Mom Life in the PNW

Learning the Tricks of Etsy and Getting Sales

Learning the Tricks of Etsy and Getting Sales

Around March, my Etsy shop finally decided to take off and I currently have 90 sales under my belt. Now I know to the big Etsy sellers, my measly 90 sales over at my Mean Muggin It is nothing, but to me, it’s a huge milestone.

I’ve worked my butt off trying to fix my listing titles, tags, descriptions, SEO, etc. Basically, it’s like another blog and requires constant effort.

Most people think you just list a few things on Etsy and you’ll get sales; Wrong!

Things I’ve learned about the algorithm of Etsy

 

 

Keywords

  • Titles need to be filled to the max with keywords of your item. I separate them with a backslash or a comma, then paste them into the tag section. You need to use up all 13 tags.
  • Keywords and tags also need to be more than one word. Be descriptive. Think of what you’d be searching for to find your item.
  • Your keywords also need to be implemented into your description. The part where you describe the process and detailing of your item.

Great Photos

It also helps to have clear photos that stand out and catch the eye. I am still working on this part since it’s hard to do great pics in Sunlight and/or inside the house. I am contemplating on building a light box or even purchasing a cheapo one from Amazon to use with both my phone and DSLR camera in hopes that it will make my photos more enticing and in turn generate more sales.

Having your item staged with something next to it to give a size comparison is also good. Shows the buyer just how big your item is comparatively.

 

Profile

I have heard that filling out your profile and policies 100% leads to more views. Regardless of views, you’ll want to do this so you are backed by your shop policies if something were to go awry.

Social Media

You’ll want to build a social media following specifically for your Etsy business. I mainly like Instagram as I get way more interaction there than on Facebook. Probably because the Facebook pages only show to a small percentage of your followers. Don’t sign up for the business Instagram account. They could eventually show you to less and fewer people like Facebook since they were bought out by Facebook.

Establish a following on whatever social media sites you prefer, I recommend Instagram and Pinterest, and to use relative hashtags for your product and watch the likes, comments and follows come in. (Especially on Instagram and Pinterest)

Introduce new products on social media first that way you get them interested enough, they’ll be waiting for you to list it on Etsy. Announce sales with coupon codes, flash sales, giveaways, whatever to get a little online traffic.

Click on the relative hashtags that you’ve used in your posts and go heart a few of the people’s photos who have used the same hashtag. It gets them over to your profile and can lead to a possible sale. For instance, I use the hashtag #idrinkandiknowthings from #gameofthrones since I have made a mug and tumbler with that quote. Then I go heart peoples public posts.

It’s my number 1 seller so far!

There are plenty more tips, so maybe I’ll do a second edition post as I learn more tricks of the trade.

Do you have any tips or suggestions for Etsy sellers whether you’re a buyer or a seller?

A photo of one of my products on Etsy; the simplistic wedding ring dish with initials.

Simplistic Initial Wedding Ring Dish

5 Tips To Save Money When Shopping Online

5 Tips To Save Money When Shopping Online

Lately, I haven’t exactly been living up to my full frugal potential, but that’s going to change starting this year. My goal is to save as much money as possible instead of having it spent before it even hits my bank account. I know, I know.. bad bad, which is why I wanted to emphasize on ways to save money when shopping online in this post. Let’s face it, some of us can’t get out of the house every time a good deal hits, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save money when shopping online.

 

1. Research. Research. Research.

 

Just because it’s advertised as a good deal, doesn’t exactly mean it’s a good deal. Check Google for comparison pricing on the certain item you’re looking for, this will give you a general overview if it’s worth it or not at the price point it’s being offered. There will be local pricing and online pricing if available.

 

2. Use Coupon Codes and Stack Them if Possible

 

This is an obvious no-brainer. If you want to save money online, use coupon codes that you can either get by signing up for the brands’ newsletter or by searching on Google. Often times you’ll find that the coupon incentive is much higher if you’re an actual newsletter subscriber. Another thing to note if you find a coupon code on Google, it may be an account tied coupon or a one-time use, so it’s best to sign up for the brands you do like so you can be reminded of current and future sales. Some companies like ClothingRIC and SitewideCouponseven allow you to stack multiple coupon codes, so take advantage when you can.

 

3. Add Items To Cart and Leave Them If You Don’t Need Right Away

 

One thing I have noticed when I window shop online is that they’ll offer an incentive to give you a little push to make that purchase. You’ll receive emails like, “we noticed you left something in your cart, here’s a little discount.” etc. Now not every company does this, so don’t let the item sit if it’s a good deal as good deals usually have a limited availability and will go out of stock quickly. So jump on it, if it’s hot.

 

4. Use Cash Back Websites Like GivingAssistant

 

Giving Assistant is a free digital loyalty program, with over 1,100 of the largest retailers like Kohls for instance, and gives an average of 5% cash reward after each online purchase.

Not all cash back websites are created equal. Some will give you very little back and some will give you 100% of what they make off your purchase, and Giving Assistant is one of those websites if you’re a member. For non-member purchases, they retain the commission and make a small donation to Feeding America to give one meal. You don’t have to wait months for a check in the mail like other cashback sites, and minimum payout is just $5.01, not $25+ like most other cashback sites which are nice because it can take a while to accumulate if you’re like me and not spending hundreds of dollars frequently.

If you make a purchase through their website and you don’t get credit for it, contact them and they’ll make sure you receive your full cash back amount. That to me is GREAT customer service!

I actually had an issue with the purchase I did through Walmart not crediting, but they put the 4% cash back in my account after confirming my purchase. It’s as simple as that!

