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How to Make a Treasury: The Nuts and Bolts

2009-04-15T17:30:00-05:00

Have you ever wanted to choose the handpicked items on the home page of Etsy? Do you enjoy carefully selecting and arranging collections of wonderful things? If you’ve answered “yes” to either of those questions, then Etsy’s Treasury may quickly become your favorite feature. Below is a step-by-step how-to for snagging a Treasury list and creating your own collection of featured items.

Satisfy your inner curator — Treasury to the rescue! The Treasury is an ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery of handpicked items. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme or just whatever they like. The Treasury is not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Etsy’s staff (“Admin”) often choose whole or partial exceptional Treasury lists to promote to the featured, handpicked items on Etsy’s home page. Treasury lists are temporary and limited in number, so there is some competition involved in creating a list of your own.

This How to Make a Treasury guide was created to help you navigate the Treasury with ease, answer questions and perhaps show you some new tricks you might not have discovered on your own.

How to Get a List

Step 1: Enter the Treasury. (You can easily find the Treasury via the link on Etsy’s home page, under Explore on the left side menu.)

Step 2: Look in the upper left portion of your screen. Find the number of lists that are currently in the Treasury.

IF THAT NUMBER IS LESS THAN 333:
Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the page. You will see a box at the bottom where you may type in the title for your Treasury list. Think carefully, this cannot be changed later. Read the Treasury terms, then click Create. Continue on to the other sections in this tutorial that show you how to fill your list with items.

IF THAT NUMBER IS MORE THAN 333:
The Treasury is full and will not allow you to create a new list. You must wait for enough lists to expire so the number falls below 333.
Step 1: Sort the lists by "expiration" (click on the "expiration" tab).
Step 2: Count backwards from the end to find out when the 333rd list will expire. Come back to the Treasury a few minutes before that list is set to expire and wait for it.
Step 3: As soon as you see the box appear at the bottom of your screen, click inside so that you see your cursor blinking. You should have a list. Now, type in your title, and you're ready to continue on to the other sections of this tutorial that show you how to fill your list with items.

With a limit on the lists, it can be tough to get one. Be patient, try again, and you're bound to get one eventually.

TIP: Go to the FAQ at the bottom of this tutorial to find more answers.

Welcome to the Treasury!

This is the screen you see when the box is available for you to type in your title.

You can see 16 lists at a time. When you see a list you might like to check out, simply click on the title.

You can sort lists by:

Hot: This sorts by popularity. Hotness is calculated by a special, secret formula of clicks, views, comments and other factors.
Title: This sorts by title, alphabetically.
Curator: This sorts by username of the person who created the list, alphabetically.
Expiration: This sorts by how many days/hours a list has before it expires (sorting by time, essentially).

Treasury lists are temporary and will generally expire two days after creation. Bonus time (up to 24 hours) may be randomly added to the lifetime of a list to help stagger the expiration of large batches of lists. New lists may only be created when the total number of lists drops below 333.

Starting With a Clean Slate

When you enter a title for your list at the bottom of the first screen, you will be taken to a page like this.

There are:

Places for your subtitle and location
12 empty slots to insert items
4 alternate slots for extra items
A place for comments
A direct URL link to your list. You can copy this URL (web address) and send it to your friends

Important things to note:

Only one Treasury list per person. Do not create lists with multiple accounts at the same time.
Etsy may, at times, promote whole or partial selections from a Treasury list to the home page.
This list will expire two days after creation. Bonus time (up to 24 hours) may be randomly added to the lifetime of your list.
Treasury is not intended for personal promotion. Please do not include more than one of your own items.
Your list can be edited as many times as you like.
All items in your list should be actively listed for sale, not already sold.
Your alternates are only visible to you, the curator.
If an item featured in your list sells, if will remain in your list. You may which to manually replace it with an alternate.

TIP: Use the Poster Sketch Tool to create a "test" list. See the FAQ at the bottom for more about using the Poster Sketch Tool.

Customize Your List: Edit the Subtitle

Not only do you get a title for your list, but you get a subtitle as well. You can do something like this:

Title: My top 12 list
Subtitle: things with numbers

Title: Color Me Bad
Subtitle: Red Items

Customize Your List: Edit Your Location

The default for the location is "somewhere special," which is very sweet.

