Search results (tags) for: "promotional opportunities"

Seller How-To: Get Involved With Black Friday and Cyber Monday Promotions

2009-11-20T17:30:00-05:00

Black Friday through Cyber Monday is a recognized shopping weekend that has quickly gained a reputation as the best time of year to find promotional sales on gifts for the holidays. For businesses, it is recognized as one of the most profitable weekends of the year that officially kicks off the busy holiday rush. We want to get the word out about shopping on Etsy for unique handmade and vintage gifts — instead of waiting in lines at the mall! The buzz about special Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales is ramping up on Etsy, and we hope to connect sellers with otherwise stressed out holiday deal-hunters in a fun and "Etsy" way.

We've seen interest from many sellers looking to promote sales on Etsy throughout this holiday weekend. Etsy will be providing promotional opportunities for sellers who are already planning or wish to host promotions and sales Friday, November 27, 2009 through Monday, November 30, 2009. The opportunities outlined below are open to all sellers wishing to participate and are completely optional. Find out how to get involved!

Site-Wide Tags
Etsy will be hosting and promoting two site-wide tags that link to search results for holiday promotions. To make sure your items show up in these searches, please tag each of your designated items with one or both of the following tags, if they meet the criteria for your promotion. There is no limit for the number of items you may tag.

Free Shipping: Sellers offering any type of free shipping promotion should tag the items offered with the term "EtsyFreeShipping." Remember to set the shipping to zero on the tagged items during this date or spell out in your description how the free shipping may be obtained. (The shipping amount does not need to be changed until the dates mentioned above.) Be sure to begin tagging your items and including promotional details in your item listings now, as Etsy staff will be gathering items to feature far in advance. Etsy will not be actively promoting the shopping promotion until the aforementioned dates.
Etsy Holiday Sale: Sellers offering ANY type of promotion throughout these dates should tag relevant items with the term "EtsyHolidaySale." Make sure to spell out the details of your promotion clearly in your tagged listings' descriptions, your shop announcement, and titles (if you have room).

Social Networking

Do you have a Twitter account? Promote your sales on Twitter with the #EtsyFreeShipping and #EtsyHolidaySale hash tags. We'll be following these tags closely throughout the entire weekend, linking to the Etsy search terms, and we will encourage our Twitter followers to search Tweets containing these two hash tags.
Keep in mind that your banner is a great promotional tool for calling attention to your sale. Need a sale banner in a jiffy? Grab one from our Resource page or use Etsy's bannerator.
We'll be feeding items with the promotional tags into Kaboodle throughout the weekend. Submit your favorite items throughout the weekend to gain exposure for your shop.

Emails, Gift Guides, and Home Page Collections
Throughout the weekend we'll be highlighting items with promotional offers in Etsy Finds emails, Gift Guides, and home page collections. We'll be selecting items from nominations in this Forum thread as well as items tagged with "EtsyFreeShipping" and "EtsyHolidaySale." Be sure to start tagging your items and listing your details in the item listings now as Etsy staff will be gathering items to feature in advance. The emails, Gift Guides, and home page collections will include information instructing shoppers how to use the site-wide search tags.

Home Page Banners
Throughout the weekend Etsy will rotate banners with promotional messaging in order to direct shoppers specifically looking for sales this weekend to those areas of the site. The wording on these banners will be clear that this weekend's promotions are from a selection of sellers, not the entire selling membership on Etsy.

Thanks in advance for your participation!

View More Merchandising Posts | Gift Guides

Handmade Moment Contest: We Have a Winner

2009-10-14T16:00:00-05:00

(Extended drum roll...) The winner of the Handmade Moment Video Contest is "Handmade Moments are Everywhere" by Daniel Kwan! Daniel's outstanding animation gets across the playful spirit of Etsy. Our judges and the community were all drawn to the cute characters. While the piece is fantastical, it also outlines the Etsy shopping experience. We think this video entices people and makes them want to learn more about Etsy. Congratulations to Daniel, who will be hearing from our chief bean-counter Sinohe who will be presenting Dan with a giant $3250 check (designed by our own Pete).

Daniel, in his own words: "I am a student at Emerson College studying film production, but this has the potential to change instantly as I am the inventor of the sport Gazeball-Z, a lover of children's TV programming, and an experimental seamstress. For now I spend most of my days in front of the computer animating nonsensical whatevers, but hope to one day retire and spend my days writing children's books because I refuse to live in a society where people stop telling their kids stories about magical purple crayons and bears with missing buttons."

Thanks to all who joined us in cheering the winners in our live awards ceremony in the Virtual Labs this afternoon. Here's Tara's behind-the-scenes look at the judging process from the other night:

Our three runners-up also win big today. They will be receiving giant checks for $1250 each. Give them a huge round of (virtual) applause!

2nd Place is "Robot Gets Its Wings" by Norma Toraya, a.k.a. Crankbunny. This was also the Community Favorite!

3rd Place is "Painting the Girl" by Estelle VanderHeide, a.k.a. estellelle.

Estelle, we apologize for the rude interruption from Lori "Kanye" 40, who thought that Beyonce should have won.

4th Place Mr. Squid's Handmade Moment by Hine Mizushima, a.k.a. hine.

Please take a moment of silence for the great loss to the creative community this year: Mr. Patrick Swayze. Sarah Rockstarpoli, Beug, and Matt serenaded us with a musical tribute, while Jesse and Danielle created a visual montage in his honor. We all "had the time of our lives."

They also warmed up the crowd with a live rendition of Beug's original music composed for the contest. Dee-dah-dee-da-dit-dit!

The six other finalists get $500 each. These really are all winners! They're all in this playlist below:

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who entered and to all of our voters. We all had our favorites! We'll be using the top videos in upcoming marketing campaigns, so stay tuned.

See more posts about the Handmade Moment Video Contest.

See more photos from the awards ceremony on our Flickr stream.

Handmade Moment Contest: The Final Days Countdown

2009-08-26T14:00:00-05:00

This is it. Are you gonna be a winner? A champ? Do you have what it takes? There's just a few days to go in our Handmade Moment video contest. Get your submissions in now or you'll miss your chance!

There are 136 contest submissions as of last night. Not a bad number! I'm proud of each and every one of you who took the time and effort to make something rad. I have a feeling that number is going to jump in the next few days. Winning the office pool right now (with a prediction of 135 entries) is Christine. But Michelle and Mike are about to step into the lead with predictions of 140 and 160, respectively. Comment below with what prize you think I should give the winner of the pool. I'm thinking a slab of organic nitrate-free bacon, but I'll take your suggestions instead. Just remember, bacon is yummy (if you aren't a vegetarian).

Lastly, if you think you will be selected for the next round of the contest and want to get a jump on filling out the release forms, please click here. You'll only have a week to submit the release forms once we notify the finalists, so I'm sharing this link to make your lives easier.

That's it for today's update. Remember, the contest's final days are upon us. Come join the fun at www.etsy.tv. The next time you'll hear from me i'll be announcing the winners.

