Great lighting can make your products look amazing!

It’s no secret that product photos can make or break your Etsy sales.  You can have the coolest handmade product ever, but without an outstanding photo you might not be as happy with your response.

Getting beautiful photos is not as hard as you think, but it will take a little practice to get the hang of what makes your product stand out in the crowd.

Lighting is the biggest source of photo problems.  Create your own photo light box and you’ll be amazed at the quality photos you can take!

Here are 5 examples of DIY Light Boxes…

Pretty Handy Girl – DIY Photography Light Studio Set Up

Ninth and Bird – DIY Photo Light Box

Never Homemaker – How to Build a Light Box

Radmegan – Sun Powered Light Box

You’ll find one more example with some photo tips at The Dapper Toad.

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Now you know how to do it, so get busy and create a light box!

It’s time to take some fresh photos for your shop.  Don’t forget that multiple angles help show off your product.  It takes a bunch of photos to get a few good ones…so snap, snap, snap away!

You might enjoy reading this post…5 Quick Tips for Better Product Photography.

Take a look around Etsy and see what product photos for inspiration.  As you scroll down the page you’ll notice certain types of photos catch you attention and I bet they all have great lighting!

Practice makes perfect…or close to it. There’s always room for improvement when it comes to product photos, so keep updating you photos as your skills increase.

Do you have a light box?  Do you use natural light?  I’d love to hear your photo success tips in the comments!

~Kim

Craft shows can be a profitable way to sell your handmade creations, and displays play a big part in getting a second look from relaxed shoppers strolling by.

Get their attention with a well designed booth that shares your work in the best light while giving them easy-to-understand pricing and selections.

Here are a few fabulous displays to spark your creativity…

{Into Vintage – Etsy shop:: Peppermint Bark}

This chalkboard ideas is super cute and easy to make!  It would get my attention from a distance and bring me in for a closer look.

Have you used chalkboard paint in your display?  If you haven’t, it might be time to give it a try!  You can even change the sign to meet your needs in seconds.

{Something’s Hiding in Here}

Got small items?  Try this fun display idea.  The fish bowls are a cute and the little price signs make it easy to shop.

{Jillian Frances}

Cover bricks with burlap or your favorite fabric for a beautiful jewelry display.  What a cleaver idea…I wish I thought of it!

{Katie Daisy}

Repurposed dressers and small cabinets are always cute!  Grab the next one you see by the dumpster and give it a new life.

{GingerCake}

I’ve been a fan of these Ginger Cake little owls for years!  This shelf lined with sweet little stuffed creatures is sure to attract customers for afar.  She also has everything clearly labeled for easy shopping.

{Amy Frank}

Turn everyday items into great display props.  Shop around your house or you local thrift stores.  Look for items that will give your display a little height to keep it interesting.

Don’t miss any creative display ideas!  Check out these…

• 12 Craft Show Tips
• Craft Show Tips & Display Ideas
• Display Ideas
• More Display Ideas

What’s you favorite display idea? 

~Kim

{You Are Beautiful by Fresh Words Market}

No woman is an island. We may wish we were on an island, but that’s a different story altogether.

The point I’m making is that we’re all part of a community, or more accurately a number of communities.

We’re friends, daughters, moms, etsy sellers, craftahaulics, vintage freaks, bloggers, women. The list goes on. (men reading this, please substitute terms to your liking!)

One of the dramatic changes we’re seeing in our lifetime is that many of our communities are now online. We interface through a screen and a keyboard or a cell phone.

That can be a little odd can’t it? For me it’s been even more pronounced because the move to working online happened at the same time we moved to a new town in real life. I’ve had to learn online relationships “boot camp” style. And I’ve made my share of mistakes in the process.

One of the things I’ve learned is that it’s okay to be real. Really be yourself online.

Share Some of Yourself Online — Be Real!

The internet gives you so many chances to do this. Your blog is a great place to talk about what you like to eat or where your family goes on vacation. Go ahead and talk about your dog or your kids, people like some of that.

