Advice on Sales!!

I have been following this thread since its inception, and in its earlier days I did my best to help those posting here by making a blogpost about their stores. It is an excellent example of a large and diverse group of people coming together to help each other out in many ways, and it is also an excellent example of 'positivity' in action.

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This next section is directed towards Mr Pserendipity Daniels:

Mr Daniels, I press you to answer this: how have you helped the vendors in this thread? What 'positivity' have you shown? As far as I can see, your positive and helpful contributions thus far have been limited to puerile comments about the size of one of the vendors' avatars, likening her on repeated occasions (I have counted four so far) to a 'pregnant schoolgirl':
(Nice comparison to a much-vilified woman there. Classy move, Mr Daniels. Classy indeed.)

I shall omit your apparent obsession with the quality of English and the spelling thereof, since most posters here know that is par for the course for you. If one of the proffered adverts had contained a spelling error, that would have been a different matter, and having it pointed out (preferably in a gracious manner, and not your typical scathing one, sir) would likely have been gratefully received.

Your other contribution to this thread was a (scathing, yet again) comment to a newbie that has been asking many questions here -- and follow-up snark to the same person. I assume that this is further evidence of your theory that said newbie is in fact a professional that has been contracted by Linden Lab to gather typical newbie questions for the mooted new forum Q&A format. (An aside: 'theories' like these, and your other 'you alienated all the people that liked me' one have a habit of resembling vendettas, Mr Daniels. Not pretty at all, that.)

So there are your helpful and positive contributions: 'pregnant schoolgirl' (x4), 'noob', plus spelling corrections. I ask again, Mr Daniels: do you have anything of USE to contribute to this thread? Based on the evidence thus far, I assume not. This is just another playground for you, is it not?

Please do feel free to buff your fingernails and puff up with pride that I went to all that effort in searching through the past few pages of this thread to find your posts. It remains a curious and happy pleasure for me to call you on your more asinine behaviour, and thus it is no effort at all

Respond as you will. I shall reply to you only if I deem your response worthy of it, and not instead another of your attempts to goad a forum member into an unending 'debate' wherein you assert your gleeful grammatical superiority.

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This next section is directed to all of the vendors in this thread:

I want to congratulate you all on this thread. I've been following it since it began, and it's one of the most positive and forward-looking threads on this forum. It has been a pleasure to read the many and various ways you help each other out. While I don't get in-world as often as I would like to, and my 'to be blogged about' list is a mile and a half long, if I can get the word out about any sales or special free/cheap offers (the maximum price I blog about is 50L$) then please do let me know. I may be slow to respond, but I will do my best to help out wherever I can

Just thought I'd let everyone know you can grab your updated copy of the BO-Xchange System (v1.14) either via the Biz Owner Network group in-world or IM me and I'll pass you a copy.

Please put it out at the earliest possible time and also set it to show in search (helps me check the updates have all completed).

We have a few new participants this time around as well as a few updated ads and LMs.

Just one of the many positive things to come out of this thread

Thank you Mariel, very well stated.

And thank you Prawny!


And Pep, I would like to ask you to leave this thread.

Prawny I ill pop in later to get my updated copy - Yay me haz a SIGN!!!

Why not reply? All I am doing is watching the Grand Prix in another window and updating my (rl business) cash forecast model in yet another window.

The title of the thread is "Advice on Sales!!" Ignoring the redundantly inexpressive exclamation marks, the original question was a general request for advice regarding selling and advertising.

I too have followed the thread from its inception, not being that surprised at the mainly amateur (with a few significant exceptions) approach of the participants, particularly in terms of it being entirely supply-sided analysis. This is to be expected since the participants appear to be mainly enthusiastic amateur designers with little experience of marketing/sales/customer service.

The most surprising (or is it?) omission from the discussions has been almost any consideration of obtaining customer feedback. OK, you have exchanged opinions as buyers as well as sellers, but it reminds me of the joke about the three antique dealers, shipwrecked on a desert island with one Chippendale chair, who *all* claimed to be doing good business with each other.

I haven't posted much here (because it has seemed to me that you don't particularly want potential customer/external opinion) the "pregnant schoolgirl" issue being an exception, seeming to me worthy of comment as being an unusual and daring departure from the "size zero" culture reflecting real world attitudes.

I actually *have* also pointed out (I have a feeling that it was in another thread) misspelling in advertising and had a brief discussion regarding the possibility of the literacy of customers being such that it was probably a good idea to spell things badly so they would be found by erroneous Search queries. Also you might want to look at the "nice guy" thread for a dismissal of your belief that I have an obsession with grammar, rather than a reasoned argument relating to badly presented posts. I presume *you* spell check your blog items and make sure you get names and locations *exactly* right?