Join the Etsy Handmade Moment video contest today!

See all the posts about this contest.

Etsy's Handmade Moment Contest Ends in Just Three Weeks

2009-08-11T13:45:00-05:00

I share an office with Matt (a.k.a. M-Cat, but only on mornings he calls me J-Dog). He's helping me be rad. You see, I was a dork. That's not hard to say -— all the cool ones these days started as dorks. But back in the day I could tell you all about the BBS I ran on my Apple IIe (and eventually Mac SE, Mac IIsi, and PowerMac 6100) or about all the light and sound systems at my school's theaters.

It's not like I was in the A/V club. I wish I was, because then I could make a video for Etsy's video contest (well, technically I couldn't because of my affiliation with Etsy, but let's not sidetrack the story here, kids). But I did learn to write well enough to get you to read to the second paragraph of a blog post promoting our rocking Handmade Moment Contest. You know, the one with $10,000 in prizes where you create videos promoting Etsy and the handmade movement, and we take the winning entry and use it in our marketing campaign.

You have heard of it, right?

99. Woot: 100! More Woot: 101, 102, 103....

So what's new this week? Since announcing our judges, we've seen a flurry of new activity. We now have over 100 contest submissions! New entries have been flying in, and each morning we all wake up excited to see what our creative community has made. You gotta check 'em out: we've got animation, claymation, stop motion, live action and more. Each and every submission is a creative expression of what handmade means.

Got mad skills? You have until August 31, 2009 to submit your video to the Handmade Moment Contest and be eligible for a prize. Feeling shy? Well, tell a friend! The more the merrier, so read the FAQ and submit your handmade video today.

There is still time to get your submissions in! Visit www.etsy.tv today for more details.

Seller How-To: Participate in Weekend Deals

2009-08-05T15:04:00-05:00

Each weekend Etsy publishes a Weekend Deals blog post and corresponding Etsy Finds email highlighting different shops with special promotions running over the weekend. All sellers are welcome to get involved and participate should you be planning ahead for a special shop promotion.

Each Weekend Deals email carries a theme; for example, the shop promotions might all have to do with a certain category, season, or type of promotion (such as Buy One, Get One Free), we find this to be easiest for the shopper experience. All of the upcoming themes can be found in the Promotions Section of the Forums by searching "weekend deals." Each thread will have the date and theme in the title, and sellers may post their promotions that match up with the date and theme. Featured weekend promotions are selected each week from these Forum threads. Sellers may post in as many relevant threads as they like; there is no limit to how many times you may participate in our Weekend Deals sign up threads.

Before the article and email are published, we send a convo to each seller to be featured so they will be able to prepare. Sellers not selected for the feature may still be included in the related Weekend Deals Gift Guide over the course of the weekend, but will not be notified.

Insider Tips:

We collect deals early in the week, so try to plan ahead and post your upcoming deal before the Wednesday of the upcoming weekend.

Pasting a link to an item included in your promotion always helps.

Plan your sale ahead of time and show off the best promotion you are offering.

We always look to highlight special Team sales or community driven site-wide promotions in these articles, so be sure to post and let us know the details of these types of sales.

As with each of the curated areas on Etsy, we look to highlight shops with excellent product photography.

Be sure to post the details of your weekend deal in your shop announcement during the appropriate weekend so shoppers can take advantage of your sale with ease.

Click here to see the upcoming Weekend Deals topics

Check out the Seller Handbook

July Fourth Weekend Promotions: Get Involved with the Free Shipping Guide!

2009-06-29T11:41:00-05:00

The Fourth of July is quickly approaching and we want to celebrate! To help commemorate the extended holiday weekend, we'd like to feature shops running special promotions such as free shipping. Etsy will create a limited time promotional Gift Guide highlighting these shops that will run from Thursday, July 2nd through Monday, July 6th. This guide will be linked from a banner rotating on our home page during these dates.

Please read the FAQs below to find out how you can participate! Let's work together to help steer shoppers away from the malls and into your shops this special holiday weekend.

FAQs

When will the Free Shipping Sale be?
Our Free Shipping Guide will be active and linked from a home page banner from Thursday, July 2nd through Monday, July 6th.

Which shops on Etsy can participate?
All shops on Etsy are invited to participate, be it a handmade, supply, or vintage shop. If you have more than one shop, you can participate with each. All shops participating in the sale should be holding their promotions throughout the entirety of the dates specified above.

How does a seller participate in the free shipping promotion?
To participate in the free shipping sale, simply tag the items that qualify for free shipping with the tag julyfreeship. These items must be tagged as such from Thursday, July 2nd through Monday, July 6th to take advantage of the promotion. Make sure each of the items you tag with this term has the shipping price marked down to zero for at least one or all of the regions to which you ship. Etsy will be actively searching for this tag to find new items to feature in the Free Shipping Guide throughout the weekend.

I don't offer free shipping, but I am having a July Fourth weekend sale. Can I still get involved?
Yes! We'd love for you to tell us all about your special promotion in this forum thread. Posting in this thread qualifies your shop to be selected for the July Fourth Weekend Deals email, corresponding blog post, and limited time promotions Gift Guide.

I don't see my item in the Free Shipping Guide, but I tagged my item with julyfreeship. Why isn't it there?
Etsy staff will continually add items to the Free Shipping Guide for the entirety of the promotion. If you do not see your item in the Guide, don't fret! It will most likely be added to the Guide, but at a later point in time.

We will try to actively add as many items as we can; however, we cannot promise that all items tagged with julyfreeship will make it into the Guide. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the descriptive text for the Free Shipping Guide will link to the julyfreeship search term. This will encourage shoppers to search for more items included in the sale.

If you have further questions, please email Etsy Support.

More Competitions and Opportunities | Seller Handbook

A Handmade Moment

2009-06-01T15:50:00-05:00

Attention all artists, videographers, film students, DIY addicts, advertising students, home video makers, professionals, camera nerds and other creative members of the Etsy community: here's your chance to show the world how talented you are, and help us spread the Etsy gospel while you are at it!

And if that's not enticing enough, we are also giving away pantloads of cash. We're hosting a new contest at http://www.etsy.tv.

Etsy wants promotional videos, and since our community is creative, artistic and unique, we're turning to you. For the next few months we will be accepting submissions for :15 and :30 (second) videos promoting Etsy and the handmade movement. This is your opportunity to express your passion (or is it an obsession?) for Etsy.

The guidelines are simple: your ad's theme must be "A Handmade Moment" and must legibly display the text "Etsy.com".

We will select 10 finalists from those submissions which surpass a minimum score based on a variety of criteria, and then invite the community to vote on a winner. The winning submissions will receive a total of $10,000 (and we'll use the video, too)!

First Prize: $3,250
Three Runners Up: $1,250
Six Finalists: $500

We're calling the contest the Handmade Moment, and you're invited.

