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Thursday, July 29, 2010
SOCIAL MEDIA FOR YOUR BUSINESS: WHORING OUT  YOUR TWITTER AND FACEBOOK

One of the most asked about questions is "How do I use social media for my business?"..Translation, "How can I whore my business out on Twitter and Facebook?
As you know, I myself am a "Twitter Quitter", having shut down my account since it didn't increase sales or add any value to my business. But there are alot of people who swear by it and it does benefit there business is some way.There are no "hard and fast" rules or magic wand that can give you success with these outlets, but the following may be some info that can work for you.


1. Separate your personal and business social pages!
That means if you are all ready on Facebook or Twitter for yourself, dont use that same account to then promote your business. None of your customers want to get pcitures and video on the fantastic trick your cat learned last night. Stay focused on your product and objective ,give your personal Facebook to your friends and the professional to your buyers.If you are really serious about your business and promoting, keep it professional.

2.Social Media ResourcesResources to help you with using and promoting your social media for business




3.Don't Forget to make sure the button is working!
Make sure to test your button/link. I can't tell you how many times I have clicked on something and it wasn't linked. In addition to the company buttons that social media sites give you, there are also some that you can install yourself. Click below for a link of great and free social media icons to download.
FREE SOCIAL MEDIA ICONS

Most Importantly .....just because you posted new images on your social media accounts or Etsy store doesn't mean people will rush to buy them. You still have to get them to your website and thats why you really have to promote your Social Media Accounts just like as much as your shop to build your following.





Facebook Birthday Card Available Here
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Friday, July 23, 2010
COMPANY UPGRADE:WAYS TO MAKE YOUR SMALL BUSINESS MORE PROFESSIONAL

I constantly get emails asking about our website or how to make a business more professional. Most people think that you need an extensive knowledge of HTML/CSS, though this is helpful, it is not necessary to make your business more professional.
There are little things that you can do that can make a big impact on the look of your business.If you cannot "hire" someone to do your site for you or are on a limited budget, the following are some things that you can do yourself to very inexpensively "upgrade" the business.
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1.PURCHASE A DOMAIN
This is the one thing that I feel is necessary, even if you don't do anything else. When you have a domain you can then forward all of your shops , whether its your etsy, artfire, ebay, blog or other site to it. There are several important reasons to get your own domain:


  • The ".COM" instantly makes your business look more professional , especially on the business card.

  • The domain protects your business name. If you have a sucessful online( etsy, artfire, etc) business and then someone else has your business name in a domain you could be loosing business.
There are several places that you can get a domain name,some of the more popular ones are Go Daddy and Yahoo. There are several others, but these are great because they are known for easily interfacing with alot of servers ( website host and etc). For new users,Go Daddy usually has specials for a few dollars per yer, right now for the actual ".com" it is $10/yr. They do offer the option of purchasing a ".net, .info, .org" and etc that is cheaper than the ".com" , but we don't recommend that. Info and Org are usually for organizations and the Net looks subpar ( you have to think about the international buyers who come to your site), we suggest paying the extra for the ".COM". Also note that GO Daddy usually offers a "one web page" when you buy a domain name. This allows you to make the link to send to your various places (you do need to know the code to link pictures...its easy). Just remember that the Go Daddy Advert is on top, but you can pay extra to remove.
Yahoo is another good place for domain purchases. They also offer the $2/yr for new users or there rate normally is $9.95/yr. One thing to note with the "First Time Rates" that both of these have, if you only purchase a year at a time, then after the first year the price goes up to what every is the company going rate. But if you purchase several years when you first sign up, you can get all of the years for the same intro rate. This is especially the case with Yahoo, just make sure to read all the policies and restrictions before purchasing.

TIPS: If your domain name is already gone and the service you purchased from doesn't automatically give you alternates for your name, then try Nameboy. This site lets you put in your domain name and it comes up with a list of alternatives that you might be happy with.

2.GET A WEBSITE...SORTA
A website is something that everyone wants but doesn't think they can afford or have. There are several cheap place to get a website, especially easy for the "First Timer". The following offer "drag and drop" interfaces, that allow you to just point and click to change things.We suggest you try out services for free before you upgrade and pay the low fees...just to see if they work for you.




