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| Workshop Minutes: Street Team Meeting 2007.09.12 |
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Minutes Started Wed Sep 12 2007 15:59:22 GMT+0000 (UTC)
sarawearsskirts: ha! i've hippified you, staceyrebecca. amazing.
staceyrebecca: haha
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staceyrebecca: now i can stop showering!
sarawearsskirts: i never shower.
sarawearsskirts: ever.,
sarawearsskirts: smellapouchin
staceyrebecca: LOL
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staceyrebecca: hey amy
SewMo: where are those little hearts coming from?
staceyrebecca: from the love inside
wonderamy: Hey everyone!
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NinaGibsonDesigns: I forgot how to change those
Shutterkate: Heyoooo
xangetsu: howdy y'all
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larkspurfunnyfarm: Hi all
gilbea: Hello!
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staceyrebecca: that's for rocktober, babes
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SewMo: That's too cool! How are you guys doing that? The paper airplanes and beer?
NinaGibsonDesigns: what's the code to change the hearts?
Messaging reserved for room moderators and admin only.
sarawearsskirts: good afternoon / morning, everyone!
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are you having a nice week?
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20 yay, 2 nay, 6 abstain
wonderamy: yay! lots of people are showing up! Welcome everybody.
sarawearsskirts: excellent.
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click yes if you're on a global web team, no if you're on a location team
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sarawearsskirts: wow, this is so evenly split.
sarawearsskirts: awesome
12 yay, 11 nay, 7 abstain
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sarawearsskirts: okay, so today's topic is 101 ways you can promote your team for less than $10
wonderamy: and I am sure several of us are on both a local and a global team.
sarawearsskirts: about two weeks ago we had a great workshop
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sarawearsskirts: about the difference between a traditional street team
sarawearsskirts: and etsy teams
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sarawearsskirts: and we discussed some traditional guerilla marketing-y tactics of promotion
sarawearsskirts: and generally spreading a message in informal, effective and inexpensive ways
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sarawearsskirts: so we want to elaborate on that idea today
sarawearsskirts: and amy and i will likely take a lot of what we discuss (we're going to pick your brains)
sarawearsskirts: and make it into a resource guide for all teams
sarawearsskirts: so we want ideas for both internet and live inperson teams
sarawearsskirts: let's talk about ideas for the web first, since even local teams can use those ideas if they want
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sarawearsskirts: i'm going to open the floor, if you have questions, or an idea you'd like us to brainstorm on
sarawearsskirts: write "/ask", then your question
wonderamy: (internet=global, and in person = local)
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sarawearsskirts: and we'll pick it from the queue and devote some time talking about it
sarawearsskirts: sound good?
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Messaging enabled.
staceyrebecca: Blogging!
staceyrebecca asks, blogs!
virtuallori: Cleveland has a team blog
staceyrebecca: hah
virtuallori: and a team gallery
sarawearsskirts: blogs are awesome
adoptacritter: Blogs, yes.
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sarawearsskirts: as long as they have actual content, and aren't just transparently ads
staceyrebecca: What kind of information should go into a team blog?
gilbea: but how do you draw attention to your blog?
sarawearsskirts: how-to
sarawearsskirts: s
adoptacritter: And on those blogs, do maybe a banner exchange.
sarawearsskirts: team profiles
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sarawearsskirts: spotlights on interesting things about members
wonderamy: what are some creative or unusual and effective ways you have used your blogs?
gilbea: isnt it as difficult as drawing attention to your shop?
FortCloudy: Hello!
virtuallori: we list members' upcoming shows
sarawearsskirts: info on the teams and its goals
virtuallori: get-togethers
sarawearsskirts: upcoming shows is a great one
samann1121: the Trashion team blog has interviews with team members
dismantled: i think it's helpful to have a unique domain name to direct to the blog/website that you can easily refer people to
virtuallori: working on featured team member profiles
sarawearsskirts: things the reader wouldn't otherwise know (that's why they have to read the blog!)
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virtuallori: just bought a domain name
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gilbea: yeah me too
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gilbea: its easier for customers to remember
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thefunkyfelter: fiber arts team has a domain and blog
Shutterkate asks, does anyone have suggestions on how to promote blogs and make them more reader-friendly?
wonderamy: Hi newcomers...we are brainstorming on cheap and creative ways that global teams can promote themselves and build community online.
adoptacritter: Archiving is a BIG BIG help.
Shutterkate: i find too often blogs are over-promoting and not really providing any interesting content
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staceyrebecca: I think the idea about having seller profiles is a great on
staceyrebecca: e
stereoette: i do too, shutterkate
staceyrebecca: interviewing different sellers
thefunkyfelter: to promote your blog, join some blog rings and register with blog catalogs
willowglass: EGA offers tutorials on their blog as well as a section called "Ask the Artist" where anyone can ask a glass question and we'll answer it. It's a great part of our blog.
stereoette: i think people have to remember that the point of a blog is to communicate
gilbea: interviews with the members... one each week or so
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virtuallori: Right now our blog is more a tool for the team than for promotion to buyers, but our new website will be more customer-focused
dismantled: i think you need to pick a focus and make sure there is interesting content
sarawearsskirts: exchanging links with complementing blogs is a good idea
gilbea: i mean, show theinterviews and artwork in the blog
wonderamy: Can anyone say examples from thier own teams' blogs that work well or that we can laern from?
PigseyArt: wish I could help you, i have trouble getting people to submit questions to my blog ; )
stereoette: its more personal than a website - the tone is more conversational
NinaGibsonDesigns: etsymetal is working on some tutorials for monthly articles, and more frequent memeber profiles.
