Treasury Tuesday: Rainbow Bright

Rainbow Bright by Studio Gauthier

 

Diary of an Etsy Seller: Etsy Slang

If you’re new to Etsy, the Etsy slang probably has you saying “uh… What did you just say?!” Here are some very common Etsy slang words that you might run into.

B1G1 or BOGO – Buy One, Get One

BNR – Buy ‘n’ Replace – A treasury, generally done by a team where you buy a featured item and one of your items replaces the spot of the item you bought.

BNS – Buy ‘n’ Stay – A treasury, generally done by a team, where you buy a featured item, and get a spot in the BNS in the next round. Each round is a set time- sometimes daily, sometimes weekly, and the shops who “buy in” get a featured spot in the next round.

BOLO – Be on (the) Look Out

Clicks- A Click is a view on an item, it gets the name because you have to click on it for it to count as a view.

Convo – Conversation, a message on Etsy

CTH or CUTH – Caught up to Here, or Clicked to here, used in a promotional game to state you are caught up to a specific place

DC – Direct Checkout or Delivery Confirmation

ETA – Edited to Add

HEP – Helping Etsians Promote – an Etsy group/team

FP – Front Page (of Etsy)

FS – free shipping

FTH – Favorited To Here- Generally used in promotional games to state you’re at a specific place in the game

Hearts – A heart is a favorite. It’s called a heart, because of the red heart icon you see when you favorite something.

ISO – In Search Of

MIB – Mint In Box, The item is in mint condition and still in box.

MTO – Made to Order, an item that is made upon placing the order

MO – Money Order

NOS – new old stock

NWT- new with tag,  (Price tag, manufacturers label sometimes

NIP – New In Package, item is new in package it was sold in – usually cellophane wrap

NIB – New In Box,  item is still in its original manufacturers box, especially important for old games

OOAK – One of a Kind

OP – Original Poster, or Original Post

OTT – Over The Top

PNR – Promote and Replace – Similar to a BNR, but it’s usually hosted by a promotional team. The way you “buy in” is by promoting a featured shop or item (the rules are different for each one).

Post and Run / Post and Runner – A term used to describe someone who signs up for promotional games within a team or group and does not reciprocate

PP – Paypal

RTS – Ready to Ship, Used for items that are already made and ready to ship immediately

SEO – Search Engine Optimization

TNR – Trade ‘n’ Replace – Similar to a BNR, these are generally done by trade teams. The featured shop is traded with, and the shop that traded with the featured shop is featured in the treasury.

TNS – Trade ‘n’ Stay – Similar to a BNS only this is done by trade teams. You trade with one of the featured shops and in the next round, get featured.

Trade – A trade is when two shops agree to “buy” an item (or items) from each other where no money is exchanged, and treated like a regular sale.

VTH – Viewed to Here, used in promotional games to state you are at a specific point

5 Best Tips to Get Your Etsy Shop Holiday Rush Ready

I know, I know… These are all over the place.  Everyone has the best tips and some of them probably are good tips- others are probably not so good. Don’t think I’m going to sugar coat it for you either. Take it from me, I’ve been to loads of webinars with all the “Experts”, read the articles… blah.. blah, blah. Half of them are trying to sell you some crap for this or that and breaking my first rule to selling online. If you have to shout “BUY MY SHIT!” you’re already doing it wrong. Now that I’m done with that rant, let’s get to it!

Tip #1- Get your shit together

I know what you’re thinking. “Omg! She just said ‘shit’!” Still doesn’t take away from the fact that you need to get it all together. We’re on the verge of OCTOBER. If you have not ordered or bought your extra printer cartridges, envelopes, labels, packing materials and whatnot, What the hell are you doing? Get it done. Go to the store, go to amazon, order it NOW. Don’t wait until you run out- that’s the last thing you want to do is need it and not have it. Especially with the big rush. Save yourself a trip to Walmart or Target or the extra fee for 1-day shipping and get it now while you still have time.