  • FAVORS ME offers a simple one page site, that lets you add 4 data sources for free. Anymore links than that you have to pay the low price of $20/per year. The great thing is that they can easily link to 20 different popular sites, like your blogger, wordpress, twitter, facebook, flikr, picasa and a whole lot more. Take a look at there directory to see what others have done using this site.

  • SOOPSEE literally turns your Etsy Site into a website. The good thing is this site is FREE and if you already have your own domain name you can easily use this site as well. For examples of how other Etsy members are using this site just go to there Gallery. Another good thing about this site is that it offers a more "user friendly" site analytic for those who are totally overwhelmed or confused by Google Analytics ( though you can easily use Google Analytics with this program)

  • WEEBLY is a free "Drag and Drop" website that lets you either buy the domain from them or you can easily integrate your own with the site. This beta site lets you easily change things, have unlimited pages and incorporate your blog or they even offer you the option of haveing your own "Weebly " Blog if you don't want to sign up for Blogger, Wordpress or etc. They do have a variety of templates that you can choose from and easily customize ( color , layout and etc) They also interface with alot of sites, like paypal, flikr and etc.

  • WEBS is another site similiar to Weebly. It has the same "drag and drop" system, but I think that they dont have as many templates to choose from as Weebly.
TIPS: USE YOUR BLOG AS A WEBSITE. If you have a blog already like Blogger , Wordpress or TypePad, this can be used as a website , forwarding your domain (if you have one) to this site. By using your blog as a website, you can easily use the sidebars(depending on your layout that you use) for your company items (link to your shop,gift certificates, etsy mini, company ads/announcements and etc).Just remember that the "minimal" templates (the white basic ones) are the most easily customizable for your needs.3.SIGN UP FOR AN ONLINE PHOTO SHARING ACCOUNTHaving a photo sharing account is good for several reasons. If you have a blog, the photo sharing account lets you upload large size images to use on your blog, essentially eliminating file restrictions since they are on a separate site. Also these sites gives you another outlet to get your product out there...basically free advertising (as long as you mark the photos "public").
There are several sites that offer this service and the following are the more popular ones that work with a large variety of sites easily:

TIP: just remember that though these are free to use, the free accounts have limited storage, so if you find that you need more then you will have to pay the low storage fees..usually not more than $20/yr.
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Just remember that you don't have to do everything at once, try them out and then decide if you want to commit(as well as pay the fees associated ).
Now that you have all of that together you can start to customize your company with certain Business Tools. We have several post and links that can be used for your website (from above) or if you are not ready to take the website plunge, they are great for your blog or general business.The following are links of interest that may help:

Etsy Business Tools You May Not Have Known
Business Tool To help your Company
Customizing Paypal for your business
Company Gift Certificates Made Easy
Basic HTML Codes
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Sunday, July 18, 2010
COMPANY GIFT CERTIFICATES WITH PAYPAL: A BUSINESS TOOL

I ended up coming by this great forum post on how to make your own (free) gift certificates with paypal. (Since there is a possibility that the forum can be deleted, I will copy and paste below, but please feel free to visit original post)
I have my company "Gift Certificate" button on my blog located on the right side bar for you to take a look. I created a gadget (in layout) and added the code in the HTML/JavaScript button. As you can see this is the Paypal button, but just remember , if you are computer/design savvy, then you can make your own "company logo " personalized button for your gift certificate.
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INSTRUCTIONS:

*After you login in to your paypal account, click here https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_giftcard-intro to get to the Gift Certificate page of your PayPal account. (or go My Account > Profile > Redeem Gift Certificates and Points if not able to link directly)

*Click Create a gift certificate now and fill out the Gift Certificate form making sure to put your Etsy store’s url for Shopping URL. Be sure to check out all of your options, and check out the Gift Certificate Manual for more info.

*Click Create Button Now and PayPal will generate HTML you can then copy & paste into your store or any other website, blog, MySpace page, whatever.

