People listed:
1. VintageChase / 2. IrinasIsland
3. LilaSandals / 4. farragobags
5. MimsMaine / 6. Marajoyce
7. skadijewellery / 8. greenbelts
Friday Favorites: Leather
There is always something sexy about it. Leather is soft, supple, and in many ways just as wonderful as silk. It shows we are strong, fierce, and to be desired. So today I bring to you an array of leather pieces. I always find that on days where I feel a little off my game, I can suit up in my favorite accessories and storm the day.
People listed:
1. VintageChase / 2. IrinasIsland
3. LilaSandals / 4. farragobags
5. MimsMaine / 6. Marajoyce
7. skadijewellery / 8. greenbelts
People listed:
1. VintageChase / 2. IrinasIsland
3. LilaSandals / 4. farragobags
5. MimsMaine / 6. Marajoyce
7. skadijewellery / 8. greenbelts
Birth of the Metallicuff
Each piece has a birth. It is a moment of conception. It is the moment you feel the piece in your mind even if you can not see it. And, this piece was born out of another interest of mine. I adore the genre of a supernatural reality under the veneer of a normal world. Because of this I am drawn to books like the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, movies like Underworld, and TV like Supernatural. So during the second break of Supernatural series this year this year, I was left wondering what would happen next. I watched old episodes to get my fix. Because like many I find myself faithfully following the Winchester brothers as they battle Heaven and Hell to protect the humans around them.
I also found myself wanting to own the car. It is a 1977 Impala with a hard top. It is the sexiest car that would allow you to fit a dead body in the trunk. It drives up next to you and you instinctively lock your doors. The long shiny black lines flicker in the rear view mirror. Then somewhere along the line, I found myself surrounded my black beads, a silver center piece, and a cuff blank. Then the Metalicuff was born. It is named after it's automotive brother the Metalicar.
Side note: I am totally a Dean Girl.
Business Sense: Buying Online
On this subject, I will admit I am torn. I do encourage people to have a relationship with their local shops, the people involved with them, and the groups that meet at them. Your local support is extremely important. This is true of any specialty or local craft store. Many of these stores will host workshops and classes. These are important you will learn skills and meet people.
Now for the flip side of the argument:
Money is tight for a lot of people in today’s economy. We find ourselves trying to make a dollar into two. So why should the money we spend on our supplies not work just as hard. This means you have to find places that will give you a discount for bulk orders or shop wholesale. I have recently started shoping online at Fire Mountain Gems. Since I keep most of my craft receipts I was able to go back and compare my “shop purchases” with my new “online orders”.
I learned two things. Shopping online is safer. I am not walking around a bead store able to touch the shiny objects. This means that I can look at the picture and not have the impulse that if I don’t buy this now it will be gone forever. There is also a convent link that lets me look at a list of items and a total. This means I pick the items more carefully. I make sure that I get what I need and maybe a few specialties. I also don’t like the sites that require a minimum purchase. I find that I am usually unable to make the minimum purchase due to an inability to get all of the money in one place.
I shop on a site called Fire Mountain Gems. They have a large selection, but this isn’t the main reason. I shop there because they have a tiered discount system. There are four tiers based on the number of items in you cart. This affects the item price of everything in your cart. And, they are upfront with all of their costing. And, since they use a tiered system for discounts they don’t inflict a minimum purchase.
So I want you to consider a few things…
Where do you shop and why?
How much do you get for your money?
Now for the flip side of the argument:
Money is tight for a lot of people in today’s economy. We find ourselves trying to make a dollar into two. So why should the money we spend on our supplies not work just as hard. This means you have to find places that will give you a discount for bulk orders or shop wholesale. I have recently started shoping online at Fire Mountain Gems. Since I keep most of my craft receipts I was able to go back and compare my “shop purchases” with my new “online orders”.
