Poshmark Sale With New Reversible Purse Bag at LilacsNDreams

Poshmark Sale With New Reversible Purse Bag at LilacsNDreams. 

Welcome everyone! I was so excited Saturday night to get notice of a sale with Poshmark! I received it later that night, was out for the night with family, and knew Sunday I would prepare everything for shipment Monday morning.

I woke Sunday morning, filled out what I needed to with Poshmark, and they then sent me my shipping label to use. If it was over 5 pounds for shipping you had instructions what to do then. I was planning on what box to use, checked printer for paper, located some tissue paper to use, got my shipping tape out, and cleared spot on table to prepare this shipment. Then, I went to my designated Sale Items area to retrieve this purse. 

I looked, looked, looked in containers, looked in boxes, moved things, and I just could not find it! See since our house has been getting remodeled things have been moved to make room for that, and everything was designated to different areas in order to find them when needed. Course no one remembers this, has no clue where it could be, and you have me being frustrated and upset at not finding this. 

So, I did something I have honestly never done in the years I’ve been selling on line. I had to cancel this order. I did that process with Poshmark. Then, I wanted to notify the customer myself about this cancellation, and the reason for it. I felt horrid doing this to her, my first sale at Poshmark, and just was not happy with this situation. 

I try to put myself into that situation as a customer, and try the best I can to communicate and be honest with them. I know it’s over, and done with now. But, I still feel horrible. Also, I have not found this particular bag, and a Coach purse I had listed in which I stopped that listing too. 

So, I had a great weekend until this sale I dealt with at Poshmark. I hope to get more things posted there, and some things I will sell through Facebook Marketplace. If you see anything of interest I can sell from here too. I would invoice you, and I use PayPal too. Just drop me a line at lilacsndreams@gmail.com.

Thanks for visiting at LilacsNDreams! Appreciate your visit, and any comments that you would like to share too. Take care till the next time everyone. Toodles. . . 

Etsy Poshmark Ebay FB Marketplace Websites Used For Online Sales

Etsy Poshmark EBay Own Website For Online Sales

Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy to have you stopping by! How many of you sell online? If you are selling online are you using Etsy, Poshmark, EBay, your own Website, FB Marketplace, or maybe another place not mentioned. So far I am using my Shoppe at Etsy, and once in a while I’ll put something at Poshmark. Years ago when I first started selling online I started with EBay. I usually sold vintage collectibles, sometimes home decor, and then over time I started adding in some repurposed, restyled, DIY, handmade treasures. 

Season is changing, holidays are approaching, advertisements are being done on TV for some of the venues, and I’m reminded I need to get to work. I have made some items that need to be posted with my Shoppe at Etsy I love the seasons, the holidays, and I enjoy occupying my time making things for the home to display too. 

If you are selling online what preference do you have for a venue? Which one have you had more success with? Would love to hear the ins, and outs of your experiences shared with us. 

eBay is eBay, and is the well known one to use. I enjoyed it when I first started, and later on decided it was time to move on. I tried a few places out with one of them being Etsy. That is one Shoppe I have hung onto over time. They are known for handmade products along with vintage collectibles too. I’m anxious to list items I have made, and really get back into the swing of things. I need to hurry up, and finish projects for the home I am working on. I also need to better focus on doing my listings instead of being side tracked by all the products that others are offering. I love what others share which helps me with ideas of my own, and maybe keeps me a little busier roaming around than I should allow it to...LOL! 

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams! I enjoy the visits, comments, messages left to me, and look forward to you stopping by again. Take care till the next time everyone! Toodles . . . . . .

Growing Your Business Online Reputation

Growing Your Business Online Reputation

Welcome to LilacsNDreams Everyone! The next topic to be shared is Growing Your Business Online Reputation. This comes from feedback, trust, and the brand recognition that has been earned. 

With Social Proof this can help your customer to feel right at home with you. This can come from a combination of you having experience, history, and the familiarity of the site. This can help to build customer trust with your sales transactions. You can also get this social proof from having product reviews, word of mouth, and from your brand recognition as well. 

You will need to build your reputation slowly, and gradually. Having your shop start off with a good impression with good photography, professional listings, and then will come to a time when you can build your price points as well. 

