Etsy Sellers, TO ME!

[Seraph]

Going to be opening up an Etsy shop to try and pay for my new hobby, jewelry making!

So anyways, anyone have any specific tips/advice on making the most of it?

Like I said, I'm not out to make a killing, just want to basically pay for the supplies I've bought, maaaayyyybe a bit to cover the time put in.

[RootedPhoenix]

Etsy really likes crisp, white backgrounds. (Or barnwood. O_o) So, if you photograph your stuff on a white surface, then use fotofuze.com, you'll be golden. (FotoFuze makes everything more crisp, and makes everything seem brighter. Etsians really like brightness.) The macro setting is fantastic for close ups, if your camera has a macro setting.

I use FotoFuze in my shop, and I found out about it from a friend of mine. I can PM you the links, if you like.

Etsy is fluffiness central. To a degree I'm not sure I like much. But to each his own.

[Seraph]

Yeppers, got a macro setting, and photoshopping it to enhance brightness and give an HD effect's pretty simple for me.

And yeaaaah, I'm noticing a lot of really, REALLY random stuff. Mainly though, gonna try and sell My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic-inspired jewelry, so yay, contributing to fluff, hahahaha.

[dalesys]

... contributing to fluff, hahahaha.

So you're a fluffer now?

[Seraph]

So you're a fluffer now?

I had to google that, and a little part of my soul died, LOL.

[Amusement Gal]

Hello, fellow jewelry maker. Unfortunately, I don't have any advice, because I have a shop, but I'm too nervous to put anything in there. I'd be glad to look at your stuff, though!

[Seraph]

Yeah I may post some pics later of it, once I get a couple things worked out, and a slightly larger set of items to list. Kinda annoyed at myself too, made a bracelet last night, and I think it's too large. I hear that the average length one should make them is about 7, 7.5 inches, right?

[Kogarashi]

Your backgrounds don't necessarily have to be stark white or barnwood, but they do have to be clear, bright, and attractive. I've seen too many amateur shops that post blurry, yellowed webcam shots, and I wonder how they ever sell anything.

From what I've heard, jewelry's a hard market to sell in on Etsy, because there are so many other jewelry-makers, so I wish you luck there.

What's worked for me so far (with basically no marketing yet) is to stagger my item posting to one or two a day instead of ten or so all at once. It gets you noticed more frequently. I also try to put the most attractive photo first in the listing so it's the one used as a thumbnail. Also, make sure to use all your tags and try to vary them a bit to hit different search results, and occasionally go searching for items like yours to see if there are other tags you could be using but aren't yet.

Another tip I have is to periodically make a Treasury. It takes some time, but all the people whose items end up in the treasury get notified, and they might click through to your shop. Additionally, other people who find your treasury might check out your shop as well. What goes along with this is having a good user pic for your account, something bright and possibly showcasing one of your items so that people want to check you out based on your userpic alone. Or something based off of your logo if you have one.

I've heard tips about getting a blog or a Twitter account or a Facebook page and posting lots on the forums, but I haven't tried those yet. I'm kind of avoiding Twitter and Facebook myself, but I do have plans to start up a blog to go with my shop at some point. We'll see.

made a bracelet last night, and I think it's too large. I hear that the average length one should make them is about 7, 7.5 inches, right?

I actually just helped a friend of mine with this recently. I measured all my store-bought bracelets for her and they averaged 7.25 inches, so you've got it about right. She was asking me because she has super-skinny wrists. The bracelet might seem too large if your own wrists are skinny too. :: 7.25" fits well on my wrists, at least. A bit loose depending on the materials, but overall comfortable and doesn't fall off.

[Andara Bledin]

Twitter can eat up your life without much effort, but if you have some control, you can learn some fascinating and truly random stuff.

I'm actually following this thread with interest because my mother and aunt do jewelry (for longer than I've been alive) and I'm going to be setting up an Etsy shop for them in the near future. I want it to be up and established well before Christmas rolls around, as one of their super fancy items are some rather posh decorations.

^-.-^

[morgana]

Been planning an Etsy shop, as well, so will be watching this thread with interest. Some jewelry, some handbags, some patchwork stuffs. Some steampunk accessories. Even some watercolors/acrylics later on. (ADD? Moi? )

[RootedPhoenix]

I was pondering this last night. I will post links to my friend's shop and my own as examples. We're probably not perfect (she possibly is, lol), but it might give some ideas? And I'll put in a couple other shops I like.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/grimmlynn <---my friend's shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rootedphoenix <-- my shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/waterwaif <--- another jewelry shop, she uses beachy backgrounds, but still has gorgeous photos.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SquidDesigns <--- another jewelry shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/VioletKMartin <--- crocheted things, but it does show you how larger things can look.

I hope that helps some. I think that list shows several photography techniques, as well as varying backgrounds.

[BlaqueKatt]

Kinda annoyed at myself too, made a bracelet last night, and I think it's too large. I hear that the average length one should make them is about 7, 7.5 inches, right?

anklets are usually between 8.5 and 9.5, so say it's an anklet!

[bhskittykatt]

Another one following this thread, too. I'm not setting up shop (though I do enjoy jewelry-making), but Hubby has been getting into candle-making and wants to sell some of those. (And I hope he does...his hobby is starting to take over the apartment!)

[tropicsgoddess]

I still have my Etsy shop but it's been a looooooooong time since I last sold anything. Just didn't have much time to put stuff up for sale. Mine is for crocheted stuff. I'm thinking of making some stuff and selling it again to get a little extra $.

[Seraph]

From what I've heard, jewelry's a hard market to sell in on Etsy, because there are so many other jewelry-makers, so I wish you luck there.

Yeah, I figured as much, but since they're MLP-themed, I hoped that might help them a teensy-bit. ^^

What's worked for me so far (with basically no marketing yet) is to stagger my item posting to one or two a day instead of ten or so all at once. It gets you noticed more frequently.

Roger that, very good point there.

Another tip I have is to periodically make a Treasury. It takes some time, but all the people whose items end up in the treasury get notified, and they might click through to your shop. Additionally, other people who find your treasury might check out your shop as well.

This is something I've not the foggiest about, but will definitely check into that now. Thank you for that ^^

anklets are usually between 8.5 and 9.5, so say it's an anklet!

Yeah this bracelet ended up being juuust shy of eight inches, so going to be like...uh...tiny anklet or large bracelet YOUR PICK. XD