kMT graphic design

Cool site to sell your art on...Redbubble

2009-08-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

I just found this site and I am intrigued! Are any of you selling on here yet? It is a site that allows artists to upload their images / paintings / watercolors / drawings / etc. and sell them...but Redbubble takes care of the hard part...the printing, framing, silk screening, shipping, all you have to do is cash your check every month!

If you create prints, paintings or graphic images, this is a great way to make a little extra $$ if your Etsy shop is slow. Plus, you don't have to worry about the printing costs or hassles, since RB takes care of that for you.

If you are someone like me who appreciates having "real" art in their home (as opposed to cheezy mall posters, LOL), you might want to check RB out. I already found an image I am thinking of purchasing from this seller.

Please excuse my Navagation Bar...

2009-08-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

Don't be upset if you click my shiny new navagation bar buttons and they go to my etsy shop...I'm still working on them! But, when I am done, I will be posting a how to guide to add this cool feature to your own blog. Stay tuned!

Outta this world marketing scene

2009-08-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is a marketing tactic. You'll see for who at the end. Brilliant!

Recession Proof-Understanding Buyer Motivation

2009-08-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

What motivates people to buy a product is a complicated subject. Arguably, the motivator will be slightly different for each person. But, most people are driven to shop-and buy-by their insecurities. The object they purchase represents something to them that they feel they are lacking in. I think this is particularly true in women, who are your main gender demographic on Etsy. Women often shop as a means of filling a void. It might be stress relief, a means of getting over a breakup, or getting that one special item that is going to make you look like the prettiest gal at the bar, wedding, party, office, etc.

If you haven't already seen the movie 'Confessions of a Shopaholic" go out and rent it because it illustrates this concept perfectly. I know that it may sound like you are preying on people's fears as a seller and that is not the whole truth. What I am really suggesting that you do is figure out what "need" (want) that your buyers have and fill it. This is acheived through branding. High end packaging is an excellent way to offer that differentiation to your clients, especially around the holidays when people are searching for gifts.

The concept of insecurity shopping does apply to gift purchases, as the gift in question is a reflection of the gift giver. Are you someone who gives thoughtful gifts? Expensive gifts? Cool gifts? In that order, it makes the gift giver appear to be a better friend, richer friend or more fashionable/trendier friend. As you can see, even the purchase of a gift helps the buyer define who they are by allowing them to apply a label to themselves. That label will usually be what they wish they were or what they are trying to become. And I would argue that even the most confident person is always wishing they were percieved as being a little bit better in some way.

When buyers are shopping for themselves and are in "insecurity mode" they tend to make impulse purchases. I know I do! If you sell on your own website or through your blog, you must make purchasing easy and fast for this reason. If an impulse buyer is forced to go through more than 2 steps to complete a purchase they may experience buyer's remorse and cancel the transaction. When branding for this buyer, it is a great idea to come up with a tag line or business motto that defines what your products are in one sentence or less. It should be to the point and easy to remember in an emotional way. A few examples using the company name ACME are "ACME vintage...better than sex or chocolate!" or "ACME jewlery...is your outfit complete?" the second tag line is similar to the "got milk?" campaign in that it forces the buyer to question if they are without something that they need. The first appeals to an emotional craving that they would usually fill with the two "better than" options. You're saying, essentially, if you don't have a man and you're on a diet why not just shop in my store instead? It will make you feel just as good, if not better! These marketing tactics work on a subconcious level. If a buyer hears or sees these subtle suggestions enough times, they become saved on the hard drive so to speak. And when they get an urge or insecurity that relates to your tag line, they will automatically think of your shop. And therefore, they might return to it and even buy something.

Using buyer psychology and motivators is something that big business does everyday. You yourself have probably been led to purchase by one of the brilliant tactics thought up by an expensive marketing team. So don't feel bad about leading the shoppers to your site. The truth is when buyers are strongly motivated to spend by emotional urges, they are going to spend. Just make sure that they are spending in your store.

Regarding sending holiday emails...

2009-08-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

This is an addendum to my Holiday Prep Post in which I suggested that you send promotional discounts to your past customers via email. One of my readers brought up the fact that Etsy's policies state that you cannot communicate with your customers in this fashion without their permission. And she brought up a point that I had already noticed and was wanting to correct so here goes!

It is 100% true that you should always gain permission from your customers to communicate with them, not because Etsy says so, but because that is the right thing to do. I think because I communicate with so many of my past customers on FB/twitter/blogs so often I forget that not everyone keeps in touch with all of their customers in that way and an email could seem intrusive in those situations. Although I stand by my suggestion to offer promotional discounts to past customers, you should ask them first if they would like to receive them. I think a great time to do this is at the point of sale. Just include at the end of your last convo "would you like to be on my mailing list for future discounts and sale info?" Also let them know that they will only recieve these emails a few times a year and can change their mind and opt out at any time. Another way to do this is to offer your email address on your blog and state "join my mailing list for future discounts and sale info!"

As an experiment, I've added a poll on the sidebar of my blog (to the right) that asks would you (as a buyer) be OK with recieving emails from people you have bought from if they included a discount of 25% or more AND you only recieved 2-4 emails per year? I personally would welcome those emails since I love a good discount and they would be coming from a shop that I already know I like. What are your thoughts?

Using Feedback to your Advantage

2009-08-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Your customer feedback, or "testimonials" as they are called in the business world are one of your most powerful marketing tools. But, don't assume that your potential new customers are reading your feedback! Most will simply look at your feedback score and if it says 100%, odds are that is going to be good enough.

Large businesses actively pursue testimonials from their clients and use them prominently on most if not all of their marketing materials as well as their websites. The reason for this is that it takes the fear out of buying from you. Since past customers have offered up such a glowing review of your products or services, the new customer need not be afraid of a 'con job' or terrible customer service. Yeah, yeah, you say...I already know that! Ok, but again, are you putting your best feedback quotes somewhere where your new customers will actually see them? Here are some places that are prime locations for you to quote some of your past customers:

Your Shop Announcement

At the end of your item descriptions

On your Blog

On promotional materials (business cards, post cards, etc.)

On your website, if you have one

In Twitter 'tweets'

On your Facebook page

And don't be afraid or embarrassed to proudly post those amazing feedback quotes. You earned them! And if your past customers were that happy with their experience buying from you, they'll support your shop when asked about it. Remember, your business is the team and you are the cheerleader. If you believe in yourself, so will your customers!

Etsy is against Advertising Campaigns....Thoughts??

2009-08-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

How many of you have seen those Ebay commercials? You know, the ones that are super colorful and whimisical and focus on the "fun" of bidding for an item..it's their "shop victoriously" campaign. And I think it's brilliant. Take a moment to watch the commercial below.

Now imagine that same commerical except for Etsy. A room, no a house, no a city full of us, the Etsy sellers, holding our knitted scarves or handmade necklaces or vintage dresses, all vying for the attention of one wonderfully overwhelmed and shop happy buyer. It would really drive the point home that Etsy has thousands of sellers with millions of options-at incredible prices, wouldn't it? Well, I think so. That's why big companies budget for advertising campaigns...because they work.

My frustration is that Etsy has quite publicly stated that they do not believe in ad campaigns and have zero intent of ever launching one. Hmm. Let me grab a quote that I found on SuperNaturale:

"Don't look for them at halftime: Still, some sellers have criticized Etsy's marketing efforts as insufficient. But Stinchcomb [vice president of communications at Etsy] says that the staff is happy with the results they've been getting and the way they've been getting them. Strategic partnerships– like holding a sewing contest in conjunction with Instructables– are one piece of the site's marketing plan. Etsy also sponsors events, such as New York's Renegade Craft Fair, and hosts regional street teams, members who get together to promote their wares and Etsy."We find these grassroots things are better than a $4 million advertising campaign," Stinchcomb says. "One, we don't have that kind of money, and two, I think it would be bad for our brand."It's almost easier for him to say what the Etsy marketing strategy is not: a Super Bowl ad. "I can't see anything more antithecal to what we're about than that," he said.Word-of-mouth is the crux of Etsy's notoriety. Stinchcomb estimates that about 80 percent of Etsy members learned of the site through word-of-mouth, and the site attracts 1,500-2,000 more members daily."A big ad doesn't yield as many results or as fruitful results as being out there and talking to people," Stinchcomb said."

Not to be one to believe everything I read on the internet, I emailed Etsy support directly and inquired as to their progress on a marketing campaign, similar to Ebay's. The response I got from a staffer who I will kindly leave unnamed was "did a big advertising campaign ever make you buy a toaster?" I find that response laughable quite frankly, as anyone with any marketing background knows that advertising does work particularly when there is a large target demographic who is unaware that the product / service exists.

What I mean by that is, did you ever stop to think that for the most part sellers are buying from eachother? I can't tell you how many people I've told about Etsy (women with shopping habits and expendable income) who have NEVER heard of Etsy. I also find it interesting that Etsy is so vocal in their encouragement of sellers spreading word of mouth (advertising for them for free) but is so unwilling to advertise on our behalf even though their pockets are much deeper than ours are.

According to Tech Crunch, Etsy is valued at $90 Million as of 2009. And they just recieved $27 Million from investors to expand. However, founder (no longer CEO) Rob Kalin states that Etsy is "almost break-even" in terms of profits. Although I am not qualified to make this statement, and I understand that "valued" takes into consideration more than operating costs, I find it hard to believe that it costs that kind of money to run Etsy. But, for the sake of argument, lets say it really does cost 117 million dollars to run Etsy. Would you as a seller be open to the idea of an increase in your fees (maybe 5-10 cents) to fund a national or global ad campaign? It is estimated that there are currently 650,000 members. I know that they aren't all sellers so lets say 50% of them are sellers. 350,000 times 10 cents is 35,000 dollars and that is assuming a one time charge of 10 cents, not an ongoing increase. If they added 5 cents to each item sold, we're talking some serious money.

I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this important subject. The more time that goes by, the more I start to feel that the Etsy sellers are getting the short end of the stick. Speak up, I'd really like to start a healthy debate on this subject!

Blog Star Award!