You might see others who sell the same products as you, or similar ones. With some of these places you might notice that they sell for a lot more money. Your profit margin will grow with the size of your business, and the reputation that you have built. It could be a couple of years before you maybe start to increase your prices, and by building your reputation you can accomplish this. We don't start out this way in the beginning with making big money. We build over time. 

Many of us dream of getting that big break. Boy, wouldn't that be nice, right? In reality a business will succeed with a history of some wins. Just keep putting yourself out there with things you have learned, use different opportunities to help spread the word about your business, and never stop building and accomplishing your goals.

Visit Lisa with Market Your Creativity, and enjoy the things that she shares from her knowledge, and experiences. 

Well, that is it for now folks. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and have a super day! Till the next time. See you again soon. 

Effective Networking, Making Connections Online

Effective Networking, Making Connections Online

Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Recently covered was Blogging, and Social Media. Today I will briefly cover some effective networking, and making online connections that will help us with our businesses.  

I am going to share a statement that Lisa from Market Your Creativity had shared in one of her first posts that she had shared on Etsy in the forums. What she had told the community there was "I am always your friend. We have neighboring shops and we help each other, whether you realize it or not."  

Interesting idea when you think about it as this is something we do with the different platforms we use to sell on, how we become involved with different social networks, and it would be like having a shop in the mall or one of those mini malls. So, what we do to attract customers to our shops, and places we sell can also help those around us. What you do to draw people to your shops is something others near by can benefit from as well. So, if someone comes to visit my shop, you are right next door, and could also get a visit as well. You are not trying to outsell the competition, or take their sales, but rather you are working to make sales. 

So, Lisa shares how she sees this as not pulling competition from each other, but rather how we are all pulling from the same places to make sales. It's an interesting thought don't you think?

We are all human, and sometimes we will get that sudden jolt of envy when we see someone else getting the good sales, and maybe some success too. Consider transforming some of those negative thoughts into admiration for those sellers. Take the opportunity to learn from them, and with some respectful admiration convert that into something positive for you. Get your creative juices flowing, putting your thoughts into work, and go forward to create your own success. 

Try to believe that there is enough business for all of us to have which includes some money too. This positive thinking can open some possibilities, and some potential connections around you. Feel the need to reach out to other competitors, and business owners that inspire you. When you do this you will be surprised with some of the ideas, some of the projects, and some of the exchanges that you will generate. 

This in turn will give you more confidence to build something from nothing. Brainstorming with sharing, and connecting with others can help produce many more things for you. 

I myself am a huge fan of networking in different ways. Since I live most of my time online most of my networking is done within the virtual world. The benefits, and knowledge that comes from these places can be priceless for many of us, and our careers.  

You can start this by setting some goals, reaching out to others, and maybe connecting with other business owners. Take the step, and see where it leads. It is beneficial to you, but it can also be a fun experience too. 

Remember to drop by, and visit with Lisa at Market Your Creativity. She really shares some good things there to learn from. 

Thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams! Until the next time I wish you all a wonderful day. See you again soon. 

Writing Your Listings or Descriptions For Your Products

Writing Your Listings or Descriptions For Your Products that you are offering for sale online.

Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and happy to see you!

Writing Your Listings or Descriptions For Your Products is where we are going to try to focus with today's topic. This is about the text the you use that will help in advertising your product. The listing you create can help you with making your sale. 

When you write your listings you need to understand what your customer's needs are, and what they are wanting to get from your products you offer. In your listings you want to help them see the results of the product, and why they should buy it. You want to share about your products offered their size, their length, how you made it, materials used, etc etc. While doing this you also need to make your customer realize the benefit, and the pleasure of them owning your products too.

If you can help identify what the customer is hoping to gain from owning your products you offer you are letting them know that you do understand what their needs may be, and what their desires are also. You want to make this about the customer as well. 

When doing your listings it helps to think like the customer. Think about how you shop as a customer. You want your customers to be pleased, happy, and comfortable with their purchases they are receiving. 

Try to have a clear picture of how the customer will benefit, and what their end result will be with owning products you offer. Try to practice putting the customers needs first. Try to switch your focus from just making a sale to the service of your customers. 

Key elements to effective writing are the What, the Why, and the How. 

