Alamo City Etsy is switching nams!

Alamo City Etsy will now be known as Alamo City Handmade. We're opening our membership to non-Etsy sellers, as the need has shown itself to be quite large in San Antonio. Be expecting wonderful things to come as we roll out the changes!

5 Tips for Item Descriptions

Do you have writer's block when it comes to crafting your Etsy item listings? You're in luck! Optimize your shop with the following five tips for effective and descriptive prose in your product listings. You'll have a way with words in no time!

1. Create an inverted pyramid. The most important information about your item should be first in your description — not only because shoppers want the details on your items as soon as possible, but also because it's a smart way to optimize the way your description displays in Google search results.

2. Short paragraphs and bullet points are your friends. Visitors to your shop might be looking for a specific size or material, so make it easy for them to glean that info from your descriptions by cutting out superfluous language and making good use of bullet points. Think about your descriptions as a way to answer your buyer's questions (within reason, of course). Here's a forum thread, 20 Questions Your Buyers are Asking, to help you get an idea of what those questions could be.

3. Keep an eye on your web analytics results. (Find out how to set that up in the Seller FAQ.) Keep a list of the keywords visitors searched for when they found your shop and write with these keywords in mind. Remember that your tags are keywords used by Etsy Search, but your most important tags and materials should also be scattered throughout your descriptions so that internet searches (through Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc) can find you too! These sites are more likely to pick up keywords from your descriptions rather than your list of tags.

4. Just like a good therapist suggests, use "I" statements. Speaking in the first person will help you connect with your visitor on a personal level — and isn't that what they are looking for when they come to shop on Etsy? Show a bit of your personality! Think of your item descriptions as you would when meeting a new friend: you want to be polite, but you also want to be your natural self.

5. End with a link. Did you know you can copy and paste Etsy URLs in your descriptions and they will function as a hyperlink? Use this to your advantage. If your visitor has read your item description and is not biting, don't let them float away off the computer, to another website, Etsy shop or back to their search results. Instead, give them a link to learn more about you, see your entire shop, check out your policies or even a link to send you a conversation.

Weekend Update

Don't miss this amazing stop on the East Austin Studio Tour. In addition to Flatfork Studios and the other permanent art galleries and studios which make up this locale, over 40 Etsy Austinites will be rotating over the two weekends selling their art and handmade wares. Sip on Tito’s, nibble on food, shop, and of course, fill your heart with art. Live demonstrations will be held each day. Mark your tour map and we will see you there!

Etsy Austin @ E.A.S.T
Saturday & Sunday Nov 14th & 15th
Saturday & Sunday Nov 21th & 22th
10 am to 5 pm

Smith Road Studios
1406 Smith Road
Austin, TX

Holiday Handmade Market on Saturday!

Come out on Saturday to the Holiday Handmade Market at Bubblehead Tea located at 1035 S Presa for early holiday shopping! Come by to support the Alamo City Etsy team by purchasing buttons, lip balms and loot bags. Look out for our ad in Backbeat Magazine this month.


We'll be having a 2nd Holiday Market on December 12th with even more vendors! Come by and see us!

Farmer John's Favorite Pumpkin Bread

Rich spice flavors shine in this tender, cake-like bread.

Prep and Cook Time: about 1 1/4 hours.

Yield: Makes 2 loaves, about 10 servings each

Notes: You can store this bread airtight at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups Mashed Pumpkin
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350° (325° convection).

2. In a large bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, nuts, raisins, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, cloves, allspice, and ginger until well blended.

3. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, Mashed Pumpkin, and oil until well blended.

4. Add wet ingredients to flour mixture and stir just until well blended. Pour equally into two oiled 8 1/2- by 4 1/2-inch loaf pans (with 2 2/3-cup capacity each).

5. Bake until bread pulls from pan sides and a wooden skewer inserted in center of thickest part comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Let bread cool in pans on a rack for about 15 minutes. Cut around outside edges of bread and invert onto racks. Cool thoroughly.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 279 (42% from fat)

Protein: 3.3g

Fat: 13g (sat 1.7)

Carbohydrate: 38g

Fiber: 0.8g

Sodium: 198mg

Cholesterol: 32mg

Sunset, OCTOBER 2005

Stories and Quality - Details Sell Handmade Online

Janet Bocciardi, crafter from the website Honey from the Bee, shared her thoughts on why she thinks a good story and attention to quality help potential buyers have a memorable experience.

