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."

• “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.”

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

• “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!