Search results (title) for: "promos"

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.

Vote Now: Announcing Our Handmade Moment Finalists

2009-10-01T10:11:00-05:00

Visit www.Etsy.tv today and VOTE for your favorite. Voting ends October 4, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Applause, please!

We are pleased to introduce you to your Handmade Moment contest finalists! These ten videos were the best of the best, and their creators will be sharing $10,000 in prizes (plus all the glory and fame they can handle)!

Keep on reading to meet your finalists and all our contest judges...

To recap: On June 1, 2009, we invited all artists and other creative members of the Etsy community to create 15 and 30 second videos promoting Etsy and the handmade movement. And if your love of Etsy wasn't enough motivation, we threw $10,000 of prizes in as well! That's the Handmade Moment Contest.

INTRODUCING OUR 10 HANDMADE MOMENT FINALISTS

Click each video title (listed alphabetically) to view the video...

First Prize: $3,250
3 Runners Up: $1,250 each
6 Finalists: $500 each

Visit www.Etsy.tv today and VOTE for your favorite. Voting ends October 4, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Click here to discuss the 10 finalists.

HANDMADE MOMENT JUDGES

Brett Anderson is the lead singer of The Donnas, an American all-female rock band from California. They draw inspiration from The Ramones, AC/DC, and Kiss. After gathering a cult following in the punk scene since their 1993 debut, the band achieved major label commercial success in the early 2000s. Rolling Stone says, "The Donnas offer a guileless take on adolescent alienation; they traffic in kicks, not catharsis, fun rather than rage." MTV notes that the band offers "nothing more than a good old-fashioned rock & roll party." Brett was an avid Girl Scout and loves to sew and make perfume, jewelry, and friendship bracelets. Photo by Dave Burke.

Corinne Leigh is the host and executive producer of ThreadBanger.com, a landing point for people who want to create and discover their own style through alternative fashion: recycling, upcycling and refashioning with simple tools and techniques. Corinne has been an environmental activist since elementary school when she learned about the three R’s — reduce, reuse, recycle. In 2002, she started a non-profit organization that helps people in impoverished nations. Working mostly in Haiti, Corinne opened a safe haven for the children of Port-au-Prince. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her two cats and boyfriend.

Mark Elijah Rosenberg has built Rooftop Films into one of the most innovative film companies in the country—a cutting-edge outdoor film festival, a forward-thinking film production collective, and a full-service media center. Rooftop has shown over 1,400 films to more than 100,000 audience members, and has supported 60 emerging filmmakers through the Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund. As a curator and filmmaker in his own right, Mark's taste and work favor low-budget, personal cinema. Mark has written and directed numerous short films, is currently at work on an astronaut narrative, and was a producer on the Emmy-award winning documentary show "IMNY." Mark was a juror at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, is the second baseman for the New York Giants amateur baseball team, and the proud father of a dog named Rizzo.

Casey Safron is the founder and curator of NYC’s premiere animation festival, Animation Block Party. The ABP festival supports all genres of film and loves handmade works with organic styles, so computers are not always key at ABP. In the past two years, Safron has produced the Webby
nominated Perfectland series for MTV, the hit cartoon, Breakfast, for the Sundance Channel and a variety cartoon series for My Damn Channel. Education is also a big part of Safron’s work, as he has overseen the prestigious School of Visual Arts Animation Department since 2001.

Brett Simon’s first feature, Assassination of a High School President, Somebody Told Me for The Killers, and Belly for Polarbear, which was made entirely with a scanner. He has also created dozens of no-budget shorts on his trusty camcorder, which have won awards and screened at festivals around the world. He likes to tinker. When he couldn’t get the right image from his video camera, he created a lens with wax paper, a magnifying glass and cardboard box. With Counterfeit Film, he transformed a photocopy machine into a mechanical flipbook. He is currently working on a film adaptation of the Duane Swierczynski novel, Severance Package. Brett also founded Present Day, a holiday celebrated on the first Sunday of every month by spending the day without cell phones and computers. starring Bruce Willis and Mischa Barton, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. He has directed numerous music videos including the award winning

Andrew Wagner is the editor-in-chief of ReadyMade magazine. Prior to coming to ReadyMade he was the editor-in-chief of American Craft magazine. Wagner was also the executive editor and founding managing editor of Dwell magazine, where he helped push the boundaries of architecture and design journalism, garnering the publication the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) General Excellence Award in 2005. In 1997, Wagner founded LIMN, the unorthodox design and arts magazine published by the equally unorthodox furniture and design company of the same name, and served as its editor-in-chief until 2000. Wagner was also the founding editor of Dodge City Journal, a magazine dedicated to documenting life in America's under-explored cities. In addition to his work at ReadyMade, Wagner is a consulting editor at Places magazine and has been a guest lecturer at several universities.

