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Thanks to all the entrants who shared their amazing wares in the Handmade Kids Challenge! We are constantly amazed by the creativity and talent of our community and this challenge was no exception. It was difficult going, but we’ve narrowed it down to roughly forty finalists for each Challenge category. Now we need your help to choose the Members’ Choice Winners, and you might even win a prize yourself, just by voting! Here’s how:
Vote now for your favorite items in the Handmade Kids Challenge for a chance to win one of 14 Etsy Shopping Sprees, valued at $350 each! Voting closes September 8, 2008 at 11:59pm EDT. Click here for details or just go VOTE NOW!
The Rules:
- You may vote only once in each category*.
- Once your vote is cast, it cannot be changed.
- If you have multiple Etsy accounts, you may only vote with one. Violators will be disqualified from the competition and risk having all accounts banned from Etsy.
- You must be a registered member of Etsy to vote. It’s easy and free to join; sign up here.
- All Etsy members are welcome to vote, but only US residents are eligible for the Sweepstakes.
*Be sure to vote in all seven categories. Each vote in each category is an individual entry in the Sweepstakes–and another chance for you to win! For complete Sweepstakes Rules and Regulations, please click here.
Thanks and best of luck to all! Well, what are you waiting for? GO VOTE!
[...]
Blogs can play a vital role in marketing your Etsy Team on the web. Many people choose to buy handmade to support artists. A good blog gives your customer base a glimpse into the lives of the artists they’re supporting. Sneak peeks into studio spaces, interviews on artistic beginnings and techniques make for interesting content. You can promote your colleagues and Teammates easily with a blog, and relevant tutorials, tips, tricks and other useful information will keep readers checking in often.
Blogging doesn’t come naturally to everyone, so it’s best to pick someone on your Team who enjoys blogging to be responsible for posting often. There’s no harm in starting a blog to see how it works for your Team, and delegating posting responsibilities will ensure the blog gets updated regularly. Here are some simple steps your Team can take to set up a blog and maintain it successfully.
- What types of things would your Team like to cover in its blog? Keep in mind your Team’s goals and pick topics that members of your Team feel comfortable and knowledgable enough about to talk about every day: a type of craft, information on where your Team lives, or something that makes your Team unique that will be engaging for your target demographic. Remember, you won’t want to be too personal (no gossip!), as this is a professional blog created to drive traffic to your Etsy shops. You want to connect with a specific group of people (your readers and potential customers!) by making the blog fairly specific and full of information, but keeping it broad enough that you can eventually have a pretty large readership.
- Find your tone. What type of voice should the blog to have? For example, it can be an instructional blog, you can adopt a professional voice or you can really be yourself. Setting a tone and being consistent makes a blog easy to read.
- Blog often. Blogs are an interesting medium because they can literally be up-to-the-minute information. No one wants to read a stale blog.
- A wise blogger once told me "No one cares what you had for lunch today." (Unless your blog is all about food, I suppose…) Make sure you’re blogging about things that engage your readers!
- Include great photos! These could be photos of members’ studios or workspaces, little snapshots of members’ everyday life, in-progress shots of items, or photos of your Team in action. Photos can make a blog-reader feel like they’re being treated to a behind-the-scenes tour.
- Have actual content. It’s not hard to distinguish between an interesting blog you’d like to revisit and a series of advertisements upon first visiting a blog.
- Blog often. This is the most important tip.
- Use widgets! Etsy, Twitter, Flickr, Amazon and other sites all have applications you can include in your blog’s side bars to keep the page dynamic even when you can’t update it. Etsy Minis are a great tool to get your work—and the work of people you admire—noticed without writing dull posts about your own shop over and over again.
- Blog often! The more often you blog, the more people will check your blog.
- If you find it’s not working, don’t let your blog sit around decaying! Remove your blog from the web—there’s nothing sillier than a blog that hasn’t been updated in eight or nine months.
