Tweeting for Dollars


Story by winenutnyc Published on March 5, 2008 in How-To	Photo by AMagill

Tweet tweet. A bunch of us here at Etsy (including me) have become obsessed with Twitter, a micro-blogging site that allows us to tweet about what we’re doing all day. We saw a few posts in the forums and realized that it could be a very powerful tool for our sellers. It is very simple to use: sign up at Twitter.com, invite some friends to follow you and start tweeting!

We talked to two Etsy sellers who are using Twitter: Carprichos and strangelittlebird and here’s what they had to say about it:

1. Why did you start using Twitter?
Caprichos: I started using Twitter because my podcaster friend at geekischic.org told me it was great advertising for her, more fun than regular blogging, and a great way to spread the word about your work. I decided to try it, and I love it.

Strangelittlebird: About a year and a half ago my husband sent me a link to Twitter and convinced me to join so I could keep track of him and meet his awesomely geeky friends. At first I didn't get it, but then it became addictive.

2. How many of your followers are buyers of your jewelry on Etsy?
Caprichos: As with many advertising options, it's hard to tell exactly how many sales come directly from Twitter. I do notice, however, that views and hearts increase when I tweet about an item.

Strangelittlebird: So far about 10%.

3. Are most of your posts related to Etsy items?
Caprichos: Sometimes I tweet about work or the weather, but I try to relate back to treasuries, new items and blog posts, Storque articles and purchases I have made, all to increase traffic to my shop.

Strangelittlebird: Not even close! I use Twitterfeed (which is great, btw) to automatically post my new items to Twitter, and sometimes my Etsy friends and I discuss projects and ideas, but mostly I use Twitter just to hang out and meet people. The more people you know from all over, the more of a potential customer base you have, plus, meeting people is fun!

4. Are you selling items as a result of twittering?
Caprichos: In the last two months I have changed my shop significantly and started to do a lot more outside promotion, including Twitter, and have definitely noticed results.

Strangelittlebird: I think so! My sales have increased since I started twittering. I think as sellers we're all looking for ways to get our great items just a few more seconds of publicity, an Twitter certainly offers that opportunity.

5. Do you blog more or twitter more?
Caprichos: I twitter a lot more than I blog. Twitter is a lot less time consuming than keeping up a regular blog. Plus, I get to quickly read through what my friends and contacts are doing, and get reminders of new items, blog posts, and other news from people I follow.

Strangelittlebird: I twitter more than I blog. While I enjoy blogging, I simply don't have time to post regularly. With Twitter I can keep up without investing a lot of time that I don't have.

6. What do you like/not like about Twitter?
Caprichos: I love how user-friendly it is! I think its so easy to communicate through Twitter, and it is so much fun. I do wish that more Etsy friends would be on it, or maybe even that Etsy had a profile to spread the word about storque articles or news [editorial note: Pssssst! We do! twitter.com/storque].

Strangelittlebird: I like the spontaneous nature of Twitter. I do wish we could add images, however. That would be my first suggestion to the Twitter folks.

A huge thanks to Carprichos and strangelittlebird for sharing their thoughts with us. Please sign up to follow the Storque — we tweet about what we’re working on and everything we post onto the site.

Tags	blogger, blogging, blogs, How-To, HOW-TO, promoting, promotion, sales, Seller Handbook, selling, social networking, social shopping, twitter

All articles in How-To

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77 comments Login to add your own!

March 5, 2008 at 4:42 p.m.

gemmafactrix

I'm a caprichos twitter follower! :)

My twitter is here: http://twitter.com/brookepedia

March 5, 2008 at 4:48 p.m.

jperegrine

I'm new to twitter!

http://twitter.com/boodzoo

March 5, 2008 at 4:56 p.m.

iandrea

Twitter is really great, and thanks to caprichos for the plug on my podcast! I you guys give it a listen, episodes 2 and 4 were about twitter

You can follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/iandrea

Love, iandrea

March 5, 2008 at 5:17 p.m.

abitabite

I'm loving twitter!
I joined last week when Bre suggested at the RSS workshop.

stalk me!
http://twitter.com/abitabite

March 5, 2008 at 5:35 p.m.

Caprichos

Finally twitter is getting etsy exposure!

Thanks winenutnyc for writing this!

Follow me at http://twitter.com/caprichos

&hearts Caprichos

March 5, 2008 at 5:50 p.m.

redpanda

I just signed up and am now following all y'all!

http://twitter.com/redpandajewelry

March 5, 2008 at 5:53 p.m.

lapomme

I just signed up! Seems addicting. Will follow you all :) This is me:

http://twitter.com/theapple

March 5, 2008 at 6:01 p.m.