But, should you want to say "Paris, France" or "from my backyard" you can choose to edit this area. You can also add a link to this text if you choose. So, you can link to your favorite coffee shop, your Etsy shop, your blog, your website, where ever you want.

Curate Your List: Adding Items

Before you can add an item to your Treasury list, you need to first locate the item’s listing ID number. When you’re viewing the item listing page, the listing ID is found in the URL (web address) of your browser window or in the side bar under “additional item info.”

To add the item to your Treasury list, click within the "listing id" blank box. When you find an item you like, copy the listing ID and then enter it into the listing ID field in your Treasury list and select "ok."

TIP: Open two browser windows when adding items to your list: one window with your Treasury list and one window to browse and select items. You can also copy and paste the entire URL (web address) for the listing page into the listing ID box on your Treasury list. The number will automatically be selected from the URL you pasted in.

Here is how a completed list looks to the curator. You are allowed twelve items + four alternate items. (More on alternates below.)

To reorganize your list, simply click and drag items around to different spots. Mix and match to make the best looking list possible.

Alternate Items

You can choose up to four additional items for your list, called “alternates.” These alternates will only be visible to you, the curator. You can choose to show/hide your alternate selections while creating your list. If an item from your list sells, you can move an alternate in to take its place. This does not happen automatically, so keep an eye on your lists. The alternates are a handy way to help you visually curate your list. If you have all sixteen items visible, you may want to mix and match a bit, or see that two items go better next to each other.

Alternates are only visible to the curator, and are shown at 50% opacity to indicate their inactivity. You can drag an item from "active" to "alternate" and vice versa. Alternates are also visible to Etsy Admin as they search through for great Treasury lists to promote to the handpicked items on home page of Etsy. Admin look for lists with alternates that don't repeat the same items or sellers. This makes the list nice and robust for the home page and gives the highest number of sellers a chance to be featured. When an item sells from the home page, the alternates will be used to replace those items.

Community Comments

People can leave comments on your Treasury lists. Hear what others have to say about your choices and comment right back! A great way to say why you like your favorites. Note: Comments are limited to a maximum of 44.

Seeing Stars

On the main Treasury index, you may occasionally see different colored stars by list titles. These stars have special meanings:

Blue stars: This indicates that you are the curator of the list
Gold stars: This indicates that one of your items is featured in a list (visible to the public)
Silver stars: This indicates that one of your items is an alternate in a list (visible only to the curator)

FAQ and Additional Info

Why doesn't the Treasury work?

If you are getting a black screen, simply click the black screen to start the loading process.
Try downloading the latest version of Flash
If the Treasury is running slow, it may be that your internet connection isn't powerful enough... sorry.

Why don't I see a place to create a list of my own?
Look at the bottom of the page. If there is a notice saying the Treasury is full right now, you need to come back later when the number of lists drops below 333. See the posts above for tips on getting a list of your own.

Why are there limits for the Treasury – 333 lists, one list per person?
These safety measures are in place to ensure that the Treasury does not crash. Embrace the decay! Wait for a list to expire, then pounce. The one list per person limit is to ensure that more people get the chance to make a list.

Why does it say the Treasury has more than 333 lists? I thought there was a limit of 333?
Sometimes people create lists at almost exactly the same time. The Treasury allows for some wiggle room, to be fair to the many people who patiently wait for the opportunity to appear to create a list. Everyone that sees the box and types in their title at the same time will get a list.

How can I get into more Treasuries?

Take fantastic photos. This is a good rule in general for selling online, but curators want to make their lists as beautiful as possible. Help yourself by taking clear photos.
Use your tags appropriately. Often, curators are looking to create themed lists. Be sure to use your listing tags for themes and colors.
Create unique and interesting products that stand out from the crowd.
Join an Etsy Team. Help to get the word out about Etsy and meet up with other Etsy members who share interests or live in your area. Often, Etsy Teams will come together to create Treasury lists of their members.

Can I prepare my list ahead of time to make it easier once I get a list?
Yes, there are a few methods for preparing a list in advance:

Use the Poster Sketch Tool, which is a feature that lets you create a “mock up” Treasury list.
Browse items on Etsy, and copy the listing ID numbers or URLs into a text document on your personal computer. Save that document, and when you've got a list, copy and paste those numbers into your Treasury list.

