? what size is it? If you provide a light.. how many watts? Think of yourself as a shopper for your store.. with the info given.. would you buy the item if you knew nothing of the lamp.. and stumbles upon it does it describe what it is?

Selling online is difficult because the shopping cannot pick up the item and turn it at different angles.. look at the bottom etc.. so you need to do that for them with photos...    

You title of your listing should be loaded with words to describe what you are selling.. You have " Handmade wood lamps" Do a listing of each product.. and describe that product in the title.. such as.. Mother And Baby Lamp Or Nightlight Handcrafted From Walnut Wood By RunaTCreations.. This puts your shop name in google.. Someone searching for a baby lamp nightlight you have all these keywords in that listing : Mother, Baby, Lamp, Nightlight, Handcrafted, Walnut, Wood, and your shop name.. You could even to further with that and say Home Decor to get that keyword in there.. Then it would read.. Mother And Baby Home Decor Lamp Or Nightlight Handcrafted From Walnut Wood By ********..    

When I first started playing around with selling on etsy I put up about 20 items.. got a few sales and views etc.. but when I hit 50 items I did a little better.. Just starting off it takes a lot of time.. in fact.. most times it takes about 3-6 weeks just for items to get indexed with the search engines ( google ) etc.. It's a good idea to market your stuff about 3- 6 months in advance.. Sort of like stores do.. as soon as the back to school stuff clears the shelves they have Halloween stuff on those shelves.. many times Thanksgiving stuff before Halloween is even over.. The difference with your store and online selling is.. getting in the searches.. right now.. online selling.. should be getting ready for Valentines.. because it's basically too late for Christmas with only a couple weeks to go.. by the time people see it with the way searches work.. it'd be after Christmas..

There are some decent teams on etsy for helping one another in promoting.. some of those teams are sort of a game.. such as.. post a item to be promoted and then promote 5 people above you.. whether that promoting is on pinterest, twitter,wanelom facebook  etc etc.. I used these type of things when I first got started...but they do take time out of your day and I do very little of that stuff anymore..  

There are lots of blogs and informational videos etc on how to promote your handmade goods by doing a search..

 

I hope you don't take this as criticizing how you have set up your etsy shop.. I'm merely pointing out facts that will help you be found in search.. Like I've said a million times.. selling online isn't what many people seem to think it is.. It's Work.. You can't expect to put a few things in your store and the shopping will just line up to buy your products.. You have to make a presentable store and first impression.. and then go to social media sites and show off your pictures with links to your items..

 

Feel free to ask more questions and I will try to answer as best I can and as time permits..  

[Runa]

Kevin,

Thank you for the efforts you took to respond to my question in detail.

I am going to take your advice and list items separately as well as update with detailed descriptions. I really am hoping this works. 

I will reach out when I have questions. My heart is full of gratitude!

 

[kmmcrafts]

18 minutes ago, Runa said:

Kevin,

Thank you for the efforts you took to respond to my question in detail.

I am going to take your advice and list items separately as well as update with detailed descriptions. I really am hoping this works. 

I will reach out when I have questions. My heart is full of gratitude!

 

I hope you have good success with it.. It does take a long time and a lot of work to gain those first few sales.. Let me know when you get the listings updated.. I'll promote some of your items to my social groups... we'll see if we can get you the first couple sales.  you do beautiful work.. no reason in the world someone wouldn't want to buy one or three  

[amazingkevin]

On 11/20/2017 at 9:45 PM, kmmcrafts said:

I just found this blog again when I got on my very old laptop.. had been searching for this blog on and off for a long time.. just thought I'd share it with you all.. 

This info is older and outdated.. I wanted to sort of re-write something similar but more updated and geared more towards more specific to what most of us make and sell.. However.. I'm quite busy and I'm sure I will probably never get around to doing this.. While some of this info is old.. most of it still applies.. there are some dead links on some of the topics.. most can be found doing a google search..

The link is going to take you to a blog.. this blog is what helped me tremendously years ago when I first started selling ( before I was selling crafts ). so yeah it's quite old info..

Note: link just goes to the home page.. Use the menu on the left side to go to specific information.. lots of info in each category with links inside these post for even more information.. Lot's to read if you have any interest in doing online selling.. this is a good start for some info..

Hoping this helps someone here

https://gotogreatpanes.com/blog/about/

 

 

I've tried Esty,E-bay,Craigs list and sold nothing."Offer Up" on my phone has sold so much almost as soon as i post something and for free.You need to download the free app.The good thing is nobody bought what i 've shown but asked for custom work which i gladly accommodate them.One lady is a party planner and comes over 25 miles to pick up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!So my stuff is still there as samples so to speak.