GOALS for 2010

[Fairy Cardmaker]

What are your goals for 2010?

[Fairy Cardmaker]

Well, I know mine:

I have these as weekly goals:
1) Blog
2) Comment on someone else's blog
3) List something new
4) Make something for myself

[iCraft Admin]

Here are our goals for 2010:

1. Improve organic traffic (focus on SEO)
2. Improve Sales, as a result of #1
3. Improve overall User Experience, especially for Buyers
4. Build in context help for site users, FAQs and training materials for Creators on SEO, marketing etc.
5. Redesign Community section to make it more useful for both Buyers and Creators - add a few more interactive widgets, polls etc. (Btw, any ideas are welcome)
6. Develop iPhone application to allow buyers browse and buy products on iCraft

[Northern Girl Jewelry]

Admin, thanks for sharing some of icraft's goals for 2010.  They are very interesting.

[Fairy Cardmaker]

Yes, thank-you!  Traffic is appropriate as the number one goal in my mind.

I have added some more suggestions to the suggestions forum for you too.

 

[PillowThrowDecor]

Ensorcelled Minds... we share some common goals

I create new product almost every day but am having trouble doing my marketing consistently.

Regular photography sessions 2 x weekly
Blogging 2 x weekly
Comment on 2 blogs daily
List daily
Seek out and be featured on a noteable blog at least once a month
Be featured in two design/decor magazines this year.

Last year ( my first year online) I made Apartment Therapy's Best Throw Pillow 2009 list and also one of my Pocket Pillows was featured in Women's Weekly Magazine Feb 1 2010 issue. Woo hoo.

I have some HUGE work ahead of me

[Fairy Cardmaker]

Welcome back, Christine!

JANUARY CHECK IN!
-----------------------------
How did you do with your goals?

My Weekly Goal Performance:
1) Blog - CHECK
2) Comment on someone else's blog - CHECK (NOTE: the iCraft one counts!)
3) List something new - MISS - only listed 3 things instead of 4 - BUT - the next item I plan to list is gonna be a set, so I've been madly creating!
4) Make something for myself - CHECK (barely made this one)

[PillowThrowDecor]

Of course during bootcamp I am on and off the forum all day every day.

I want to plug in more regularly this year so I stay up to date with what is going on out there and buyers / sellers see that I am consistently "in my store daily".

Gulp...

[tweek]

Goals!

1. Web sales
2. Sell in 5 local stores and 5 stores outside of Toronto, Ontario
3. Wear red lipstick! (It's amazing for your self esteem!)

[Fairy Cardmaker]

Nice goals - esp. #3.  Made me smile!

[PillowThrowDecor]

Hey Tweek!

Welcome to icraft

I like the red lipstick move... I think false eyelashes would give me a real boost too

Cheers
Christine

[Fairy Cardmaker]

Well, the first quarter of the year has gone by!

I must admit, I am falling behind my goals.  The only one I have been able to keep up is commenting on others' blogs.  I have managed to blog ALMOST 3 times a month, but sometimes only twice.

I really ought to list more frequently (congrats to the top 20 sellers!https://icraftgifts.com/top-sellers.php).  I manage to create frequently enough, but then I get lazy about photographing.

How are your goals coming along??

[PillowThrowDecor]

my goals...


staying in touch on this forum  YUP. BIG TIME ESPECIALLY DURING BOOTCAMP.  GREAT STUFF WE ARE LEARNING!!!

create new product almost every day YUP

Regular photography sessions 2 x weekly NOPE. HIRING A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR PICS FOR MY BLOG

Blogging 2 x weekly NOPE. I CRASHED MY BLOG BUT HAVE UPGRADED TO WORDPRESS THESIS AND STARTING OVER.

HAVE BLOGGED ON ICRAFT BLOG 6 TIMES i THINK... HAS BROUGHT BIG VIEWS!!!

Comment on 2 blogs daily YUP

List daily NOPE... MY BIGGEST FAILURE... I HAVE BEEN FEARFUL OF THE SEO THING BUT I THINK I AM ON MY WAY NOW

Seek out and be featured on a noteable blog at least once a month YUP

Be featured in two design/decor magazines this year. STILL WORKING ON IT.

My drapery, upholstery and design business has been really busy so all is good on that fRONt!

Cheers
Christine

[PetiteTuques]

My goals are a bit more simpler I think...

1. One web sale per month
2. Get featured on a blog
3. Get some professional pictures

Being so new, I'm hesitant to pay for features on blogs...

One web sale might sound reallly low, but I haven't had a sale for 3 months...

I need to find a photographer in my area, and find out how it all works.. if I need to get the models or not

I spend quite a few hours a day trying to get the word out, mostly online. So I don't know if I'm going about it all wrong or not.

[Fairy Cardmaker]

PT, for photo tips, have you looked here:
https://icraftgifts.com/forum/b15/photography-advice/

And here?
https://icraftgifts.com/blog/less-is-more-in-your-advertising-122.php

Don't feel bad.  I had a couple iCraft sales when the buy'n'sell first kicked off and nothing since, except one order to family.  Since I'm not struggling to keep up with demand, I'm designing different stuff.  When things are selling, it means I have more innovating to do.