Here are some useful places to get started with a Team blog, or spruce up your existing blog:
Blogging should be an enjoyable way to get to know your Team better, as well as attract fans (and buyers!) of your work. It’s a way to let people meet your Team, and should highlight positive aspects of what you’re doing and the things you learn along the way. Exchange links with other bloggers (especially other Teams!), include lots of Etsy Minis, read and comment on other blogs to increase your readership. Have fun!
Team Tips are a weekly series of tips and ideas from the Etsy Teams. You can find more Resources at team.etsy.com. Etsy Teams are growing really quickly, and we love that so many sellers want to join in to promote their shops, Teams and Etsy. For more information on Etsy Teams, check out the Teams pages and this page of Frequently Asked Questions. Don’t forget to read our interview with this week’s Featured Etsy Team. Keep up the great work, Etsy [...]
*8/26/08: The Handmade Kids: International featured gift guide is now live. Check it out for a just a peak at the talent that abounds from all around the world. To see even more great global finds for kids, just search the tag "intlkids".
We’ll be updating this featured guide throughout the next two weeks; if you’re an international seller of childrens’ goods and want to get in on the fun you can continue to tag your items for consideration in the guide during this time period. Read below for details. Be sure to add your city and state or region plus country under location in Your Etsy. Thanks!
Dear International Sellers,
We know Etsy is a great place to find one-of-a-kind items for kids and families and we want to tell the world about it! That’s why we launched the Handmade Kids project. Our hope is that all sellers of children’s related product, regardless of nationality or location, will benefit from the promotion of Etsy as a unique shopping destination for families.
With the Handmade Kids Challenge, we called out to US sellers to show off their best products for kids and have the chance to win prizes in the process. We wish we could offer the same invitation worldwide. However, extending a contest across many countries and many legal jurisdictions is complex, and we regret, at this time, Etsy is unable to do so. We know that half of the fun is just being involved. So, to spread some of the Handmade Kids’ love around the globe we want to give you, International Etsians, the chance to shine. Here’s how you can be involved:
1. Be a resident of any country that is not the United States of America.
2. Have an Etsy shop. (If you don’t have an Etsy shop, learn how to open one here.)
3. Make an excellent product for kids, an accessory for parents, or something for an expectant mother.
4. Take great photos of your item(s).
5. Tag up to 3 items* in your Etsy shop between now and August 21, 2008, with the tag: "INTLKIDS". (You may add the tag to existing listings.)
That is it.
Our panel of expert judges will then curate international products and feature them in a special International Handmade Kids Gift Guide, on the Storque, in a series of front page treasuries, and generally just try to highlight some of the amazing work from the international community. The International Handmade Kids Gift Guide will run from August 26 to September 9, 2008.
Merci, Danke, Gracias, Obrigada, Sukran, Mh goi, Dank, Toda, Efharisto, Arigato!
Thanks,
Etsy
* If an item you have tagged sells out before the entry period ends, feel free to tag another item in your shop for consideration. [...]
* Update: The Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion Cooperative Ad will go on sale today, August 26, 2008 at 2:00pm (ET). We are sorry for the inconvenience. *
Here comes the next installment of the Cooperative Advertising Program — Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion!
In case you’re not familiar with this program, here are the important details:
- Etsy will purchase ad space in various magazines, subsidize the cost, and design the ads.
- Etsy Sellers are able to purchase spots in the ad at the discounted rate.
- You will get to display your shop name, an image of one item, its price, and its category.
- The limit is one spot per seller, per advertisement.
This ad will be in the December/January issue of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion magazine.
- 30 spots will be available to sellers at a price of $75 each.
- Spots will go on sale on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 1:00pm (ET).
- Spots are purchased in the same manner as a Showcase.
- If you successfully buy a cooperative ad spot through Showcase, your item photo and information must be sent to adam@etsy.com no later than 3:00pm (ET) on Wednesday, September 3, 2008.
About Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion
- Paid Circulation is 353,859
- Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion is published 6 times annually.
- The theme of the December/January issue will be Home Companion Holiday, and it goes on sale November 4, 2008.
Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion inspires its readers to unleash their “artistic spirit” to attain personal style and meaning in their lives. The magazine focuses on art and artists, home design and decoration, creative do-it-yourself projects and artistic travel destinations.
The Mary Engelbreit brand has been built on the principle of living an artful life. This artist-turned-lifestyle-maven believes your home should be a personal reflection of whom you are and what you value most, that design and decorating doesn’t come from a textbook, but from the heart. Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion provides readers with a mix of art and whimsy, a lifestyle that follows inspiration rather than fashion trends, to bring comfort and enjoyment to her loyal fans.
A few facts about Home Companion readers:
- Median household income is $87,000.
- 99% are women.
- 86% took action as a result of reading Home Companion.
- 90% purchased handmade objects of art.
- 71% do home decorating.
- 97% say interest in creative arts will continue to influence their lifestyle.
Upcoming Ads:
Bust: December issue: 30 spots, $90 each. Spots go on sale at 1:00pm (ET) Thursday, September 25, 2008.
Venus: Winter issue. 30 spots, $25 each. Spots go on sale at 1:00pm (ET) Thursday, October 2, 2008.
FAQ
1. What is the Cooperative Advertising Program?
- By purchasing a spot in a Cooperative Advertising Program, Etsy sellers can show off their items in an Etsy-branded magazine advertisement, reach new buyers, and help boost their sales and shop awareness. Print ads in popular magazines are often priced out of reach of small entrepreneurs. Etsy is able to purchase larger ads for more impact, and let sellers buy into the ads.
2. How does it work?
- Etsy reduces costs to sellers by subsidizing the ads. We pay half of the cost. The cost to you is the remaining amount, divided by the number of spots for sale.
- Sellers get to display one image of an item from their shop, its price, its main category and their shop name. The appearance of the ad is similar to our homepage. See the original article for an example.
3. How do I purchase a spot?
- 1: Go to the Showcase Gateway.
- 2: Choose "Cooperative Ads – Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion Showcase." There will only be one date to choose from.
- 3: Hit the "Purchase" button. The fee will be added to your normal Etsy bill.
*Note: The items that appear in the Showcase section of "Your Etsy" will not affect this purchase. The item photo that you send in via email to adam@etsy.com will be what appears in the ad. There is not an online Showcase associated with this purchase!
4. What do I do next?
You’ll receive a conversation from Adam with details, and we will need the following from you:
- Your shop name.
- The price of the item.
- The main category that the item is listed under.
- A high-resolution photograph of your item. This means 300 dpi, at 1.25 inch (L) x 1 inch (H) size.
- If you need help with photo issues, please ask, and Adam will send you detailed instructions. If you already have a photo that you like, great! If not, check out some of our photography tips.
- We will need your image by 3:00pm (ET) on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 to give us time to lay out the ad and meet our deadline with Home Companion.
5. How many spots can I reserve?
- You can purchase one spot per advertisement.
6. Can I cancel a spot after I’ve made a reservation? Is the fee refunded?
- We will only cancel and refund spots under very special circumstances. Deciding you are no longer interested in your spot does not count. If you feel like you really have a valid case please email adam@etsy.com.
7. How do I know if the current Cooperative Ad is right for me?
- Do some research! We’ll provide helpful info for each ad as it becomes available (see above). And, it may be helpful to visit your local bookstore or newsstand to see if they carry the magazine. Remember, there will be more of these Cooperative Advertising opportunities available in the future, including Craft, Venus, and Bust. If you don’t feel like Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion is perfect for you, there will be other opportunities… [...]
Arts Travel – A Special Advertising [...]
Attention artists and designers!
