All posts tagged etsy top sellers

What’s Hot for Spring – Top Selling Products Online

by G.B. Oliver

As you know by reading my blog, I am always up on the latest trends and the top sellers. So, here is what my research showed as currently the top selling products, for various categories, from major online retailers. If you have products that match these, you may want to move them to the forefront of your website/online store.

Current Top Sellers:

Jewelry: Ear cuffs are huge sellers, as are are large statement necklaces like bib collars, chain link bracelets, multi-color chandelier earrings and hand / body chain harnesses. Lots of turquoise, emerald green and pastel colors.

Large, bib necklace from Modcloth

Large, bib necklace from Modcloth

Purses/Bags: Satchels, hot pink, orange, leather, no prints.

Art: Art prints on reclaimed wood, large canvases (5 feet+), abstracts, kalightoscope-type patterns, black and white photography tinted with color sporadically.

Kitchen: Canisters are in big demand, floral patterns, modern tea kettles and tea pots, cookie stamps, dish towels with whimsical block prints.

iPhone Cases: Florals, bird prints, zebra prints, polka dots, stripes, silicone, metal.

Kids/Baby: Fun cutlery, personalized dishware, pyjamas with famous storybooks’ prints, whimsical book ends. brightly colored clothes hangers.

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Twisted Family Cutlery from Saks Fifth Avenue

Outdoor: Willow bark, chevrons, Moroccan prints, coastal/beach.

Wedding: Mint, grey/silver, blush, chalkboard-style, simple/sans serif typefaces, water color designs, butterflies.

Vintage: Non-fiction books/cookbooks from 1940s -60s, lidded porcelain jars, silver teapots, posters, wallpaper, sconces, oversized wine jugs.

Pets: Stylish small dog carriers/purses, thin leather braided leashes, sleeping pods.

Other: Terrariums, drinking glasses with sayings on them, milk glass, milk bottles, humorous cat and dog faces (think grumpy cat), photography prints on clothing (dresses, leggings, scarves and more), unique watch and clock faces, bicycle prints (on everything from t-shirts to glasses).

FINAL WORD: These are products that are currently popular, so I am not saying to jump on the band wagon, but rather if you already have items like this, and they are not selling, maybe you should be giving them more focus. Or take these, add a new twist or mix a few themes together, for an original offering.

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by Attention Getting Marketing on April 2, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Home, Trends
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on April 2, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/04/02/whats-hot-top-selling-products-online/

Online Stores I Love – Harabu House

by G.B. Oliver

One of the things I try to do with my blog is frequently point out Marketing I Love and Products I Love, but today I am actually going to talk about an Online Store I Love. The store is called Harabu House and if you are looking for ideas to what makes an online store work, you definitely should check them out.

Screen shot 2013-04-29 at 10.41.45 AMHarabu House was launched in 2010 and is an exclusive online eco-boutique for contemporary and stylish global finds. Their mission is to find sustainable products that provide economic, social and environmental benefits to the artisans who create them, and they carry products from all over the globe.

What Harabu House is Doing Right:

  • Great Products – They carry truly unique, beautiful products for the home (as well as some jewelry and fashion accessories). From hand painted tea cups to teak measuring spoons, everything seems to have a mix of the exotic and the contemporary at the same time. Screen shot 2013-04-29 at 10.44.17 AM
  • Easy to Navigate – I personally do not like busy home/landing pages and Harabu’s is sleek and simple. They have a slide show running of various products with a caption such as “Find Me Under Dinnerware“, making it easy for the visitor to find the products on display. All the categories are neatly displayed at the top and the particulars such as contact info, FAQs, newsletter, and social media icons are tightly compacted in a barred off section at the bottom. I also love how that important upper right hand corner notifies customers of their free shipping offer on domestic orders over $75 with a hot pink elephant icon drawing the eye right to it.

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  • Gift Guide – Another icon on the home page is their gift guide. But once you click on it, you are actually then given more options to narrow it down further, such as a gift guide for housewarming, baby shower, for him, for her. Another attempt to make the shopping experience easier for the customer.
  • Product Descriptions – The product descriptions are so well written, with compact narratives that tell you everything you need to know and create a need to buy. They are typically followed by a small write-up about the artist. I love the Tell a Friend feature, allowing you to instantly email the product to a friend, the Add to Wish List icon, and the Request More Information icon – three great Call to Actions to keep buyers engaged.
  • Category Highlight – A nice touch this online store has, is that when you are in a particular product category, the icon behind it colorizes, reminding you where you are. Screen shot 2013-04-29 at 10.47.55 AM
  • Photographs – The photographs are definitely top notch. Well-lit, various angles, magazine-quality set-ups, typically showing the product in use. I also like that for certain products, they include a photo of any magazine editorial that product has appeared in, which helps credibility with customers because it acts as an endorsement.
  • Shopping Cart Total – A cool feature about their shopping cart icon in the upper right hand corner, is that it will not only display the number of items (which is pretty common with most online sellers) but it actually displays how much you have spent so far. Love that!

