Is your marketing campaign working for you?

[Rhonda Jai]

Please share with the group what you are doing to market your jewelry. Let us know if it is or isn't working for you. Perhaps we can offer assistance.

[BadassBunny2]

Are my marketing campaigns working for me??? NO. That's the short answer.

[Amy Mortensen]

I just started out marketing about 3 weeks ago, no sales yet but I'm getting some interest. I've researched online marketing and I think I'm doing all I can. I've joined and participate in groups on Ning, I use Twitter and Plurk, I have a blog about my business, I am active on Etsy forums. My newest additions to my marketing efforts is an ad on Facebook and I added my Etsy mini to my Facebook page. Oh and MyBlogLog too. I have all my squidoo lenses and blogs listed there. I seem to get the most traffic from MyBlogLog.

I think that's it. :)

[BeadRee]

I wish I could say my marketing is working. I tend to put most of my energy into being creative and making new pieces.
I would like to be more consistent about putting a certain amount of time in each week for marketing.
I get overwhelmed, especially with some of the technical savvy I lack.
Here's what I have been reading about: If you sell online, you need a blog. You should not only maintain your blog but network via your blog. You should join online groups and network there as well. If you have an Etsy shop, you should post every day.
I have started working on my blog but it seems to be taking a long time to get it right.
I also started working on a new website, hopefully it will be up and running by next year.

If you have a MAC laptop, did you know that you can go to the apple store for lessons (one hour) on creating a website? $100 dollars for the course.
Anyway, if anyone has suggestions for marketing tactics, please post.

[Catherine Marche]

Hi BeadRee

I have been doing that too, Sometimes I think that the other people who read teh bogs, join teh groups are other indie designers, I would like to target the people who do not create and love looking good .
x
BeadRee said:

BR>I get overwhelmed, especially with some of the technical savvy I lack.
Here's what I have been reading about: If you sell online, you need a blog. You should not only maintain your blog but network via your blog. You should join online groups and network there as well. If you have an Etsy shop, you should post every day.
Anyway, if anyone has suggestions for marketing tactics, please post.

[Deb Hall]

Here's what I've been doing for marketing:

1. I created a website and blog for Zur Designs and I tie it all together with links--I am not happy with the website and I plan a major overhaul this year but I had no resources so I used a Google one which has no flexibility and no shopping cart so I link primarily to Etsy. My blog I try to define the artist behind the work; show different pieces I am working on and what I was thinking while designing. It also has all my badges including one for The Jewelry Artist Network! Also any special events, shows and lots of links.
2. I sell on Etsy and also on ShopHandmade and UsTrendy. I would like to try ArtFire. I would also like to enhance Etsy shop by signing up for some of the virtual craft show booths.
3. I use Facebook (and have my blog link directly there and any new items I add to Etsy all automatically post there). I use Twitter and drive traffic to my blogs and my shops from there. I have Etsy mini on MySpace and I use their classifieds to drive traffic to my blog or Etsy shop. I am dabbling in HubPages but haven't spent enough time there yet. I also have a site on Bebo and Xandra but haven't fully developed them yet. Social networks take some time to develop so I put most of my efforts in Facebook and Twitter for now.
4. I get listed in directories and fan pages such as Beaded Impressions
5. I join contests; even if I don't win I am usually featured in galleries
6. I join networks like this one, Beaders Showcase (I was one of the featured artists this week!), JewelryGeeks, Mixxmade (which has a built in Twitter component, a directory, and you can place ads). I recreate my blogs on all the sites that have one built in.
7. I have some custom postcards for mailing, to have available for shows and to leave on bulletin boards. I include a card in every sale.

I have Google Analytics on all my sites. I have a lot of hits and there's no one trend I can pinpoint...sometimes I get a lot from directories, sometimes Twitter and Facebook get a lot of hits. I try to be as consistent as possible with adding new designs to my shops and posting regularly. It's all about the law of averages! I also think it's great advice to participate more in the Etsy community.