That’s it! Now when someone receives a gift certificate to your store, they can enter their redemption code when they checkout.
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Monday, July 12, 2010
10 TYPES OF DIFFICULT CUSTOMERS:SNAPPY ANSWERS TO STUPID QUESTIONS

I came across this article by Patrice Lewis (author of The Home Craft Business:How to make it survive and thrive) for Crafts Report ( unfortunately isnt not linkable format so I have to cut and paste) and I thought it was very interesting as well as a little funny for those of us who encounter that rather "Difficult" customer at craft shows.
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With the new 2010 Craft Show Season already in full swing, its a way for to to grow your business as well as get the word out about your product, but, as with everything, there’s a downside—a factor that literally every craftsperson has experienced:
The Difficult Customer.

You know the type I mean, the kind that backs you into a corner and regales you with details of Great Aunt Martha’s gallbladder operation. The one who knows more about how to make your product or run your business than you do. The one who tries to bargain down the price by criticizing every aspect of your product.The one who invites himself to sit down in the chair left vacant when your husband dashed to the restroom (and then proceeds to tell you all about Great Aunt Martha’s multiple root canals).
So how do you deal with do-gooders, busybodies,know-it-alls and other annoying and persistent types? When you’re a captive audience at a craft show or other selling venue—when your sales depend on you being pleasant and professional to browsers—how do you get rid of those people who have no intention of buying anything and apparently want to make sure no one else
does either?
So here are ways to deal with 10 types of difficult customers:

1. THE PROUD RELATIVE: They are always talking about their niece, son, etc., who does such fabulous work.
2.ARTSY TOURISTS: They love to go on about how they spent a lot of money on vacation buying some art or crafts (yet never consider spending a cent with you).
3.CONCERNED PARENTS: They ask endless questions about how to help their 33-year-old daughter—who has never worked a day in her life but has spent the past 15 years in college, graduate school, art academies, overseas study, etc.—to get rich in art overnight.
4.BRAGGERS: They brag endlessly about another artist.
5.THE OVERSHARER: They like to describe in minute detail every piece of arts and crafts that they have in every nook and cranny of their home.
6.WHINERS: They whine about how they just do not have time to do the arts and crafts for which they have boundless skills and talents, but were sidetracked by ___________ (fill in the excuse).
7. OLDER SINGLE MEN ON THE PROWL:“Usually I can tell whether someone is interested in my product or in having a conversation. I get a lot of older single men who will stop in for a conversation with a captive audience (me). I answer a few questions and then ask,‘Are you looking for a gift?’ Once I figure out that they are just there to talk, I busy myself with straightening or I turn my attention to another customer. Eventually they get the point and move on to another victim. I don’t feel a need to be accommodating to someone who is obviously
not exhibiting interest in my product just because they’re standing in my booth.”
8.SOCIALIZERS: “My booth can get crowded sometimes and I get former customers, other craftspeople or acquaintances stopping in to chat (not to purchase). I move myself to the side so that they have to move, too. I don’t want them standing in front of my product and blocking the view of someone who is there to buy.”
9. BORED HUSBANDS: “I keep my chairs behind my table, but I have offered a chair to husbands in tow just to keep them from being so bored the wife feels it’s time to move on. I will also chat up a husband to try to get him interested in the product his wife is looking at. It’s amazing how quickly you can turn a sour, bored expression into an interested one just by engaging them in the process, asking their opinion of how the jewelry looks on the wife or asking if they are having a good day.”
10.WITCHY CUSTOMER: “You have to be very firm about what you will put up with. Sometimes I get a customer who obviously doesn’t ‘get’my work and is really critical or asks for changes. I have empowered myself that I don’t have to sell to these people. If someone is nice and shows appreciation for what I do, I amhappy to work with them to make the piece work by changing a chain or adjusting the length. Ultimately, you get to make the decision to what ends you will go to make a sale. “All of these strategies are undertaken with a smile and extreme courtesy,”concludes Tischler.“I am never rude to anyone who enters my booth, I am just very
clear withmyself about what I will put up with. It’s a lot of hard work to make a product, run a business and set up booths. And, on top of that, I also have to pay additional income taxes. If I am going to deal with annoying, cranky, hard-to-please people, I might as well get a 9-to-5 job and stop paying self-employment taxes.”
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On a personal note I find that looking them in the eye and saying “And which of my products
were you interested in buying today?" really works on all these types of customers .
AND ...if all this fails, just start waving your hands and telling them to "Get Away From My Booth" always works, though the cops may be called, lol
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Thursday, July 8, 2010
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If you are always trying to take your business to the next level customizing your paypal account for your customer is one of them .There are several ways to make the paypal account that you use for your business more professional by incorporating your logo and other company branding.
When you log into your paypal account, just click on "Merchant Service" for a list of neat little things you can do with your paypal account.(Please note that this "merchant service" tab may only be available for business accounts and not for personal)