FINAL WORD: So, if you want a good example of what a sleek, attractive online home products shop should look like, check out Harabu House.

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by Attention Getting Marketing on March 18, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Home, Marketing I Love
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on March 18, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/03/18/online-stores-i-love-harabu-house/

My Latest Pinterest Marketing Tip

by G.B. Oliver

I am not sure if your business is using the popular image gallery, Pinterest, but since it is free, you may want to consider it.

How it works, in a nutshell, is if one of your products gets pinned to either one of the main category boards (strictly by chance) or gets repinned by one of the popular pinners (some have over 5 million followers), then it can mean a lot of exposure and traffic to your shop, as well as continual exposure and traffic for months based on repins (when people see your product and repin it to one of their boards). Now, unfortunately that traffic doesn’t always translate into sales, but better some traffic than no traffic.

Now, I noticed an interesting trend on Pinterest that I thought I would share.  7 of the top 16 pins currently on Pinterest (and by top I mean the highest number of repins) were inspirational quotes. That is almost 50%. The others were food or fashion.

So here is my tip on how I think you can use this trend of inspirational quotes to help your business get noticed on Pinterest.

First of all, if you do wall art such as this, then you should have no problem getting your products pinned. Just make sure that you have a product photo that goes in tight on the saying so it is readable. Then, add a watermark of your url or shop name so people can trace it back. Sometimes when people pin your items from some of the mobile apps, the original source gets lost.

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But what if you sell something else, like kids’ products? Well, here is where you can get a little creative. Simply find a cool or funny or inspirational saying that relates to your product and photograph your item against it or add the text to the product photo. For example, if I was selling baby booties, I would take a shot of the booties and to the side of the booties I would photoshop in the words, “I never knew how much love my heart could hold until someone called me Mom”.

FINAL WORD: You can do this for any type of product. If you sell food have a quote about food. If you sell jewelry, have a romantic saying. If you sell fitness products, have a motivational saying. It is almost like doing an ad with a tag line. But this is what gets pinned and repinned and will give you exposure.

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by Attention Getting Marketing on March 15, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Home, Social Media Marketing
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on March 15, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/03/15/my-latest-tip-for-getting-exposure-on-pinterest/

Consider These Story Ideas for Product Pitches – March 2013

by G.B. Oliver

As you know, getting your products in editorial in magazines, blogs, your local newspaper, etc., is always a surefire way to get sales. But coming up with a story pitch for a writer is not that easy. So here are some ideas taken from today’s headlines that I thought might inspire you (and a few ideas at the end for the near future).

man-sitting-clip-art-silhouette

Story Pitches for Home Products

  • 5 Fresh Decorating Ideas to Bring Into Spring
  • Trend Alert: Mirrored Art
  • Spring Awakening: 51 Colorful iPhone Cases
  • Brighten Your Pad with Playful Decor
  • Welcome Spring with Floral Accessories Under $50
  • I Can’t Believe It’s From Etsy: Oil Paintings

Story Pitches for Baby & Kids Products

  • The Most Beautiful Baby Sleep Sacks
  • Cool Finds: Etsy Your St. Patty’s Day
  • 7 Oz-Inspired Picks for Kids
  • Hit the High Seas in Our Favorite Pirate Picks
  • 7 Animal Wallpaper Designs for Your Lil Wild One

Story Pitches for Fashion

  • 50 Swimsuits under $50
  • 7 Pinterest Boards Chic Moms Should Follow
  • Ditch Your Boots for These 17 Cute (and Cheap) Flats
  • 5 Striped Tops to Welcome Spring
  • What to Wear with Printed Jeans
  • Pretty Pastel Picks for Spring

Story Pitches for Wedding Products

  • 3 Great Ways to Save Cherished Wedding Memories
  • Vintage Navy Wedding Inspiration Board
  • 10 Tips for Toasting at a Wedding
  • Great Gatsby Wedding Inspiration
  • Our Favorite Escort Card Ideas
  • Top 10: Wedding Envelope Inspiration

Story Pitches for Beauty Products

  • 10 Nail Trends to Try This Spring
  • How to Get Better Skin by the Morning
  • Fix Your Most Common Beauty Problems with These Products
  • Spring Make-up Colors to Chase the Blues Away
  • The Secrets of Wearing Dark Lipstick

Story Pitches for Pet Products

  • March Essentials for Your Furry Friends
  • What to Pack on a Road Trip with Your Pet
  • From Functional to Wacky: Products to Keep Kitty Happy
  • Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the Pet Love of Your Life

As you can see, Spring was a big editorial topic. So what topics do you think editors will be looking for now, in order to publish in a month or two:

  • Movie influences with releases such as Star Trek, Superman, World War Z
  • Television influences with Game of Thrones Season Premiere
  • Holiday influences with World Health Day (April 7), Earth Day (April 22), May Day (May 1), Cinco de Mayo (May 5th), National Teacher’s Day (May 7th) and Mother’s Day (May 12th)

Not sure WHO to pitch to? Try one of my blog lists, plus find other helpful marketing tools in my Etsy shop.