Olivia Wilde is equally successful in film and television having starred in an array of comedic and dramatic roles. Wilde can currently be seen in Fox’s hit Emmy-nominated drama, House, opposite Hugh Laurie. Additionally, Wilde wrapped production in the futuristic thriller, Tron, in July. Most recently, Olivia was seen opposite Jack Black in the biblical-era comedy Year One. Wilde is well known for her recurring role on the critically acclaimed Fox series The O.C. Previously, Wilde co-starred opposite Bruce Willis, Emile Hirsch and Justin Timberlake in the film Alpha Dog. Moreover, she starred in and produced Fix, the story of documentary filmmakers who race all over California to help out a relative. The film opened at the 2008 Slamdance Film Festival. Photo by Jeff Lipsky.

And Etsy's own MaryMary, Anda and Eetzee.

Visit www.Etsy.tv today and VOTE for your favorite. Voting ends October 4, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Click here to discuss the 10 finalists.

Handmade Moment Contest: Announcing Our 25 Semifinalists

2009-09-02T13:45:00-05:00

Greetings from Etsy TV!

We are thrilled to announce the 25 semifinalists for our Handmade Moment video contest! We received 177 video submissions, all showing your passion for Etsy and the handmade movement, and we want to say thanks to each and every one of you who submitted an entry.

Click here to see who made it to the top 25 videos echelon of fame and glory. (When you go to http://tv.etsy.com, you'll notice that you'll already be conveniently logged in if you're signed into Etsy.)

In just a couple of weeks we will announce the 10 finalists, selected from this pool of 25 semifinalists. These 10 finalists will share $10,000 in cash prizes and eternal fame. At that point, we'll be asking you to vote! You, along with our panel of celeb judges, will be separating the super-champs from the champs.

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

Thanks for your enthusiasm and support!

See all the posts about this contest.

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.

Handmade Moment Video Contest: Pushing 50

2009-07-06T17:00:00-05:00

As of today, there are almost 50 submissions to the Handmade Moment contest! Make sure to rate your favorites and embed your top pick on your blog. Every little bit helps!

The items below are from some of the contestants. Multi-talented folks, aren't they?

What is the Handmade Moment contest? It's the video contest Etsy is running this summer. We want to see your 15 or 30 second video spots that spread the Etsy love and show the world what we're all about. Check out the announcement for the rules, deadlines and how to get involved. Oh, and the prize? A total of $10,000 will be given to top runners, with the premier winner getting $3,250. Cha-ching!

Getting Creative with Moo

2009-06-29T15:21:00-05:00

Every time I'm at a craft show, there are always a few sellers giving away Moo MiniCards (which are mini business cards that display photos of your work). There's something about the compact size and design that draws a lot of attention. What's more, you can use up to 100 full color photos on your mini calling-cards, and these photos can be pulled right from your Etsy shop. Moo is offering a special deal just for Etsians for the next two weeks: Spend $30 (£15/€22.50) on Moo.com and get free shipping on your order. Use the code: "etsyjune." This promotion ends on July 13, 2009.

All these options seem to be inspiring Etsy sellers to get crafty with their Moo minis! Check out some cool examples below...

pretty buggie sachets by jekbot

sweet jewelry packaging by wiccked

Moo Bookmarks by Emmalynne

How I use my moo cards by clevergirl

MooPocket with window by splatgirl

tagged with a matching moo card by memake

So what can you do with your Moo cards? We want to see! Upload your photos to Flickr and tag them Etsy Moo MiniCard Challenge!

The items below are some of our previous top picks!

More Moo Posts | Seller Handbook | Help on Etsy

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.

Another Etsy & Moo Partnership: Special Extra Limited Time Offer for Sellers

2009-05-06T15:00:00-05:00

Etsy and MOO have teamed up yet again to offer a great deal to Etsy sellers! Buy 1 pack of MOO MiniCards and get your second pack at half price, now through May 19th, 2009.

