But Ember's Just a blogger!!! Well,that may be true But I do deal with designers either directly or indirectly on a daily basis and I think I have a few tricks for you too :)
1. Marketing -
Via social Networking
There are a few things I think is an absolute MUST for both new and existing designers.
Flickr -
Here you should have at the very least 1 PAGE.
When you make this PAGE ( not a group) Make sure you use your store name.
This makes it easier for people to search and follow you.
- I strongly suggest this because loads and loads of residents use Flickr on a daily basis.
- When we follow your store page on Flickr we see all your latest works may just run to your stores to grab them!
- Now you can also have a GROUP for your store. This is a spot for residents and bloggers alike to drop in photos of themselves wearing your designs. A great way for you to find potential blogging talent for your business!
*Notes on Flickr.
When uploading a photo of your products, use the description field to write all pertinent info about said product.
*Please be careful Apparently Flickr 's TOS states Don't use Flickr to sell.
Post artistic teaser photos of your latest works, those dedicated shoppers will find a way to find you!* Flickr is a photo sharing site. So photos it is!
Facebook -
- You should create a PAGE here as well. Same thing applies as above. Use your store name so people can find you.
- You can also create a Facebook GROUP that people can and photos & blog links to.
*Notes on Facebook.
Don't worry about FB deleting these. You don't have to be a 'real' person to have a page or group!
Again, when putting your new releases on your page make sure to write out all info and the SLURL for us to go buy the goods!
There are a few other sites as well you can check out.
Plurk.
Twitter.
(I don't personally know the ins and out of these two social sites but they are used a great deal by residents and designers alike.)
Your Profile -
Now that you've created all these useful links, you need to put them into your profile and or onto a Social networking sign in your store.
Also to begin with , enlist your friends to help spread the word for you!
A store blog -
I think it's a great idea to have a store blog but you HAVE to keep it up to date!
Again, share the link in your profile. You can use a blog format like Blogspot.com
or Wordpress.com . If you prefer to use a website you can try Wix.com . All of these sites are free to use!
Marketplace -
Some people just don't like to fight lag to shop so they just use good old MP.
Or they start a search there for a particular item. (Remember to put the link in your profile or networking board!)
When you use Marketplace,
- Make sure to keep your In world shop info up to date!It's a huge turn off to Use the provided link and have it take you elsewhere.
- Make sure you provide all the info on the item. Price, prims, land impact.
- Use Key words. Properly. If its a skirt, use skirt, if its a miniskirt, add that, if its a ball gown, use those words. Use only key words relevant to your item. Key words are very important for people to find your items.
2. Sales & Hunts.
Having special sales are a great way to gain new customers. Especially if you advertise as I've mentioned above. You can do all sorts of special sales.
Here are just a few examples.
Marketplace Promo -
This is easy. Just go into MP and adjust the price then add PROMO before the name. Don't forget to mention how long this item is at special price for! Also remember, Don't give away your item. Perhaps If you make items with animations, make a teaser product. One with very few animations in to give people a taste of what the full product is like. *Make sure people know it is not the full product, be very clear*
Group only sales -
I am hoping you have a group for your store. If not it is something to put on your to do list.
A lot of stores offer special sales for group member's only.
This is a great way to gain new and loyal customers.
Group Freebies -
One way to gain customer loyalty is to offer group members a Group Gift.
A great way to tell your loyal supporters you love them too.
- Just drop the gift into group notices. You may want to add a fee for the two week period the item will be in notices.
( I can't believe I shared that *facepalm*)
Hunts -
Now I started out blogging Hunts so I'm gonna be long winded here :)
First of all if you are new to joining hunts check out this site.
HUNT SL. Scroll down the page looking to the right hand side for *future hunts*
Follow the links to applications and have fun.
*About the hunt gifts.
Now Designers. You spent the time to apply to be in this hunt.
Keep reminding yourself WHY you joined it.
To expand your customer base right?
- Now the BEST way to do this is to make a GOOD hunt prize! You want to offer one of your best designs to give the customer incentive to shop at your store in future!!
Don't be that store!
Make sure that before putting out your prize you include the following.
✔A texture of the item.
✔A thank you to the hunter * Potential future customer*
✔A LANDMARK for your store.