Tip #2 – List what you have

It’s probably going to be a while before you get the time to create new items- make them now, draft them for later release, or list it now. Don’t wait- you’re going to run out of time soon. All those video games you wanted to play? Not going to happen. All the netflix you want to binge on? Nope. Well, unless you’re one of us lucky ones who can craft and watch tv at the same time… Then you can Netflix binge.

Tip #3 – Premake your biggest sellers

If you have one particular hat, a certain scented soap, or one pair of earrings that sell like hotcakes- make a few and set them aside. You’re going to be super busy. Don’t do what I’ve done in the past- learn from my craptastic mistakes- don’t sit and cry in your chair because you have to make 10 of the same hat and that particular yarn is giving you yarn burns. Yes, that’s a thing. So be prepared!

Tip #4 – Get your shop together

What I mean by this is… If your shop looks vacant, your holiday season might also be vacant. Even if it’s a crappy made on Paint banner, avatar, and shop icon, at least make it look like you’re trying. We’re crafters, no one really expects us to have professionally done banners… Well, they do, but when you’re first starting out, having it and making it look like you’re serious is the important part. So, look like you actually give a shit about your shop, fill out your profile, add a banner and avatar, get some shop policies.

Tip #4A- Promo Time! 

If you’re part of Etsy teams, or groups- go network, get your stuff out there, make friends. Making friends is the best part of the Etsy community. You make friends and network and suddenly you are the expert in your craft and people will remember you- this also works for you when you need a particular thing, you know exactly who to go to. Go! Mingle! Also- twitter parties, promo games, whatever it is that you do (that works for you) to promote- get on it! You’re going to be short on time soon, so get it done now!

Tip #5 – The most important thing I will ever tell you

Remember- You are going to totally rock this holiday season. You’re going to make all the best gifts, and your customers will be super happy. Not only that, you are going to live your dream of having your own little shop out there in cyberspace. So, go get ready for the holiday season and rock the next few months left in the year! You’ve got this! 😀

Twitter Party: The Schedule

All Times are in Central Time Zone-  please be aware of the time zones. I will leave links to the groups at the end of this document if you’d like to join those groups- you are not obligated to.

All teams have the same rules- 15 tweet PER HOUR max, spaced out 2-4 minutes apart, retweet a minimum of 2 other tweets per your 1 tweet.

Sunday’s Line up

11 am to noon CST #PromoBoostMe

1pm to 2pm CST #CraftShout

3 pm to 4 pm CST #ShoppersHour

7 to 10 pm CST #EpicOnEtsy

11 pm to midnight CST #PromoBoostMe

Monday’s Line up

 

11 am to noon CST #PromoBoostMe

3 to 4 pm CST #ShoppersHour

9 to 10 pm CST #EpicOnEtsy

10 to 11pm CST #CraftShout

11 to midnight CST #PromoBoostMe

Tuesday’s Line up

11am to noon CST #PromoBoostMe

3 to 4 pm CST #ShoppersHour

4 to 5 pm CST #EpicOnEtsy

7 to 8 pm CST #ShoppersHour

8 to 9 pm CST #CraftShout

11 to midnight CST #PromoBoostMe

11pm – #EpicOnEtsy 24 hour twitter party starts

Wednesday’s Line up

ALL DAY- #EpicOnEtsy twitter party

11am to noon CST #PromoBoostMe

3 to 4 pm CST #ShoppersHour

7 to 8 pm CST #CraftShout

11 pm to midnight CST #PromoBoostMe

Thursday’s Line up

2am- #EpicOnEtsy 24hr twitter party ENDS

11 am to noon CST #PromoBoostMe

12 (noon) to 1pm CST #CraftShout

3 to 4 pm CST #ShoppersHour

8 to 9 pm CST #ShoppersHour

10 to 11 pm CST #EpicOnEtsy

11 pm to midnight CST #PromoBoostMe

Friday’s Line up

11 am to noon CST #PromoBoostMe

3 to 4 pm CST #ShoppersHour

7 to 8 pm CST #CraftShout

9 to 10 pm CST #EpicOnEtsy

11 to midnight CST #PromoBoostMe

Saturday’s Line up

11 am to noon CST #PromoBoostMe

3 to 4 pm CST #ShoppersHour

4 to 8 pm CST #EpicOnEtsy

8 to 9 pm CST #ShoppersHour

8 to 9 pm CST #CraftShout

11 pm to midnight CST #PromoBoostMe

THIS LIST IS NOT COMPLETE

Sometimes the twitter party schedules change- please be aware of the times!

