This has been asked a lot lately and I thought I would come up with some simple instructions. No pictures though, sorry. It's fairly straight forward. I wanted to be able to keep track of all my items and this is a good way to download your entire shop onto a .csv file. What's a .csv file? It is a simplified MS Excel file (similar to a .txt file for MS Word documents). If you have MS excel, you can easily open the .csv file and save it as an MS Excel file.
How to Download your Etsy Listings onto a Spreadsheet
Go to Etsy and log in.
Go to “Your Account” (top right of screen)
This will take you to your Etsy dashboard where you can change all your settings, upload listings, etc.
Go to “Shop Settings” (on the left side gray area of the screen)
Click on “Options” (below it)
This will take you to a screen with four tabs.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Fine Heart First Ever Give-AWAY
We are having a give-away! To celebrate our 200 Facebook Fan Milestone, we are giving away TWO $25 gift certificates to two lucky winners. Fine Heart Gift Certificates can be redeemed in person or online. I will e-mail the winner the gift certificate, or snail mail a hard copy. There are several ways to enter so read on!
How to Enter
Required Entry 1. Go to Fine Heart on Etsy and choose your favorite piece of jewelry. Then, comment on this blog post and state which one it is or link to it. Fine Print: You must leave your name and your e-mail address or Etsy shop name or website so that I can contact you if you win!
More Chances to Win
Each entry below will count as one entry (plus the mandatory one above). Maximum of 4 entries per person. Each of your entries will be assigned a number and shuffled through random.org. The more entries you have, the more chances of winning!
Required Entry 1. Go to Fine Heart on Etsy and choose your favorite piece of jewelry. Then, comment on this blog post and state which one it is or link to it. Fine Print: You must leave your name and your e-mail address or Etsy shop name or website so that I can contact you if you win!
More Chances to Win
Each entry below will count as one entry (plus the mandatory one above). Maximum of 4 entries per person. Each of your entries will be assigned a number and shuffled through random.org. The more entries you have, the more chances of winning!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Intermission: In Honor of Mardi Gras Next Week
We are interrupting this regularly scheduled program for a short commercial break.
A short PSA (Public Service Announcement).
This year, Mardi Gras is on Tuesday, March 8th. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday". Why a "fat" Tuesday? It is the last day of Carnival season and being the last day, it is made to be the most indulgent party day of all. Of course, this is the day right before "Ash Wednesday" which is the beginning of Lent Season. The season where traditionally some people practice giving up items they love, like, or lust after. So, in honor of Mardi Gras next week, here's a few Etsy shops for you to peruse and enjoy!
Sources:
'Mardi Gras Inspiration' by fineheart
eclectic mardi gras
 Peacock Fringe HAMMOCK ... $95.00 |  STUNNING PURPLE FLOWER ... $45.00 |  The Whirl Ring NEW COLO... $15.00 |  Muse leather mask in te... $39.00 |
 Script Initial Favor Co... $66.00 |  Original Painting the ... $35.00 |  Vintage style One shoul... $225.00 |  Aquamarine and amethyst... $440.00 |
 Kiwi Garden Soap Handma... $5.50 |  Waft ... Purple Cocktai... $42.50 |  Sparkly balls mardi gra... $15.00 |  Picture Frame-Mardi Gra... $35.00 |
 Mask-Handmade Masquerad... $48.00 |  Fleur de Lis Heart Stac... $55.00 |  Purple Gem Garden Garla... $20.00 |  Reserved listing for km... $ |
Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Selling In Person: Home Party Edition Part 1
If you are just starting out with your online shop, one of the things that you need to do is get your products in front of people - in real life. If you have a brick and mortar shop (B & M) then that’s a good place for you to show off your stuff. But what if you’re like me, I work from home, I make my things at home, and I don’t have a store front in the non virtual sense.
Well, one solution which has presented itself are doing home product parties.
What is a home product party?
So I am sure you have heard of "tupperware parties". Basically, there is a home product sales rep and then there is the hostess of the party. The hostess of the party invites all her friends and neighbors over to her home for an afternoon. The sales rep talks about the new things that the company has to offer. Then, the invited guests shop and buy storage things and kitchen gadgets. One party I attended, the sales rep held a “contest” in the beginning of her presentation. Immediately, the party participants became rivals and competitors. Guess what that did to the sales? Yup, it went through the roof! Women love to “friendly compete” and “friendly win”. If they lost out on the pretend competition, then they made up for it and “won” by buying more goods than the other women.
Lesson 1: Tupperware has a lot more to offer than just storage people.