My New Blog Lists for Fashion, Wedding & Home Decor

My New Blog Lists for Fashion, Wedding & Home Decor and Kids & Baby Products

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© 2013 G.B. Oliver. All rights reserved.

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by Attention Getting Marketing on March 5, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Getting Publicity, Home
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on March 5, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/03/05/consider-these-story-ideas-for-product-pitches-march-edition/

How to Predict Trends Before They Happen

by G.B. Oliver

★ THIS BLOG POST  MADE THE NY TIMES – THIS WEEK IN SMALL BUSINESS

In December, Pantone chose Emerald Green to be its color of the year. Do you think it had anything to do with the fact that the movie, Oz, the Great and Powerful was coming out in spring, in which Emerald Green plays a large part in the story? Just how much does pop culture influence trends in fashion and other types of product categories, such as Home, Wedding, Kids and Lifestyle. (Please also see my post, Product Trends for 2013).

Pantone-color-of-the-year-emerald

When the Great Gatsby movie was scheduled to come out last fall (it has been delayed to this spring), the 1920s vintage trend starting showing up in early 2012. That was also helped along by the movie The Artist, another 1920s period film, which won the Academy award for best film in 2012 and television shows like Downtown Abbey.

If you were wondering why baroque styles came back into fashion two years ago and has stayed, you just had to look at the movies Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), Anna Karenina (2012), Mirror Mirror (2012), Lincoln (2012) Jane Eyre (2011) and Alice in Wonderland (2010) to see the influence.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is obviously focused on Smaug the dragon and the new, very popular trailer for Game of Thrones also features a dragon. So does this mean that dragons will be one of the creatures of choice in 2013/2014?

What about human-type monsters? Remember how popular vampires have been the last few years? Well that looks to be overtaken by zombies, thanks to movies like ParaNorman, the upcoming movie, World War Z and the popular TV show, The Walking Dead.

Books are an influence as well. Studs and spikes are showing up in both fashion, jewelry and home decor, citing a definite 50 Shades of Grey influence.

So if you want to get in on a trend before it starts, keep an eye on the things in pop culture that influence us – movies, books, television, music, world events, technology, and see what commonality you can find.

FINAL WORD: While trends don’t have a long shelf life, they do help to get you publicity (because editors only want to write about what everyone is talking about) and publicity gets people into your shop to check out what else you offer.

Be Sure to Download My New Marketing Ebooks, with my Best Secrets for Selling Online!

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“Best buy ever!” . . “Cannot recommend this enough!” . .  ”You will not be disappointed!” . . . “Incredible!” – just some of the customer reviews of my new ebooks, Small Business Marketing Ideas That Work! as well as other helpful marketing tools in my Etsy shop.

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by Attention Getting Marketing on March 4, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on March 4, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/03/04/how-to-predict-trends-before-they-happen/

Products I Love – February 2013

by G.B. Oliver

I love smart and innovative product design for many reasons. One, it is inspiring. Two, it always gets publicity. Three, social media followers love spreading the word. Four, it sells!

I went over to one of my favorite shopping blogs, Outblush, and found some of their recent picks that I think are brilliant.

Deep Tea Driver Infuser

Deep Tea Diver by Kikkerland from Modcloth

Deep Tea Diver by Kikkerland from Modcloth

How great is this $15 tea infuser from the online store, Modcloth? Even the name is smart. I love this because it is just so clever. How could you not want to buy this, whether you drink tea or not? Now, granted, you have to use it with a glass mug or it kind of defeats the purpose, but you have to admit it is just makes sense.

Recipe Writing Rubber Stamps

Recipe Writing Rubber Stamps from Paper Cookie

Recipe Writing Rubber Stamps from Paper Cookie

I love these stamps (4 for $24.95) from the Paper Cookie. This is a practical product that appeals to the person who still wants to write out their recipes the old-fashioned way, but made a little easier by the stamps. The stamp market is a big business, and it is nice to see a company finding a new, creative use for them.

Constellation Lamp

Constellation Lamp from Urban Outfitters

Constellation Lamp from Urban Outfitters

What kid is not going to love this lamp ($49) from Urban Outfitters in their room at night? Plus, it’s educational. Educational + fun always sells!

Teacup with Wood Saucer

Teacup with Wood Saucer from Scandinavian Brands Online

Teacup with Wood Saucer from Scandinavian Brands Online

Smart product design is when you solve a problem for the user. That is why this teacup with wood saucer ($28) from Scandinavian Brands Online works. It solves two problems – needing a saucer for your tea when you are drinking it and keeping it hot when you are not. Plus, it looks good.