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PigseyArt: etsygreetings does a feature each day, it's very nice
sarawearsskirts: updating regularly is a sure way to get people to keep checking
adoptacritter: Is this geared specifically at team blogs or individual blogs? The two are very different.
sarawearsskirts: team blogs, i would think
staceyrebecca: team blogs
thefunkyfelter: fiber arts team has different members contribute articles - more team participation this way
virtuallori: team blogs
adoptacritter: Gotcha.
willowglass: team blogs
sarawearsskirts: different contributors is a great idea
samann1121: Trashion has a challenge type thing -- members submit a group of items from members' shops that make an outfit
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bimbis: A good example of an interesting blog is theblackapple-emily. Many of you know her.
gilbea: blog newsletter... if something important is going on
sarawearsskirts: challenges and contests are fantastic!
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virtuallori: love that, samann1121
larkspurfunnyfarm: I think that sometimes the blogs get too personal. If you are doing a blog that pertains to your business I do not want to know about your latest DR. appointment. Am I wrong?
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wonderamy: And your blog can be promted online and offline - how can team members direct traffic to thier teams' blog through online means, and out in thier own communities? Having a global team is special in this way, because the influence can be widespread and the audience diverse, geographically
dismantled: trashion team has started the oufitters project...where we basically make an outfit out of different clothing, jewelry accessories bags from team members shops
thefunkyfelter: yeah, too personal can be off putting
stereoette: i think i meant personal as in the tone
sarawearsskirts: dismantled, that sounds fun!
stereoette: perhaps conversational would have been a better word
Shutterkate: what do you do w/the outfit dismantled?
bimbis: Videos/podcasting make the blogs interesting.
gilbea: what is trashion url? i wanna look :)
sarawearsskirts: is it like the fashion remix on flickr?
larkspurfunnyfarm: Also, for those of us just learning how to do all this what is the best way to get connected to others?
thefunkyfelter: ah, yes, a friendly personal tone is good
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wonderamy: Larkspur - do you mean the best way to get connected to a team?
larkspurfunnyfarm: I love sharing what I do on my farm, my animals and my art but I need to connect with a team of like minded
PigseyArt: im sure there are other farm people on etsy, maybe check street teams? or you could start one ; )
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PigseyArt: being a farm animal myself, I approve of it
sarawearsskirts: so, okay, aside from blogs, what else can internet teams do to raise awareness of their team?
NinaGibsonDesigns: team shop
wonderamy: Larkspur, check the team pages for a listing of all the teams - Etsy for animals, etc
PigseyArt: occassionally running group specials or a contest
samann1121: yes, team shop -- a good idea
sarawearsskirts: a team shop is good, but it doesn't raise a whole lot of awareness unless you promote it, right?
larkspurfunnyfarm: I sure will - thanks
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thefunkyfelter: flickr group, forums, and things like myspace, indiepublic, etc
samann1121: right
sarawearsskirts: how could you promoe a team shop
virtuallori: local teams can connect with local community blogs
wonderamy: how can global team members promote thier teams offline as well...?
sarawearsskirts: yes, funkyfelter
stereoette: does anyone else feel like indiepublic is preaching to the choir?
NinaGibsonDesigns: offering a raffle or contest.
virtuallori: use your contacts outside Etsy
gilbea: home shows
thefunkyfelter: sometimes the choir is who buys from you :O)
samann1121: the trashion team is in the middle of a promo swap at the moment
Shutterkate: kinda stereoette
bimbis: I think if the members of the teams could add a sticker or card of their team in their packages.
stereoette: yah, but teh choir is already on etsy i guess
thedreamygiraffe: But doesn't the choir sometimes have money to spend, too?
sarawearsskirts: promo swaps are fgreat for all kinds of teams!
virtuallori: we're working on a contest and putting together a team trunk show
samann1121: the hope being that members will distribute each others promos to their customers and in person where they live
wonderamy: team promos = great!
staceyrebecca: What's a promo swap?
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sarawearsskirts: an in-person trunk show, lori?
sarawearsskirts: or a virtual one?
virtuallori: yes, sara
dismantled: local teams can team up with Craft Mafias and similar groups in their area to put on shows/events
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virtuallori: would like to know how people do a virtual one, though
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thefunkyfelter: I'd love an online trunk show!
gilbea: Craft MAfias hahahahahaha
wonderamy: I'm curious to hear about people's ideas and experinces with virtual trunk shows!
dismantled: it would be fab to use the workshop for online-only trunk shows
samann1121: members send biz cards and other promos to the organizer, and the organizer send each person back a pack of everyone else's promos
sarawearsskirts: a promo swap is where you collect addresses and then mail a bunch of promos to all the othe rpeople you're swapping with
sarawearsskirts: and they include them in their packages and things
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staceyrebecca: I'd love to host a virtual trunk show in the workshop.....
sarawearsskirts: it's a nice way to promote other shops you like
stereoette: what is the difference between an online trunk show and just having your shop?
stereoette: im confused by that
virtuallori: I don't get it
thefunkyfelter: yeah, virtual trunk show in the workshop :)
sarawearsskirts: (as long as you don't overdo it with including the promos in your packages... then it's spammy / trashy)
dismantled: trunk show would be like an event...you could do contests/prizes
smashing: Hello!
samann1121: the trunk show is an event -- events are more urgent -- people have to go at that time
staceyrebecca: where many sellers from one street team gather in the workshop for virtual refreshments and chatter
larkspurfunnyfarm: I would love to participate in something like that!!
thefunkyfelter: like that idea dismantled
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samann1121: rather than just going to your shop whenever they get around to it
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NinaGibsonDesigns: other than in a workshop, where can you hold it?
staceyrebecca: OHHHHHHHH man i've got a good idea..but its long and drawn out.
wonderamy: everyone on a team could tell everyone they know to meet somepace on the web at a certain date/time, and there will be bunch of sellers gathered to seel specific things at sepcial prices (or not)...
staceyrebecca: chat room, nina
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dismantled: theres a lot of free chat room software you could use
sarawearsskirts: so, you'd have to promote a virtual trunk show, how could we do that?
wonderamy: go stacey!
