Upcycled Charm Swap: Marketing

upcycled cash register charms by re-maker©

Merriam Webster defines marketing as:

Mar·ket·ing, n. \ˈmär-kə-tiŋ\

1: a : the act or process of selling or purchasing in a market
    b : the process or technique of promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service

2: an aggregate of functions involved in moving goods from producer to consumer

Although the goal of most blog challenges is to have fun and connect with new people, if you are an artisan business owner an added benefit can be that of exposure. By participating in challenges or swaps you 'll have the opportunity to introduce your work to a new audience.

The beauty of blog challenges, swaps and hops is synergy.

syn·er·gy, n. \ˈsi-nər-jē\

1: combined action or operation
2: a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (as resources or efforts)

Your work will find it's way into new hands and on to new blogs to be view by an even larger group. It's like the Faberge Shampoo commercial in the 80's...

 

Marketing Monday: Is It Relevant? Part II

delightworthyn

This week I'm posting a bunch of links for those of you who

would like to read up on the subject. There are posts and

discussions just about everywhere!

Make Your Shop More Relevant

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/make-your-shop-more-relevant/

How Etsy's New "Search By Relvelancy" Will Affect Your Current Sales Strategy

http://papernstitchblog.com/2011/08/15/how-etsys-new-search-by-relevancy-will-affect-your-current-sales-strategy/

Location, Location, Location

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/location-location-location/

{Business Tips} ETSY SEO: Relevancy Over Recency

http://blog.ecoetsy.com/2011/08/business-tips-etsy-seo-relevancy-over-recency/html/

And if you care to dive into the Forums on Etsy,

here's a link to discussions on relevancy!

http://www.etsy.com/forums_search.php?search_query=relevancy&search_submit=&search_type=forum_titles

Marketing Monday: Is It Relevant?

Vintage Redoux

rel·e·vant adj \ˈre-lə-vənt\

Definition of RELEVANT

1 a : having significant and demonstrable bearing
on the matter at hand
b : affording evidence tending to prove or disprove
the matter at issue or under discussion <relevant testimony>
c : having social relevance

2 : proportional, relative

Synonyms: applicable, apposite, apropos, germane, material,
pointed, relative, pertinent

Antonyms: extraneous, immaterial, impertinent, inapplicable,
inapposite, irrelative, irrelevant, pointless

If you've been around Etsy this past week,
you've probably heard about relevancy.

The Storque posted about it
Keeping It Relevant: Default Search Is Now "Sort By Relevancy"
http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/keeping-it-relevant-default-search-is-now-sort-by-relevancy/

and there was a letter from Chad, Etsy's new CEO, Notes From Chad
http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/a-letter-from-chad-to-the-community/

Here are some tips on Putting Your Shop On Top: Etsy's Most Relevant Search


http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/putting-your-shop-on-top-etsy%E2%80%99s-most-relevant-search/

There are lots of discussions in the Etsy Forums as well as on Twitter.
While all of shop items may not come up as the most relevant,
or even on page 1 in a relevant search,
I think something I saw on Twitter is important to keep in mind,

"We have to be a happy getting some items on page 1.
Think of it as an ad for your shop.
A buyer sees it - might not be right color but your shop has
a [item] so in they come to browse around.'
@TialeyVintage

Marketing Monday: Pricing Your Work

Emily of Candy Calamity sent me this link last week
How-To: Price Your Handcrafted Goods.

You might think that pricing your work is more of a business tips sort of post, but pricing your work is related to how much you might sell. Changing your prices, creating a coupon, or having a sale are all marketing techniques to increase sales. So when you price your work, you must keep all of these things in mind in addition to all of the things mentioned in the article.


Happy making and don't work for free!!!

Marketing Monday: Attributes on Etsy

Kimmy of bellavioletta shared a forum thread with me this weekend.
If you have been listing new items in your shop,
you may have noticed a new box with "attributes."
Everything from African and Art Deco to Victorian and Zen.
Here's a link to the discussion thread
Having trouble with attributes? Here's a guide!

Marketing Monday: How to Screw Up Your Art Show

Marang Studios

If you're like me, you're busy enjoying summer!
For some of you, that might mean a craft fair.
I had to share this post I found, because so much of it just made sense.

How To Screw Up Your Art Show

I can say I'm guilty of a couple of things the author says not to do,
but I think my favorite part was,
"Hang a showstopper on the rear wall. You MUST stop the hoards
of people rushing by like the Children of the Corn."
And "We saw a tent sign, 'No one enter without permission.' "
I was once at a tent with a sign that read "please do not touch"
and the artist was selling textiles. "Need I say more?"

So find that showstopper, don't hang silly signs, and
have yourself a great summer and some great shows!!!

Marketing Monday: Promo Swaps!

Fab Trashion Team Swag

Promo Swaps are a great way for teams to help promote each others work.

Kimmy of Bella Violetta organizes a promo swap for our team twice a year.
It's a daunting prospect, trying to corral a bunch of artists,
but she's up to the task!

