Day 13 Monday What's Happening

[PillowThrowDecor]

Tell us how your weekend went!

Cheers
Christine

[PillowThrowDecor]

Everyone working really hard or I am I the only person not away on summer holidays  


I feel sooooooooooooooo lonely

Christine

[designsbydebra]

Hey Christine
Your not alone! I'm sure everyone is out there busy trying to get their bootcamp homework done! I must admit I find TweetDeck very addictive. I could sit there all day and retweet!
But I have a day job that keeps me away from tweetdeck thank god!

I currently have 557 followers and I'm following 905 on Twitter.

I did:
1. Check on hashtags and found that by adding #jewelry and #handmade I can reach a larger group of tweeters.

2. I cloned 3 of my bracelets and tweeted about them I want to see how the number go over night with both the hash tags and tweetdeck.

3. I did get google analytics but need more time to really figure it out.

I didn't get to the blogs today. Do we have a list of all the bootcamps blogs addresses?
Lucky me I had a custom order from a previous customer on iCraft which I completed tonight!
Have a good night Christine!
Deb
icraftgifts.com/designsbydebra

[mountaindreamers]

I checked out the hash tags over the weekend, when you tweet an item the views usually go up right away , immediate gratification. I do wonder who is watching , I guess I will have to wait to see.

Visiting blogs daily , and adding.

I went thru the creator list and I am surprised at how many shops have nothing in them. I am either adding the rest to my blog list or sending emails if they don't have a blog.

Hanging in there.  Laura

http://www.twitter.com/mtndreamers

http://www.mountaindreamers.blogspot.com

[Northern Girl Jewelry]

Well, I'm way behind in assignments, but I do get at least an item or two done each day.

I did some blog "snooping" and comment posting yesterday, but I took the assignment to mean random blogs out there, not bootcampers blogs.  So I looked for blogs of people who might be my target market and made comments there, using my blog identity (they can then link to my blog which has posts of my stuff and links to my shops)...

[PillowThrowDecor]

You are right about empty stores Laura.. Any ideas on how we can help these sellers get through the start gate???

And I am glad that you are hanging in there!

Cheers
Christine
https://icraftgifts.com/pillowthrowdecor

[PillowThrowDecor]

I am so glad you are managing to get some stuff done.

It is amazing how gratifying views are... it is like getting a pat on the head.

Also gratifying is how icraftgifts.com is doing.  I have the Alexa tool bar downloaded and am able to see how are site is doing from week to week.  You would not believe the difference today as compared to the beginning of our first Bootcamp.  It is amazing.

That is how teamwork works! I know Bootcamp does create a buzz in our site.  Buzz is always at the beginning of sales... so lets keep at it!

Cheers

Christine
https://icraftgifts.com/pillowthrowdecor

[Northern Girl Jewelry]

You are right about empty stores Laura.. Any ideas on how we can help these sellers get through the start gate???

https://icraftgifts.com/pillowthrowdecor

Based on what I've seen on the etsy forums, my guess is that some of the empty stores (as well as many that have 1-5 items) have been set up by people who have stores on etsy and who have gone out looking for other on-line venues to sell in, but don't really remember they even set them up or don't find the time to maintain them.  And when icraft first started, the $25 registration fee was waived, so people didn't pay anything to set up a shop that is empty.

Lots of etsy sellers have flocked to other selling sites, set up shop but don't put much effort into them and then write off the sites as not viable.  And maintaing 2 shops is more effort than just one...

I was re-reading the TOU for this site last month, and was surprised to see that they said stores would only be listed and visible if they had at least 1 item in them.  But many shops have 0 and are in the creator list and visible.  I wonder if it's discouraging to buyers to see so many empty shops?

[PillowThrowDecor]

You are right about sellers setting up stores at icraftgifts.com. From my rereplacement looking for venues that is a huge issue at all sites. An empty store is discouraging for a seller considering setting up shop.

At least if they are empty they don't show up in product replacementes for buyers.  

Sellers should be reminded of the TOU and then cut from the list if they don't comply.

I would also love some feedback for Bootcamp participants that don't particpate.  The value of any Bootcamp is doing "something" every day.  The experience is enriched by the "something" that is part of a plan with stratagies for building their business.

I am the first one to confess I don't get my assignments done everyday.  I am doing a lot of stuff in the background that is "similar" to assignments I do a lot of reareplacement and "dry run" activities.  But most importantly, I have a plan and even talking about my plan has brought me custom business.

I have handed my "pillow card" out and the immediate question is do I do custom? I am building my pillow business and will do it for now.  LOL ...I have more jobs in the ques than I want right now... But I can devote whatever time I want to my online business which I know is not the case for many people that have a "real job" and are answerable to a boss other than themselves.

I would love to hear some feedback on this from Bootcampers and Lurkers... Yes lurking is allowed in the bootcamp forum!  

Christine

[CanadianRockiesArt]

Hi Christine!

Sorry for being MIA for a few days.... I'm feeling under the weather at the moment, and I had my hands full in off-computer life.

I have also been doing something every day, even if I didn't check in here, I do what I can and then catch up when I have a bit more time.

Part of my off-computer work right now is totally re-organizing my studio, so that I can make more jewelry and be more comfortable doing it too. I just took delivery today of a new desk that will be my new main 'workbench' for soldering, and my old one will be my new 'beading' bench for other jewelry that I make (beaded, chainmaille, wire wrapped, cold forged).

And I'm re-organizing all my gemstone beads (mega inventory) into a new system, so that takes time too but in the end, it will make me much more efficient, and that is part of growing the business. When the orders keep me very busy, I don't have time to make those types of improvements, so I have to make this now if I want to grow further as otherwise I won't have the time in the future cuz I'll be busy with loads more orders (one hopes!)

I'll read back on the days I've missed and do what I can...

Cheers,
Nathalie

[PillowThrowDecor]

Wow it sounds like you are gearing up for the big rush at Christmas?

Getting organized takes work but launches you into higher and better use of your time.  Good for you.  You have a plan and are working it.  You go girl.

And no worries... I am glad you're still plugged in and doing what you can.

Cheers

Christine

[neatTreats]

Hi Christine:

I should have been posting all along as well.  I have been doing something every day.  I'm sure I'm not up to speed with everything posted each day, but I am making headway.  

I joined Twitter and Facebook.  I've personalized my page on Twitter and am following 58 and have 43 following me.  I've tweeted 15 times and have joined the icraft group.  I've added myself to "wefollow.com" and have hashtags for #handmade and #bath and beauty.  I'm still not sure about hashtags as I see people posting that they're getting instant access to the number of views they're getting - kind of unclear on this.

I've posted an ad on klipperclassifieds.com and was able to look at icraft on analytics.  I'm still trying to copy their code into my site so they can track me, but all and all I really feel I'm getting a lot out of bootcamp.  At the same time I'm busy making product to keep my shop fresh.

Thanks for a wonderful learning experience.

Pam

[PillowThrowDecor]

Sounds like you are getting the hang of hashtags and twitter in general.  That's super!

One of the really nice things about hashtags is that you can replacement on those words.  One of mine that I look for is #Decor or @decorating which enables me to go back a couple of days quickly and easily. I couldn't do that if there were no hashtags.

Twitter can get really addictive I'm embarrassed to say.  I was one of those that poo pooed Twitter but it brings instant results for views (assumming you have a decent following.

Ramp it up and start adding 50 a day.  there are some great Twitter applications that will help youauto answer and evenschedule tweets while you are away at work... Coming soon

Cheers
Christine