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Handmade Code: SoopSee


Story by edlea, Vanessa Published on July 31, 2009 in How-To	Photo by SoopSee.com

As part of our Handmade Code series, we're bringing you news and how-to's about the innovations emerging from the Etsy Developer Community. Located at developer.etsy.com, the Etsy Developer Community serves as a hub for third-party software developers who are making neat and helpful programs for Etsy shoppers and sellers. In this edition, Ed a.k.a. edlea, tells us all about his website, SoopSee.

What's the basic idea of the application? What need does it fill?
Having worked with artists and makers for most of my professional life I have seen how the Internet has revolutionized the creative industries. Makers are getting much more tech savvy and using the internet to promote their work. Whether that’s through a blog, a Facebook fan page, Twitter, Flickr or a whole host of other outlets.

But there’s a downside to that too: you end up being spread all over the internet! That’s where SoopSee comes in; it can act as a focal point for all of your creativity. Your own domain that displays your Etsy listings, blog, links to brick and mortar shops and galleries, a profile about you, the maker, and loads more.

Where do we go to find it? What's the URL, etc.?
http://www.soopsee.com

Who is it for? How many people are using it right now?
Anyone who has an Etsy shop! Right now there are 600 Etsians actively using the site, with many more on the waiting list. You can see some examples here.

How do you use it?
Everything is meant to be very, very simple. One click is all it takes to import your entire Etsy catalog. One click is all it takes to import your entire blog. One click is all it takes to pick the look of your site.

Basically, you tell SoopSee where all your stuff is throughout the Internet. SoopSee then goes out and fetches it for you, packages it up in a nice design and presents you with your own website that you made in about 10 minutes.

SoopSee also has additional tools for tracking your shop activity. SoopSee can track your shop hearts, sales, tweets and blog posts in a bid to help you decide how well your web-based marketing is working.

Are there any costs or further opportunities/ways to get involved?
You can use SoopSee absolutely free of charge. There are upgrades available, like the Sooper account, that give you access to certain extra themes, some customization and deeper twitter integration.

You can also buy a domain name to host your portfolio website for $14.99 per year. Or if you already own a domain name you want to use, you can pay $14.99 per year for SoopSee to host it.

You can get involved through our Twitter or Facebook page.

What should one do if there's a bug or a problem? Who should one contact?
Just email hello@soopsee.com.

What's one surprising/fun/amazing story you've heard about someone using your app?
I get lots of emails from Etsians who have used SoopSee to get themselves set up with a portfolio/gallery site saying how easy it was to do. They’d spent time and money using fancy site building tools but the end result never reflected their work. SoopSee has fewer options which might sound like a bad thing, but actually the end result is much better — and it takes so little time to do. I try and publish as many comments as I can on the homepage but I got another one this week which was really great:

“SoopSee made me excited about Etsy all over again. I spent just a little time putting my Soopsee thingie together, revamped my Etsy shop, and when I was done, I had a sale!” — DollMakersMuse

What is your favorite part about the app?
Not being an Etsy seller myself, it’s hard to know what is the most useful thing to have, but when I test the site, I put myself in an Etsian's shoes and use SoopSee for real which kind of makes me wish I was creative enough to be an Etsy shop owner! It’s so satisfying to spend just a little time on something and get a pretty cool result at the end.

Anything else you'd like to add?
SoopSee has recently integrated a couple of Google tools. The first of which most Etsians are familiar with: Google Analytics. It enables you to add advanced visitor statistics to your website and track what is successful and what isn’t. Enabling Google Analytics in SoopSee is just as easy as doing it on Etsy — just copy/paste your Google Analytics site reference.

SoopSee is also announcing the integration of Google Friend Connect. I’ve noticed that a lot of Etsians are familiar with this already as lots of you have a Blogger account. If you are new to Google Friend Connect, it’s a set of tools that enables you to build a community / following around your work. Visitors to your site join as members and are able to follow your updates without you having to send out emails or prompts to say that you “just submitted a new blog post.” The great thing about Google Friend Connect is that you can take that network of followers across multiple sites, so the members on your Blogger.com blog are now members of your SoopSee site – and all you had to do was copy/paste your site id number!

For more information, check out the SoopSee FAQs here.

Are you using SoopSee? Post in the comments below!

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Tags	api, applications, Developer Community, developers, Handmade Code, How-To, HOW-TO, Seller Handbook, selling, Soopsee, tools, websites

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87 comments Login to add your own!

July 31, 2009 at 10:31 a.m.

SusanFaye

This app looks very promising! Especially for those of us who are a bit computer-challenged...

July 31, 2009 at 10:34 a.m.

beautifulbridget

Sounds awesome!!

