Etsy, What's Going On?

I don't know about you, but since Etsy went public and started selling stock options in April of 2015, the Etsy that I used to know when I began my business in 2007 changed.  Of course, change is inevitable in life and business, but it seems to me they sold out from their original vision.  When Rob Kalin started Etsy in 2007,  he was dismayed with Ebay and felt they were too corporate and so he wanted to change the way commerce worked with a mission to promote sustainable products, handmade products and the supplies to make them, online.  (Here is a good article from 2007 where Kalin talks about his beginning vision for Etsy -  https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/184996).

Since "going corporate," Etsy seems to have left the handmade model behind.  Yes, there are still many small handmade businesses on Etsy, but there are also MANY resellers selling products that they are purchasing all ready made from other countries, and trying to pass them off as products they have created themselves.  Seems like Etsy no longer cares who sells on their platform.  They are just looking to make a sale to anyone, from any seller, and they are even willing to set up competition between their sellers with their new "see similar items" link that pops up when your mouse hovers over a listing.

And now they are running tests continually that they say are going to help bring in more buyers, and consequently, bring in more sales for their sellers.  Uh, sorry, not seeing any results there.  Quite the opposite.

One thing I noticed recently that I find really disturbing is the results I get when I do a search on Google using my most popular keywords.  I am not sure if you have tried this.  I would recommend  that you do.  This is what I found.

So I clicked on four different listings of mine.  Here are the results: 

-  one Etsy Studio listing was for Amethyst cabochons - when I clicked on the listing, it went to another suppliers listing, and for Peridot cabochons.

-  another Etsy Studio listing for Amethyst cabochons took me to another suppliers listing, not mine, but at least this time it was for amethyst cabs

- another listing for Amethyst cabochons took me to the home page of my Etsy store, not the listing

- and the last listing I checked was for Smokey Quartz cabochons.  When I clicked on that listing, it took me to a listing of mine for Rainbow Moonstone cabochons.  And when you scroll to the bottom of that page, Etsy has "you may also like," suggestions for other sellers cabochons.

I don't know about you, as I stated above, but I really feel Etsy has lost it's way.  Or just changed it's way.  And as a long time seller, I feel like the changes Etsy has made and continue to make are for the benefit of themselves and their stock holders.  My own personal opinion is that Etsy has lost the heart and soul of what made Etsy a unique platform for artisans. 

Helpful Tips for Your Etsy Business - Etsy Search

Have your sales seemed to have slowed down this year?  Maybe even the views to your shop?  I know mine have.  So I decided to look into why this might be happening.

Etsy is flooded with sellers right now: new and long time ones, retail and wholesale, handmade and not handmade.  Things have really changed since I started on Etsy almost 10 years ago.  And competition is stiff.   And so, once again, Etsy has changed it search algorithm, I believe it was earlier this year.  I came across this post, I believe in the Etsy forums, and thought it was good advice to help your listings be seen, and possibly move your listings to Etsy's first page of a search for products similar to your own.

I have been implementing these changes myself, and I have to honestly tell you, I am seeing good results. In the first 3 pages of search on Etsy, using my strongest keywords, my listings show up once.  But by page 4 in search, I have many listings showing up in search.  So I am seeing results. 


This post was written by someone named Sharna R., I believe in the Etsy forums, on Mary 17, 2016.  (I have edited and added clarifying information where I felt it may be helpful.) 

"I have found great success (in a matter of just a few minutes) in updating 4 things:

1.  Title - Put your top hit search terms as the first 3 words in your title. Go to your Etsy stats page, and see what the top three search terms are for your business.  Use them in your titles.

2.  Materials - Etsy uses this information when customers search for specific things.  In my leather pacifier clips rather than just having "leather' in my materials, I added "metal pacifier clip" since my top search hit is "leather pacifier clip." 

3.  Tags - This is HUGE!  Use phrases for your tags rather than just individual words.  You will find a lot more success if you are selling earrings to use the tag "geometric stud earrings" rather than "geometric", "stud", "earrings" separately.

4.  Description - Similar to Google, Etsy seems to have it's algorithm look for "interesting pages" so adding bullet point lists, links or quotes show Etsy that there's a variety of information on your listing rather than just a brief description of what the item is. 

My best advice is to search for your listings as if you were a customer to see where they come up (which page you're on) and try a few things to improve your listings to get on the first page of your top hits search terms.  Also, learning from those listings that are on the first page has been very valuable to me as well.  Even copying the tags and titles they use has given me good success."

Hope you find this information helpful for your business. 

