plastic industry india

Not only do I want to help promote Friendly Plastic, my other goal is to help YOU promote your designs and effective ways to sell them. In my 18+ years of experience in selling my work, I have explored nearly every possible way of selling from Art & Craft shows, galleries, online and more. While Art & Craft shows are probably your best bet for some quick cash in a weekend (and still my favorite), we can not overlook the potential of selling your work online. I mean...how cool is it that you can sell a piece of YOUR work to someone in a foreign country and never get out of your pajamas???

With that being said, I think some have a misconception that if you put up a website or set up an online store, the sales will just flood in..... sorry, that's just not realistic. I will say though that over time, with effort and some savvy shameless self promotion, this can be a very good avenue for you to sell your work - make some extra cash or even make a living.

One site that I highly recommend is ETSY...It is very easy to set up your own store. Not only does Etsy provide this service at a very reasonable cost, they constantly send out newsletters filled with tips on how to promote and increase sales.

Here is a reprint of one of their articles that I thought was worth passing along. To set up an Etsy store - visit: http://www.etsy.com/ and make sure while you are their to sign up for their newsletter.

TheHouseOfMouse says:


Not getting any sales? Not getting any publicity? Want to be on the front page? Don’t moan about it. Do some research!

Improve your shop and learn to promote it. Every bit of information you need is already here on Etsy! (new addition with a couple of non-etsy links too)

IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS: This is - I think - the most important part (which is why it is at the top and has the most links).
www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/staying-sharp-achieving-clarity-and-crispness-in-your-photos/1173/

www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/give-props-how-to-style-your-photos/1079/

www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/shop-makeover-series-photographing-for-success/913/

www.etsy.com/storque/section/events/article/your-shop-101-photograph-your-way-to-the-top/770/
www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/on-the-level-make-your-photos-pop-with-histograms-and-levels/547/

www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/bright-light-big-color-using-ev-and-white-balance-to-make-yo/477/


FIND A BUDDY - a buddy/mentor can help you with the personal disputes you cannot ask about in the forums because of the "calling out" rules. They can also give you great advice from experience on ways to improve your shop and get more out of Etsy. Team Sellers Assisting Sellers list is stuffed full of sellers who can help you with almost anything Etsy related:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6236215


LEARN TO PRICE YOUR WORK CORRECTLY! If you under-price your work viewers will undervalue your creations and be put off just as much as they will be by an over-inflated price.
www.etsy.com/storque/search/tags/art-of-pricing/


WRITE GOOD DESCRIPTIONS! Help the buyer connect with your work

http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/making-the-most-of-your-descriptions/635/


WRITE CLEAR CONCISE POLICIES for your shop that make the customer clear on what they can expect from you.

www.etsy.com/storque/section/etsyNews/article/tech-update-plus-customer-care-tip-hello-policy/1681/

http://lifecraftinessandeverythingelse.blogspot.com/2009/05/etsy-sellers-tips-shop-policies.html


WRITE A PROFILE that sparks interest in your store! Help your customers get to know you.
www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/shop-makeover-series-crafting-a-profile-page/1056/


LEARN TO TAG EFFECTIVELY! Tagging is how your buyers (and treasury curators) find you! Remember to tag for colors too as those are the most common tags curators use when looking for treasury listings.
www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/guidelines-tips-tagging-on-etsy/281/
http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/international/

http://lifecraftinessandeverythingelse.blogspot.com/2009/01/etsy-sellers-tip-3-tagging.html


PROMOTE YOUR SHOP! If no one knows you are there then they can’t see your beautiful creations. Learn to shout about what you do.
www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/shop-makeover-series-pimp-your-shop-for-2008/876/

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6120752

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5797668

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5453881&page=2


TAKE SOME FREE LESSONS IN MARKETING!
This 5 day course is the BEST I have found yet:
Day 1: http://handmadeologyuniversity.com/members/?p=240

Day 2: http://handmadeologyuniversity.com/members/?p=31

Day 3: http://handmadeologyuniversity.com/members/?p=38

Day 4: http://handmadeologyuniversity.com/members/?p=43

Day 5: http://handmadeologyuniversity.com/members/?p=53


STAY POSITIVE! Maintain a positive, friendly & helpful attitude in the forums -- a cheerful face is more likely to be remembered and added to treasuries than a grumpy one! Negative attitude in the forums affects the way people view you and your shop. Branding is not just about a logo, it is about everything you do in connection with your store. Many visitors to the forums actively avoid aggressive, whiny or rude members and their stores.

JOIN A TEAM! Teams help to promote their members and are also a great resource for honest advice about your shop. Teams often make treasuries featuring their own members. Take the time to be part of a supportive community!
www.team.etsy.com/join.html

BE UNIQUE! Find a way to make your product different from your competitors. Even if you are selling the same thing as 1,000 other people, you can still find a way to stand out from the crowd.
www.amazon.com/Purple-Cow-Transform-Business-Remarkable/dp/159184021X

www.littleput.typepad.com/me/2008/01/tip-2-make-a-gr.html


CONTINUALLY RE-EVALUATE YOUR STORE! Even if things are going well, there is always something that can be improved.
www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5458880&page=17


SIT IN ON A WEEKLY CRITIQUE! Even if you don't get critiqued you can learn a lot just from sitting in, watching and listening. Check the virtual labs schedule to see when the next ones will be.

http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/events/article/virtual-labs-schedule-august-4th-to-august-8th-2008/2272/

http://etsymentors.blogspot.com/2009/04/so-you-want-shop-critique.html


READ THE NEWBIE GUIDES – even if you are not a newbie! They are full of useful links and tips.
www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5581122

www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/a-beginners-guide-to-starting-a-shop-on-etsy/1721/



OTHER GREAT RESOURCES:

Ultimate Craft Guide - tutorials, advice, suppliers....
www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5453881&page=1


Storque how tos
www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/


Handmadeology – A blog about everything handmade/etsy/business

http://www.handmadeology.biz/home/


How to make it to the front page
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5738232


Etsy Wiki
http://www.etsywiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page


Now since you are filled with selling knowledge....get busy making some friendly plastic artwork to sell.....and don't forget to send me a picture - I'll help you promote it!

This entry was posted on Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 8:14 am and is filed under Art of Selling 101, Etsy, House of Mouse etsy store, Plastic Industry News, selling your artwork. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.