FAQs:

Wait, WHAAAAAAAAAT? I want that fame and glory and money. How does this work?
1. Make a :15 or :30 (second) long Etsy promotional video. The length must be exact.

2. Upload your video(s) to Etsy at http://www.etsy.tv. Submissions will be accepted through August 31, 2009, at 11:59 p.m. ET, to be exact. You must have permission to use all of the content in your video.

3. Start promoting your video and sharing the heck out of it. One of the criteria for the selection of finalists will be view counts, sooo...

Embed your video in blogs, on Facebook or MySpace, and anywhere you think people will see it. On August 31st the 25 videos with the most views will be well positioned to form the pool from which our jury will select the 10 finalists. (Our friends at Magnify.net are powering the video pages and will keep count for us.) We will be taking other criteria (keep on reading) into consideration to select the finalists, because being popular doesn't necessarily mean you're the best.

What should the video promotion be about?
The advertisement should be for Etsy.com in general (and must not be for a particular seller). Your ad's theme must be "A Handmade Moment," and it must legibly display the text "Etsy.com." Other than that, go nuts. Be original. One of the criteria when we pick the winners will be creativity.

For real? Does my video ad have to be made from any specific media?
Nope! Animation, claymation, film, live action, silent movie, dance, mime. The sky's the limit. Just make it awesome!

Rad, I can do that. How does Etsy choose the finalists?
We're looking for something great. Etsy will choose finalists based on our not-so-top-secret scoring criteria, awarding points for: (1) creativity and originality, (2) handmade ethos, (3) humor and whimsy, (4) technical skill, (5) catchiness and (6) brand appropriateness.

Once the ten finalists are selected we will invite the community to vote for up to three favorite videos to help determine the winners, alongside a panel of expert and celebrity judges who will score the entries.

I have a ton of ideas. What should I do?
You can make and submit as many videos as you like.

How long does the contest last?
Submissions are accepted for three months, but the sooner you upload your video the more time you'll have to get views, so hustle! Submissions can be entered beginning June 1, 2009 through August 31, 2009 at http://www.etsy.tv, so start crafting your video ideas today. Finalists will be announced in September.

I use Youtube/vimeo/blip/odeo/elsewhere to host my videos. Can I still enter?
No, sorry (darn lawyers!). You have to use our upload tool at Etsy.tv. Click the "submit video" button at http://www.etsy.tv to learn more, and then use our widget to promote your video. There's a long explanation for how and why, so be sure to fully read the Official Rules before you hit that submit button.

Remember, views will only be counted through Etsy.tv, so be sure to use our sharing tools when placing your video elsewhere on the Internet. After you register your video at http://www.etsy.tv, be sure to grab your embed code and start sharing. We encourage you to post your video to your blog, Facebook page, MySpace page... wherever you think you can get people to click and watch!

My ad is twenty two seconds long. Does that disqualify me?
Sorry, but the rules state your ad must be either exactly 15 or 30 seconds long. Remember, a great ad is short and sweet, and attention spans tend to drop in a matter of seconds online.

Will Etsy help?
Fear not, aspiring creative director! We've created a resources page with some music and logos you can use. However, you don't have to use these resources, so be creative.

My friend is a film student and would be so good at this. Can I tell them about this?
Yes!

My friend is in advertising and would be so good at this. Can I tell them about this?
If you or your friend are employed professionally in the advertising industry, you are ineligible to participate. Sorry! (Etsy employees are ineligible, too, by the way.)

My work is really abstract, I'm not sure I could make a promotional spot. Making a commercial just sounds so...commercial.
We still want to see it. Etsy loves artistic and creative and unique, it's what handmade and our community is all about. Just make sure you display "Etsy.com" somewhere in the video, and we'll all agree it's a promotional video.

Etsy needs to make their own darn ads!
We believe our huge and talented community can do a better job. And that's why we want to pay you to do it.

I'm not in the United States. Can I enter?
It depends. The contest is open to residents of the United States, Canada (except Quebec), United Kingdom, and Australia. We are trying to be as inclusive as possible, and we have obtained legal representation in as many countries as possible. Unfortunately, as contest law differs from place to place, we are not able to offer this opportunity in all countries and territories. (Anyone can submit a video, they just won't be eligible for the prizes.)

I bet the lawyers want to say something. So what's the "but..."?
They sure do, and our lawyers are sweet, so be nice! Be sure to read the Official Rules before you submit your video. Here are some highlights that we want to call to your attention:

Your video must be made by you.
Your video must not break any laws.
You must have the rights to all content (visual, music, audio, or otherwise) used in your video.
Your video must be exactly fifteen or thirty seconds long.
Etsy approves all submitted videos, and reserves the right to remove any video we find objectionable for any reason.
Your video must include the text "Etsy.com."
Etsy will have a non-exclusive license to all videos, in perpetuity.
Videos will be accepted beginning on June 1, 2009 and ending on August 31, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
You can enter as many different videos as you like.

And your video cannot:

display any non-Etsy trademarks or logos or obvious variations thereof (you can write Etsy.com anyway you wish, or use a logo from the resources page).
contain any photos, imagery, music or video clips that you did not create yourself and own the rights to (as well as those found on the resources page).
contain more than three identifiable people.
contain a minor who you aren't the parent or legal guardian of.

You can find all the details at http://www.etsy.tv. This contest is open to most humans, except as noted above and in the rules, and is, of course, void where prohibited. Good luck and tell your friends!

If you have questions or comments, please see this forum thread. We're closing the comments on this Storque post so we can follow the conversation over there.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Promotional Opportunities

2008-11-19T13:14:00-05:00

Tis the season for holiday shopping. Let's make that indie, handmade and vintage shopping this year!

Each holiday season there are two renowned shopping days known to have the best promotions and sales all year long: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We've come to know the lines at the mall and the online hunt for bargains. We all love sales, but the mall? In response to these shopping days, Etsy will highlight the best deals our indie artists and vintage sellers are offering, and we'll show these off in a special Storque shopping series next weekend.

Shoppers, when you shop on Etsy, you can do so from the comfort of your own home — maybe even while you're donning a pair of slippers! You'll be supporting indie entrepreneurs instead of big box stores and you'll never have to fight the traffic, crowds, and frustration of early morning promotional hours on Black Friday again. So be sure to mark your calendars for next Friday the 28th to get a head start on all of our highlighted promotions.

Sellers, here's how you can get involved:
We will release a special Etsy Finds article in the Storque on Black Friday — November 28, 2008 — that will highlight all of the specials and promotions running between Friday, November 28th and Monday, December 1st. During those four days we will also run a special Gift Guide highlighting items and shops that offer free shipping.

If you are a seller running a special promotion between November 28th (Black Friday) through December 1st (Cyber Monday) and would like a chance to have your sale highlighted in the Storque, please post your promotion in this forum thread.
If you are a seller that offers free shipping or will be offering free shipping for the four full days outlined above, please post in this thread for your chance to appear in our specialized free shipping gift guide.
Special note: Since Black Friday and Cyber Monday are known for showcasing the best promotions one can find all year round, we'll be looking for the best deals posted in the above threads to highlight! So show us the best you got!