PearsonMaron

Ok, we'll try it. We don't understand it but we'll try it.

http://twitter.com/PearsonMaron

March 5, 2008 at 6:21 p.m.

berdandbee

I have been twittering for year and it is TOTALLY addicting. I work for a distributive company and it really helps us all feel more connected.

I'm contemplating making a berdandbee twitter... but think it may be more efficient to tap into my already existing account: http://twitter.com/dovely

bryan pretends to twitter but he doesn't like nearly as much as i do!! :D yay twitter!

-meg

March 5, 2008 at 6:31 p.m.

FrucciDesign

Ok, I'm there too now:
http://twitter.com/fruccidesign

March 5, 2008 at 6:57 p.m.

tinaseamonster

you can follow me

http://twitter.com/tinaseamonster

tina

March 5, 2008 at 8:45 p.m.

iacua

yup, been there a little while, just getting the hang of it :)
https://twitter.com/iacua

March 6, 2008 at 9:23 a.m.

backwoodsophisticate

hmm, I am not sure I understand how it works yet, but I am there:
http://twitter.com/backwoods

March 6, 2008 at 6:13 p.m.

alphaomega

i heart twitter.

that's auto-linked up to my LJ

http://twitter.com/mai_ling

March 7, 2008 at 11:24 a.m.

vozclothingandart

Just signed up too- http://twitter.com/vozchica

March 7, 2008 at 2:09 p.m.

lpdesigns

I'm on twitter. http://twitter.com/elpy
I don't exactly know how to explain the site to my family. heh
I tweet about everything. Love it. Have a badge on my blog and my Myspace. Gotta check out the tweeterfeed thing though.

March 7, 2008 at 6:42 p.m.

magickalrealism

I love twitter, I've been on since last summer when my boyfriend and I started playing Least Dangerous Game.
http://twitter.com/magickalrealism

March 7, 2008 at 7:26 p.m.

xiane

I'm really digging Twitter, now that I've been strong-armed into it!
http://twitter.com/xiane_org is mine, and it microblogs to my website, too!

March 7, 2008 at 11:26 p.m.

XOHandworks

me too :)
http://twitter.com/xohandworks

March 8, 2008 at 9:12 a.m.

pawandclawdesigns

i just joined as well
http://twitter.com/kittenspawn

and firefox has a great add-on called twitterfox that lets you add tweets right form your browser.

March 10, 2008 at 10:16 a.m.

PortButtonsViNtAgE

trying to figure this thingee out!

http://twitter.com/designsbybari

March 26, 2008 at 4:53 p.m.

clementinepress

just succumbed to twitter after obsessively reading on a friend's lj.
http://twitter.com/clementinepress
also linked to my lj

April 5, 2008 at 9 p.m.

tarynhipp

me too!
http://twitter.com/tarynhipp

May 28, 2008 at 1:02 a.m.

shoofly

You guys were so right about twitter, it's so much fun! Here is a link to me:

http://twitter.com/goshdarnknit

May 28, 2008 at 11:45 a.m.

hobbledehoy

addictive!

http://twitter.com/hobbledehoy

Sept. 22, 2008 at 9:14 p.m.

cloud9designstudio

htttp://www.twitter.com/cloud9design

Sept. 28, 2008 at 1:27 a.m.

InkAndVine

htttp://www.twitter.com/mrsdragon

Easier to keep up with than a blog and fun!

Nov. 3, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.

forqueenvictoria

I'm there too!
http://www.twitter.com/forqueenv

Nov. 5, 2008 at 10:04 p.m.

LexyArt

Me too!!
http://twitter.com/LexyArt

I just don't know what I'm doing yet....

Dec. 10, 2008 at 1:43 a.m.

VedasBeads

I'm Tweeting too ~ Come follow me :)
http://twitter.com/vedasbeads

April 2, 2009 at 11:06 a.m.

LollyBopBaby

Just signed up too!
http://twitter.com/CrochetCafe

April 5, 2009 at 2:34 p.m.

AmongTheRuins

I'm on twitter and just beginning to see the usefulness of it. Please do follow me!!
http://twitter.com/Among_The_Ruins

April 9, 2009 at 8:27 p.m.

greatplainsbazaar

I'm new to twitter and hope to meet other Etsy folks
http://twitter.com/gr8plainsbazaar

April 20, 2009 at 12:12 p.m.

StudioYTE

Trying to figure it all out...
http://twitter.com/StudioYte

May 19, 2009 at 2:49 p.m.

SWANclothing

i tweet too!
http://twitter.com/SwanDiamondRose

thank you for the advice!

May 19, 2009 at 3:01 p.m.

LillyEllenDesigns

Thanks, Still trying to figure it out...
http://twitter.com/LillyEllen

May 19, 2009 at 3:12 p.m.

beckybrocato

i love twitter! Follow me please:

http://twitter.com/bbrocato

May 19, 2009 at 3:15 p.m.