Top 15 Most Popular Social Networking Sites

As creative entrepreneurs, I believe we all have a limited amount of time to devote to marketing and social media outreach.  Because of this, I thought it would be helpful to let you know what I have found to be the most popular social media sites, currently.

eBizMBA.com, an online business guide that helps people find the web's best resources to grow an online business, ranked each of the following website's Alexa Global Traffic Rank, and U.S. Traffic Rank and came up with these results:

1.  Facebook

2. Twitter

3. Linked In

4. Pinterest

5. Google Plus+

6. Tumblr

7. Instagram

8. VK

9. Flickr

10.  Vine

11. Meetup

12. Tagged

13. Ask.fm

14. MeetMe

15. Classmates

Of course, if you are an Etsy seller, I would also recommend being active in the Forums and Teams.  I have found both places helpful for information, sharing, and letting other people know within the Etsy community about your business.

This has been updated to reflect the most current ranking as of March 2015.

Hope this information is helpful for you with your business marketing.

3 Important Lessons I Learned That Doubled My Business in 2013

Last year, my bead store grew incredibly.  My sales more then doubled from the previous year.  Want to know what I learned that helped increase my sales?  These are the 3 most important lessons I learned in business in 2013. 

OK, I do have to say that I had more time for my business last year.  I opened Tiger Bead Store online in August of 2007 and for the first 5 1/2 years, was only able to work it part-time because I also had a "regular" job.  Last year was the first year I was able to devote all of my time to growing my business.  That helps. 

That being said, I have found these to be the MOST important lessons I have learned...

Lesson 1 - You have to have great product that people want to buy.  

Are people interested in what you have to sell?  Are they more interested in some of the items you sell over other items you offer?  Say rings, instead of necklaces?  Focus your creative energy on making more of what sells.  If you focus on what you want to make, but your customers want a different item, they will go somewhere else to find that.  So stay in touch with your customer's needs and desires.  Maybe even check out other sellers that sell similar items to what you sell, and see what sells best for them. 

When I started Tiger Bead Store, I started with selling beads.  And then I began adding other beading and jewelry making supplies that I liked and wanted to share.  Crystals, stampings, etc.  When I added gemstones, my business really began to grow.  I was filling a need and desire that people wanted, and then that became my business's niche.  That's what sells well for me.  I try every now and then to add new supplies, but the bulk of my business is gemstones.  So that is where I spend my money and focus my attention.  To finding and selling the best gemstones that I can. 

Lesson 2 - Answer your emails as quickly as possible.

Your customers are your bread and butter.  And their needs are yours.  I get emails all the time and I try to respond as quickly as possible.  I can tell you, that leads to sales.  People cannot commit to making a purchase if they don't have all the facts to base a decision on.  I think this is especially true with online sales.  People can only see what you show them in your photos, and your description.   But you may have left something out in your description that may not make any difference to you, but is the determining factor for a buyer.  Quick email responses make a huge difference.



Lesson 3 - Quick shipping.

Once a customer has placed an order, you can bet they want it as soon as possible.  So quick turn around time is essential for your business growth.  As a supplier, I ship 3 times a week.  And I know my customers appreciate that because mention that and over again in my feedback.  Because I ship so often, most packages that I send out are 1st class mail.  But you can offer, or make standard for your shipping, Priority Mail. 

I think the most important thing here is communication.  In your policies, let it be know how often you ship, ex. every 1-3 business days, etc.  This will give your customer a realistic idea before hand as to what to expect.  And if you can get your product out faster, that is always another way to WOW them.  Of course, if you take more time than you agreed to in your policies, contact the customer.  Communicate with them.  This can often diffuse a negative situation.
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These tips are not rocket science, as you can see, but I believe they are the foundation to growing an online business.  They have helped me grow my business, and I think they can help you with yours.  

Marketing Tips for Online Sellers -The Importance of a Good Avatar

An avatar is a graphic image that represents your store on the Internet.  If you sell handmade items or supplies on Etsy or Artfire, your avatar shows up right by your name on the homepage of your store.  You can also see your avatar right near your comment if you post a question or answer in the forums.  Also if you send a convo or message to a buyer or seller within Etsy or Artfire, your avatar will show.

Something I haven't heard anyone mention in all of my marketing reading is the importance of a good avatar.  And since this is the photo people come to recognize as you and your store, what makes for a good avatar?

If you go to the forums on Etsy or Artfire,  you will see people use photos of themselves, photos of one of their items, or a photo that is irrelevant to what they are selling as their avatar, such as their child or pet.  As a buyer, what draws me to click on a shop is not the shop name, but if I can see what it is that is being sold in that shop.  A clear, colorful photo is a lot more interesting and it grabs my attention better than any other image.  It gives me a good idea about what the seller is selling, and if it is something I am interested in seeing more of.  And believe me, I have made purchases, and I am probably not alone, by being directed to a shop because of their avatar. 