You Got Your New Dog Kit

Got Your New Dog Kit from Uncommon Goods

Got Your New Dog Kit from Uncommon Goods

This New Dog Kit ($25) from Uncommon Goods is smart for so many reasons. The obvious is that it makes the perfect gift, and gift sets are big business and dog gifts are big business. But if you sell a variety of pet products, why not package them all together as a great way to up-sell your other products. This kit includes practical items like doo-doo bags (their words, not mine), a training clicker, dog treats and a quick start instruction card for the new owner, which to me acts like a very effective business card so the gift receiver knows exactly where to get more.

Be like these online sellers and take your business to the next level! I offer a variety of helpful marketing tools in my Etsy shop, the best advice to market your small business!

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by Attention Getting Marketing on February 22, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on February 22, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/02/22/products-i-love-february-edition/

Do You Know Who Your Target Market Is?

by G.B. Oliver

I am always amazed by businesses who don’t seem to know who their target market is. These are the primary people who are most likely to buy your products and/or services. It is one of the first things you must identify before you can do any type of marketing.

Why is it important to know who is most likely to buy from you? Well, you can’t find them to sell to, if you don’t know who they are.

missed+target+dart

Your Target Market Q&A

1. Gender – Are your products for male, female or both?

2. Age – You just need a range. For example, if you are selling wedding products, the age range is probably 23 to 33, for the most part. If you are selling orthopedic shoes, then probably an age range of 60+.

3. Income – For example, are you selling luxury products? Then you need to target buyers in the higher income range.

4. Business or End User – Are you selling products a business or profession wants or for personal use? Maybe you have a product aimed at teachers, or in my case, small business owners. Maybe you sell art which you think is mostly for the home, but businesses look for art for their offices as well.

5. Primary Buyer – Is the buyer of the product not the user? For example, if you sell baby products, obviously you are selling to the parents, not the baby.

6. Location – Is this a product only of interest to someone in a certain city or country? For example, you have a product with the Union Jack flag on it. Would someone outside of the U.K. still be interested?

7. Needs – What are the current needs of your target market? Is it someone who is getting married, having a baby, starting a business, going to college, buying a new home, etc.

There are other factors you can consider as well, depending on what you sell, such as your target market’s style (traditional, modern, etc.), ethnicity, education level and so forth.

Once you have identified your primary target market, go back over this list and identify possible secondary markets. For example, my primary target market is small business owners, but I have actually had marketing students buy my ebooks. A secondary market can be the gift giver, an event planner, a fashion stylist, a daycare provider, etc. – basically, WHO could benefit from your products?

Once you have identified your primary and secondary target markets, now you have to go and find where they are and what makes them buy. I always recommend asking friends, family and colleagues who fit the description of your target market. It should NOT be guess work.

FINAL WORD: It is impossible to market your business effectively if you do not know who you are selling to. Make that your first priority to determine who wants your products and/or services, and everything else should work around that.

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by Attention Getting Marketing on February 20, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on February 20, 2013

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Outsell Your Competition With This Checklist

by G.B. Oliver

I often have customers complain to me that they have too much competition. In all honesty, everyone does. But you can actually learn from your competition to make your products and services better, and that could put your business on top.

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Your Competition Checklist

Take a look at your competitors (just the successful ones) and compare to see where you falter and they succeed and vice versa. Then make the necessary changes.

√ Features – Are your products identical in every way? If not, you need to emphasize the benefits your products have that their doesn’t, and remember features are not always benefits if they are of no use to the customer. If you don’t have any benefits that your competition doesn’t, then you better add some. And the best way to do that is to ask your current customers for a wish list.

√ Services – What services do you offer that your competitors don’t? Again, these advantages you need to emphasize in your product copy to help your potential customer decide. Do you offer free shipping, discounts on multiple purchases, customization, etc.? Again, if you don’t have any advantages in terms of service, you need to get some. You’ve got to match the top players tit for tat.

√ Target Market – I am going to be writing about this more tomorrow, but more than likely you are targeting the same market, otherwise they are not really your competition. But does your competition have additional markets that they are selling to that you are not?

√ Price – Believe it or not, price is not always a deal breaker. You want to be in the same ball park, but a few dollars isn’t going to make a difference so don’t price yourself below your competition. What you want to do is show the value that comes with your price, and that is why you have to detail what you offer in #1 and #2 above.

√ Reputation – Have you won business awards, gotten amazing reviews, been in business a long time – all of these factors can give you an advantage over your competition in the mind of the consumer.

√ Branding – Do you look professional? Do you have a company logo, a positioning statement, professional-looking photos, well-written, grammatically correct product copy, contact information, etc. You’ve got to look legitimate, especially if your competition does, and it is worth it to make the investment to do so.

√ Promotion – Are you finding your competition everywhere? Are they on Facebook, Twitter, running ads on Google, hosting a blog, appearing in editorial… this list goes on. Take note of what they are doing and try to be everywhere they are (and aren’t).

Competition doesn’t have to be a bad thing if you choose to learn from it. It’s what fosters innovation.

If you liked this article, YOU’LL LOVE my marketing guides, with all my tactics and secrets to take your online business to the top. Click here for more information.