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sarawearsskirts: the workshops on etsy would be perfect for it
NinaGibsonDesigns: how would that increase sales?
thefunkyfelter: you could advertise on team blogs / sites / myspace / etc. to get attendees to trunk show
larkspurfunnyfarm: Where do we find that software?
virtuallori: still don't get it
staceyrebecca: Oh, just to have a virtual trunk show...offer up a raffle item every hour based on attendance at the time
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sarawearsskirts: well, if it was well promoted, you would get sales at the virtual show
sarawearsskirts: any etsy user can join into a workshop
thefunkyfelter: it may not increase sales at first, but awareness of teams and team members leading to sales
staceyrebecca: and you can use the chat rooms for that
sarawearsskirts: how would be a good way to promote such a virtual show?
staceyrebecca: have your items go by with the items list
sarawearsskirts: how could we bring people into etsy to participate as buyers
sarawearsskirts: ?
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staceyrebecca: craigslist
staceyrebecca: myspace
sarawearsskirts: craigslist rules
wonderamy: but wouldnt it be nice also for a team to have a virtual trunk show where buyers didnt necessarily have to have etsy user accounts?
staceyrebecca: email lists
dismantled: blogs (both your own teams and other blogs that focus on indie shops) are good for promoting, especially if there are deals/coupons/discounts/prizes involved
staceyrebecca: Even press releases to your local news people.
thefunkyfelter: individual members blogs / sites / myspace too
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virtuallori: Amy, if they don't have an account, how can they buy?
staceyrebecca: just because something is online, that doesn't mean you should flier in your area for it.
thefunkyfelter: both team and individuals promoting would increase exposure
sarawearsskirts: press releases to virtual press for a virtual event makes sense to me
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staceyrebecca: shouldnt*
samann1121: friends and acquaitances -- etsy's made me much less shy :-)
sarawearsskirts: right, staceyrebecca, that's the way to think
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sarawearsskirts: samann1121 - word of mouth = superpowerful
NinaGibsonDesigns: virtual press?
staceyrebecca: I mean, the internet is anywhere that you can flier.
sarawearsskirts: sure - other popular bloggers, etc
staceyrebecca: Even non virtual press...
samann1121: if the topic of crafts, gifts, holidays -- anything -- comes up, talk up Etsy
sarawearsskirts: true
gilbea: yes
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staceyrebecca: (Oktak, I love my coin purse)
staceyrebecca: ok back on topic :)
staceyrebecca asks, Even global teams can flier. its not like the internet is localized to a specific town, right?
oktak: THanks Stacey! Where is my icon?
sarawearsskirts: yep - this is a great thing about global and location based teams -
staceyrebecca: bottom right hand corner
gilbea: and now, with the christmas coming, every exposure to the world is very powerful
sarawearsskirts: location teams can use the internet, and global teams all have members who live in the physical world
sarawearsskirts: all teams have all of these resources.
thefunkyfelter: what about online ad options like projectwonderful and indie sites? perhaps I'm off topic here??
wonderamy: I am imaginging online or offline events centered around the theme of resisting mass production and supporting handcrafters... you could do little performances in walmart parking lots!
wonderamy: telling people about the trunk shows!
dismantled: i think that's where an easy to remember domain name comes in too...if you're at a coffee shop, www.etsytrashion.com is easier to remember from a flier than the street team's site address
staceyrebecca: Our team, even though we are locally based, did NOT get together to meet to create a flier. I created the flier, they printed them up and distributed them.
sarawearsskirts: so if you're a global team, and you make a stencil, you can go stencil your town, and you're super powerful, because your other members are doing the same where they licve
LORiOLA: don't get arrested at walmart
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wonderamy: "wouldn't you rather buy handmade" cards stuck in all the checkout line magazines in the big box stores (for those risktaker types)
sarawearsskirts: you want to stay legal, yes
NinaGibsonDesigns: yes. etsymetal has someone designing a brochure or postcard which we will purchase individually on vistaprint when its free, to use to promote.
samann1121: lol... yes, i love etsy, but not enough to get arrested (sorry)
sarawearsskirts: we don't want you to get arrested! we do want you to reach out to your community
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LORiOLA: wouldn't I rather spend my time creating, and let REAL ads do the other work for me?
staceyrebecca: I dunno, I think getting arrested for etsy could be a good publicity stunt ;)
gilbea: yeah, maybe even some stickers for tthe whole etsy community
gilbea: stick them around the world
curbsidetreasure: Hello!
sarawearsskirts: REAL ads?
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sarawearsskirts: what do you mean?
curbsidetreasure: etsy billboards
wonderamy: yes. there are ways to keep guerilla tactics legal. that would be a great guide...
curbsidetreasure: ;p
LORiOLA: ads that people will see, on a grand scale
LORiOLA: magazines
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sarawearsskirts: billboards are not less than $10 - the topic of this workshop is less than $10
gilbea: i mean
staceyrebecca: HOWEVER
gilbea: put stickers everywhere
samann1121: two words -- budget contraints!
sarawearsskirts: we're thinking of creative, inexpensive, easily accessible marketing ideas
dismantled: even for global teams you can still send a press release to local media if a team member has accomplished something really awesome, like a special art exhibit or something
gilbea: not just for global or local teams
wonderamy: but the topic of this braistorm is 101 ways to promote your team for under $10!
