How To Get Your First Sale Online

I really would like to know the answer to this question.  It's difficult to play the waiting game and get your first sale online.  In person, one can feel, pick up, scrutinize the product carefully but online, it's so much harder.  I've seen some things online that I wouldn't buy but there are a lot of sales on the item and I sit there looking at it and wonder, "Who are the people that are buying these things? They must be crazy?".  To each his own.
I have read a lot of articles about it and done a lot of research but to me it's all about luck and it always takes the first person or first few people to give other people confidence.  When there are no reviews, views are comments, most people seem to shy away from  buying a product because that's their evidence whether it's good or not.  I don't blame them because I do it too!
Very few people tell you the first sale takes time..and it may be a lot of time i.e. a long while before someone decides to take the risk.
A few tips I picked up (and should be doing but apparently, I am not):

• Photos - Visual impact is important and  remember since the customer can't do the tangible, then you have to make the intangible tangible by using the photo.  Hope that makes sense! 
• Wording - Entice the person to buy and make it believable.  Descriptions and headlines give persons an idea of what it's for, when to use it, how to use it and that's your selling pitch to the customer.
• Price - Always a touchy subject because as the seller, you calculate your selling price based on certain things but the client may not want to buy it for that price.  This is a touch and go thing because you want a price that is reasonable to attract a customer while gaining a profit. 
• Policies - Clearly defined policies whether it's return/cancellation policies, shipping information, etc.  By outlining this, it makes the customer feel reassured if there is a problem.  
• Contact - Be available! A customer contacts you to ask more questions, to give feedback or find out additional information, respond appropriately and timely.  It doesn't have to be right away so they think you're there waiting for their response every minute of every day.  

 The extra tip is don't be a flip flopper!  It may happen due to what you are trying to ship because there may be a problem shipping to a particular country or the shipping may be higher than you estimated or custom item took more material than you thought.  Whatever the reason, try not to change the price or keep going to the customer with another issue or problem that you're trying to resolve.  This is intuitive because sometimes it's good to keep the person informed at all steps and other times, it's better to try to handle things behind the scenes because saying something is unnecessary.  However, there are some instances where it is out of your control and you are trying your best to handle the situation in the way you believe it's best.  Running a business can be tricky and business is all about trial and error and learning what to do when.

Remember: After the sale, you will need to look at how you package and ship your item and how do you make it attractive for the person so that when it arrives, they are satisfied with the product. Building buyer's confidence continues after the sale and this is what keeps return clientele.


See ya! :)

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The Art of Crochet

Crochet has been around for years but the art of crochet has evolved over time.   Gone are the granny square sweaters (I hope!) and in are many design styles that are fun and fashion forward.  To be totally honest, there are some granny square designs that I actually like! These classic styles have been remixed or updated for the fashionista in mind!
Now I know there are persons out there that wonder why crochet items are at a particular price.  Without going into the economics of it, crochet takes time!  Even if you're very fast, the labour intensive nature of crochet is such that you have to create each stitch to come up with you "fabric", reducing and increasing to provide shape or a pattern or both.  If a mistake is made and you haven't caught it early, you may have to unpick a lot of your work and redo it.
At the present moment, I make made-to-order items simply because as a budding enterprise, creating a variety of stock just is not feasible!  I prefer to make ready-made items due to the fact that they are bought AS IS.  A ready-made item can be a wonderful product since it's already made and you can walk away with the item right then and there rather than a waiting period to receive your item.  Made-to-order items can be custom designed and custom made which actually brings a uniqueness to the product.  You are involved in the colour choice or combinations and the adjustments.
So when next you look at a crochet item and think "Oh my gosh" about the price, remember that someone had to make it by hand, just for you!  Show your appreciation for the great work the person did by buying that item and supporting an artist.  Who knows!  That particular piece may end up to be one of your most admired pieces!

See ya!

Melissa

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