July 31, 2009 at 10:37 a.m.

spacejam

looks great!1 Jellybeans =0)

July 31, 2009 at 10:42 a.m.

lavenderrabbit

I was looking for a site like this, will definately check it out! Very cool.

July 31, 2009 at 10:42 a.m.

blackrockdesign

I just signed up with Soopsee a couple of days ago. I have my own website and cannot stay on top of updating it! It's so out of date, because it takes so long to design the layout and upload pictures and text. As a jewelry designer who also has a full-time day job, I think Soopsee is going to be the only thing that prevents me from shutting down my website! I'm very excited about it.

July 31, 2009 at 10:44 a.m.

thebestvintage

Very cool. I'm definitely going to check this out!

July 31, 2009 at 10:48 a.m.

beachhouseblues

I just signed up!
Can wait to take it for a stroll...

July 31, 2009 at 10:52 a.m.

BabbidgePatch

great info ~ thanks for sharing!

July 31, 2009 at 10:54 a.m.

tinahdee

I love soopsee! Been using it for a few months.

July 31, 2009 at 10:55 a.m.

LabyrinthLeather

Thank you so much for the info =:)

July 31, 2009 at 10:55 a.m.

CreativeArtandSoul

I have a Soopsee site and I can attest to how easy it was to create a page. I chose my template, added a bio, relevant links, imported my Etsy items, and blog articles in about 30-40 minutes total!
http://www.soopsee.com/profile/Creati...
I like the way it looks & how easy it is to update my listings. I do look forward to having more templates to choose from.
Thanks Soopsee!
Kris

July 31, 2009 at 10:57 a.m.

VintageEye

cool!

July 31, 2009 at 10:58 a.m.

VixVintage

Thanks, easy I can handle. Love the wooden turtle bowl too.

July 31, 2009 at 10:59 a.m.

4TheSparrowsNest

This sounds like what I've been wanting to find. A waiting list?...I hope there's room for a few more!

July 31, 2009 at 11 a.m.

evihan

wowwww great handmades:-)

July 31, 2009 at 11:01 a.m.

Entwife

Oh, bless you for this article. I'm off to check out www.soopsee.com . Sounds like a really great tool.

July 31, 2009 at 11:02 a.m.

nomadcraftsetc

How awesome! Off to go and look around!

July 31, 2009 at 11:07 a.m.

JAdamsDesigns

This looks really cool!!!

July 31, 2009 at 11:07 a.m.

Karmacrochet

I really love it I'm still working on organizing all my items there and it is great!

Make sure to check it out!!

:-)

July 31, 2009 at 11:11 a.m.

baconsquarefarm

Off to peek now ~ Thanks all~!~!

July 31, 2009 at 11:13 a.m.

auryndesign

Yep, I signed up last week. The potential is great, especially for folks like myself who just don't have the time to do my own website right now!

July 31, 2009 at 11:18 a.m.

sandali

Brilliant !! It will most definitely help a lot -- Happy Days ;)

July 31, 2009 at 11:19 a.m.

shopgoodgrace

oh my gosh!! FABulous!

July 31, 2009 at 11:25 a.m.

girltuesdayjewelry

Oh man! That sounds great! I'm off to check out SoopSee!

July 31, 2009 at 11:27 a.m.

islapink

Going to check it out now, thanks so much!

July 31, 2009 at 11:36 a.m.

chicadecanela

I´ve just signed up! This is my new website:
http://www.soopsee.com/profile/chicad...

^.^

July 31, 2009 at 11:36 a.m.

madebyswirlygirl

Okay...I'm goin' in!!! Sounds like a worthy use of my time and efforts!

July 31, 2009 at 11:37 a.m.

bluprints

Sounds like just what I've been waiting for!
Thanks so much:)

July 31, 2009 at 11:40 a.m.

pulpsushi

This is very interesting, I have to look into this. Thanks!

July 31, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.

Morado

Awesome! thanks so much for sharing

July 31, 2009 at 11:54 a.m.

kathiroussel

this is a fantastic site--i signed up for it a while back and have been slow in adding to it--but will use it more and more--

thanks for all the great info-- and super post!!

July 31, 2009 at 11:59 a.m.

RockPaperSilver

Thanks for the article...headin over right now to check it out!

July 31, 2009 at 12:02 p.m.

mykonos

wow!!

July 31, 2009 at 12:05 p.m.

zeropumpkin

i like the Entwined Art Print :)

July 31, 2009 at 12:23 p.m.

Avlor

Looking forward to when they can handle multiple shops. I see that's on the "planned" list of ideas for them. ;)

July 31, 2009 at 12:28 p.m.

tomokotahara

Great!

July 31, 2009 at 12:37 p.m.

paramountvintage

looks great! i use craftcult but this looks extremely helpful too!