In addition to a good photo of something you sell, if your avatar has your shop name on it, that also makes it, and consequently your shop, more recognizable. And you really do want name recognition. Repetition, repetition, repetition is what my husband reminds me is needed for a buyer to feel comfortable with you as a seller.

I hope this is helpful advice for some of my readers. As with all advice, use what feels helpful and disregard the rest.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Rings

Natural White Agate Teardrop Druzy Stone Ring by OhKuol

I should never browse through a handmade online store for rings.  I love rings!  I think they are my most favorite piece of jewelry.  Many of the gems that I sell at Tiger Bead Store, are used by very talented jewelers that just happen to sell on Etsy.  Etsy is an online site kind of like Ebay, but only for handmade items or the supplies needed to make handmade items.

These first 2 pretty rings are by Quandle Qadir of other45minutes.  I love the setting and the stones in both of these rings.

chalcedony ring in sterling silver setting

Bouquet Stacking Ring Set by Scape

Elephant Ring by Silver Jewelry Shop

This last ring of the elephants looks more commercial than handmade but I really do like it.

There are so many more rings that I love on Etsy.  I feel a shopping spree may be coming soon!

Dyeing Chalcedony

Chalcedony is one of my favorite gemstones. It is a porous stone so colored dyes can be used to enhance and change the color of the stone.

Deep Red Chalcedony Briolettes

 Chalcedony is quartz that is made from tightly packed microscopic crystals.

In nature, chalcedony can be a subtle variation of almost any color: red, orange, green, black and some forms of bluish-gray. Stronger colors, such as reddish orange, green and yellow may be natural or dyed.

The dyeing process reportedly was discovered in the 1800s in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, one of the world’s leading gem cutting centers.

The process involves the use of strong acids to “open the pores.” Then the chalcedony is submitted to a variety of repeated and prolonged immersions in metallic compound solutions that impart color. Reds, oranges and yellows are placed in iron oxide compounds; greens in chromium compounds; blues in cobalt compounds. Generally, dyed chalcedony has a vivid color and, under microscopic examination, can have concentrations of color along the edges.

Dyeing generally doesn’t affect the value of chalcedony, most of which is moderately priced. The treatment processes that impart color are considered permanent by the gemstone trade.

Golden Chalcedony Briolettes

 Natural Chalcedony is usually a blue/grey/lavender shade. It can also occur naturally in pale pinks or greens, but usually even these colors are acquired by dyeing. It is important to know that dyed stones can fade with exposure to light.

Metallic and Colored Pearls

It seems I have been seeing a trend in colored pearls this fall into winter season. Pearls make a great addition to any wardrobe. They are very versatile. And now, with the colored ones, you can buy pearls to match and compliment any outfit.

Tiger Bead Store carries freshwater pearls in gold, silver, and green for the holidays. We also have shades of blue, purple, and more. And many are on SALE.





This is a sample of some of the colors available at Tiger Bead Store. Come by and take a look. Pearls also make a great gift for any beader you may know.

You can find out more information about pearls and pearl care in my blog article.

Artfire is On Fire

Artfire, an online selling venue for handmade arts and crafts is on fire!! They keep adding more and more new features to the site to make it very artist friendly. The latest addition is the ability to download all your listings from Etsy to Artfire with minimal editing to each listing. It's a great feature. It takes a lot of time putting a listing on both venues. This will be a great time saver.

Thanks Artfire!

BIG Bead Sale at Tiger Beads

Time to clear out the inventory to make way for new items at Tiger Beads. I have many great bead deals listed, many strands below wholesale. Take a look. You may find just what you need for your next creation!

FedEx Delivers a New Order

Hurray! FedEx just delivered a new order from one of my suppliers. Always one of the best days in my whole life. Just a joke. My son used to say that whenever something good happened to him such as seeing a Batman movie or not having to go to school for some reason.

But it is exciting. Receiving new gemstones is like being a kid in a candy store. As a jewelry artist, these are the tools of the trade. Not the boring tools like pliers and wire cutters, but the pretty, fancy stuff, that enhance a design.

I ordered cabachons in different stones than I currently have available at Tiger Beads, and new briolettes, labradorite and iolite. I hope to get the photography started today so I can list them in the store.

Stop by soon, even just to look if you have an interest in gemstones.

New Cabachons

I am beginning to carry cabachons for ring and pendant designing. Some are calibrated in size and others have been cut to a custom size. The stones are beautiful. Take a look:


Prehnite Rounds


Moonstone Rounds


Turquoise


Charolite

I will be adding many more so keep coming back!

More New Briolettes

In my ever widening search to find the best beads for my bead store, I came across these beauties.


Lovely Pink Amethyst. This is a very pretty, almost delicate looking stone. These gems are a pale pink color.


