Oh EtsyRank you . . . pain in the a$$

I have admitted before I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Etsyrank.  It can be, has been, is a helpful tool but it is also an ever-changing multi-faceted pain in the ass.  

I spent over a month going listing by listing changing wording, lengthening titles, making the description and titles match up with the keywords.  SEO the bane of my existence, I worked so hard to make all my listings "A" grade because supposedly it improved relevancy and would increase views.  I won't lie I was hoping it would get some sales if I was easier found in search.  

It sort of worked.  I got all my listings to "A" grades and for a couple of weeks had views, lots of views, got some favorites even.  Sadly only a couple of sales.  

I decided to shift and focus on social media, I've been working the facebook page, got the instagram off the ground.  However, neither really seem to drive traffic to the Etsy shop, I don't know how people do it.  The facebook page is up to 99 likes, the instagram yo-yos on the followers, people are fickle.  

I went to check Etsyrank to see if my efforts were getting anywhere and they have added a new thing for "missing images".  ~sigh~  Great something else I have to work on.  :-(   So I checked out the new tool and damn 52 of my 82 listings did not have all 5 photos.  I knew there were some that didn't have as many as they could have because when shooting photos of the jewelry not all of them turn out.  It's not easy getting crisp, clear, detail photos of shiny things.  I had thought I'd rather have 1 or 2 good photos than 5 crappy ones.

So I made a list and now I'm working on updating/upgrading listings.  While I am looking through my existing photos to see where I can just add 1-2 before I have to do a massive photo shoot.  Also while I am opening and editing listings to add photos I have been tweaking titles and descriptions hopefully it will do something.

I've been at this for 4 hours already and I don't really feel like I'm making much progress.  I was really hoping to get this version of updates done in a week but it seems to be taking quite a while, hopefully it won't take a month like it did last time.  :-/

 

That's not right. . .

Sometimes I see people in the forums compliment each other's shops and I wonder if they are just being fake as hell.  I'm sorry but not everyone's stuff is that nice, honestly some of it is amazing, some of it is mediocre, and some of it is just crap.  :-/ 

Everyone and their cousins' neighbors' dog "makes" jewelry these days.  However, if you've been to a craft store like Micheals' or JoAnn's lately you can easily spot the ridiculously cheap mass produced charms on cheap pre-made chain.  I am sorry but I do not count attaching a couple of store bought charms to a store bought chain as making jewelry.  

I actually make chain one ring at a time, opening and closing every ring, varying colors and patterns.  I actually cut leather and braid it and decorate it, punch holes, install snaps, set rivets and spots by hand.  I actually tie every knot on my barbed wire.

There are some amazing artists on Etsy that are real metalsmiths and truly make jewelry, there are chainmaille artists that spend hours and hours creating chain.  Then there are literally truckloads of people who buy stuff from China spend 5 minutes slightly modifying it and then sell it as "handmade".  :-(

Happy Birthday to me !!

Ok, so I photographed and listed the most recent "Forever" wire tree, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  

I have been using my social media stuff, posting on Instagram and Facebook.  I have created "an offer" on Facebook for my newest coupon code, HAPPYBIRTHDAY will take 20% off any purchase over $10.00 this coupon is good for the next week.

So wish me HAPPYBIRTHDAY while saving yourself 20%  


 

There is still hope. . .

I actually had a sale this week.  I really do like the cha-ching sound that the app makes.  LOL  The day I got the sale I only had 12 views total for the day and 1 favorite that was not what was purchased.  :-/

Since then I think the bots are crawling because I had nearly 50 views in a 2 hour period last night and this morning I woke up to over 300 views the overwhelming majority of which came at 2am.  

I have no explanation for the out of whack stats but I find it ironic that nearly 400 views in less than 24 hours results in no sales when the slow day of only 12 views had a sale.  o.O

I finished another wire tree sculpture, this one is a double "family" tree style with red and gold and silver and purple.

 Once I shoot the photos I'll add it to the Etsy listings, it's just in time to replace the one that sold.  ;-)

Harry Potter themed Hogwarts house colors bracelets. . .

I love Harry Potter and I know I'm not alone in that love.  I have made bracelets in house colors before in multiple patterns, matching earrings and necklaces for the Helm's chain too.  

 And I must admit I love them all, they are great color combinations, they are some of the most searched and most loved listings in my shop.  So last week I started another set of them in a new pattern.

 I'm really liking how they are turning out and I'm thinking these will have matching earrings too, maybe necklaces I don't know it's kind of a dense pattern so necklaces would be a lot of rings.

 

RainbowMaille on Instagram. . .

I've been working on the Instagram, learning hashtags, trying to post regularly, attempting to be engaging and interesting to gain followers.

The cats, Harry Potter stuff, and wire trees seem to be the most attention getting.  The food stuff not so much.  So cute cats, house colors, and wire trees it is.  In the week I've been at it I have several photos with lots of love, the Hogwarts school crest trees has 19 likes and even a couple of comments.  I have 7 followers already which I think is pretty decent for only a week.

The real challenge will be if I can make it translate to some sales on Etsy.  I've read plenty of other sellers in the forums say that their Instagram does generate sales so hopefully it will work for me too.

 https://www.instagram.com/rainbowmaille/

A little work. . .

The tiny butt took a liking to the window seat and unlike his big brother he also took an interest in my craft supplies.  LOL  So I packed up all the wire and beads to keep the baby from chewing on them and scattering them about.

I am still crafting just in a more focused way now, with everything packed I have to know what I'm looking for to get it out.  Instead of looking at the scattered pile and randomly picking things I have to have a plan before hand.

Due to kitten attacks I didn't get to finish it in one sitting as I have always previously done but I did get it finished and I am pleased with how it turned out. 
    

So life goes on, new listings get added.  I've started an Instagram for RainbowMaille but I am including photos of my cats and food, as a way to show I am more than business.