Please post your promotions in the forum links mentioned above! For more information on running a promotion in your shop or in collaborations with other Etsians, try this Seller How-To: Promoting a Site Wide Sale on Etsy, or visit the Seller Handbook.

Handmade Kids: Voting is Open!

2008-08-25T18:10:00-05:00

Thanks to all the entrants who shared their amazing wares in the Handmade Kids Challenge! We are constantly amazed by the creativity and talent of our community and this challenge was no exception. It was difficult going, but we've narrowed it down to roughly forty finalists for each Challenge category. Now we need your help to choose the Members' Choice Winners, and you might even win a prize yourself, just by voting! Here's how:

Vote now for your favorite items in the Handmade Kids Challenge for a chance to win one of 14 Etsy Shopping Sprees, valued at $350 each! Voting closes September 8, 2008 at 11:59pm EDT. Click here for details or just go VOTE NOW!

The Rules:

You may vote only once in each category*.
Once your vote is cast, it cannot be changed.
If you have multiple Etsy accounts, you may only vote with one. Violators will be disqualified from the competition and risk having all accounts banned from Etsy.
You must be a registered member of Etsy to vote. It's easy and free to join; sign up here.
All Etsy members are welcome to vote, but only US residents are eligible for the Sweepstakes.

*Be sure to vote in all seven categories. Each vote in each category is an individual entry in the Sweepstakes--and another chance for you to win! For complete Sweepstakes Rules and Regulations, please click here.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our guest judges from Boingboing, Cookie, decor8, Martha Stewart Living, Ohdeedoh, Parents and Treehugger. They will be choosing the Expert Panel Winners and with so many amazing finalists, we're happy to have their help! You can learn a bit more about each of the judges here.

Thanks and best of luck to all! Well, what are you waiting for? GO VOTE!

For our International friends, the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide is launching soon and will be announced shortly!

For more on Handmade Kids, check out the series!

Handmade Kids: Spanning the Globe

2008-08-20T16:46:00-05:00

*8/26/08: The Handmade Kids: International featured gift guide is now live. Check it out for a just a peak at the talent that abounds from all around the world. To see even more great global finds for kids, just search the tag "intlkids".

We'll be updating this featured guide throughout the next two weeks; if you're an international seller of childrens' goods and want to get in on the fun you can continue to tag your items for consideration in the guide during this time period. Read below for details. Be sure to add your city and state or region plus country under location in Your Etsy. Thanks!

Dear International Sellers,

We know Etsy is a great place to find one-of-a-kind items for kids and families and we want to tell the world about it! That's why we launched the Handmade Kids project. Our hope is that all sellers of children's related product, regardless of nationality or location, will benefit from the promotion of Etsy as a unique shopping destination for families.

With the Handmade Kids Challenge, we called out to US sellers to show off their best products for kids and have the chance to win prizes in the process. We wish we could offer the same invitation worldwide. However, extending a contest across many countries and many legal jurisdictions is complex, and we regret, at this time, Etsy is unable to do so. We know that half of the fun is just being involved. So, to spread some of the Handmade Kids' love around the globe we want to give you, International Etsians, the chance to shine. Here's how you can be involved:

1. Be a resident of any country that is not the United States of America.

2. Have an Etsy shop. (If you don't have an Etsy shop, learn how to open one here.)

3. Make an excellent product for kids, an accessory for parents, or something for an expectant mother.

4. Take great photos of your item(s).

5. Tag up to 3 items* in your Etsy shop between now and August 21, 2008, with the tag: "INTLKIDS". (You may add the tag to existing listings.)

That is it.

Our panel of expert judges will then curate international products and feature them in a special International Handmade Kids Gift Guide, on the Storque, in a series of front page treasuries, and generally just try to highlight some of the amazing work from the international community. The International Handmade Kids Gift Guide will run from August 26 to September 9, 2008.

Merci, Danke, Gracias, Obrigada, Sukran, Mh goi, Dank, Toda, Efharisto, Arigato!

Thanks,

Etsy

* If an item you have tagged sells out before the entry period ends, feel free to tag another item in your shop for consideration.

Handmade Kids: Last Chance to Enter the Challenge!

2008-08-15T17:33:00-05:00

Attention artists and designers!

There are just a few hours left to enter the Handmade Kids Challenge! The deadline is today, August 15 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, so it's time to get cracking! (See the contest page for all the details; complete Challenge rules here and a few tagging questions answered here. REMEMBER: ONLY 1 ITEM MAY BE ENTERED IN EACH CATEGORY FOR THE CHALLENGE!)

There are lots of chances to win* and promote your work in the process! Judges are lining up as we speak from Parents, Martha Stewart, Cookie, Ohdeedoh... and more! Stay tuned for the details.

*Hint, hint: We've noticed very few entries in the furniture category. Think mirrors, benches, shelves, storage items, fixtures, hand-painted and decorated furniture items...

For our international friends: Don't forget to tag your items for a chance to be featured in the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide. You have until August 21 to enter. The gift guide itself will launch at the end of the entry period (in time with the Handmade Kids Challenge voting period, so the same media eyes involved in the judging will have a chance to see your wonderful wares). Have a look at this article for all the details.

And finally, taste-makers: Remember, August 25 through September 8 is your chance to vote on your favorite entries in the Handmade Kids Challenge! Stay tuned for details. Eligible members will be entered in the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes simply by casting their votes. Check out the complete Sweepstakes rules here.

Thanks and best of luck to all!

For more on Handmade Kids, check out the series!

Handmade Kids: Enter the Challenge Now!

2008-08-08T18:30:00-05:00

Hey designers and artists: The clock is ticking! You have just over one week left to enter the Handmade Kids Challenge before the August 16th deadline! (See the contest page for all the details; complete Challenge rules here.)

Since the challenge launched, a few questions have come up regarding tagging, so please allow me to clarify:

* Elligible individuals may only enter one item per category. Multiple entries per category will be disqualified. You will have until the end of the entry period (August 16) to make sure just one item per category is tagged for the challenge.
* If an item you have tagged for the challenge sells, not to worry; we will still be able to access it for consideration. NOTE: If you plan to re-list a sold item, be sure to remove the challenge tag before you do so.
* It's fine to add the appropriate Challenge tag to an existing listing in your shop. Just make sure you do this before the deadline.
* If you change your mind about an item and want to take it out of consideration, just edit the tag section of the item listing in "Your Etsy" to remove the Challenge tag. However, it is not possible to edit a sold item listing.
* Hats should be tagged as accessories and not placed in the clothing category. Hats made of recycled, upcycled, organic or vegan materials may be included in the eco-friendly category. (Yes, you may enter one hat in accessories and one in eco-friendly.)
* Paper goods do not have their own distinct category for this challenge. Please use your best judgment as to where your item would fit best. Depending on its purpose or materials, a paper item may be entered as art, home decor, or if it uses recycled materials, as eco friendly.

