I have a hard time with patience. When I become inspired, motivated, or obsessed (as my husband calls it), I research, invest, rework, edit, and tweak until I achieve my goal. For the past year, I have dedicated countless hours to my "shop" on Etsy... much to the chagrin of Mr. Quench as the daily order of things suffers. However, the bulk of my business is online and as a business owner, I must tend shop to achieve success. Convenient, yes. I can run my whole business with never getting out of my pajamas if I so pleased.
However, Etsy is also home to thousands and thousands of other jewelry folks. With all of my listing and relisting, photo editing, treasury making, and general networking and cavorting through Etsy's vast online neighborhoods, one would expect that my goals of robust sales and front page appearances are common. Not true. Honestly, I get down right discouraged. If you were a tiny microphone inside my head, you would hearing me screaming like a 4 year old "Pay attention to me, Etsy!"
Then, something like this week happens. A front page appearance twice! My work featured in several treasuries. And good sales as well. I'm reinvigorated and my faith in the Etsy world is restored. I wish I knew how to bottle a great week such as this one. However, good weeks are fickle in the online e-commerce world of ours. Perhaps I should find some bottled patience to aid me through the slower weeks. Here's wishing all of your patience and pacing in reaching your aspirations!
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I feel exactly the same way! I get so excited when the sales come and people convo and then when it dries up I'm so super discouraged. It's a crappy roller coaster ride of highs and lows. Your work is beautiful though, so don't ever doubt that!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!! I just saw your treasury on the front page.
ReplyDeleteI think the universe is trying to tell me to relax a bit!! 2 front page appearances of the same day that I write this pity-party blog post! Ha!
ReplyDeleteThank you Judy. Your work is awesome as well! Those stagnant times are difficult....we just need to stay focused and keep working at doing what we love!
I am the same way, Jen, as far as patience goes. It is the Etsy Karma working for you, I'm sure. You deserve it!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your success on the front page!! Thanks so much for sharing your authentic (and mine!) experience as it relates to trying to grow your business with etsy. It helps to know that someone who's work I so admire has the same highs and lows about the whole process...including Mr. Quench's comments! Keep up the great work- It is a cycle.
ReplyDeleteDid you see that you were in the Etsy email as well? Yay and congrats!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy that I'm not the only person with Etsy growing pains! Thank you all for your comments! We shall chug along, make work, and eventually find the exposure that we all need!
ReplyDeleteAmy, I did see that! What a thrill! This has been the craziest week ever...I don't want it to stop, but, knowing that it will, I'm searching for a bottle of patience.