I have been advertising lately -  Facebook, Etsy Search ads.  Nothing too fancy, but I have set them at a much higher budget than usual - more so with the search ads than FB.  Is it paying off?  I just started at the new budget so I can't give a firm answer, but my early impression is: yes.  Selling online is different from how it use to be when I started at Etsy 4 years ago.  Has it been 4 years?  Or maybe 5…  Well, it's been a while.  Until I learn some of these other venues, Facebook and the Etsy search ads will be the focus for now.

It occurred to me to bump up the advertising budget altogether after another successful Oregon Country Fair event selling my batiks.  Everyone was so nice and curious about my artwork.  I realized if more people saw the batiks, more people could enjoy them.  I know, major concept…  For some reason it suddenly seemed very pertinent, so I ramped up the advertising and got very specific as to where they're targeted.  So far I feel like they're getting good results.







And yes, the size large tops will fit over size D boobs…  Although this happy customer wound up buying batik yoga pants.

Ha!  That was a year ago…  and a loooong year it has been.  Keeping from where I left off here I should mention that Cafe Press showed some promise after all.  I was surprised.  All it needs is a little promotion.  I still don't know code, or html or both, or either (the difference of which I have yet to know, and don't get me started on how frustrating it is not to) but I have a better understanding of what it takes to sell online.  However, I'm not sure if I should write about growing the biz or write about the art, or producing the art.  Ideally I'd like to write about it all.  Can artists do that?  Isn't that really where the fun is, behind the scenes?

However my next pursuit will be deciphering the use of Adwords for marketing, which my desire for understanding has the same appeal that scaling Mt. Aconcagua would have to a couch potato.  Not a hell of a lot...  I'll let you know how it goes.

I think I'll watch some cat videos now.

Better Than Yesterday

Ha!  I knew it!  Cafe Press isn't exactly user friendly!  It's not just me, my web designer confirmed it.  I feel so much better about it now.  That place was driving me nuts.  And yes, I have to upload pre-set photo dimensions for each…  whatever you call it.  Product.

Jeez, I'm tired today.  Web designer and biz consult meetings today - 2 in one day.  And I had the youngster with me the whole time, but it was good.  I'm glad he's seeing this side of his mom running a business.

So, 3 levels productivity today.  Quality child rearing, web design/cafe press progress, and a refreshed itinerary for the biz in the next 2 weeks.

And I made a sale.