Everyone that participates sends Kimmy swag and in return receives a box of goodies. It's always exciting to open the box to see what's inside.
The promos get better every time we swap.
It's really quite impressive!

When we send out an order it includes a promo from a fellow member.
Who doesn't love to get swag??

The Trashion Team creates art, jewelry, fashion and objects from materials that are recycled, leftover, thrifted, or found.
We promote environmental awareness & look good doing it!
But it doesn't stop there! Man do we know how to brand our businesses!
Check out the amazing promos from this year's swap!


Images © 2011
All rights reserved.

                                  

Marketing Monday: Copyrights

oblue

Last month there was a stir about Urban Outfitters stealing a design from an Etsy designer. While Regretsy may not be popular with everyone, the blog's author pointed out that the Etsy artist wasn't the first  to create the design in question in this post.

 

Marie Young designs

I also found a very informative article on Crafting an MBA that explains why "You can't copyright an idea and you can't copyright a useful object." The author, Megan Auman, starts out discussing the Urban Outfitters story and goes on to explain that the US government sees jewelry as a useful object and will not give it copyright protection.

 

Relogyyy

Do you make clothes? The government also sees clothing as a useful object and here's a great video on "how the lack of copyright and patent protection for clothing design has accelerated the creative pace of the fashion industry."

 

Autumn Olive

So what to do? I liked what Megan Auman had to say about it: "Your biggest concern shouldn't be getting your ideas stolen, it should be obscurity." and "If you're really concerned about being copied, the best thing you can do is be innovative."

 

 cincincreations

Marketing Monday: Living In A Fishbowl Part II

 

Chaos Supplies 

Last week there was a bit of press about online magazines. Here's the article that started it in the NY Times: The Thriving [Online] Shelter Magazine Industry. And here's Grace Bonney's response on Design Sponge: Design Online: A Response to the NY Times Story On Online Magazines. I wanted to focus on Grace's last point, "Younger women, as content producers and business owners, need to take greater control over how we are presented and how we present ourselves."Most sellers on Etsy are young women, content producers and business owners. Just last week I talked about how we "live in a fishbowl." Everything you say and do relates back to your business, and how you and your product is perceived. Mom was right, darn it. Not only do you have to remember to mind your P's and Q's, you need to remember to think before you speak. And if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Marketing Monday: Living In A Fishbowl

Metamorphosi

I read a post yesterday, 10 Terrible Tweet Types Killing Your
Twitter Strategy. And while I haven't been on Twitter as much
lately, the post reminded me of some advice I received as
a manager at a big retail shoe chain.

We live in a fishbowl.

I don't know about you, but the whole thing sounded crazy.
Our personal life should be just that, personal, right?
But as mainstream media shows, nothing really is so private .
And that translates to us as artists and sellers.
How you treat the people you have chance meetings with may
reflect on your business.

So mind your P's and Q's in your daily and virtual life!

Marketing Monday: Be Yourself

Ever find yourself to be a little shy talking about what you do?
Just be yourself!


iamthemandy

A recent post I read, Come Out on Top of Your Competition,
really made a lot of sense. If you just be yourself,
the words flow, and if you are like me, you cannot stop talking!

A few key points:
No one else has it.


reinventedvinyl

Offer your talents.


bprdesigns

Your audience will come.


MPsen

Just do what you love and be yourself.


misscourageous

Marketing Monday: Driving Traffic to Shops

zieak

I read this post over the weekend about
6 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Gallery.
I just dropped off some work on consignment yesterday,
and I thought it was very relevant for that, too.
After all, I do want my work to sell!
The shop is a pop up shop - opening for only 2 months.
Any extra marketing the artists can do will really help the owners
toward their goal of making the shop a longer term retail venture.


remaker

While I do not have a mailing list (I really should),
I'll be dropping off some of the shop's postcards at other local businesses.
I'll be tweeting, posting on Facebook, and blogging.
The shop is having an opening event in a couple of weeks, so I'll be there. But don't expect to see me in any videos :)


alexkeller

Dragon's Spark is an urban boutique offering original designs
by local artisans, recycled materials, fair labor fashions from
around the world, and vintage jewelry and apparel.
Find them at 4280 North Oracle Road, Suite 130, Tucson, AZ.

Marketing Monday: Branding 2

On Twitter last week, I found a site that gave some really
great basic advice on branding, Craft Marketing Tutor.
There is a lot of information to explore, but this post
Branding Small Crafts Businesses
goes back to some of the basics we always talk about.
While I don't agree with sending candy as a gift with purchase,
I do think sending along a little something that represents your
business is a good idea.



click on the image to go to the item!

Marketing Monday: Branding

I've been thinking about branding and cohesiveness again lately.
Sellers Assisting Sellers had a post this weekend:
How To Tell If Your Business Is Branded.
I'm not sure about the 'tell a story through your descriptions.'
I prefer a clear and concise description, both as a buyer and a seller.


