Social Media Blitz

Today's Silver Price: $23.78/t.oz

I've recently started using Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to promote my Etsy shop. It's probably been a few months now, and I've seen an incredible jump in views of my shop. And the results are immediately seen. When I post on Twitter or Instagram, I see an increase in views that same day. On days when I haven't posted anything new, my Etsy views are often zero. Even small blurbs on Twitter can lead to shop views. I believe the social media posts have led to purchases, however I cannot be sure as there is no way that I know of to track how a specific buyer came to my shop.

I've read that in order to use Twitter and other social media sites to successfully promote a webpage or business, you must post often. Regular posts keep people interested in your feed. This type of discipline is something I've struggled with in the past and will have to overcome. Even when I'm lazy and don't feel like posting, I need to post even a tiny snipet, inspirational quote or a photo to try and hold the attention of potential customers. This obviously applies to blogging as well, so I will do my best to post here regularly.

Today I updated my LinkedIn profile. I figured that promoting my Etsy shop through this outlet can't hurt. When I created the account, I didn't think I would use it much as it seems to be a site for business connections. However I've come to realize that if I want to pursue self-employment, I'd better start promoting myself as a creative entrepreneur. I've chosen to list myself as an artist. I have always shyed away from identifying myself with this term, but now I feel that I can embrace it and live it. I am a designer, I am a painter, and overall I am an artist.

I've become fed-up with my 9-5 office job, so I am now intent on developing my business and working towards self-employment. My very wise aunt says, if you throw enough mud at a wall, eventually some of it will stick. So I'm determined to throw as much social media mud on the internet wall as I can!

Below are some of the recent items I've listed in my shop, and at the bottom is a photo of my creative process!

Silver Plated Bracelet

Sterling Silver Ring

 

Double Strand Silver Plated Necklace

Vacation is over...

Today's Silver Price: $19.42/t.oz.


Time to get back to work after an awesome vacation in the Florida Keys last week! It was heavenly... we stayed on Long Key, did some snorkeling, standup paddleboarding, kayaking, and of course relaxing!

Anyway... I'm looking for some new bracelet designs. I was Googling this morning to find some inspiration, but I didn't come across anything. I have some ideas brewing in my head so I may just work on developing them. I want to create some big bold bracelets. The bracelets I currently have in my Etsy shop are mostly simple, thin, one strand bead bracelets. I may experiment today with wire links and see what I can come up with. They need to be BOLD!

I also have yet to use the knot component that I learned to make a long time ago. It's super cool, I just haven't figured out how I want to use them. I think they are too bulky for bracelet components so they'll probably end up in a long necklace.

I won't work too hard today... I made a promise to myself that I would get outside as much as possible this summer! Maybe I'll play some tennis with The Hubbie. Ciao!

Etsy Postings for 6.2.13

Today's Silver Price: $22.26/t.oz. (WOW!)

I've had a tough time getting back into blogging. I'll do an easy one tonight... below are the latest additions to my Etsy shop. A lot of the silver-plated components used in these designs I purchased from Etsy sellers, so that's pretty neat. Also, I'm liking the solid black background in the newer pictures. I think the older pictures are using backgrounds that are too busy and they take away from the jewelry. I think I'm going to continue using solid black backgrounds, or white backgrounds with a very subtle design on them. I'd like to re-shoot the older listings eventually to create a uniform look in the shop, but who knows when I'll get to that!

Just posted these on Etsy tonight:

Silver Leaves Necklace

Silver Leaves Earrings

Diamond Shaped Earrings 

Hematite & Silver Earrings

Back to Work!

Today's Silver Price: $28.97/t.oz.


I got married in June of 2012. This is my first post since. No more excuses. No more distractions. Time to get back to business! I've had a few sales on my Etsy shop in the last couple of months so it has gotten me excited again about creating new jewelry.

Yesterday I posted several new items in my Etsy shop. I've recently been making jewelry with supplies I've purchased from Etsy sellers. At first I was annoyed that people were selling supplies on Etsy. I mean, isn't Etsy supposed to be totally handmade or antiques? Then I realized they had created a specific category for people selling supplies. I guess it makes sense, buying supplies from and Etsy vendor, keeping the commuinty spirit. So I've purchased some charms and components that are very affordable and I'm so happy with them!