✔ Any of the handy links you have for your business.
Have a subscribe o matic -
You can buy one here. https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/ArtiZan-Postmaster-200-Online-Delivery-Mail-Server/2930075 You will get a sign to put in your store . Customers will click on it and then when you release new items, drop the notice into the suscribo and bam, all your customers get the new release info!
3. Bloggers -
Now don't look shocked, you knew I would get to this :P
Hiring bloggers is a really great way to sell your designs. It costs nothing and brings in the sales.
How to look for bloggers -
There are loads of ways to hunt down the perfect bloggers for you!
Here's a few.
- Your profile. Make a pick Title it Bloggers! then put down the ways you want them to contact you. If by note card. Have them name it ' Blogger THEIR NAME , Your store name' Then what information do you want. Here's a few suggestions.. Blog link. Flickr Link. Ask why they want to blog for you.Then lastly, what Feeds they are on. I say this last because let's be real, anyone with trackers on their sites KNOW that hits from feeds come in way below hits off social networking sites.
- Your Flickr page. Put out a texture say' STORE NAME is looking for bloggers!! Please send (whatever info you THE DESIGNER want) via note card to ( Your name) Or if you use a website for the app, direct them there by adding the link. All this goes into the description field. Other than the first line.
- Facebook. You can share this same info over your store FB page, personal one if you use it for SL, your group page, there are also special groups for designers looking for bloggers. Here's one to join.. https://www.facebook.com/groups/646890785353501/
- Advertise through your group! You own it, use it!
When looking for bloggers -
Look for a few things. Spend a bit of time researching those that apply and those you may approach to blog for you.
- Style. Is their blogging style something that appeals to you? Their look, format?
- Do they add links? Not all do and if not do they at least write the stores full name so customers can find you?
- Do they network? There are loads of Facebook groups for bloggers to join. Also Flickr and all the other above mentioned networking sites. These work just as well for bloggers to pimp your style to the masses as they do for the designers to get the word out.
- Are they nice? Remember they will be a reflection on your business.
Bloggers can be a great source of information for their Sponsors. Please If you don't have time to reply Hire a blogging manager or enlist a friend to do the job.
- Bloggers will tell you if there are any issues, glitches with your product.They will let you know if the perms are set right too. Sometimes our eyes cross after working on the same thing for so long and mistakes happen. Bloggers catch these before they hit the stores and you have a pile of unhappy customers.
- Bloggers also become your walking billboards. They wear what they blog and SHOULD give info on the items to anyone who asks. This = Sales for you!
There's a few basic things you need to do to get the ball rolling.
- Create a blogging group. This is the easiest way really. You can drop items to be blogged into the group and the bloggers pluck them out of notices and blog them.
- If you don't want a group you can use a suscribo. Now this I am not sure where to get, but the good ones try to send the item and if the recipient is off line it tries again . It's pretty neat and takes no group slots. Find one here. https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/ArtiZan-Postmaster-200-Online-Delivery-Mail-Server/2930075
If I'm going to be honest, this is one of the top reasons I started this post.
- Designers, please This is important! - When sending bloggers your items in a group. Whether it be your own group or an event. Do not put all the important info in the notice body only. Put a note in the blog box. It will save you the headache of bloggers contacting you for info.
- Place a note card in the box along with the item you are sending with all the info you can possible think of. You want the blogger to do their best. Give them everything they need to do the best job they can! Below is a sample note card I made , you can word and format it however suits you best but remember , the more info included the better for your business in the end.
(You should be able to click to enlarge this.)
Also when you send your items - If you want customers to know who you are, title your items with your FULL SHOP NAME. If say your item is in an event and has just two letters and some squiggles,some, not all will copy and paste just that as your store name. If you want credit for the item you worked so hard on, make it fool proof and do it right.
Now that you have gone through all this -
You might want to think about either hiring or having a good friend become a manager . A store manager will deal with bloggers, customers and anything you don't want to have to deal with. Just stick a note in your profile to direct all queries to (whoever the manager is) And you can keep on creating your prim magic with little interruption.
I hope this has been of some help to you. Keep checking back as I keep getting more and more ideas.
♥ Ember Adored ♥
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