“What makes your pair of chalcedony earrings different than the ones in a department store? Why do customers want to buy jewelry from an independent artist vs. a large chain store? There are probably quite a few different responses to those questions, but I think figuring this out is paramount in helping one sell their artisan jewelry or other items,” Janet said.

“I think we all know we’d rather put on a pair of earrings where we knew who made them than perhaps a factory or worse child labor in a third world country,” Janet explains. “However, sometimes the price just seems easier to focus on.”

Janet suggests handmade sellers draw potential buyers in with their personal story. “If at an art fair, buyers may get hooked on your personality or image, but online one has to focus on the story,” she said.

Can’t think of a good story to share with potential buyers? Janet suggests writing about why you are an artist. “Or more focused to what inspired the piece you are selling,” she continues. “It may be the additional colors you chose to highlight the stone remind you of that Caribbean trip you took last winter. Whatever it is – write about it.”

Janet provides a great example for sellers: “Your chalcedony earrings are drops from the sea, dripping from a mermaid’s ears as she peeks out of the water and looks longingly to shore,” she writes.

In addition to sharing a personal story with potential buyers, Janet says quality work is a key to selling more handmade crafts. “Make sure your work is of high quality,” she tells HandmadeMarketing.org. “One of the things that’s finally hitting many retail shops is folks are just tired of buying stuff that breaks before a reasonable amount of use. In this day and age of making your money count, and wanting to use our resources wisely, who wants to keep replacing?“

To accomplish this, Janet things taking good and bright photographs of items is a great first steps to ensure buyers can really see what they are buying. “Value your work. Items perceived to be priced too low are also seen as ones of questionable quality,” she says.

Have you tried something new to market your handmade items? How did it work for your shop? Do you have any advice for a new seller? Leave your wisdom in the comments!

How to Make Recycled Envelope Gift Bags

By Jessica Jones, How About Orange

Find an envelope of any size. (I embellished these by printing a label on the front of them first. You can use my design if you want; these PDFs are set up according to how my printer feeds envelopes through. If yours is different, you might need to experiment. Download the label for a small A2 envelope or a larger 6×9 envelope.)

1. After you’ve finished printing a design on your envelope (optional), seal it shut.

2. Cut off one end of the envelope.

3. Fold one side in toward the center (maybe about an inch or slightly less). Do the same with the other side, then fold the bottom up by the same amount, making creases in the paper.

4. Put the bag over one hand. Use your other hand to shape a flat bottom for your bag, pushing the bottom center crease downward, causing the side folds to buckle out. Crease the corners of the bottom into triangles.

5. Use a bit of double-sided tape to stick the corner triangle flaps to the bottom of the bag.

6. Reverse the folds along the sides of the bag to give it shape.

7. If you like, punch holes and thread ribbon through for a handle.

All done. You can fill your Baglets with candy for party favors or put little gifts in them.

Cream Cheese Brownies for Temptation Tuesday

Brownies

• 1 pkg Duncan Hines® Chocolate Lovers’ Double Fudge Brownie Mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  

Topping

• 1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese (softened)
• 2 eggs
• 1 lb confectioner’s sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom of 13 X 9 pan.
2. Combine all of the brownie ingredients including fudge packet from mix and stir with spoon until well blended. Spread into pan.
3. Beat cream cheese in large bowl at medium with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs, sugar, vanilla until smooth. Spread over brownie mixture.
4. Bake at 350 for 45-50 miniutes or until edges and top are golden brown.
5. Cool completely and the refrigerate until well chilled.

Recipe amended from Great American Favorite Brand Name Cookbook, 1993

More Dia de los Craftos pictures!

Business Cards – How to Make Your Shop Stand Out

Because business cards among handmade sellers are common, HandmadeMarketing.org wanted to get the scoop on how to make your online shop’s business cards stand out.

When used to their potential, business cards can be one of the most effective marketing tools for your handmade item shop. Artisans who reach out to their local community will usually agree. Putting off business cards at a local craft fair or trade show could mean the difference between success and walking away penniless.

