Congrats SewIndieShop!

Our own Cara of sewindieshop was recently featured on the Etsy blog!

Go check out the blog post here!

Congrats Cara!

Hearts & Crafts MidWinter Market Reviews

Check out blog posts from FrancescaDeCaire and KiraArts for pictures of RNEST members who displayed their wares at the Hearts & Crafts Indie Market at Java's Cafe this past Sunday!

Make-it Mondays: Goodies For Your Blog

As Esty sellers we are aesthetically sensitive people. We've made a visual, online space to market our goods, and many of us have also created blogs, Flickr and Twitter accounts and Facebook fan pages to reflect our style and story. Here are some fun things you can add to your blog that will let readers know a little more about you, your interests and enhance the visual space of your blog.

WidgetBox: a site that offers great pre-made and custom widgets for your blog. Updates often. I added their Music Monday player widget to my personal blog, since I blog specifically on Mondays. (BTW, great music choices as well)

LinkWithin: With this application you can add a list of posts readers may also enjoy if they liked the post they are currently reading. The list will go at the end of a post with thumbnails. It's a good way to keep people reading, when they don't want to search hard.

RNEST buttons: Members did you know we have a variety of colorful buttons/badges for your sites, designed by our very own Kira of KiraArts? Grab them on our Ning Team page and spread our street team love.

The Cutest Blog On The Block: Don't know much about designing your own blog layout? This site has TONS of free ones perfect for an Etsy seller. Other great blog template sites are: shabbyblogs and hotbliggetyblog.

Make-it Mondays: Build Online Support for Your Etsy Shop

So you thought you could make a fabulous Etsy shop and wait for the tidal wave of awesome to head your way? Wrong. Think about it. Online you are one in a million. Maybe even one in a billion. What are the chances of finding your little water drop in the big crafty ocean? Here are some ways to stand out and bring traffic to your store:

• Create a blog: And use it! Write about your inspiration, share work in progress and let customers get to know you on a personal level. That connection is what makes you far more interesting than going to Walmart.
• Make a Facebook Fanpage: You can post treasuries you make and treasuries you are included in. You can post surveys. You could post giveaways for your 1000th heart or 100th fan. Just imagine, one "like" can connect you to a person who has 500 friends who may like you as well and connect you to their 500 friends.
• Get Your Own Dot Com: You can buy a domain that is short and easy to remember and have it forward to your Etsy store. This may also eliminate some competition with someone who has a similar shop name or product.
  
• Make a Business Twitter: This is a quick and easy way to announce giveaways, contests, and new items in your shop. This is great for your returning customers to access. Be careful though! No one wants their cell going off at your every creative move.
  
• Link, Link, Link: Link your blog to other successful sites you love. Comment on high traffic blogs. Comment on Etsy treasuries. Post to your facebook fanpage and twitter. Participate in street team forums. This will put you higher on Google searches.
  

Alright so here are two things you might be thinking right now: "Jesus, do you live on your computer?" and "Won't I annoy people by constantly updating them about my business?" The answers, if you do all of the above, are yes and yes. So pick and choose. Maybe use one or two ideas. Or maybe use several ideas, but just once or twice a week.

Trash & Treasures Tuesday: Quick Hit

Hi all! This weekend was a little crazy, so I didn't get to the project I had in mind to share.... instead, I thought I'd share an amazing upcycle project I found on one of my favorite blogs, How About Orange.

From everyday newspaper to one-of-a-kind gift bag:

Photo courtesy of How About Orange.

This tutorial, like all of HAO's tutorials, is easy to follow and fun! Check this project out and some of HAO's other awesome upcycle projects.

Have a happy week!

Peace & thanks,
Kaitlin