I learned two things. Shopping online is safer. I am not walking around a bead store able to touch the shiny objects. This means that I can look at the picture and not have the impulse that if I don’t buy this now it will be gone forever. There is also a convent link that lets me look at a list of items and a total. This means I pick the items more carefully. I make sure that I get what I need and maybe a few specialties. I also don’t like the sites that require a minimum purchase. I find that I am usually unable to make the minimum purchase due to an inability to get all of the money in one place.
I shop on a site called Fire Mountain Gems. They have a large selection, but this isn’t the main reason. I shop there because they have a tiered discount system. There are four tiers based on the number of items in you cart. This affects the item price of everything in your cart. And, they are upfront with all of their costing. And, since they use a tiered system for discounts they don’t inflict a minimum purchase.
So I want you to consider a few things…
Where do you shop and why?
How much do you get for your money?
Book Review: Crafty Superstar (Part 2)
(This is the second post in the Book Review for Crafty Superstar. Make sure to read part one, in last weeks Thursday post.)Book Title: Crafty Superstar
Author: Grace Dobush
ISBN-13: 987-1-60061-320-3
ISBN-10: 1-60061-320-9
US $17.99 / CAN $21.99
In Crafty Superstar, Grace Dobush tries to share her creative business experiences and knowledge with us. She layout in in chapter 3, the best ways to go about selling you goods based on the store type you want to have. She starts out covering selling on-line, in a brick and mortar store, craft shows, and moving onto specialty sites like Etsy. She lays out the pros and cons for each. Since Grace owns an Etsy shop she does focus on the functions of Etsy. In this chapter she gives the reader easy tips on lighting a scene for your product shots, things to keep in mind while designing a business website, and simple yet interesting ways to package your products for the customer. She also covers customer service. This is a section worth reading twice. Our businesses are built on the desires of the customer. Like all business without them, we don’t sell. The final section covers how not to sell. She talks about common ways people will get in their own way.
In chapter four she talks about Craft Shows: where to find them, how to get involved, how to apply to be a sellers, and ways to stand out. I have to say when I thought about doing my first craft show I was overwhelmed. I have never been to one. I don’t know anyone who has participated, and I have no clue what I am getting into. So when Grace lays out the basics for me, I have to admit there was a sense of ease to it all. If you are considering participating in a craft show, but are worried that you might not have what it takes you need this book. It covers how much inventory you need going into a show. It talks about ways to display you good so that they are interesting. It also covers ways to set up your booth to be more functional. It also covers networking at these shows.
The fifth chapter is about getting your name out there. It covers several ways to promote your store online, good ways to find people in your area, and purchasing ads. It is one of the shorter chapters, but the information is densely packed. She lists out the best ways to deal with a magazine. She talks about blogging. (This is actually about the time I started mine. I knew I wanted one, and her book gave me a bit more focus.) She also talks about social network site.
In the final chapter, she talks about trying to balance work, crafting, and personal time. I am one of the obsessive crafters. I can sit around working on projects for hours. I try to balance this by beading about to construct my jewelry while talking to people. My friends are understanding and know that it is mainly a need to fidget. But, after a while you have to find a way to have this balance. She covers a few ideas on how.
So in general, I love this book. I believe that anyone who has or is starting an Etsy store needs this book. I suggest going down to Borders or Barnes&Nobels, get a cup of tea or coffee, and find a spot to hold up for thirty minutes. Read through the book and see if it is for you.
Book Review: Crafty Superstar (Part 1)
(In an attempt to have these be smaller posts I am going to break this up into a few posts…)Book Title: Crafty Superstar
Author: Grace Dobush
ISBN-13: 987-1-60061-320-3
ISBN-10: 1-60061-320-9
US $17.99 / CAN $21.99
At some point I decided that my Etsy shop needed to be more then just a hobby. The actual creation of items I make stemmed out of a hobby, but I was treating the business side of my craft that way too. I was maintaining a small inventory. I wasn’t listing new items frequently. And, in honesty I wasn’t very worried about getting my name out there. So I wasn’t very surprised when it never went anywhere. But, one day I created the first blossom ring. The attention I got was overwhelming. So I went down to my local bookstore, and started looking for a book to help me.