2009-08-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

Do you know a blogstress who hasn't blogged for long (less than 3 years) but is one of the next generation of super bloggers? If so, this award is for her! This is the first "blog star" award, and I would like to nominate the following blogs:

If you have been nominated for this award, you must pay it forward! The rules are, you must post an acceptance speech on your blog (feel free to thank the academy!) and then nominate as many other blogs as you wish. and, if you have been nominated, feel free to post the above award proudly on your blog!

Getting ready for the holiday rush...now is the time!

2009-08-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

With the holidays only 4 months away..yikes!..now is the time to begin preparing for a spike in sales. Even though the economy is down, people will still be buying gifts for the holidays and I wouldn't be surprised if they look to Etsy as their shopping destination. After all, you can get a handmade, OOAK, high quality gift for a fraction of the price that you would pay at a department store. But, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be doing some smart pre-marketing and strategizing on how you will drive that traffic to your shop.

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Below are some tips on things you should be doing, thinking about or preparing for....

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1. Create promotional fliers or purchase a design (like these) that you can send via email reminding your past customers that your shop is a great source for their holiday shopping needs. Offer them a "valued customer" discount if they shop in your store between certain key dates (Oct-Dec 24)

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2. Stock up now. If you sell items that can be pre-made, start building your inventory.

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3. Remember to be politically correct. Regardless of what holiday you celebrate, remember that your customers may not have the same religious beliefs as you. Don't push any one specific holiday in your ads. Use the word "holiday". Be diplomatic.

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4. Create (or hire someone to create) custom holiday cards that you can send out to your past customers. Make sure to put your web address and company name prominently on the card. If you haven't been keeping past customer emails in your contacts list, start now!

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5. Have a sale. Do this right before Christmas day, about 1 to 2 weeks prior to December 24.

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6. Offer free shipping or free gift wrapping. Most big businesses do this cost effectively by adding the cost of the "freebee" into the cost of the item. Is it really free? No. Free stuff never really is. It is however, a good marketing tactic.

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7. Team up with a charity. Promote this this like crazy! Any charity is great, and you will not only be generating good PR but you will be doing something for a good cause.

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Remember, it's never to early to be prepared, especially when it comes to your business!

I got a blog award!

2009-08-13T19:35:00.001-07:00

I am honored! I recieved this blog award from Dee over at Runako Designs. I am supposed to share 5 things I love and then link 10 more blog award recipents...so, here goes!

THINGS I LOVE:

1. My two rescued greyhounds, Marley and Keiki

2. My family...I'm really lucky, I got a good one!

3. Creating...anything really

4. Red velvet cake...mmmm

5. Cute surfer boys!

AND THE AWARD GOES TO....

Shopmollyd

Girls Night Out

Angelina Fong
Etsy Item of the day
Handmade Marketing

Shop by M
Oh Joy
Poppy Talk

Venetia jewelry

Laurels by laurie

A Facebook Application for Etsy Sellers!

2009-08-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

Are you using Etsy love yet? Etsy love is an application I created on Facebook to let the handmade community send eachother some Love...Shop Love, Item Love, Blog Love, Twitter Love, Facebook Page Love...and more! Some of the newly added Love is below! So what are you waiting for? Fan the page today and start showing your handmade pride!

new kMT designs..Design Knit Fun!

2009-08-12T18:48:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of being the featured girlfriend on GNO last weekend and the prize I gave away was 3 ad boxes, customed designed, a retail value of $60! The lucky winner was Design Knit Fun and I had to share the final product with you!

Thanks again to Dee for featuring me!

kMT is the featured hostess on this week's GNO!

2009-08-05T18:57:00.001-07:00

That's right!! This Friday through Sunday kMT is the featured hostess on GNO! If you haven't already followed this blog, please stop by and follow this weekend! Not only are there some amazing and incredibly friendly Etsians on there, there is a contest each week! Free stuff?? Oh Yeah!

This week's contest will feature a prize from my shop. No, I'm not going to tell you what it is...it's a surprise!

So stop by, have a chocolate martini with the girls, enter to win in the contest, and meet some new friends!

Girls Night Out

Shopmollyd~my latest blog creation!

2009-08-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

Please take a moment to stop by my latest blog design, Shopmollyd! Shopmollyd's blog is the "dog blog" and is 100% about everything doggie. If you have your own fur kid, or are just a dog lover there will be tons of fun in"fur"mation, doggie pics and more. Shopmollyd is also dedicated to donating to rescue groups and dogs in need, so you will be seeing opportunities to help dogs that have been abandoned or abused. She will post their pictures, stories, rescue organizations and a link to how you can donate, even as little as a $1.00. Hey, everything helps!

I'd love to hear what you think! And if you love dogs, you gotta follow this blog!

New kMT Designs!

2009-08-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.stelladot.com/davina

Cosmic Hippo Designs

Jewels on a Whim

Underhanded Feedback-a glaring example

2009-07-31T21:27:00.000-07:00

Before I get to why I am so ANGRY right now, I want to discuss leaving feedback and how to do that appropriately on Etsy. These are the things you should be focusing on when deciding what feedback to leave:

Customer Service
Speedy Shipping
Quality of the item (did it look like the picture)

If you are the buyer and the seller has been prompt, polite and accomodating, you leave positive feedback, right? What if there was some other issue that bothered you, but the customer service was fantastic and the item looked just like it did in the picture...the decent thing to do IS CONTACT THE SELLER DISCREETLY AND ASK FOR A REFUND OR EXCHANGE. You do not, I repeat do NOT leave underhanded feedback that will affect all their future sales without contacting them first. ESPECIALLY IF IT ISN'T TRUE.

This recently happened to an Etsy seller who is a good friend of mine. No, it did not happen to me. The person who did this to her is a BUYER ONLY and does not have a shop. She also referred to it as "positive feedback". Ha.

PS-the lesson learned today for sellers is NEVER LEAVE FEEDBACK FOR YOUR BUYER UNTIL YOU RECIEVE FEEDBACK FROM THEM! Someone might leave a comment about your items (that isn't true) and it could affect your sales and you will have no means of responding to their accusations.

New kMT Design~Alex Keller

2009-07-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

I just completed a new design for Alex from Alex Keller on Etsy. Stop by and take a look! I think together, we really captured the retro, black and white movie feel of the 50's and 60's. Alex designs recycled jewelry from that era and creates new, modern looking pieces.

You'll see a few of her items featured above, and yes, that is a Twilight necklace! Thanks Alex, you were fantastic to work with and I love the way your new design looks!

Etsy Love: feel it, send it!

2009-07-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

Want to show some love to your Etsy friends on Facebook? Now you can with Etsy Love! EL is a new FB application that I created to show some love (and help your friends market) their shops! Make sure if you send some love to include a link to the shop, blog or item you're loving!! To use this application, click here!

New kMT Design...Girls Night Out!

2009-07-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

If you haven't stopped by Girl's Night Out yet, today is the day! GNO (as the girlfriends like to call it) is the brainchild of superwoman Etsy seller and Diva Extraordinaire Dee of Runako Designs.

Every week, Dee organizes a trip around the world. We've already been to Paris and Australia, driven a Maserati, stayed in the poshest hotels and next week it's looks like we're going to Rome! If you're like me and either don't have the time or the money to travel the world, GNO will make you feel like you have actually spent the weekend overseas. And us busy Etsy gals could use a vacation, couldn't we? Oh, and did I mention there is a free giveaway EVERY WEEK??

To become an official girlfriend, CLICK HERE. I'll see you you gals in Italy!

Thank you Dee for letting me design your awesome blog!

New kMT design...for Shopmollyd!

2009-07-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Shopmollyd is my mom. She used to think that it was a good thing to have a graphic designer in the family, until her shop was re-done constantly! Well, this is the latest and greatest, and so far the feedback has been really great. What do you guys think?

Help me count down to 10,000 hits!

2009-07-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe that I am closing in on 10,000 hits on my blog! Thank you so much to everyone who stops by each day. I hope that some of my posts have helped you with Tech or Marketing ideas!

The handmade pledge in action-some of my recent Etsy purchases

2009-07-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

I love shopping on Etsy! The customer service is fantastic, the prices are completely affordable, and you can get a unique item that you wouldn't be able to find in a department store.

I recently did some shopping for a friend's birthday and I wanted to share my awesome finds:

The above portrait is of my friend Alicia. I commissioned Kristie of Pixel Wild Child to create it for me. You may have seen Kristie's work on my blog before as a graphic for my post about beliving in yourself as an artist. Just to show you how talented Kristie is, I am also including the original photo I sent her to use as her guide:

My next cool find was this gorgeous Betty Page wallet by DnA Creations:

The amazing thing about this wallet is that the image is actually fabric that has been carefully placed over the cheetah print wallet and then permanently sealed. So unique!

My Last purchase for Alicia was this unbelieveable burlesque hair piece by Wickedminky:

I seriously can't imagine finding better gifts, especially handmade high quality art, anywhere else. Thank you so much to all the artists who designed these, she loved them!

Girl's Night Out...in PARIS!!

2009-07-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

One of my fave etsy sellers, Dee, from Runako Designs has come up with a super fun new event on her blog called "Girl's Night Out". This weekend's theme is slumber party in Paris! OH LA LA!

And since Dee is the wonderful hostess that she is, she spared no expense. We have designer shoes, the chicest hotel room, a Maserati, .....seriously, I felt like I actually went there for a quick moment!

The best part of Girl's Night Out is that you can win a prize just by leaving a comment!

So what are you waiting for??? GO THERE NOW!

Have you joined the Ad Directory yet?

2009-07-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

Currently the Ad Directory has 56 members...not bad for only having been open for a few weeks! But for those of you who haven't joined yet, I just wanted to let you know about all the cool features you could be taking advantage of if you join!

1. You get to create your own page!

Upload your own background and banner to your page

Add html, text, photos, your blog rss feed, widgets, etsy mini's and more!