There are just a few hours left to enter the Handmade Kids Challenge! The deadline is today, August 15 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, so it’s time to get cracking! (See the contest page for all the details; complete Challenge rules here and a few tagging questions answered here. REMEMBER: ONLY 1 ITEM MAY BE ENTERED IN EACH CATEGORY FOR THE CHALLENGE!)
There are lots of chances to win* and promote your work in the process! Judges are lining up as we speak from Parents, Martha Stewart, Cookie, Ohdeedoh… and more! Stay tuned for the details.
*Hint, hint: We’ve noticed very few entries in the furniture category. Think mirrors, benches, shelves, storage items, fixtures, hand-painted and decorated furniture items…
For our international friends: Don’t forget to tag your items for a chance to be featured in the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide. You have until August 21 to enter. The gift guide itself will launch at the end of the entry period (in time with the Handmade Kids Challenge voting period, so the same media eyes involved in the judging will have a chance to see your wonderful wares). Have a look at this article for all the details.
And finally, taste-makers: Remember, August 25 through September 8 is your chance to vote on your favorite entries in the Handmade Kids Challenge! Stay tuned for details. Eligible members will be entered in the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes simply by casting their votes. Check out the complete Sweepstakes rules here.
Thanks and best of luck to all!
For more on Handmade Kids, check out the series! [...]
Dear Sellers,
It’s impossible to predict what each and every shopper will want from customer service — that’s why sellers (and Etsy admin too) listen to buyers in order to glean insights into the shopper’s experience. Etsy admin and sellers alike realize communication with our members is crucial to our businesses and to the community we all support. We want to discuss some tried and true pointers below as part of our ongoing education in Service. There’s a lot the admin are learning from this Service Tips for Sellers series too!
As part of this series, we collaborated with members to gather some input about buyers’ experiences here on Etsy. We’ve asked buyers what they want, and to summarize, expectations usually surround the following key elements: communication, honesty, follow through, and a human connection. Etsy admin are reflecting on what this means for the larger Etsy business.
Below, we’re sharing some of the tips and testimonials from everyday Etsy buyers. We hope this slice of research helps our sellers out!
Communication: Communicating with your customer can make or break your buyer’s overall experience. Communication does not mean you need to hand hold through every step of the transaction, but it does mean letting your buyer know you are there if they need you. Most buyers are looking for a well rounded item description, clear and accurate item photos, quick answers to convos, an acknowledgment of their purchase and an estimate of when their item will be shipped.
- lovelaurie says: The thing I enjoy most when purchasing an item here is the seller who sends that warm friendly convo or note thanking me for the sale — that feeling that I not only purchased a great item, but I also made a new friend. It is what makes Etsy such a unique place to shop and keeps me coming back for more!
- juliepeach explains: I expect the seller to be easy to get a hold of. That is, perhaps, the most important thing that sellers here can do: be available. It gives everyone a REALLY bad name if a buyer has a bad experience due to a mysterious, unavailable seller that silently ships out the order a week after it was placed. So spooky!
- appleoranges says: I expect a ship date to be emailed or convo-ed, EVEN if the seller has checked the "item shipped" box. It gives me peace of mind.
- WinchesterLambourne says: Above all, I expect communication. I adore Etsy because it fosters amazing personal relationships between sellers and buyers, which I have yet to find elsewhere.
Honesty: Being candid with your buyer can help you in a difficult situation and build a trusting relationship that may turn your first time buyers into faithful repeat customers. If a buyer feels like they are in safe hands, they will be more understanding and willing to work with you in the event the transaction doesn’t run as smoothly as you had planned. We are all human and most shoppers on Etsy are looking for that human interaction. That being said, most shoppers will be most receptive and satisfied when they feel that they can trust you and your brand.
- turtleparktots says: Please don’t make money on shipping. As a seller and a buyer, I know how much it costs to ship something. I’d rather pay higher prices and lower shipping/handling costs, because it just seems more honest. Above all, please be professional. How a seller conducts him or herself not only affects the buyer but every other seller on Etsy. I’ve found that being a buyer (on Etsy) has made me a better seller.
