Advice on Sales!!

The trouble with SL, everyone comes along and learns something quick and expects to be up and running in business instantly. SL is probably harder to make a profit as so many shops out there, just take a look around the mainland and see the numbers selling the same things, many of the shops even selling the same freebies as each other.

Like RL it takes time and money to learn and get your products together to produce a shop that people will frequent and recommend to their friends. Often you have to invest to make that profit, I know I had to take gambles I couldn't really afford in the early days. Without those gambles I would not have managed what I have now. It was several months before I managed to make a profit and worked out what I needed to be making.

I would advise to forget about selling for the moment inworld, just leave your stuff on SLEX/Onrez, build up a good collection and then rent a small parcel. Save the money you have been spending on mall space for later when you have a large collection to open your own shop. Malls really are not the place to get sales as others have said here.

Finding a niche market is also a good idea, mainstream has too much competition. Check out your competitors as well, look at the quality and choice they have. Think about what attracts you to buy in certain places and even return.

How can you afford to give free mall space indefinately? Where is your costs/profit coming from? Something else on your land?

Look around. You can rent a 512 parcel for around L$250 a week. (that's cheaper than many mall spaces)

For example... a listing for a 512 @ L$ 200 a week
/114/66/274346/1.html

Hi Pixie- always looking for exposure- can u post a slurl?

yup, Baby Monkey and Gardens by Gonkers are on the land also. We wanted to help people who were starting out in sl as original content creators. The additional land doesn't affect our tier, and we had friends who needed mall space. So it grew from that really! Most of the current vendors we didn't know beforehand, but they are a lovely bunch of people which helps give the mall a friendly feel. Also we have strict no BIAB rules, and modded items are only permitted where they have been approved, as with Eloh's skins, for example.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dindrane%20Elfor/231/141/40

Fashion blogs and magazines, for one. As an advertising outlet: Take good, good pictures of your best stuff and/or get a good photographer/graphic designer to make some decent ads for you. But even better, get written about! SL fashion is a hot topic and if you can introduce yourself to the fashionistas and let them see your new items, you may get more traction if you get written about.

To me, this really stands out on all of the short prim skirts, not just Satin Sparkle. Hoop implies that the prim skirt is not fitting tightly to the body (waist/hips), so it looks like a hoop just hanging there. I don't want a big gap between the skirt top band and my body.

It looks like the picture of the two long dresses might also be showing a bit of a fitting issue with the prim skirt - though not a gap-type issue as in the short skirts, but I am currently looking at this via bad graphics and the dress colors are dark, so I cannot be sure at this time.

This is also good information. Lower your expectations. It takes time and money to put together something that is quality and distinctive. I would agree with what was said - leave it up on SLX/OnRez and take your time to hone your craft, find your niche. Save the money you would have spent on rent and put it toward something else or just save it for the shop.

You're off to a great start, Rhianna....I like your gowns, the best. I'm going to try the red one. Awesome Tips above....I'm taking notes, too.

You might try wearing them out for a while, to the popular dance places....or giving a copy as a gift to some girlfriends who frequent those, if you don't have time to hang out there. I think the majority of the people at the dancing venues are older....and spend more money, here. By older....I mean over 20...hehe.

When I'm out dancing....I often ask the ladies where they got their gowns....or check their profiles of where they shop, if I like their taste....so make sure your girlfriends have your store in their picks, if they're wearing your gowns.

I think that's great what Pixieplumb is offering....often wanted to do that myself, with some spare land....but I'm selfish with prims. Since it's free...and you're getting a start, with contact to a large group list....keep plugging away.....and practice with different styles and methods, there.

However....if you were "paying" in a mall space....you're lost in a crowd....I stopped in 10 other stores, before I got to yours, and made some other purchases. So....your advertising benefitted some other stores. That's why you need your own place.

Do you have a visitor's script you can use? Set the range really low, since you're near others...and stuff it in a vase of flowers....read your visitor's profiles now and then....look at their picks, and see what styles they like.

I was a formalwear designer for a while in RL....the first designs were hideous....yours are Not. It took a number of years to learn construction, and perfect fit....then you have to add another world....marketing, advertising....running a business, etc. For anyone designing anything....it just doesn't happen overnight.....even though the SL timetable often seems that way. Those who are often the most fabulous designers....can't get grasp marketing, and don't care to....it's about creating, and not plugging, to them.....and vice versa....those that are really good at marketing....some times have nothing to market....lol.