Similarly, you can create this service for your online shop or company. You can contact your biggest fans and clients, ask them if they would be willing to host a product party for your company, and provide them with an incentive for saying yes.
Well, one solution which has presented itself are doing home product parties.
What is a home product party?
So I am sure you have heard of "tupperware parties". Basically, there is a home product sales rep and then there is the hostess of the party. The hostess of the party invites all her friends and neighbors over to her home for an afternoon. The sales rep talks about the new things that the company has to offer. Then, the invited guests shop and buy storage things and kitchen gadgets. One party I attended, the sales rep held a “contest” in the beginning of her presentation. Immediately, the party participants became rivals and competitors. Guess what that did to the sales? Yup, it went through the roof! Women love to “friendly compete” and “friendly win”. If they lost out on the pretend competition, then they made up for it and “won” by buying more goods than the other women.
Lesson 1: Tupperware has a lot more to offer than just storage people.
Similarly, you can create this service for your online shop or company. You can contact your biggest fans and clients, ask them if they would be willing to host a product party for your company, and provide them with an incentive for saying yes.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
SEO Made Easy: The Importance of Being Earnestly Linked
When I started my online shop on Etsy, little did I know that I would also start a little online empire. For years, I owned a website which chugged along happily on a small railroad track in the middle of Siberia. Nevertheless, it got some people where they needed to go.
Then, I learned that in order to own a successful online shop, I would have to promote actively online. Thus my journey began and, I started to develop my little online empire. I joined Facebook, opened a fan page, I flickered, I followed blogs, and I even started my own blog (actually two, but I won’t bore you with the details).
“Why?” you ask. (A question I ask myself every day). Actually the answer is quite simple. I created my online empire so that I could create good links back to my online shop.
Then, I learned that in order to own a successful online shop, I would have to promote actively online. Thus my journey began and, I started to develop my little online empire. I joined Facebook, opened a fan page, I flickered, I followed blogs, and I even started my own blog (actually two, but I won’t bore you with the details).
“Why?” you ask. (A question I ask myself every day). Actually the answer is quite simple. I created my online empire so that I could create good links back to my online shop.
For those of you out there who think that the only reason you are blogging, facebooking, and twittering is so that you can create followers who will worship you and then buy your wares, I have news for you. That is only part of the reason you are doing what you are doing. The other reason is called back links.
Definition
What is a back link? It is a link to your website via a back door, not the front door. If entering your online shop via the front door is by someone typing your “www.shopname.etsy.com” or “www. yourownempire.com” on Google; then, entering your online shop via the back door is by someone clicking on a link from someplace else on the web to get inside your online shop. A back link.
Why do you need back links?
You need them to impress Goggle and get better SEO (search engine optimization for those of you who fell asleep during the first three lectures) for your website. Imagine Google as the new nerdy kid in school. He does not know anyone, and even the geek squad won’t let him sit at their lunch table. He is easily impressed with whom he perceives as the cool and popular kids. He wants to be friends with them. How does he figure out who the cool kids are?
Definition
What is a back link? It is a link to your website via a back door, not the front door. If entering your online shop via the front door is by someone typing your “www.shopname.etsy.com” or “www. yourownempire.com” on Google; then, entering your online shop via the back door is by someone clicking on a link from someplace else on the web to get inside your online shop. A back link.
Why do you need back links?
You need them to impress Goggle and get better SEO (search engine optimization for those of you who fell asleep during the first three lectures) for your website. Imagine Google as the new nerdy kid in school. He does not know anyone, and even the geek squad won’t let him sit at their lunch table. He is easily impressed with whom he perceives as the cool and popular kids. He wants to be friends with them. How does he figure out who the cool kids are?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
SEO Made Easy Part 3: Strategic Placement Of Your Keyword Phrase
A tutorial in layman’s terms about getting your online shop found.
I am sure that you have seen the forum posts which seem to come weekly from newbies.
OP (opening post): “How’s everyone's shop doing? Sales are sloooow for me.”
S1 (seller 1): “Slow here. But this month is always slow. Waiting for next month.”
S2 (seller 2): “Mine is GREAAAT!” Sounds like that tiger on the cereal box.
OP: “Really? I thought maybe there was a huge black out and no one can get online.”
S1: “Nah, it’s slow this time of year. Well, you’re here.” There’s always one in the bunch.
S2: Has disappeared. Just when OP and S1 were going to ask S2 “what’s your secret?”
Seller 2 checked their e-mail and found more orders waiting for them to fill. So they left the forums to get actual work done. They have figured out how to optimize their SEO by using an effective keyword phrase and properly placing it in their Etsy shop.