How do I save my Poster Sketch?
You don't need to! The Poster Sketch Tool will automatically save, and you will be able to see it again if you are using the same computer. Just make sure that you don't delete your flash cookies (these are different from your internet cookies).

Can I send my Poster Sketch to others?
Only you can see your Poster Sketch Tool. If you would like to send your Poster Sketch to anyone, take a screenshot of it and save it in a photo format.

This article is adapted from (and updated over time) the original Treasury guide written by Jen Bennett Gubicza of zuugoo.etsy.com, and published on the blog, etsytreasurydemo.blogspot.com.

You may also wish to read How to Make a Great Treasury List, which covers not so much the technical details, but more of the compositional techniques for making pretty lists and tips for making your items appealing for Treasury curators.

We have to close comments on this post because there are so many that the page is taking too long to load! Please continue the discussion in this Forum thread.

Shop Makeover Series: Feature Friendly Photos

2009-01-14T11:31:00-05:00

Want a few tips on getting your items featured? (...Not only by other Etsy community members curating their Treasuries, or Etsy Admin, but also all those bloggers featuring Etsy items?) Here are a few tips from the Shop Makeover Series to help make your photos and listings more appealing to curators everywhere!

1. Take Crisp, Clear Photos

Before and After by KreatedbyKelly

While this may be an obvious tip, it's still worth stating. Crisp, clean photos that show the details and texture of your work can make a world of difference. Make sure your photos are at least 430 pixels wide. (If they are smaller, Etsy will stretch them out to fit in your item listings and this will make them look blurry.) Here are a few great articles that can help you with photography. Put in the time to do some Photoshop touch up if you can't get a perfect exposure or lighting is tricky— it really counts! There are free tools now too, such as Piknik.

2. Keep it Simple

Before and After by KarensMonsters

Most featured items have very simple backgrounds that won't clash with the rest of the curated list or a curator's site. These types of backgrounds also make your work the star of the photo!

3. Angle & Crop

Before and After by lpdesigns

Before and After by idyllhands

Angles add depth and cropping adds a bit of intrigue; together these make for a detailed and eye-popping photo!

3b. Get Really Close

Before and After by InuInspirations

Look how "up close and personal" InuInspirations gets in this 'after' photo. I can immediately see how well made this item is, and in addition, it really makes me want to see more of the product! Experiment with the macro setting on your camera.

4. Steer Clear of Graphics & Text

Before and After by TatteredElegance

Aim for your photos to play well with others. Graphics will make your photos stand out in a way that may not complement the design aesthetic of neighboring items, or the design elements in the curator's own blog or site. Let your items speak for themselves in your item listing photos, especially the first thumbnail.

5. Take It to the Next Level with Background & Settings

PerlaAnne's final photo surely helped her get featured on Design*Sponge

A menagerie of your items in one photo (preferably NOT the first photo) can make it easy for a blogger to write about your work as a whole. (Make sure you note in your item description that this photo is to show a collection, and only one item is for sale.)

6. Live Models

Before and After by forthetiny

There's something about a living, breathing model (be that adult, baby or pet) that makes a product more relateable (and clickable!). Note in your description that the item is pictured in photo is just a sample (especially if you're selling something "intimate" like underwear). A great example from Hopeless says, "This item is made to order, you are not purchasing the item on the model."

On last example. This before and after incorporates a few things we love: model, natural light, cropping and simple backgrounds. Nice work rubypearl!

Thinking about making your item photos easier to feature? Send your before and after pics to our Etsy Shop Makeovers Flickr group.

Seller Handbook | Shop Makeover Series

Tech Updates: Freshening Up the Front Page

2008-11-19T11:00:00-05:00

We're excited to announce that enhancements to the front page are now live! We've freshened things up a bit and rearranged some things but no major functionality has changed. The enhancements were mentioned recently in CEO Maria Thomas's article.

What's new?

Categories are now higher up on the left side of the page to help buyers find what they're looking for. You asked for this and we listened.
Items from Gift Guides are now highlighted on the upper left, and you can scroll through listings by clicking the arrows to the left and right. We expect over time to use this space as a promotional area for a variety of things, not just Gift Guides—so stay tuned.
Colors, Treasury, Pounce, Time Machine 2 and Editors' Picks from our blog are now listed under 'Explore' on the left side of the page. You can click 'Explore' for more ways to shop. Geolocator and Time Machine haven't gone away—all the ways to shop Etsy can be found fully functioning through our Buy page.
And our front-page promotional banners, including those for the Main Showcase and this week's Gift Ideas Showcase, have a fresh new look.

