Get Found: Be a Joiner! Find the Group That’s Right For You

Posted by Handmade Spark on 6/15/11   |   Categorized as Etsy Teams,Etsy Tips,For Sellers,Front Page Features

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Get Found: Be a Joiner! Find the Group That's Right For You

As crafters and makers we often find ourselves alone with our thoughts – and we like it that way! But sometimes the wellspring of inspiration runs dry. Making jewelry till three in the morning watching Grey’s Anatomy re-runs finally takes its toll, and you find yourself in need of some real, live people to talk with and share your crafting challenges.

When you hit a creative wall, sometimes the best thing you can do is get out there and make some new crafty friends. Or when you look at your supplies you only see everything you’ve made in the past, not the new possibilities that lay before you, it’s time to get fresh air in the form of new insights, new inspirations, new ways of seeing the “same old same old.”

Thanks to the power of the Internets, it’s now easier than ever to get out of your comfort zone and meet people who love what you love. Here are some of our top resources for being a Joiner, and breaking out of that creative rut.

Etsy Teams & Events – Last time we looked there were over 2,700 different Etsy teams and new events at the DUMBO Etsy Labs every week. If you’re in NYC, then you should definitely check out the free classes happening every week. If you’re not in the area, check out the Teams for more great ways to get involved.

Etsians on Meetup.com – Have you seen Meetup? There are over 900 Etsy Meetups taking place worldwide, with groups in places like Hong Kong, Portland, Memphis, and beyond! Get out there and meet people in the real world!

DIY Business Association – Remember the business organizations our grandfathers were involved in? (The Shriners had those fancy hats!) Well this business association is revamped for the new world, with a DIY focus that would make any Etsy seller’s heart sing. They’ve even got an upcoming DIY Business Conference, and a tour coming to a US city near you!

Handmade Spark Local – Handmade Spark isn’t just for marketing – you can also find other Etsy sellers that are serious about their DIY business! Use our Local feature to find makers and crafters in your community that share your passion for making great handmade items AND making money!

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  • http://www.facebook.com/lwelcome Linda Welcome

    Yesterday I was reading a Yahoo Etsy Group message that explained how the shop writing was closing their Handmade Spark account because if HS featured one of their items it would have the exact same description as the one on Etsy for a product and then Google wouldn’t list it because it was a duplicate.  I immediately thought – Whoa someone better tell HS this so they could assure their members/followers that this was NOT the case. Otherwise they would lose a lot of people.
    Hoping this needed to be relayed,
    Linda
    the Mousemaker 
    from Warmth on Etsy

  • http://www.facebook.com/lwelcome Linda Welcome

    Yesterday I was reading a Yahoo composed of Etsy sellers.  Shop owners were saying that they were canceling out of Handmade Spark because they were concerned that if HS used one of their items it would use the same description as they had in their shop. They were concerned that because of this Google would not “list” that item.  This has to be a misconception that HS should immediately clear up if they want to keep good members.  Am I wrong?

  • http://twitter.com/handmadespark Handmade Spark

    We have great news for you, and if you could pass along some info on that Yahoo group we’d be happy to clear things up there too!

    Google Farmer / Panda update actually benefits Handmade Spark. We’ve seen a 20-25% increase traffic in organic search traffic since the change. This is because Google considers Handmade Spark a site with quality content. You can see it on our blog post here: http://www.handmadespark.com/blog/handmade-spark-had-its-largest-traffic-ever-last-week/ . Our search is still going very strong, and we had another great month in May. See our coverage of that topic here: http://www.handmadespark.com/blog/may-2011-another-record-month-of-traffic/ .

    Handmade Spark is not considering duplicated listing because we are pulling data and descriptions directly from Etsy’s API within their terms of use, while adding more information and connectivity for Handmade Spark users, like our feature that enables members to share their twitter, facebook, blog, websites…etc on their Mini-site. Also, Handmade Spark’s SEO structure is set up differently then Etsy’s,
    which isfocused primarily on items where Handmade Spark’s SEO focuses on
    sellers. Google considers these valuable contributions to the Internet, and so Handmade Spark’s Mini-site pages are rewarded, not penalized.

    Handmade Spark is designed to compliment Etsy searches & listings by creating a marketing platform that amplifies your web presence to help you “own” more of Google’s organic listing.

    If you have more questions about SEO and Handmade Spark, check out these recent blog posts for a more detailed review of the basics:

    SEO Marketing 101: How Great SEO Helps You Sell: http://www.handmadespark.com/blog/seo-marketing-101-how-great-seo-helps-you-sell/

    SEO Marketing 101: Great Titles & Descriptions for SEO Marketing: http://www.handmadespark.com/blog/seo-marketing-101-great-titles-descriptions-for-seo-marketing/

  • http://www.handmadespark.com/blog/top-ten-reasons-why-handmade-spark-is-good-for-your-etsy-business/ 10 Reasons Why Handmade Spark Is Good For Your Etsy Business | Handmade Spark

    [...] all about who you know, right? Getting involved with community helps you be a better crafter and [...]

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