In case you didn't know, MOO is a printing company. They print beautiful products using images you upload directly to their site, and we long ago said that they are one of our BFFs. In fact, MOO let's you print a box of cards with a different image on each card. That's neat. And now they print and ship from the good old USA as well as England. And that means it's quicker and more affordable for US folks.

Here are the instructions: Add 2 packs of MiniCards to your basket on MOO.com. Then use coupon code 'etsymoomini' at checkout before May 19, 2009. Remember, both packs need to already be in your basket for the code to work. Voila! You'll get the 2nd pack for half price.

Etsy sellers have been using MOO MiniCards in many ways. The traditional: business cards, promotion & coupon cards and trade show cards. And the non-traditional: price tags, hang tags and earring cards. So dive in and print MOO's famous mini-cards, business cards, postcards, greeting cards and stickers. At right, you can see how peelapom gives her packaging that special handmade feel that her customers love. What will you come up with? Let us know in the comments!

Click here to get started making fresh printed products for your Etsy shop now! Check out the Labs' how-to with a plethora of ideas for using Moo products for your Etsy shop.

Please note: this offer is only good through May 19th, 2009 and cannot be combined with any other MOO promotions or discounts.

How-Tuesday: Kirigami with the Craft ROBO

2009-01-06T16:10:00-05:00

YouTube | blip.tv | MP4 | Subscribe in iTunes

The Craft ROBO is a machine that lets you cut and score paper with precision and repetition. This is really handy if you're into scrapbooking or want to make shipping boxes, envelopes or promos for your Etsy shop. Perhaps you want to take it to the next level to create unique paper sculptures, pop-up books or custom vinyl stickers.

Using the machine is like hooking up a printer to your computer, but instead of printing ink, the Craft ROBO has a tiny little sharp knife that it can control and move around to cut through or just slightly graze paper.

Jeff Rutzky has been creating incredible kirigami (origami with cuts) with the Craft ROBO. He joined us at Etsy Labs to give us a tutorial on this wonderful bread-box sized machine.

To make the kirigami box in the video, you'll need to have Adobe Illustrator (AI) on your computer and you'll have to install the AI plugin. You can also use the software that comes with the Craft ROBO, but this project involves a few different type of cuts which is best done on AI.

Download the pattern. (Be forewarned! This is a mighty large zip file of documents!) Load it into AI and turn off the layers with cutting lines and print out the graphics and registration marks. Load your printed sheet onto the plastic carrier which protects the machine from its own blade. Then go into the cut/plot interface and set it to stop between each layer. That way you can change the blade out to go from scoring to cutting.

You can also do this project with an Exacto knife and a boning tool for scoring, but the beauty of the Craft ROBO is that, well, the machine does the work for you perfectly!

Watch more how-to videos and check out these how-to projects too!

Quit Your Day Job: kittycrossbones

2008-06-30T14:00:00-05:00

AmyLynn of kittycrossbones contacted me to let me know she has been successfully selling on Etsy full time and was able to quit her day job because of her success. She started selling on Etsy in her spare time between work and college by making custom promos for other Etsy sellers. Eventually AmyLynn found herself daydreaming about filling orders while at her day job and she could no longer keep up with her Etsy shop and continue her retail job at the same time. AmyLynn made a no-brainer decision for herself and took the plunge to "Etsy" full time; now she works from the time she wakes up until she goes to bed. In my mind, she is a wonderful example of someone who is young, smart, driven, and has been able to make Etsy work for her needs straight out of college.

When you first started selling on Etsy did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
When I first started selling on Etsy, I was using my button machines to make pre-made items, doing that in my spare time between work and college. I actually never thought of quitting my day job at the time. I thought that Etsy would be a great place to sell my wares for some extra spending money!

How long were you selling on Etsy and working your day job before deciding you were ready to switch over to Etsy full time?
I believe I was working and Etsying for about two years.

What made you decide to quit your day job?
I couldn’t keep up with my Etsy shop! I would much rather be selling on Etsy full-time then working the 9-5 retail job, that’s for sure!

How did you know you were ready to take the plunge?
I didn’t, actually! All I know is that when I was at my day job, I would daydream about being home and working on orders!

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time before taking the plunge?
Actually, not really. I know that’s terrible but ... I was only 18 when I originally started Kittycrossbones and honestly didn’t think Kittycrossbones would turn out the way it has.