I'm making an adjustment to my previous blogging schedule. I'll be posting weekly, rather than bi-weekly. I haven't picked a day yet though, so it may be random for a while. I need to figure out what will work best for me, being that I'm not real fond of schedules and set times. LOL.



Here's what I've been up to recently:

Spiritual Charms 2-in-1 Necklace:

Cascading Hearts 2-in-1 Necklace:

Shell Bead Necklace:

Om Charm Bracelet

Silver and Black Beaded Necklace:

Silver-Plated Teardrop Bead Necklace:

Hot Stuff in 2012

Today's Silver Price: $28.96/t.oz.


I fell off the blogging wagon. Hard.

It's been several weeks since I've written a blog post. Working full-time, planning a wedding, and building a business all at the same time? Not really possible. The wedding is in a couple of weeks and I'm psyched out of my mind about it, but once it's over I plan to put some serious time into jewelry making!

I will return to blogging next month, after the chaos has quieted down and after the confetti settles. For now, I am prepping to put the Etsy Shop on 'vacation mode' and daydreaming about my caribbean honeymoon.

I will leave you with some recent creations which I don't believe I have yet shared here. I've purchased a wire jig and I've been making some pretty cool necklaces! I think I'm on to something here...


See for yourself:

Actually the last two necklaces were made free-hand, no jig. I'm excited about pursuing this type of jewelry further.

Keep your eyes out for some HOT STUFF in the second half of 2012!!

Wine Bottle Centerpieces

Today's Silver Price: $31.79/t.oz.



My wedding centerpiece planning has come full circle. Forget the pressed flowers, forget creating my own floral arrangements, it's back to wine bottles. Check out some pics I found on the internet today:

I'm definitely going to need a bottle cutter for these. I've done some brief browsing on the internet and found several for around $30. Well worth the investment I think.

From this last one I was thinking of using the greenery around the bottom of the wine bottles. Apparently you can just spray evergreens with adhesive and stick them to glass. Not sure how long they would last, but it looks really cool! I also thought about wrapping lace around the bottom half of the bottles. I guess there are a ton of things that could be added! I'll use the battery operated tea light candles to make it easy.

I'll be ordering a bottle cutter this weekend- and soon I'll finally put my stock of empty wine bottles (which are currently cluttering up the attic) to good use!

Etsy Direct Checkout

Today's Silver Price: $32.40/t.oz.

There's a new feature coming to Etsy. It's called Direct Checkout. Customers can use their credit card on Etsy without having to go through PayPal. The third party has been eliminated... 2's a party, 3's a crowd...

I am very interested in this new feature. I think that customers will be much more likely to buy from an Etsy page if it is a simpler process. Now they do not have to have a PayPal account or enter their credit card info into PayPal, they can simply enter everything right on Etsy.

It seems that this new feature is in a pilot state. It is not available to all Etsy users at this time but apparently it will be eventually. I have requested participation in the trial and hopefully in a couple of months it will become available.

I don't think it will make much of a financial difference in terms of fees taken out of each sale. In order to use Direct Checkout Etsy will charge the seller 3% of the transaction plus $.25 for every purchase (this is in addition to the 3.5% of the sale that Etsy takes and the $0.20 listing fee).

PayPal takes 2.9% of the sale plus $0.30. So it's just about the same percentage taken out, but Etsy would charge $0.05 less than PayPal.

Hmmm now that I'm seeing all these fees I'm starting to wonder if this is all worth it. It costs me $0.20 for every item that I list on Etsy. Then when I sell an item, Etsy takes 3.5% of the sale. Now for the actual transaction, either Etsy or PayPal will take 3% of the transaction AND $0.25 or $0.30. So I'm paying at least $0.45 plus 6% for every sale. Bummer.

I guess for now it's not too bad. I've only had a handful of sales so far. Perhaps in the future though it will be beneficial to start my own website. If I start now, I can learn to build a website by...