last updated 09/26/2015

Twitter Party Groups you can join:

Craftshout: https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftshout/

PromoBoostMe: https://www.facebook.com/groups/promoboostme/

ShoppersHour: https://www.facebook.com/groups/595288003938956/

EpicOnEtsy: https://www.facebook.com/groups/473512072817979/

Diary of an Etsy Seller: Twitter Parties

Everything you always wanted to know about Twitter parties, but were too afraid to ask!

In order for twitter parties to work, you MUST retweet others. If you do not retweet you will likely be blocked from the parties and not allowed to attend future parties.

What does @ mean, and what about that # I see everywhere??? What is a Twitter party? How do I participate? How does it help me?

All very good questions, and hopefully I will answer them all in this document. If you still don’t understand something, or just have a question I didn’t cover… please post them below 😀

Before I get into the Twitter party, I’d like to explain the difference between the @ symbol and the # symbol.

The @ symbol is a way for you to tag, or “shout out” to a specific person, or account. Just like on Facebook, when you tag someone in a post… it sends the @user a notification that they have been mentioned in a tweet.

The # symbol (and this is the more important one) is a way to perform a search on Twitter. Think of it like the tags you use in your Etsy listings to be found by people searching for your item. When you use the #craftshout, you are not tagging someone specifically, but rather “tagging” your tweet, so that if anyone searches the team/group hashtag your tweet will show up. This is ESPECIALLY important for the twitter parties.

A Twitter party, is really just a set date and time (usually for an hour), in which random people get together on Twitter and re-tweet each other. That simple.

Ready to Join the Party?  You participate by tweeting your own items, directly from your Etsy store and adding the group/team hashtag to them. You tweet ONLY during that set date and time, and ONLY using that specific #.

Now to the re-tweets… in order for everyone to gain maximum exposure, we re-tweet each other. How does that work? During the set date and time, go to the search in Twitter and type in the team or group hashtag such as #CraftShout or #EpicOnEtsy . You will get a list of every tweet in the twitterverse that is using that hashtag. Once the feed starts coming in (and when we have lots of people, it will move FAST) just randomly start retweeting other people’s items. Remember, 2 re-tweets for every 1 of yours. If you would like to retweet more, feel free to do so, but keep in mind Twitter’s limits. You are allowed 100 tweets/retweets per hour for a grand total of 2400 tweets/retweets per day. If you exceed this number you will not be allowed to tweet or retweet for a few hours (also called “twitter jail”).

Be sure to choose ALL TWEETS when you are searching for team/group hashtag, that way you see everyone who used that tag, and not just the popular ones 😀

• NOTE... it is MUCH easier to participate if you have an auto post program like around.io (so worth it) You can set your tweets ALL up ahead of time, and then just focus on re-tweeting.  Of course, this is optional as most sites like around.io charge for the service.

In addition,you can favorite tweets, or even reply to them. Just remember, anything you want to be visible to other party members it must have the correct team/group hashtag (check spelling! It matters) or it will NOT show up at the party, and you won’t get retweets.

How does this help me???  I cannot give you a 100% positive answer that it will equal sales. I CAN however tell you it will gain you views, likes and even more Twitter followers. Usually I take a screenshot of my shop views before a party, and then again after. The increase is usually in the 300 views range. That is HUGE for exposure. I do know other people have reported sales as a direct result of participating in these parties. Try it, and see for yourself, it is free and only uses an hour of your time 😀

Please Note: Your twitter account MUST be public- if it isn’t, no one can see your tweets and you will not get retweets. Also note, If your twitter account is new, or you have a very low number of followers, your tweets may not show up in the hashtag search- work on building your twitter following.