I like that iCraft sends me reminders that stuff has been hanging around in my store a long time.  When I go to update them, it reminds me to take new pics!

Lisa.

[Fairy Cardmaker]

How's it going everyone?  Let's share how far we've come in 2010 and what we're doing to finish with a BANG!

I have managed to keep my blogging goal (on average).  I have my 52 posts done for 2010 and 2010 isn't over yet!
I finally launched Project Wonderful.  It has brought traffic to my iCraft shop - possibly sales - not sure where those are coming from as they are still sporadic.

I haven't made much for myself and I haven't been true to listing regularly.  That's probably my biggest failure.  That and not updating my older listings to get better photos.  I have over 70 listings, which I think it enough to choose from, but still not many bites.  (I really wish shoppers could sort within a shop.)

I returned to my donation roots and cleared out some inventory by donating it.  Puts my name out there too.

To finish the year with a bang:
1) I need to get all my stuff updated so that my inbox full of followup reminders gets unclogged!
2) I need to change up my Project Wonderful ads to keep things fresh.
3) I NEED to draw down my raw inventor and just work with what I've got.  (Design challenges gauntlet, here I come!!!)

How about you?  How did you year go and what are you going to do about it whlie there's still time?

I'd love to hear about your journey and your plans.

[PillowThrowDecor]

Wow good for you!

Good for you in stepping back and evaluating where you are at in your plan.

FAIL - Regular photography sessions 2 x weekly
YES Blogging 2 x weekly
YES  Comment on 2 blogs daily
FAIL  List daily
   mmmmm.... not quite Seek out and be featured on a noteable blog at least once a month
YES Be featured in two design/decor magazines this year.
YES Made Apartment Therapy's Best Throw Pillow List 2010...2nd year in a row.


My blog - Although I am not regularly posting the past 6 weeks, I did get my Wordpress blog set up and running this year.  I have learned heaps about design, SEO and other technical stuff that I have avoided the last few years. I am still struggling for subscribers but am getting fairly decent traffic.  I have an Alexa ranking of around 700 which is going backwards  from 480 it was at before the summer. Anyone wanting to follow the herd at http://www.Pillowthrowdecor.com I would be thrilled. Regular posting improves sales... no doubt about it.

Lots of listings. My product line is getting too large for me. I'm struggling to stay organized but it definitely makes it more interesting. I need to freshen them a little more often still.

Expanded my retail market. I'm pleased to say that I sent off 15 pillows to an art gallery / store that found me through icraft. She lives in a small town in BC and was thrilled to know that I was willing to work with customizing her order. Another interior designer too.

I struggle with inconsistency in my online stores although my drapery / upholstery business keeps me busier than I want to be sometimes. I'm happy being busy at anything really.

Had help reviewing my product line. I'm still not thinking "young enough"in my product design and fabric selections to attract more young handmade buyers and of course that is where most of the traffic is. Not sure how to resolve that yet other then to have a 25 year old do my ordering

My greatest disappointment this is year is that I have gained a few more pounds probably from more time in front of the computer and  the sewing machine.... grrrr... Some other stuff was a fail but I'm focusing on the positive

[Fairy Cardmaker]

YES Be featured in two design/decor magazines this year.
YES Made Apartment Therapy's Best Throw Pillow List 2010...2nd year in a row.

Expanded my retail market. I'm pleased to say that I sent off 15 pillows to an art gallery / store that found me through icraft. She lives in a small town in BC and was thrilled to know that I was willing to work with customizing her order. Another interior designer too.

This is totally awesome!  Good work!  You've really put your name out there!

More sharing, anyone?

[PetiteTuques]

My goals are a bit more simpler I think...

1. One web sale per month
2. Get featured on a blog
3. Get some professional pictures

Being so new, I'm hesitant to pay for features on blogs...

One web sale might sound reallly low, but I haven't had a sale for 3 months...

I need to find a photographer in my area, and find out how it all works.. if I need to get the models or not

I spend quite a few hours a day trying to get the word out, mostly online. So I don't know if I'm going about it all wrong or not.

I think I've passed all my goals! I'm glad I wrote them down- and now I can expand on them!
1- my average sales per month are more than one ( haven't really counted)
2- I've been featured on several blogs, included giveaways
3- Found my photographer and got some pictures

For 2011 -

1- I've bought a new camera, so taking good quality photos at home is one goal.
2- Getting featured in an article in a magazine or local paper
3- Get more items made
4- Get into a HUGE fair that lasts 4 days, Labour Day Weekend.

I need at least 200+ items for the fair, and I think to make the money back people in my area need to see that I exist! So keeping in the public eyes will be important, so maybe flyers with colourful pictures and business cards everywhere will help? There is a Christmas Edition newspaper in the works, so I want to get into that because it will reach the areas from Sherbrooke to Montreal. Online presence is good too, but not my focus this coming year. Do you think doing charity events will be bring awareness to my business? i need more ideas!! I still feel like icraft is main store, but when I needed a little break from orders, I cut back my other shop and not icraft because I knew I wouldn't get sales. That is sad!

[Fairy Cardmaker]

Way to go Petite Tuques!  I'm glad your online presence is picking up steam and that you have made a focussed decision!  You've got some ambitious goals for 2011!

Great goals everyone!

Looking forward to hearing about your upcoming successes!