Leave posts on other people's pages

2. There is a step by step tutorial section!

How to add a pay pal button to your blog to accept payment

How to add 125x125 ad boxes to your blog to sell your own ad space

Marketing your blog and ad spaces

Setting your ad prices

3. There is a forums section!

Interact with other handmade sellers

Promote your handmade shop or blog

Ask for help with ad space selling or geekery

4. There is a Directory of Bloggers who sell their own ad space!

You can access this directory to find great deals on ad spaces to help you advertise your shop or blog

Each Blog or Website listing has information about the type of site it is and pricing (most of the members have really AFFORDABLE ad spaces offered!

What are you waiting for? Join today!

kMT gallery of avatars....

2009-07-14T21:06:00.000-07:00

New kMT design!! Jewels on a Whim

2009-07-14T20:58:00.001-07:00

Please stop by http://www.jewelsonawhim.etsy.com/ to see my newest banner design! It was such a pleasure working with this talented shop owner, her items are beautiful, I know you'll agree!

working on blog design....

2009-07-13T20:28:00.000-07:00

I have been honing my html skills and trying to build a better blog...for my customers! The first "example" blog I created is above :) I sell blog design in my shop, so if you are looking to start your first blog or overhaul your current blog, I can help you!

Shakira ~ She Wolf....I love it!

2009-07-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

How to get published in a Magazine!

2009-07-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm all about setting a goal, reaching it, and then setting another one!

My next goal is to get published in at least one magazine that is focused on either handmade or business/entrepreneurship by the end of the year. I've been researching magazines, and I've come across a few that won't work for me, but might be really good opportunities for my readers! Here are two magazines that are looking for art submissions in specific categories for future articles:

Crochet Today

Click here to read the guidelines on how to submit a story or how to guide to their magazine.

Published 6 times a year, plus special issues twice a year, Crochet Today is the magazine that helps you be creative your way!
Fresh, fashionable patterns for the family, crafty home décor, accessories, gifts and more.
Easy-to-follow instructions for beginners to veterans—anyone can learn to crochet
First-rate information and advice from the industry's top experts.
Ideas and encouragement with loads of patterns, tips, tricks and more.
Crochet community with articles about fellow crocheters, craft trends and reader interaction

Cloth Paper Scissors

Click Here to read the guidelines on how to submit a story or how to guide to their magazine.

Cloth Paper Scissors® made its debut in October 2004, and since then has taken the mixed-media world by storm. Published six times a year, Cloth Paper Scissors® covers all types of fiber arts and collage work, including mixed media, assemblage, altered books, art dolls, visual art journals, rubber stamping, creative embroidery, and book arts. Geared for the beginning artists/crafter as well as the advanced, Cloth Paper Scissors® has a playful, positive tone, encouraging both the beginning and seasoned artist to try new techniques and share their work and expertise with a greater audience.

Now, put your fear of rejection in a ziploc bag, throw it in the freezer and get to work on your submission!

Why it's important to share-adding an add this button

2009-07-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give to an online seller is to make it easy for their customers. People's lives are so complicated now adays, that we tend to avoid tasks that have more than 2 steps involved. If you can offer your customer a way to "click and go" they are far more likely to complete a sale. This concept can also be applied to social networking and viral marketing.

We all want our blog posts and Etsy items to go viral on the social networking sites (Twitter, Facebook, etc.). It's cool to post your own stuff of course, but the real score is when someone else posts about it, right? How easy are you making it for your readers to do that? If you don't have some form of a "click and go" button at the end of each post, you're not making it easy enough! The reader should not have to leave your blog in order to post about your article. So, here are the best ways to accomplish this:

1. Add an "add this button" This site makes it very easy to load the button. Plus, it will show up at the end of each post automatically, and offers pretty much every social networking site out there.

2. Add a "Tweet me" button this site helps you add the retweet button you see at the bottom of this post. You can either put it at the bottom of each post or integrate it into your html code, if you are code savvy.

3. Add a Facebook button this site offers buttons that allow your readers to post your blog article to their Facebook profiles.

There are endless others, but I recommend the add this button. And don't forget to use those buttons on other people's sites! How about starting with the one directly below this post?

Recession Proof-How to be an Innovator

2009-07-09T12:26:00.000-07:00

As a response to the current echo I keep hearing in the online handmade community “where have all my customers gone?” I decided to start a series called Recession Proof with ideas on how to rise above the falling sales. The first installment is How to be an innovator….

1. Fill a Need
When you decide to sell a product or service, many times it is to fulfill your need to create not to fill a need for a customer base. That sort of business is better defined as a hobby. It is only when you go one step further and seek out a real need that others have that you become a true business person. Want to go another step further? Look for a need that is not currently being filled OR that is being filled poorly. A good way to determine this is by researching your competitors. What types of goods / services are they offering? Who is their typical customer? (age, gender, lifestyle, etc.). What you want to look for are holes. You may notice that most of your competitors sell items that are following the same trend atheistically or target only one segment of the population. An innovator looks to the opposite and asks “what does everyone else who is not being targeted need?” Then she creates it.

2. Cater to Individuality
People who buy art value individuality. If you can create a new way to allow these art loving people to assert their individuality, you’ll really be on to something. Where to begin you ask? Look for items that are commonly designed to be plain or uniform and offer a “pretty” version. Granted this is no easy task, but for those who find these needles in the proverbial haystack there is usually a pot of gold waiting for them in the haystack as well.

3. Offer a solution
“Boy I hate it when I can’t….” or “I sure wish there was an easier way...” An innovator is always LISTENING! They listen to their friends, family, neighbors, customers and themselves. When someone complains of a difficult task or an item with flaws the innovator asks herself “can I make this easier?” or “can I solve this problem?” Customers are almost always willing to pay for convenience. It is why people will pay $2 more for sliced pineapple than buying a whole one. It’s just easier!

4. Avoid Trends
An innovator does not jump on the bandwagon, no matter how temping it may be. “Trend” should have a negative connotation because it implies that the market for that item is currently saturated with sellers; and that means you will have to move mountains to get noticed. What you should be looking for is the next big trend. Generally speaking, this is a combination of timing and instinct. To identify what could be the next trend, you must look backwards. Go back 2 years and look at the direction your product or service has been going in. Look for any culturally significant movies or events that might influence demand.

The point is, you should be taking a long hard look at what is happening in the world around you and what has happened in your industry and use that knowledge to look into your crystal ball. Just remember, drawing inspiration from and stealing are two very different things. Don’t commit copyright infringement. There are always consequences for that.

I wanted to also include a great example of a company who is putting all of the above into their product. It is called “Casttoos” and the concept is that you can decorate your casts with tattoo like imagery. Does it fill a need? YES. Does it cater to individuality? YES! Does it offer a solution to drawing on your cast? YES! Is it a copy of a trend? NO! To read more or order a Casttoo, go to http://www.casttoo.com/

Image from Entrepreneur magazine

Contest-Free Ad Space!

2009-07-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

The Ad Directory just launched and I am having a contest to help spread the word! The prize is a free month of ad space on the right sidebar of the Ad Directory website. Those ads are seen on every single page of the website (including member's pages) and is worth $30.

If you would like to enter, just CLICK HERE to see the full contest rules (front page). To enter, you must do one of the following:

***

1. Start a forum post in the business section of the Etsy / Artfire forums explaining / inviting people to join

2. Do a blog post about joining the Ad Directory

3. Tweet about the Ad Directory

4. Invite at least 5 of your friends who blog or sell handmade items to join the Ad Directory using the "invite" tab.

Once you have spread the word, send me an email on the Ad Directory letting me know you have entered the contest. The winner will be selected randomly on July 12th!

Current Entries:

Amy of AvlorsImprints

Kay of KayzKreations

Kim of KimsCraftyApple

Joyce of BeadsofGlass

Joanne of Girlie'sBlingandThings

Search Engine Optimization Tips...

2009-07-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Did you know that search engines like Google and Yahoo primarily crawl your blog post TITLES?

That's right, the keywords they are looking for will be looked for in the titles. In other words, if someone types "Etsy marketing tips" into a search engine, that search engine will look for those words in the titles first. So if you have those words in any of your blog post titles, your blog is more likely to come up in the results.

This is a great tip to remember when naming your posts. Even though you might want to call your post "So I was thinking..." or "Big idea of the week" those titles aren't going to help you get new readers. If your post is about Etsy marketing tips, you need to get those words into the title somewhere. A good way to decide what to title your posts is to ask yourself "if I was searching for this information on Google, what would I type into the search engine??"

The Ad Directory Website has Launched!!!!!!

2009-07-05T10:29:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to announce that the official Ad Directory website has finally launched!

Everyone whose email addresses I have in my contacts has received an invitation to join, but everyone is welcome!

Click here to enter: www.theaddirectory.ning.com

Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of the Ad Directory concept to date. I really and truly believe that we can take our success selling online to the next level by taking control of our ad space revenue. When you join the Ad Directory, you are no longer going to have to pay a % of your ad sales to a third party website. And better yet, you get your profits right away-no more waiting to make $10 or gulp..$100 before you get to withdraw your OWN MONEY!

Please invite anyone you think would benefit from buying or selling ad space directly from the blog / site owner to join.

Thank you so much to everyone!

Need help figuring out your Etsy listing prices?

2009-07-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wish you'd listed your item at just a slightly higher price after you've seen your profit after fees are deducted?

If so, this is going to make your life a lot easier! Brooke of Shopmollyd found this amazing tool by Ryan Olbe.

The Etsy Calculator helps you determine what your listing price should be in order to get your desired profit after fees. All you need to do is enter your profit price and the calculator does the rest for you. Thank goodness for people like Ryan who are good at math!!

To all my American readers...Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

I thought I would honor some famous Americans today, to pay tribute to those historical figures who have made me proud to be an American. I hope you have a wonderful weekend...be safe! Please don't drink and drive. Please be safe with fireworks.

Abraham Lincoln

[quote from his dedication to the military cemetery at Gettysburg:] "That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

Carrie Chapman Catt

Founder, the League of Women Voters

"To the wrongs that need resistance, To the right that needs assistance, To the future in the distance, Give yourselves."

I've been tagged! 10 things about me...