The WHAT is the basic features of what your product is, what it's made of, what it measures, and etc. This should be the first paragraph of your listing descriptions. Try to make this short, and sweet if you can as you are leading them into the Why of your products. 

With the WHY of your listing you would like to describe to your customers the benefits of of the product that you are offering. This is one place to think like the customer to help them envision them having your product, using it, and what uses they can have from it in their homes. Try to give them a picture that they can envision from your description that you are offering. You are giving them the product in their mind simply because you offered a form of a visual for them to see. 

When it comes to the HOW of your description this is where you the seller come into the picture of your listing. Pretty much here you tell the customer how you are able to answer their questions or their needs, and confirm this is why you are the person to buy from. 

When you write your listings you want the customer to feel that you understand what their needs, desires, and wants are. These types of descriptions can add to the life of your photos, and listings. Your are helping the customer envision having your product in their world.   

Remember to also visit with Lisa at Market Your Creativity to follow some of her suggestions, and what she is sharing as well.

Thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams, and it has been great to see you here too! Hope to see you again soon. Take care everyone, and have a Happy Day!

Avatars Banners For Our Online Shops Platforms Blogs Websites

Avatars Banners For Our Online Shops Platforms Blogs Websites

Many of us do sales online as our business, and for some it is a hobby too. When we set up shop with different venues, market places, platforms, blogs, and websites we often have many questions as we set them up. Colors, do we use animated pictures, do I need a template, should I have a signature with my emails, what about my avatar, and do I need a banner? A lot of things to consider, and this is just some of it to begin with. 

A lot we can discuss, and this opens the door to many things. I am going to start this off with a simple subject now. Avatars, and banners is an issue that I see discussed quite often with different places like Etsy, Ecrater, Artfire, our blogs, and of course some of our websites too. Is there a true answer to this? I have yet to find one that is 100% correct, and says it is the law to do it. But, when we set up shop online we like to treat it like having our own brick & mortar store. Appearance can grab attention, and it can bring the customer in for a closer look. Don't get me wrong, our products definitely bring them in to look, read, learn, and hopefully purchase. As they enter sometimes appearances can reflect on you as a seller too. 

So, do we need an avatar with some of our shops? Do we need a banner with our shops as well? Is it really necessary, and does it really matter? In some ways yes it can make a difference with some shoppers. When choosing these things what do we choose? What is the best thing to use? Many have said that we should show a picture of something that we sell, or have sold. That is a good point. It is also mentioned to show a picture of ourselves with our avatars. I have also seen shared that we should not have these things to busy, don't have too much frill, and then there is also colors too. Yes, it is nice to show pictures of items you sell, give the customer a feel of what it is you do and offer, but I myself also think it is good to show a little bit of yourself. What I mean by that is show a little bit of who you are, your personality, and not only show what you sell, but let the customer feel comfortable entering your shop with a welcoming feeling of who you are too.

I know, it's a bit over whelming right? Don't let it intimidate you. Experiment with it a bit, and get some feed back from customers who buy from you, and from others within your same niche too. 

I myself like to keep things simple if I can. Yes, I use the same banner....most of the same banner pretty much everywhere I have set up shop. I try to stay with the same colors, and use the same avatar as well. I myself feel that this helps with recognition when shoppers are out searching that big old internet for things they want. Does it help? I have had some comments from past customers and acquaintances meeting up with me on Facebook, or maybe Google+ asking if it was really me, they remember me from this or that place, and it was nice meeting up with me again. Sometimes the comment I thought I recognized you which is a good feeling. 

Some like to change things every month with their avatars, and banners too. Maybe not every month, but at different times they will change. It works well for some, and others also have a different view with this. I would Love to change my avatar, and banners myself. I have often been tempted to, but at the same time I decided to stay with everything the same. I am still someone small, still trying to grow, and trying to be recognized by others as well. So, to keep things simple again, and not confuse anyone I keep the same. Eventually I will change things out, and maybe then I will have someone else design things for me. Till then I do it myself, and keep it simple being LilacsNDreams.  

I know I probably didn't give you complete answers to some of this, but I hope it gave you a little bit to think about as you venture onto your online shops. I appreciate you sharing your time with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again soon. Take care, and Have a Happy Day!  