For #CraftShout and #EpicOnEtsy Parties: The rules are as follows- you have a max of 15 tweets per hour (If the party is longer, you get 15 tweets per hour- not per the entire party. So if the party lasts 2 hours, you get a total of 30 tweets). Retweet at least 2 other tweets per your 1 tweet. Space your tweets out about every 2-4 minutes. Choose different items for each tweet. If you tweet too fast, or keep tweeting the same item you’re likely to be flagged as a spammer and may not get retweets.

For 24 hour Twitter parties: Please keep in mind for the 24 hour twitter parties, the rules still apply. You still have a max of 15 tweets per hour (spaced out 2-4 minutes apart). Twitter has a max of 100 tweets/retweets PER HOUR limit, and a 2400 tweet/retweet max PER DAY limit. Please keep this in mind during these parties so you don’t get put in twitter jail.

Other VERY IMPORTANT Twitter Information: You always want to be working on building your following on twitter. Not only does this help everyone at the parties by bringing new eyes and new potential customers to our items, but it helps build your own following for your brand.

Twitter Party Groups: 

EpicOnEtsy

ShoppersHour

CraftShout

List of helpful Twitter Apps:

Hootsuite

Roundteam

Tweetdeck

Crowdfireapp

Tweepi

tweetjukebox

(Each of these has a free version, or are free)

Diary of an Etsy Seller: Twitter

What the heck is twitter?

Twitter is a social media platform. It is an “information network” made up of 140-character messages called Tweets. Similar to posting a status on Facebook, except Tweets can only be 140 characters long.

What are all these symbols and what are they for?!

The @ is like a tag, to talk between other twitter members.  If you post a tweet with @user you can send a tweet to another user. It’s similar to posting on your friend’s wall on facebook. Using the @ will send the user a notification just like tagging someone on facebook.

The # (hashtag) is a way to tag your tweet with a specific tag that others can search. These are probably the most important thing you can add to your tweets. Hashtags on twitter are ranked based on how they are trending.

How is Twitter helpful? 

Promotion and networking of course! Twitter is a great way to network with other tweeps in the twitterverse.

Make It Monday: Rainbow Cloud Plushie

Free pattern and tutorial: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/toy/free-rainbow-cloud-plushie/95696

Etsy Store:
www.etsy.com/shop/HeartFeltPlush

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/HeartFeltPlush

Twitter:
twitter.com/HeartFeltPlush (@heartfeltplush)

Instagram:
instagram.com/heartfeltplush/ (@heartfeltplush)

Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/HeartFeltPlush/

Email: heartfeltplush@yahoo.com

Wanelo:
wanelo.com/heartfeltplush Store: wanelo.com/store/heartfeltplush

OH, and I also have a YouTube channel that has 5 short videos on how to do some basic sewing stitches.

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcAfzY8uLzVeG1lRfLZK3Vg

Featured Artist: CreativityUnraveled

Meet Tina from CreativityUnraveled

1. How’d you get started on Etsy?
I had heard about Etsy years and years ago so when I began designing and handbags I figured this would be the perfect place to open a shop!

2. What was your inspiration for your shop?
I was in my final semester of college and Christmas was approaching ( I graduated in Dec instead of May). I have 5 younger sisters and wanted to get them gifts that were quality, but with my income being almost non existent at that time I decided I was going to sew them gifts. I searched Pinterest and found a great fabric store and spent all my free time at my sewing machine. After that I was hooked on creating all types of bags. My shop was created just a couple months later and has been growing since then!

3. What’s your favorite shop item and why?
I love all my products, but right now my favorite item is my Simple Tote Bag because they are perfect for any occasion. They can be an everyday bag, a bag for a dinner with the girls or even a date night.

4. How do you unwind when you’re not creating?
I love to hang out with my husband and our yorkie, we usually get some food and watch whatever TV show we are hooked on at the moment (right now it’s The Blacklist!)

5. What’s your favorite kind of cupcake?
Chocolate with a cream cheese frosting!

6. What was your worst job?
I worked at Toys’R’Us for a couple months and I was incredibly bored! Maybe it was a slow season or just not a fast enough pace position but I just never had enough to do.

