Story telling for your online business marketing - like Etsy shop

 Is story telling necessary in your product description for your online business marketing  success?

Why do you need to tell stories in your product description for your online business like Etsy shop?

Is it essential to spend so much time and energy to weave stories for describing your products ?

 I did not think so, and I  did not pay much attention.

Yesterday some thing happened that changed my view.

 An item from my Etsy store got sold and the buyer wrote me a message that the story behind the making of the jewelry intrigued her and she thinks my jewelry will  find a good home with her.

Galaxy Necklace- Knitted silver wire with antique crystals

Inspiration

 How touching.

I had been reading about the importance story telling  in the  product description and lately took some time to revise and rewrite the product descriptions of many of  my items  in my online Etsy shop. It was indeed a lot of work and I wished I could spend that time in designing and making jewelry. But now I am convinced that it pays off.

What I have learned in this process and from many valuable resources are:

* Basic description:

Yes, you need to give the basic description and dimension of your products, the colors and the exact information about  the materials used.  But with good pictures they may be obvious and redundant.  So you need to go beyond that.  

*Appeal to senses and emotions

Bring vocabulary from  all the  five senses, not just the visual one. Use delicious words to describe-  suggests Jessica Howard. For example use mango, or melon, instead of the ordinary orange to enhance the shade or the color of orange. The online customer can not touch or feel your products, so  give him these sensations with your words.

*Connect with the buyer.

 How  buying this product is  going to solve any of her problems or make her extra special owning it?   Can you convince her?   Hard, but give it a try.

Give her the feeling of owning it and why it is absolutely essential.  You have no other tools, nothing but words and yes, pictures.  So use them with care.

 *Answer in a nutshell – “What’s in it for me?”

 This is what the buyer wonders when she is browsing.

Yes, your online customers are pleased to know that you are passionate about your art, but how does that affect him or  benefit him?

Online shoppers have less time and patience.  So answer this basic question quickly. Brevity is crucial.

 How possessing your product can make him feel special or solve his problem?

 Wow them with your art, but grab them with your writing-  says Deanna Roux

So, in a nut shell you have to give your potential customers a compelling story about your product that will impress him enough  to buy.

“I think more people want to have stories about the things in their life” says Bradford Shellhammer- co founder of Fab.com. 

I hear the echo in  Ki Mae Henssner’ s voice  in the article How new commerce sites like Etsy, Fab.com...challenge mass production model.

Therefore, I understand that it is crucial to write a good story in a nutshell to impress the  online customers.  This is one thing you can do  that mass production can not do.

But then read the comments on theEtsy team forum about Marketing with your stories 

 There are mixed opinions and some are strong against telling stories for product description.

Many of them think that most buyers really do not care for stories and rather would  go for the facts of the products and that is what they are expecting.

So why waste time in telling stories in your product description?

What about you?

What do you think as a buyer or seller?  Is it that important?

Some business topics:

Why Niche Marketing is Essential
 Strategies to boost online business and sales in Etsy shop
 
  

In the Eye of the Beholder

                                                        

Photo credit:  Andrea C. Jenkins

In the Eye of the Beholder



Her dying hands.

Fingers- frail, trembling, freckled with age spots
Like gnarls of an old oak tree.


The little boy did not see that.

In his soft hands
In his new camera
He captured the vibrant vermillion in grandma's fingers.


Link: Short Story/Poem Contest 

Anklet blog hop

Here is a pair of anklets I made recently,  motivated by my friend  Kashmira.

Kashmira gave a wonderful link where we could get some ideas about the size and the length of anklets, which I have lost now,  but I remembered  that it can be any where from 8 inches ( petite) to 10 inches ( large).  I double checked it too .

Anklet for a baby

This was made for a baby about nine months old,  as a special jewelry gift  for her auspicious Rice Ceremony. Rice Ceremony is when  the baby eats the first  solid food- ( or rice in our case ) in my culture.  That is  a day when a big party  is called for.

Here, this little girl, Tara has her initial T as a charm in this anklet,  and a tiny silver heart as a clasp.  Her birthstone is peridot, so I chose that gemstone and pearls  for good luck.  These little things dangle from a pair of chains.  One of the silver chains is just a normal rolo and the other sort of curved links.

The length is about 6 1/2 inch.  So when she is older I hope she can also wear it as bracelets.

Now Kashmira did enthuse  a  bunch of jewelry designers like me  in this project, so I am going to go browse all the other ankle goodies now.  Come along with me.