LORiOLA: i don't understand this guerilla let's waste time and not be professional attitude
sarawearsskirts: right!
staceyrebecca: making a painted posterboard and putting it up around town IS less than $10.00!
gilbea: btu available for all etsy sellers and buyers
sarawearsskirts: creativity!
gilbea: promote the whole sity is good for everyone!
sarawearsskirts: marketing doesn't have to be pricey
NinaGibsonDesigns: magazines: not exactly under $10 unless you have a ton of contributers.
curbsidetreasure: exactly
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wonderamy: (I'm not interested in wasting time) - these are my personal ideas...
LORiOLA: yes, and you can have lots of contributors. group ads!
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sarawearsskirts: loriola, guerilla marketing is not about wasting time and being unprofessional
sarawearsskirts: i think you
dismantled: marketing is also more effective (not just cost effective but effective, period) than paid advertising, on the whole
curbsidetreasure: someone can go down the street wearing a sandwich board
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sarawearsskirts: i think you're misunderstanding
curbsidetreasure: sorry am being silly
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staceyrebecca: By the way, here's a link to the flier we made for our event. Just in case people would like to see an example...
sarawearsskirts: dismantled, exactly
staceyrebecca: http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyrebecca/1341641661/
thefunkyfelter: locally - pass out flyers at the city market, call / write your local newspaper for free press, have a small trunk show
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sarawearsskirts: press releases are professional, virtually free, and better than paid advertising
larkspurfunnyfarm: I think the best way I advertise is to give business cards to friends and they pass it on. I get tons of traffic that way
anda: paid advertising is a dead art form
staceyrebecca: Free press is the best press
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oktak: This might be slightly off topic, but how often does Etsy send press releases to major newspapers/magazines? To me, the most effective PR is for Etsy as a whole to be taken up by national media, and it IS worthy of national news!
sarawearsskirts: i agree, anda
wonderamy: fun, creative, performative, unusual - things the press will love and that will make people smile...
LORiOLA: anda, you're wrong
anda: its obsolete
LORiOLA: i make lots more from my ads than i pay out
willowglass: I agree, Lori
wonderamy: lest stay on topic folks!
gilbea: i say guerrilla! :) hehe etsy stickers all over the cities! hihi
SarahsSky: i never look at ads in magazines
anda: are you a web2 website?
anda: web2.0, sorry
sarawearsskirts: ads are not as interesting to me as a feature
sarawearsskirts: i glaze right over them
naturalabstracts: wearing my art has gotten me the best inquiries
anda: most people do
sarawearsskirts: i know they're paid for, and that makes them uniteresting to me
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gilbea: yes
staceyrebecca: wearing other people's art has gotten me the best inquiries...
gilbea: and logos in the tshirts
smashing: we cleveys had one idea where we would outfit a lucky model in our things and have her followed with a sign saying "this woman is totally dressed in etsy" or something like that :)
naturalabstracts: and online blogging
sarawearsskirts: good call, staceyrebecca
xiane: I'm late, but I'm here
curbsidetreasure: heheh that would be cute smashing
samann1121: yeah, being ready to whip out that business card when someone compliments your art -- very good
willowglass: ads that are well done can be very interesting
anda: also, we are so bombarded with advertising in our daily lives, most people ignore them without even realizing it
SarahsSky: thats what i need to do stacey because i am shy about wearing my own things.. so i should wear others
wonderamy: these are great ideas!
dismantled: teams can also participate in charity/volunteer events as a team, whether local or global...good way of getting your name out there and doing something good too
smashing: thanks! just gotta find the right venue
staceyrebecca: for example...I get out my oktak coin purse, someone says Oh that's cute, i say, I got it on etsy..they say "huh?" i say "oh, I dont have her card, but here's mine..i sell on that site as well"
anda: i'll tell ya something from myposter sale days
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samann1121: lol, staceyrebecca
anda: we found that gigantic signs with arrows worked way better than fliers or handouts
anda: and this was our theory
oktak: I'm going to talk about my craft & Etsy at my son's school. Should be able to raise awareness!
anda: people feel more comfortable if they felt like they discovered something themselves
wonderamy: thats probably true if you are in an area with good foot-traffic anda
sarawearsskirts: you want to get people's attention, then back that up with content - interestingness
anda: via reading a big sign
sarawearsskirts: the same principle holds on the internet
xiane: i have a lot of experience from promoting the club night that I ran
staceyrebecca: Anda, did you put those signs out in advance of the event?
sarawearsskirts: you want to get people clicking in and staying
xiane: and one thing I noticed
anda: day of
xiane: you get the most attention when you make it personal
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staceyrebecca: ok
larkspurfunnyfarm: I too have given many talks about becoming an artist and the business of art at local schools, colleges and women's groups
anda: because we inevitably had only one day to promote
sarawearsskirts: true, xiane
wonderamy: how so xiane?