We're constantly working to improve based on your feedback, so let us know what you think in this forum thread! We'll close commenting on this post so we can keep feedback in one place.

Autumnal Showcase: On Sale Thursday, September 18, 2008

2008-09-15T14:37:00-05:00

Autumn is my favorite season. Leaves burst into a beautiful array of colors, the air gets a bit crisp and I start to have visions of the warm smell of apple pie: these are just a few of the great things about fall. The Autumnal Front Page Showcase is a great place to inspire a buyers' creativity with autumnal and Halloween themed items to wear or to decorate their homes.

While considering a potential purchase for this Showcase, please try to keep your featured items on point thematically: Think autumn colors — like deep reds, oranges, yellows and browns — Halloween, leaves, pumpkins, costumes and all things fall. It does not matter which category your items are in for this Showcase.

The Autumnal Front Page Showcase goes on sale Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 12pm EDT.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
This Showcase is will run until from 12am EDT Monday, September 22nd, 2008 until 11:59pm EDT on October 19, 2008.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24-hour spot in the Autumnal Front Page Showcase, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's homepage.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Etsy > Promote > Showcase. Learn more about this process here.

Future Showcases

If you are thinking about planning for other Showcases that may be more appropriate for your items, here are some of the front page Showcases we will be highlighting for the holiday season:

Winter Accessories Showcase: On sale Thursday, October 16, 2008; the Showcase will be live from October 20 to October 26, 2008.
- Think accessories, knitting, crochet, jewelry, vintage, bags and purses
Holidays: Cards and Wrap Showcase: On sale Thursday, October 23, 2008; the Showcase will be live from October 27 to November 2, 2008.
- Think holiday cards, tags and all things for wrapping great gifts
Holidays: Home Decor Showcase: On sale Thursday, October 30, 2008; the Showcase will be live from November 3 to November 9, 2008.
- Think anything to decorate for the holidays: housewares, art, candles, quilts, ceramics and pottery, glass and vintage
Holidays: Kids and Toys Showcase: On sale Thursday, November 6, 2008; the Showcase will be live from November 10 to November 16, 2008.
- Think fun holiday gifts for children of all ages

What is this Showcase thing? It's Etsy's internal advertising system for Etsy sellers. For a general introduction to Showcase, read Matt's Storque article 13.5 Questions about the Showcase, and for deeper thoughts on figuring out if Showcase is right for you, see Beth's Showcase Deconstructed article.

Seller Help in the Virtual Labs: Photograph Your Way to The Top!

2007-12-03T13:53:00-05:00

Join us Wednesday the 5th in the Virtual Labs, specifically the "photo lab" room at 1pm Eastern sharp for the next online Labs workshop!!!

We will be talking all about your product photos and just how to take the types of photos that we look for when choosing items to feature in the Gift Guides and for the front page of Etsy. Brush up on your skills sooner than later by watching this video tutorial we put together on this very subject!

Don't foget to bring your camera and something to take notes with!

See you there!

Etsy Labs

TechUpdates: Best of Both Worlds Storque Ticker

2007-10-29T15:22:00-05:00

The new Storque ticker on the frontpage of Etsy gives you headlines and, if you click on the related items on the righthand side, links directly to those listings.

We want to make The Storque both a place for buyers to browse — as one would browse a fashion magazine or the racks of a favorite boutique — as well as a place for sellers to get headlines, info, and how-tos. All in one place.

Please let us know your thoughts.

New Storque Ticker on Front Page

2007-10-22T13:20:00-05:00

If you look at the bottom of the home page of Etsy.com, you will see that we added a ticker for New Storque Articles.

The ticker automatically pulls listings associated with Storque articles and displays them in a format similar to the Recently Listed Items ticker. Clicking on an image will take you to the article the image is associated with.

This is part of an effort to bring more exposure to the Storque and tighten up the relationship between the Storque and Etsy.com. We hope that it helps spark your interest and leads you to articles that are meaningful to you.