June 18, 2010

A Scatterbrain's Method of Organizing Etsy Item Listing


My Procedure for Listing an Etsy Item


I love to write down a procedure for various things that seem complicated otherwise. Etsy item posts fall into the complicated category for me. Even just the act of writing down a step-by-step description helps me keep focus on my task. I'd like to share this with you. Maybe it will make listing our items a bit more palatable.

First, of course, I make the item. Then.... I admire it!  I look at it from all sorts of angles and look for small details that I may have overlooked - you know, like loose threads that I forgot to trim.. that sort of thing.

Next... take photos of the item. (NOT my favorite part at all!)  I try to shoot in the correct light, get lots of different angles, figure out what props I need to use. If the item has a coordinating mate, I shoot them together so that I can link them through their descriptions. I've been known to take 125 pictures of just 4 items.

Then.... process and crop the pictures. I use slideshow for all the unprocessed pictures to get an idea of which 5 pictures I plan to use in the store. (I generally pick 6 or 7 so that I have a backup pic "just in case".

When I have my pics selected I create a folder on my desktop (for easy access when actually posting the items) process, crop and then put the chosen pics into that folder. I name the folder whatever the title of the item is.  It's one folder for each item.

Now it's time to describe the item. I use notepad for this. I type up the description as though I was describing it to someone over the phone. (Try describing any shade of any color - geeze!) I go to my favorite metric site to include inches and centimeters in the description. This is a quick and easy task if you use this tool:
http://www.manuelsweb.com/in_cm.htm

I type the Item Title using as many google search words as possible without making the title look rediculous. I make the first two lines of my description as google friendly as I can - again avoiding making it rediculous. Then I get to add all the colorful flattering stuff. I save the document using the item title as the document title. This goes into the photo folder.

I've tried to pre determine the tags on a list just after the description but haven't figured out a way to easily put the tags into etsy without flipping back and forth between the document and the listing page. so... I wing it! If I am waaay off then I just edit the tags. THEN I copy the tags from etsy and paste them to my item description for future use.

It's time to post the item! I pull up the picture/description file and when the time comes I just copy and paste the description to the item description page. When it's time for the photos - they are all right there for you... you don't have to sort through allll those pictures!

Then... I file the folder in my Etsy Folder. Since the folder is titled using the item name it's not hard to find the folder if I need it again. I do kind of organize my items into group folders i.e. Knitting Needle Cases, Hats, Mini Clutches, etc.

Lastly I enter the newly posted item onto my Inventory sheet.

Item complete!

Maybe this will help some of you create your own routine for posting your gorgeous work! If you have any suggestions post them in comments - we all love a good way to do our work!


14 comments:

  1. Great post! I'm in the school with you of needing some kind of routine!

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  2. Wow you have a great system! I am going to have re think how I do things now :O)

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  3. I like your system! Thanks for sharing your process and especially the link to convert to cm. That will be a big help!

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  4. Karen, Thanks for sharing such a great system!
    Loved the fotos! They look fantastic.
    Hugs:0)))

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  5. You do have a great system of listing! I love the way that your photos are changing for the better. You are becoming a good photographer that captures from different angles:)

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  6. Karen-- Thanks for taking an interest in our blog www.GalleonsGold.blogspot.com
    We have created a link so that you can be a follower as requested.

    Jenny

    PS I really like your site. Lots of fun things!!

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  7. Karen that's a wonderful way to go from creating to posting. You are waaaay more organized than I am. :-) How do you know if your title, description and tags are google friendly?
    Happy Day! Happy Creating!
    Gini

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  8. MaineLadyBug I sent you a convo. Google friendly means that they are words that google would use to find your item. What most people would use as search words when using google. :-)

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  9. Nice post, Karen!

    Well... I just had an idea! What do you think about creating a post, featuring one of your items for a critique?

    By the way, finally I made a decision: I am back to Etsy! Actually I never left, but... anyway... I created my own build shop, but I haven't the same feedback and views. As I use Google Analytics, I've comparing both and I saw that my Etsy shop, even without any promotion, had more views than the other one.

    I made all changes, following girls' tips. But I am going to change my pics, descriptions and tags, after reading a lot about promoting my shop.

    And.. I just need to paint more. But lately I was very depressive (whatever reason :P) and I'm investing some time in this Etsy mood (chats, forums, labs, etc) to keep me motivated to create my stuff.

    \o/

    Hugs,
    Tati

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  10. I cannot believe how orgainized you are I never even thought to use google words in my discriptions! The photos and folder is a really a great tip. You are the best Karen thanks so much for being helpful!

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  11. Tati, can you please put a link to your etsy shop in the comment so we can see it!

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  12. Oh... Sorry!
    Thanks for reminding me, Jeanette!

    http://tatimaia.etsy.com

    :D

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  13. Great post, I love your ideas. I am going to incorporate them and tweek them into my own. It should cut my listing time down considerably.

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