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anda: and i'm talking 4x3' signs
staceyrebecca: Fliers, I think are good for letting people know in advance of an event.
xiane: if you make a connection with people instead of just shoving a promo at them, they feel like you care about *them*
virtuallori: I agree, xiane
xiane: not just making a sale
curbsidetreasure: definitely
naturalabstracts: yes
xiane: or getting them to show up just for you
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sarawearsskirts: you can't do things *too* far in advance, or people like me forget. :)
larkspurfunnyfarm: I also go to prisions - there are wonderful new art programs to get those who really need to go inside and work out issues
staceyrebecca: this is very true sara
samann1121: yeah, they have those poster sales on my college campus -- the giant signs w/ the arrows are very effective
curbsidetreasure: yeah promoting has to be staggered
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sarawearsskirts: true
curbsidetreasure: cant do it too early
virtuallori: but some of us with crazy schedules need that advance notice — don't forget that
curbsidetreasure: cant do it too late
xiane: sara, it's usually important in the promotion world to get an early mention out there, then slowly follow up, ime
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staceyrebecca: However, it takes people, on average, seeing something 17 times before they'll stop and read it and/or pick it up.
virtuallori: yes, followup
smashing: yes! it's so much easier to genuinely talk up a product you made or someone you know made-easier to make that connection between client and artisan
sarawearsskirts: so, we have talked about some techniques of online promoting... let's talk about making promos on the cheap.
larkspurfunnyfarm: I have done tons of spin in for local environmental issues. Great awarness
anda: you have to forgive me, i came in here late: before i derail things: are we talking about promoting for craft fairs and events or online shops?
sarawearsskirts: the etsylabs blog has awesome tutorials
sarawearsskirts: for making things, like stamps, stencils, etc etc
wonderamy: what about interesting, low cost and environmentally reasonable promo titems that can be given to people or left places, made by your team?
xiane: they're all the same in a lot of ways to me, ahna [promoting 'em]
sarawearsskirts: we're talking about promoting your team for less than $10, anda
anda: oh sweet
xiane: I mean anda O_o
wonderamy: anda, its 101 ways to promote your etsy team for under $10.
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xiane: hello, just woke up, typing sucks for me ._.
virtuallori: we're going to make PDFs for our team show that each member can print out and post where they work, shop, etc
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staceyrebecca: $5.00 in fabric, $5.00 in paint. Free cardboard. stencil something onto the fabric and sew like a badboy
anda: blogs are essential but you HAVE to fill your blogs with linkable content
naturalabstracts: that's a good idea v
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sarawearsskirts: http://etsylabs.blogspot.com
staceyrebecca: not only linkable content, but likeable content
anda: okay, sorry, cheap promos
wonderamy: we talked about blogs anda...
xiane: I like the idea of giving out things that are reusable, that mean something, rather than a flyer
dismantled: i made some trashion biz cards by cutting up old cereal boxes and printing out a card on the back-half of reused office paper and taping them together
anda: i just got it
curbsidetreasure: if people come up to me and hand out fliers on the street i kind of swerve to ignore them i am actually pretty good at it too lol
stereoette: i am too curbside
samann1121: lol, me too!
wonderamy: thats why getting creative about it is so essential
staceyrebecca: that's awesome dismantled
xiane: little samples with info attached works well
anda: here's something bizarre:
stereoette: i have to admit that paper is not a good way to get my attention
anda: if you have a car
xiane: nice, dismantled!
staceyrebecca: What about something as simple as sidewalk chalk?
thefunkyfelter: I think including a little team promo with orders does more good than general handouts.
larkspurfunnyfarm: I have a sandwich board at the end on my driveway that I post a thought of the week and etsy info
curbsidetreasure: i like sidewalk chalk
sarawearsskirts: sidewalk chalk is AWESOME
wonderamy: what is another way to reach someone you dont know, in person, without the usual flier-in-your-face approach?
anda: you need to make huge cardboard sign to sit in the front window when you're parked
staceyrebecca: Scrawl out your message
anda: hahaha
sarawearsskirts: for a day-of promo for an event and things
curbsidetreasure: yeah the sandwich board is cool too
xiane: hehee, anda
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naturalabstracts: lol
anda: here at etsy
sarawearsskirts: recycling to make promos is cheap and great
staceyrebecca: Or even just www.etsy.com....
xiane: I have etsy stickers on my car
xiane: i get questions about 'em every single day
anda: we plan to make giant signs for our office windows
SarahsSky: everyone looks at sidewalk chalk on the ground
samann1121: anda, i like it!
NinaGibsonDesigns: do you think the car stickers work?
anda: spelling E T S Y . C O M
staceyrebecca: NO
sarawearsskirts: anda, that's a sweet idea
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anda: to get teh cars going over themanhattan bridge
dismantled: you could alter one of those sun visors for cars to say etsy.com
staceyrebecca: nice anda
xiane: you can put stickers on your car on magnets so that you can remove 'em when need be, too
GlassCat: Hello!
anda: bumper stickers are GREAT
sarawearsskirts: yeah, you can see the clocktower building from big roads, awesome
smashing: the cleveys set up a gallery of our (clickable to the shop) things-we want to make up cards with the url and send them with all orders-avoiding the val-pak style of too many business cards
xiane: stickers have worked well for me
anda: you can make them from normal paper and then coat them with a weaterproofing material
smashing: love that car idea!
sarawearsskirts: stickers are awesome to give out, because people STICK them places
NinaGibsonDesigns: what do your stickers say, xiane?
sarawearsskirts: which is perfect
curbsidetreasure: some people order those giant magnet signs and stick it on the side of the car
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curbsidetreasure: like this nonprofit i was in had one
larkspurfunnyfarm: I have the car magnet sign and my FUNNY name gets more chuckles and phone calls then I can count
thefunkyfelter: like the stickers idea - easy and people would keep / use them
xiane: I have a "handmade? etsy.com" sticker, and one on each side that has my shop url
sarawearsskirts: if you have a couple people who go in together, stickers in bulk can be cheap online
staceyrebecca: You can always make a cardboard sign and slap some magnets on the back...that would be cheaper
sarawearsskirts: if 6 people throw in $10, you can get a couple hundred stickers
xiane: magnets are great for sticker holding. I can move 'em around at will! :D
sarawearsskirts: magnet signs are good, but not cheap, right?