These gems are a Sky Blue Chalcedony faceted briolette. Gorgeous color.


Labradorite. My favorite.


And Green Amethyst faceted pear briolettes.

For more detailed information on any of these beads, visit Tiger Beads.

Tiger Beads is also having a SALE ON ALL WOOD BEADS. They are 25%OFF for a limited time. I have a very nice selection available. Stop by if you are interested.

Beautiful Briolettes

Briolettes, my favorite. Lovely shapes, lovely colors. What's not to like?







From the top photo down:

Citrine
Beer Quartz
Smokey Quartz
Pink and Purple Chalcedony
Natural Chalcedony
Purple Veined Chalcedony

For more information, please go to Tiger Beads.

More Pretty New Beads

All of these new beads are available at Tiger Beads. They are part of my last shopping spree.


Sparkly Neon Micro Faceted Apatite Rondelles


Blue Flash Labradorite Heishi Beads


Juicy Mango Chalcedony Round Beads


And Rainbow Moonstone Micro Faceted Rondelles

Sunstone

I seem to really like the shiny, sparkly gemstones. Sunstone is one of them. The nicest sunstone I have found is from a local supplier. These pendants are the second batch I have purchased from him. And here is my first ever video on my blog.



These are just a few of the pendants I currently have in my bead store.






I did a little research because I was interested in knowing where sunstone comes from.

"Sunstone is the State Gem of Oregon, a prime source for this beautiful gem.

Sunstone is metallic in appearance and comes in red, orange or green colors. However, cleaner red sunstone is very rare and it commands true gemstone prices. The stone is a composition of oligioclase feldspar which also contains hematite or goethite. The presence of hematite or goethite creates a reflections of light, hence the name sunstone.

Sunstone is formed in molten lava and is discharged onto the surface with the help of a volcano. The lava weathers away or is broken. Fine crystals of sunstone is then released. The Oregon sunstone is found with copper in it which is the cause for the range of colors in the stone from water color to yellow and many shades of green, red and pink.

In ancient times, this stone was used by natives for barter. It was also believed by the Vikings to be a talisman for navigation. Today, it is widely linked with human being as protective energy. It lends extra energy at times of stress or ill health."

Information from www.MineralsZone.com

New Beads

Here are some of the new beads I have purchased for Tiger Beads lately.


Lepidolite Rondelles (this photograph is darker than the actual beads)


Lepidolite Rounds


Caribbean Blue Jade Rounds


Angelic Crab Agate Rounds


And Deep Red Chalcedony Briolettes

There will many more new beads coming!
Check out Tiger Beads for more information on all strands.

A Great Saturday

I had a really good day yesterday. I have been working on an outdoor enclosure for my cats so they can go outside, safely, and lie in the sun, and listen to the sounds. Especially since the weather is getting better. After I figured out my plans for how to build it, it took me 3 hours last saturday and maybe 3 hours at the most yesterday. I had the help of my nephew to attach the chicken wire and to put the top of the enclosure on the bottom. This is the end result.


I call this Tiger's room because he is the whole reason I built it.

My plan is the add onto this, an enclosed walkway through the grass to another larger "room" type area where they can hang out. but for right now, I am very pleased with what is all ready done.

The other thing I did on saturday was go to a bead show in our local area. I am increasing my inventory of beads at Tiger Beads and I purchased some very beautiful goodies. I found some new crystal beads that sparkle like I have never seen before. And a very good price too! And I bought some beautiful briolettes.

Today's plan is to photograph, edit, and get some new listings at my bead store, Tiger Beads. I'll probably share some photos here too. I love getting new beads!

Finally, New Beads

Just unpacked a new order of beads so I will have a little show and tell.


These bright blue beads are Carribean blue jade and they are 5.5mm in size. Boy, I can tell you, they are very bright.



And these larger beads are Angelic crab agate and they are 13mm in size. These beads have a cool crackly effect in them. They are really pretty beads.

I've been going on a shopping spree lately so there will be plenty more to see real soon. Get more details about these and other beads at Tiger Beads.

Ornamental Brass Stampings

I have added a new product to my Tiger Bead Store. Brass Stampings.

Stampings are "charms" that are stamped out of flat sheets of brass or other metals such as steel or silver. A large press is used to exert thousands of pounds of force to smash the flat metal sheet to a hardened steel decorative form. The brass or other metal, then takes on the form of the steel shape. Brass is often the metal of choice because the metal is inexpensive and very malleable to intricate designs.

These stampings are often times antiqued, but also are available raw. Either way, the intricacy of the design is incredible!

These are just a sample of what Tiger Bead Store has available. Stampings are perfect to use in jewelry designing. Go to the bead store and see what other beautiful stampings are available.