I ran across two and after reading a bit in both went with Crafty Superstar. Grace Dobush’s writing style is clever, honest, and seems more like someone having a conversation with you. The book has the following chapters: 1: DIY, 2: Business Basics, 3: Selling Opportunities, 4: Craft Shows, 5: Self Promotion, 6: Time Management. Each chapter has a listing of things you should keep in mind, questions that someone should be asking you, and tips for getting what you want. She also ten appendixes that have a list of questions, resources, and forms that will help you accomplish your goals.
In general the first chapter helps to establish your personal style of creating and selling. It also introduces a person to the basics of the crafting community, what you should expect, and an honest look at what is involved with starting an online craft oriented business. Even if you already have a store, I suggest reading this chapter. There were several tidbits that I would not have taken into consideration.
In the second chapter you discuss the information you will need in getting a business up and running. It covers self branding, setting business goals, pricing your goods, hiring on help when you need to boost production, creating a functional workspace, record keeping, and legally protecting your name and brand. This is the chapter I tend to spend the most time reading. In many ways this chapter made me break a few of my own preconceived notions. It never accorded to me that some of the shops that can produce so much quickly might have more then one person working it. In retrospect it makes sense that they would have to have at least 2-3 people, one running the shop and two making. In a perfect world this is generally what I would like to have in the future when I get to a point where I can support it.
Friday Favorites: Steampunk Jewelry
I spent this morning watching Howl's Moving Castle. I love that movie. There is something about the way Miyazaki wraps the concept of World War 2 in a fantasy setting. I love the way the immature super powered male finds his way into growing up through interactions with the woman he was sent to find. I love the way the young woman learns to value herself through fighting for people she cares about. And, Calcifer is the cutest fire demon in creation.
So here is a little sample of the jewelry of the time. Well... at least a modren retelling of it.
People listed:
1. LondonParticulars / 2. revolt70
3. FringeLore / 4. SteampunkCouture
5. sewlutionsbyamo / 6. CosmicFirefly
7. Tistjewelry / 8. asecondtime
So here is a little sample of the jewelry of the time. Well... at least a modren retelling of it.
People listed:
1. LondonParticulars / 2. revolt70
3. FringeLore / 4. SteampunkCouture
5. sewlutionsbyamo / 6. CosmicFirefly
7. Tistjewelry / 8. asecondtime
Business Sense: Bookkeeping and Records
Finance is the core of a business. You need money to create an item, you need money to list the item, you need money to send the item, and you receive money from the customer. This is the pretty cycle that our money takes when we have an Etsy store. It is actually true of most stores. We the creative people selling our goods have to be aware that the government only wants to see the cycle.
Things to keep in mind:
Receipts
You want to keep them, all of them. If you are buying supplies, reference materials, booth space, organizational tools are all important. I suggest going to Target and getting a receipt folder. I sprung for the sexy one with 12 pockets and a cute blue polka-dot pattern. You can list them as the months of the year. At the end of the year pack everything into month labeled envelopes and those into a larger envelope. Then you can put those away and not worry about them until tax time.
Records for Supplies
You need to keep a list of supplies that go into your pieces and cost. Make sure if the item comes multiples in a pack that you divide the price by the number in the package, then round up to the nearest penny. I have many supplies that are .007 for a single bead. Keeping track of this will do several things for you. First it will help you make sure that you never loose money on a piece. Second you can make sure that the profit margin you are receiving stays consistent in your shop. Third is it allows you to keep tabs on what items you have and need to restock. I have an excel sheet that I have uploaded to Google Docs and a copy on my iPhone. The records of what goes into your piece might also be useful at tax time.
Things to keep in mind:
Receipts
You want to keep them, all of them. If you are buying supplies, reference materials, booth space, organizational tools are all important. I suggest going to Target and getting a receipt folder. I sprung for the sexy one with 12 pockets and a cute blue polka-dot pattern. You can list them as the months of the year. At the end of the year pack everything into month labeled envelopes and those into a larger envelope. Then you can put those away and not worry about them until tax time.
