How To Get Customers To Your Etsy Shop

Your Etsy shop may be the best shop yet, but if no one knows it's there then it's all for nothing. Don't lose heart. There are many easy ways to turn your shop from not-on-the-map to Main Street! Let these ideas get you started...

1. Find a few popular bloggers who will do a giveaway on their widely read blogs.
2. In order to enter the drawing, have their readers visit your shop and tell their favorite item in the comments section of the blog they are entering on, as well as visit your shop's Facebook page and 'like' it.
3. Make a Facebook page for your shop (under Business Page), and use this space to keep people up-to-date on all the goodies you have available.
4. Have some business cards made and put them up around your area and any where you are traveling. The more you get out the better. Consider coffee shops, libraries, restaurants, art stores, thrift stores, artist malls, schools, local shops, etc.
5. List new items often.
6. Re-list your best-selling items often.
7. List items during the peak hours for your shop. This can be a little tricky to nail down. Do some research, watch to see at which hours people visit your shop using Google Analytics, and know your customers. Then go with your best guess.
8. Have a blog? Add your Etsy-Mini to it.
9. Find some great blogs to advertise on.
10. Participate in discussion groups and forums.

The ideas are endless. What other ways can you think of to make your shop known?

How To Make Money With Etsy.com

Etsy.com. Don't you wish you had invented it? It's a thriving community of down-to-earth buying and selling bliss, where everything is handmade (or vintage) and the industrial super powers get the cold shoulder. Brilliant.

And while you may have missed out on being the creator of Etsy, you can still get in and become a creator on Etsy where many others are doing very well. Use these simple steps to get you on your way...

1. Know your craft - Some of you may be reading this with a very specific product or art form in mind, maybe even in hand. Others of you may have varying ideas of what you could create. That's fine. Good, even. Just know that, before you can go any further, you need to decide exactly what it is your are going to be making and marketing, and you need to start pumping them out. Write down your ideas and search Etsy to see what else is out there. Remember that you need to stand out. Read the article If You Want To Make Money From Home DO IT RIGHT and take time to focus on each point. Quality, originality, and personal charm will all help you to make it on Etsy. 
2. Market your craft - Your Etsy banner needs to be GREAT. The photos of what you're selling need to be FABULOUS. Your descriptions need to be TO DIE FOR. Really. You are trying to convince people that they want what you have, and you cannot afford to do poorly, or even mediocre, here. It has got to be STELLAR. Got it? If you have a great product, but can't take amazing photographs then hire a photographer. This step is crucial. You also need to help people find your shop. You will make nothing if no one knows you are selling. Read How To Get Customers To Your Etsy Shop for more on this.
3. Add a heaping scoop of customer service - Because this is what makes Etsy so great. It's getting buyers in touch with not only the seller, but the creator. The very person who put their blood, sweat, and tears into the product (That was figurative. Please don't bleed on your work.). You love what you do, and you want others to love it too. Take the time to add some extra finesse to the packaging. If you knit mittens then string them together with an adorable tag and warm note of warm wishes. You're an artist, right? Get a little creative and send your customers more than just their purchased item plopped in a box. Make them feel special. Talk with them. Assure them that you will do everything you can for them. This is why they are on Etsy and not at Wal-Mart.

Are you up for the challenge? Sign up to be a seller on Etsy here. It's quick and easy to do, and with such minimal start-up costs and a great foundation behind you, you can't lose.

If You Want To Make Money From Home DO IT RIGHT

Some people dream of success... while others wake up and work hard at it.  ~Author Unknown

 
You are here reading this article. You want to make money from home. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

The world is bursting with people who, like you, would love to make money from home. And while it might sound fun to be part of a big movement, the truth is that this equals competition for you. 

Wanna make it? Then it's time to get seriously creative. You NEED to stand out.

STEP ONE: Do it better
Whatever it is that you're doing, do it better. Go the extra mile. Be the best. Got a website? Do everything you can to make your content the very best that it can be. Running a daycare? Do what it takes to be the best childcare provider in the area. This is quite possibly the most important step in the process. People don't pay for crummy. The better it is, the more people will want it.

STEP TWO: Add a twist
Give people what they want, AND add an attractive twist that sets you apart. Don't just offer great childcare. Offer great childcare that engages children in creative play and learning while limiting screen time. Don't just sell your artwork on Etsy. Sign the back of your prints, and throw in a complementary bookmark that showcases your work while doubling as advertising. Things like this will make you shine and gain you loyalists.

STEP THREE: Be seen!
No one is going to send money your way if they don't know where you are. Who are you targeting? How can they find you? Consider what kinds of people you could expect business from and place your advertising where they will see it. The web, newspapers, magazines, radio, community bulletin boards... Take advantage of all the places your customers may find you and keep up with you. Does your business have a Facebook page where fans can be kept up to speed and reminded of everything you offer?