Websites Blogs Venues Market Places For Online Sales

 Website, Blogs, Venues, Market Places For Online Sales

Hi! Welcome to LilacsNDreams Everyone! Ever get into one of those funks that you know you want to make a change, not sure how much change you want, and if you do change things what is maybe the best way for you to go? I, like many others, do Online Sales. Not only do I deal with different venues/platforms, but I also like some of the social networking with it too. 

I use Etsy, Ecrater, Artfire, and sometimes Ebay too. With changes that keep happening with different places, the rules, how they do things, the expenses, how visible you are in searches, and of course dealing with the search engine changes too I often wonder if I am better doing things on my own. If not completely on my own, what is it I should do? What is the equation so to speak that one should follow?

Like many others over time I have signed up with different platforms to sell with. Some have done well for me, and some is like you are non existing. Many of them take work with titles, descriptions, keywords, links, and working with SEO. Seems like you do what you know to do, what you are told to do, and then something changes. When those changes happen there go your views, the traffic gets lower, and along with that comes low sales also. So, how does one get through this?

Many of us do have, or wish to have our own websites. I know those take a lot of work, and can become spendy as well. You do more work with them with SEO, and trying to place in search engine searches than you do with some of the platforms already set up by different places. Then, if you use the free websites like weebly you can hear good, and bad about them as well. Some have websites with a blog included. There are some that use wordpress, and you often hear good about that too. For me wordpress is good I understand, but it is also kind of complicating to me. I have also seen some use blogger blog as their site, and do sales with them too.

Often people will use their blogs, show their merchandise they are offering with links back to where you can buy them. Doing this you avoid having to deal with a shopping cart on your site. At least for a little while till you build more, and move on. The same is with some of the social networks too. The popular one is Facebook of course. That is one place I have not been the most active with. Some of the social networks allow you to show your goods with the links back to the shops you have them in, or you can offer to sell right from there. One place that has been doing this, and is growing is The Vintage Village where they have also been working with another addition called Vintage Rising. Vintage Village is for those dealing with vintage, and antiques while Vintage Rising is for items that are not quite vintage, crafts, handmade, supplies, and things like that.

So, what do you think a person should do? If you deal with Online Sales what is it that you do for yourself, your business, your brand that you have found to work? I have come to kind of a stand still myself, and have been thinking things through more than I have working with my shops. I have more pieces to list, have taken pictures, have revised the pictures, etc, and etc....I have things sitting out to work on as well making some new pieces too. Unfortunately, I am being slow with it all lately. 

Would love to hear from others on what they are doing, what they have found to work for them, some ideas, some suggestions, and a lil bit of this and that. 

Thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams. It is Wednesday, and a Happy Hump Day to all! Enjoy, and see you again soon. 

Online Summertime Sales Slow to None

Online Summertime Sales Slow to None

For many who deal with sales online, or in the brick and mortar stores will sometimes notice sales being slower. Some have not had many sales to speak of. When this happens, many of us will question ourselves about what are we doing wrong, do I need to change something, is there more I could do, and etc.

In all reality sales during the summer generally do become slower for many. Depends on what you are selling, supply and demand, and you know. Consider that many people, and families during the summer spend time vacationing, traveling, spending more time with family and friends, and their focus is not with buying too much of anything. Sure, they will buy when they are traveling, visiting out of town, and vacationing for different little souveniers. The majority of their time is not spending all their time online buying, but maybe emailing, researching with travel plans, some take the summer to prepare for winter months themselves with their diy projects, their online inventory, and things like that.   

Selling has usually been slow for me during the summer time which I have adjusted to. I have adapted with the sales being very slow, or if any at all. I like to try to take the opportunity to work more with my blogs, spend some time with my website, reorganizing things, do a little research about some diy projects, and hoping to take the time to repurpose pieces too. I also have been noting some of my inventory, reviewing past sales of what has or has not sold for me, and try to prepare a little bit for the next year or seasonal changes.  

Like many others I also like to take some time to go thrifting, yard saling, junking, visit some estate sales, maybe attend a few auctions, and enjoy the wonderful weather! It has been a different summer this year with the late start of it, but enjoying what I am able to now.  

