10 comments Etsy Shop Help: Dressing Up Your Shop For The Holidays
by Genevieve
10/19/11
This contributor post was written by Genevieve of LightBox SF
It may only be October, but many of you are already in a tizzy over prepping for the holidays. While I don’t really want to add more to your to-do list I would like to share some easy ways to give your shop a little makeover for the holiday season. Whether you sell through Etsy or directly through your own website you can easily implement these simple tweaks over the next few weeks.
About Page
Your about page should help you connect with your customers not be a resume. I challenge you to read your own from your customer’s point of view. Do you get a sense of why you love your work or what inspires you? Buyers don’t purchase an item they purchase an experience. When selling online the best experience you can give your customers is a story to retell or connect with.
Quick Fix: Add a sentence or two that tells the customer what difference your product will make in their life. Will they be more stylish, will they feel more confident, will their hands now be extra toasty?
Major Overhaul: Rewrite your about statement to appeal to your customer’s point of view. Share personal anecdotes and explain your inspirations. Tell them what need or want your product fulfills. They don’t care about degrees or areas of special study, your customers want to get a sense of who you are and feel confident you’re the right one to buy from.
Item Titles and Tags
Whether you sell through Esty or your own website your titles and tags are how a buyer finds your item. Titles need to be descriptive and enticing, while tags should be as relative and specific as possible.
Quick Fix: Update your titles to make sure you’re using words that a buyer would use. You may name your items after flowers or characters, but add in Sterling Silver Necklace so that you can be found. Try to use three words that hit the important features of the item.
Major Overhaul: Answer as many of these questions as you can in both your title and tags: What is it (as specific as possible)? Who will want it? What materials are used? What relevant techniques are used? What color(s)? What style or trend does it fit into?
Item Descriptions
It’s ok to be a salesman, people want to details and they want to be convinced. The description is no place for subtlety.
Quick Fix: Your first sentence needs to grab your buyer’s attention. Start all your descriptions with the most important detail, the problem you solve, the material you use, the style trend it fits into, etc.
Major Overhaul: After you’ve sucked them in you need to get to the details quick. Lay out everything the customer would want to know, size, shape, color, materials, uses, etc. Use “I” statements as often as possible and be specific when describing details. Paint a picture the buyer can imagine, how exactly would they use the item, who is the type of person who would like this item. Remember they may be buying for someone else.
Put a few of these quick tweaks into action and your shop will be even more enticing this holiday season.
image credit: Yarn Wreaths by Christopher and Tia
Genevieve Robertson is a photographer, writer, thinker and co-founder of Lightbox SF. She helps makers, artists, and crafters brand their businesses by telling their stories and embracing what makes them unique.
This entry is filed under about page, etsy, etsy advice, etsy shop help, item tags, item titles, product descriptions, shop makeover.
very useful advices, i want to give them a try on my site. thanks for the ideas!
Klara commented on October 19th, 2011 at 3:40 pmKlara recently posted..Ohrenkorrektion: die Behandlung
you are so welcome Klara! Here’s to a few more sales this season for the efforts.
Genevieve commented on October 19th, 2011 at 4:52 pmGenevieve recently posted..It’s Not Too Late To Save Christmas Cindy Lou
Loved this post Genevieve. I also wanted to mention that some people are unsure of using “I” statements in their product descriptions, so they leave themselves out of the equation all together. For those that are on the fence about this…I actually heard that very same suggestion from someone who works at Etsy. She strongly recommended using “I” statements. So if you were on the fence, now you’re not.
papernstitch commented on October 19th, 2011 at 7:07 pm-Brittni
As the owner of my own adv/pr/marketing firm for the over 17years, this is really no-nonsense advice I plan on taking advantage of in my etsy shop. It never hurts to be reminded of things that seem obvious but may get lost in the day to day. Thanks genevieve and brittni.
Pam
Pamela Bates/Bates Mercantile Co. commented on October 20th, 2011 at 8:46 amPamela Bates/Bates Mercantile Co. recently posted..Gray, Rainy Day Blues: Rx Color
ps-posting a link to this on my etsy team, treasury island. and will also post link on my blog.
Pamela Bates/Bates Mercantile Co. commented on October 20th, 2011 at 8:47 amPamela Bates/Bates Mercantile Co. recently posted..Gray, Rainy Day Blues: Rx Color
Wonderful tips and just what I needed to get my shop ready for the holiday’s! Thanks!
Kristi commented on October 20th, 2011 at 9:36 amKristi recently posted..photography prompt no. 45…leaves
I always remind my clients that during the holidays (or any season for that matter) it’s important to do a review of your titles and tags, just adding in and switching out seasonal tags as appropriate. If you have a red necklace, be sure to tag it with Christmas at least by November so that women searching for their holiday accessories can find it!
The same goes year-round. Something with a bunny on it should always have Easter in the title during Springtime. Sandals should always be tagged with beach and vacation during the summer. Etc etc.
Laura commented on October 20th, 2011 at 1:08 pmLaura recently posted..I'll review your tags for SEO.
Thanks for spreading the word Pamela! I myself find that it’s often what seems the common sense stuff that is most easily ignored or overlooked. Glad I could provide the reminder.
Laura, I totally agree! It’s the seasonal tags that are the hardest to remember, but really help your items get found.
Genevieve commented on October 20th, 2011 at 1:08 pmThese are such great tips!! Thanks for sharing–I’m definitely putting these to use in my shop this season! Xo, Katie
katie [the bright life] commented on October 20th, 2011 at 7:31 pmkatie [the bright life] recently posted..let’s take a walk…
Fabulous tips! Thanks for sharing! Descriptions are always hard, and it helps to imagine that you are answering questions about the item.
MegansBeadedDesigns commented on October 21st, 2011 at 2:54 pmMegansBeadedDesigns recently posted..I See You – Evil Eye ring on Green and Black Adjustable Bead Embriodered