Records for Supplies
You need to keep a list of supplies that go into your pieces and cost. Make sure if the item comes multiples in a pack that you divide the price by the number in the package, then round up to the nearest penny. I have many supplies that are .007 for a single bead. Keeping track of this will do several things for you. First it will help you make sure that you never loose money on a piece. Second you can make sure that the profit margin you are receiving stays consistent in your shop. Third is it allows you to keep tabs on what items you have and need to restock. I have an excel sheet that I have uploaded to Google Docs and a copy on my iPhone. The records of what goes into your piece might also be useful at tax time.
The Tudors...
As I have said before, I like TV. Or rather, I love TV. So I watch TV when I bead. When I am working on the bead embroidery, I like to watch Tudors. The overly lush costuming and extravagant jewelry always shows me a more traditional art style that I can bring into my modern interpretation. In many ways the pieces we see are someone else's recreation. They are lush combining fabrics you want to hold with stone you wish you owned.
There is a broach worn by Anne of Boleyn in the end of the first season. It has dripping pearls and emeralds that are lined in beads. It is given to her by Henry at the beginning of her seduction. She eventually wears it on a lavish green dress. The piece has stuck with me and I hope to design a necklace based on this piece.
Where do you find inspiration?
Friday Favorites: Hand Written
There is nothing better then putting a nice pen to paper. The way it glides across the surface leaving little lines of black along the way. It is a tradition that has become full journals, letters to loved ones, and the occasional to-do list. But it is a method of recording the things that have meaning. So here are just a few ways to record the things that mean the most to you.
People listed:
1. WhatchaMaDoodles / 2. deanpennandpaper
3. MJADesigns / 4. parksideharmony
5. interrupt / 6. APunkinCardCompany
7. emilyanndesigns / 8. GILDBookbinders
People listed:
1. WhatchaMaDoodles / 2. deanpennandpaper
3. MJADesigns / 4. parksideharmony
5. interrupt / 6. APunkinCardCompany
7. emilyanndesigns / 8. GILDBookbinders
Business Sense: Getting your cards out there… now what?
You have designed, ordered, and received your business cards. They are small slips of heavy weight paper that announce to the world that you have a store. You are a person to be taken seriously. So now what? How do you get your business cards into the hands of others? Here are a few simple, yet creative ways to get your cards into the hands of others.
The Public Bulletin Board
Most small restaurants, some grocery stores, and many small boutiques have a “public” bulletin board. They are a small space where people can post for local businesses. This is a great place to display some of your cards. I suggest keeping a small box of attractive pushpins, business cards, and if you don’t want to push through them a way to display them on the board. I suggest hitting up an office store for a display you can mount.
The Dinner Check
The waiter/waitress has taken your plate and come back with a small booklet and a receipt to sign. You flick your wrist and leave your name on the paper. Now you have a choice. You can get up walk away from the table, or you could consider pulling out your business cards and leaving one behind. Think about it. You never know if this person could become your next best customer.
Your Cheerleaders
In some cases this might actually be a group of cheerleaders. Right now one of my best advertisers is someone on the softball team of my old high school. But in general the people promoting my store the most, other then me, is my mother and best friend. They believe in me, and they believe in my art. That is what you need to find. You need to find the people that no matter how many pieces you show them they are still amazed. You need to first show them how much you appreciate them. Then you need to give them as many cards as they will take. You should also give them a piece for free to display. I give my mom jewelry all the time. Because people will see it, ask about it, and they will glow as they tell people about it. That is the best advertising you can ask for.
Meet and Greets
I have my blog, facebook, twitter, and store website listed on my cards. I want the little buggers to do as much for me as they can. I want people to be able to find me. And, I want people to go to my shop. So when I am out talking to other people I always keep business cards for others. I also wear my own jewelry, so that people can ask me about it.