Whether your shop is new to selling online or been around for awhile, successful or not quite there, consider implementing business cards to shake things up! To help Etsy sellers along the way, our team created this simple business card checklist:

• Slogan or Tag Line. If applicable, consider utilizing a slogan or tag line in your business card layout. However, don’t go overboard. Keep this text short – 10 words or less should summarize your Etsy shop’s purpose. For help writing your slogan or tag line, consider what you would tell an acquaintance who asks you what you sell online. Keep the acquaintance interested without going overboard with the details. “Professional neckties with a modern and stylish twist” may be all the acquaintance needs to know before going online to see your handmade craft items.
• Vital Information. Make sure your card has all your contact information, including your name, shop name, shop logo, address, e-mail, phone numbers and website/blog.
  As a general rule, if you are reluctant to include any of this information, you probably have not detached your personal life from your Etsy or other online shop. For example, if the thought of including “lovetofish87@yahoo.com” makes you squirm, consider establishing an email address for your handmade shop that draws customers to your items. Keep your email address professional and “red flag free”.
  Why include a website or blog address? If you have a professional website or blog centered around your Etsy or other online shop, this is a great place to let potential customers know! If you haven’t set up a blog or website, consider putting this into your marketing plan. Our team suggests skipping inclusion of a blog or website if either are for personal use only. Don’t waste a potential buyer’s time with something that is not related to your Etsy shop. The risk of offending or turning off a potential buyer by sending them to a personal site is too great.
  Always consider your target market when weighing the contact information you include on your handmade shop’s business card. If your average buyer would not call you with questions, mull over limiting your list of phone numbers. If that buyer would most likely email you, make sure your email address is professional as they will most likely be taking notice.
• Make Use of Space. We have all seen business cards that cram too much information into a small space. The front of the card should be your most important information. If you are finding your information is taking over the front of the business card, consider moving some of the text to the back. The back of the card may also be a great place to feature a coupon for your Etsy (or other selling platform) shop. Keep in mind a business card is not intended to overwhelm the potential customer. If your business card is becoming crowded, prioritize the text and make cuts.
  Here’s another idea our team thinks would be great for shop business cards: use your card to tell potential buyers how to buy your items! If you often hand out business cards to interested customers that have never purchased handmade online, consider giving them a helping hand. A step-by-step (with three-five steps) for how to buy on your selling platform (i.e. Etsy, Artfire, 1000 Markets, etc.) would be fabulous next to a shop coupon!
• Readability. Good intentions often lead to bad formatting decisions for business cards. Using all caps on a business card makes the information difficult to read. Fancy, elaborate, and tiny fonts will often reap the same results. Determine your target market and format your card accordingly. Is it likely your average potential buyer will be able to read a 6 point font written in a cursive, loopy font? Make it easy for potential buyers – reading your information is essential!
• Keep It Practical. As we outlined in “Promo Items – Promote Wisely“, consider putting something of value on the back of your business card. The best type of practical tool would be one that links back to your online hand-craft shop. In the past, we suggested doubling the card as a six-inch ruler if a ruler reinforces the nature of your craft (i.e. handmade greeting cards). A conversion table or calendar may also tie back to your craft. Get creative! What may work for one target market may be useless for another.
• Graphics. Graphics should be reserved for those that find them a necessity. Some business cards include headshots or item photos, which can help an shop just as much as hurt business. Free images from Word or Powerpoint software may look great to you, but turn off a potential buyer.

The goal for a business card for your handmade shop is to maintain a level of professionalism while selling handmade items which are oftentimes made at your home. Remember, online craft sellers are generally looking at an uphill battle because face-to-face marketing sometimes lacks the feel of seeing your shop firsthand. Anything you can do as a seller to reinforce your professionalism will help you climb that hill. It’s easy to slip when your best intentions result in an unprofessional card.

Our team’s biggest take away: design a business card for the present! Relying on trends 10 years ago may not be effective for your online shop today. Just because your business card is simple, does not mean it is bare and unattractive. In fact, many times we find the opposite.

Lisa Romero, from www.paperbullet.com, shared her business card tips with us. “Instead of using an actual standard size business card, I use Moo Mini Cards. I get my info centered (instead of right/left justification), so I can also punch a mini hole on one side and use them as hang tags for my pendants and attached to the back of artwork,” Lisa said.

“What are nice about Moo Cards is you can then print whatever image on the card you want. Instant mini-brochure. Info on your company and image on the other side. I also have a friend that does this subtly with stickers. If it’s well designed and has more than one purpose people may never want to throw them away.”

Great ideas for getting handmade shop business cards noticed! Thank you Lisa!

What tips do you have for great business cards? What is your favorite idea in this article? Have business cards been effective for your Etsy, Artfire, or other handmade shop? Why or why not? Leave us a comment and tell us!

Original Article from HandmadeMarketing.org

Dia de los Craftos at Casbeers

Here are a few pictures from Dia de los Craftos last night.

Keep checking our blog for more pictures to come!