2009-07-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

I offically got tagged by Dee of Runako Designs! OK, so the rules are I have reveal 10 things about myself and then tag 10 more unsuspecting bloggers! Here goes....

1. I have 2 rescued racing greyhounds named Marley (after Bob) and Keiki (means baby girl in Hawaiian).

2. I studied hula and tahitian dancing for 3 years. It's way harder than it looks!

3. I was an extra on Jurassic Park 3. I played a palentology student.

4. I am deathly afraid of spiders. Seriously...I'll scream like a little girl!

5. My favorite movie(s) are the Back to the Future trilogies. I know every word.

6. I'm half Russian, a quarter Irish, and a quarter Sicillian.

7. I'm a closet nerd...OK, maybe not so in the closet (see #5)....but I love reading about quantum physics. Albert Einstein amazes me.

8. I grew up in an agricultural area and went to a High School for farmer's kids. This was in the 90's and I had the whole "grunge" thing going on....needless to say I didn't fit in very well!!

9. I'm 6 feet tall in high heels.

10. I have 8 fruit trees in my backyard: peaches, apples, lemons, apricots, avocados, white sapotes, blood oranges, and figs.

Now it's your turn....here are my 10 pics for the next tagged bloggers!!

1. Avlor's Imprints
2. Expressive Papers
3. Yaslani Etc.
4. Pixel Wild Child
5. Girlie's Bling and Things
6. Blackbird's Learning to Fly
7. From Japan with Love
8. It's all just Menagerie
9. The Magickal Ewe
10. Venetia Jewelry

Let's Connect!!

2009-07-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

Did you know that kMT has a Facebook page? (and the Ad Directory has a group?) If you are on FB, please become a fan or member!!

kMT FB Page: CLICK HERE

Ad Directory Group: CLICK HERE

I miss you my Hawai'i

2009-07-01T12:11:00.000-07:00

I have long been a lover of the Islands. I've only traveled to Hawai'i once, but I truely felt that I belonged there. I don't think you can understand the meaning of Aloha until you have stepped foot on the Islands and seen how amazing they truely are. I also used to study hula and hope to someday have enough time to join a halau again. Here are some beautiful items from Etsy shops to tide you over until your next trip to Maui. Enjoy!

New kMT design~Cozy Knits Postcard!

2009-06-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

I think the post card is the new business card. No seriously! They are so functional, after all they're big enough to put several product photos on plus your contact info and logo! I just finished designing a postcard / handout for Rhonda of Cozy Knits Designs. See how she was able to display 7 of her beautiful hand knit items on the card...what a great way to remind someone of who you are and what you sell, especially if you plan on handing these out at craft fairs or to numerous boutiques.

Twilight New Moon Trailer

2009-06-29T18:31:00.001-07:00

Ok, Ok, I know this has nothing to do with Etsy but for all the twilight fans out there, this is awesome, I can't wait! Enjoy :-)

Why NOW is the best time to buy advertising space

2009-06-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

When times are tough small (and large) businesses start cutting the "fat". That is, they eliminate all the expenses they deem un-necessesary: additional employees, lavish extras like trips and lunches, and sadly, often advertising. HOWEVER, smart business owners know that a recession is actually the best time to invest in advertising. As Chuck McKay, successful author on business and marketing, says in this All Business article:

"[during a recession]The overall level of advertising drops. Media feels the pinch and drops rates. This is the equivalent of buying stocks at the bottom of the market. Think of it as dollar cost averaging. Buy more as the price decreases.

There are two other advantages to aggressively advertising during economic recessions.

1) Your "share of voice" becomes multiplied as the advertising noise reduces.

2) Your "share of mind" is often uncontested for months at a time.

During these times your more timid competitors will fall behind and likely never catch up."

He goes on to say:

"It's important to remember that during a recession consumers don´t stop buying. They become more selective. They look much harder for "value" in their purchases. They are going to buy from someone. They're likely to buy from businesses that they know and like.
Make sure they know you."

The important points to take away from this fantastic article are:

Buy low, sell high. Right now you can get ad space at lower prices due to site owners HAVING to set their prices lower than they would be in a good economy.

Be known. Just because times are hard, doesn't mean people stop buying...it means they are more selective about who they buy from. BE RECOGNIZABLE!

If you are inspired by this advice, I highly recommend you check out these amazing advertising opportunities listed below! All linked blogs are members of the Ad Directory. The prices vary, based on site traffic and the topics discussed on the blogs vary as well. Take a moment to do some advertising window shopping in each site and find the one(s) that are right for your businesses advertising needs. And as always, you can feel good about your purchase of an ad space through the Ad Directory since you are buying direct from the blogger herself and cutting out a third party big business ad company who would take a cut from her profits!

Avlor's Imprints

Blackbird's Learning to Fly

Bookartz

Craftzine
Etsy Item of the Day

Feed your Pig

From Japan with Love

From Japan with Love~Products

Handmade Marketing

Hartley Soap Company

Indie Fixx

It's all just Menagerie

Kayz Kreations

Lemonade Sun Productions

Finding a balance between running your online shop and your daily life

2009-06-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say it ain't easy to run your Etsy shop, keep up with all your tweets, Facebooking, blog posts, convos, emails, AND clean your house, care for your husband /boyfriend, children, pets, pay your bills, get to the gym, work a 9-5 and all the stress that brings....deep breath....and exhale!

I'm personally feeling the pinch! Of course, that's why God gave us gals the burden of bearing children...I'm fairly certain men would crumble under the stress and pain of childbirth and pregnancy. Women are, by nature, super-heros. We do it all. And sometimes we do too much.

I think it's important to remember that we don't have to do it all. That load of laundry can wait one more day. Those last 5 pounds aren't really as bad as you think they are. The sink will still be bleach-able tomorrow. And good art takes time. Don't pressure yourself to create when you aren't feeling the mojo. Take a day off. Or two. Visit your parents for lunch or dinner and have a glass of wine.

It does take a lot of hard work to build a business, online or in the real world. But, remembering to keep a balance between work and play will make us all better artists and people! Be kind and considerate to your customers, but don't work yourself into the ground trying to please everyone and keep a stepford home.

Now, I'm going to go take my own advice and lie down on the couch for a while and watch my rescued greyhounds race at 45 miles per hour around my backyard and just relax!

The beautiful artwork featured in this post are courtesy of Adelle. Adelle does custom commissioned paintings and original works of art. Visit her Etsy shop and blog!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6056971

http://www.adelle.com.au/paintings/

Music of the Week!

2009-06-24T20:33:00.000-07:00

The video is artsy and I love the song..enjoy!

My shop is closed, but I'm still working!

2009-06-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

It will still be a few weeks before I unveil the Ad Directory website, but it is coming along! I had to close my Etsy shop down (put it on vacation) while I work on this, as it is quite the undertaking! I'm working really hard to make the new Ad Directory website a place that will help and inspire everyone who blogs or owns a website to start to take control of their ad revenue and really start to succeed financially.

I can't wait to share it with all of you!!

Are you tired of negativity in the Etsy Forums? Try this community!

2009-06-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I often leave the Etsy forums with a bad taste in my mouth, and I've been looking for a new and fresh forums setting to make friends and market my shop. Living Creatively has it all! Forums, blog listings, website listings, contests....

I'm going to go investigate further. If you make it over there, tell me what you think!

Marketing your blog: We love Indie

2009-06-19T18:23:00.000-07:00

Indie Design Buzz

I just found this new site, We Love Indie, and I'm lovin it. You can submit your blog, and have your feed pulled automatically to show up on the homepage of the site. It's also a great resource if you're looking for cool blog articles from your fellow handmade authors. There were a few really cool how to's on there. And, I submitted my blog so soon you will see kMT posts listed!

Ad Directory members...want a custom designed ad box for your blog?

2009-06-15T21:07:00.001-07:00

Ad directory members! I recently put the html code up on my blog to create your own ad boxes for free, but some people have been asking for custom ad boxes for the "your ad here".

Well, now you can have a custom ad box! Only $10.00 in my shop, and you will get a custom designed box with revisions, as well as a new html code to load to your blog sidebar!

Click here to purchase!

Please follow The Ad Directory on Twitter!

2009-06-14T08:49:00.001-07:00

Whether you are an Ad Directory member or supporter, please stop by Twitter and follow at http://twitter.com/TheAdDirectory

Help to spread the word that we no longer have to pay $$ Project Wonderful or Google Adsense...we can sell our OWN ads direct!

If you would like your blog or website added to the Ad Directory email me at

theaddirectory@hotmail.com

New kMT design-Elise Fargnoli Art!

2009-06-13T20:06:00.001-07:00

I worked with Elise to create a custom postcard she could use to display her beautiful art to potential customers and galleries! If you like what you see, email her at the email listed on her card. Thanks Elise!

how to add 125x125 ad boxes to your blog!

2009-06-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

Calling all bloggers who want to join the Ad Directory! if you would like to add ad boxes, a la Project Wonderful, use the following code!

The image will look like this when it is added to your blog:

The Ad Directory

So, you ask..how do I add the code? what do I do when I have an ad customer?? Don't worry, it's easy! Here is the html code you will want to add to your blog in a sidebar html gadget:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<center><a target="_blank" href="http://www.kmtgraphicdesign.etsy.com"><img border="0" src="http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv169/kmtgraphicdsgn/Publication1-1.png"/>
</a><center>
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kmtgraphicdesign.etsy.com"><img border="0" src="http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv169/kmtgraphicdsgn/Publication1-1.png"/>
</a>
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kmtgraphicdesign.etsy.com"><img border="0px" src="http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv169/kmtgraphicdsgn/Publication1-1.png"/></a>
<br/>
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kmtgraphicdesign.blogspot.com">The Ad Directory</a></center></center>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To add the boxes to your blog, go to the layout page and add an html gadget. Simply copy the code into the gadget. Now, the red parts are the webpages (or etsy shops) that the ads link back to. Right now, they link to my etsy shop. I would recommend that you change that to be your etsy shop until you get an ad customer. The green parts are the image url's. Right now, they are the "your ad here" boxes you see above. When you get a customer, follow these steps to insert their 125 x 125 ad box:

1. Change the red part to be their website link. (only do this on one-there are 3 red sections, which means you have 3 ad boxes)

2. Change the green part to be the image url that they send you. (only do this on one green part-the green section directly underneath the red web link you just changed for your customer)MAKE SURE IT IS A URL! Photobucket is free and easy and lets you grab image url's. This code will support animated gif's if they ask you that.

