Advice on Sales!!

Welcome to the thread, Saku I've added your details to our Merchants Page:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfz3dk33_0d2dvsbgx&hl=en

Hi Saku- Welcome and I have added your blog to my roll- please add me? Thanks.

Skell- I updated the info on my blog with your latest and included a link to your Merchant's Resources page. Thanks for keeping that for us.

I'm looking forward to your critique, I haven't checked your shop but I have looked at your blog quickly and I've drooled over your stuff before somewhere recently It might have been in SLX or in one of those magazines I'm not ready and can't afford to advertise in yet hehe not sure...but I think you have the gift! Your stuff is gorgeous!

Saw this now in SLExchange- http://www.slexchange.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=833750

Any opinions/ Anyone used this or a version thereof?

One of the things it purports t do is find out how your shop is being found- this is something I am quite curious about- I am getting some traffic...how did they find me? What am I doing that is working and where do I need more help? How do you find out what works best?

Personally (and this is just me, not telling anyone else how to be) I would never use something like that in my shop. If I went to a shop and one was there and I asked it a question (thinking it was 'real') and it answered with a greeting or canned message I would be totally offended.

I think that the free classifieds here work really well, I have had sales increase whenever I post a new product there.

Free classifieds you mean the forum announcements, like we have here- or am I missing something BIG????

Skell, I've been catching up with this thread (still loads to read) and would love to be added to your Merchants page.

My SLURLs are...

Mainstore
http://slurl.com/secondlife/nuclear/236/240/21
and smaller store
http://slurl.com/secondlife/huntsman/162/112/115

I also have stores on slexchange and shoponrez...

http://www.slexchange.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&MerchantID=49770
http://shop.onrez.com/Prawnyloks_Parker

I'll take any help I can when it comes to free advertising

Hey Prawny- don't forget to join the in-world group too. And if you have a blog we are cross referencing each other as well. So ad the folks here and then let us know to add you.

OK- input on this please:

http://slprofiles.com/supportslprofiles.asp

Anyone doing it? Any opinions?

Isn't their emphasis on combining Sl and RL information? I'm not exactly hiding, but I don't really have any interst in sharing RL info.

If you didn't mind that, it might be good exposure.

Whooooaaaa....that's just "too much info"......but very interesting to browse, I must say.

I have a profile but it's more than a tad neglected. You have to be a real master of time to do all these things: blog, profile, myspace/facebook, SLX, OnRez, design advertising, measure advertising effectiveness, network with related business owners, yadda yadda.

Second Life really can be a Second Job.

LOL. No Kidding!

Sometimes I feel like I get so busy with all the above I run out of time to *make* anything.

And you want to know what's worse? I didn't even list the task of actually creating content. lol!

Sorry, I don't have a blog. But I love the idea of a Kiosk notecard giver or something like that. I set up a similar idea a while back for business owners in my home sim, a sim-wide TP sign with clickable ads on for each business. Mind you I think it needs some updating now.
I'll definitely join the group too!

hehehehe i know what you mean, sometimes just looking for new ideas or textures or trying to perfect textures in photoshop takes up most of my time. Then there is the ad signs. I havent gotten around to a blog yet, its on my list to do, but i work 50 to 60 hours in real life so i try and fit everything in but i find creating soothing and relaxing so i dont mind doing it. I have slacked with my flickr though havent posted anything forever!

Wait- CREATE? content!!?? Damn- I knew I forgot something! Seriously- yup I can see where time is an issue- last night I got to bed at 2:30 - I refuse to give up my social life entirely- it's what I came to SL for.. I want the business to be a success and I want and enjoy working towards that goal- but since I am not reall dreaming of it supporting me and my family in this lifetime it has to remain semi light. I would not want to get burned out.

Re the profiles place- I gave them no RL info but did go ahead and set one up.. within seconds I had friend offers for - the Admin- OK- a Spammy seller- not bad - hell that's what I am there fore- exposure - and a pimply faced adolescent looking helium filled balloon photo of a person that swears he will hae sex on a first date- uhm- sure... I shd have directed him to the following spam from a girl who makes similar promises.. "If I'm good to her" - OK- lot's of business opportunities there folks... think will delete it but may let it exist a week see if anything happens - well, beyond the sex starved creatures crawling from the basements.

That aside- I would e fascinated to know how folks do happen to find my shop - anyone have input on that?

I've added you to the Merchants Page, Prawnyloks

For myself, I've finally got all my SLX listings done (wouldn't you know it, the thing that's flying out of there is the *freebie* male newbie starter kit LOL) and I have a question for everyone here:

I'm currently working on something big. It's my usual skybox, but this one takes the form of a gentleman's study. I'm also creating a full set of detailed furniture, from desk, chairs, pictures and rugs, to things like an old-fashioned globe, a banker's lamp, desk accessories and other items.

My usual skybox prices are pretty cheap: 50L$ for a basic skybox, 75L$ with basic furnishings such as couch, table, lighting and a bed. This one, though, is taking me a lot more time and is a lot more intricate.

Would you, in my shoes, sell this:

1 - All bundled together, but for a much higher price than my usual items
2 - Skybox and furnishings sold separately, but if bought together offer a discount
3 - Skybox and furnishings sold separately, but if bought together no discount

Skell, my preference as a customer is the 2nd option. And I wouldn't make it a huge discount.

Okay i would choose door number 2. That way you give people a choice of the decorations and it may interest a wider clientle. and you are still offering the other furnishings for sale for people as well.

a few comments....again, i think everyone here has wonderful ideas, but my advice is - keep it simple. I make great sales every day doing almost none of the fancy stuff....no logo showing in my store, no pics of my products on vendors (i have home decor tho so i know this doesnt apply for clothing), no fancy stuff.

However, i DO spend alot of time marketing...meaning working on maximizing key words in land and product titles and descriptions, doing forum posts in a variety of places, spending time in my store interacting and spending time with my customers. I think we can all get caught up in the flurry of all these wonderful ideas...but sometimes if the basics are not addressed all the extra stuff is not going to make a difference. Once you have all the basics in place, THEN go off and expand your contacts through blogs, etc.

For the satellite discussion...I had 10 stores at one time - 9 were rented and one was on my own land. Most of my sales were in the main store on my land...however, at the time it was crucial for me to get my name and items out in the world and the satellites are very effective at doing that. Most people will see items in the rented stores but tp to the main store because they want to be able to see and choose from ALL the items, not just those available in the smaller stores. I spoke with a renter recently who felt a small store was not getting enough sales. Later i ran into a customer who reported bringing 5 of her friends to the small store, then traveling to the main store where they each bought several new outfits....just an example.

There is an old real estate maxim...get the smallest house in the nicest neighborhood. That applies in SL to satellite rental stores as well. Sometimes having 10 carts is better than having one satellite store for the added exposure and ability to reach different and varied shoppers. By using items that record how many touches for lm's and free items, you can determine which carts are getting attention and rotate out of the ones that are not.

Take care and keep the positive stuff coming!

skell...i choose number two

amar...i ask my customers when i see them in my store, how did you find my store...they will tell me...most often is it from search and then i ask them what words they searched on.

Skell - No 2

Jojo- Thanks!

I would go with #2. I have a beach pavilion for which I made matching furniture. I sell all the items individually, and also boxed up the furniture as a set, and the furniture set plus the pavilion. On both the furniture set and the set plus pavilion I offer a discount off what the total price of the individual items included would be.

I find these products sell in all configurations, including the individual furniture items.

Also, I could list as three seperate items on Slex and Onrez (pavilion, furniture set, and combo) and increase the chances of someone seeing the products.

Just my opnion.