Don't let Etsy steal your customers
Free download | Peas are gross | Chrissie Hynde is still hawt!
When you read this, I’m probably sitting on a Hawaiian beach, toes in the sand, enjoying a mai tai or large cup of Kona coffee. I know, rough life.
But since it’s a few days before I leave for my trip, I decided to share some thoughts with you and then take next week off to enjoy the Aloha.
Speaking of the aloha spirit, the people of Maui still need lots of help. If you can see it in your heart to donate, one program I’ve contributed to is the Maui Strong Fund.
Free Download: Marketplace Mastery
When I return from my trip, one of the first things on my agenda is to finish up a project I started this week. The purpose of the project is to help anyone that sells through marketplaces like Etsy, RedBubble, SaatchiArt, and other places by providing a simple punch list of tasks to help those sellers retain customers.
I’ve written many times about how the shoppers on marketplaces are not your customers but the customers of the marketplace, but there are ways to bring those individuals over so you can continue your relationship with them. Marketplace Mastery will help with that, and it is 100% free!
Along with the task list, I’ll be sharing a video giving more context to all the elements, and I have plans to include a couple of other sheets to help with content and social media ideas.
For now, though, you can download the punch list and get started today.
IMPORTANT: In a week, I’ll be deleting this segment from the post because I want this to remain an exclusive for subscribers. If you miss it, reply to this message directly, and I’ll send it to you.
PARTNER
Shopify is the Answer
Recently I did some independent research on a few e-commerce solutions, some saying that cater specifically to artists. The only thing I found is they cannot compete with Shopify.
Yes, I am biased, but for a reason. I’ve been at this game for a while now and tried many different solutions, but none have provided the same level of security, assurance, capability, and service as Shopify and for a fraction of the cost of those other storefronts that hide their pricing.
As a bonus, you can test Shopify for $1 a month for the first 3 months. That’s $3 for 90 days’ worth of business. There is no better deal out there, especially for a tool as powerful as Shopify.
The Poet and the Killer
David Ogilvy was a creative genius and an advertising industry juggernaut, his agency was responsible for some of the most memorable ads of all time, and he was not one to mince words when giving advice.
“Most good copywriters fall into two categories. Poets. And killers. Poets see an ad as an end. Killers as a means to an end. If you are both a killer and a poet, you get rich.” - David Olgilvy, Olgilvy on Advertising
Olgilvy was talking about the advertising world, but his thoughts transcend. Poets are creative souls who live to make art. Killers are strategists who know when and how to seize an opportunity.
If we aim to earn substantial amounts of money from our art, we must embrace both sides.
Prediction: Some people have already checked out and deleted this post from their inbox because the thought of the killer is so antithetical to their nature the concept repulses them. However, that doesn’t make it any less necessary for success.
Rethinking the Process
When I was a small child, my mom would mix peas with mashed potatoes before serving them to me because she knew that the textures were the same. I know you just imagined the spoon train and made the chew-chew noises in your head—so did I.
Mom couldn’t get me to eat peas alone, but the potato was just enough buttery, starchy goodness to make the peas a willing sacrifice. The same went for cheese sauce and broccoli (I draw the line at avocado and mushrooms to this day, though).
If peas are the conversations about money and business acumen, then my goal with The Hungry Artist is to make mashed potatoes. The goal is to give you get a taste of something you like that also gives you the nourishment you need.
Unfortunately, I don’t know if I’ve found the right flavor combinations yet.
The Truth Hurts
Since I started this project, I’ve been asking people to share it with friends if they found the information helpful. I’ve even created a referral program to help encourage people to share. Want to know how many referrals I’ve gotten?
That stings and I’m not sure if it’s that readers aren’t into sharing or if my content isn’t good enough for them to share. To be fair, some may have sent referrals to friends, but none of those friends have responded, which is still a problem.
I believe I’ve done a decent job presenting good information to readers, but it’s time for me to take it up a notch. I cannot control whether people will share, but I can control the quality of what gets shared.
While I’m away on my Hawaiian vacation (poi is kind of like mashed potatoes), I’ll have plenty of quiet time to spend thinking about how to step up my content game, and be forewarned; I’m aiming for killer content…mixed with some poetic artistry.
Despite those who may be repulsed by the idea of making good money from their art (who are these people, anyway?), the goal is to introduce concepts that share with them beneficial things that help them move the needle without making them feel slimy about their actions.
It’s time to lower the bar to a growth mindset, helping makers visualize the benefits of creative business strategy.
In the meantime, I’ve got some chicken katsu and mac salad calling my name. I’ll bring you back some chocolate-covered macadamia nuts.
Oh, and if I’ve guilted you enough into sharing, press the button.
Small Bites
Enough here to keep you busy for a few weeks
Connor Price has taken TikTok by storm with his adventurous approach to sharing music… but the real credit goes to his wife, Breana. The unassuming young woman is a killer, and Kris Jenner’d the shit out of Connor’s career.
Should we work more with diligence or meaning? Read and then decide.
Amazon Kindle is ok, but it’s not easy to find great, independent writers. I recently stumbled across Book Bub, and there’s no looking back.
I’m not saying you should start a blog, but I recommend it because social media sucks, and writing is therapy. If you create a blog Darren Rowse from Problogger shares 25 pages you should have on that blog (one step at a time).
Abstract artist
explains why our spaces deserve art (take a lesson and share the concept).Should you discount your art to help it sell? The short answer is NO. The long answer is HELL NO, but there are things you can do.
The Saatchi Art blog often talks about how to buy art. These posts are geared toward new collectors, like this one about buying prints. However, if you’re savvy, you can learn how buyers think, then use it to get them to buy from you.
We’ve already heard enough from middle-aged white men (ahem) about how to do business. Maybe now it’s time to learn from the ladies, 6 of them in fact, and their advice about starting a creative business.
The app formerly known as Twitter (I refuse to call it a letter, out of spite) is now throttling any tweets that feature links out to competitor apps.
For all my ambition and platitudes about doing the work, the only thing that matters, in the end, is that everything I shared was out of love.
My first musical crush was Leather Tuscadero (Suzi Quatro) because she is a badass. My second was Chrissie Hynde because she is also a badass. I suppose I had a type.
Maybe your kids are back in school, or they will be soon. Perhaps you need supplies, but before you run to Walmart or Target, consider these mom-n-pop shops for your supply needs.