The Public Bulletin Board
Most small restaurants, some grocery stores, and many small boutiques have a “public” bulletin board. They are a small space where people can post for local businesses. This is a great place to display some of your cards. I suggest keeping a small box of attractive pushpins, business cards, and if you don’t want to push through them a way to display them on the board. I suggest hitting up an office store for a display you can mount.
The Dinner Check
The waiter/waitress has taken your plate and come back with a small booklet and a receipt to sign. You flick your wrist and leave your name on the paper. Now you have a choice. You can get up walk away from the table, or you could consider pulling out your business cards and leaving one behind. Think about it. You never know if this person could become your next best customer.
Your Cheerleaders
In some cases this might actually be a group of cheerleaders. Right now one of my best advertisers is someone on the softball team of my old high school. But in general the people promoting my store the most, other then me, is my mother and best friend. They believe in me, and they believe in my art. That is what you need to find. You need to find the people that no matter how many pieces you show them they are still amazed. You need to first show them how much you appreciate them. Then you need to give them as many cards as they will take. You should also give them a piece for free to display. I give my mom jewelry all the time. Because people will see it, ask about it, and they will glow as they tell people about it. That is the best advertising you can ask for.
Meet and Greets
I have my blog, facebook, twitter, and store website listed on my cards. I want the little buggers to do as much for me as they can. I want people to be able to find me. And, I want people to go to my shop. So when I am out talking to other people I always keep business cards for others. I also wear my own jewelry, so that people can ask me about it.
Etsy ate my Blog
So I am not sure what is going on with the javascript trick I use to display my Friday Favorites series. I know that everyone who is using this trick is also suffering a problem. So I might take this time to figure out how to mimic it... or another way to display it.... or I might just find a way to modify the series.
I like TV. I actually like a good TV show more then I will like a good movie. It is mainly because I like the weekly dose of my favorite characters. I find I am more about the character development rather then a single arch. I have a friend who also loves TV, Manicfrequency. It is pretty much what his blog is going to be about. We get together all the time to marathon a series. The easy ones are the ones that are over oddly enough. Today we are trying to catch him up on this season of House. This all started because we are huge Buffy fans.
TV is my guilty pleasure. Right now my personal faves are Supernatural, House, Castle, How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM), CougarTown, Big Band Theory, and a bunch of others.
What shows are you watching?
I like TV. I actually like a good TV show more then I will like a good movie. It is mainly because I like the weekly dose of my favorite characters. I find I am more about the character development rather then a single arch. I have a friend who also loves TV, Manicfrequency. It is pretty much what his blog is going to be about. We get together all the time to marathon a series. The easy ones are the ones that are over oddly enough. Today we are trying to catch him up on this season of House. This all started because we are huge Buffy fans.
TV is my guilty pleasure. Right now my personal faves are Supernatural, House, Castle, How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM), CougarTown, Big Band Theory, and a bunch of others.
What shows are you watching?
Friday Favorites: Knitted
I knit. I purl. But, I am not amazing at it. I tend to only knit flat square or rectangular pieces in the form of blankets or scarves. It is one of the talents I like to play at. So I want to tip my hat to the amazing knitters of Etsy that can astound me. These amazing people have created the most stunning pieces.
People listed:
1.plumfish / 2.deniz03
3.aykelila / 4.Blackpurl720
5.Vikki0908 / 6.Happiknits
7.reflectionsbyds / 8.Pilland
People listed:
1.plumfish / 2.deniz03
3.aykelila / 4.Blackpurl720
5.Vikki0908 / 6.Happiknits
7.reflectionsbyds / 8.Pilland
Business Sense: Store Policies
I myself had to go to the forums on this question. What do you say in the policies to make the buyer feel at ease? So I learned a few things in my adventures into the grand world of Policies. First the top sellers on Etsy all have detailed policies where the customers know exactly what to expect. They let the customer know as much as they can about how they handle their business. Because we have to remember that Etsy is as much about the business as the handmade craft. So I tried to put together a list of questions that you should consider when you go to write your own.