Anyway, thank you for your attention. A slow Sunday was it? Perhaps those on your "to be blogged about" list won't be quite as appreciative of your taking the time for a rather pointless demonstration of exactly the lack of "positivity" which seems to annoy you so much.

Pep (It isn't my "grammatical" superiority I assert)

/me sighs, and hits ignore.

Probably the best idea, but just wanted to add this...

This thread is open to CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, I'm quite sure everyone here is open to that. What no one likes are flippant and personal remarks intended as bait, they serve no purpose here, but I'm sure there's other threads where they do.

pep...i do think some of your comments are helpful...but the tone is not. this is a supportive community of folks on this thread and in the group in world that formed because of this thread.

for the rest of the folks...the best way to handle annoying comments is not to respond to them at all. period.

and pep...play nice or i get out the hose and spray you!

Thank you for an excellent post, Mariel, as well as your offer of blogging specials, etc.

Physician, heal thyself.

Pep (puts on his wet tshirt outfit )

Hi all,

most folks now have their BO-Xchange updated to v1.14. However there are a few stragglers. Those of you who forgot or haven't had time yet, could you please pop them out asap. I won't name and shame anyone... just yet

Could I also ask everyone to please try and keep the BO-Xchange near to the LM point that you sent me for the BO-Xchange. Search can take ages to update so I can't always locate them all.

Cheers

Prawny, my Lost Haven store is relocating as you know :| so- whne he gives me the new place I will send you the new LM for the next round - (Damn it- when I finally came up with a decent sign!)

No probs, there's at least one other that needs an update too, so can maybe do something next month after the Expo.

thanks Prawny!

And Amar I saw your new sign in world and like it!

Thanks! Had lots of helpful input - thanks to everyone

im quite healed pep....lol....besides, verbal gymnastics is fun. hehe

E i just wanted to let you know that i went to your store and picked up a few things. when i wore them others commented on how well made they were and the detailing. i think you have really found your calling with the clothing! while i love your other stuff too, i dont tend to buy much, but i do still snatch up well made inexpensive clothing!

just wanted to commend you on this. i also have seen your items blogged quite a bit lately and i am happy to see that the exposure out in the world is paying of for you. that constant marketing will gain momentum and just grow exponentially. Bravo!!!!

Awwwww jojo thank you!!!

I really do love making clothing. I get so much out of it I never expected. It makes me feel happy.

I have just spent the last few days working on a few unisex pieces which was a challenge for me but I now have three tops which would suit male or female avatars. It was a hage challenge. The shadowing i just gt right I had to go back and re work for some shadowing that suited both male and female avies, but I think I did it.

I am going to release those items with the SL Discovery Hunt. I am going to have each of the tops as my gift in a special colour which will only be seen at the hunt.

Mwahaahaha another sucker.

and what have you created? Other than a name which, whether by intention or accident, labels you as a man who thinks a woman might actually name herself after genitalia in order to corner the redlight market?

You are welcome to read, and to learn, and to post queries and share relevant experience here. If you have nothing to offer, and nothing to gain, then perhaps you might better expend your energies elsewhere?

ok i laughed out loud at that one...i admit it lol....

hey folks!

i have just been wonderiing what everyone has been up to lately. I remember seeing all your crations when we started this thread mannnnny months ago and I thught it was about time we saw them again.

Sooooo show meyour latest item. Tell me what inspired it. What are you proud of abut it?

Come on i wanna see what everyone is doing and im too lazy to tp everywhere

Very happy with my latest product, because I thought it would do me in-- a box of 400 sculpties for making shoes. I think I have Blender poisoning:

https://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=1427073

I also just finished expanding my shop in Glashtan. Now I have to get back to Blender to make new things to fill it up!

That shoe pack looks great, Rusalka! I'll have to give it a closer look as soon as i get a chance.

As for what I am up to, it's all about getting ready for the RFL Home and Patio show through this weekend. It starts Monday, and I have to finish my store build, and the items for the charity vendors. Also I have a new set of furniture I want to finish photograph and make sign boards for before the show opens Monday.

I am really nervous and intimidated about the whole thing. I've been a ball of nerves all day.

Other than that it's been a couple of weeks of recording sit targets and updating scripts. Whoopee!

Rusalka - that package of sculpties is great!

my most recent creation is not very new anymore, but here it is:
https://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=1369162