Useful info for creative businesses

I have just returned to jewellery making after taking some time off from having my baby girl.

Been researching on how best to use social media to boost my business followings, product awareness etc and have come across very interesting and useful tips from the following blog posts from Theresa Cifali

Why YOU Should Use Twitter for Your Creative Business

How to Convert Your Pinterest Account to a Business Account

The Top 5 Facebook Marketing Strategies Every Business Needs

I will be implementing tips from the above and also making use of some of the 6 FREE Twitter Tools I never knew existed.

I would like to hear about your experiences with social media marketing, how have you found it, which medium do you prefer etc.

Product Photography

A few links to help with product photography. I've battled with photographing my jewellery and its not been made easy with the weather in the UK either :-(... anyhoo it's an ongoing battle.

Was so excited to have ordered 'daylight' bulbs from amazon, to use with my ebenk digital studio kit which I got for Xmas. But when they arrived , the lights were dull yellow lights...was expecting white lights..the battle continues I guess.

Right, here are the links:

http://fusionbeadsblog.com/2011/09/20/tuesday-tips-and-tricks-special-photography-edition/
http://www.handmadeology.com/jewelry-photography-tips-for-etsy-sellers/
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent
http://www.jewelry-secrets.com/Jewelry/Jewelry-Photographic-Lighting-Studio-Review/Review-Jewelry-Photo-Light-Studio.html

My Workshop Photos

Just thought I'd share photos of my work table .....

materials, tools and finished product.

a busy table..

beads laid out on a beading board.

a selection of jewellery making pliers.

packaging is important.

happy customer :-)

Wishing all a very Happy 2013 ahead!!!

I am looking forward to a brand new year.

Haven't made any new jewellery or been active on my blog since I twisted my knee and fell at home at the end of November. Been using crutches ever since :-(.  Will be having an operation to get it fixed at some point early next year.....

But, somehow in this time of inactivity, my shop has had its first international sales and has made me so proud of my creative work especially with the feedbacks I have received....  I'm thinking it can only get better in 2013!!! :-)

Got an ebenk professional digital studio kit for Christmas, so can stop putting off building myself a light box phew!!! This hopefully would translate to better and brighter shop photographs in the new year.

Here are some useful business articles I came across recently..

Creating a white background inside a cardboard box

12 biggest mistakes jewellery designers make in business

Top 10 Ways to Use Pinterest for Business

6 Tips for Being More Visual With Social Media (Infographic)

See you all in the new year! 

That very first proper sale!!!

Waking up to an email notification of sale, O what a feeling!

Still working on tips I gathered for search engine optimization and getting brighter photos (not got round to the light box business yet) but it's good to know people other than family and friends actually like what I make. Not quitting my day time job just yet though :-D.

The etsy community (teams and forums) have been very helpful in offering advice, tips and critique.

It's all good!!!

Below are some of the items I listed in my shop today:

Gemstone Earrings in Genuine Red Stripe Agate Puffy Coin Beads

Gemstone Earrings in Genuine Green Chalcopyrite Donut Shaped Beads 

Funky Drop Earrings in Silver and Purple Aluminium Textured Twisted Cable Chain 

Pinterest-ing...

In my quest to make a success of my etsy shop I came across pinterest which I have found a little bit addictive hmmm.(pinning and repinning) I think it's because of the visual effects. Rather than pages full of texts you are drawn to images of what people find interesting. A few similarities to twitter and facebook in that you have followers and could get followed, also have 'likes' to your pins.

Check mine out http://pinterest.com/jewelrybynneka/

It might not generate sales immediately but it sure does get you/your shop more exposure. Within a few hours of joining , according to my etsy shop stats, I had a shop view from pinterest , I'm thinking that is an extra traffic source if nothing else.

It's, I suppose more about expressing yourself  ;your style, likes, future projects, wish lists, etc; and sharing these with others.

LightBox

I came across this fantastic blog detailing how to create a lightbox.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html

For a cohesive shop look and that fabulous all white professional background which brings out the beauty of jewellery pieces...can't wait to build one of those and update the photographs in my shop....watch this space.!

Eureka I figured something out!

Still bothered about the lack of shop theme, I came up with an idea.. To redo my shop sections!.

So rather than have everything fall under Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings, Necklaces and Bracelet set etc. like I had it originally, why not categorise the sections by type of bead material (light bulb!!!) .

It definitely gives a feeling of entering into a shop and having helpful section signs directing you on where to find what you want.

I feel better now phew!!!. Now to move on to something else....

so you think you can sell?

OK I decided (well with a little persuasion from the hubby) to stop hoarding all my creations and sell. I then thought of opening an etsy shop; did all my research, opened a Facebook fan page on the 11th of October,  My shop on the 15th of October, a twitter account on the 16th of October, then wrote my first blog on the 19th  phew!!!

But I can't help thinking if my shop actually has a theme..you know like a brand.. Since it all started with the love of ALL types of beautiful beads and the jewellery that resulted, I have ended up with a shop that's a bit all over the place I think :-$.. well when compared to other jewellery shops on etsy. 

There are jewellery made from acrylic beads, wooden beads, glass beads to most recently, gemstone beads..all in ONE shop..eh seriously? I should have called it 'The One Stop Shop' :-D

I don't know if I have a target market or a brand, but all I know is I love every piece of jewellery I have made :-) and hoping people see the beauty in the designs and ponder less on the theme of the shop..:-)


Sorting out my latest order of gorgeous gemstone beads from jewellerymaker.com...