- BeadsInTheBelfry says: As far as pet hair or smoke is concerned, communication once again is key. Please let me know that there is a possibility that your pet hair or a smell of smoke could *adorn* my package. I will be more upset to find out later than to be forewarned up front. I like to make informed decisions. If I really like something, pet hair or smoke won’t deter me for certain purchases.
- nlbenj says: Right now it’s taking a month for packages to get from Canada to here in MA. I am happy to say that a couple of the Canadian sellers have been kind enough to check in with me and explain they’ve heard about delays, and what the updated expected arrival time frame is. That’s very nice!
- slvrlily says: If you aren’t going to ship within two business days, PLEASE make sure you put that boldly in your announcement and/or listings. It should jump out and smack me in the face that you only ship such and such day. Finally, the biggies—honesty and respect. Deal with me squarely and I’ll do the same. Treat me well and I’ll be back, probably with friends.
- greygoat says: I do like to know if anything is going to be shipped late (don’t mind, just want to know so I can stop harassing the postman).
Follow Through: Also a part of being honest, following through with what you say is very important. Create shop policies that you know you will be able to follow, no matter what circumstance may come about. Steer clear of making customer promises you simply cannot keep, even if you have all the best intentions in the world. Repeat buyers patronize shops time and time again when they can predict and feel confident about their experience. When a buyer is provided with false expectations, in most cases they do not visit again.
- dianedesign says: I would like a prompt delivery, meaning don’t wait a few days before you decide to ship. And let me know you have shipped. I really don’t care about fancy packaging just as long it is secure. It’s always nice to get a thank you and thanks for your order. Having good shop policies is nice, too.
- BrandedButterfly says: I want my "Ready to Ship" item shipped within a few days and I want my "Ready to Make/Custom" item made and shipped in the time agreed upon. I do not want to hear about packages not showing up, or lost packages when there is no receipt of the postage. The post office gives you a register receipt. Also, build the cost of insurance and tracking into the product or shipping charge.
- bubbletime says: Please make sure the item is as much like the photo as possible. I understand why you would keep the same photos if the item is made to order—but if there is a particular part I like about it and it arrives with a different part there, it is disappointing.
- KreatedbyKelly says: I expect sellers to do what they say they are going to do (for example, if part of my order is missing and the seller says they will issue a refund, I don’t want to have to write you again in a week to remind you).
Human Connection: We have found that the typical Etsy buyer is looking to feel good about the purchase they are making. They are looking to connect with the maker of the product and therefore, expect the shopping experience to show a human element. A human connection can be achieved in a simple convo, the way you package your items, the note you include in the shipment, and any extra steps or touches you might take to go the extra mile. Most shoppers do not expect a grandiose presentation, but do remember and appreciate those sellers that put their own personality and special touch into the shopping experience. Adding the human element to your buyer’s experience allows them to relate and connect with you, shows them that you believe in your brand and respect their purchases. This will in turn help them to believe in your brand.
- touchofavalon says: I think what separates Etsy sellers from the herd is the personalized shopping experience. I look forward to my Etsy packages because they’re so full of the seller’s personality, usually. So, I’ve come to expect the personal touch that Etsy sellers are known for.
- sarahkamsler says: When I buy from Etsy, it’s because I want to support an individual artist, not a huge corporation. On Etsy, individualized attention is important because you almost end up feeling like you know the seller. That’s uncommon in this day and age and that’s why I love it here!
- annashoub says: I love when people go the extra mile with a little personal note or pretty packaging. One of the nice things about shopping on Etsy is that it feels more personal, so it’s nice to have those details. I guess something that shows is that it’s a real person who made the item you are buying.
- littleworm says: I want to feel special. I don’t need an extra gift (although they are very nice), but I love it when my order shows up looking like a pretty gift. It’s nice to know that extra time was taken and I wasn’t just one part of a huge mass.