3. Before you add your 3rd customer, remember to copy and paste this code on to a Word doc and save it. You will need to insert it again if you have an empty ad box in the future (it's the "your ad here" box):

http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv169/kmtgraphicdsgn/Publication1-1.png

I know this sounds a little complicated, but believe me, after you play with it a few times you'll get the hang of it! Practice by putting your own ad and etsy shop link it the red and green sections. You'll see! And before you know it, you'll be selling ads on your own like a pro!

If you would like your blog or website added to the Ad Directory, email me at theaddirectory@hotmail.com

A special thanks to Feed Your Pig blog owner and Ad Directory member Janna for finding this code ( I altered it to suit our needs and the Ad Directory)-She has a great blog, stop by soon!

Cozy Knits-New kMT Design!

2009-06-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

Please visit my most recent customer's shop http://www.cozyknits01.etsy.com !

kMT is under construction

2009-06-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I am re-designing my own shop, and my blog! Please be patient with the changes that are occuring on my blog, as I will be completing the changes over the span of a week or so. Hopefully this will make my blog more visually stimulating and eaiser to read.

Best,

kMT

FAQ about the Ad Directory

2009-06-05T06:00:00.001-07:00

Thanks to this article on Handmade Marketing I've received many new inquiries about how to join the Ad Directory and sell your own ads on your blog. In response to all the questions, I wanted to put together this FAQ post / how to sell your own ads.

1. What's the difference between Project Wonderful, Google Adsense and the Ad Directory?

Both PW and Adsense require you to meet a minimum dollar amount before you can withdraw your profits (PW=$10, Adsense=$100). When you use those services, you are subject to their rules and regulations, policies, and requirements. When you use the Ad Directory, you are in charge of your own advertising! All profits go directly to you, you set the price, ad size, duration, and policies!

2. Can I use both Project Wonderful or Adsense and the Ad Directory at the same time??

Well, that depends. You can use PW and the Ad Directory at the same time but you need to be smart about how you do that. If you are selling 125x125 ads (just like PW does) and your PW rate is $.02 and your Ad Directory rate is $.25 that's not going to work. Why would anyone pay more for your direct ads when they can get a PW ad on your site for less? If you are going to use both, you need to give your direct ad sponsors a reason to pay more such as larger ad sizes or longer ad duration.

I do not know what Adsense's policies are in this regard, but as a general rule I would not recommend that anyone use Adsense. You are pretty much giving your blog to Google when you do that. Odds are you will probably never make a profit with them, plus as I understand it, Google chooses the ads that appear on your site. Not a good idea for a business owner trying to create an image. YOU should have total control of the content on your site!

3. Do I have to add a PayPal button?

No, you don't but here is a little "shopper psychology": the easier you make it for someone to purchase something, the more likely it is that they will. This is why you are surrounded by magazines and candy bars while waiting in line at the grocery store. It makes it EASY to just grab an extra item and throw it in your cart. If you make your potential sponsors jump through too many hoops to pay you for that ad space they are probably going to give up and go somewhere else. The PayPal button is just one click towards a new sponsor.

4. How will people find out about my ad space?

I actively market the Ad Directory on Twitter and Facebook. However, will total control over your advertising space comes responsibility! I highly encourage everyone to use Twitter, Facebook, the Etsy forums, etc. to raise awareness about your direct ad spaces and the Ad Directory. Once, @Etsy re-tweeted my blog and I got 20 new followers overnight! I've been trying to get Etsy to take notice of the Ad Directory and tweet about it. The more of us that send them a link to information about the Directory by tweeting it to @Etsy, the more likely it is that they will consider tweeting about it to their 70,000+ followers-how about that for exposure!

5. How do I set my prices?

When setting your ad space price, keep the following in mind: hits per day, follower count, what other bloggers are selling their spots for. Eventually, as more bloggers start to sell their own space, a "market price" will be established. That is capitalism at work! The way this works is if you are currently selling your spaces for $5 per month and no one buys a spot from you, you will need to lower your prices. Become competitive! Sell your spots for a little less than the other blogs who have similar content and traffic. It may take some time to determine the right rate, so don't give up! I would also recommend re-evaluating your blog traffic annually and raising your ad space prices accordingly.

6. Is there going to be an Ad Directory website?

Yes! I am in the process of creating the site. It is probably at least a month from going live, so stay tuned. I will keep everyone informed on it's progress! Until then, the Ad Directory is listed on my blog.

7. Why did you create the Ad Directory?

I wanted to sell ad space on my blog, but I was unhappy with the options available to me. I didn't like the idea of having to pay someone else to do something that I could do so easily myself! So, I started selling my own ad space and soon started spreading the word about the idea. So many bloggers liked the idea, the Ad Directory was born!

I want to encourage and empower Etsy sellers and bloggers to take control of their online businesses. Always read the fine print, and be aware of what these large companies are asking you in return for their services. We are business owners, and we need to be smart about how we market our products and monetize our websites and blogs!

If you would like to be added to the Ad Directory, email me at tshenson19@hotmail.com

A fun, upbeat song to work to!

2009-06-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

Handmade Marketing's Article about the Ad Directory!

2009-06-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

We're getting the word out! Please take a moment to stop by Handmade Marketing to read an article about the Ad Directory! If you haven't signed up with the Directory yet but you are interested in selling your own ad space just leave a comment here or email me at tshenson19@hotmail.com. I will help anyone add a payment button to their blog free of charge!

New kMT Design: MandiBeads!

2009-06-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

Take a moment to stop by Mandi's shop on Etsy...today is the Grand Opening!

Great Marketing Campaigns

2009-05-27T19:57:00.000-07:00

Clever marketing will always get you noticed. What are you doing to make yourself stand out in a sea of Etsy sellers??

Why Doubting Yourself could be Killing your Sales

2009-05-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

There is a serious plague going around, and it's not the swine flu...

I've had the pleasure of meeting so many talented, ambitious, and unique artists on Etsy. I find it truly inspiring on a daily basis to be exposed to so many different styles and approaches especially since I am also getting the opportunity to speak directly with the artist herself. The only thing that saddens me is why these amazing artists so often don't realize how truly talented they are! I do understand where it this deep rooted self doubt comes from. Art is like exposing a part of your soul to the world. It is a great gift, in the sense that you can carve out a piece of who you are and your completely unique view of the world and mold into something beautiful for others to enjoy.

Artwork courtesy of www.PixelWildChild.etsy.com

I've always thought of purchasing art as inviting someone else's point of view into my home.

The other side of this is of course, the terror of exposing yourself and having it be rejected or misunderstood. In a way, it's like that dream where you show up to school in your underwear and have to give a speech. Because art is so personal and most often has an emotional element, every artist must eventually face their fears and decide if they are going to jump off that metaphorical cliff and share their art with the world.

If you are one of those brave souls who has jumped off the cliff, every seller on Etsy is, you must remember that your opinion of your art will undoubtedly be the opinion of others. One big mistake I see time and time again is a seller apologizing for some aspect of their work. I think this is a form of defensive self preservation. In other words, if you reject your work first, it won't hurt as bad when someone else does. You are in essence beating them to the punch. But here's the thing-they might have been preparing to give you the biggest compliment your art can receive: the purchase of it. But now you have planted a seed in their mind that their evaluation of your art (they loved it) was wrong. In that sense, you are also insulting their taste. And that's just plain rude.

All joking aside, you the Artist must always defend your work. It is a part of who you are and that makes it something to be celebrated. Art is also subjective, no two people will see it exactly the same way. Some people will love it and some people will hate it and that, to me, is what makes art so exciting. It inspires debate, enlightenment, criticism, epiphanies, joy and despair. It is what defines a culture, in fact it has been said that civilized culture cannot exist without art.

Of course, the craftsmanship element exists and we should all be able to admit to our shortcomings in that area and aspire to grow and learn from our mistakes. But we also have to make a conscious effort to stop insulting our own work. You must be your own biggest fan. I guarantee if you can start to truly love your own art it won't take long for others to fall in love too.

I was inspired to write this from the amazing piece of art featured in this post. I am a huge fan of this artist, Kristie, who sells her work at www.PixelWildChild.etsy.com Kristie lives in Athens, Greece which I thought was also very appropriate for this post since the ancient Greeks were huge proponents of art and it's importance in our world.

Thank you Kristie!

20 Tips for Successful Tweeting!

2009-05-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

1. Regularly Re-Tweet other Etsy sellers tweets

2. Un-follow anyone who hasn't followed you back within a week

3. Follow 50 new people per week

4. Find your target customers by finding someone else who sells what you sell and follow all of their followers. i.e.: If you sell pet products, go to @petco or @petsmart and follow all of their followers

5. Always respond to your @replies and Direct Messages

6. Don't only tweet about your Etsy shop-engage in conversations with others too

7. Don't attack people for what you perceive to be spam, that's tacky. Just un-follow anyone who is spamming you

8. Don't talk about politics or religion if you use Twitter for your business. You might alienate a potential customer

9. Don't send automated Direct Messages. I have about 1000 ADM's that all say the same thing. No one likes it and it doesn't work.

10. Click on other Etsy seller's tweeted links and comment on the items or blogs they are promoting.

11. Bring up a favorite TV show, book, or event and ask who else is a fan. I've met some really cool people this way!

12. Promote someone else's shop. Include their twitter name in the tweet so they know you tweeted them. It's always a nice surprise!

13. Participate in #Follow Friday and #WoofWednesday

14. Use those "share" buttons on people's blogs to share their posts on Twitter

15. Don't offer to help people get "15,000 new followers in a week". Seriously.....

16. Don't take "what are you doing" so literally all the time.

17. Look for people asking for help and offer to help them

18. Tweet all your new blog posts and Etsy items at least once

19. Behave like a business person. Don't be crude or offensive or use tweets to rant about a personal problem if you are promoting your business.