What goals have you set for your Etsy business in the next few months and year?
My goal is always to do better than the last month, or break even.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business?
Networking definitely! Here on Etsy, I use the chat and forums. I also have profiles on Myspace.com, Facebook.com, Flickr.com, IndiePublic.com, and there are a lot more social networking sites that I belong to on the Ning.com network. I also contribute to the Sampler 200+ category whenever I have the time.

How's it going so far, are you getting by?
Oh yes, I am! There are slow periods but then they are usually followed by big explosions of sales! I haven’t had to think of finding another job for almost a year and a half now!

Can you walk us through what a typical workday might entail now that you have quit your day job?
Sure! I wake up and then go to my computer and check my email. I check for convos and of course, sales! Waking up to sales is always the best! I then answer all of my convos and organize my email if I sold anything. I put the Etsy Transaction in a certain folder. I have “Need Images,” “Have Images,” “PayPal Payments,” “RME Payments,” and an “Images” folder. I then check to see if anybody has sent me images for their products and if they do, I put the e-mail in the “images” folder and then save their images in their own folder with their username. I then create a preview of what their products will look like in photoshop and email them back. Once I get the approval I start making their orders.

A typical production day is from the time I wake up, to the time I go to bed – and sometimes I pull all-nighters all the way into 5am completing orders!

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job?
That I can be my own boss and set my own hours. I can even work in my pajamas!

What piece of advice would you give someone thinking about taking the plunge to sell full time on Etsy?
It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but it is definitely worth it! If you can't stop the sales fairy from visiting your store everyday and your Etsy store is getting in the way of your “real-life” job, pick Etsy!

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I just want to thank Etsy for creating such a great e-commerce site. I have made a lot of friends here in the community – through chat and forums — and wish everybody the best of luck — whether you are here to sell full-time or for some extra spending money.

Thanks to AmyLynn for sharing her story of success with us! Check out the gallery below to see some of kittycrossbones' items. Check out some of our previous Quit Your Day Job posts.

Summertime Fun: What Events Should Etsy Know About?

2008-06-06T10:22:00-05:00

We're always looking for new places to promote Etsy and, while we've come up with a great list of events, we know there are a lot we don't know about. Does your town have a really great seasonal market that everyone loves? Are you a fan of a big music festival or maybe a kazoo convention that's attended by lots of people who might love to hear about Etsy? Think your County Fair would make a good place to promote Etsy?

Tell us about possible events for us to reach out to — we know the Renegades, Art Vs. Craft and Maker Faires (they're great!); we want to hear about other types of things happening around the world!

Leave a comment with the name of the event, location and dates, and we'll work on creative ways we can make Etsy visible at as many events as possible this summer!

Don't Order Another 1,000 Business Cards!

2008-03-26T15:46:00-05:00

Dear Sellers:

I've been to about a thousand craft shows and met about a hundred thousand crafters. Cleaning out my junk drawer this weekend, I had an epiphany after tossing out a huge pile of business cards: they just aren't the most effective or fun way to promote yourself. (Though not a bad idea to have!)

Do you really want your business info floating about in a junk drawer with coupons, take-out menus and other miscellany? Here at the labs we make Etsy bandanas, mini-posters, lip balm, stickers, temporary tattoos and other inexpensive handmade items to give away. Your objective is to be remembered, so make your promotional items memorable!

Where's the best place to look for promo inspiration? TheSampler! (Check out this Storque article if you haven't heard of TheSampler.) The promotional and sample items sent in to give away in fancy promo packs are really creative and inspiring. Check out this months donations here.

Below are some cool promo ideas on Etsy. Be sure to let us know how you creatively promote your Etsy shop in the comments!

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...'"

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!

Forum Decorum: The Commotion in Promotions

2007-11-08T09:53:00-05:00

You've asked questions, received advice, contributed helpful ideas and chatted it up in Etc. Now you want to take your 10-gallon hat and horse into the Wild West of the Forums – Promotions. Better saddle up, pardner! This week's Forum Decorum is all about making sure your Promotions thread helps you make out like a bandit, instead of drifting off like some ol' tumbleweed.

First things first: look for a posse to ride with! Some of the most successful promotions like the Saturday Night Specials (often abbreviated as SNS on the Forums) are so successful because sellers banded together to make that single promo prominent, every single week. If there's already a thread with a group of people running the same promotion you're planning, think about joining up with them! Don't take the chance of buyers having to pick between another "Everything's Coming Up Cactus" promo thread and your own. Keep it to one thread, so you all benefit from the same viewers!