anda: also
anda: make some stencils
curbsidetreasure: yeah
sarawearsskirts: let's stick with our $10 budget
staceyrebecca: sara, but make your own
anda: get some spray CHALK
anda: http://www.timesignsmfg.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=597
sarawearsskirts: stencils are cheap
sarawearsskirts: paint can be cheap
anda: and then do up the sidewalks of your twon
anda: own
curbsidetreasure: thats true try and make your own
anda: town!
xiane: I used a free etsy promo sticker and just stuck it to a cheap magnet blank.
thefunkyfelter: you can also make your own stickers and signs
wonderamy: and make the stickers really great looking, so people would want to sycik them places, on thier laptops etc, even if they didn't have the agenda of promoting your team
staceyrebecca: just buy some magnets, glue them to the back of a piece of cardboard and slap it on yuour car!
larkspurfunnyfarm: I have had the same sign for 11 years so it is cheap if you are going to keep it awhile
anda: spray chalk is temporary
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curbsidetreasure: if theres ideas that arent 10 bucks we can diy
sarawearsskirts: good point, larkspurfunny
anda: and you can bomb your sidewalks and walls and everywhere people walk
sarawearsskirts: less than $10 / DIY is even better
xiane: sidewalk chalk is really good for college areas, too
EyePopArt: Argh! My computer crashed and I missed the last half hour of this workshop! Anyway hello I'm back.
xiane: people are used to looking down to read that stuff on campuses
NinaGibsonDesigns: the neighbors might complain unless you ply them with handmade gifts.
sarawearsskirts: definitely check the labs blog if you're in need of inspiration - http://etsylabs.blogspot.com
xiane: wb, eyepop!
samann1121: I've never tried this, but you might see if some pro vinyl sign shop places in your town have large-ish magnet scraps they'll give you
samann1121: that would keep the cost down
sarawearsskirts: those labs ladies and lads are always up to good stuff
Zzbeadz: i get tons of magnet business cards from local realtors in the mail, i just put stickers on top of there info and reuse them...viola free magnets.
anda: etsylabs.com works too :)
curbsidetreasure: oh i do that too zz
xiane: mmm, good recycle there, zzbeadz!
sarawearsskirts: lots of how-tos and just good ideas on things
curbsidetreasure: i used to collage over the magnets
sarawearsskirts: and recycling
sarawearsskirts: also, you can get things cheaper if you partner with people.
anda: the free-est way to get your team noticed is to start doing newsworthy things and get the local papers after you
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dismantled: t-shirts (think diy stencils or screenprint) can also work well
samann1121: you might be careful about chalking on college campuses -- some have rules about who can chalk
anda: charity projects
anda: wacky projects
sarawearsskirts: ie: if you're having an event, maybe a local print shop will give you cheap / free flyers if you put their name on them at the bottom
anda: then start sedning out press releases
sarawearsskirts: partnering to support local business is good
staceyrebecca: Also, every city has a local website for connecting people...posting there is usually free...
xiane: often if you talk to local businesses, they'll let you hang flyers there, too
anda: if you are doing some rad recycling things and then tell the local press about it, they will jump on it
sarawearsskirts: don't chalk vertical, private surfaces... that tends to piss people off
wonderamy: partnering with local businesses and other artists/crafters too
smashing: i think that volunteer stuff is great-maybe public skill shares (not giving away all the secrets of course:)
sarawearsskirts: yep, press is the best free marketing
thefunkyfelter: like the charities and local business partnering ideas :)
dismantled: sometimes smaller local mags/newspapers will do ads in exchange for stuff....like maybe if you write an article for a college newspaper they'll give you an ad for free/cheap cause they need content
anda: we find the plastic bag thing is crazy hot
xiane: does anyone use craigstlist for promoting? [I don't]
sarawearsskirts: good point, dismantled
staceyrebecca: we do xiane
anda: start making things from fused plastic bags as a team and then tell the press
sarawearsskirts: you have to be careful not to spam on craigslist (those flaggers mean business) and also beware of the crazies on CL
wonderamy: yes, linking our work to environmental concerns is great for press (and the earth of course)
anda: or find a use for empty water bottles
anda: (and then tell me about it becaue i am stumped)
sarawearsskirts: but for events, it's kind of awesome
staceyrebecca: mmmm craigslist crazies
staceyrebecca: I want a band named that
curbsidetreasure: lol
dismantled: oh speaking of bags, i've heard of guerrilla groups distributing free totes in front of grocery stores...do that but make sure they say your team's info on them
xiane: another good local thing is to do fundraiser events for local charities
sarawearsskirts: dismantled, that's an AWESOME idea
curbsidetreasure: auctions
staceyrebecca: thats a great idea dismantled!
wonderamy: also, i think to really use the holiday season as a jumping off point for talking about consumerism, mass production - people are hungry for a more fulfillling way to approach gift giving. how about ...
anda: yeah thats what rob wants us to do
anda: but you need a lot of bags...like a whole GROUP making them...!
xiane: heck yes.
staceyrebecca: the grocery bag thing, anda?
wonderamy: free (pretend) post-bix-box counseling sessions (comedy)?
anda: yes
thefunkyfelter: has anyone contacted their local newspaper about a press release / story / etc. successfully?
staceyrebecca: yes, funky
anda: hand out bags infront of stores
staceyrebecca: we have
Lollibomb: yes, funky!
xiane: charlotte just had a nice article
sarawearsskirts: wonderamy, that's an aweomse idea - helping people cope with post-big-box syndrome
willowglass: yes, funky
wonderamy: "exhausted from shopping in the Big Box? Come relax at a little gathering of handcrafters this friday night and MEET YOUR MAKERS!"
samann1121: cool, guys -- good job!
sarawearsskirts: amy and i are writing a how-to on press released
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dismantled: the new orleans craft mafia, which i'm a member of, has gotten numerous local press mentions just by press releases and contacting people
staceyrebecca: Our artwalk's newsletter is doing a story about our Rocktober event.
virtuallori: donate as a team to a high-profile charity silent auction (probably under $10 each if you count only supply cost for most people)
Lollibomb: cool, sara
anda: okay I gotta go to work
wonderamy: "Meet your maker" parties....
anda: your guys are inspiring!