(We realize there may not be a distinct category for every type of maker on Etsy. We invite entrants to flex their creative muscles and create something new that does fit the Handmade Kids Challenge categories.)

Click through for more information on the Handmade Kids Challenge. There's also a helpful FAQ on that page.

Tastemakers: Remember, August 25 through September 8 is your chance to vote on your favorite entries in the Handmade Kids Challenge! Just by voting, elligible members will be entered in the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes. Check out the complete Sweepstakes rules here.

For our international friends: Don't forget to tag your items for a chance to be featured in the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide. Have a look at this article for all the details.

Good luck to all!

Etsy Design Face-Off Part III Back with a Vengeance: The Votes Have Been Tallied

2008-06-18T12:14:00-05:00

We received some amazing Etsy logo designs as part of the Etsy Design Face-Off. The Etsy Community voted and the ballots have been run through our special vote tallying machine.

If you missed out on the Face-Off, check out the Competitions & Opportunities Featured Column within the Storque for more info.

Congratulations to argylewhale.etsy.com! The community has decided that design #1 is the supreme champion of Etsy Logos!

Design #1 by argylewhale

The Etsy Labs has printed a limited edition run of bandannas with her design, which are now available in the EtsyLabs shop. The community also expressed so much interest in the designs of JuliaPott and somethingshidinghere that we decided to print their designs on Etsy Merch as well.

Check out the shop for some amazing JuliaPott tote bags as well as Etsy stationary sets with the designs of somethingshidinghere.

Design #2 by JuliaPott

Design #5 by somethingshidinghere

Thank you so much to the Etsy Community and our featured designers for all their hard work and input. You are helping the Etsy Labs create a more diverse style of merchandise to offer to everyone interested in spreading the handmade love that is Etsy.

See posts in the Competitions & Opportunities series.

Etsy Design Face-Off: Part III Back with a Vengeance

2008-06-10T16:25:00-05:00

UPDATE:
Voting will be ending on Wednesday June 11 at 7pm Eastern time (that's tomorrow, folks!)

The Etsy Labs has noticed your requests for a more diverse style of promo merchandise and have created the Etsy Design Face-Off with the intention to involve you, our beloved Etsy community, in the design process of our new line of Etsy goodies.

The Etsy Admin have hand-selected three designers that are already doing an awesome job on the site. We asked them to create up to three new Etsy branded designs, and now it's up to you to decide whose Etsy Design will reign supreme! Just cast your vote for your favorite new Etsy Logo Design in the comments below.

The voting will be open until Wednesday, June 11, and the design selected by the community's vote will be screenprinted at the Labs and featured in an exclusive limited edition run of merchandise for sale in the official Etsy merch shop. This month's contenders will also have their designs featured on hundreds of Etsy promos that will be available at the Renegade Craft Fair on June 14th & 15th. Stop by and visit the Etsy booth to talk with admin and get some of your very own!

Let's Meet The Contenders:

This month's competitors are strong, established designers with a large bag of skills. With all artists weighing in at over 50 sales each, this match up is going to be a very exciting race!

On the Purple & Green platform we have argylewhale, hailing from right outside the Boston, Massachusetts area. She has been a member of Etsy since October of 2007 and has already sold over 81 items! You may have also seen her work at lazerbeanz where she collaborates on projects with her talented husband.

On the Green & Gold platform we have juliapott , hailing from the East end of London. She is a fairly new member of the Etsy community, joining in February of 2008 and has already sold over 51 items!

On the Pink & Blue platform we have somethingshidinghere, hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They have been a member of Etsy since May of 2007 and have already sold over 723 items!

Let's check out the designs!

Be sure to click on the designs below to view the full image, then cast your vote in the comments section by copying and pasting the following text:

My favorite design is (#_)!

#1 (argylewhale)

#2 (juliapott)

#3 (juliapott)

#4 (juliapott)

#5 (somethingshidinghere)

#6 (somethingshidinghere)

#7 (somethingshidinghere)

If you'd like to discuss the Face-Off or your favorite designs, please do so in the dedicated Face-Off Forum discussion. Please try to leave the Storque commenting for voting only. Leave your vote below!

Moo Specials Just for You!

2008-04-22T14:26:00-05:00

MOO is a printing company that prints beautiful products using images you upload magically from your Etsy shop. Moo has generously extended an excellent discount to Etsy sellers! Check out the details below:

If you haven't used Moo before, this article can help you get started. For all of our previous Moo collaborations, go here!

The Etsy Design Face-Off Part Deux: The Votes Have Been Tallied

2008-03-26T17:02:00-05:00

We received some amazing Etsy logo designs as part of the Etsy Design Face-Off. The Etsy Community voted and the ballots have been run through our special vote tallying machine.

If you missed out on the Face-Off, check out the Etsy News section within the Storque for more info.

Congratulations to AngelDamico.etsy.com! The community has decided that design #1 is the supreme champion of Etsy Logos!

Design #1 by AngelDamico

The Etsy Labs has printed a limited edition run of t-shirts with her design, which are now available in the EtsyLabs shop. The community also expressed so much interest in the designs of BettyTurbo and HeidiBurton that we decided to print their designs on Etsy Merch as well.

Check out the shop for some amazing BettyTurbo tote bags as well as adorable gocco printed patches with the design of HeidiBurton.

Design #2 by BettyTurbo

Design #5 by HeidiBurton

Thank you so much to the Etsy Community and our featured designers for all their hard work and input in helping the Etsy Labs create a more diverse style of merchandise to offer to everyone interested in spreading the handmade love that is Etsy.

The Etsy Design Face-Off: Part Deux

2008-03-17T12:48:00-05:00

*UPDATE!* The votes have been tallied, and the results can be found here! Thanks for voting!

The Etsy Labs has noticed your requests for a more diverse style of promo merchandise and have created the Etsy Design Face-Off with the intention to involve you, our beloved Etsy community, in the design process of our new line of Etsy goodies.

The voting will be open until Sunday, March 23, and the design selected by the community's vote will be screenprinted at the Labs and featured in an exclusive limited edition run of merchandise for sale in the official Etsy merch shop.

Let's Meet The Contenders:

This month's competitors are strong, established designers with a large bag of skills. With all artists weighing in at over 50 sales each, this match up is going to be a very exciting race!

On the Purple & Green platform we have angeldamico, hailing from Chicago, Illinois. She has been a member of Etsy since June of 2006 and has already sold over 317 items!

On the Green & Gold platform we have bettyturbo, hailing from Nashville, Tennessee. She has been a member of Etsy since November of 2006 and has already sold over 57 items!

On the Pink & Blue platform we have heidiburton, hailing from Cambridge, UK. She has been a member of Etsy since July of 2007 and has already sold over 86 items!

Let's check out the designs!

Be sure to click on the designs below to view the full image, then cast your vote in the comments section by copying and pasting the following text:

My favorite design is (#_)!

