On the Dot Creations

Butterfly Beauty

 

One of my favorite summertime sights is a butterfly.  So elegant, so fragile, so beautiful.  Etsy is filled with beautiful butterfly items.  Let's take a closer look:

1. Sparkling Butterfly Canvas from Zuzu Girl
2. Sweet Dreams Sign from Card-Blanc
3. Watermelon Butterfly Soap from LoveLeeSoaps
4. Vintage Style Butterflies Apron from SpiceRak Designs
5. Porcelain Butterfly Box from Jeanette Risco
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I hope you have a lovely day and a wonderful weekend!  Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway -- deadline is Sunday!

 

Happy National Sugar Cookie Day!

 

Did you know that July 9 is National Sugar Cookie Day?  It's one of those obscure holidays, but it sounds like fun to me! :)  Now all we need is a big glass of ice cold milk!

1. Sugar Cookie Soy Candle from The Shabby Shop
2. Sugar Cookie Whipped Body Polish from Southern Vermont Soap
3. Sugar Cookie Soap from Bird's Bubbles
4. Vanilla Sugar Cookie Candle Jar from Ozark Scents
5. Party Confetti Potholder from Sugar Chic
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Here's hoping that your day is sweet! :)

 

Dotty Giveaway -- Sara Ito

 

What a fun giveaway this week!  One lucky winner will receive this fun stash from the Sara Ito Etsy shop:  dotty notecard, tags, and hand towel.  How fun! :)

To enter the giveaway, simply visit Sara's shop and browse through the lovely items there.  Come back to this post and leave a comment, stating your favorite item in the shop.  Comments will close at noon on Sunday, July 11.

You can double your chances to win by subscribing to my e-newsletter.  You'll find the subscription button in the left sidebar.  Simply complete the subscription, then come back and post a second comment, letting me know that you just subscribed.  First time subscribers only, please.

Good luck!

 

More Tips for Sponsoring a Blog Giveaway

Welcome to Part 2 of tips for sponsoring a blog giveaway.  If you missed last week's installment, you can read it here.

So how can a small business owner (such as an Etsy seller) benefit from sponsoring a giveaway?

1. Giveaways bring your shop exposure.
Get your name (and product) in front of customers who might not otherwise visit your shop.  Even if you don't make any sales during the giveaway week, don't despair.  You'll be surprised at how many giveaway participants will come back to visit your shop later.

2. Giveaways often cause participants to mark your shop as a favorite ("heart" it).
Simply put, hearts often produce future customers.

3. Giveaways allow you to get your product into the hands of a potential future customer. 
What better way to win over a potential customer than to send a piece of your work, free of charge?  Giveaways allow your customers to see and touch your product.  Just be sure that the giveaway item you send is your best work.
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Want another tip for making your giveaway experience successful?  Make a positive connection with the winner of your giveaway. 

Here's how:

1. Communicate
When you learn the contact information of the giveaway winner, contact him/her right away with a word of congratulations.  Be genuinely excited, and assure the winner that you will send the item right away.  This prompt communication will speak volumes about your attention to detail.

2. Ship Quickly
As soon as possible, ship the giveaway item to the winner.  Promptness suggests professionalism.  You might consider sending another quick email to the winner as soon as you have mailed the giveaway item, stating that the package is on its way.

3. Follow Up
You might want to send one last email when you feel sure that the giveaway item has arrived.  Ask for feedback about the item or thank the person for entering the giveaway.  All of these efforts to communicate will surely have a positive impact on the winner and might even turn him/her into a future customer!
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Now, it's your turn.  What details about sponsoring a giveaway would you add to this post?  Feel free to share in the comments.

Good luck in your future giveaway endeavors!

 

Happy July 4th!

 

May your day be filled with family, fun, fireworks, and yummy food!  Happy Independence Day, America!

A Dotty Welcome: Just Wright Boutique

Allow me to introduce my newest blog sponsor, Just Wright Boutique.  Shop owner Sonja specializes in unique, personalized items.  My personal favorites are the ring bearer bowls and signature plates.  So creative and fun!  

I encourage you to visit Sonja's website or Etsy shop today!

6 Tips for Sponsoring an Etsy Shop Giveaway

Giveaways.  The Internet is filled with them.  From flat screen televisions to Amazon gift cards, there are literally hundreds of giveaways going on each week.  Ever thought of sponsoring a giveaway from your Etsy shop?

Here are some tips:

1. Choose your giveaway host carefully.
You may, of course, choose to host your giveaway on your own blog, but you will probably get better exposure if you can find a popular blogger to host your giveaway for you.  Do a Google search for "Etsy giveaway," and you'll be amazed at the resources you'll find.

2. Don't give away junk.
You might be tempted to give away that item in your shop that hasn't sold, or an item with few customer views.  Avoid that tendency.  Remember that the giveaway item should be a reflection of your very best work.  You never know who might win the giveaway -- that person could potentially become a future customer.

3. Sponsor a giveaway when your shop is new.
This might sound like a foolish idea, given the fact that new shop owners probably don't have lots of profit yet, but what a better time to introduce the world to your shop than when it is brand new?

4. Use the giveaway comments to improve your shop.
I recently hosted a giveaway for Etsy seller, Busybizzy B.  Shop owner Jaime created an adorable polka dotted apron for the giveaway.  When the giveaway participants searched her shop for their favorite items, almost every single one of them commented that the aprons in her shop were their favorites.

What is most interesting is that Jaime's shop doesn't specialize in aprons.  In fact, a very small percentage of the shop items were aprons.  Jaime gained some wonderful feedback from the giveaway experience, and she plans to expand the number of aprons in her shop right away!

5. Don't make the giveaway participants jump through too many "hoops" to enter.
Sad but true, if you require giveaway participants to complete several steps to be eligible, many will simply "pass" on that giveaway.  Some giveaways require a Tweet, a post on the participant's blog, etc.  While these items would definitely increase the giveaway's exposure, they can be a turn-off and might lead to fewer giveaway entries.

Most people expect the "standard" giveaway routine:  visit the sponsor's shop and leave a comment listing your favorite item.  Much more than that, and you're probably limiting your giveaway entries.

6. View your giveaway as an investment in your business.
Let's face it, a giveaway costs a shop owner money: the cost of the item, the cost of shipping the item to the winner, etc.  You must remember, however, that this small investment could potentially have a big return in future sales.  Invest a little, and you might get back a lot.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Etsy giveaway tips.

 

P.S. Speaking of giveaways, my July August calendar is completely open for Tuesday giveaways.  Contact me today if you're interested in sponsoring one!

photo by Piccalilli Days