So, if you are getting the summer time blues with your online sales or storefront sales, are concerned about slow sales, or no sales, don't be too worried. Just remember that summer time is generally slower for many. Now.....the season will soon be changing from vacations completed, traveling becoming minimal, and with school soon starting again for the little ones, those in middle schools, high schools, and college too. Once the season changes, and people are back home more they will be spending more time with their computers, and doing some of their favorite online shopping again.  

Hang in there everyone, things will soon get better!:) Thanks for sharing time with LilacsNDreams. See you all again soon!

Market Places, Venues, Ebay, Ecrater, Etsy, Artfire, Ruby Lane, and More

Market Places, Venues, Ebay, Ecrater, Etsy, Artfire, Ruby Lane, and more.

Welcome to LilacsNDreams, and Happy Hump Day to all of you visiting! Having one of them days with thoughts going through my mind, and thought I would come by here to visit with all of you. 

I, like many others, spend time surfing the internet. We do it to read, learn, catch up on things, compare, and one of my favorite things is to shop. Besides shopping I also like to sell online too. There are many places out there to shop online with, to sell with, and there is no way I can know all of them either. You have your market places with auctions, some do not do auctions, you have big venues selling online, small venues, your big businesses, and quite honestly a lot of shopping is done online with many places. Some have ventured off having their own websites, and are doing well. Others have tried websites, and found it to be more than they wanted with cost, upkeep, coding, and so on.

There is so much out there to choose from, so much to see, and of course never enough time to see it all. So, when you go shopping online where do you go to? Or, if you are a seller where is your preference to sell at? Is it Ebay with auctions there, and of course buy it nows too. Do you visit with Ecrater where you can use Paypal, or Google Wallet to check out with. At least a little more payment selection is offered. Do you go to Etsy for handmade homemade items, or maybe you visit Artfire for that too, and can use Amazon Payments there. Then, there is Ruby Lane where you can purchase your vintage antique collectibles. So many places out there, so much to see, and how does a person keep it straight, right?

I guess I am just in a slump right now with the change of the seasons. I haven't done too much lately to really make any sales with any of my shops. I do ebay periodically, I have inventory growing at Ecrater, and I have things also with Etsy too. Artfire has not done too much for me for quite some time, but I still show things there which keeps my name out there for others to find. I have family staying with us right now which off sets my schedule of things a bit too.

Sometimes a person can do too much with different market places, and then again not enough too. I was one that had things sitting everywhere. Over time I have been pulling things away, and trying to simplify by just having 2-3 places that I sell with, and shop at too. I found that I enjoy having more time to work with the shops, am able to work on more projects, can spend more time promoting items amongst 2-3 places, and I am actually getting more views with keeping it simple too.

So, for whatever reasons where do you sell at, where do you like to shop with, what are the advantages and disadvantages, and etc? Would love to hear some input with this a little bit. Always nice to have views through the eyes of others. 

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams today. I enjoyed you stopping by, and hope to see you again soon. Take care, and have a wonderful Wednesday Hump Day!

Bloggers With Shops Stores Boutiques is This a Trend

 Bloggers With Shops Stores Boutiques, is This a Trend?

Welcome to LilacsNDreams, glad to have you here. I have a silly question, how many of you blog? Do you only read blogs, or do you also have a blog. Next question, over time have you noticed that many people who do blog now have their own shops too? Not only the brick & mortar shops, but also those Online Shops as well. Sometimes I am seeing a trend with this.

Upon reading blogs, following with some, sharing, etc I have noticed over time that some have ventured off into becoming shop owners as well. Yes, some have gotten a building for their shops to do their own thing in as they wish. There are some shops that are open 7 days a week, 6 days a week, 5 days a week, and there are also many that have chosen particular days of the week or month to be open as well. While some have been fortunate to venture off into their own shops they still maintain their blogs during this time too. There are some who do have websites while they are in business, but many no matter what still have their blogs. 

One of the advantages to having a blog is that the Search Engines love them, and if you have something like Word Press you have the flexibility of the plug-ins with them too.  