#1 (angeldamico)

#2 (bettyturbo)

#3 (bettyturbo)

#4 (heidiburton)

#5 (heidiburton)

#6 (heidiburton)

Promoting Your Etsy Shop: Contest Alternatives!

2008-02-18T09:19:00-05:00

Many sellers and Etsy Teams have approached both Sarah (Etsy's lawyer, SarahSays) and Sara (Etsy's Teams Coordinator, sarawearsskirts) with questions concerning contests. After all, a contest seems like a creative and fun way to publicize your shop or Etsy Team and to get sales. However, there are legal issues to consider when thinking about having a contest. Here's some news you can use from both sides of this issue.

SarahSays: When you sign up for Etsy, you agree to comply with Etsy’s Policies. On Etsy’s Terms of Use: “You may not use the Etsy service for any illegal or unauthorized purpose. Users agree to comply with all local laws regarding online conduct and acceptable content.” And if you have a contest, it must comply with Etsy’s Policies and other laws and there must be no risk of confusion as to whether Etsy is sponsoring or affiliated with the contest.

I recently wrote a Storque article about contest law. As you can see, contest law is complex. For example, to hold a contest you must consider tax issues, illegal lottery issues, and international issues. In general, anyone who has an online contest must follow certain rules about disclosures, methods for picking a winner, mailing options, no purchase necessary requirements, bond requirements (in some states), and the list goes on and on and on. And just to make matters more confusing, contest law varies from state to state and from country to country. So if you want to have a contest just in the U.S.A. you must comply with every state’s laws. Woah. In fact, contest law is so complex that some attorneys even specialize in this topic. Here are two interesting articles about contest law from TechFirm.com and How Stuff Works.

So now you may be thinking, “Gee, that sounds legal, complex, annoying, and maybe expensive! But seriously, do I have to follow these laws? I’m just holding a tiny promo contest!” Well, that’s up for you to think about and to discuss with your lawyer. For questions about contest law, what to include in rules and regulations or other issues please consult an attorney.

I’m so sorry to rain on anyone’s parade. But never fear, there are alternatives to contests. Sarawearsskirts, who is way more fun than I am, has some great non-contest ideas for promoting your shop or Etsy Team.

(image from sushipotparts)

sarawearsskirts says: So what sorts of things can your Etsy Team do without having to worry having to wrestle the strong arm of the law? Lots and lots. The point of Etsy Teams is to promote your Etsy Team and Etsy shops, ideally to generate sales. (That's the point of all promotion, right?) Let me tell you just some of the options you have...

1. Collaborative Specials! One of the perks of being on a Team is power in numbers - a single Etsy shop running a sale might not garner much attention. But many shops very publicly holding a well coordinated sale has the potential to be eye-catching, and bring in many more shoppers than one could draw on their own. How to coordinate such an event? Pick a theme for the sale - a holiday, the changing of the seasons or something your Team wants to celebrate. I've seen several Etsy Teams make some really eye-catching graphics to brand the event, where each participating Etsy shop will include the graphics as part of their avatar and/or shop banner. This is a great way to indicate, for example, to other Etsy sellers in the Forums that something is going on without the trying task of keeping a promotion thread afloat. Each Team member should promote the sale in a venue outside of Etsy - in another forum or through their mailing list, the audience you'll reach is much, much larger. Participing shops can include a notice in the shop announcement and/or some item descriptions, along with a list of other participating sellers, and potentially generate a lot of browsing around the shops of everyone on the Team. Get creative about how to make your salestand out!

2. Get people looking! A fun and clever ways to get people clicking through your shop is great! You might achieve this through an online scavenger hunt through item descriptions, where a buyer can redeem a discount or free shipping in the participating shops by typing in a correct clue or answer in the note to seller. Or if a buyer purchases and item from two participating Etsy shops, perhaps they receive a free gift (along the lines of a buy one, get one free promotion) from the participating sellers or a discount on their next purchase from a fellow Team member. These are just examples, there are many incentives you can dream up to get people into your shop.

3. Do something press worthy! What about activities or events that aren't grounded in consumerism? Etsy Teams are wonderful groups of people, with many diverse backgrounds and interests from all around the world. It really catches our eye when a Team does a project that merits some press. The Connecticut Etsy Team recently sent out press releases about their Team and as a result, a local morning news show is airing a segment on Etsy and featuring local sellers making baby shoes! This is fabulous, and much more interesting from a news-aspect than a regular sale. A project that creates interest to the general public is a great way to raise awareness of your Etsy Team. Of all the wonderful events that were submitted to the recent Team Digest of events for Valentine's Day, the one that sticks out most in my mind is that the Florida Etsy Team created handmade Valentine's for the elderly to distribute at local retirement homes. It was such a sweet project, that I've mentioned it to several people since, giving the Team some free word of mouth promotion. Projects that make people talk about your Team are priceless.

We love the Etsy Teams, they're such a pillar of the Etsy Community. While we have to require that all Etsy users are abiding by their local laws, we don't want you to feel like your hands are tied when it comes to attracting buyers and promoting yourselves. There are many different types of events and promotions your Etsy Team can put together to get the word out. Have your own ideas about (good and legal) ways to promote your Team? Tell us about them in the comments!

Etsy Design Face-Off: The Votes Have Been Tallied

2008-02-12T14:44:00-05:00

We received some amazing Etsy logo designs as part of the Etsy Design Face-Off. The Etsy Community voted and the ballots have been run through our special vote tallying machine.

If you missed out on the Face-Off, check out the Etsy News section within the Storque for more info.

Congratulations to Timberps.etsy.com! The community has decided that design #1 is the supreme champion of Etsy Logos!

Design #1 by Timberps

The Etsy Labs has printed a limited edition run of t-shirts with his design, which are now available in the EtsyLabs shop. The community also expressed so much interest in the designs of Seasprayblue.etsy.com and SheRidesTheLion.etsy.com that we decided to print their designs on Etsy Merch as well.

Check out the shop for some amazing SheRidesTheLion tote bags as well as adorable tea tags featuring the design of SeaSprayBlue.

Design #4 by seapsprayblue

Design #5 by sheridesthelion

Thank you so much to the Etsy Community and our featured designers for all their hard work and input in helping the Etsy Labs create a more diverse style of merchandise to offer to everyone interested in spreading the handmade love that is Etsy.

Introducing: The Etsy Design Face-Off

2008-02-05T12:00:00-05:00

*UPDATE* The winners can be found here! Thanks for voting!

The Etsy Labs has noticed your requests for a more diverse style of promo merchandise and have created this Design Face-Off with the intentions to involve you, our beloved Etsy community in the design process of our new line of Etsy goodies.

The voting will be open until Sunday, February 10, and the design selected by the community's vote will be screenprinted at the Labs and featured in an exclusive limited edition run of merchandise for sale in the official Etsy merch shop.