Payment
~ What kind of payments do you accept?
~ When do you expect payment?
~ When someone does not pay you on the timeline you lay out how will you handle that?
~ Do you make concessions on your expectations if the buyer contacts you?
Shipping
~ Where do you ship?
~ What methods of shipping do you use?
~ What form of packaging do you do to protect your product?
~ Do you offer mail insurance?
~ Are there locations you cannot or do not ship to? Why?
~ Do you offer gift-wrapping for sellers? What do you charge for this?
Refunds and Exchanges
~ Do you offer a refund or exchange?
~ Under what situation do you offer one?
~ If you do not offer one, make a polite statement about why you do not. It will make the customer more comfortable.
Additional Policies
~ Do you consider an equal exchange with other Etsy sellers?
~ Do you frequently get the same question about an item? List them.
~ Is there anything special about your products that your customers need to know?
~ Do you do custom items? How do you handle this? Are there time line considerations?
Payment
~ What kind of payments do you accept?
~ When do you expect payment?
~ When someone does not pay you on the timeline you lay out how will you handle that?
~ Do you make concessions on your expectations if the buyer contacts you?
Shipping
~ Where do you ship?
~ What methods of shipping do you use?
~ What form of packaging do you do to protect your product?
~ Do you offer mail insurance?
~ Are there locations you cannot or do not ship to? Why?
~ Do you offer gift-wrapping for sellers? What do you charge for this?
Refunds and Exchanges
~ Do you offer a refund or exchange?
~ Under what situation do you offer one?
~ If you do not offer one, make a polite statement about why you do not. It will make the customer more comfortable.
Additional Policies
~ Do you consider an equal exchange with other Etsy sellers?
~ Do you frequently get the same question about an item? List them.
~ Is there anything special about your products that your customers need to know?
~ Do you do custom items? How do you handle this? Are there time line considerations?
The reusable items
I like reusable grocery bags. I considered making them for a while. But my skills at sewing are limited to beading. But, today I found the most amazing thing: reusable coffee cup cozies. I think this is an amazing idea. So much corrugated cardboard gets waisted everyday by people enjoying Starbucks. I have done it myself. Now we have options. Amazingly decorated and green options. There are many people online who already sell them. I want to commend people who do this. It is the simple ways we save the planet that make the most long term impact.
If you love drive threw coffee consider buying one that fits your style. I like laurabucci, cupkozy, and CozyCreek. Each of these etsians has a quality that I think makes them unique.
What do you do to be green? Do you have any green tips?
The Story of a Blogger
In my home there is a space that is all mine. It is a glass top desk with a bright white saw horse legs. It is currently covered in smattering of beading supplies, shipping envelopes, and array items that have no business being there. It is my attempt to scratch out a little space that is all my own for my beading. Because in my head, if I don’t take me serious as an Etsy seller then why should someone else. So at night I sit at a computer with my trusty Netflix account and I bead. I pull together all of the colors needed and I entertain myself as I slip my long slightly bent needle through beads.
Tonight I am watching Julie & Julia. Right now I find the two stories to be inspirational. Julia is an inspiration because she found a passion and without hesitation pursued it. She made her way through Paris learning to cook from people who didn’t believe in her. So with the loving support of the people around me I feel thankful. Then there is Julie’s story that is wonderful. Her desire to maintain a blog that she loves makes me appreciate mine more. I enjoy getting to sit down and spending time putting my thoughts out into the world. It is also nice to see how she writes about her trials through cooking. It makes me feel better about writing about my own.
Tonight I am watching Julie & Julia. Right now I find the two stories to be inspirational. Julia is an inspiration because she found a passion and without hesitation pursued it. She made her way through Paris learning to cook from people who didn’t believe in her. So with the loving support of the people around me I feel thankful. Then there is Julie’s story that is wonderful. Her desire to maintain a blog that she loves makes me appreciate mine more. I enjoy getting to sit down and spending time putting my thoughts out into the world. It is also nice to see how she writes about her trials through cooking. It makes me feel better about writing about my own.
