Finding Success on Etsy

By no way am I the expert on mega sales and views on my humble little store but I have gone from virtually 0 sales to a steady flow of site traffic and a few sales that I am so thankful for. I can't guarantee you the same results if you try my methods but I can tell you that I have made a lot of great friends and contacts and I have learned valuable information along the way.
The number one thing that helped me was putting myself out there and introducing myself to fellow etsians that I admired. I favorited their shops, read their profiles, and started conversing with them about their etsy experiences. You will probably find 99% of these interactions will be awesome , helpful and ongoing relationships but there will occasionally be the 1% that leaves you feeling not so warm and gooey inside.
After you have favorited some artisans start making treasuries! They are a lot of fun to create, they showcase your favorite etsians talent, and they show another side of your creativity but most importantly they are a form of networking with other artists. If you have ever been picked for a treasury you know how thankful and honored you feel to be selected and in time someone may return the favor to you!
The one thing that I should have done in my first month but didn't do for one year was to read the seller handbook. Had I have done this back then I could have turned my store around sooner. If you are looking for ways to improve anything about your store and you haven't checked this out too please do! Looking for ways to improve your photos? There is an entire section. How about marketing and advertising? Of course that is there too. What about shipping tips, revamping your site, customer service 101? Basically everything you need to know about selling on Etsy is presented in the handbook so take advantage of this valuable tool!
After you have the basics nailed down start getting your presence out there more. Start a facebook page for your business and link back to your store often and invite all your friends. Also leave a link on your store page and invite customers. Mail out a newsletter and offer customers something fun for signing up. I use Mailchimp because it is free up to 500 email addresses and is easy to navigate. Many etsians also have a blog and they link their addresses on all their sites! On my blog and facebook I often feature my favorite designers and than they bring in fans too!
Miscellaneous tips include renewing items every few days, especially if you are not listing new items every day. Make sure that you are using all of your tags and that they are coming up in searches!!Of course I give beaucoup credit to blog Tools Are For Women Too!, as far as I know it is the only one of its kind and is so valuable in connecting wonderful designers and showcasing talent! In an earlier post I mentioned Micromentor and the help that they give for free!! The site matches you with a business mentor that guides you in the entrepreneur process and is tailored specifically to your needs!
I will keep looking for unique ways to grow your stores and if I find anything I will definitely share the info with you. On that note I have been praying for God's guidance in my business and help and I can say that I believe this has helped. With all these things combined and jumping backwards three times...just kidding;) Hopefully this helps in some small way and I wish all of you huge success in your businesses and your lives!!!
xoxo-Brooke

New Bling!!

So excited!! Today I received new glass beads and sterling findings for the store and I will be incorporating them into designs that will be rolling into the store everyday this week. But that isn't the best part. The best news is that I ordered some awesome gems, the beautiful faceted briolette kind and they already shipped. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I get new goodies and I have some of my favorites coming, some really rocking rocks! Turquoise and green amethyst, peridot, etc., etc. Make sure you visit Sunset & Vine for the new designs!

Also a reminder that Tools Are For Women Too! is having the Modern Craftswoman Monday Party so stop by!!

Tools Are For Women Too! & Sunset & Vine Jewelry Giveaway

I have partnered with my friend and very inspiring person, Rory, from Tools Are For Women Too! to do a giveaway of some very awesome earrings from my store Sunset & Vine Jewelry! Please stop by Tools Are For Women Too! to get the information on entering the giveaway (super easy). You will be glad you did these earrings are very glitzy and glam in a natural goddess way! While you are here take a little time to enter my July giveaway posted too!

Featured Blog

Tools Are for Women Too! is one of most rocking blogs !! With the Times are Tough Thursdays and now a Modern Craftswoman Monday giving credit to Etsy artists that handcraft their wares and sell them for a profit, the blogs creator, Rory, is spotlighting these artists and there talents. He does this for no charge, no pay per click or pay per impression, he just asks that you pass along the word. When times are tough it is awesome to know that there is someone like him to support his fellow artisans and take his time to put this together and I am honored to be a part of the party and I will gladly do my part, pay it forward and pass it along. To view some really great handcrafted and vintage items follow this link:

toolsareforwomentoo.blogspot.com/2010/07/link-party-time-modern-craftswoman_12.html

Monthly Contest-July Contest

Enter to win the bracelet pictured for July's contest by following the most simple 2 step process:

1. Go to Sunset & Vine Jewelry and browse

the store items and pick your most fav!

2. Come back to tidbits & glitz blog and

post your fav link in the comments section of

this posting!

Super easy right and one lucky winner will

receive the featured bracelet! The bracelet is

sterling silver and freshwater pearls with

the gemstone iolite also included for a truly beautiful piece!

This is the first monthly contest.For a bonus enter your email in the link at the side to be sent our quarterly newsletter!

Newsletter

Everybody loves a free product so I have wised up and will be sending out a quarterly newsletter with updates on the store, exclusive sales, contests and a drawing every quarter for recipients of the newsletter. I will not be spamming my fans and they will get much in return for signing up!!

MicroMentor

Boy have I been busy in a good way. My store is taking off slowly but surely...knock on wood, ha ha! So far I think I should credit God, I have done tons of praying, the "please God just give me one sell and I promise I will be good" kind.
Let me credit my fellow etsians for their help with advice and for being kind enough to put me in some treasuries and reading lots to Storque blog entries (the Etsy blog). I tried Google Adwords and so far nothing really great has come of it but I have tracked my page with their web analytics and I can't believe I didn't start sooner. This great site craftopolis.com shows you all your stats and tag info and even treasuries you are included in, and a site called craftcult.com gives you all of your page views ever!
By far the greatest thing I have to tell you about if you are starting your own business is a site I stumbled upon a month ago when I was looking for volunteering opportunities. Micromentor.org is a site that matches proven and effective business professionals with entrepreneurs that are looking for someone to mentor them through the ins and outs of business enterprise. As a mentored you fill out a profile of your business and what your needs are for your business and what you would like a mentor to focus on for developing your business. The program than sends out your profile and you begin to get mentor matches sent to you with their profile and you choose who would suit your needs best. This is really a great free program.
My mentor has been in the jewelry business for 55 years and is working with me on advertising and community exposure. We have a list of goals and we talk on the phone once a week until we cover everything. Being a mother of three and trying to juggle a business and the house can be hard but it feels more attainable when you realize there are programs out there like MicroMentor to help all you have to do is take a little time and do some research.