20. Just be a decent human being and treat others as you would like to be treated...it's the golden rule after all!

Music of the week

2009-05-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

My music player was causing some issues for some readers ....including me....but I love music and it has always been a huge source of inspiration for me so I have decided to include one video a week that inspires me!

I love the GAGA I think she's brilliant! She is a performance artist-"performance art" implies shock value. This one of her tamer videos. But I adore the colors, clothing and overall vibe of this video. Enjoy!

kMT new design-The Simple Stencil

2009-05-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much Jennifer!

www.TheSimpleStencil.etsy.com

kMT shop design-Kelli's Craft Studio!

2009-05-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much Kelli! I hope you love your new designs :)

www.KelliCraftStudio3.etsy.com

Press Release-the Ad Directory

2009-05-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

After months of selling ad space on Project Wonderful, I still hadn’t seen a profit. So I decided to sell my own ad space directly from my blog. Selling your own ads is easy and much more profitable for the blogger. Plus, you don’t have to wait for a pre-defined “minimum” to start to see your profits-you get paid immediately. And why shouldn’t you? It’s your blog after all!

I quickly realized there was a demand for direct-from-blogger ad space and shared my discovery with my readers, who were equally excited about the idea. Soon, the Ad Directory was born!

The Ad Directory is a list of all the Etsy bloggers who sell advertising space on their blogs direct. You as a buyer can feel good about your purchase because you know you are not only getting prime ad space with your target audience but you are supporting the handmade movement and everything it stands for by avoiding using a big company like Google Adsense or Project Wonderful that takes a % of the blogger’s profits and puts a hold on the blogger’s money until they reach a minimum amount.

Any interested Blogger can be added to the Ad Directory FOR FREE! The only requirement is that you sell you own ad space. Soon, the directory will be sorted by category to make it even easier for buyers to determine their target demographic.

The Ad Directory is currently listed on http://www.kmtgraphicdesign.blogspot.com/ and anyone interested in having their blog added can contact Tara Shenson either via Etsy convo http://www.kmtgraphicdesign.etsy.com/ or email tshenson19@hotmail.com .

Dear kMT readers~please pass this along to any Blogger interested in becoming a member of the Ad Directory!

I Love you Mom! oh..you're a kick ass designer too!

2009-05-17T11:48:00.001-07:00

I wanted to do a tribute to the woman that not only gave me life-thanks!-but also introduced me to the world of Etsy...my mom, Shopmollyd!

Brooke (mom to me) is one of the best seamstresses out there. I have one of her bags and I have washed it multiple times in the washing machine and it always looks brand new afterwards. Her attention to the details is really what sets her apart-every stitch is perfectly symmetrical and her focus on quality assures her customers that their handbag, cup collar, or accessory will stand the test of time.

Shopmollyd is primarily a pet apparel and pet parent accessory shop. Customers can purchase a pre-designed doggie item or request a custom item be made with a portrait of their preferred breed or even their very own doggie portrait! One of my favorite items in her shop are her "cup collars" which are stylish and re-useable versions of the paper sleeves coffee shops give you to keep from burning your hands on the coffee cup (pictured to the right). The really cool thing about her cup collars are that they are super "green", in that when you use a cup collar, you are preventing all those paper sleeves from ending up in a land fill. Stylish and earth friendly, count me in!! I have the Greyhound cup collar shown in the upper left hand corner to support my 2 rescued greyhounds, and all the hounds that need saving after the tracks :-)

She also does amazing portraits on her doggie keychains for people who want something special to have with them to remind them of their pups when they are away from the house. She has sold several of these and everyone who purchases one is always amazed at how perfectly she captures their puppy faces! (a couple of her recent portraits to the left). The best thing about buying an item from Shopmollyd is not the cool doggie merchandise you will be getting but the fact that she donates a % of her sales to dog rescue. She has already donated several of her higher priced items to Greyhound rescue charities in the Los Angeles area for their use in fundraisers. Shopmollyd is truely an Etsy shop with a heart!

I had to share my mom's shop with all of you. Oh, and she does custom non-dog items too, so if you see something you like but don't have a dog just convo her.

I love you mom, you're the best designer / role model a girl could ask for!

2009-05-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Improve Your Photos: Improve Your Etsy Sales

While there are many keys to finding success in selling on Etsy, a great adage to keep in mind is the "A picture is worth a thousand words." If you want to grab someone's attention with the potential to sell your item, you need to start with a great photo that speaks to the quality and uniqueness of your art. I am not a great photographer and I've never taken a class in photography, but I've learned to improve my Etsy photos through necessity and lots of practice over the past few years.

Once you have great product photos, other marketing components fall into place... You're more likely to be included in an Etsy Treasury (which in turn could get you featured on Etsy's coveted Front Page), you may be asked to be featured in blogs and articles (more exposure!), and you'll have a better base of product shots for general marketing materials like your business cards, artist bio, and portfolio or press packet.

You don't need an expensive camera to capture a great product shot. I use a Kodak Easyshare digital camera that is several years old and takes shots at the 5 megapixel size. The best thing about digital cameras is that they generally come with easy-to-use software and you can just delete all the shots that don't work out. I didn't use my software for the first year that I had my camera, but I noticed that my photos didn't have the clarity and level of detail that I saw in the products always on Etsy's front page. Through some exploration in the Etsy forums, I realized that these were things I could fix with a few tweaks of my camera's settings and through use of the included software. The best thing I did was discover the "macro" button... it looks like a little flower. This is great for taking detailed, close-up shots and is ideal for small items. I had my camera for over a year before I ever even knew what that button could do for my photos!

To stage my photos, I head outside (My favorite time is right before dusk!) with a white piece of paper. I have experimented with different backgrounds, but the white paper is best for me because it helps me when I adjust the lighting with the software. I capture at least five shots to fill each slot in the Etsy listing photos. I try to get at least one shot of the focal point of my piece-- for me this is often the pendant on my necklace. Before I ever upload the photos to Etsy, I open them with the Kodak software and use a three-step process to fix them up a bit. First, I see if the photo can be enhanced automatically, then I adjust the lighting if necessary (making sure the paper actually looks white), then I crop the photo. If you're selling art or you want to credit your photo, many seasoned Etsy sellers suggest adding the watermark on the very edge of your photo where it won't be seen in Etsy's Gallery view--but would immediately be shown when the photo is clicked on to be enlarged.

After over a year of doing this step-by-step process, which now only takes me a matter of seconds, I figured out something else exciting-- the software I use lets me save my files in an ideal, smaller pixel size called "Best for Web." I do this with at least two or three of my photos and the uploads to Etsy are so much faster! I keep the best shots in the 5 megapixel size so they have the potential to be used in marketing materials and show well in larger formats, but the "Best for Web" sized photos are a real timesaver in new Etsy listings.

A lot of the techniques for selling on Etsy work together to create a snowball effect, and great photos are just one integral part of the Etsy success formula. You don't need to be a professional photographer to take advantage of the great advice and simple photo improvement techniques to get the best shot. Other sources for great information on photos include the Etsy forums, your camera's manual, and Etsy sellers' blogs. I learned my techniques from those sources and developed my own techniques over time. But I have definitely recognized the importance photos make. With great photos you'll realize more exposure-- and more online exposure leads to more sales.

Tracy
http://polishedtwo.etsy.com/

As promised~The Ad Directory!

2009-05-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

As promised in an earlier post, I have included the Ad Directory on the sidebar of my blog! This directory will only feature bloggers that sell THEIR OWN ad space. If you would like to be included, free of charge, just convo me on Etsy or leave a comment here and I will link your blog to the directory. Let's support each other by buying direct. No more paying the "middle man".

This one's for the Twilight Fans!

2009-05-12T12:14:00.001-07:00

I admit, I am a huge fan of the Twilight series! So...I had to share some cool Twilight inspired pieces from my fellow Etsy Sellers. Enjoy!

Why aren't we all selling our OWN advertising?

2009-05-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

I know I wrote a post about using Project Wonderful, and sang it's praises....BUT.....I've been doing some thinking. I'm all for paying for a service that makes your business easier to run. That's money well spent. But aren't we paying them to do something we could be doing just as easily ourselves?

I've started selling my own advertising here, and it's just as easy as using PW. In fact, I think it's easier. Granted, you won't get the same analytic information, but anyone can see my hit information by clicking on my counter, and by seeing my follower count.

By selling my own ad space, I've cut out the middle man! It also allows me to interact directly with the Etsy seller buying the ad space too, which is great-I get to meet the seller, learn their name, a little about their shop, and make a new friend.

I just bought ad space on Jackie's blog, Etsy Item of the Day, and she is utilizing a payment button on her blog as well. If you want to learn how to add a buy it now PayPal button to your blog click here. And if you decide to quit paying someone else and sell your own advertising, please leave a comment with your blog link. I want to do a directory of all the blogs who sell their own ad space. I'm currently advertising on other blogs with PW, but I'm thinking I'm going to let that run out and start looking for ads direct from the blogger.

I don't know about you, but if I'm going to buy advertising, I would much rather give ALL my money to the Blog / Etsy shop owner selling it!

How to Open an Etsy Shop

2009-05-04T19:32:00.000-07:00

I know most of my readers have already signed up on Etsy, but I get a lot of questions from people who want to sign up, but just don't know how. So...this one's for all the newbies getting ready to start their very own Etsy shop!

Don't panic!!! You can, and will, open your own Etsy shop. Opening your shop is actually the easiest part of selling on Etsy! But, that doesn't mean you can't use some tips. And don't feel bad if the "computer stuff" isn't your thing. You are an artist! You create, inspire, and design...leave the geekery to nerds like me ;)

First of all put a lot of thought into your shop name. Not only is it your calling card, and what your customers will remember you as, but you cannot change it once you save it on Etsy. The first step is registering, and Etsy will ask you for your user name. YOUR USER NAME IS ALSO YOUR SHOP NAME! Another tid bit to remember is that you can only have one shop per email address, so if your first shop is a success-YAY!-you will need a separate email account to open your second shop. Etsy has a great article detailing shop names in their Storque blog. You should also take the time to read the FAQ section on their site as well.