- jeweledblossoms says: I’d love to feel connected to the artist. It always makes me want to return to the shop. Make me feel as though I can participate in your work.
The key to great service is realizing that when your buyers are satisfied with their experience, they will return and better yet, they will feel confident sharing with others how great you and your business are. Follow the key points above and you will be well on your way to satisfied buyers each and every time. GreenSpaceGoods explains: "All in all, buyers remember a good experience, and they will never forget a bad one. I’m a repeat buyer. I collect items from a few sellers who have never failed me, and I expect never will." Sometimes, you might need to put in a little extra effort or even tone your service down to suit the needs of individual shoppers, but in the end if you have tried your best to meet each customer’s needs, you will come out on top.
For more Etsy buyer testimonials, please see this related forum thread and feel free to share your own expectations when shopping with an Etsy seller.
More about Service Tips for Sellers Series: Running an online business has many perks, like the ability to remain somewhat anonymous behind a computer screen (and maybe even working in your ‘jammies). But that computer screen does not preclude interaction with buyers. Good online customer service may be even more important than offline: good service gives buyers the peace of mind that they are buying from a trustworthy and reputable seller. As an online entrepreneur you have the opportunity to provide excellent communication, create a friendly face for your shop, and promote repeat business.
Hey designers and artists: The clock is ticking! You have just over one week left to enter the Handmade Kids Challenge before the August 16th deadline! (See the contest page for all the details; complete Challenge rules here.)
Since the challenge launched, a few questions have come up regarding tagging, so please allow me to clarify:
* Elligible individuals may only enter one item per category. Multiple entries per category will be disqualified. You will have until the end of the entry period (August 16) to make sure just one item per category is tagged for the challenge.
* If an item you have tagged for the challenge sells, not to worry; we will still be able to access it for consideration. NOTE: If you plan to re-list a sold item, be sure to remove the challenge tag before you do so.
* It’s fine to add the appropriate Challenge tag to an existing listing in your shop. Just make sure you do this before the deadline.
* If you change your mind about an item and want to take it out of consideration, just edit the tag section of the item listing in "Your Etsy" to remove the Challenge tag. However, it is not possible to edit a sold item listing.
* Hats should be tagged as accessories and not placed in the clothing category. Hats made of recycled, upcycled, organic or vegan materials may be included in the eco-friendly category. (Yes, you may enter one hat in accessories and one in eco-friendly.)
* Paper goods do not have their own distinct category for this challenge. Please use your best judgment as to where your item would fit best. Depending on its purpose or materials, a paper item may be entered as art, home decor, or if it uses recycled materials, as eco friendly.
(We realize there may not be a distinct category for every type of maker on Etsy. We invite entrants to flex their creative muscles and create something new that does fit the Handmade Kids Challenge categories.)
Click through for more information on the Handmade Kids Challenge. There’s also a helpful FAQ on that page.
Tastemakers: Remember, August 25 through September 8 is your chance to vote on your favorite entries in the Handmade Kids Challenge! Just by voting, elligible members will be entered in the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes. Check out the complete Sweepstakes rules here.
For our international friends: Don’t forget to tag your items for a chance to be featured in the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide. Have a look at this article for all the details.
Good luck to [...]
Presenting the next installment of the Cooperative Advertising Program — CRAFT Magazine!
In case you’re not familiar with this program, here are the important details:
- Etsy will purchase ad space in various magazines, cover half of the cost, and design the ads.
- Etsy Sellers are able to purchase spots in the ad at the discounted rate.
- You will get to display your shop name, an image of one item, its price, and its category.
- The limit is one spot per seller, per advertisement.
This ad will be in the November issue of CRAFT magazine.
- 36 spots will be available to sellers at a price of $50 each.
- Spots will go on sale on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 1:00pm (Eastern Time).
- Spots are purchased in the same manner as a Showcase.
- If you successfully buy a cooperative ad spot through Showcase, your item photo and information must be sent to adam@etsy.com no later than 3:00pm (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008.