Kashmira Patel http://sadafulee.blogspot.com Kaushambi Shah Will post on Kashmira's blog Jean Wells http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/ Mischelle Fanucchi http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/ Shellie Grindie http://www.creativeeclectica.com/ Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/ Monique U http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com Cynthia Machata http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com Libellula http://libellulajewelry.blogspot.com/ Kay Thomerson http://www.kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/ Mimi Gardner http://othercuriosities.blogspot.com/ Anindita Basu http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/ Rita (Toltec Jewels) http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/ Gina Hockett http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/ Tammie Everly http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com Jessica Murray http://whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com/ Dyanne Cantrell http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com Ema Kilroy            http://www.emakdesigns.com/blog.html Emma Todd http://www.apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com/ K Morgan www.TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com Sharyl McMillian-Nelson http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/ Cheri Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/ Rochelle Brisson http://acreativechelle.blogspot.com/ Michelle Buettner http://www.misheldesigns.blogspot.com/ Sandra McGriff http://www.skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com/ Stephanie Weiss http://uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/ Shelley Graham Turner http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/ Vickie Foley http://ohabbyday.blogspot.com/ Lynda Carson Roxanne Mendoza Dagi http://freshbakeddesigns.wordpress.com/ http://roxidesigns.blogspot.com/ http://kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/

Why a niche market is essential for online jewelry business or your Etsy store

 Niche marketing is one of the several important  pieces of the puzzle in selling jewelry  online profitably.

 Jewelry is probably the most saturated area in the Etsy world.  Statistics say that there are3,583,594 jewelry shops in Etsy.

 No wonder I am lost in that jungle and no one knows about me.

 Shouldn’t I make what most people look for and things that are trendy?

 A wee voice inside me protests. That is not why I started in the first place.  I want to make knitted wire jewelry which is not very common and I love that because I love to knit and I love to create jewelry.

Wire knit necklace with silver and pearl

I feel confused and hesitant, a bit down too.

 Then, I came across this wonderful quotation-

“Don’t ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive and go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive” - - Howard Thurman 

It helped me get back on my feet.

Now, what is a Niche?

Definition:

A niche can be defined as a small segment in a market or a  subset with in a set.  Your niche market must be able to solve one or more than one problems of a group of people.  Once you have a clear understanding that  who these people are, your marketing will be easier in terms of showcasing your products or advertising to the right crowd.

Experts say that in order to survive in the crowd you have to have a niche and show your uniqueness. 
What I find from my research is:

/

Keywords:

A concept of the  right keywords is very  important in this equation.  Your niche market or the defining keywords must have substantial demand and low competition.

 In the online business that means you have to do your home work and  research, find the demand and supply using Google Ad words and/or other measures. (Find out how to search for key words)

Style:

Your jewelry or products must have be a unique style that is not common and not easily available in big box stores or else where.

Action:

This is tricky because here I find that there are several loose ends that are important and to be tied to make the knot secure in the business of online selling profitably.

Your aim is not just driving traffic to your shop but turning those to sales.

You must start with at least five high traffic key words and five long tail relevant key words that tie  your jewelry niche.

Your landing page, descriptions, tags everything in your Etsy shop must be consistent with your niche.

Your niche has to be so unique that people cannot leave without buying from you.

 Like Niche, the other side of the same  coin is the understanding of the concept-  Brand (which calls for an entire post soon.)

Your online store must be cohesive with the banner, contents and everything to show off your niche and the brand.

Room to grow:

 In order to sell your jewelry  profitably online,  what I understand is- it has to be something that you love to do, have the capacity to branch out and expand, keeping the same cohesive and consistent  unique brand.  This commitment and passion will be crucial for the long haul.

Marketing for an unusual niche can be challenging.  Listen to Susanna from Mars Bling who makes science jewelry, rather,  just Mars related jewelry.  She was having problem selling them off line because not too many people are passionate about Mars jewelry.  But they are there.

Now, there are more than  thirty comments in the forum all trying to help how she should market for her unique niche.

Another example is when a jewelry artist who makes jewelry out of fishing lures is at a loss.  Read the unique comments she got for marketing strategies.

In How to sell and make craft  the author cautions that your unique tiny niche may get crowded, people may start copying you and sell  cheaper and so forth.

I believe that the original artist is always superior to the ones who copy.  I believe that the  original artist does possess that  talent to be  capable of  bringing new twists with in the same niche and thus  thrive.

Some more related posts:


http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/2013/03/five-most-important-marketing.html

http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/2013/02/strategies-to-boost-online-business-and.html

Are you convinced that you must have a niche?

