How to get the best online sales?

[surf girl]

Hi Dan. I've got no issue with someone pointing out that you haven't sold soap, if they think it's relevant. I don't personally think it is, but the relevance can be debated and may the best debater win. What stuck in my craw was the "as moderator" deal. I've got a problem with mods seeing that as their job. The mod is taking on the task of saying, in essence, "You don't know what you're talking about", which is outside the usual realm of what forum moderators do.

 

[Guest]

I'll be the 1st to say I haven't sold soap. I've always been forthcoming about my experience, in fact I introduced myself a few months back as someone who had only just begun researching soapmaking and hadn't even made my first batch at that point.

My problem isn't her pointing out that I haven't sold soap, but just the way she does it -- which is with a nasty attitude, quite frankly. She basically discredits everything I've said, and in this case accused me of "misleading people" and "passing off assumption as fact" when I have "no experience from which to draw my conclusions".

None of these are accurate are warranted statements.

 

[surf girl]

And, in my opinion, it is doubly inappropriate if it comes as a sort of official "as moderator" statement, because that may, in some people's minds, give it credibility. Not cool.

Oh, and sorry for the hijack, Ashley.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the input everyone!

Just for the record, I don't expect to get rich overnight. Or ever. LOL I was just looking for suggestions on other ways to get traffic to my site besides Twitter, YouTube, Blogger, etc.

You might try classifieds sites like Craigslist, not sure how much success you'll have there but they have categories where others sell handcrafted items. Could be worth a try.

Also, writing articles about handmade soap and publishing them to sites like EzineArticles.com is a free way to educate people and direct them to your site. These articles can show up in search engine searches. Mainly they are great for search engine optimization (giving relevance to your site in the eyes of search engines, so that you are more likely to rank higher in specific keyword searches).

 

[Deda]

You know what? This is really pissing me off.

Tabitha voices her opinion and you all slam her for it. She wasn't mean, she wasn't rude. She simply voiced her opinion.

You don't have to agree with it. I know I read things daily , not just here, and think, "what an *****, can't you read?" She patiently answers questions, solves problems and keeps this place running. One time ONE TIME she voices a concern or opinion that some don't agree with and the collective pounces on her? What is that? Should we be spoon feeding Pablum?

But think about it, guys, would you feel so free to take aim if it wasn't a mod?

 

[Guest]

You know what? This is really pissing me off.

Tabitha voices her opinion and you all slam her for it. She wasn't mean, she wasn't rude. She simply voiced her opinion.

You don't have to agree with it. I know I read things daily , not just here, and think, "what an *****, can't you read?" She patiently answers questions, solves problems and keeps this place running. One time ONE TIME she voices a concern or opinion that some don't agree with and the collective pounces on her? What is that? Should we be spoon feeding Pablum?

But think about it, guys, would you feel so free to take aim if it wasn't a mod?

Deb, no offense but this is the 2nd time she's done this to me specifically -- which, ironically from what you just said, was just ME voicing an opinion and speaking from my own experience.

I disagree with you that she wasn't rude in this case -- discrediting my whole post, telling me that I've mislead people and have no idea what I'm talking about is pretty rude. Especially when I shared some sound advice and dispelled some persistent myths about the world of web marketing in my post.

I still have yet to hear from her or you or anyone how I mislead anyone or gave "misinformation" (a word you used in her defense).

 

[Deda]

I think you guys are missing the point. Tabitha has a vast knowledge of online sales and merchandising, not only online but in high end retail shops.

I know she doesn't blow her own horn, but if any of you have ever read any of the info pages and how-to's on Etsy you might be surprised to learn that our Tabitha has written much of it. Trust me, she knows of what she speaks. Especially when it comes to B&B and/or Soap.

Tab wants only the best for this forum and misinformation is deadly to our reputation as a knowledge base.

What did I say that would be considered misleading or misinformation? If she's that experienced with this, she would recognize what I've said to be accurate.

I don't see how anything she directed at me was warranted in the least, if someone can point it out I'm willing to listen.

Dan - what she is saying that the relative ease of setting up on Etsy with a built in customer base makes online selling, especially of B&B, quite simple. The treffic is already there, you just dress your window and post your products (don't throw things at me, I know there is much more to Etsy than that, but geez.)

It's apples and oranges, Esty vs a single website.

A blanket statement about like "Quote:
I think there is a general consensus that selling on the web is easier than in other venues, but it isn't." Doesn't take into account sites like Etsy or Artfire, specifically with soap.

 

[Deda]

I still have yet to hear from her or you or anyone how I mislead anyone or gave "misinformation" (a word you used in her defense).

When I said
"Tab wants only the best for this forum and misinformation is deadly to our reputation as a knowledge base.", I was not referring to you or anyone else. We have a lot of new soapers here, it makes me cringe when someone with very little working knowledge about soapmaking gives dangerously wrong advice.

 

[Guest]

Dan - what she is saying that the relative ease of setting up on Etsy with a built in customer base makes online selling, especially of B&B, quite simple. The treffic is already there, you just dress your window and post your products (don't throw things at me, I know there is much more to Etsy than that, but geez.)

It's apples and oranges, Esty vs a single website.

A blanket statement about like "Quote:
I think there is a general consensus that selling on the web is easier than in other venues, but it isn't." Doesn't take into account sites like Etsy or Artfire, specifically with soap.

I understand, but the built-in potential customer base that comes with sites like Etsy is extremely limited. I'll repeat what I said earlier -- there is a myth going around that is putting the idea in peoples' heads that if they build an Etsy site (among others), the sales will start rolling in.

Anyone serious about building a business online should know that relying on Etsy exclusively for their advertising is not a good idea. So in that sense, the "apples and oranges" thing you mentioned doesn't matter -- in the end, the same marketing rules apply when you're going for a market outside the small world of Etsy.

Especially when you're talking about a product that Etsy is already saturated with.

 

[surf girl]

I hope voicing my uneasiness is not considered "slamming" Tabitha. I don't intend to attack anyone, but I do think it is fair to air a concern if I have one. I've got no personal beef with Tabitha and I'm sure she's a great person and a fantastic SMF resource. I'm assuming that it's OK for every member to speak frankly, as long as it's done civilly. Saying "I have a problem with this" is not, in my world, anything to get riled up over - it simply opens the door to discussion.

 

[12345smf]

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