The Point.
Your effective keyword phrase needs to be placed in your Etsy Shop clearly and strategically. Clearly so that Google knows exactly what your keyword phrase is and strategically so that Google can easily find your keyword phrase.
Clarity.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone for an hour and never really understood what they were trying to say? What did you do? You walked away backwards and made sure they were not following you.
Your keyword phrase placement is like delivering a good thesis presentation. State what your intention is, state it again in the middle, and in conclusion, state the thesis again just in case people really did fall asleep in the middle of your Pulitzer prize winning speech. Repeating a point clarifies your point to your audience. Google is your limited attention span audience.
I am sure that you have seen the forum posts which seem to come weekly from newbies.
OP (opening post): “How’s everyone's shop doing? Sales are sloooow for me.”
S1 (seller 1): “Slow here. But this month is always slow. Waiting for next month.”
S2 (seller 2): “Mine is GREAAAT!” Sounds like that tiger on the cereal box.
OP: “Really? I thought maybe there was a huge black out and no one can get online.”
S1: “Nah, it’s slow this time of year. Well, you’re here.” There’s always one in the bunch.
S2: Has disappeared. Just when OP and S1 were going to ask S2 “what’s your secret?”
Seller 2 checked their e-mail and found more orders waiting for them to fill. So they left the forums to get actual work done. They have figured out how to optimize their SEO by using an effective keyword phrase and properly placing it in their Etsy shop.
The Point.
Your effective keyword phrase needs to be placed in your Etsy Shop clearly and strategically. Clearly so that Google knows exactly what your keyword phrase is and strategically so that Google can easily find your keyword phrase.
Clarity.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone for an hour and never really understood what they were trying to say? What did you do? You walked away backwards and made sure they were not following you.
Your keyword phrase placement is like delivering a good thesis presentation. State what your intention is, state it again in the middle, and in conclusion, state the thesis again just in case people really did fall asleep in the middle of your Pulitzer prize winning speech. Repeating a point clarifies your point to your audience. Google is your limited attention span audience.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
SEO Made Easy Part 2: Choosing an Effective Keyword Phrase
Since a keyword phrase is so critical to better SEO, I feel compelled to explain the steps of how to choose one first. Then, I will tell you briefly where it goes. If you missed part one, really, you should go back and read it.
SEO Made Easy Part 2
A tutorial in layman’s terms about getting your online shop found.
A Scenario.
You opened a new online shop. Your carefully crafted items are displayed showing off your newly honed product photography skills and amazing descriptive writing which even the seeing impaired can easily visualize. You have all your virtual ducks in a row: banner, announcement, profile, and policies all filled. You wait for customers to come rushing in, but all is quiet in the online front. Your views are low and your shop is like an ice cream store... in the dead of winter ... in Alaska ... during a blizzard. In disbelief, you keep refreshing your screen to see if new views have come in. Nope. Nada. So, you wander into the Forums and ask “is this website broken?”
Effectiveness Counts.
Using an effective keyword phrase means the difference between getting views from Google on your listings versus getting no views at all. What makes up an effective keyword phrase?
An effective keyword phrase includes:
1. general shop category (i.e. art, handmade)
2. specific item category (i.e. paintings, purses)
3. a unique selling point (i.e. textured, fabric)
Since presumably you have a good grip on 1 (where you are selling), and 2 (what you are selling), then number 3 will be our focus.
SEO Made Easy Part 2
A tutorial in layman’s terms about getting your online shop found.
A Scenario.
You opened a new online shop. Your carefully crafted items are displayed showing off your newly honed product photography skills and amazing descriptive writing which even the seeing impaired can easily visualize. You have all your virtual ducks in a row: banner, announcement, profile, and policies all filled. You wait for customers to come rushing in, but all is quiet in the online front. Your views are low and your shop is like an ice cream store... in the dead of winter ... in Alaska ... during a blizzard. In disbelief, you keep refreshing your screen to see if new views have come in. Nope. Nada. So, you wander into the Forums and ask “is this website broken?”
Effectiveness Counts.
Using an effective keyword phrase means the difference between getting views from Google on your listings versus getting no views at all. What makes up an effective keyword phrase?
An effective keyword phrase includes:
1. general shop category (i.e. art, handmade)
2. specific item category (i.e. paintings, purses)
3. a unique selling point (i.e. textured, fabric)
Since presumably you have a good grip on 1 (where you are selling), and 2 (what you are selling), then number 3 will be our focus.
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