If you've got to strike out on your own, make sure everyone knows what you're all about. You might be tempted to showcase just one of your items in your own Promotions thread, but giving it a broader theme will not only catch the eyes of more buyers, but might earn you a posse of your own! Providing a theme that other sellers can fit with their own items ("Any o'you varmints want amigurumi sea creatures?" for example) can spur them to participate with you. This is likely to keep your Promotions thread more visible. Doing it this way will get you in a lot less trouble with the sheriff than doin' the bump, after all. Speakin' of the sheriff, make sure you don't let those threads trespass into Crafting & Business or Etc.

Don't forget that, with your buyer hat on, you can start a thread for those special items you're seeking. The craftspeople of Etsy are always willing to turn in your Most Wanted crafts if the reward is right! It's a great resource for buyers, and a lucrative opportunity for sellers.

That's just what the entire Promotions forum is intended to be: a gold mine for buyers and sellers alike. Following these guidelines will hopefully help you as a buyer to find just what you're looking for, and you as a seller to strike it rich! What're you waitin' for, pardner?

In the Forum Decorum series, Lauren (stellaloella) and RobWhite of the Community team explain some of the finer points of cultural etiquette in Etsy's community spaces. When something is an official site rule, we'll be sure to link you up to the DOs and DON'Ts or Terms of Use. Simply consider these as tips for avoiding a forum faux pas.

Team Tip: Make Team Promos!

2007-10-18T13:21:00-05:00

Ever try to explain what an Etsy Team is to someone, and wish you had something to give them so they'd remember your conversation? Just like promoting your shop, having a little something for someone to walk away with can jog their memory and make your marketing more effective.

Business cards or stickers can be relatively inexpensive, especially when multiple team members split the cost. You can include your team's name and a little blurb about what you do. If you're a local team, maybe include something about the importance of supporting local artists. For a global team, you may want to include what all of your shops have in common - like a common medium or cause. You can also include any search phrases or tags your team uses, along with a blog URL, a flickr pool address or other sites of interest.

Make sure your promotional items are easy to read and really pop - people are more likely to keep and use something that looks really good! You can even hold a design challenge, like the Etsy Glass Team did, before you order cards. Once your promos are made and arrive, everyone on the team can take a big ol' stack to hand out when they're talking up Etsy, or to include in packages they ship out from their shops.

For stickers, business cards or other promos, browse on Etsy or check out the forums for recommendations from other sellers on where to get promos made.

I Heart Marketing My Etsy Shop and You Will, Too! Part 3

2007-09-20T06:00:00-05:00

I have recently fallen in love with a new craft (of sorts). I think of it when I am not doing it, I do it when I am not thinking about it. It is loads of fun and super rad and makes me think in new ways every day. What is it?

Marketing my Etsy shop.

Yep, it has become my new passion. Talking to my fellow shop owners and reading the forums, I know that not everyone has embraced this part of the indie craft experience like I have. So, I am going to share what I have learned.

What follows is the third piece of a series. Here's the first and second, if you'd like to start at the beginning. Let's go!

Outside Sales

I have often read in the forums, “What is Etsy doing to get us buyers?” To this, I think, “What are you doing to get yourself buyers?” Of course Etsy is working hard to bring new buyers to the site, but I firmly believe that we know our own products and audience well enough to be gathering our own customers, too. This is what I truly love doing. See the Internet as your access to an entire world of buyers, or maybe even a world of new friends who dig what you do. It is your job to help these people find you.

Google Adwords

Set up a Google Adwords Campaign. You can spend as little or as much as you want per day. Experiment. Spend $1 one day, nothing the next, whatever you want. You are in complete control over how much you spend.

How does it work? You create an ad and pick keywords. When someone searches Google for your keywords, your ad may display next to the search results. You can also set it up so that your ads display on Google’s content network, which means blogs, forums, news sites, etc. The best thing about this is that you are likely advertising to a group of people who are already interested in you. This is really key and something that we need to think about in all of our Etsy marketing.

Now, here's a tangent. Follow the tangent with me. The best way to sell anything to anyone is to find someone who already wants your product, rather than trying to convince a random person and “make him or her” want your product. The Internet is the best tool to do this. Target your marketing so that you don’t have to create a hard sell situation. Find the right person BEFORE you try to sell them your stuff. The way to do this is to know your product, know your brand and know your niche. Tangent done! However, this is something to think about in everything that we do.