If you really, really enjoy it....and like the rush of selling.....you do have to spend some money to get started. There was a time when I had a ton of 512's I couldn't give away.....and would have let you use one at no fee, just so that someone would be getting some enjoyment. I bet if you do some land hopping....and searching, you might come up with someone like that. You could even offer your clothing in exchange.

Buddying up with people who are starting out....is a great way to get support and share resources....perhaps sharing a 512 with someone else starting out....that way you get double traffic....that benefits both....but you don't get lost in a mall. And just brainstorming with people....like all the great ideas you got from others in this thread.

If you enjoy what you're doing here.....consider it an entertainment or personal expense. Like Starbucks coffee....the movie theatre....magazines.....clothes!......just cut back on one of those every month....and there you have it. Good Luck and Have Fun.

FYI - you can find the name and creator of prim objects (even worn prim skirts) by right clicking on the object, select 'more' from the pie menu and then select 'inspect'.

LittleMe.....I used to do that.....but missed a few times, and clicked on their Xcite parts. I think it makes a woman feel good.....to know someone loves the gown she's wearing....(in case her date/dance partner didn't do his duty, and compliment her)......so I skip the gown clicking, and just ask.

I dropped the text of my class to you and hope that the tips i give in it help you. I agree with most of what has been said here. I started my biz last sept. and as of jan of 08 was able to start taking real money out of SL from the profits. I used the initial money i made to rent and then buy land. At one point i had 10 stores and now am down to one huge store on my own land.

My biggest advice is NEVER rely on traffic to get you sales. Any traffic that produces sales should be considered a bonus. Im sure not many of us just wander SL to see what stores are there. We use some search criteria or an events notice to get to one place and then MAY wander from there. My store is in the middle of the water on mainland land and i do a whopping biz compared to any mall or other location i ever rented. The difference is i realized that i had to promote my products daily to make this work. And i do mean...DAILY... I am always making a new product, staying in my store and talking to customers, giving away items to my group and friends, asking others for their opinion, offering my lm when i hear someone looking for my kind of items when i am other places in SL. I also maximize search features, spend next to nothing on classifieds or other ads, and just work my butt off.

There are alot of wonderful creators out there, but the most beautiful items will not sell if no one knows they are there. Good luck to you and once you have read the text of my class, please feel free to ask me any questions you may have. This offer is for anyone else who reads this as well.

Thank you for all the wonderful advice again.

Mickey - Thank you, Red Brocade is one of my fave gowns too, i don't really have many friends too be honest with you. I came from a background of Gor so most of my friends are from places like that. Ok i'll stop renting in malls and try too rent a small shop somewhere, so if anyone has any shops available or a small piece of land please let me know

I don't have a visitors script, i'll have a look and purchase one. It's not just the rush of sales with me, when i see someone come by the stall i always chat away, i love too meet new people always have *grin*

Like i say i don't really know many people too ask about starting out with and i guess with my designs now i look into it they are pretty simular too everyone elses, i really do need too find my thing. I mean i love playing around in photoshop so maybe i could make mismatch outfits, bit of material stuck together, tie die etc. Would that work?

JoJo - I'll have a look at the notecard and if i have any questions i'll definently contact you

Also i'll try and plug my stall everywhere i go too

Something I have been curious about... the Classifieds - it says the more u pay the higher the position- seems odd but OK-

It begs the question though... what is a good price to pay for adverts that get noticed?

Rhianna, I came by and bought the Red Brocade gown as well. I will leave itup to Mickey and the others to give you advice on constructing clothing since I am horrible at that (I am a great pose maker so I make money doing that so I can buy great clothes.)

Just from a marketing standpoint, as I approached your stores, the one thing that stood out to me was that... well... they did not stand out. There was nothing there to draw my attention to your merchandise. All you have are some posters on the wall. It also looked sort of empty. Jazz it up a little. The very least you can do is increase the sizes of all your vendors so you fill the space. Also, put some stuff right out front that will draw attention. I usually have a cutout of myself out front modelling one of my poses.

You need to find a place that will allow you to set the teleport location directly in front of or inside your store. Then you can begin to utilize your Picks better, the Search engine better, and Classifieds better. Make sure that SLURL is in any advertisements you do on SLX or OnRez. While an in-world presence isn't as important with clothing as it is with poses, people will often want to come to your store to see what else you may have. Make it easy for them to get there without passing by your competition.

I have taken Jojo's class. Read her info and follow her advice.

Oh, and I do have one comment about the outfit I bought: I need some glitch pants. My legs show through even though I have on a skirt and a prim skirt.

Good Luck, and I hope you stick with it. I see lots of potential talent in there.