Just be careful not to make that all your blog is about. Readers like to learn about you…a little. They mostly want to learn about what they want to learn about. (which is the overall subject of your blog)

Don’t stop with your blog. Social sites like Pinterest and mobile apps like Instagram are great ways to share what inspires you without the need for many words. I really feel like I get to know people through social media.  I won’t go off on a whole rant on how I love Pinterest, but you get the idea.  You are beautiful so share a little more!

Do you find it easy to share about your life online?  Is all this new social media growing on you? 

~Kim

In our last Craft Show Tips post there were some fabulous ideas in the comments that I just have to share!

These are just a few from the many great ideas…

• I was happy we worked on our display ahead of time.We took a photo so we would remember how to set it up. {Jane from Maiden Jane}
• Be nice to the kids…everyone is a potential customer, and if you show a child a meaningful artistic experience, they’ll run back to drag their parents back to your display.  {Nicole Seaton}
• What defines you as an artist is YOU. Not your sales. I have had amazingly profitable shows, and crazily horrible shows. The work is the work. These externals might distract you from your Vision. Stay mindful of that. {Marti from Happy Art}
• Never forget that you can find interesting and really cool ways to display your crafts at thrift stores. It takes a bit of an eye, but with some practice there are lots of inexpensive items that may just need a coat of paint to make a really neat display. {Lisa from Simple Girl Sews}

I could go on an on with all the wonderful comments but I thought I would share a few beautiful display ideas I found.  The details of your display can really make a difference!

Check out the tutorial on how to make these fun mini chalkboards on Little Bit Funky.  In 20 minutes you’ll have some great little signs to add to your craft show display!

Got Jewelry??  Create a few of these shabby chic earring displays from Kevin and Amanda.

You can’t beat a thrift store find like these old drawers!  Ponder & Stitch made them look like a million bucks in a few simple steps.  Creative displays catch my attention every time!

If you are planning for an upcoming craft show you’ll want to check out these 12 Craft Show Tips and make sure to read through the comments…they are awesome!

The weather has been perfect for craft shows around here.  I hope you are all sharing in a bit of that!

Care to share a few more of your craft show tips and display ideas? Please leave them in the comments…we’re listening!

~Kim

I really love travel and I’m pretty sure travel loves me back. I can tell because things always seem to work out great for us when we decide to just “take off” with no plan and no advance notice.

My Valentine’s Day started off pretty normal, but by midnight I was 200 miles away in Key Largo, standing on a pontoon boat in a mangrove creek catching Shrimp! When we woke-up that morning, we had no plans to go anywhere and I’ve never been shrimping in my life.

I married a crazy man. He just says “Let’s go somewhere!” and you better be ready. I love it!

So there I was standing on a boat and watching my son (13) catch shrimp like crazy. Big Key West shrimp. WAY Fun!

Here’s what I learned:

1. You don’t need anything fancy.

You need less “gear” to catch shrimp than I realized. It’s really pretty simple if you’re not trying to catch them by the truckload. It takes a light to attract them and a net to catch them.

That’s really the same selling online. You don’t need a fancy storefront, high-end marketing, or fancy display cases. The tools you need to succeed online are simple. An Etsy shop and a blog is enough to get started. (resources page)

2. You have to stay up late.

With shrimping, it’s pretty much a nighttime thing. You can’t see them during the day.

But it reminded me of how many late nights it has taken to build our blogs and Etsy shops to the point they are at now. Success online requires some time investment and usually that time is taken where you can get it, often late at night.

3. Don’t take your eyes off of your goal.

In order to catch a shrimp you have to see it when swims into your light. If you lose your focus, you can miss out!

It’s the same thing with building a business selling on Etsy. You have to decide exactly what you’re “fishing for” and make yourself ready for it.

4. You learn what to look for and how to make the catch.

Since we were beginners we started off catching leaves and scaring off real shrimp because we didn’t know what to look for or how to catch them when we did see one. But after awhile, we got better. Then we got better still.

That’s the exact same thing that has happened in our online business. Just like shrimping, it’s been trial and error. There have always been people to point us in the right direction, but we still make mistakes and learn the hard way.

You learn. You get better. You catch more shrimp.

5. Don’t let the slow times fool you and, if you want to eat, don’t quit!

There were times when very few shrimp were being caught. On our second night it was so slow that all the other people gave up and went to bed. Yet after a few hours we had four dozen huge shrimp. At least $60-$80 worth. We had never been shrimping so we didn’t really know just how slow it was in comparison.