JohnnyNoThumbzzz

Catherine of Olivebites, Home of Uncorked and Polarity
has been writing a marketing series on her blog. From
Marketing This Thing Part IV: Strategy Is Not Just For Generals,
I really enjoyed this advice,

Now, we want to be creating our own brand and not
copying anyone else's, but seeing someone else doing
something really, really well can get us thinking of new
ways of looking and thinking about our own work.


CandyCalamity

So what do you prefer? A story? A concise description?
Have you found your brand?

Marketing Monday: Square

If you have any sort of booth, at any sort of show,
where you need to be able to accept credit cards, then you need Square.
I witnessed one first hand last week at the To Bead True Blue show in Tucson
[one show of the much larger Tucson Gem and Mineral Show].
Just plug it into your iPhone, iPad or Android device and swipe cards right at your booth.
Customers sign with their fingertip, you receive your payment instantly,
and you can immediately email the customer a receipt.
For me, this sort of thing is priceless,
but it will only cost 2.75% of total receipts, plus 15 cents per transaction.

Marketing Monday: The 21 Best Resources from the 2010 Blogosphere

misscourageous

Hi - I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday!
I'm back to posting links and articles about marketing on Mondays.
Today I'd like to share an Etsy blog post with loads of great information:
The 21 Best Resources from the 2010 Blogosphere
Everything from "When to Start Selling Your Work"
to tax information and social media.
{I love that part about wasting an entire day on Twitter.}

So, cheers to a New Year and pimping, I mean marketing, our wares!

Marketing Monday: Gift Tags

.

.

Sending out Holiday Orders?

Include a Customized Gift Tag!

.

They're a simple yet effective way for the

hand-maker to take their branding to the next level.

.

.

Image © re-maker

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Marketing Monday: Self Promotion

sadieolive

Toot your own horn!
Marketing should be an everyday part of your business.
Take your work with you everywhere you go!
Have your business cards with you, wear your work, carry
your work ... Send out postcards, do interviews, do giveaways,
take out ads on blogs. Participate in social media!
Self promotion - if you don't promote yourself, who will?


I'll be taking a break from blogging on the Etsy Trashion blog
until after the New Year. Stay tuned for some new authors!

Marketing Monday: Qualities of a Successful Artist

I recently purchased
Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful
Freelance Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco & Joy Deangdeelert Cho.
At the very start of the book, the authors describe qualities of
a successful freelancer. As I read them, I thought these same
qualities are also essential for a successful artist. Substitute Etsy
shop owner for artist, selling art, jewelry, craft, even vintage ...
business owner, manager, consultant - these are qualities of
a successful person in any field.

So let's review:

One: A strong business sense.
You may make beautiful widgets. But if you can't promote them,
no one will ever see them.


westernartglass

Two: A love of your art.
If you are selling life insurance,
you should be passionate about life insurance.

Three: Curiosity
If you sit in a studio all day,
go to the science museum or take a finance class.
If you sit in a cubicle all day,
visit a gallery or the library and find a good book.


SurpriseBoxSupply

Four: Confidence and a strong vision.
When you decide to follow a recipe you have never made before,
you are confident the outcome will be a success.

Five: Good listening and observation skills.
When you're the new kid in class, you check everyone out first -
then you move to make friends with those that will be compatible.

Six: Good communication skills.
When composing a proposal, you should be able to write it legibly,
type it up in an organized fashion, be your own copy editor, and
present it well verbally.


remaker

Seven: An ability to handle criticism and rejection.
Your professor was brutal in that last critique.
You maintained composure, didn't argue, and took the advice.
Your next critique was stellar.
or
You asked out 10 girls in as many weeks with no success.
You asked out girl number 11 and she said yes.


zJayne

Eight: A positive attitude and professional demeanor.
If you're having a bad day, leave it at the door.
Customers don't want to hear it.
If you have some great news, by all means, share it.
But please don't give your life story.

Nine: Good work habits.
"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
Benjamin Franklin


PopCultureRehab

And my personal quality I'd like to add:
Ten: A friendly sense of humor.
No one wants to work with a stick in the mud.
An ability to laugh will make you a more well rounded and
interesting artist/freelancer/shop owner/manager.

Marketing Monday: Etsy on Sale

Have you ever wanted to run a sale in your Etsy shop?
The only way to do it is to mark and edit each item,
send the buyer a new invoice, or
give each customer a refund of the discount.
Not any more!
This week Etsy on Sale had my Twitter a buzz.
The site does all the work for running a sale in your Etsy shop.

Etsy On Sale is a collaborative effort between three friends who love Etsy and are big fans of those who buy and sell handmade items. Etsy On Sale is their effort to help the handmade movement continue its exponential growth. Etsy On Sale is a service for both shop owners and customers. Artists now have a simple way to manage and promote discounts and sales events for their Etsy shops. Shoppers now have a site where they can easily connect with Etsy sellers who are offering promotions.



The site has a great forum set up for communication, too.
Since it is brand new, Etsy on Sale is working on getting timing
and kinks worked out, and has asked for your patience.
I think it just might be worth it!