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by Attention Getting Marketing on February 19, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on February 19, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/02/19/your-competition-checklist/

When a Photo Does Your Selling

by G.B. Oliver

I want you to take a look at the photo below. It is from a wedding blog called Style Me Pretty. The photographer (Kristin Vining) took a photograph of the bride holding a variety of clutch purses, which are obviously gifts for her attendants. This photo caught my eye because I actually thought it was an ad for the shop selling the purses. It wasn’t, just a good photographer capturing every detail of a wedding.

Photograph by Kristin Vining Photography at www.kristinvining.com

Photograph by Kristin Vining Photography at http://www.kristinvining.com

Now, if I was selling clutch purses, I would add a photo like this to my shop. Why? Because with one photo I just gave a visitor another reason to buy that they may not have thought about.

Show Who the Product May Be For

What if a bride is visiting my purse shop, but just looking for one for herself. She sees a photo like this and it automatically registers that, yes, these purses would make a great attendant gift. Much more effective then just putting it in the product description because photos convey the idea so much faster than words.

While you need photos that are strictly of the product (as these are the ones that tend to get picked up for editorial) you also need photos that quickly tell visitors the need and uses for your product.

Show Uses for the Product

Another example. I saw a lot of baby onesies online with a Santa or Christmas motif. Every shop just had a photo of the onesie, or the onesie on a baby. However, I thought why doesn’t anyone have a photo of the baby wearing the onesie sitting on Santa’s knee? Wouldn’t it be the perfect thing to wear for baby’s first photo with Santa? A visitor to your shop would see a photo like this and think, I will get more use out of this than just Christmas morning. Therefore the product now has more value, therefore I am more likely to buy.

So think of all the people who would buy your product, or all the reasons someone would buy your product, and see if you can come up with a photo that conveys this to visitors. It may do your selling for you.

★ FOR MORE MARKETING IDEAS on photos that will sell your products, plus so many other secrets for selling online, my new ebooks will tell you everything you need to do to sell more products, with ebooks specifically for shops selling Jewelry & Fashion Accessories, Wedding Products, Home Products and Baby & Kids Products. Click here for more information.

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by Attention Getting Marketing on January 24, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Home, Marketing 101
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on January 24, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/01/24/when-a-photo-does-your-selling/

My Latest Google Search Tips – Apostrophes, Plural and Gender

by G.B. Oliver

I was doing research of a particular Google search for a client when I noticed some subtle differences on how people search for products that may change how you phrase your headings, subheadings and keyword tags.

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Fact # 1 – Not Many People Use Apostrophes Correctly When Searching

Maybe because we are all in such a hurry these days, but it appears that people very rarely use apostrophes when searching.

For example, they don’t search “men’s shoes” they search “mens shoes“. The exact phrase “men’s shoes” pulled up data of 58 searches a month compared to 60,500 for the exact phrase “mens shoes“, without the apostrophe. That’s quite a difference and it was consistent with other terms as well.

The exact phrase “kids clothes” showed 45,000 searches per month, where the exact phrase “kid’s clothes” showed nil. Now the phrase “kids’ clothes” (where the apostrophe is at the end) also pulled up 40,500, which showed me that Google ignores the apostrophe when it is at the end of a word, but not when it is in amongst the letters.

So if grammatically incorrect can pull in higher searches, do you wrestle with the dilemma of writing your product copy according to keywords or opting for the correct grammar?

Fact # 2 – Plural versus Singular Can Make a Difference

People also vary in their searches as to whether or not it is more common to add the plural. For example, the exact phrase “throw pillows” pulled up 18,100 searches per month, whereas the singular “throw pillow” was dramatically lower at 2,400. However, it was the opposite for necklaces. The exact phrase “gold necklaces” pulled up 2,900 searches monthly compared to 12,900 for the singular “gold necklace“.

As adding the plural seems to vary by product, it means you really have to research both singular and plural with your product keywords to see which is more commonly searched. Tedious, but it could make a big difference.

Fact # 3 – Gender Isn’t Always Implied

Another thing I noticed is that when you are looking for an item by gender, it appears there are more searches specific to “mens” then there are to “womens”. For example, “mens jewelry” showed 5,400 monthly searches compared to only 1,600 for “womens jewelry“. “Mens shoes” showed 60,500 searches compared to 49,500 for “womens shoes“. Now, I would think more women are searching for shoes online than men, so is it that women just type “shoes” or “black shoes” or “high heels” and just naturally assume the search will know they mean women’s? If that is the case, it may not be worth your while to include women’s in your description or keywords, and instead focus on other adjectives such as color, style or material.

Remember, these facts are not really specific to Google, these are specific to human behavior. That is why you really  have to test all variations of your keywords to see how your target market mostly commonly uses them for search.

Marketing_Ideas_Etsy_Jewelry

I have many more search tips and advice in my PDFs (because I save my best tips for there!), Small Business Marketing Ideas That Work, available here.

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© 2013 G.B. Oliver. All rights reserved.

