latest net findings

I will admit that I am a bit of an internet/information junkie. Cruising around the internet today, I found this!
I've been on a get myself organized kind of state lately, so I think this use of tape is incredibly clever! Its from a blog called, I LOVE STICKY TAPE. "This blog is dedicated to the art and times of sticky tape, which also goes by the names - sello tape, packing tape, gaffer tape and masking tape. It may be of interest to anyone interested in stationery, catching flies, art or design." I could seriously use this! Fun and practical!

Link to 'how crafters can make more money'!

Wow, I had to share this very detailed posting that I found on etsy, please follow the link here. It goes into great detail about refining and expanding your craft market!-Probably one of the best postings I've come across on the etsy forums.

handmade nation documentary

The handmade nation movie is complete!
FYI: In 2006, Faythe Lavine hit the road armed with a camera. Traveling to fifteen cities and interviewing countless crafters along the way, Lavine assembled a film which chronicles the rise of the craft movement through its various manifestations of blogs, online stores, independent boutiques and craft fairs. Screenings are scheduled on the Handmade nation blog.Unfortunately, for us Canadians there are no screenings scheduled, however I did have a chance the other day to check out the documentary in book form and it looks fantastic!

tree houses

I found this amazing collection of treehouses on the coolhunter website. Living perched in the forest has been one of the ideals for my dream home. These ones are especially awesome because they are all beautiful designs, incorporating the outside with the inside world. Imagine what great inspirations could come from living surrounded by trees!

100 + places to promote your work

I came across this great link on the etsy forums: http://lunacraft.com/help_promote. -A great list of a hundred and plus spots on the web to spread the word of your work!

Yay for Google Analytics

I'm sure many of you have heard already, but for those who haven't:
Etsy announced last week that Google Analytics is now available for etsy sellers. Its essentially an amazing tool to track many detailed stats on your site-such as how many visitors, what pages they looked at, the average time spent on your site, and my favorite-the overlay map of what countries your visitors are coming from-very cool! I have spent hours over the weekend (perhaps rather obsessively?) checking out the incoming traffic and where they are being directed from. I think its great and will be changing the way many indie sellers promote their products. Timothy Adams has a great little video on his blog about Google Analytics at timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.com. Tip: Once you have google analytics installed, you may want to change the date to the current one as many users reported having difficulties seeing their stats. Warning:its very addictive!

my tips for etsy shops

I've been active on the etsy forums lately, offering to do critiques. It has allowed me to share what I see as weak points in a potentially great store and also to strengthen my own shop. I've noticed that there seems to be some commonalities and want to share what I've learned as a result.

1. most important as number one is photos!

Its been mentioned over and over again, but to elaborate further, the most essential aspect to taking great digital photographs is adjusting the white balance-preferably on your camera before the images are uploaded to your computer. Its possible to do some photo editing in a program such as photoshop, but beginning with great shots to begin with makes the process much easier.
Consistency in photos-choosing a background that will allow your products to stand out, but also be recognizable to buyers as they scroll through the endless potential sellers on etsy.
Use all five photos-etsy allows you to post up to five photos for one item. When I first started listing on etsy I only posted two or three photos, but in order to truly maximize your selling potential for your work, I'd suggest using all five. Sometimes its hard to imagine how to fill those boxes up with five different photos, but if you use your imagination you will soon discover new viewpoints. Use a tripod and photograph from different angles, heights and perspectives. If it is an item that can be worn, take at least one photo of it on the body or a garment. The debatable exception may be earrings, which many people on the forums seem to feel is unsanitary.
Think carefully about which photo you choose as your first-this is the one which will be seen in the searches, albeit somewhat smaller. The stronger, more eye catching the image the better.

2. banner and avatar
I'd say that coming a close second is your banner and avatar. These are your strongest branding tools on etsy. It can either repel or draw a customer in and it provides your public face on the site. Make sure its well designed and thought out.If you are strapped for ideas, look at what you are selling-there may be common design elements or textures that you can use to brand your shop.

3. shop categories
I noticed many sellers weren't using their shop sections-or that things were not placed correctly in them. Its a small detail that can be easily overlooked when you are uploading a new item, but this allows people to navigate through your site more easily.

Those are the main things I noticed in the critiques. I hope its in someway helpful. I'm still learning as well!