Learning the Ropes

Lately I've been able to concentrate a little more steadily on promotion of my Etsy shops.  I've figured out how to plant Etsy minis on my blog and on my Facebook account, and how to change out my avatar on Twitter.  And I've sold two canvas growth charts in one week!  Way!

                                                                                                                                                              

I did a voltunteer job this week for my daughter's Venturing Crew.  A couple of weeks ago they tie dyed t shirts to where at this weekends 

Venture Daze Camperee at Boy Scout Camp.  I took all 16 of them and stenciled on our crew number; Crew 144.  I think they cam out smashing!

I've also been posting more items on my Etsy supply shop, www.finishthis.etsy.com.

I've come into a wind fall of vintage knitting and crochet books and ma

gazines.  I'm gleaning out of them all the things I really want to make and then listing them.  They're a neat little picture of the past.

I think I'm finally begin

ning , just beginning, to understand the whole marketing thing.  Well, maybe not, but if I take things tiny step by tiny sep I just might ma

ke some progress.

www.JudyAGoddard.Etsy.com

www.finishthis.etsy.com

www.Measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com

www.JudyGoddard.Homestead.com

Up to my elbows in "How to Market" books

"I'm up to my elbows in "How to Market" books!  I've taken out several from the library and have been poring over them each night before I turn out the light.  I keep my notebook handy and jot down phrases and quotes that I think will help me to focus on the task of successfully promoting my artistic work.  I also take down lists of what I should do and what I should be doing.  I keep hoping that somehow, in some magical way,  it will all begin to line up in my brain and make some kind of sense.

What I read last night, in Craft Inc. is that I need to find my own personal style that stands out and sets me apart from the millions of other people selling their wares.  

I need to discover whether I'm serious or whimsical.  Am I country or urbane?  Would my works appeal more to younger people or more mature folks?

But then, in the very next sentence there seems to be a discrepancy.  I need to remember that the most important thing is to do what I love and not cater to the whims of fashion.  If I do what I love then I'll be happy and will draw folks to me with my positive energy.  

So, how's that been working for me so far?  Guess! 80)

Do I sound just a tad jaded?

Well, I still have Marketing for Dummies and Guerrilla Marketing to slog through.

I will figure out how to make wonderful things that make me happy and fulfilled and I will figure out the best way to present them to the public in a way that will draw people to my web sites so that they can ooh and aah over my wonderful wares and just have to buy them!

I wish there was a check list somewhere that I could use  that allow me to just follow the rules and get success.

Oh well.

 

I have this particular problem, can you relate?

I have never been a person who is fond of being on the computer. I'm not a surfer. I don't hang out on facebook. I have a bazillion sites bookmarked and I hardly ever get back to them. I joined Etsy.com last April and slowly slid into despondency.

I faithfully read the forum posts and posted questions. I frequently received sympathetic responses and kind words of encouragement. I set up this blog, specifically for the purposes of networking and drawing others to my shop. Every time I thought I had reached the end of what could be done, someone else came along with another suggestion.

But I just can't keep it all in my head. Even if write it down, I get so easily overwhelmed.

I read a blog post the other day that said that the reason so many web businesses fail is because of poor marketing skills. And I totally agree.

I've bought books on how to market myself.
I bookmarked and read articles written by professional business people on the pitfalls and how to avoid them.
I've taken the advice of friends and colleagues.
I've made a buisness plan and tried to stick to it.

I try to digest it all, in little bites, and I feel like a stuffed sausage. If I attempt to organize my data and thoughts later in the day, like afternoon or evening, I quickly become confused and then frozen. So I tell myself to wait until the morning, when I am fresh, and it makes no difference.

There are many, many people who successfully promote and market their wares. I know, with out a doubt. that I am capable of producing items that others will want to own. I just do not have what it takes to get it to those patrons.

Is there a service that anyone offers that can tailor a plan for someone like me? Is there a person that will help me make a plan that can work for me? Is there a person who I can talk to when I become overwhelmed? someone to hold my hand and walk me through it?

www.JudyAGoddard.Etsy.com
www.finishthis.etsy.com
www.Measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com
www.JudyGoddard.Homestead.com

Where Do I Go From Here?

Where do I go from here? For the past ten months I've had a wonderful time designing and knitting my baskets, setting up an Etsy shop, doing shows and marketing the best way I knew how. But they just won't move. So now it's time to sit back, examine my process and strike out in a different direction.

I made an impulse buy this past fall. (Actually it was several impulse buys!) I purchased 443 pink plastic barrettes at my local dollar store for an insanely low price and will now fiddle around with them and see what I can come up with. Fiber continues to be my main focus, so I see a lot of felt in fun, colorful shapes!

I'll also be doing a little more exploring into the world of fine art, doing more painting and maybe printing out note cards and prints.

I really do think, though, that my main problem seems to be poor marketing.

As a left handed, right brained thinker, I have a really hard time focusing on technical things. Etsy has been a wealth of information but I've had a rough time compartmentalizing.

I will continue to market my Incredibly Cute Canvas Growth Charts. They are just too precious not to keep trying!

Next year I'll be focusing more on local craft shows. Living "Down the Shore" provides me with a solid higher end clientele. I just have to find the right shows. There's plenty of help for me to draw on. After all, I'm not new to craft shows. I put myself through college selling batik tee shirts!

http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/
http://www.measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com/
http://www.judygoddard.homestead.com/

THAT'S what friends are for!

OOf! What am I doing wrong??!! My head is in such a fog and I can't think straight. I'm not focusing and my heart is pounding! You know, my sales are pretty slumpy. And I just couldn't figure out what to do next.

So I called my BFF and cried to her my woes. And she, in her wisdom, got all efficient on my ass, helped me straighten out my path and gave me a pat on the back to gently push me forword.

And out of her mouth comes, " Merchandizing! Marketing! Take better pictures! Show people what the baskets can be used for! Give the world an idea of how wonderful your baskets are! Help them visualize how your handknit felted baskets will look when they use them as gift holders,

table accents, party favors!, thank you gifts!

I hurriedly wrote down, in lists, all she was saying, and what her words suggested to me, on how to market my wonderful baskets.

So! Now I have a clear path! Now I can settle my pounding heart and make lists of what to do first, second and third. ( and 18th, 19th and 20th)

I'm so grateful for a friend who hears my desperation and reaches down inside herself to come up with advise that is truly inspired. I'

m so blessed!

http://www.judyagoddard.etsy.com/

http://www.measureformeasuregrowthcharts.com/

http://www.judygoddard.homestead.com/