The best way I have found to decide that is to decide what keywords are most important to you. That is easy if you specialize in one particular type of merchandise. Pick a keyword or two that describes your specialty and do a search of the Classifieds. Now, what is the least amount it will cost you to get on the first page of the Classifieds with those keywords?

While it is true, people will look through multiple pages looking for something specific, why not be as high as possible so they find you before they find your competition Try to convert them from potential customers to actual customers before your competition can.

Cheree - Now that you mention it i have been told a few times that vendors are not a good idea, so maybe i could just space out my items along the wall. You mention something too draw attention and how you use a cutout of yourself, maybe i could do something along those lines. Some jazzy wall bits and maybe a mat or something for the floor. Does that sound any better?

I'm hopefully opening a actual shop very soon thanks kindly too Mickey so I'll be out of malls i think *smile* I'd appreciate any help on how too decorate a shop lol. I'm not much of a decorator I'm afraid.

I'll make them glitch pants for you hun and send them across, will tomorrow be ok, i'm just going too head too bed in a few.

Oh i just thought of this afterwards.

I know some people said too advertise, spin words etc too show of my products in SLX and OnRez. I'm terrible when it comes too spinning words and tales. I'm not joking either, so if anyone has any ideas where the got there's from or tips on how too come up with names etc. I would be grateful cause i really am terrible.

These things sound great hun. Anything to draw attention to your stuff is what you need. And yes, vendors for clothes cannot work. We just want to look around and see what you have. I have animation vendors, but people are actually sitting on them doing something. They seem to like doing that. Flipping through a vendor and waiting for your pictures to rez is a bad thing.

I hate to say it, but the best place to get ideas for wording and stuff in your ads is, must I say it, your competition. Especially the successful ones. There's a reason why they are successful. Don't merely copy them, use your own ideas and describe your own products, but look at their ads and vendors to see what looks good and will work for you. Also look at their stores to see how they are laid out, what they have to draw attention and traffic. Borrow other's ideas, change them, and make them your own. Don't be shy about visiting their stores. I visit my competition on a regular basis. I'm sure they come to visit me too.

oooops.....I designed clothing in RL....not in SL....I haven't taken T-shirts 101 yet...lol.....don't leave it up to me!

Cheree- when i first read this- I thought- well duh! Tell me something I DON'T know- which only goes to show- u sometimes don't know that you don't know. I opened Classified and searched for clothes- Ladies clothes - many hits - but mine was about one or two scrolls away... So - I looked at some of the key words in others ads- and those that seem to fit what I sold, I added to mine, and re-did the add - Lo and Behold! While not head of the line I am still not having to scroll thru to find me- Talon Faire was easily within reach
Thank you muchly for your good advice.

Rhianna- I have gotten good feed back on m adverts here in the forums- take a look at my ads in the New Products or Shopping I forget which - just search for my posts in one of those. I try to be descriptive of the gowns- but also add a little story theme- something catchy.

Without a decent budget to start with, it is hard to start up a business. SL is quite similar then RL on that point. But, possible it is.

Make sure you have your own parcel, wether its rental or buy doesnt matter, as long as you can alter the parcel name and description, and put in in Search (30 linden per week). Pay a lot of attention to the parcel name and description, they determine your search ranking a great deal!

Branding! Choose a brand name, and make it come back everywhere, so also in your adverts. That is what people will remember you by. A very important one in my opinion.

As said before, the short prim skirts do not seem to fit well. Adjust that and make new pics, that will do your business good.

At last: change the picture in your sig. It is hardly readable, so not the best advertisement

Good luck, its fun

Cheree - Ok i'll scrap the vendors and just use simple boxes. I'll keep at looking at others ideas and writings too come up with ways too make my stuff stand out. I'll also visit a few stores, look at the layout and see what i can come up with

Amaranthin - I'll look at your posts and see how you write things, thank you for the suggestion.

Marcel - I'll adjust the skirts today when i log on in a bit, got a few things too do first, i've changed the image slightly so my writing is more readable, That better, i can't change it completely that is my shop logo.

Sorry, it looks like one for me... I would redo it...



Thank you. Well beside some tens of IM's daily I figured that I don't need another separate thing to read. IM me in world and will go to my e-mail if I'm not online... I read that for sure.

Ordella you remind me of a tv program where the real estate lady comes in and evaluates a house while the people wait next door and watch on a laptop. Direct, honest, and you don't waste any time pulling punches. You should hire out as a consultant, those brave enough to have you critique them would surely benefit in the end lol