Don't you think that is a neat concept? Have you seen things to also imply that this may be a trend? Have your blog, or maybe a website you have dealt with. Over time you were able to grow from your blog into a shop. Some with their shops will have their blog logo stamped onto their store bags for a reminder to customers. Many have schedules worked out with their hours of operation they have, and when they will blog. Different shop owners found that with blogging it was a good start for them, and is still a good thing for them with their shops as well. 

So, how many of you have the dream of having your own shop, and advance from blogging? Wouldn't it be neat? Having your own shop would you use the same name as your blog, would you choose a different name for business, would you keep your blog after you opened your shop, would you be like many others who then treat their blogs as their website too?

I have often thought of opening a shop again, and yes I would use my blog up till that day, and also continue to Blog too. Blogging has been a way to communicate with others, share ideas, share thoughts, make friends, but has also been a great way of showing products and advertising with the advantages of the Search Engines liking them too. 

Upon having my shop again I would have different hours with it, and I would have different days that I would also be open. On days that I was closed I would still be in the shop shooting photos for my blog, writing and blogging, creating different things to offer in the shop, have days to shop for supplies and inventory, and things like that. 

So, what do you think? Would love for you to share about your Blogger Shop ideas. Have you opened a shop yourself? Are there plans in your future with a Blogger Shop idea? 

Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams everyone, and hope you enjoyed your visit today. Have fun blogging, and planning, and see you all again soon. Take care!

Ruby Lane Ruby Plaza Changes Happen by End of Year

Ruby Lane and Ruby Plaza Changes are Happening by the End of the Year. 

Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone! If you have not already heard, or maybe need a reminder  about Ruby Lane's sister sight called Ruby Plaza, it will be closing by the end of the year. At Ruby Plaza you were able to sell your items of new, and not vintage. Many sellers who do online sales enjoyed that there were 2 sights they could work with selling their items. Earlier in the year it had been announced that Ruby Lane would be closing their sister site of Ruby Plaza. The site is still active for those who are selling there, and the sellers there were also given the option of moving some of their things into Ruby Lane too. Now, for those who are still there selling, it is best that you visit the site so that during the process of my discussion there is no misinterpretations of the rules, and the changes for you too. 

Like with any other market place when this happens many questions can flood your minds. A big question especially of what do I do now? Where can I sell my items that are not considered vintage, how do I sell some of these items that are maybe new, I buy from Thrift Stores and different places to resell. So where can I sell these items at now? There are many market places out there, and you will hear all kinds of stories about them. Unfortunately, you will have to find the one that feels good for you, that works for you, and that you can agree with also. 

There is Ecrater to consider which you can sell a little bit of everything there. Paypal, and Google Wallet are both accepted there for payment processors. No listing fees, or final value fees. There is Etsy which is for handmade, supplies, aritisans, media, repurposed, upcycled, and vintage is also sold there as well. They have paypal, and a direct checkout that is offered with their payment services. Listings are .20 cents for up to 4 months, and then there is a 3.5% final value fee. Of course Ebay is still around, and still the biggest place to be selling your wares with. They offer paypal for their payment services. No listing fees, final value fees are 9%, and there is also a final value fee they charge with your shipping charges too. Each place has their own visibility, some are straight selling with a buy it now price, and like with Ebay that is auctions along with buy it now prices too.

Now, some already have a website, or maybe have websites they have been working on. These are services you can pay for along with cost of shopping cart services, or some use free website services, and use the widgets from different market places that are offered as well. They then will buy their own domains for this as well. Don't forget there are many who will also use their Blogs. With their blogs they might offer buy it now buttons, or also offer widgets to visit for different places too. With most of the people who Blog you can contact, and they would also be happy to invoice you for an item that you are interested with as well. 

Many options, many things available, but it is up to you with your choices of what can, and will work for you. I hope that this bit of information was helpful to some of you who are still deciding, or needed some ideas. Hey, don't forget you are always welcome to offer something that I have not covered, or added too. 

Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams everyone. See you again soon.

    

How Many Pictures is Enough to Use and Show

How Many Pictures is Enough to show with all that we do online?

Hi there, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams. Gonna bring up a simple topic today for ya'll. Many of us do online sales, have websites, work with blogs, and for the most part we are trying to sell our goods that we have to offer. Along with us offering different products for all to buy we include pictures with our listings. A question that gets asked sometimes is How Many Pictures is Enough?