SHOP LOGO ON PAYMENT PAGE:
This option puts your shop logo or other branding image on the payment page that your customers see when they checkout and pay for item. Normally you see plain text of your shop name spelled out. By using these simple option your logo/image will replace this (you can also preview image on payment page like a customer before you "save")

{INSTRUCTIONS}


  • Click Profile

  • Click "more options" in the drop down menu

  • Under Selling Preferences, click "Custom Payment Pages"

  • Click ADD and then fill in the blanks to create your custom page
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SHOP GIFT CERTIFICATE BUTTON:
This option puts a button for the buyer to purchase a company gift certificate ( see our button in the right side bar) . You have the option of making your own company button for paypal or you can use the standard paypal button with the "Gift Certificate" text on it.

{INSTRUCTIONS}

Once you log into your account, go to "Merchant Service" tab at top of page to get to the Gift Certificate page of your PayPal account. (or go My Account > Profile > Redeem Gift Certificates and Points if not able to link directly)

Click Create a gift certificate now and fill out the Gift Certificate form making sure to put your Etsy store’s url for Shopping URL. Be sure to check out all of your options, and check out the Gift Certificate Manual for more info.

Click Create Button Now and PayPal will generate HTML you can then copy & paste into your store or any other website, blog and etc.Now when someone receives a gift certificate to your store, they can enter their redemption code when they checkout.
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ADD PAYMENT FOR SHIPPING TO CHECKOUT
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If you have a "stand alone" site in addition to your online merchant site (i.e ebay, etsy, artfire, etc) alot of people dont know how to add shipping to the price when someone purchases by clicking a "paypal button". Because of this, alot of people do not use paypal buttons (created in Merchant Services) on there stand alone websites due to the fact that you cannot add shipping for different regions. This option lets you add "shipping profiles" for each currency and shipping region as well as create multiple shipping methods offered to buyers during checkout. So you can offer same flat shipping to everyone in the U.S.A/International, or you can offer different rates per US State and every country in the world.

{INSTRUCTIONS}

Once you log into your account, go to "Merchant Service" tab at top of page then click on "Shipping Calculator" under "Shipping & Tax" on top right column. You can then set up Domestic and International shipping methods and amounts for however you would like. Then just save!

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FIND OUT HOW BUYERS FIND YOUR SHOP
:
If you have every wanted to know how buyers find your shop (other than using Google Analytics) then you can add a little Survey to your paypal checkout that the customer can answer when they pay for the item. This is good for people who cannot really make heads or tails of Google Analytics and just want a simple answer like...Facebook or Google , not some graph chart.

{INSTRUCTIONS}

1) Login to your PayPal account
2) Under “my account” click “profile”
3) Under “selling preferences” click “custom payment pages”, then click “options” and go to “merchant service options”
4) Check “add a customer service survey” and fill in the blanks*
5) Make sure you click “SAVE” before you exit

* You can use what every question you want, but most people say “How did you find (insert shop name)” for question. Then you can add any answers for the customers to choose from, like:
-friend/family
-google search
-yahoo search
-facebook
-Etsy
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EXTRAS:



  • If you have to charge tax for certain states there is a section under "Shipping & Tax" called "Tax Calculator" that lets you set up the tax method for each region applicable, much like the "Shipping Calculator" section.

  • Doing charity work or have a good cause you want to raise money for? Paypal also has a "Donation" button that you can set up under the "Merchant Service" tab. This button works the same as your other company buttons, it just states "Donation" so that you can separate it from your other business buttons.
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Monday, July 5, 2010
SUGAR COOKIE FAVORS: A TUTORIAL

This lovely cookie favor is from Hello Frosting, makers of customized edible icing decals .You can bake your own sugar cookies with the recipe they supplied or use your own if you have a great one.
Then you can literally just wrap them in Glassine or Cellophane bags and tie with Striped Twistie Tie or Twine . This is a great and simple way to package your products....Go on over to Hello Frosting Cookie Favors for full tutorial!
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