DancingMooney

Thanks for the thoughts ladies!
♥
http://twitter.com/DancingMooney

May 19, 2009 at 3:15 p.m.

FarAwayDesigns

Excellent advice here; it's been bookmarked and I've just signed up - hopefully, I'll connect with some of other Etsy-ans :)
http://twitter.com/FarAwayDesigns

May 19, 2009 at 3:19 p.m.

HansenSoapCo

<---------- I twitter about all kinds of fun stuff. I also run a "secret twitter weekend giveaway" each weekend. And every day I feature a new Etsy shop at random :) Come follow me if you like at http://twitter.com/hansensoapco

May 19, 2009 at 3:35 p.m.

LizzyBdesigns

I really enjoy twitter..it is a great way to get real time information about what your friends & contacts are up to:)
http://twitter.com/lizzyb_designs

May 19, 2009 at 4:02 p.m.

samsstuff

There are things to like & dislike, I guess, about Twitter. It's definitely addictive. I didn't get it at first, either, but I'm slowly growing more used to it. It can be a lot of fun & you see things you wouldn't otherwise know about. Follow me & I will Follow you, I like hearing all the interesting things Etsians have to say:
http://twitter.com/samsstuff

May 19, 2009 at 4:54 p.m.

ambientgirldesigns

I'm still new to twitter but I love it!!!

http://twitter.com/Ambient_Girl

May 19, 2009 at 5:23 p.m.

j2fabfunk

I am a newbie on Etsy and Twitter and since I have no friends on Twitter I am going to follow you guys-artist unite!

May 19, 2009 at 5:27 p.m.

j2fabfunk

oh yeah
http://twitter.com/j2fabfunk

May 19, 2009 at 5:29 p.m.

lilacpopphotography

Love twitter!
http://twitter.com/lilacpop
Here's something I wrote in the forums about it too:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php...

May 19, 2009 at 5:42 p.m.

allinthefamilyart

TY SO MUCH!!! Off to Twitterfeed!

May 19, 2009 at 5:50 p.m.

mujoyas

Great article! I love twitter too!
Here is mine:
https://twitter.com/mujoyas

May 19, 2009 at 7:14 p.m.

nixydesigns

I'm giving it a try as well!
http://twitter.com/nixydesigns

May 19, 2009 at 7:14 p.m.

empresswu

Twitter is the best referring site to my Etsy shop
https:/twitter.com/empresswu

May 19, 2009 at 7:36 p.m.

jlremy

I want to twitter too.....

May 19, 2009 at 7:37 p.m.

jlremy

http://twitter.com/jlremy

May 19, 2009 at 8 p.m.

BewilderknitsGwynne

I'm newly on Twitter. I joined when I noticed that so many neat shop owners on Etsy said "Follow me on Twitter" and I thought I could save myself from all the bookmarking by just following them.

There are so many Twitterknitters!!!

http://twitter.com/gwynnesullivan

May 19, 2009 at 9:15 p.m.

TheNightjar

i am awkwardly doing it.... : )

http://twitter.com/TheNightJar

May 19, 2009 at 10:50 p.m.

mojospastyle

I started Twittering and I have noticed that it is a great way to meet other crafters and be supportive of one another. I definitely do not like when I get 8 tweets from somebody in one day. I think there has to be some level of respect because it can be too much and then you disinterested. I tweet 2-3 week when I have something important for my customers to know and it's not overwhelming. Hope my experience helps newbies :)

May 20, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.

toyousjoyous

ok, I'm officially inspired to movement :). I'm looking for the fun shops to follow.

http://twitter.com/toyousjoyous

May 20, 2009 at 12:40 p.m.

rosycloudfairyland

I sign up for Twitter a couple of weeks ago and find it's an efficient way to build contacts. But I only played with it a few minutes. Your article reminds me of Twitter again.

May 20, 2009 at 2:49 p.m.

littlegreenthings

The enthusiasm is contagious. I'm diving in. Here we go.
http://twitter.com/lilgreenthings

Is there such a thing as "twitter jitters"? All this social networking seems daunting at times!

May 21, 2009 at 2:01 p.m.

joannajewelry

Oh, I'm on twitter since... yesterday :)
http://twitter.com/joannajewelry

May 22, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.

SWANclothing

ok, i've now added you all :)
here is me again-
http://twitter.com/SwanDiamondRose

happy weekend all!

May 24, 2009 at 12:11 a.m.

beaneandco

Great article...I've been debating on whether or not to get involved with another social networking site. It sounds like this one may be worth it. I've heard nothing but good things. Maybe I'll see you on twitter!

May 24, 2009 at 7:53 p.m.