About CRAFT
- Circulation is 50,000
- CRAFT is published 4 times annually. Each issue is available for 3 months.
- The theme of the November issue will be "Green (as in: eco-friendly)."
CRAFT will reach creative, free-spirited DIY enthusiasts, tech-savvy makers and crafters, students (of all ages), teachers, the intellectually curious, artistically inclined, and environmentally aware. Today’s crafters derive an innate sense of pleasure in finding unexpected ways to repurpose, remake, and reuse materials, art, technology, and devices in their daily lives. Makers and modern crafters are typically:
- Very well educated
- Intellectually curious
- Exceptionally influential
- Top-10% household income
FAQ
1. What is the Cooperative Advertising Program?
- By purchasing a spot in a Cooperative Advertising Program, Etsy sellers can show off their items in an Etsy-branded magazine advertisement, reach new buyers, and help boost their sales and shop awareness. Print ads in popular magazines are often priced out of reach of small entrepreneurs. Etsy is able to purchase larger ads for more impact, and let sellers buy into the ads.
2. How does it work?
- Etsy reduces costs to sellers by subsidizing the ads. We pay half of the cost. The cost to you is the remaining amount, divided by the number of spots for sale.
- Sellers get to display one image of an item from their shop, its price, its main category and their shop name. The appearance of the ad is similar to our homepage. See the main image above for an example.
3. How do I purchase a spot?
- 1: Go to the Showcase Gateway.
- 2: Choose "Cooperative Ads – Craft Showcase". There will only be one date to choose from.
- 3: Hit the "Purchase" button. The fee will be added to your normal Etsy bill.
*Note: The items that appear in the Showcase section of "Your Etsy" will not affect this purchase. The item photo that you send in via email to adam@etsy.com will be what appears in the ad. There is not an online Showcase associated with this purchase!
4. What do I do next?
You’ll receive a conversation from Adam with details, and we will need the following from you:
- Your shop name.
- The price of the item.
- The main category that the item is listed under.
- A high-resolution photograph of your item. This means 300 dpi, at 1.25" x 1" (L x H) size.
- If you need help with photo issues, please ask, and Adam will send you detailed instructions. If you already have a photo that you like, great! If not, check out some of our photography tips.
- We will need your image by 3:00pm (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 to give us time to lay out the ad and meet our deadline with CRAFT.
5. How many spots can I reserve?
- You can purchase one spot per advertisement.
6. Can I cancel a spot after I’ve made a reservation? Is the fee refunded?
- We will only cancel and refund spots under very special circumstances. Deciding you are no longer interested in your spot does not count. If you feel like you really have a valid case please email adam@etsy.com.
7. How do I know if the current Cooperative Ad is right for me?
- Do some research! We’ll provide helpful info for each ad as it becomes available (see above). It may be helpful to visit your local bookstore or newsstand to see if they carry the magazine. Remember, there will be more of these Cooperative Advertising opportunities available in the near future, including Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion, Bust, and Venus. (And that is just the begining!) If you don’t feel like Craft is perfect for you, there will be other opportunities… [...]
1. What is Showcase?
Showcase is Etsy’s internal cooperative advertising program. We don’t sell outside advertising to companies, but we do sell ad space to our sellers. By purchasing a spot in a Showcase, Etsy sellers can show off their items and help boost their sales and shop awareness. The Showcase is a great way to get more hearts, favorited items, and sales.
2. How does it work?
Showcase spots are sold as 24 hour chunks.
- For $15, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24 hour spot in the Main Showcase, which is linked to from a prominent banner on Etsy’s homepage.
- For $7, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24 hour spot in The Storque Showcase, which cycles through on the homepage of the Storque, Etsy’s blog.
- For $7, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24 hour spot in one or more of the Category Showcases. As of mid November 2007, we offer showcases in each Category. These Showcases are located at the top of the respective Category’s pages.