*Professional Tip-to optimize your SEO (search engine results) choose a very unusual name. Google your ideas to see if anything else comes up. If nothing comes up, it's a GREAT company name and anyone who googles it will probably find you in search results.

When you start listing your items, remember that good photos are a must! Sunlight is great for a beginner photographer, it makes most items look appealing. And remember to show your buyers how the item will look used, ie-clothing on a person / mannequin, purses filled with items, hair clips in hair, etc.

*Professional tip-Invest in FREE photo editing software Picassa. Very easy to use and it makes photos look incredible!

Secondly, take the time to write an item description. Include measurements, sizes, and materials. You don't want your buyers to have to return an item because they didn't have all the facts about a purchase!

Ok, so I'm biased but graphic design is very important! Branding your image is one of the most important parts of being a business owner. There are lots of talented graphic designers on Etsy (including my shop!) so put some serious thought into buying a banner set if your aren't familiar with computer art.

*Professional Tip-Keep your graphics the same across the board! You should have the same graphics, colors, and fonts on all your social networking sites and profile pics.

Success! So, now you have offically signed up on Etsy, created your shop, uploaded your banner, and listed your items....now comes the hard part-finding some customers! Even though Etsy has a lot of traffic, you may not see any sales for a while. You have to remember that you won't catch any fish without bait. You have to make an effort to get your shop known to buyers and that means marketing and networking! (which is also fun). You should definetly sign up on Twitter, Facebook and one of many Ning social networking sites..I like Indiepublic. If you need help navigating these sites, look no further than my blog for help and advice!

Luckily, the handmade community (for the most part) is incredibly welcoming and willing to help. If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask. You can also convo me with any questions. I like to support new shops, and I also give technical advice for people who want to design their own banners but don't know how to resize / upload etc. You have just embarked on an exiciting new adventure in your life...congrats on being the newest small business owner!

What the heck is Viral Marketing??? Explanation, Advice and Ideas!

2009-05-03T13:53:00.000-07:00

Viral marketing is any strategy that encourages people to send a marketing message on to others. It is, by definition, free or at minimal cost to the business owner...so it's cheap and it's considered to be one of the most effective methods of advertising! So, you're saying to yourself..."how do I do this for my Etsy shop??"

First, let me clarify what viral marketing is with an example we all will relate to: the forwarded email. If you have an email account, you've gotten one of these. Some have pictures of puppies, others tell you that you will win the lottery if you send this to 12 of your friends....sound familiar? Yep! Well, that is viral marketing in a nutshell. Most people will think the puppy is cute (I always do!) and send it to their other puppy loving friends, and they send it to their friends who send it to their friends who...well, you get the idea. Before you know it your puppy email has traveled across the globe to thousands of puppy loving people.

The best advice I can give you is to wholeheartedly believe in your product and / or service. You have to believe in your heart that people will benefit from the use of your product and therefore will benefit from being informed about it. So many sellers I meet are tied down with the thought "My art isn't good enough, isn't anything people would want". Get that thought out of your head right now! Is it gone? Good. Now we can continue.

Next, you have to come up with a great idea. That's the hard part...However, here are some elements of Viral Marketing that ususally produce a successful campaign:

1. Make it funny. If the recipient gets a laugh out of it, there's a good chance it's going to be forwarded / mentioned to others-think the "I'm a PC / I'm a Mac" commercial.

2. Make it informative. This one's tough, and won't work for all niches, but a lot of people will pass on a "did you know that..." This one is really well suited to causes or if you donate a % of your sales to a charity.

3. Make it exclusive. People like to believe they are part of something that not everyone is included in. The "popular"crowd, the VIP room, first class, etc. This is a "cool" factor. Very hard to create. If you are successful in this, PLEASE leave a comment!

4. Make it cute. Puppies + babies + children, yeah we are all suckers for this. Everyone needs a cute baby animal break! My fave is the puppy peeing on the computer that I have been emailed 1000's of times. It never gets old, and I always forward it.

Actual Ideas for a Viral Marketing Campaign:

1. Create an email to send to all of your friends and ask them to forward it on.

2. Create a button that links back to your blog and ask your readers to put it on their blogs / sites.

3. Start a contest that requires your readers to nominate another shop. Then, require that the nominee be notified and must nominate at least one other shop as well (and notify them) the nominee isn't offically nominated until they post their nominee.

4. Video games: star in your own you tube video about Etsy...however, have something unusual happen in the background and ask people to identify what it is or hide something that people have to find.

5. Multi-blog scavenger hunt: Get a group of bloggers together and ask if you can "hide" links on their blogs. Each link goes to the next blog where participants have to find the next hidden link. Eventually, they end up back on your blog and there should be a prize involved. this is a win / win for all the bloggers involved!

There are plenty of other ideas out there too. Just google "viral marketing ideas" or if you are really clever, come up with a new one no one has tried yet! Good Luck!

Interesting interview: the founder of Etsy

2009-05-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

A few inspirational quotes!

2009-05-02T06:25:00.000-07:00

Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. -David Frost

Don't confuse fame with success. Madonna is one; Helen Keller is the other.-Erma Bombeck

I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it. -Jonathan Winters

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.-Walt Disney

I don't design clothes, I design dreams. -Ralph Lauren

Turn your wounds into wisdom. -Oprah Winfrey

I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb... and I also know that I'm not blonde. -Dolly Parton

Don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright.-Bob Marley

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.-Mark Twain

A man can't ride your back unless it's bent.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

As I get older, I just prefer to knit-Tracey Ullman

What you should be doing while business is slow...Tips for preparing for the Economy to improve

2009-04-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

So you're not making any sales. Or, your sales are WAYYYY down. I feel your pain! In fact, I think we should start a club called "Low Etsy Sales Anonymous".

However there is always a silver lining to any despairing situation. Ours is that we have lots of time to grow our business while we wait for the money to start flowing again. This "down" time is best used preparing for the inevitable recovery of our economy. Here are a few ideas of how to build your customer base while we wait for everyone to start spending again:

1. Social Networking: "Yeah, yeah" you say. "I'm already doing that". Yes, but are you building a real presence online? You should be a member of at least the following sites & ideas for improving your following:

Twitter-set a goal for a certain # of followers. Mine was 2000, and I just reached it the other day!

Facebook-Start a business page if you don't already have one. Load applications that are relevant to your shop and products.

Blogspot or Wordpress-Start a blog!! Follow other blogs and regularly leave comments on them.

Ning (one of their many sites, ie: Indiepublic)-like Twitter, set a # of friends goal.

2. Up your technology game: "Yikes!" you say. Don't be afraid the big bad technology monster. Think of it like a pet...you are in charge! Technology is your friend and the most savvy business people know that if you want to keep up with consumers you must keep up with technology. Here are some links that I have used or tried that will make a difference in how you operate your social networking sites:

1. LinkWithin is a site that allows you to put a "you might also like these stories" after each blog post. Your readers can see an image and the title of 3 other posts in your blog that they might like to also read.

2. Twitterfeed automatically tweets any new blog posts to your twitter acccount

3. Jott This one is for all of the Blackberry / Iphone users. It allows you to use your social networking sites, email, etc. with your voice. No more typing!

4.Tweetlater will automatically tweet for you. But, a warning...be careful how you use this, I leaped before looking and upset a few of my followers unintentionally!

3. Upgrade your photos I think most of us agree this is one of the most daunting tasks associated with having an Etsy shop. I would recommend looking in other Etsy shops to see what works and what doesn't. Here are a few tips I've noticed:

1. Use natural lighting on a sunny day

2. Use patterned backgrounds like tissue paper or the page of a book

3. Show your item as it would be used, ie: clothing on a person, purses filled with items, etc.

4. Get some press Downtime is the perfect time to start reaching out to the media. You could write a press release, and send it out to your local newspapers and television news shows as well as craft magazines. You could also donate an item to a local charity fundraiser, and make sure you have tags and a brochure attached to the item that has your website clearly printed. Another great idea is to send your information to other blogs and see if they would consider featuring your shop, maybe in exchange for a link on your blog?

5. Host a contest I have found that one of the best ways to get people to visit your blog is to have a contest. You can offer one of your items as a prize, which is a great way to introduce buyers to your products. I have seen so many clever ideas for contests-so get creative and launch your own!

The fact of the matter is, the economy will improve! The question is, when is does, will you be ready?

A New Site that You Can Sell From...Shopify

2009-04-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

Shopify is a site that a friend of mine who was considering opening an Etsy shop just turned me on to. From what I can tell, Shopify assists you in opening your own website by putting everything you would need in the click of a mouse...when you open your shop for $24 (basic) - $299 per month you get:

1. Pre made professional website templates to choose from

2. Shopping Cart by Google

3. Payment processing options, ie: Paypal etc.

4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

You do still have to pay a 2% transaction fee along with the fees assessed by Paypal. So it does end up being more expensive, but, for getting your OWN website it would save a ton of time and effort and it would end up being comparable to what you would be paying otherwise. Shopify also says you don't need your own domain name to sign up but they don't fully explain what your site name would be without one.

I'd love to hear from anyone currently using this site for feedback!

kMT Customer Spotlight-Runako Designs!

2009-04-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Dee, the designer and owner of Runako Designs was one of my first customers and has since become a great friend.

I admire Dee not only for her talent and business savvy, but also for her committment to giving back to her customers!

Her newest venture is "Cluttercast", an idea that she found on Darryle Pollack's website

The avatar design to the left is the button I designed for Dee to include on her blog! Thanks Dee, you are as always an inspiration!

kMT Customer Spotlight-Spring Colors

2009-04-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Spring Colors is an amazing Etsy shop owned by Hadass, who lives in Jerusalem!

Her intricate, flower like beaded jewelry is a true work of art, and would make any outfit look polished.

Take a minute to stop by her shop, and check out her work. Thank you so much Hadass for choosing kMT for your graphic design needs, it was a pleasure working with you!!

kMT Customer Spotlight-Radiance Art!