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by Attention Getting Marketing on January 10, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Google Tips, Home
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on January 10, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/01/10/the-subtleties-of-keyword-searches/

Examples of Product Copy That Sells – ApartmentTherapy.com

by G.B. Oliver

★ THIS BLOG POST  WAS FEATURED ON NY TIMES SMALL BUSINESS BEST OF THE WEEK WRAP-UP

I am sure you have heard of the popular blog, Apartment Therapy. One of my favorite sections there is Maxwell’s Daily Finds, for many reasons. But as a marketer, one of the reasons I like this section is because Maxwell writes product copy really well. Let me explain.

Unknown

If you think people want to read a ton of copy of all the virtues of your product, they don’t. Not at first anyway. When they are ready to make a purchase they may want more details, but to initially hook them you have to keep it short and sweet. You have about 100 words or less to emphasize the main value of the product (what problem does it solve), convince a person why they need it and have a closing line that gets them to buy.

Here is an example of product copy on Maxwell’s Daily Finds today & I explain after why it works:

Provendi Rotating Soap Fixture

• $38
• Anthropologie

“I love these so much we used to sell them through our little online Apartment Therapy store years ago. They were hard to find, but leave it to Anthro to solve that problem. Designed for public schools in France, the ‘sweetly scented, softly foaming vegetable-based soap’ rotates and slowly wears down. New soap replacements just get screwed onto the ‘spike.’ It’s a great solution for kitchen sinks, bathrooms without a lot of counter space OR beside bathtubs or outdoor showers. Oh, and it’s a conversation starter as well.”

So in less than 100 words, Maxwell made this product very appealing.

Here is what I got out of the copy:

  • Solves a problem (when there is no space for a soap dish)
  • It has an European chic appeal – “designed for schools in France”
  • It has eco-appeal – “vegetable-based soap”
  • It will last a long time – “slowly wears down”
  • It can go in multiple rooms “kitchen sinks, small bathrooms, outdoor showers”, so encourages buying more than one
  • It is  a cool product – “conversation starter”

Here’s another example, particularly of interest to those of you who sell art online:

Original Antonioni BLOW UP Movie Poster

• $3000
• Posteritati Movie Posters

“I love original European movie posters to wake up a room and make a statement. This is one of the best, and I originally saw it used in a Ralph Lauren showroom in NC. Huge (55×79), vintage from 1967, perfect in its raw style and brilliantly red, it’s aspirational in price, but worth it.”

Here’s what I got out of it:

  • Solves a problem – “wakes up a room and makes a statement”
  • It has vintage appeal – “vintage from 1967″
  • It has European chic appeal – “original European movie posters”
  • It has cache – “used in a Ralph Lauren showroom in NC”
  • Yes, it’s expensive but it’s “an original”,  ”huge (55 x 79)” and “one of the best movie posters”

It takes some skill, but you can write your own effective product copy. Solve a problem, give multiple reasons to buy it, and leave with a closer that addresses any doubts a buyer may have.

If you need more advice and examples of effective product copy (because I save the best stuff for my ebooks!) I walk you through it step-by-step in my PDFs, Small Business Marketing Ideas That Work, and I have editions specifically for selling Home, Wedding, Kids & Baby products and Jewelry & Fashion Accessories, available here.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE A TOP SELLER, please don’t take just any advice that could send you down the wrong path. Getting professional marketing advice will make the difference between selling a few products a month and being a top seller.

My Marketing Ebooks

My Marketing Ebooks

PLEASE SHARE this post on social media using the share button below. Thanks!

© 2013 G.B. Oliver. All rights reserved.

8 Comments
by Attention Getting Marketing on January 8, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Home, Marketing I Love
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on January 8, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/01/08/examples-of-good-product-copy-courtesy-of-apartmenttherapy-com/

Product Trends for 2013

by G.B. Oliver

I took a look at the new product arrivals from some of the major online retailers, and I noticed several themes emerging that smaller online shops may want to consider when designing their products for this year.

Animal Trends

While owls and birds will still be popular in home decor and jewelry, a new trend that seems to be popping up is African wildlife, such as giraffes, tigers and cheetahs. 2013 is also the year of the snake, so that may influence design as well (and if you want to get a start on 2014, when the next Hobbit movie comes out in December, I imagine dragons will be big!).

Color Trends

Neon is back is a big way, for both home, jewelry and fashion, but many designers are also mixing neon with black, grey and navy so it is not too strong a statement. Pastel colors such as mint are also popular. Pantone’s color of the year for 2013 is Emerald Green, so expect to see it in various hues (check out this blog editorial to see what I mean).

Kate Spade Necklace at Piperlime

Kate Spade Necklace at Piperlime

Jewelry Trends

Geometric shapes (including individual chevrons, a trend from last year), twigs, branches, horns, tusks, skulls and lots of spikes (50 Shades of Grey influence, maybe) seem to be popular jewelry trends. Choker and bib necklaces continue to be current. Traditional hoop earrings do not appear to be that trendy, but rather smaller stud earrings or large dangle earrings.