Let's Meet The Contenders:

This month's competitors are strong, established designers with a large bag of skills. With all artists weighing in at over 100 sales each, this match up is going to be a very exciting race!

On the Purple & Green platform we have timberps, hailing from San Clemente, California. He has been a member of Etsy since September of 2007 and has already sold over 469 items!

On the Green & Gold platform we have seasprayblue, hailing from Dresden, Germany. She has been a member of Etsy since July of 2007 and has already sold over 388 items!

On the Pink & Blue platform we have sheridesthelion hailing from Los Angeles, California. She has been a member of Etsy since May of 2007 and has already sold over 135 items!

Let's check out the designs!

Be sure to click on the designs below to view the full image, then cast your vote in the comments section by copying and pasting the following text:

My favorite design is (#_)!

#1 (timberps)

#2 (timberps)

#3 (seapsprayblue)

#4 (seapsprayblue)

#5 (sheridesthelion)

#6 (sheridesthelion)

#7 (sheridesthelion)

If you'd like to discuss the Face-Off or the submitted designs, please do so in the dedicated Face-Off Forum discussion. Please try to leave the Storque commenting for voting only. Leave your vote below!

Trends: Promoting through the Sampler

2008-01-16T18:44:00-05:00

The Sampler is a way for indie artists and crafters to get the word out about their small businesses. We thought this might be an interesting lens through which to look at trends in creative and entrepreneurial promoting. We asked Home of the Sampler's Lynn Kysh and Marie Kare about any trends she's spotted over the holiday push.

Many Etsians subscribe to and submit to the Sampler. Here's what absolutelysmall had to say about it: "Working with the Sampler has been delightful! I've been featured on blogs because of it. It's also been a really great stepping stone for me taking Absolutely Small seriously as a business. (Serious is a relative term, however.) Plus, I love receiving the Sampler in the mail. It's like a grab bag of mystery presents! I'm in it this month again. It's the only place outside of Etsy where you can score one of the new Chickenpants Limited prints."

Read on for Lynn and Marie's picks!

I'm noticing a lot of artists/photographers sending in prints or ACEOS of their art. Here are some Etsians who've submitted and whose work we admire:

absolutelysmall.etsy.com

Check out this amazing photo by curioush.

Marie and I are noticing a lot more letterpress which is interesting. Are they all taking the same class together or have tiny little letter pressing machines in their houses?

joiestudio.etsy.com

lizardpress.etsy.com

And personally, I looooooove these robots! I think they're for way HOT!

ittybittiesforyou.etsy.com

Sampler Town was busy this holiday season! Keep your eyes peeled for the Boston (and the surrounding area) Sampler and brand new Samplers Select.

Give a shout-out in the comments if you've ever submitted to the Sampler!

Oh, ps!
lizardpress had this to say about the Sampler and other ways to promote your biz:

"What is great about the Sampler, is that real live samples go out — the beauty of letterpress is that it takes a bite out of the page, you can feel and touch the letters, this 3-D quality is difficult to appreciate on a screen, no matter how fantastic the photo quality. By printing extra cards to send the Sampler, my cards get in the hands of potential purchasers and if they use them (some of my customers don't — they tell me they are going to frame them and that's ok too!), then the receiver is also seeing my work.

I've done two issues of the Sampler so far, they send samples to their regular subscribers, but a select few also to media people and I love finding my cards pop up on blogs across the net — MAKE magazine and craftypod.com are a couple of the blogs my work got to! Also, Marie from the Sampler contacted me to do a card for their upcoming Winter White Sampler Select, so that is an extra bonus!

For promoting on the ground, letterpress is really big in San Francisco and we are lucky to have the San Francisco Center for the Book (www.sfcb.org) that is a great network of letterpress, bookbinding and paper craftspeople which are great sources of information as well as finding out venues to market letterpress items. The SFCB and other bay area organizations the Pacific Center for the Book and the Bay Area Book Artists put on a few fairs that I've had great success at--customers come looking for cool letterpress stuff!

On the web, bloggers linking to other bloggers have been great to get the word out — sfgirlbybay.blogspot.com ordered my 2007 Book Arts and Printers' Fair poster off of Etsy and had a photo of it on her blogspot and I had a rush of orders for it over the next week. The same is true with my 2008 calendar that was featured in the Storque!"

Ooo! pps.
artbynorm had this to say about using ACEOs:
"It's challenging for a visual artist to promote one's own artwork. Artwork is such a personal thing - it's not something a buyer usually stashes in a drawer or closet and only brings out when the mood moves them. Art is something a person often looks at everyday. Buyers often have to see the artwork many times before they buy it — I guess the feeling is that if you see it 10 times and still love it, it's ok to hang in your livingroom!

That said, the Sampler was a great way for me to spread the word about my artwork. I offered ACEO's so that people would have the chance to put up a little piece of Norm and "test drive" it. ACEO's are the perfect size - they are small enough that you can put it anywhere - you don't need "that special place". Also, since my ACEO's are #'d, they are essentially collectible. I will only print 100 of each painting. When I'm rich and famous one day, they maybe worth big $$ — and hopefully people will hold on to them that long to say 'I knew her when...'"

Video Project: Tell us Your Handmade Story

2008-01-11T20:23:00-05:00

We're launching a new Storque documentary project, my friends, in conjunction with the Buy Handmade Pledge. The names that are being collected on the BuyHandmade.org website are a powerful testament to the people behind the handmade movement. We also want to see your faces and hear your voices! Online video seems to be a great way to do this.

Our project has two veins: one for sellers, called "My Handmade Story," and one for buyers, called "Why I Buy Handmade." Any Etsian is free to participate by making a short video that expresses these ideas. One of the most powerful things about Etsy is the community. Each Etsian has a unique perspective, a special talent in what she/he makes, a genuine expression in what she/he buys, and a personal history that she/he brings to the collective.

So we're putting out an on-going call for short videos made by you. We're suggesting only a couple contraints in terms of format: sellers should be filmed in their studio/home/workshop and buyers should be holding/wearing/interacting with what they bought. If you're a seller, tell us how making things by hand or selling on Etsy has changed your life. If you're a buyer, tell us why you buy handmade. The videos that we think are the most extraordinary, compelling, unique personal stories will be featured on The Storque and integrated into the other ways Etsy spreads the word about buying handmade.