 

7. What’s your favorite cartoon as a kid? As an adult, if you stumble upon it while channel surfing now would you stop & watch?
I would say Rugrats had to have been my favorite cartoon. I don’t even think they have reruns on anymore but I think I would at least watch a couple minuets and reminisce.

8. What’s your fantasy job?
My fantasy job is one where I work for myself, so my shop on Etsy is fulfilling that aspect of it. Eventually I would love to be able to go back to school and get my MA in school counseling and work at an elementary school.

9. Do you have a secret guilty pleasure?
Yes! I have no problem admitting it either! I love Hanson’s music! One of my all time favorite artists!

10. List 3 things you are so obsessed with it is torture to ever say no to.
1. Karaoke
2. Thanksgiving Dinner
3. My Dog

11. List 3 of your favorite Etsy shops.
1. www.etsy.com/shop/LeahLerner?ref=pr_faveshops
2. www.etsy.com/shop/PattersonPaper?ref=pr_faveshops
3. www.etsy.com/shop/BitofWhimsyCrochet?ref=pr_faveshops

12. Do you have a favorite author? When you read, do you use a proper bookmark, bend the page, or grab anything handy to mark your place?
Mitch Albom! I love my Kindle because I can store sooo many books at once and it weights less then one book would!

13. If money was no object and you can live wherever you want, where would that be?
Disney World! My husband and I are obsessed! We go every chance we can!

14. What is your best childhood memory?
Apple picking when I was super little!

15. How would you describe your work style?
I love to put on some music or a good movie and just work for hours! Oh, and don’t forget the coffee, and it’s not just the caffeine something about the taste of it gets me motivated.

16. If you could choose any one superhero power, what would it be and why?
Super speed like The Flash then I wouldn’t have to fly on an airplane! I could get anywhere super fast!

17. Who are your heroes?
My mother! She was a single mom and had her own business so she could be there for all of us girls whenever we needed her!

18. What would you do if you won the lottery?

Invest and buy a brand new house!

 

19. What was the last movie you watched? Was it good?
Gone Girl, yes very creepy but great! The book is great too!

20. If you knew what you know now, when you first opened your store, what would you do differently?
Pictures, descriptions and tags are soooo important!

Featured Artist: designsbysusandbs

1. How’d you get started on Etsy?
A friend wondered why I wasn’t on Etsy yet since I sold via email and facebook and word of mouth. I told her there were too many jewelry designers on Etsy and she said not to worry about the competition since I already have a following. So, I opened my shop.
2. What was your inspiration for your shop?
Don’t really understand the question

3. What’s your favorite shop item and why?
My fav is the pearl and crystals crocheted necklace that can also be a multi wrap bracelet. All white and clear or in colors, still my fav!
4. How do you unwind when you’re not creating?
Watch tv, movies, in love with hgtv, read an piddle on the computer
5. What’s your favorite kind of cupcake?
Devils food cake with white icing (not the mamby pamby whipped topping but the kind made with real sugar!
6. What was your worst job?
Cleaning houses when I was in high school. It took me over 40 years to realize the reason I was so bad was because I was a big picture person and not a detailed person. Don’t hire a house cleaner if they are not detail oriented. Just sayin
7. What’s your favorite cartoon as a kid? As an adult, if you stumble upon it while channel surfing now would you stop & watch?
I never watch them cuz I thought they were too violent even then.

 

8. What’s your fantasy job?
Hmmm, never thought of that one. Let me think, I am very pragmatic, practical and in the moment. I really don’t know of one, oh , wait, testing out cruises! I love to cruise, yep, that would be me, a tester for the suites on different cruise lines at least 10 times a year!
9. Do you have a secret guilty pleasure?
If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a secret any longer
10. List 3 things you are so obsessed with it is torture to ever say no to.
Chocolate
My son
A kitten that needs a home
11. List 3 of your favorite Etsy shops.
cathydailey
bluebirdheaven
GypsyIntent
12. Do you have a favorite author? When you read, do you use a proper bookmark, bend the page, or grab anything handy to mark your place?
Too many to name, really but dean koontz is my longest fav. Anything I can find to mark the page but hate to dog ear though I have been known to in a pinch.
13. If money was no object and you can live wherever you want, where would that be?
It’s not the money, it’s the family thing but Alaska is my fav state.
14. What is your best childhood memory?
15. How would you describe your work style?
Eclectic? Not really sure if I even know.