Art Trends

Keep Calm and Carry On has inspired lots of word art with everyone looking for that next trendy, inspirational saying. Vintage fonts are popular in art as well, along with vintage travel posters. A lot of photography art seems to be taking on a blurry trend, or black and white with small washes of color here and there. Artistic animal heads on walls continue to find new creative ways.

Pattern Trends

Chevrons, ombre (fading from one color to the next), trellis patterns are all still popular. New pattern trends seem to be polka dots, houndstooth and global bazaar/moroccan prints.

Houndstooth art print at Inhabit

Houndstooth art print at Inhabit

Material Trends

Expect lots of accents of metal studs, metal plates and shimmery gold and silver in both home decor, jewelry and fashion. Stylish household objects in ceramic will also be really popular in 2013.

Kids Product Trends

Neon is also a big trend for both kids fashion and room decor, as is Parisian themes and sequins. Ceramic accents, banners for bedrooms, and everything in a shape whether it is mirrors, rugs, lamps, bookends or clocks. Another hot fashion trend for kids is moccasins.

Why should you care about trends? Because trends get editorial, which means you have a better chance with product submissions to the media if your products are current. Doesn’t mean your whole shop has to be trendy, just one piece will do.

IF YOU LIKE MY BLOG, you’ll LOVE my Ebooks!

MalloryHopeDesign_AGMarketing_eBook

Because I save all my very best advice & secrets for in there – Small Business Marketing Ideas That Work!  

There are editions specifically for the Home, Wedding, Jewelry & Fashion Accessories and Baby & Kids markets. Just click here to go to my Ebook shop and download your copy. 

PLEASE SHARE this post on social media using the share button below. Thanks!

© 2013 G.B. Oliver. All rights reserved.

4 Comments
by Attention Getting Marketing on January 3, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Home, Trends
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on January 3, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/01/03/product-trends-for-2013/

Valentine’s Day Sales Tips – You’re Selling to the Opposite Sex Now

by G.B. Oliver

A great selling opportunity coming up for online shops is Valentine’s Day. All the blogs, newspapers and online magazines will be running Valentine’s Gift Guides, mostly aimed at the male who is assumed to have no idea what to buy the woman in his life.

heart_clipart_border-200x163

For those of you selling products normally targeted at a female audience, such as jewelry and fashion accessories, you now have to shift your message to appeal to the male gift buyer.

So I consulted a few males and females and got some interesting, although generalized, feedback about their gift buying habits.

Tips for Selling to Men who are Buying a Gift for a Woman:

1. Men buy more impulsively. They don’t shop around, they don’t compare prices. If they have clicked on your item, you are 95% there, all you have to do is close the sale. i.e. “I guarantee she’ll love it. Buy now and get 10% off using the coupon code VD2013.”

2. Men buy at the last minute. Most men are not going to think about buying a Valentine’s gift in January. They are thinking about it a few days before. Therefore, you have to be sure to let them know that you can get it to them in time for February 14th, and already gift wrapped if needed.

3. Men love “free” gifts. They like feeling as if they paid one price but got something “extra” for their girlfriend/wife, even if they don’t realize the price of the “free” gift was worked into the product price. If you have anything extra you can throw in, it will probably help seal the deal.

4. Men like to share and make the lives of other men easier, so encourage them to tell all their male friends about your shop for the women in their lives.

Now, if you normally sell products to men, you have to change your message for women who are thinking about buying your product as a gift for the man in their life.

Tips for Selling to Women who are Buying a Gift for a Man:

1. Women think they know what men want, but they really don’t. Therefore, you need testimonials and recommendations from male customers that this is a popular item that all men will love.

2. Women don’t buy quickly. They shop around so let them know this is the best price point, the best features, that they won’t find a better option anywhere else. In fact, encourage conversation as women like to feel the personal connection when buying.

3. Women want to add that sentimental message so make sure you offer personalization to your products if you can.

4. Women do shop early, so start targeting them NOW, before everyone else is.

5. Women also buy Valentine’s gifts for mothers and children, so be sure to let them know if you have products that suit these markets as well, for a one stop shopping experience.

Try your own survey. Ask the men and women in your  life what influences their gift purchases and make sure to incorporate these factors into your Valentine’s Day sales pitch.

Marketing_Ideas_Etsy_Jewelry

★ BE SURE TO READ my PDFs, Small Business Marketing Ideas That Work!, which will tell you everything you need to do to be a top seller online in 2013.

There are ebooks specifically for shops selling Jewelry & Fashion Accessories, Wedding Products, Home Products and Baby & Kids Products. Click here for more information.

PLEASE SHARE this post on Facebook, Twitter, StumpleUpon, etc., using the share button below. Thanks!

© 2013 G.B. Oliver. All rights reserved.