The same thing happens when you’re selling online. You’ll have times that it feels like you’re not selling anything. If you pack-up and call it quits then you’ll be done. That’s it.

But if you persist, if you do not quit and you stay through those slow times three things will happen:

1. You’re going to experience some success, even if it is small by comparison.
2. You’re going to improve your technique and skills. You’ll get better.
3. When the tide turns and there is bounty aplenty, you will still be in the game.

Persistence is the key. Don’t quit. If you don’t quit, you can’t lose.

And if you keep the attitude of a 13 year old boy with a net in his hand, you’ll have a blast the whole time anyway!

Go get em!

~ Kim

Do you think there were people that told Walt Disney that he was a little too optimistic with his plans and ideas?  I bet there were more than a few people.

I’m sure there were times when things changed that were out of his control and he had the choice to either keep going with a positive attitude or quit.  Walt Disney will always be know as one of the most creative people ever, yet you wouldn’t know of him at all if he gave up.

A positive attitude can go a long, long way when you’re striving to reach your dreams.

There are always going to be negative people, but you don’t have to be one of them.  Just show them what a little creativity mixed with a positive attitude can do!

Your dreams can come true!

~Kim

*This lovely quote can be downloaded for free from Creative Kristi.

You’ve probably heard by now that starting next Tuesday, September 27th, there will be paid ads showing up in the Etsy search results. These ads are open to all Etsy sellers to promote their items at a relatively good price. Considering that buyers are already looking for what you’re selling, the “conversion rate” from clicks on these ads is bound to be great!

Kim and Tim Ready to Podcast! Hershey sleeping...

But We Had Questions!

We had a few questions and I bet you do too! We were lucky enough to get Frank Harris and Natalie Schwartz on a Skype call straight from Etsy HQ! Tim and I had a list of questions and they graciously answered them in-depth for more than a half-hour. If you’re looking to maximize your Etsy sales, this information is a must! Questions cover topics such as:

• Does the cost of ads vary?
• Will there be any more recent listings shown?
• How do you decide what ads to show?
• How do you determine top search results and what can we do to get on page one!???

It’s worth the time to listen to this straight from the real people at Etsy who make this stuff work. I think you’ll be pleased to hear a genuine concern for the needs of sellers like you and me! Tim and I both left the conversation feeling excited about the future of Etsy and our role as Etsy sellers by extension.

Enjoy the podcast:
[powerpress]

If you prefer to read, rather than to listen, we’ll be posting a written summary of the questions and conversation soon. But there’s something to be said about hearing it directly. So I hope you give it a listen.

You might be interested in reading some of these:

• Behind the Curtain:  The Strategy of Search Ads
• Etsy Relevancy Search Tips
• Putting Your Shop on Top {Relevancy}

Don’t forget to join us each week for our 10-week series, Blogging Leads to Online Greatness {B.L.O.G.}.  Learn how to set up and use a blog to promote your shop!

Keep up with the the latest Etsy news subscribe to Everything Etsy!

What are your thoughts on the new search ads on Etsy? Have you signed-up yet? Are there questions we didn’t ask?

~Kim

Some of you are already aware of Etsy’s new Relevancy Search and how it might change the way you need to list your items.  I will honestly tell you that I’m not always that keen on changes, but I usually adapt.  Here’s a bit of information to help bring you up to speed and help your shop be successful…

• Etsy has changed their default search from Recently Listed to Most Relevant.
• Etsy believes this will help shoppers find exactly what they are searching for and you should think like a shopper as you title and tag you items.
• Put the most important keywords and phrases at the front of your titles.
• Use a variety of strong keywords and phrases in your titles and tags, and vary what is at the front of the title (be sure to always use the most important keywords and phrases, though). Don’t name everything the same thing! Each listing is a chance for a buyer to find you, if you diversify your keywords you’ll be found by lots of different searches. For example, you might start off a few listing titles with each of your strong keywords or phrases, then use other great terms on other similar items in your shop. Eg:
  Girls Dress – etc etc
  Children’s Dress – etc etc
  Toddler Dress – etc etc  {From Etsy.com}
• Recently Listed items do play some role in search results sorted by relevancy.  They want to keep it fresh.   Shoppers can still choose to shop by recently listed.
• The top of the search page will show the last four Recently Listed items.
• Use all your tags keeping in mind what a buyer might type in the search box.  Tags and titles will help determine your relevancy.
• All tags will have equal value so it does not matter what order they are listed.
• Recently listed items will also continue to appear at the bottom of the Etsy homepage, and the category pages will continue to be sorted by most recent.
• You can find more information about this here.  I’m sure there will be slight changes as they receive feedback from sellers.

