Posted by shabby on 2007-06-02 15:48:23
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I finally gave up craft shows years ago, as I got older they got harder...hmmm, I wonder if there is correlation here ;-) So these days my only sales are online.
And I agree an online presence is good even if you don't sell as you can put the address on your business cards and hand them out to everyone and at leaset they can see your work.
Unfortunately a lot of people thing if they "build a website they will come", and that just isn't so unless one is incredible lucky or already has a wonderful following. Building an online business takes a lot of hard work self promoting.
I finally have had the time this winter to do just that and I'm starting to see my Etsy sales pick up. So it does work. But it is time consuming and I myself still have not found the right balance between studio time and computer time. It seems I'm spending way more time on the comptuer than in my studio.
I also started a blog last year and that has helped a lot. (Plus it's a lot of fun and I've met some way cool people!)
Craft fairs are great in that you are at a venue that is drawing people who are looking to buy crafts and you get to talk to people about your craft. I think it wouldn't hurt to do both. Don't put all the eggs in one basket so to speak. :-)
Posted by craftview on 2005-06-16 15:56:54
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On the Categories thing:
I had the categories with (0) and someone complained and... well this is what she had to say:
" 2. Large numbers of empty categories aren't good. It says we ain't got much. This violates basic web design theory...unless the real aim is to appeal to the artist who might want to be the first listing under Crafts for Pets."
Thus - this is why the categories don't say "0" -- and I agree with her -- it did look bad!
For the links on every page -- I was thinking about a jump menu or breadcrumbs -- you're right on about the navigation!!
Feedback pages -- we are on the same wavelength!! I was looking at my code and it will take a few major improvements -- but that is on the list -- like a star/rating or feedback list. This will require a membership of some kind -- almost an "ebay" like system -- this feature is comming though.
For sjkmaurice: you touched on some great points (almost make me feel like a CEO in a board room...lol) -- the question in the beginning was "do we let them list their web site???" -- right now yes! Because there will be many crafts (at the moment) I'm not too concerned about it -- I know that some buyers will book mark the sites they like -- but we are seeing buyers come back even after they have contacted a seller -- because it's just easier to shop for many when you're not sure what you're looking for.
For Pumpkin -- I'm working on a site for the "Indie Crafter" market -- from your posting I think you're a bit edgier -- yeah -- I understand. When I put up my digi scrapbooking kits -- they were totally different than the craftview market so -- you're right!
The idea of CraftView is to highlight the products, then the sellers -- I think it would get pretty boring just seeing banners -- also when I market to the buyer our message is "a place to buy crafts" not a place to view banner ads -- so that's why I make them list products first.
I have my work cut out for me!!!
Thanks -- and keep it comming (I'm a member of the thick skin club!)