Some people only like to do one picture, and feel it to be enough. Sometimes some sellers can offer too many pictures that you can get lost in when viewing. Better yet, too many pictures and they all start to look alike too. 

With each venue we use to sell our products with they all have a different amount that is allowed with our listings. Ecrater allows up to 10 pictures, Artfire allows up to 10 pictures, Ebay has changed and is allowing up to 12 pictures free, Etsy allows up to 5 pictures. These are ones I am familiar with, and do know that there are other venues out there used by many others too. 

For many of my products that are vintage I like to show all possible pictures that I can. Main view of an item, top, bottom, both sides if they are different, makers mark, any flaws that are visible, sometimes pictures with some possible uses to help customers consider some things, and etc. For items I repurpose upcycle I like to show all pictures possible which sometimes can include the before picture of how things looked too. When I do pictures I try to remember the customer.....they are not there to see it in person, feel it, smell it, look it all over, etc. Also, sometimes pictures can explain more of what our words cannot tell too. So, if I can use up to 10 - 12 pictures I try very hard to fill them all up. Sometimes I find that only being able to use 5 at Etsy is difficult because I think I need to show more. Then, again, only having to show 5 is sometimes enough too. 

Each item is different, each seller is different, each person has their own feelings of what should, and should not be done. But, you as a customer, what do you like to see? Do too many pictures get used sometimes in your opinion. Perhaps sometimes there are not enough pictures shown for your shopping purposes. Would love to hear some opinions with this. Share with us all what you like to do, and why you do it. 

Remember everyone, there is no right or wrong to things I talk about here. Much of it is opinions, and sometimes I share how things should be, or what research does show us. So, go ahead and share with us all here. Keep it clean, no one be nasty, and please remember everyone does have their own opinions that they are allowed to. 

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams today everyone. Take care, have a wonderful day, and see you again soon. 

How Many Online Storefronts is Enough or Needed

How Many Online Storefronts is Enough or Needed.

When I see this I think of that old saying that we all are often reminded about. "Don't place all your eggs into 1 basket". So then many will also ask How many storefronts do we need? How many storefronts is really enough? Often times we will ask ourselves do I need another storefront. If I have another storefront will I have more sales. Also, having another storefront gives me how much more exposure too. Another logical question is how many storefronts is too many. 

Many questions asked, and they are all within good reason of asking too. The theory behind this sort of thing is the more stores you have the more eyes you will attract, more visitors, more traffic, and so on. Honestly there really is no right, or wrong answer to this question. You need to find what works for you, what you are capable of doing, and what you see results with that you are happy with yourself. Sorry, this is one I will not give you a definite answer to. There will be many mixed feelings, and many different views with this. All sellers are different. Some sellers find that having everything under 1 roof works for them, and they like it like that. Others find that they can do better if they break things down into different stores. 

Something to consider is if you would want 1 store per product type that you will be offering, or maybe you would rather have 1 big store that will house different categories for the different products that you will sell. You will want to consider the products that you sell. Will they all be for the same audience, and customers that you will be serving. An example to use for this would like selling electronics, and clothing in the same store. Would this work, and is it appealing to you. Try seeing this through the eyes of a customer, and what would work for them too.

If you were to house everything into one place it could also be an advantage for you too. You would have more listings, more people visiting for the different things you are offering which could bring you more traffic, it could be a convenience for the customer to have it all in 1 place with no roaming around to all the different stores, and etc. It could make a little bit more work making sure you have categories to cover all products being offered. You would have 1 place where the customer would visit, browse, and ask questions for you to answer to as well. Something like this makes me think of a catalog that you would browse, and shop with. Also, another thought is the simplicity of things being in 1 place too. Not only for us, but for the customers too.

So, IF you were to split things up into different stores how many items would you have in those stores. I think of the issue where it is always discussed that having at least 100 items in your store is good for you, visibility, sales, page ranking, SEO, and etc. Could be quite helpful in the search engines too. 

If you were to have separate stores would you have them all in multiple market places. Doing this you would have to consider the different locations, the fees for each one of them, and the time spent to do all of this too. Is it necessary to do all of this, and would it be of benefit for you to do this as well.

