Monday, March 16, 2009

Business Minded Marketing Guide Giveaway


Business Minded on Etsy has some of the most wonderful marketing guides that I've found anywhere on the 'net! I stumbled across the owner, Jordan, on Twitter and I was instantly drawn to her guides. She has several different versions available including the Etsy Seller Success Kit which is my favorite. I've purchased all of her guides and they are simply packed with great information to help build your Etsy business. While her guides are written with Etsy sellers in mind, the information you'll learn can easily be applied to all aspects of online selling, no matter where you're items are listed.

I asked the owner of Business Minded, Jordan, to tell me a little about herself to let you all get to know her a bit better.

Please tell me about yourself. I live in Southern California with my husband, our 2 year old son, and our cat Ruby. I have been passionate about supporting small businesses for as long as I can remember. Both my parents and my grandparents owned their own businesses, and I know firsthand about the struggles that these small companies face. I feel that supporting my friends and neighbors in their own business endeavors helps me feel connected to my own community and is the most patriotic thing that I can do for my country.
Please tell me about your business. I am a work at home mom who opened up an online toy store in June of 2008. In my original business plan, I relied heavily on friends and family spreading the news of my business and helping to get it off the ground. I was shocked and disappointed to find that although they had good intentions, their email chains didn’t get far and sales were very weak. I quickly learned that it was going to take much more than word-of-mouth to get my sales where I had anticipated. So I had to get creative—and fast! I immersed myself in Internet and library research. I went to workshops and chatted up strangers. In the end I came up with a simple and effective method of marketing and publicizing my store that has brought me tens of thousands of shoppers looking for exactly what I am selling.
Can you share any general secrets to having a great shop? Branding is a huge key to making your shop look professional. Try to take all of your pictures against the same background if you can. Make it either plain white, or a "signature color" that you use over and over again. This is an easy trick for a seller who doesn't feel that they are a goood photographer; it will give the sense that the photos were taken professionally.

The Giveaway
Business Minded would like to offer one of my readers a marketing guide of his or her choice to one lucky winner. There are multiple guides to choose from so there is sure to be something for everyone!

To Enter:
*REQUIRED* Visit Business Minded and choose your favorite guide- comment back here to tell me which one you would like to receive if you win (you can always change your mind).
Bonus Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog.
2. Follow my blog.
3. Blog about the giveaway and send me the link.
4. Follow me on Twitter and give the giveaway a tweet (I check!).
5. Grab my button and put it on your blog (I check!!).
6. Visit my Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item.
Open to all.
The giveaway will end on March 23, 2009 at 11:59 pm CST. Winner will be selected by random.org, notified by email, and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is selected. Please remember to leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win. Good luck!

35 comments:

  1. I don't have an etsy shop, but I do have Twitter so I would choose the Twitter guide.

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  2. I just tweeted the giveaway (mysticconn)

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  3. I'd love the Etsy Seller Success Kit! :)

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  4. Etsy Seller Success Kit sounds like the best for me.

    lesjoujou AT gmail DOT com

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  5. I like: Tell the World About Your Work. Sounds great. JD

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  6. In your Etsy shop, my Favorite is: Pearl Bouquet- Wire Wrapped Beaded Brooch

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  7. I would love the The EZ Guide to Building an Incredibly Successful Etsy Shop!

    lensimpressions at gmail dot com

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  8. Hi! I like the Jewelry Shop Publicity Kit.

    Tweeted (@ictweets) and retweeted (@taraagacayak).

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  9. I'd love the etsy seller success kit!
    You can reach my through my etsy shop, www.rhbdesigns.etsy.com
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  10. hi, i like your Versallies Inspired Necklace
    contact me through offthehookscrafts at gmail dot com

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  11. I like "How to Get Free Publicity for Your Jewelry Shop"
    puffpastryshop(at)gmail(dot)com
    puffpastry.etsy.com

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  12. I'd love the Etsy seller succes kit. I'm finally starting up my shop and would love help. So thanks for the help--I've added you to my Google Reader (I don't know what I ever did without it). I love your tile pendants especially your DIY Scrabble Tile Pendants 'Girlie Initials' (so cute!). You can find me, my shop, and my blog at www.byjen.com. Thanks!

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  13. I'm intriqued my the "tell you world about your business" guide

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  14. I like the The EZ Guide to Building an Incredibly Successful Etsy Shop!
    Carla
    cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  15. I'd like the Jewelry Shop Publicity kit the most, since I'm getting ready to re-open my own site and move it to Etsy. Thanks for the contest. :)

    Chris
    www.beadjewelry.net

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  16. I would be interested in the "How to tell the World About Your Work". I just bought the Etsy Seller Success Kit through your site. I also am following you on Twitter (I feel like a stalker!! lol) as Pammiepoo. And subscribed to your blog on my yahoo RSS feed. I also blogged about this on pamama4.bravejournal.com/

    Best of Luck!

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  17. I just shopped at your Bisou Bisou Beads store...and bought a Twilight inspired cell phone charm for my daughter! She LOVED reading that entire series and has given them to me to read as well.

    Thanks!!
    Pam

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  18. I would pick the The EZ Guide to Building an Incredibly Successful Etsy Shop!
    shan_da(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  19. Hi Claire, love the contest idea. I would pick the Jewelry Shop Publicity Kit if I won. I’ve followed you here and on Twitter and must say you’ve also got a great Etsy shop. So much variety it's hard to pick a favorite but the Whimsical Lampwork Earrings certainly caught my eye - my daughter would love them.

    Steve
    from Artbeads.com

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  20. I would like the Etsy Seller Success Kit (I also like the Tell the World About Your Work one)

    rebeccastar at gmail dot com

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  21. I really like the Photo Editing item in your shop. It's a unique service and looks like a cool guide to own

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  22. HI there I'd love to enter! I like the EZ guid to building an incredibly sucessful etsy shop! I am following your blog and twitter! I also grabed your button and I'll blog about ya tonight! I LOVE your precious petal earrings! Too cute! My email is wilmothfarms@windstream.net
    my shop is http://wilmothfarms.etsy.com

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  23. OOOPS I didn't know I needed to leave multiple comments! ;-0
    I am following your blog!

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  24. I am following you on twitter!
    wilmothfarms@windstream.net

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  25. I love your etsy shop, especially your precious petals earrings!
    wilmothfarms@windstream.net

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  26. I have grabbed your button and blogged about your giveaway on BOTH of my blogs (http://kyfarmlife.blogspot.com and http://wilmothfarmshandmadesoaps.blogspot.com)
    Rachel
    wilmothfarms@windstream.net

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  27. I'd love to have the Etsy Seller Success Kit! rebolsen at gmail dot com
    www.babiesbeautiful.etsy.com

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  28. I would love to get the etsy seller success kit

    spirit-of-giving@live.com

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  29. I'm a follower

    spirit-of-giving@Live.com

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  30. Twitter follower with a tweet

    spirit-of-giving@live.com

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