Rose of Sharon Jewelry says, "Where are the sales?"

Rose of Sharon Jewelry wrote an article on her blog that got me thinking. "Where are the sales?"

What a good question? One I think all jewelry makers working to create an online presence have struggled with. We've been told by all the experts that we must Twitter, Plurk, Facebook, Fan Page and Flickr to be successful. I know I get lost online searching, following, writing and drooling. I love to spend my off hours, and truthfully, some of my working hours surfing, reading email, tutorials, shopping for more supplies and generally keeping all my Social Marketing Venues active and up to date. How much time do we devote to craft and how much to the necessary evil of marketing. I'm on the computer way too much but have generated a fair amount of business with my online time. I figured out early that jewelry sales online are tough and switched to supplies, a much easier marketing job as I'm targeting the people who I like to follow any way. I keep most of my jewelry for in person sales through shows.

I keep reading that you need to be online about 2 years before you will make an impression with a web site. You must brand yourself and become a recognizable member of the online community. It's a case of building a following that keeps returning and generating enough interest that your web ID goes up so you show up higher in the search rankings. But the market is so saturated with jewelers that getting noticed is almost impossible. And, to make it worse, everyone is doing the same things so you are competing in a saturated market, doing the same things everyone else is doing. From a marketing standpoint, that is a disastrous position.

Almost 30 years ago I attended a sales seminar and I wish I could remember the speakers name because he made a serious impression on me. He said, "Figure out what everyone else is doing and do the opposite or at least something different." The seminar was for Real Estate sales and I used that theory the entire time I was selling real estate to great effect. I think we need to do the same with jewelry. But what could we do differently and still make use of the tools like Twitter and Facebook?

I don't have the answers to that question yet so I'll keep on plugging away, featuring sellers, trying to find interesting information to post, making sure you know where to buy the best copper wire (shameless plug) and generally trying to support other artists in their quest for online nirvana, a jewelry sale.

Got an idea how we can do it differently? Post it here. I'd love to see your ideas.

Stop by Rose of Sharon Blog and her Etsy Shop or her Artfire Shop for a real treat.

Lois
Copper Wire, Beads and Findings http://www.abeadedaffair.com
Best Copper Jewelery Group on the net http://copperwirejewelers.ning.com

Stu Stu Studio618

Showing my total lack of knowledge of modern music, if a 1985 song by Phil Collins can be called "modern music", when I first met the talented Theresa Kwong, the brains and talent behind Studio 618, I couldn't for the life of me remember her real name. Every time I saw her the adulterated lyrics of Phil's pop hit were all I could bring to mind and Theresa became Stu Stu Studio to me. With apologies to Theresa, Phil Collins in a 1997 interview with VH1 said, "So I set up this drum-machine pad, and I got some chords, and I started to sing into the microphone, and this word came out, which was "sus-sussudio." The world of course thought it was Stu Stu Studio, me included, and that is the name I dubbed Theresa.

I've gotten to know Theresa a little better and still secretly think of her as Stu, but there is much more to Theresa Kwong than an out of date pop ditty. One look at her Etsy Store Studio 618 will reveal the depth of artistic talent and vision that continues to reveal itself with each new addition. Structure and flow identify her style which makes sense when you know that Theresa is a practicing architect by day and a jewelry designer by night.

A Silversmith, Theresa uses only the best gemstones, sterling and copper to create a wide variety of one of a kind treasures. One of my current favorites is this hand engraved sterling cuff with the following scripture from Numbers 6:24-26 "May the Lord bless you and keep you;May the Lord make his face shine upon you;and be gracious to you;May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." See more historical information on hand engraving on Theresa's blog aptly titled Studio 618.

Theresa says, "My inspiration comes from my past experiences in life, my cultures, my environment, or a specific moment in time. Sometimes interesting techniques will challenge me to come up with different designs too. My work keeps evolving, with fresh ideas all the time."