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sarawearsskirts: if you can get some press, lots of times that leads to more press
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thefunkyfelter: wow, I'll have to give it a try contacting the paper with our local teams event / etc. thanks :)
smashing: love it virtuallori!
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xiane: having a nice press release works wonders
sarawearsskirts: totally, xiane
wonderamy: events on the day after Thanksgiving - which is "buy nothing day" and the busiest shopping day of the year. You could have "make your own" gifts parties, and arrive wearing all the things you have made and bought from each other's shops
staceyrebecca: We have a local tv station that often does stories on local groups like that...i'm willing to bet they'd love to have some crafty ladies on their show
dismantled: if you have a group website/blog, dont forget to do basic stuff like SEO and submitting to link and blog directories
Lollibomb: funky, you can usually find the appropriate contact for your local newspaper by checking out their website
sarawearsskirts: staceyrebecca - that's awesome about the artwalk writeup
sarawearsskirts: it's perfect
staceyrebecca: you're mentioned in it, sara!
staceyrebecca: I'll save it for you
EyePopArt: what's SEO?
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dismantled: search engine optimization
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thefunkyfelter: thanks, lollibomb
EyePopArt: ...and how do you do that (SEO)?
sarawearsskirts: once you have an agenda and actual content, getting press shouldn't be hard - the eco / handmade angles of what etsy is about are super hot these days (i hate to say it that way, but it is)
wonderamy: eyepop, that question deserves a long answer - there are many ways
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dismantled: there's a lot of things you can do, just do a google search for it and you'll get tons of resources
EyePopArt: right, thanks
xiane: also, it never hurts to check out the people writing the bylines for stories that you've appreciated in the paper. if they cover lifestyles, a direct contact with a mention of their work goes a long way ;)
wonderamy: how about more ideas for holiday-oriented evennts (or alternatives to the holiday orinted consumer culture?)
thefunkyfelter: I need to work on a press release now and figure it all out ;)
sarawearsskirts: handmade holiday press / marketing push ideas?
virtuallori: ooooo -- I know
sarawearsskirts: if you can convince some friends or family members to only buy handmade this holiday season...
sarawearsskirts: and everyone does that...
wonderamy: make your own "little big box" store of handmade stuff!
dismantled: creating a "why shop handmade/local" for the holidays flier is really good...last year i pulled some facts from staylocal.org to pass out at local holiday markets
smashing: team card making day -then donate a portion to a charity?
sarawearsskirts: box stores might feel it, and etsy would feel it in a big (good) way
virtuallori: a campaign for supporting local artists here in this depressed town
wonderamy: with a knittedneon" sign out front and cardbaord "shopping carts"
sarawearsskirts: smashing, that's a ncie idea
waybackmachine: Hello!
wonderamy: love that smashing
sarawearsskirts: virtuallori, awesome
xiane: amy, love that idea :D
virtuallori: keeping the money local and personal
smashing: yeah, then i can use up all these envelopes :)
sarawearsskirts: keeping things local is awesome.
virtuallori: smashing, let's work on both of those
staceyrebecca: can I share some great news that JUST happened?
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dismantled: if you give people the facts, why it helps keep money in the local economy, etc, they'll be more inclined to act on it
wonderamy: (sorry my typing is so bad today - getting used to a new keyboard)
sarawearsskirts: now that the new geolocator is up, we can all shop more local even on etsy
smashing: yes ma'am virtuallori
waybackmachine: One thing we plan to do this holiday shopping season is send a portion of our profits to the local homeless shelter. That way, shoppers are caught doing something good.
staceyrebecca: so my husband works for an insurance company (in IT) that happens to also own a local tv station....
xiane: if you live in an impoverished town like I do, "keeping it local" can be a BIG selling point.
wonderamy: stacey - yes
sarawearsskirts: what's up staceyrebecca?
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wonderamy: xiane - good point
staceyrebecca: He has to go down to the tv station's office to work on some computers today...so he's going to ask if I can meet with them regarding getting airtime for our Rocktober event
xiane: oooh, staceyrebecca!
samann1121: that's great, stacey!
MoTowne: You go girl!
smashing: sweet! staceyrebecca!
sarawearsskirts: way to go!
staceyrebecca: (I just called him and asked him to)
naturalabstracts: super!!
wonderamy: yay
thefunkyfelter: yay! great for you, stacey :)
staceyrebecca: so hoooray!
virtuallori: work your team members' local connections. Someone knows someone who can help get coverage somehow
wonderamy: oh yeah....radio spots are not so hard to get on local radio...record a fabulous little announcement
staceyrebecca: Oh radio spots are super-easy to get
staceyrebecca: Ive done radio interviews for improv before.
smashing: what about college radio?