 

5. Ask For a Price Drop Refund

 

Ouch, it stings knowing you just purchased something and then it drops to a lower price a day or a week later. Contact the company and ask for a price adjustment; the worst thing they could say is no. I know that Amazon does this when you contact their chat customer support people. It may be a hit or miss though depending on who you’re talking to, usually, they will accommodate though and refund the difference.

 

Do you have any more tips to save money when shopping online? I know there are lots more, but it will have to wait for a 2nd edition post.

5 Cozy Ways to Use Starry LED String Lights Around the House

5 Cozy Ways to Use Starry LED String Lights Around the House


LED string lights are one of those decorations that can be used anywhere, parties, the home, your office cubicle, outside patio, bedrooms, inside glass bowls or even frosted cubes for the holidays. Creating a magical lighting experience for your home with the warm white Starry LED String Lights is essential in making it cozy.

PicMonkey Collage

 

These particular ones from OakLeaf are crafted from high-quality copper and is designed for both indoors and outdoors. They come with a 5 foot adapter cord + 33 foot of lighting wire with 120 individual LEDs. This makes the starry string lights less intense and easy on the eyes. They are, however, powered by 2 size C batteries, which may be a nuisance to some since it’s not the common double A size.

So even though these take the huge batteries, I like that they take a battery instead of having to be plugged in since it opens up the door for many uses rather than dealing with a hideous outlet cord  showing everywhere and with limitations.

LED String Lights

 

Chandelier Lighting

 

LED string lights

The downside to the LED Chandelier lighting would be having the battery compartment showing. If you’re a crafty genius, you may just have an idea already in your head on how to hide and incorporate it onto the chandelier, unfortunately, I do not. lol

Luminary Words for Bedrooms

 

LED string lights

A nice way to create bedroom lighting for little ones who may be afraid of the dark.

 

Outside Trees

 

LED string lights

This is a fun one since it makes the perfect outside getaway. Not only are LED string lights pretty for backyards, but they’re great for night time weddings too!

 

Bed Canopy

 

 

LED string lights

Create a romantic atmosphere by hanging LED string lights behind the canopy of your bed. Perfect mood setter!

 

Around the Frame of a Mirror

 

LED string lights

Us women always need more lighting when getting ready; what better way than putting more lighting around a vanity or full body mirror?

I love these string lights and will be putting them around my curtain frame in my bedroom since the people who built this house decided not to put ceiling lights or any lights in our vaulted bedroom. Who does that!? Cheap builders… ugh. You can find these fabulous LED string lights over on Amazon.

6 Tips on How to Save Money When Buying Gifts

Shopping online is now widely considered to be the best way to do your shopping – whether buying household items, clothes or even groceries, more people every day are choosing to go online.

And it’s really not the least bit surprising – online shopping saves you time, energy and can help you save a lot of money as well.

However, there are mistakes that are often made when shopping online that can cost you
money and even get you swindled out of your hard-earned money.

Whenever going online to shop, you should always be aware of a few important things to help you have a pleasant shopping experience.

  1. Overlooking Shipping Prices

When you find a great offer that seems to be cheaper than other sellers, don’t rush off to the checkout just yet. You may find that the price is much bigger when you add up the shipping fees.

Some sellers do this on purpose – they’ll reduce the prices of the items, but raise the shipping fees, so even though it may look like you’re buying cheaper, you end up paying the same, if not more.

Shipping prices may also be influenced by how far from the seller you live, so consider that too when ordering.

  1. Wiring Payments Instead of Using Paypal or a Credit Card

When you finally decide to buy something, check what the paying options are. If the seller only accepts a wire transfer, you’ll probably end up paying a lot of additional fees for the money transfer that can significantly increase your total.

If possible, look for sellers that have the option to pay with Paypal or a credit card – this way you’ll be paying for the item and the additional payments, if any, will not be as significant.

Additionally, there is no customer protection when paying with a wire transfer, which means, that if you wire the money, there’s probably no way to get it back, in case you get swindled.

  1. Not Reading the Return Policy

Whatever you might be buying, always check the sellers’ return policy. You never know what might happen – you can receive something that is damaged or something that just doesn’t fit you.

It pays to know if your seller accepts returns, does he offer free returns, can you get a full refund or exchange the item.

If a seller does not have a return policy, you should strongly consider finding another one, because otherwise, you’ll have no options if you receive an item that you’re not satisfied with.

  1. Missing Out On Coupons

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not to take advantage of the many coupons that are available for almost any seller online.

If you take just a little time to look around the internet for various coupons on the item you’re looking for, you’re almost certain to find a deal that will let you get a much better deal than you originally had.

It’s as simple as this – you’re almost definitely paying more than you could if you don’t use the various promotions that are available every day.

  1. Too Good to Be True?

When browsing the net for offers, sometimes you’ll come across deals that are not simply good, but just flat out amazing.

And that’s not always a good thing. If you catch yourself thinking that it just sounds too good to be true, it probably is. When an offer is simply unrealistic, it probably means that the seller is trying to scam you out of your money.

Always buy from sellers that are trustworthy – have a reputation, a solid website and content, have easily findable contact information and can be reached with it.

Use common sense when choosing a place to buy online, because there are instances where you should pay a little more, but be sure that you’ll get what you want.

Whether you’re an experienced online buyer or are just thinking of trying it, know that it can be a great way of shopping, if you remember the important things to consider.

The next time you log on to your computer to do some shopping, remember these tips – they will save you a lot of money and trouble.