In general, only try Google Adwords if you have a specific item with very specific words that you know someone will be searching for. With my zombie and sea monster shirts, this is easy for me. I know that someone searching for “zombie” and “shirt” will likely dig my items when they click on my ad. I also try to think of things that people might be searching for and try to buy those key words, too. When the zombie movie 28 Weeks Later came out, I added the movie title as a key word and got some clicks this way. I also saw my ads next to reviews of the movie on The New York Times website. Think about how products fit into culture and target your ads. Only you know your niche and products, but I bet with some thought you could make Google Adwords work for you.

Once you have used Google Adwords for a few days, find out what websites your ads are showing up on in their content network. I did this and found out that there are dozens of forums out there where people are talking about zombies and ghosts and Cryptozoology! I had no idea there was a website called IamHaunted.com! Now I do and I can buy an ad for my ghost shirts there. Thanks, Google!

A Million other Places on the Internet

Along those lines, buy ads on other indie craft sites. There are too many of these sites to list, but start looking at communities like Craftster.org or The Sampler. Blogs like Indie Fixx and Design*Sponge also good places to try out ads, or email sponsorship. The price for this type of thing totally varies, as does the benefit.

Look for and join online communities where you think your potential customers might hang out. Make stuff for kids? Find parenting blogs, forums, podcasts, etc. Join, comment, or even buy an ad on these sites. Just remember not to spam! You get the picture: there's a website for every niche out there. If you are comfortable, also try social networking sites like Myspace, Facebook or Flickr.

Start a blog where you document your craft. A blog is mucho work. Only go this route if you think you have time for it. I firmly believe that a blog is a “build it and they will come” venture. There is no need to tell everyone you meet about your blog a million times. If you write often, people will find you via search engines, which will lead to links from other blogs. If you blog for marketing purposes only, we will be able to tell. So try to blog from your heart and your life.

You can also join an Etsy street team, or better yet, start your own collective or online marketing team. LemonCadet and I are launching a website called Yeti Loves Seamonster that will spotlight our favorite sellers of kid’s items on Etsy. Don’t be afraid to buy URLs and set up websites to promote yourself and others. I firmly believe that the more you promote others, the more they will promote you. Create friendships and community and conquer the world together!

I have crazy dreams about the future of online marketing. I want to be able to modify your World of Warcraft characters to wear my shirts and hand out links to my shop. I want to map my items to my husband’s Xbox 360 Splinter Cell dude. These seem like crazy dreams, but I know that we will be doing these things in the future. The thing is to not be afraid to think big. The worst that can happen when setting impossible goals is failure. And truly, what's worse: failing, or not trying at all?

Marketing in the Physical Realm

Promotional materials are important. Duh. But have you taken a good look at your promotional materials from the standpoint of someone who has no idea what this Etsy thing is? Try to avoid business cards with just text on them. We need to see what you make! Think about creating your promotional materials to double as products. Want to send out a postcard with orders to remind people of your shop? Why not create an art card with a really cool picture of one of your items? If you put your shop name on the back of the card, it turns into a freebie rather than an advertisement. Been making badges or refrigerator magnets with your business name on them? No one but you cares about your business name and logo, really. Instead, I put my designs onto these promo materials, with my business name small in the corner. This turns promos into gifts that people will keep or give away rather than just toss or not remember.

And don’t be afraid to be generous. I always send extra stuff with orders. If something costs me less than a dollar to make, it doesn’t hurt me to send it for free. An extra badge or card or magnet sent to someone who buys a shirt, often becomes a gift that they give to a friend. That friend almost always shows up to purchase. The more that you put out into the world, the more you will get back.

Wear or use your own items out in the world. When someone asks about it, give him or her your card. This is obvious, but I often forget to do it! Along those lines, get your items into the hands of people! Have friends in bands or with theater companies or with kids or whatever? Give them stuff to wear! Your stock isn’t doing you any good sitting in your house.

Let craft shows work for you. Even if you do poorly at a craft show, give out postcards and samples to people who seem interested. You will see them again. I thought I wasn’t doing very well at a craft show a few months ago. I was totally bummed, but I was nice and gave out lots of free magnets and postcards and things and guess what? I found my shop written up in three popular blogs the next week. You never know who you're talking to, so be rad all the time.

I really believe that with some time and hard work your marketing efforts will pay off. Marketing should be fun. See it as a new craft. A new skill. A new friend.

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft. She is a guest blogger at The Crafty Bastards Blog, where portions of this article originally appeared.