 Do you think it is easier to survive and sell profitably  online  rather when you make jewelry (or products)  for the general public and something trendy? What is your take on that?

I am curious to hear your comment and when you leave a link with your comment, people will find you too. Thank you.

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.  There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth.”- Rumi

 

Start blogging

Why blog?

Why add another terrible task in your to do list?  There are millions of blogs floating in the web – why add another?

 It will cost you so much sweat and labor and tears too, may be…besides who’s going to read it?

I do feel a voice inside me whining these words often. So after 137 posts, and 94 followers, I ventured again to research – why should I blog, and this is what I found:

There are  at least 15 great reasons why you must blog, says Joshua Becker.  

 Out of these 15 reasons, I find that I blog because:

 1. I have  something important to say, for example I want to say what goes behind creating my jewelry and the business aspect too. What happens in my work shop, what agony and ecstasy do I go through in this journey of being a jewelry artist- entrepreneur.

 2. I find that there are people who relate with my pain and passion. They are also artists making jewelry or other things and trying to  sell.  Why? so  that they can feed their family or just make enough  to buy the materials for their art. From their comments I can relate what they are going through too.

3. I can give something-  like tutorials, new tips, ideas that are working with me . And these days I can share that with the whole wide world.  It makes me feel good that someone benefits from that. I can make friends from some one across the globe.

From research and through my experience I found that  there are a few things to know why I should NOT blog:

1. Trying to make quick money.  Though there are lots of people who may make a lot of money from their blogs – it is   not very easy and that is not my purpose.
2. Fame – though there are people like Leo Babauta, it is hard to become famous overnight just by blogging. And he got there after years of hard work!

Then why should you blog?  Do you have some clear goal why you want to write a blog?

  There could be various reasons- for example,

* To show your potential customers who you are and why should they buy your hand crafted product or

* What is your belief, mission, ethics related with your product, or the brand of the product you make, or

* Monetize:  you can make money from your blog being an affiliate of different relevant things, resources, books etc.

 Here I find that there are at least 10 good reasons why you should have a blog

 But, blogging does  take hard work, quite a chunk of time  and  lots of commitment.

Writers’ block is a common ailment in this journey. What should you write about?

One good gauge for understanding the depth is running a list of ideas to post.  Can you easily jot down a few dozen things in a short period of time that will be relevant for your blog? When you are stuck, or get a writer’s block  this list comes in  handy.

What else is needed?

Consistency :
Regular posting is essential. Also relevant topis are what your reader will come for.  In that sense it is similar to writing the chapters of a book, I think. 

Niche:
 This is about finding out your niche and being clear about that.  Are you passionate about your niche?  You'll need that for the long haul.

 

Readers' needs and interests:

Who are your readers? Do you care for their needs?    How would you find that? Thinking about your readers’ problems and an effort to find solutions are important  reasons I blog.

  How do I know my readers' interest? I get that answer and some clue from the popularity of certain  posts and not of the others.

 What makes an awesome blog?  Delia from Blog Formattings suggests  10 points that an awesome blog must have.

You may differ with her  and/or have different ones.

Somewhere I read that any good writing should have at least one of the following  three qualities:

It should entertain the reader

It should teach or give something to the reader

It should be able to inspire the reader in some way

Great writings have them all.

It is also true from my experience that you may get bogged in over editing, especially if you are a perfectionist.  That retards my speed, consistency and commitment.

Now, if you ask me – Was it a good idea that you had started blogging?

I’ll answer- .  Heck -Yes.

What about you?  Should you start a blog? Or do you already have one?

 What challenges do you feel?  Which is the biggest problem you think, or your biggest reward in blogging?  Please share.

You may also want to check out :

Five most important Marketing Strategies I plan to incorporate in my Etsy shop

Strategies to boost sales in  my online store

What do you remember your mother most for

Dear Ma,

It's Mothers Day today.

As I was looking at your picture,  dusting off  with a kleenex,  I was thinking of you.
" What do you remember your mother most for?" - was a question posted by a celebrated writer in the Face Book

Ma, form high up there you must by now know what FB is all about.  I don't want or need to explain that to you now, I believe.

You must also wonder why am I writing in English,  not in our mother tongue, Bengali?  Well, because your grand daughters and their off springs will not be able to read or understand that language so much, but your blood runs through them.  May be you have passed on some DNA of yours in them...I don't know...But think you kind of live through them to me.

Now, the question- what did you give me that is most precious?

Ma, I bow down in shame - how can I judge that?  I kneel down in gratitude for what you have given me...I don't have the capacity to count that really.

