Etsy Provides Shops With Tools To Intrigue Holiday Shoppers
Whether you’re looking for custom buttons with just the right design, a cross stitch pattern with an adult message, or an item way too niche to be found anywhere else, Etsy has become the go-to place to shop for the handmade, the odd, the off-the-wall, and the bizarre. From handspun yarn to men’s underwear with a strategically place elephant trunk, shoppers can find everything from the upscale to the hilarious, and sometimes both at the same time.
Although Etsy has spent part of the year battling controversy over a change in their seller policies, many shoppers are still headed there this year for that special handmade something, and the company is working to help them succeed. From joining those pushing for net neutrality to providing its sellers with a free credit card reader, like Square’s or Paypal’s, which allows them to improve their Etsy standing while they’re working craft fares or booths on weekends.
This week, Etsy blogged about the upcoming holiday season, encouraging its sellers to take to social media.
“Make the most of the season by letting current and potential customers know that the items in your shop would make great gifts.”
Writer David Morgan explained how Etsy had designed promotional images that could be used on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to promote a shop’s items. He also encouraged the use of images from the shop’s own inventory, as well as behind-the-scenes photos from the seller’s studio, or of the seller’s crafting process.
Morgan also shared that Etsy had created a PDF that sellers could use to create gift tags which could be sent with a customer’s order. This time of year, many Etsy sellers ship their creations “gift ready,” and having the tag available can be one less step for the seller to worry about.
#Vintage #Jewelry Cha-Cha Bracelet w/ Aurora Borealis Glass by RibbonsEdge http://t.co/qC2Rawdk1V via @Etsy #etsygifts #ecochic #gotvintage
— Ribbons Edge (@RibbonsEdge) November 13, 2014
The Etsy blog includes specific instructions on how to get the photos, and suggestions on how to use them to create tempting photo collages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Etsy is also suggesting the use of a hashtag this holiday season, to give customers an easy way to browse some of the Etsy sellers. They ask sellers to tag their Instagram or Twitter shares with #Etsygifts to keep their photos in the stream.
Comments on the blog indicate a positive response from the seller community, and the tag is already busy on social media. If shops continue to use it, customers will be able to check on the newest, most exciting deals and photos right up until the holiday!
[Image from Wikipedia]