What are your thoughts about the new Relevancy Search? If you have found any ideas that have helped your shop, please share it in the comments.

I realize this might be a touchy subject, so please try to keep your comments kind, objective and relevant.  Thanks!

~Kim

Make a great first impression with creative business cards!

There are lots of new ideas out there so you might want to take your time and research a bit before you order your next batch of cards.  I’m sure you can find a style that stands out and represents you just right!

The cards above are tags and cards…gotta love that!!!

Make your own cards confetti calling cards with a simple tutorial from Pugly Pixel.  That’s creative!

I sooo love these cards!!!  The yellow edge is stunning!

Sharing a photo of your work on your next business cards is a great way to show off what you can do.  I have some cards with my lavender sachets on one side and my information on the other.  You can choose tons of designs for one set of cards at Moo.com.

This is extremely original, don’t you think? They can share your information with a friend by tearing it down the center of the popsicle…cute!

Take simple cards and make them a work of art with a little paint and your imagination.  These are sure to make someone realize how creative you are, right?

Create your own cards and stamp your information on them…this is a fabulous way to upcycle old greeting cards and boxes.

This one is for my fabric lovin’ friends…sew your favorite designer fabric to the back of your cards!  Pretty!!!

Follow a great tutorial on these handmade business cards from Lyssa on Born-again Crafter.

You might need the right kind of business for these, but cards designed like tickets are super creative!  Check out Under Consideration for more photos.

These owl cards are too sweet! Everyone at the next craft show will want one of your cards if they look this charming!

Amy from Design Sponge made these great tags and cards…what a nice look!

Make your cards sticky! You can create beautiful cards that are stickers…cool idea!  Stick them to your boxes and bags and add another one for them to keep.

I hope you found some fun ideas for you next set of cards!  You can find out more information about these and an adorable seed packet card on my Business Card Pinterest Board.

Have you seen any fabulous business cards lately? I’d love to hear about them!

~Kim

Other posts you might be interested in for your Etsy business…

• Easy Shipping for Etsy Sellers

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. – Henry Ford

When I look at some of the things I’ve had to learn in order to sell online I’m often a bit surprised by it all.

Some of the things we talk about, like Etsy Shop SEO, or how to create an etsy banner, or how to make a pinterest button, are things I never would have thought I would learn in this lifetime.

I just didn’t see it coming. At all.

Yet I’m so happy about it because I’m working this whole new part of my brain. I’m constantly learning new things and always yearning for more!

Just like the quote says, I think it keeps us young to learn new things.

Embrace Learning and Avoid Frustration

One of the challenges I’ve faced is getting mad at myself, life, or the world in general because I don’t know how to do something. I’m facing that exact thing right now with my maddening quest to learn to use our fancy digital SLR camera. I can’t get a poloroid quality shot out of the thing to save my life!

It’s funny how as adults we somehow think learning should be easier simply because we need to fit it in our schedule!

Ok, I’ve got an hour to spare here, 90 minutes tops, I need to learn professional digital photography in that window of time.

Hah! Right, like that’s gonna happen.

The cool thing is that when I take a step back and look at the big picture, I’m really amazed at how much I’ve learned in the last 2-3 years since I’ve started all this “online” stuff.

Even given the time constraints of being a wife, mom, and trying to work, it actually added up! Yay!

Thank God for coffee…

Give Yourself a Break and Carry On!

So next time you’re trying to learn a new thing, like maybe how to do a little HTML on your blog or how to sew, don’t give-up! If it takes a little while, that’s ok. It’s learning, and it never has been all that fast.

At least not for me!

What new things are you proud to have learned since starting all this “online” stuff?

~Kim