You gave me birth ( oh I know  now with how much pain and joy...I have gone through that). I came with your flesh, your blood.  You nourished me with your milk, stayed up endless nights to bring me up with sweat and tears.

You were the most proud person when I shone.

You cried with me when I was hurt.

You didn't bother to hold back any thing, scolded me when I strayed away and  needed the right direction, held me tight when I fell apart.

But, Ma what I remember most after all these years,  is your love for beauty-  that deep need and appreciation of it in life.

You were beautiful yourself, indeed.

I remember how one day -  it was your last year probably, you asked me to bring me a jar of " Those new thing - what do they call it age defiant?  Garnier or some thing?"

A smirk faded in my face as I wiped off my tears.  This half paralyzed, bed ridden stroke victim still wants to reach for a jar of beauty!

No, that's not the point really.

You tried so hard to keep our home beautiful- with so little resources that you had on those days.  How you saved from the grocery to buy a bouquet of flowers to dress up the dining table, I remember when I went to the  market with you.

Most of all, you knew when to stop...which so many people don't.  Now looking back I feel awe struck that you had that style, and  probably I  had never told you.

In your time,  and where you were coming from, people were totally unaware of these little things that make such difference in life.

You were never noticed for that.  Probably you even did not know you were quite a Martha Steward in your time.  And no one ever noticed.

 But I did.  And I do it more now,  after you are gone.

You gave me that keen sense of appreciation of true beauty.

You worked hard to keep  beauty in tact in relationships and how carefully and meticulously you tread ed the  ocean  of family dynamics !

You tried  to keep  life beautiful,  living beautifully and that is what you had passed on to me.

Bead Soup 7th year - 3rd reveal by Dita Basu

 My bead soup is ready. 

The auspicious day cometh

This is the 3rd and final reveal of the Bead Soup Party - 7th year that our Lori Anderson had organized.

In this party what happens is: 

We sign up for the party, then the organizer Lori, matches us individually with another willing beader
 ( any where from the world) and we send each other beads- actually we must send one focal piece and a clasp and some beads.  Then comes the revealing day when we show off what we did with the sent beads, 


The ingredients that I received  were rich and yummy I hope my bead soup  is not too bland, or too  spicy.  You taste it and tell me.

In my previous post I showed you what  my partner Iveth had  sent me.

What I had sent her?  Iveth wrote a wonderful post  and  you may want to   pay a visit to her blog  after you are done with mine. She wrote a beautiful post on it.

My challenge:

 The focal  that Iveth sent was so pretty I wanted to keep it just the way it is,  with a pretty organza  ribbon or a bronze chain.

 But bronze chain or the ribbon? Take your pick  - said  the inner chef in me.

Hold on...I must make some thing with it. I can't just hang it with a ribbon and say that's it! - I say.

 How about knitting with some wire of the same bronze accent?  I love to do wire knit things...that's kind of my style.  But, nope! I did not have the right shade wire.

So I took a trip to my neighborhood bead store and got some antique bronze wire
 ( Soft Flex brand 26 g ).

Would it be just the plain wire knitting or speckled  with some color? Plain  broth or some spices added, m'lady? - she interrupts.

Some spices of course-  I shout.

Which ones m'lady?  whines the inner chef again in a bland voice.

Cheer up, boring you!- I holler.  Can't you see I am trying to match the colors of the  focal? I make a big mess sprinkling all kinds of beads on the bead mat.

My inner critique does not like it.  She has to clean it up later.

 Some thing blue, some thing... why of course, Iveth  had already sent me those beautiful turquoise beads.  But it needs another color to give  the oomph.

Pearls.

 I hunt through my pearl box.  Nope...these are not the right shade.

I yank out the car again from the garage.  Another trip to Just Bead It  store and I found  the very  right shade of dyed antique bronze  fresh water pearls that I was dreaming of.

Now I have them all ready.

Time to string them all up.

 But  in what design m'lady?

Here is what I came up with.

I turn to my inner chef.  She is the harshest critique I have ever seen.  But she did not pout or make faces.

I  make a couple of earrings too.

Here it is all.

 I put it on around my neck.

Not too bad, I kind of like it. Do you have some suggestions?


Blue is my favorite color.  Thank you Iveth.

 And THANK YOU  Lori,  for arranging  this big event with over 400 participants for the last seven years for us.  This my fourth time and I enjoyed it so  very much.  Again, my heart felt thanks for you, Lori

 Dear reader, please do visit all the other blogs of the  bead soup participants and see what they have cooked up.