Friday Favorites: Purses
I adore purses. As an artist, I tend to carry way more then I need. You can find anything from a digital camera, two little notebook for ideas, newly purchased beads, pens or pencils, and the normal accoutrements needed for everyday life. So I have a collection of purses in my closet in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Like shoes I tend to have more then I need, but there is always a new one to get. So I wanted to share a few of the lovely pieces I found on Etsy with you. I tend to have a classic or bohemian style to my clothing. So take time to look through the shops of the amazing Etsians.
People listed:
1. / chacha2 2. / ikabags 3. / muhgracie
4. / UpscaleVintage 5. / SpiritDesigns 6. / Upstyle
7. / RiffRaffReview 8. / Debos 9. / spudandpeanut
People listed:
1. / chacha2 2. / ikabags 3. / muhgracie
4. / UpscaleVintage 5. / SpiritDesigns 6. / Upstyle
7. / RiffRaffReview 8. / Debos 9. / spudandpeanut
Tutorial: How to set up Google Analytics Account for Etsy
Before you begin this you need to have a Google Account. They are free, so you will not need to worry about being charged for any part of this….. Now that you have an account proceed. Also I am using basic information for my blog for this example. However since I already have this feature on my blog, I am not using the generated code. So don’t worry I don’t have this personal information out there.
Now if you read my other tutorial, How to set up Google Analytics Account for Blogger, and remember how to set up a google account then you are ahead of the game. You get to Pass Go and skip directly to Step Nine. If you haven't then start with Step One.
STEP ONE:
You will need to go to the Google Anayltics Site: http://www.google.com/analytics/. On the main page you will see the blue box with the Access Analytics button on the right side of the screen. Click the button and it will take you to the next page where you will set up the account.
STEP TWO:
On the second page you will see in the top right hand corner of the page your account email and account information. Next to My Analytics Accounts there is a drop down menu of all of your other web analytics accounts. At the bottom of the list is the option to “Create New Account…” You are going to want to click on this option. This will bring up the next page.
STEP THREE:
The next page is a simple single button click. This page is simply more information on the features and benefits of having an analytics account. You will need to click on the “Sign Up” button to get to the next page.
STEP FOUR:
This is the real information you need to be concerned with for the analytics account. You will need to list your website’s main url, in this case you will need your shop URL. You will also need to name the analytics account. This is the name Google Analytics will use on the main page. So when you set up another analytics account for your Etsy Store you will be able to distinguish. Then you will be asked to list your Country and Time Zone so that they can use time stamps that will be accurate for you.
STEP FIVE:
This is the contact information you will need for setting up your account. This is basically so that they know whom to address when they send you an email. This is also letting them know that the person signing up for this feature is the person connected to the email account. You will need to put in your Last then First name as well as you country. If you forget to list your country you will get a error message and they will hold you on this page until you do.
STEP SIX:
On the next page you will have to accept the Terms of Service before you can proceed.
STEP SEVEN:
Now you are down to the nitty-gritty. Google has generated code for you to use. You have a couple of options in number 1. Don’t mess with these. You want to leave this as a single domain, which is the default. In number 2, you have the generated code. You want to make sure you select it all. I would click in the box and press CTRL-A to select all then CTRL-C to copy. For a Mac, you are going to press Apple-A then Apple-C. This will give you the code Google will need to be able to track information.
STEP EIGHT:
Now that you have the code. In most cases you would need the whole code to set up the Google tracking. But Etsy has set up a feature which means that you only need a sting of the code. On the ninth line which should look like: var pageTracker = _gat.getTracker("UA-########-#");. You only need the part that is UA-########-#. This is your personal google tracking code. The rest of it is just telling Google to look at the number and what to do with it. So write the number down or copy it.
STEP NINE:
Now you need to go to the Etsy site. You will need to log into your account to set up the google tracking number. Once you have signed in you will need to click on the link "Your Etsy".
