Category: Things I’ve Learned

Etsy Shop Marketing

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Etsy Shop Marketing

Sold two of these signs in the past week! Pretty amazing.

So is it working? Here’s what I am doing for marketing:

1. Facebook and twitter updates – I have hired someone to post frequent updates, host contests, etc.
2. Posting my items (and other people’s) to pinterest
3. Etsy ads for my burlap signs section

And the winner is… Etsy ads. Two sales directly attributed to etsy ads. I am shocked as this didn’t seem to have any impact before. But, two signs in a week, that’s pretty cool, and seems to be working!!

Social Media Part 1

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I am now posting on facebook and twitter.  Easily 20 times more than I used to.  Or even 100 times more.

I have to admit, it’s not always me.  Is that wrong?  I hope not, because I love what I’m seeing.  There’s so much great interaction going on, and the give away was so much fun!  I would have never done that give away on my own, and I had an absolute blast doing it, and can’t wait to do more.

I am a little awkward when it comes to posting.  I’m kind of phobic, I’m afraid nobody will respond or there won’t be any clicks or the interaction won’t be there.  But if someone else is doing it, it lets me sit back a little and watch what works and doesn’t work.  So, this is easier for me.

So I’m getting help, and also doing some on my own.  Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

  • It’s ok if nobody comments or responds to a tweet or post.
  • It’s ok to get help (isn’t it?)
  • Be positive in your posting
  • Watch what time of day you get the best interaction
  • Don’t post the products you are selling too much.  Make sure you’re interaction is more than just selling.
  • Share information about yourself.
  • Give aways are fun!  Like my facebook page (www.facebook.com/dlynnart) or follow me on twitter (@dlynnart) to see what the next one is

This is all so far, but I expect to learn much more, so stay tuned…

St Jude Fundraising 2012

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With 2012 in the history books, it’s time to evaluate how my year in art went. I started selling my art to benefit St Jude in April of 2011. To date, I’ve raised over $5,000! The day I decided to sell my art and donate the proceeds to St Jude was enlightening. In one day, I figured out how to do something I truly enjoy while realizing another goal of mine, supporting a worthy cause.

So, 2012 is over. How did the year go? I had two big sales events for the year, the Fall Fest at St Francis, and the MEMShop holiday pop up event with ISM. I nearly achieved my goal of $2500 for the year between those two events alone. On top of those two sales events, I had a large custom order for a wedding earlier in the year. Slow but steady orders throughout the year got me to a total of about $2800. This is a little more than last year, but that was my goal. I would love to keep the trend of more raised year over year, we’ll see how this year goes.

What have I learned this year?

  • There are items that I would love to make that take too much time, and don’t have enough profit. I keep trying with the picture frames. But they are my lowest profit item, and I didn’t sell that many this year. I’m not sure I’ll keep making them
  • I should keep making the things that I like. It is so much easier when it doesn’t feel like work.
  • I may not be charging enough for my work.  I keep making things, and I kind of want them gone as soon as I’m done, so I price them fairly low.  This may be working against me.
  • Everything doesn’t have to be perfect. That was a shocking moment for me when I made something that didn’t have straight lines, and had other imperfections. This was the painting that changed my view on imperfection:

DSC_0012

What happens in 2013?

  • I WILL improve my time for the half marathon this year. I plan to lose a bunch of weight so I can walk/run it.  And I’ll raise more money this year than last.
  • I may change things up a bit and split my profits between multiple worthy causes.
  • Bigger paintings!
  • Making the jewelry / mirror wall hangings that keep haunting me.  And charging the right price for them.
  • Social marketing (including this blog) to expand my fan base

Let’s see how things go…