STEP FOUR: Ensure your image
If and when you advertise, make sure you do it well. A poor advertisement will get you nowhere. Make sure your ads reflect the quality you bring to your work. Get yourself a good website if it's applicable for your business. And for all your advertising needs, hire a pro if you can. If you can't afford a pro, try your local university for a well trained student who has yet to graduate. Most professors would be more than happy to direct you to blossoming student who would work for less, but still yield high results.

Make Money From Home - 7 Options

There are a millions ways to make money from home, but which way is right for you? Use this article as a starting point for getting your ideas flowing.

Ebay - If you are handy with both a computer and a camera and have a knack for spotting the value of things, then Ebay may be your ticket to a paycheck. Some people do well selling on Ebay, and if you can pickup items for the right price and sell them for more, then you'll do well to. Just beware of paying too much for an item that your not going to be able to sell for the same price or more later. You making money plan could quickly end up losing money.

Art and Crafting - Passion for art? Painting, photography, knitting, sewing... Try your hand at making money with it! Are there any local artist malls or stores that would be interested in putting out your work? Put up a table at craft fairs, art shows, even local farmers markets, and see how people react to your work. Don't get discouraged if things are moving slowly. It can be hard to find the right place for the things you make. Put websites like Etsy to good use and do what it takes to get your creation seen by the people who are going to love it.

Farming - Even if you don't have a lot of land, this could be an option for you. Consider: Raising animals (meat and/or dairy), collecting fresh eggs, keeping bees for honey, growing fruits and vegetables to sell at local farmers markets, holding day camps, and even agritourism, which is making it big right now. Remember to find your niche. With the push across the country to shop local, especially with food, you may be able to do pretty well.

Writing - Plenty of writers have gotten laid off recently, but the demand for writing has not gone down at all. Enter the freelance writer. If you're a good writer and you play this right, you can make loads of money here. Decide what you're capable of writing and then search out potential clients. There are job postings all over the web, and if you're a good writer then there is work out there for you.

Running a Website - Here's how it works: you keep a website that attracts viewers, and companies pay you to advertise where your viewers will see their ad. It sounds pretty simple, and it is, but the tricky part is gaining the viewers. If you start, say, a blog, will people come to it and read it? If not, then you're wasting your time. But if you can get readers, then this could be a great avenue for you. What could you write about that would keep people coming back for more?

Renting - Could you rent out a room in your home? Maybe you have a basement that you could renovate into a rental space complete with kitchen, bathroom, and privet entrance. Or a detached garage that you could transform into a small apartment. These options might take some upfront cost, but the payoff could be BIG. Check and see what renters are paying in your area, and you'll see what I mean. Interested? Here's an excellent place to start.

Childcare - Have you considered it? If you have the space and energy, then this defiantly has the potential to bring in a nice income. The cost of childcare has been on the rise, and parents are looking for good places to leave their kids while they're away at work. Start by finding out the laws in your area as they do differ from state to state, and be aware of the many associations you can join to get all the help and support you need.

What It Takes To Work From Home Succesfully

Everyone, from the seasoned professional to the stay-at-home mom, can make money successfully from home, but you have to lay a good foundation first. There is no one to whip you into shape except for yourself, so you better do a good job if you want to make it. The good news is it's not hard.

Here's what you need:

1. A Goal - What are you aiming for? Is it to make a certain amount of money each week? Get recognized in your field? Perfect your product? Whatever your goal is, make it something you think is attainable while still being challenging, and stay opened to change. You may need to reevaluate your goal after some time has gone by and change it. That's okay. GREAT even. Stay flexible and positive.

2. A Plan -What is the best way to reach your goal? What's your time line? Grab a calender and write out a plan that's realistic. Remember, be flexible. If it has to change, it has to change. Roll with the punches, and keep on going. Come back to your plan often, and let it drive you.

3. Motivation - Sure, you're feeling motivated right now, but that will change. At some point, we all lose our motivation. What are you going to do when you reach that point? Quit? Remember your goal and stick to your plan, even when you don't feel like it. You're the boss, and you've got to keep yourself in shape. That is, if you're going to make it.

4. A Positive Attitude - It's not all peaches 'n' cream. The things that you were hoping for will fail. Success will come harder then you had wanted. But, hey, look on the bright side: You'll be building character and learning more than you had ever imagined. People who are granted instant success are often times soft and foolish. They may be living it up today, but they'll be falling hard tomorrow. Take the hard way. Be thankful for it. You don't realize all the gifts it's giving you until your at the end looking back, and then you will be grateful.

So, are you ready? Do you have what it takes?