 

16. If you could choose any one superhero power, what would it be and why?
I Dream of Genie (can you tell I don’t like being boxed in) she could just cross her arms and blink and everything would be done and she could be were she wanted in a blink of the eye.
17. Who are your heroes?
18. What would you do if you won the lottery?
Pay off house and all bills. Buy new car. Give to my church. Build my dream house. Quit my job and hire a full time housekeeper so I never have to worry about picking/cleaning up again (read about worst job, remember!)
19. What was the last movie you watched? Was it good?
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, yes, cuz I love those types of movies. I think I need to watch it again to totally understand it but not before I read the book series.

 

20. If you knew what you know now, when you first opened your store, what would you do differently?
Join a bunch of helpful groups and follow blogs about advertising, marketing, branding, etc.

 

You can find designsbysusandbs on Etsy!

Featured Artist: Once Upon A Craft 4 You

 Meet Alison from OnceUponACraft4U on Etsy!

How did you get started on Etsy? 

I got started on Etsy after my daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, trying to figure out a way to earn extra income to cover our unexpected medical expenses. My sister was also pregnant at the time, and showed me all the crochet items she had purchased for the baby. It was then I told her that the next items she wanted, she should tell me and I would make them for her. That got my creative juices going and I started crocheting away designing new things and the next thing you know, my shop OnceUponACraft4U was born, perfectly combining my love of crochet into something that could bring us extra income. 

What is your inspiration for your shop?

My greatest inspiration would be designing things for my 1yr old niece, and just born nephew. I love to crochet to turn old patterns into trendy new fashion pieces.

What is your favorite item from your own shop and why?

My favorite item is my sailboat rug. I was inspired by a 1950’s doily sailboat pattern, and worked long and hard to make it into a novel area rug. 

How do you unwind when you’re not creating?

I would say that creating is my time to unwind. I have a very busy life with new medical equipment to figure out, like her Dexcom Monitor and Insulin Pump, and all the associated Dr. Appointments. I also am a substitute teacher part-time, and I go to college at ISU to get my Master of Art’s in Teaching. So when I have a moment to research ancient patterns, and craft them into something new, that is the time I am able to unwind the most!

List 3 of your favorite Etsy shops. 
I love the home decor you can find in Ever and Oak. 
www.etsy.com/shop/EverandOak?ref=teams_post
I really love bright colors, and so fell in love with this shop’s artwork
www.etsy.com/shop/nJoyArt?ref=teams_post
And my last favorite shop would be My Little Pixels because I love the airiness of her designs, on iphone cases and jewlery.
www.etsy.com/shop/mylittlepixels?ref=teams_post

How would you describe your work style?

I like to get things done as quickly as possible. I also love to work with customers to make their dreams come true, it’s always a good day when a customer comes to me with an idea and I can craft that into a piece they will love as much as I loved to make it for them!

If you could choose any one superhero power, what would it be and why? 

I would love the superhero power that lets you freeze time. That way I could focus on my crochet for hours and not get tired and never have to put my crochet hook down!

If you knew then what you know now, what would you do differently in opening your shop? 

The one thing I realized now that I didn’t know then is the importance of good pictures. When I opened my shop, I put up my items and waited for a sale that seemed like forever to come. Then I read on etsy other sellers asking how someone took such a good picture. The seller’s answer was that they hung the item in their bathtub and then lay in an awkward position on the floor to get the best angle and lighting. Through experimenting I learned that taking pictures on my kitchen table gives me the best light. 

Please list where you can be found (FB, Twitter, etc)
I can be found on 
Facebook at www.facebook.com/OnceUponACraft4U?ref=hl
Wanelo at wanelo.com/store/onceuponacraft4u/trending
Twitter at twitter.com/SisAMTrimble
Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/onceuponacraft4