Day 3, Project Wonderful

Okay daily stats really quick, No Sales Yesterday. 1 new listing, 198 new views, 1 new shop heart, multiple item hearts.

Yesterday I talked about passive and active marketing. I focused on active marketing like twitter and facebook. From the comments I got it looks like everyone really likes this social media and it really adds pleasure to their day as well as lets everyone know what they do. Tracy with PolishedTwo uses it as her only real marketing tool with great success.

Passive marketing is placing ads. There are two ways to do this, directly with the host site and through a broker. Project Wonderful is just that, an advertising space broker. You can submit your site earn money by getting ads placed on it and you can also bid on ad space to place your own ads. The ads come in different sizes, although I get the feeling the square is the most popular. You can see an ad just to the upper left of this blog. What do I like about having ads on my blog?

• it can add variety to your blogpage
• it can bring more people to your blog (they have to look at the blog to decide to advertise there)
• it earns you a few cents

Now that I've earned a few cents I usually feel like I need to spread those pennies around by placing ads of my own. My ad is pretty simple and they are really easy to set up. You search for available ad space by using key words. I search by using the term vintage and by using the term etsy. You can then visit the blogs, see stats on them like views and make decisions on bids. Most space is available for .40 cents or less, but blogs with huge traffic can be several dollars. Here's the question, do they bring any more views to your shop?

I placed 21 bids over the last week, ranging from a penny to 40 cents. I have won with all of them at different times. It resulted in 13, I said 13 clicks......my total expenditure over the last week was about $3.50. So while I love the concept of Project Wonderful and I will continue to use it, (gotta do something with the pennies I earn on this blog) I don't expect much in terms of sales results. Maybe I'm using it wrong. If you have different ideas about Project Wonderful let me know in the comments, or what is your favorite way or place to put an ad.....
Until tomorrow, Jamie.

Obsessed with Envelopes

I've always admired people who craft with paper. It's so precise, dealing with color and shape...Well and there is something magical about an envelope, the mystery of what may or may not be inside, like a gift waiting to be opened. I've become a bit obsessed with them, and there are so many great envelope crafters on etsy. Above are two of my faves, bottom DawnCorrespondence, and top Adnagam. Click on the pics to go to their shops.

I went off in search of my own way to create envelopes. I googled etc. and came up with a great little origami pattern for envelopes. I tried some different sizes and papers, upcycled children's primer pages etc. Here are my results to the left. Want to make some yourself? Here is the link, Origami, I had to play with it before I got the hang of it but, it was pretty fun and now I have something to use for order thank yous! Have fun, have a great week, Jamie.

Boredom Sets In

okay, I'm at my hubby's office filling in for the receptionist (she has Friday's off and well today there are meetings so no receptionist is a no-no) and well for lack of anything constructive to busy my hands with I'm pretty bored. So I thought I would post a few of my favorite links that have the word pretty in them.

http://www.oneprettything.com/ contests, DIY, links to posts for etsy sellers, very informative!

http://www.freeprettythingsforyou.com/ Currently has a tapeswell giveaway for followers, cool stuff!

http://www.allprettylittlethings.blogspot.com/ Great fashion inspiration and nice looks at accessories

http://www.prettylilthings.etsy.com/ Sweet etsy shop with some very nice things! Her ship in a bottle is pictured above.

Well signing out for now, Have a great weekend!

Finishing the Sale, Etsy Tips

So you have a shop now and have made a couple of sales but things aren't going as smoothly as you thought?

Well you aren't alone! In some of the groups I'm in we are seeing an increase in the amount of time it takes for the buyer to pay. A lot of times it is because new buyers are unfamiliar with how to complete a sale in etsy. I recently came across a seller http://www.amorevivo.etsy.com/ .

She sells wedding florals and sees a lot of first time etsy buyers. She includes in her listings the text

"If you're NEW to Etsy, here is a helpful link to guide you through the checkout process: Very Easy to Buy!!http://www.etsy.com/help_guide_checkout.php "

This link takes them to the super explanatory link that takes them step by step through payment. I loved this and thought it was a great solution to both welcome new buyers and guide them through the process and in return, get your cash! I just had to share, thanks AmoreVivo!

Also, when you ship internationally you are required to fill out a form 2976 or 2976 A . On those forms is an identification number. Keep your receipts! These have recorded on them the scanned id number and even though it doesn't work every time, if you need to track that package many times you are able to get a status by putting that number into the tracking number blank on the usps website. In addition if you need to investigate a missing package you can go to the post office and with that number send an information request. I know from experience that shipping internationally can sometimes be frustrating so every little bit of information helps! Well, all you etsy sellers have a great day and if you have a tip of your own, post it here in comments, I love new ideas!