3. How many Showcases are there at a given time?
Usually there is only the Main Showcase, The Storque Showcase, and the Category Showcases one at any given time, but for holidays and special events, we often create additional themed Showcases.
4. Showcase spots were selling out so fast, I could never get a spot. Did you ever do anything about this?
Because of the great demand for promotional opportunities on Etsy, we started to expand Showcase throughout the site. We will always keep it affordable so we can help as many sellers as possible have access to this excellent promotional opportunity. See bethela’s Showcase Deconstructed article and the Shiny New Showcases announcement.
5. What currency are the $7.00 and $15 fees in?
US Dollars.
6. What time zone determines the twenty-four hours of the day?
Eastern Time in the USA. This is GMT -4:00
7. Can I cancel a spot after I’d made a reservation? Is the fee refunded?
We will only cancel and refund spots under very special circumstances. Deciding you are no longer interested in your spot does not fly. If you feel like you really have a valid case please email support@etsy.com.
8. How many spots can I reserve?
You can purchase up to two spots per Showcase each month. On a given Showcase, each seller can have only one spot per day. For example, your jewelry can be in the Main Showcase, the Storque Showcase, and the Jewelry Category Showcase all on the same day. But you cannont have two spots in one of those Showcases on the same day.
9. How do I choose which items appear on the Showcases?
The Category Showcases only draw from your items in the corresponding category (with the corresponding first tag). Go to Your Etsy and look for the Showcase link under the Promote section. There, you can manage which correctly tagged items you want to feature. With the Main Showcase and Storque Showcase (and our occasional holiday Showcase), you can change up which items you want featured on the fly and the changes will be reflected live in the Showcase.
10. What happens when an item being displayed sells?
When one sells, it pulls up the next featured item in your shop, then the next, then the next etc… If all your featured items sell and you do not add more, the Showcase will randomly pull another item from your shop (or in the case of Category Showcases, it will pull another one of your items from the corresponding category). This random item will change each time the Showcase is loaded.
11. What happens if the site is taken down for maintenance and I am on the Showcase?
You will be given bonus time to make up for the trouble.
12. How do I purchase a spot?
Step 1: Go to the Showcase Gateway.
Step 2: Choose the Showcase in which you’d like to reserve a spot.
Step 3: Select from the available dates on the top right side of the page.
Step 4: Hit the purchase button.
Yay! You are all set, the fee will be added to your normal Etsy bill.
Still having trouble? Check out the Step-By-Step Showcase Help Guide.
13. I cannot remember my scheduled Showcase day! What Do I do?
Remain calm! No need to post in the forums or email support. Instead, please login to Etsy, click Your Etsy, and check out your Etsy Bill. It will tell you the day of your Showcase and serve as a receipt for your purchase.
13.5 How do I know if the Showcase is right for me?
Some sellers have done very well with the Showcase in terms of exposure and sales, some not so much. We recommend you check out bethela‘s article Showcase Deconstructed for tips on what considerations you should think about before purchasing. Exboyfriend also did a great 2-part series for the Storque all about online advertising, A DIY-Friendly Guide to Online Advertising. [...]
Dear Sellers,
I am happy to report that the U.S. Copyright Office is now accepting electronic filing of copyright registrations. Previously, I reported that the Copyright Office was conducting a beta test of this system. Advantages of Electronic Copyright Office (eCO) system include:
• Lower filing fee of $35 for a basic claim (for online filings only)
• Fastest processing time
• Online status tracking
• Secure payment by credit or debit card, electronic check, or Copyright Office deposit account
The U.S. Copyright Office’s website has a great tutorial to help get you started. I have registered some of my work using the old school paper system (my personal favorite) and I tried out the beta test of the web-based registration system (save yourself a headache and turn off your pop up blocker), but I have yet to try out the eCO system. If you get a chance try out the eCO, please let me know what you think!
Check out SarahSays’ past Legal Info for Artists posts [...]
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