I think Stu says it best, "After many years of practicing as an architect, I craved to create with my own two hands instead of just sitting behind the computer or drawing board and have other people carry out my designs. From mega-scale projects to micro-sized adornments, I execute my jewelry designs/fabrication with an artful eye, precision hands, and human comfort in mind. I hope my jewelry collections will bring you as much meaning and enjoyment as the passion I pour onto each piece."

A visit to Studio 618 will grab the imagination, satisfy your senses, engage your heart and provide you with your favorite gifts to give or keep for yourself. Thanks Theresa!

While visiting Studio 618 check out her favorites Sellers, team mates on the eSMArts Team for a wide variety of fine art, craft and collectibles. New this month is our eSMArts Team Store with a variety of donated items from generous team members the proceeds of which will all go to good causes.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of this article.

"Talent at eSmarts - Art You Can Wear"

“eSmarts” Guild Team, an Etsy Team, is lucky to have found an extraordinary artist who also happens to be a Marketing Maven. From her blog "My Gemstone Box" and very active group participation in “eSmarts” Yahoo Group, Diane informs and educates the team with marketing tips and tricks to help us navigate the jungle of Social Marketing sites on the World Wide Web.

As lucky as we are to get an experienced marketer in our midst, even better is the artist and her work. Fine gemstones, pearls and precious metals combine to create “simple yet elegant jewelry that is art you can wear”.

A wife and mother with a full time job as a Quality Engineer for a Rhode Island printing company, yet this giving artist still finds time to help the more IT challenged of us sign up for Flickr and LinkedIn, We Love Etsy and Scoutle, all the while creating and posting to Etsy her beautiful hand made creations.

See more of Diane’s “art you can wear” at her Etsy store UnicornGem1994 and figure out what LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr and many more are at “My Gemstone Box”. .

Art you can wear, what a wonderful vision.

Check out my blog/shop at A Beaded Affair and

my Etsy Store also A Beaded Affair

Cutting Edge - Ga' Hoole Tree Designs

Being on the cutting edge of anything has never been my strong suit. I tend to hold back and wait until "you" have gotten the bugs out of the works for me before I'll consider trying something new. To say I am old fashioned and behind the times, well, it's really not an insult to me. I take great pride in doing some things the old fashioned way.

I still use maps...no not printed off the computer...but smelly, old, wrinkled map books for all the surrounding counties which I keep in the pocket behind my seat. When I make stuffing, I break the bread and chop the celery and onions myself. I make my own pies and cakes and my daughter was 10 before she had a store bought sweater. I hand write letters and have no idea what an iPod is, let alone does.

Recently, however, I met a dynamic jeweler who is really on the cutting edge in so many ways and she is trying to bring me out of the dark ages and into the 21st Century. Of course, I am kicking and screaming all the way...but just think...she has me blogging.

AnnaLee Husband is the leader of our Etsy Team eSmarts, The Etsy Social Marketing Arts Guild. In addition to producing exquisite jewelry for her Esty shops Ga'Hoole Tree Designs and Sassy D Lite she makes available to us all the remarkable gems she has hand selected for her supplies shop Ga'Hoole Tree Supplies. Even better, AnnaLee is sharing with the team her years of experience and most importantly her success marketing online through Social Marketing Techniques she has developed and with our team effort we will be able to create an online presence, which none of us could have achieved alone.

AnnaLee Husband is always trying something new and recently I caught up with her blog Ga'Hoole Tree Designs where she is trying out a new slide show. It's worth a trip to Ga'Hoole Tree just to check out the slide show but doubly worth it since it's full of AnnaLee's treasures.

Ga'hooleTree Designs: a new slideshow

Enjoy the trip and stop back here often for reviews of other team members and Etsians as I travel the road to the 21st Century. Who knows, maybe I'll get a fax machine or something exciting like that.

A Beaded Affair - An affair you'll remember - Esty Shop
A Beaded Affiar - Gem Stories