1 Comment
by Attention Getting Marketing on January 2, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Home, Marketing 101
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on January 2, 2013

http://attention-getting.com/2013/01/02/valentines-day-youre-selling-to-the-opposite-sex-now/

Remember, Everyone is Potentially a Customer

by G.B. Oliver

One of the biggest mistakes I see small businesses make is forgetting the fact that everyone is potentially a customer. 

The other day I was in one of the Etsy forums where online sellers post their concerns and complaints. One seller was shocked that another seller got upset with them for adding them to their circle (which is just a way for sellers to follow each other on Etsy, look at their favorite products, etc.) and blasted them with a not so nice email basically saying how dare they. I was pretty shocked by this person’s reaction for a variety of reasons.

CLIPART_OF_16510_SM_61CC7E20

Having someone add you to their circle means you are now exposed to all the people following them. Since when is more exposure a bad thing? But to take a look at this from a purely business point of view, this seller just made a horrible impression on someone who is not just another seller, but is potentially a customer. Always remember that – everyone is potentially a customer.

Treat Everyone Like A Customer

Would you speak to a customer like that? Obviously not. So good business practice is to treat everyone who corresponds with you – whether they are another seller, a supplier, someone trying to sell you their services – as if they are a potential customer. Otherwise, it will come back to bite you.

Avoid Leaving Negative Comments

Same thing if you are leaving comments in a forum that are nasty, mean spirited or overly critical. Again, you are representing your business and everyone reading your comments is a potential customer and you have just given a very negative impression of yourself. If you think I am going to run over to your shop and start buying from you, guess again.

Always Show Respect

In my own business, I have always made a point of treating everyone who approaches me with respect, even if I know this is someone who will never require my services. That is how you build a solid business reputation and create good word of mouth. So when people contact me merely to try and sell me something, I get that. I am trying to sell stuff too. I answer respectfully because down the road they may know someone who requires marketing services and they will remember me in a good way.

Don’t Respond Negatively to Negative Feedback

Same situation when someone responds to a comment I made on a forum or blog in a negative or derogatory way, I don’t get in the mud with them. I am still representing my business and my reputation, so I rise above it.

You are always marketing your business, so watch your communications, especially your public communications with people. Once a potential customer has a negative impression of your business, all the marketing in the world is not going to help you.

BE SURE TO READ all my marketing secrets that will bring your shop success online in 2013 in my new series of ebooks, available here.

PLEASE SHARE this blog post on Facebook, Twitter, Stumbleupon et al, using the share button below. 

© 2012 G.B. Oliver. All rights reserved.

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by Attention Getting Marketing on December 18, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Home, Marketing 101
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on December 18, 2012

http://attention-getting.com/2012/12/18/remember-everyone-is-potentially-a-customer/

LilyShop Adds a New Twist to the Online Marketplace

by G.B. Oliver

I have written about a few online marketplaces lately such as Etsy, Fab.com and One Kings Lane. I came across another one that I thought had an interesting approach. It is called Lilyshop. This is a very pretty site so when I clicked on it I thought that it was an Etsy just for women. It is and it isn’t. While I think it does cater to a female clientele, it does sell the same category of items you would find on the other online marketplaces.

logo

But here is what I really like about Lilyshop:

1. Their blog is really well done. I could have stayed here all day. Informative articles, great photos, and a variety of topics from recipes to health and wellness. If I could suggest a change it would be to call the Home & Garden and Crafts sections DIY instead, because that is more what it is and the DIY projects are top notch, and a Fashion category would also make sense.

2. They do not charge any kind of fees, rather they just take 5% of the sale (before shipping). They only make money when you make money.

3. They promote products more so than shops. So, what this means is you can buy from many vendors in a single checkout. Much more convenient.

4. They aim to be a female shopping experience, which I think is smart because with so many online marketplaces popping up, you will have to specialize to be successful.

5. They have a section entitled “Shop Yard Sale”, where you can find items at 50% off, 30% off, 25% off. Great for vendors trying to get rid of inventory and shoppers looking for deals.

Now, given the economy, I would include a category called Cheap Find of the Day with products under $20. Everyone wants a bargain and my advice always when the economy is down is that there is not a lot of people with a lot of money to spend, but there is always a lot of people with a little money to spend.

One more thing about online marketplaces. Why don’t any of them allow for the creation of wish lists? Yes, I know some will let you mark as favorites but a wish list you can actually send to your husband or bridal shower guests. People don’t always buy right away and bookmarks get forgotten about. Let people make a wish list and then remind them, via email, the same way online retailers remind you when you have left items in your shopping cart. Don’t let buyers forget about you.

✯ If you sell online, whether independently or through one of these marketplaces, you need to promote yourself beyond what these sites can do for you. There are just too many players so you have to get your own attention. To get my latest marketing ideas (as always I keep my best stuff in my ebooks) that will help you do just that, please check out my online ebook shop.

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by Attention Getting Marketing on December 6, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Home, Online Selling Sites
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Posted by Attention Getting Marketing on December 6, 2012

http://attention-getting.com/2012/12/06/lilyshop-adds-a-new-twist-to-the-online-marketplace/

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