STEP TEN:
On the left hand side there is the secondary links for your account. You will need to scroll down until you have found the "Shop Setup" area. The seventh option is Web Analytics. You will need to click on this one.
STEP ELEVEN:
You will see the Etsy Web Analytics page with an insert field where you will want to put in the Google tracking number: UA-########-#. Once you have the field filled out then you will just need to click the "Save Changes" button.
STEP TWELVE:
Once you click the button then you will see the statement: "You are all set up!" If you see this you have done everything correctly. If you get an error then you need to make sure that you listed the number correctly. This is why I suggest cut and paste.
Now that you are set up all you need to do is wait for the statistics to come rolling in. I would give it a few days then go back to Google Analytics to see the rewards.
Now if you read my other tutorial, How to set up Google Analytics Account for Blogger, and remember how to set up a google account then you are ahead of the game. You get to Pass Go and skip directly to Step Nine. If you haven't then start with Step One.
STEP ONE:
You will need to go to the Google Anayltics Site: http://www.google.com/analytics/. On the main page you will see the blue box with the Access Analytics button on the right side of the screen. Click the button and it will take you to the next page where you will set up the account.
STEP TWO:
On the second page you will see in the top right hand corner of the page your account email and account information. Next to My Analytics Accounts there is a drop down menu of all of your other web analytics accounts. At the bottom of the list is the option to “Create New Account…” You are going to want to click on this option. This will bring up the next page.
STEP THREE:
The next page is a simple single button click. This page is simply more information on the features and benefits of having an analytics account. You will need to click on the “Sign Up” button to get to the next page.
STEP FOUR:
This is the real information you need to be concerned with for the analytics account. You will need to list your website’s main url, in this case you will need your shop URL. You will also need to name the analytics account. This is the name Google Analytics will use on the main page. So when you set up another analytics account for your Etsy Store you will be able to distinguish. Then you will be asked to list your Country and Time Zone so that they can use time stamps that will be accurate for you.
STEP FIVE:
This is the contact information you will need for setting up your account. This is basically so that they know whom to address when they send you an email. This is also letting them know that the person signing up for this feature is the person connected to the email account. You will need to put in your Last then First name as well as you country. If you forget to list your country you will get a error message and they will hold you on this page until you do.
STEP SIX:
On the next page you will have to accept the Terms of Service before you can proceed.
STEP SEVEN:
Now you are down to the nitty-gritty. Google has generated code for you to use. You have a couple of options in number 1. Don’t mess with these. You want to leave this as a single domain, which is the default. In number 2, you have the generated code. You want to make sure you select it all. I would click in the box and press CTRL-A to select all then CTRL-C to copy. For a Mac, you are going to press Apple-A then Apple-C. This will give you the code Google will need to be able to track information.
STEP EIGHT:
Now that you have the code. In most cases you would need the whole code to set up the Google tracking. But Etsy has set up a feature which means that you only need a sting of the code. On the ninth line which should look like: var pageTracker = _gat.getTracker("UA-########-#");. You only need the part that is UA-########-#. This is your personal google tracking code. The rest of it is just telling Google to look at the number and what to do with it. So write the number down or copy it.
STEP NINE:
Now you need to go to the Etsy site. You will need to log into your account to set up the google tracking number. Once you have signed in you will need to click on the link "Your Etsy".
STEP TEN:
On the left hand side there is the secondary links for your account. You will need to scroll down until you have found the "Shop Setup" area. The seventh option is Web Analytics. You will need to click on this one.
STEP ELEVEN:
You will see the Etsy Web Analytics page with an insert field where you will want to put in the Google tracking number: UA-########-#. Once you have the field filled out then you will just need to click the "Save Changes" button.
STEP TWELVE:
Once you click the button then you will see the statement: "You are all set up!" If you see this you have done everything correctly. If you get an error then you need to make sure that you listed the number correctly. This is why I suggest cut and paste.
Now that you are set up all you need to do is wait for the statistics to come rolling in. I would give it a few days then go back to Google Analytics to see the rewards.