2009-04-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

I recently re-designed the banner / avatar for Amy of Radiance Art...she was the winner of my kMT blog contest!

Take a minute to drop by her shop...she sells beautiful handmade stained glass pieces that have a cool surfer / mermaid vibe to them. Check out a few pics below!

How to make your photos better using Picasa

2009-04-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

This youtube video shows how to make your photos brighter, and crisper using Picasa3...I just downloaded it (it's free!) It is truely AMAZING! You can make your photos look practically professional, and there are cool effects you can add on as well. Love it!

Craft Mafia!

2009-04-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

So I came across this organization while surfing the internet today and I LOVE the concept! Regional "mafia" groups are across the US...maybe one in a town near you??....as they say on their website "The group originally came together through a shared love for craft, DIY ethics and mutual respect. As the Craft Mafia developed it became a forum for networking, promotion and shared ideas".

What an amazing way to network, get and share marketing ideas and make new friends! I am seriously thinking about sending in an application to join the Long Beach group-those gals look like they know what they are doing! Check out the website to see if there is a group near you.

Did you know kMT designs promotional materials?

2009-04-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

I was recently hired to design a sponsership ad for a UFC fighter! for those of you who haven't heard of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, it's like boxing but way more hard core. This was such an exciting project for me, and my first "big time" design. I decided to list a promotional materials item in my Etsy shop for anyone else needing a flyer, brochure or poster design. Please stop by my shop for that and any of your other graphic design needs!

Etsy Mentor Series-KaraStarz

2009-04-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

Customer Service is Key

I recently joined the etsy family in January of 2009 and have been very pleased with the results of a 150 sales. I have been making accessories for women and children for a few years now. The accessories have been a big hit in my circle of family and friends and the boutiques I sell to, but I wanted to offer my selection to a larger group of people and had heard great things about etsy. I decided to give it a try.

Here I am a few months later with a decent amount of success on etsy! I am really glad that I gave it a try and am looking forward to what the future holds.
If you are like me you notice right away that there are MANY amazing and talented people on etsy selling unique quality items. I have to be honest and tell you that I was a little intimidated at first. I knew I would have to find a way to set my shop apart from the competition.

Show them you care with Extras

In my opinion, the best way to accomplish that goal is by offering exceptional customer service. Considering the shape of the economy right now, if someone is willing to buy one of my accessories I am going to show them how much I appreciate them spending their hard-earned money in my shop! I always add a little extra goody with any order I get. I also make sure I engage a customer if they have a question about an item or want to create a custom piece. I want to make sure they are going to get exactly what they have in mind. I am still learning on asking the proper questions to ensure this happens. Such as clarifying color, accents they are wanting to add and what they are will be wearing the custom piece to. If someone is ordering a custom order for a wedding. I will ask about wedding colors and make them a flower pin with there colors of the wedding for a rehearsal or bachelor party. I do not do this just to make a sale, but to show them I am truly honored that they chose my shop in this huge fish pond of amazing sellers.

Offer Incentives

Another great way to show your customers you care is by offering incentives. You can add an additional item in with the order or offer sales every once in a while. Decide what type of discount you are willing to give and be comfortable with. Find your personal qualities and work on strengthening them.

Variety is the spice of Life!

I also try to offer customers a large variety of fairly priced items. I currently have 120 items for sale. I offer different styles of shoe clips, flower pins, head pieces, headbands, hair clips and baby headbands for every occasion. I think people appreciate that in a seller. Don’t be afraid to be creative and give things a try.

Kara Starz
Starz Selection
http://www.starzselection.etsy.com/

Thanks Kara for the great article!

Would you like to be considered for the next Etsy Mentor Series post? Convo kMT at http://www.kmtgraphicdesign.etsy.com/!

How to Write a Press Release

2009-04-17T12:12:00.001-07:00

WHAT
A press release is a letter that businesses send to press outlets to notify them of newsworthy events or changes occurring with their products. It is also commonly used to gain exposure for a new business.

WHY?
You might think to yourself, “why would the newspaper / magazine / TV news think my Etsy store is worth publishing??” Well, there are a lot of reasons! One, not everyday is full of car chases, robberies and Octo-moms. There are slow news days that need “filler” stories, usually feel-good stories. Another reason is Etsy is not very well known yet. News outlets who have not picked up on it yet might see it as actual news since they would be informing the public on a new and exciting way to shop online.

§ Think of all the exposure your Etsy shop would get from being featured in a newpaper, magazine or *gasp*…the local TV news! Plus….it’s FREE!

HOW?
There is a standard way of writing a press release, and you should not get creative on this…stick to the standard! Press outlets are very busy and receive tons of releases a day. They won’t waste their time trying to decipher a poorly structured letter. I am going to use my own Etsy shop as an example in the following step by step instructions:

The Headline: Always begin with “FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE”. Attention grabbing sentence that summarizes the release. Written in bold, with all nouns capitalized:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
kMT Graphic Design helps Etsy Shops Brand their Images

The body of the release: This should include the 5 W’s; what, why, where, when and who. It should be concise and to the point, and written the way you would like to have it published. Don’t use industry specific words unless you explain their meanings. Always start this section with the city and state (& country if outside the publishing area) that the company resides in:

Los Angeles, CA: Thinking of joining the Etsy community to sell your handmade goods? You will probably need help designing the graphic “look” of your shop and kMT Graphic Design specializes in just that. …

Company Information Section: This is all about you and your company:

kMT Graphic Design is owned by Tara Shenson of Long Beach, CA. Her shop has only been open since January of 2009, but is steadily gaining recognition in the Etsy community. kMT Graphic Design specializes in Etsy shop design, Twitter backgrounds, Blog design and set up and stationary design. kMT currently has a Twitter following of 1700 and 62 blog followers.

Contact Information: This is how the editor will contact you. It should include:
Company name
Your name
Address
Telephone and fax
Best time to contact you
Email address
Website address

Every press release should end with 3 ###. This is a journalistic standard to signal the end of the release.

###

TIPS:

§ Always address the release to the appropriate editor. You can find this information on the publications website
§ Google “craft magazines” to get a list of handmade publications (there’s a lot!!)
§ Send releases to your local newspapers, and college newspapers are great as well
§ Send releases via email, in the body of the email (not as an attachment), unless specified otherwise by the publication.
§ Include 1-3 product photos with your email. Name the files by what they are and include your company name in the file name.
§ Follow up with the editor 2-3 weeks after you send the email with a friendly email inquiring as to the status of your story.

Here are some sites that have sample press releases for you to reference:

http://www.marketingsource.com/pressrelease/releaseformat.html

http://www.free-press-release-center.info/sample-press-release.html

http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/%7Bb38dec81-713b-427a-8c6b-486fb572e2a0%7D/SAMPLE%20PRESS%20RELEASE.PDF

kMT was featured on Etsy Item of the Day!

2009-04-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

My kMT twitter templates were featured as the Etsy Item of the Day! This is an awesome blog that features handpicked Etsy items every day by Jackie who has great taste if I do say so myself! wink wink :)

Thanks to Jackie, I've had 2 sales since her blog post went live. Thank you so much for featuring me!

I highly recommend you stop by her blog on a daily basis to see what other great finds she has posted!

2009-04-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

kMT is getting diversified! I have long been a fashion addict, leaning in the light avant garde-one of a kind style direction....think Gwen Stefani meets Patricia Field meets Jackie O....

Well, I have decided to venture out and start a clothing and accessories shop on Etsy. Although my shop is up, I don't yet have any inventory. But, please stop by and bookmark me for later! I will make an annoucement when Beau Monde Fashion offically opens, so keep your eyes peeled for the avatar to the left of this post!

Love,

kMT.....aka Beau Monde!

Some recent kMT designs!

2009-04-04T07:36:00.001-07:00

How to add a PayPal button to your Blog-sell directly from your blog!

2009-04-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

You may have seen the PayPal button on my blog page under my kMT sponser / advertising ad (Still only $5 a month!!). You may be surprised how easy this is to do! Technically, you could sell anything you wanted to right from your blog as long as you have a PayPal account! (that's the first step) Here's how to do it:

Go to PayPal.com

Click on the Merchant Services tab on the top tabs

Choose the "buy now" button

Fill out the form (includes choosing the price of the item)

Pay Pal creates the button html code for you.

Go back to your blog.

Add the html gadget.

Describe what you are selling and add the html code for the button.

Voila!

You can also add buttons for donations to a cause and gift certificates. I have had purchases, and it works great! The $ goes directly into your PayPal account.

How to use Tweetlater.com to make Twitter work so you don't have to!

2009-04-04T06:56:00.001-07:00

I just found tweetlater.com and so far I love it! I have a "free trial"right now, and the monthly fee is around $30. You can use tweetlater to accomplish the following:

Automatically send tweets every 2 hours on your behalf
Automatically send a welcome direct message to all of your new followers
Automatically unfollow people who are not following you (so far it isn't doing this)
Automatically tweet your blog posts

My only warning...put some thought into what you send as your welcome DM. I think my original message some people took as an insult (I did not mean it that way!!!) :( So I have since changed it of course. All in all, this is a great tool for Twitter users! Let me know how it works for you!

Diamonds are a girl's best friend...

2009-04-03T20:57:00.001-07:00

How to add a "share this" button to your blog posts

2009-03-28T07:36:00.001-07:00

I just learned a new trick!! You can add a share this button to each of your posts that allows your readers to share your blog post (and blog link!) to social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Digg, Stumble and many others with just one click. Talk about viral marketing!! If you would like to add this to your blog, go to the website http://sharethis.com/
and follow these steps:

1. Choose "enable sharing for publishers", click the blue box that says get button

2. Choose the social networking sites that you want your readers to be able to choose from (I chose the default)

3. follow the instructions....it will redirect you back to your blog and create a new widget for you. all you have to do is click save.

This was seriously the easiest install ever! Let me know how it works out for you guys!!

The Winner of the kMT Contest is......

2009-03-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

The Winner is Amy (RadianceArt.etsy)!! Amy, I convo'd you and I can't wait to start designing a banner for you! Congrats!