Guidelines:

Keep it short and sweet: Please keep your story to less than 1 minute. Ideally 30 seconds or less.
Have the rights: Please only use footage you own or that is under certain Creative Commons licenses. Please only feature people in your piece who gave you permission. By submitting to Etsy, you're giving us the non-exclusive right (you're free to share your video elsewhere!) to play your video on Etsy and when we're spreading the word about Etsy.
Sellers submit their "My Handmade Story" to The Storque by filling out the Storque pitch form via the "You Can Too" link on the Storque homepage. Make sure to include the link to your video, whether it's on Youtube, Vimeo, blip or whichever online video service you choose. We recommend that you tag it with BuyHandmade and Etsy.
Buyers submit "Why I Buy Handmade" pieces in the same manner.
Sellers should be in their studio/home/workshop and tell how making/selling handmade has changed their lives.
Buyers should be holding/wearing/interacting with what they bought and say why they buy handmade.
Participation is open to any Etsian with a username (nationality does not matter).
We kindly ask that you add English subtitles to your foreign language submissions.
Please do not use music in your videos (Etsy wants to integrate music we have the rights to).
We will publish videos on The Storque or other places at our discretion.
There are no prizes because this isn't a contest.
We'll be reviewing submissions on the 1st and 15th of every month. Be one of the first to get yours in (the first deadline is November 15)!
There is no fee associated with participation.
Participation is voluntary.

Further Resources:

We are inspired by Story Corps, a radio oral history project started by David Isay and Sound Portraits.
We are inspired by zine culture.
Jumpcut is a website where you can upload small clips and edit them online.
Youtube, Vimeo, blip are free video hosting services. The Internet Archive is great.
You can find some great, simple DIY video how-tos here.
How to Light, by DIY Network.
Tips from USC Annenberg.
Shannon posted these DIY Video Tips.

FAQ:

Q. I don't know if my story is compelling enough. Why should I spend the timing making a video?
A. Hey, listen. Why not give it a shot? We want to hear from you. As added incentive, consider this an excuse to make a video you can use to tell people about your work. Or if you're a buyer, consider it a way of showing your support for indie artists.

Q. I don't know how to use a videocamera. Can I have someone help me?
A. Of course someone can help you. This isn't a contest where you have to produce something all on your own. Plus, we're posting some quick and easy tips for DIY video.

Q. What are you going to use these videos for? Why are you doing this?
A. We want to get the word out about buying handmade. We use our faves in other promotional ways besides The Storque, such as playing them at conferences, including them in press pitches, and viral advertising for your shops.

Q. I want to add music because it will really spice up my video. Why don't you want me to?
A. If you add music (especially music we don't have the rights to), we can't play it on Etsy.

Q. What would be the best time to get it in, since there's no real deadline?
A. We review at the first and fifteenth of every month. We're eager to get started, so we hope you'll get it in soon (like before the holidays)! But we see this as an ongoing project and we continually want to collect links to your videos.

Q. I don't want to go through Youtube or one of those websites. Can I just email the movie to The Storque?
A. No! Etsy can't host video right now and we don't want our email server to be flooded with huge files.

Q. If I participate, am I giving Etsy the copyright to my video?
A. No, you're giving us permission to play it. You keep the copyright to your video and you can play it where ever else you choose.

Promotions Forum How-To: Get the Most from Your Post!

2007-12-12T11:55:00-05:00

Anyone who has spent some time on the Etsy Forums knows that the Promotions section moves lightning fast. It can be challenging for sellers to create a good lasting impression to promote their shops, items or special sales. Etsy shopkeeper and bag designer, KJaye of FunkyChicDesigns offers some advice on how to use the Promotions Forum positively and effectively.

The idea behind using the Promotions forum is to bring people to your shop. So how do you get someone to click on your Promotions post to come and take a look? Think of it the same way brick and mortar stores think of promotion: their sign or sandwich board out front can either drive people in, or drive people away. For us Etsians, our “sign” is the title of our Promotions post.

Tip #1: Think carefully and don't title your post with anything you wouldn't put on a sandwich board outside your business if you had a store.

Imagine if you were walking past a restaurant and the sign out front said:

"Why aren't you people eating in my restaurant?"
"I'm going to keep promoting these tacos until one of you buy them."
"Please, please, please come into my restaurant. Really."
"No one loves my restaurant? No one?"
"I'm totally depressed - my rent is due and no one is eating here."

Would you go in? Generally speaking, people respond to positivity and confidence and tend to be turned off by negativity. See if you have a different reaction to these signs:

“We make the best tacos anywhere! Come in and try them!”
“Our restaurant is booming – check us out!”
“Our tacos are made with organic ingredients – come and taste the difference.”

Tip #2: Be clear and specific about what you are promoting in order to maximize the amount of people drawn to your post.

Another important aspect to get people to click on your post is to make your post specific. Although there is something to be said for mystery and curiosity in promotions, note the difference between the following signs:

“Come in for a...”
“Are you looking for ...”

vs.

“Come in for a great meal!”
“Are you looking for something to serve for dinner?”

Which store are you more likely to walk into? Don’t be afraid that being specific will keep people away. Being vague will likely keep more people away. It can also make your post stand out if you are promoting one specific thing, because a buyer looking for that type of item can go right to your post, instead of looking through several, possibly unrelated threads.

For example, if you titled your post, “Come and see my beautiful new tablecloths!” instead of “New! Just listed!”, imagine how much more it will catch the eye of a buyer looking for that item. It will also be easier for a buyer to later find that thread if they are searching forum posts for the keyword “tablecloth” instead of the keywords “new” or “just listed.”

Being specific in your title will not only draw more people to your post, it will likely draw the right people to your post. It’s better to have five people, who are actually looking for tablecloths, to click into your post than to have 25 people click in who aren’t looking for anything of the sort.

And the best part? By promoting positively and specifically, not only do you increase the number of people you draw to your store, but you can help “elevate” the level of professionalism in the Promotions section, which will encourage more buyers to spend more time there. And that’s all the more fingers ready to click on your great new promotional post!

Etsy Team Tip: Running a Promotion Online

2007-10-02T08:31:00-05:00

The PlushTeam this week is holding a really awesome contest this week, which inspired me to write this week's Team Tip of the Week.

This week's tip is to team up with other sellers on your team to run a joint promotion online. Create a reason for people to browse from shop to shop and have every participating shop promote the online event. If your team is rather large, perhaps break it down into smaller groups of shops that compliment each other. Cross promote with other groups on blogs, with your Flickr account, on social networking sites and through email. Getting people clicking through your shop for fun is a great way to gain exposure!

For more Team Tips, please check the Teams Resource page. Also, we discuss the Team Tips, news and ideas in the Etsy Teams email list! Keep up the great work, Etsy Teams!

Bumper Sticker Challenge

2007-03-12T20:00:00-05:00

Hey everybody, there were such good ideas being bandied about on this forum thread that we decided to launch a quick little contest. Design a new Etsy bumper sticker! We encourage teaming up: if you're not a swell designer, but you've come up with a good slogan or the other way around.

• 11.5" x 3"
• up to two colors on a white background
• save your high resolution 300dpi files
• email on your 72dpi version of your entries to vanessa(a)etsy.com
• up to three entries per person

We'll pick the winning design on the 3rd of April, Tuesday. Winning design gets produced by us and we'll let you spend $150 of our dollars on Etsy, plus some other bonus prizes we're keeping secret for now.

Beep beep!
Thank you luciajohnson for starting the thread! Pictured at the top we have a bumper sticker by handsewn who beat us all to it.

Note: This was originally posted in the Etsy Garden.