July 31, 2009 at 12:56 p.m.

TheCottageCheese

This sounds so cool! I'm off to check it out right now...

July 31, 2009 at 1:01 p.m.

madbird

Wow, thanks for showing off my soopsee page!! How exciting!

July 31, 2009 at 1:09 p.m.

GimCarry

Thank you (* v *)

July 31, 2009 at 2 p.m.

bumblebeadsdesigns

Awesome! I just signed up!
http://www.soopsee.com/profile/bumble...

July 31, 2009 at 2:04 p.m.

UglyBaby

I just signed up for a soopsee site. Wow! On my list of things to do for this year was to create a website for Shower Art -- I thought it would take me months...but I did it in 30 minutes. Thanks Soopsee!

July 31, 2009 at 2:14 p.m.

AWEshop

Fantastic idea! Definitely going to be checking it out!!!

July 31, 2009 at 2:47 p.m.

dadadreams

I love SoopSee! It's so easy to use.

July 31, 2009 at 2:54 p.m.

parallelbotany

Interesting stuff!
I think I just registered.

July 31, 2009 at 3:35 p.m.

GreenTease

Great info thanks a ton!

July 31, 2009 at 3:41 p.m.

LuminousDreamDesigns

I just made one. Pretty nifty site! Thanks for the article!
http://www.soopsee.com/profile/Lumino...

July 31, 2009 at 3:48 p.m.

Aquanetta

OOoh neat thanks for the soupsee heads up!

July 31, 2009 at 3:55 p.m.

Radness

Whoa, that looks really helpful!

July 31, 2009 at 4:09 p.m.

PookieandPierre

I have a site and let me tell you, it was so incredibly easy. I'm excited to see how this develops further but thrilled with the initial set up.

July 31, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.

DanaLaymon

i think it's great! and pretty simple to use if you've already set up an Etsy site.

www.soopsee.com/profile/danalaymon

July 31, 2009 at 4:47 p.m.

BayMoonDesign

I plan to take advantage of this cool new tool. It seems pretty straight forward. Thanks for the information.

July 31, 2009 at 4:47 p.m.

steinschmuckdesign

It sounds very interesting,
I will check it out!
Thank you!

July 31, 2009 at 6:25 p.m.

pollyannacowgirlbags

Hot dog! I just signed up and am pretty darn happy.

http://www.pollyannacowgirldesigns.com

Multiple shops would be awesome in the future, but this is just what I needed. Thanks, Soopsee!

July 31, 2009 at 7:27 p.m.

MinceCo

sweet and clever ;)'

July 31, 2009 at 10:02 p.m.

beyondthepale

I just signed up - this is exactly the sort of thing I have been looking for. I find that sometimes I get intimidated even by thinking about "all the work" I'll have to do to update things. That makes me procrastinate. I put the pro in procrastinate, so I needed something easy to help me in the future, as I set my shop up at last. Thank you!

July 31, 2009 at 10:05 p.m.

ScribbleShop

Cool. Thanks for the generosity

July 31, 2009 at 11:22 p.m.

SEOWebDesign

This sounds like a truly handy and very cool application. I am looking forward to trying it out. Thank you!

I see my favorite accessory sewer on Etsy is part of this article: madbird.etsy.com !

Aug. 1, 2009 at 6:58 a.m.

MGMart

Just signed up, here is my link. Great to see all my pieces in one page :)
http://www.soopsee.com/profile/MGMart
thanks,
Marianna

Aug. 1, 2009 at 10:48 a.m.

poppyswickedgarden

Looks great!

Aug. 1, 2009 at 11:13 a.m.

sylvieliz

Web site building — the easier the better. Will try it. Thank you!!

Aug. 1, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.

OwlandMouse

This looks really interesting...I'm definitely bookmarking this link.

Aug. 1, 2009 at 12:49 p.m.

megalunostudio

This looks amazing! I love any tool that helps me spend more time at my art, and less time with admin! Thanks so much for this!

Aug. 1, 2009 at 7:40 p.m.

kimbuktu

Just opened my account, still have a lot to learn. Should be an interesting adventure!

Aug. 1, 2009 at 10:52 p.m.

cutiepiecompany

Sounds amazing, thank you!

Aug. 2, 2009 at 12:47 a.m.

megscreations

awesome going to go set up an account now!

Aug. 2, 2009 at 11:29 a.m.

Tina669

This looks really cool!!!

Aug. 2, 2009 at 12:05 p.m.

clevergirl

Love love love Soopsee!

Here's mine: http://www.soopsee.com/profile/clever...
I have had it up for over a month and I love sending people there- such a clean, pretty, modern, and organized look!

Aug. 2, 2009 at 12:47 p.m.