MoTowne: You can get coverage through youtube by tagging your videos with explicit words pertaining to actions most likely seen in the bedroom.
smashing: cheap?? :)
virtuallori: one of our team members is working on getting our team a spot on the local NPR station interview show
dismantled: college radio loves crafty types
sarawearsskirts: is loriola still here? she submitted a great question.
xiane: all radio stations are required to do community announcements - it is really easy to get into that circuit if you have events, especially.
smashing: motowne that's so true hee hee
thefunkyfelter: great radio ideas :)
staceyrebecca: oh that's great virtuallori
sarawearsskirts: alright, we'll put it out there for discussion anyway... here it is:
LORiOLA asks, can someone please explain why etsy seems to be so anti "traditional" advertising?
sarawearsskirts: i feel like we should address this -
sarawearsskirts: we're not totally 'against' traditional ads.
sarawearsskirts: we just feel they're not super affective
xiane: it's such a waste of money
MoTowne: What do you mean by 'traditional'?
sarawearsskirts: the average person sees something like 1000 ads a day
staceyrebecca: it is a big waste of money.
dismantled: there's a lot of evidence to back up that marketing (press, media etc) is more effective than paid advertising
sarawearsskirts: paid ads - billboards, magazines, commercials, etc
MoTowne: Got it. Thank you.
staceyrebecca: my husband was a creative in advertising for awhile....
wonderamy: actually, Etsy gets GREAT press and does prioritize getting national press attention, which is a traditional approach. But Etsy prides itself on being innovative, and there are so many ways of marketing and promotion that are more newsworthy, more creative, and more effective than ads...
sarawearsskirts: we feel it's a better use of time and energy and money to market, not advertise
wonderamy: and reflect the spirit of the community more'
thefunkyfelter: I actually just lectured my class about this last week - unconventional ads are the way to do.
smashing: i think it really goes back to that repitition thing though, the more people have heard the word etsy, the more they will trust it ?
staceyrebecca: while they can be effective, you really have to have a LOT of money in order to make them really work.
virtuallori: I don't agree that it's *always* a big waste of money (advertising major here), but good PR can be much more "sticky" and effective
sarawearsskirts: we're all artists - creatives - we should be able to do this in a modern, effective way
xiane: I think that all the actual press that Etsy gets is MUCH more effective than a paid ad
sarawearsskirts: we're innovators
xiane: it - again - makes it personal
sarawearsskirts: right, virtualloti
dismantled: word of mouth & press is MUCH more effective than ads....at my house we have TIVO and fast forward through all commercials
staceyrebecca: YES xiane
sarawearsskirts: right, xiane
sarawearsskirts: yes! dismantled, exactly.
MoTowne: I got it. Here's the plan guys. Balloons.
virtuallori: You have to balance national presence with local efforts (local can be global team, too)
xiane: the whole point of what we do is making it a personal transaction
waybackmachine: Duh? There is nothing traditional about etsy. One thing to remember...The Body Shop, was always non traditional. Made millions. It eventually was sold to Loreal aniow its mainstream. The originator took her profit after building a srnse of goodness and quality. Staying away, setting yourself a
wonderamy: to have thosands of etsy sellers doing decentralized, viral and totally unique marketing for thier shops and teams is incredibly powerful --
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MoTowne: I know. It sounds crazy... but get a bunch of them printed with your etsy address and fill them with helium and release them into the wild.
thefunkyfelter: I meant "way to go" Are media is saturated with the standard ad expectations. Making a personal connection with unconventional ads can be much more effective.
sarawearsskirts: okay, i just wanted to bring that up, becaus eit's an awesome question. we're not trying to be rebel anarchists, we just want to be effective
sarawearsskirts: we are part of web 2.0-ness, and that means doing things a little differently sometimes. we just want to be smart about it
samann1121: drug companies have the right idea -- ads disguised as local "news" stories. They pay a lot of money to do this -- it must be at least a little effective
virtuallori: but you also have to remember that there are many of us here who don't sell stuff that sticker campaigns and chalk notes would be effective for
xiane: if you don't try new things, you may never stand out from the crowd
naturalabstracts: good point xiane
wonderamy: each of our small promotions feels so small or individual but it is part of a giant amrketing machine that is the etsy community - and best of all, we get to focus on marketing OURSELVES. :)
MoTowne: Seriously. Balloons with ETSY.COM written across them.
virtuallori: many of my customers IRL are pretty "mainstream"
MoTowne: Everyone loves balloons.
sarawearsskirts: balloons are fun
sarawearsskirts: i like balloons
waybackmachine: The key here is to have a persona. Think that blue light bulb that K mart uses. I know it sounds dumb, but it works. Think Geico.
MoTowne: See what I mean?
naturalabstracts: balloons get stuck in trees lol
dismantled: home parties and small trunk shows work well for mainstream stuff...think tupperware parties but with your own work
naturalabstracts: and power lines
virtuallori: balloon releases are not environmentally friendly
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waybackmachine: baloons are not pc
NinaGibsonDesigns: releasing baloons is against the law in a lot of places because of envirnomental concerns
xiane: balloons are horrible for wildlife, too
sarawearsskirts: you don't have to turn off mainstream buyers, you just have to get their attention in new and fresh ways
smashing: and don't balloons kill dolphins or something? :)
sarawearsskirts: don't they make biodegradable balloons now?
MoTowne: Either are condoms.
wonderamy: virtuallori, point well taken - i am a member of EtsyLux and many of our members want a high-end market, which raises its own series of questions about effective marketing
staceyrebecca: The persona that etsy has already created is one of friendliness and getting to know the person who made your crap.
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sarawearsskirts: well put, SR
thefunkyfelter: I think you have to find what advertsing is effective for you - but new and fresh as sara said is good
EyePopArt: I have to go to work now, bye and thank you!
wonderamy: yes funky
sarawearsskirts: right, you find your demographic and go with it.
sarawearsskirts: but don
xiane: I think that should be the official slogan, staceyrebecca ;)
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