I apologize for not being able to give you 1 complete answer, but do hope this will help you consider different things before moving ahead with your thoughts. Over time I have seen many things done by many people that works for them. I have seen many sellers who have 1, 3, 5, 8, 12 shops and sometimes more. They have found for them that this works. I am thinking. . . Whew! I myself have had up to like 5-6 shops, and did not like it. I had to worry about duplicating things among the shops that google does not like. Then I had to consider being able to give each, and everyone of the shops fair time spent with them. If something sold, did I remove it from the other stores, and which stores did I have this item listed with. Also, holding things up in between the stores due to packaging, and shipping an item that has sold with 1 of the stores. The fear of the 1 item selling twice too. How do you decide which customer will get the item, and what do you tell the other customer that will not get what they thought they were purchasing. 

Many years ago when I started selling online I started with Ebay, and at that time I housed everything into 1 place. I did okay with it, had no issues, and things moved right along for me too. I wish you all well with these decisions that we always have to make. I hope that this topic was able to help you think of a few things as you make your decisions with your shops for selling. Not only consider what I have mentioned here, but maybe also some other things not covered too. 

Good Luck to all of you, and many Happy Sales to you as well! Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams. Come back to visit again soon. 

 

Your Online Yard Sale Theory to Achieve Traffic

Your Online Yard Sale Theory to Help Achieve Traffic. Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone!

For those of us who sell online with different market places, maybe have a brick and mortar store, or maybe have your own websites you sell with, and well, you got the idea. Anyway, one of the questions we often ask ourselves, and others is how many items should we list. How many items is necessary to have in our stores to be offered for sale, or resale. Does it really make a difference the amount of items that we list, or have on the shelf for sale. 

In theory, yes it really does make a difference. Think of it this way, with this example I will use. You wouldn't have a yard sale with only maybe like 10 items on your lawn, and expect to get traffic pulling up all day now, would you. So, in theory when thinking about this the more items you have for your shops the more people will stop, and spend time looking around at everything too. Makes sense, don't you think. I am that way myself when I think about it. Unless I am really interested in just the one item, I like to roam and look around, and when I go looking for one thing I generally end up looking at more that is being offered with the store too. 

Another thing to maybe think about too is that some yard sellers are able to sell coffee, or even baked goods with their sales. Maybe, just maybe there is something that you too can offer of small, or inexpensive that people could also purchase. There is usually someone out there for everything we sell. It is just a matter of getting the traffic to our shops, and getting the attention to help with our sales. 

I know you have heard this like a million times from many places, and many people. It's really true though. Don't put all of your eggs into one basket. It helps to get yourself out there, and also join some sites too. The more exposure you can get, the more people see your name, the more common it becomes to them that they will stop on by your place. 

I had to throw this idea out there I thought of the other day. Kind of like a food for thought type thing, but makes sense when you think about it too. Gives you some idea of things to think of, and maybe apply to your own stores if you are not already. 

Hey, thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you here, and happy to hear from you too. Always welcome to share a thought, or two with all of us. Take care, and have a wonderful Wednesday everyone. See you again soon. 

LilacsNDreams New Blog With Blogger

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams again everyone! Well, it is night time, my back is hurting, ankles swollen, but I have spent all day working on what I have started for this blog so far. I have been slowly adding pages, choosing the templates, and then adding my own touches to them as I move along.  For those who have gotten to my posts that I normally try to do between Tues. thru Fri....I don't think I will have one for tomorrow yet. I need to go back through notes, and again will apologize if I repeat any of my posts. Some of you have found use with them, and in order to have them for you I shall working on getting a few of them back in here again.

Hope ya'll found me ok, and hoping to have more stopping by. I need to take a break, and get this announced everywhere that I can about the blog changes. Don't want everyone thinking I disappeared, and they can no longer visit. Keep the faith everyone...it's coming along. Now, for that I break I am needing....

Any questions, or an suggestions you are always Welcome to add in here you know. Thanks for coming back, and finding me. Take care, and see you all again soon.  Thanks again for your understanding...I really appreciate it!:) Oh, and I did get my .com domain directed to here. So, for a quicker way of dropping by, don't forget to just look up good old LilacsNDreams.com, ok? Thanks again!:)