Advice on Sales!!

amar I am not talking about having a store other than my main store

the only thing I was talking about was sponsoring... which I am going to do, the only way I will know if it works for me, is to try it

I know classifieds do not work for me, and I can not afford ad space in the popular magazines

*shrug*

eceletic me me me I will sponsor an event (and I have not forgotten about the tshirt hehe, just been getting other stuff wrapped up)
whichever way you want to do it is fine with me

and yes, exactly, the gift certificates/gift cards cost me nothing, so sponsoring an event like I described only costs me 500L, and might just garner me some traffic (that was why I said gift card and not items, gift card means they might come to the store, items sure bet they won't)

great Rha ill contact you whe i get back in world . Up to you if you want to give lindens, but if you justwant to give a gift card that works great for us anyway. I love your stuff and it is right up the girls alleys anyay soI think you would be great to have sponsering us.

oook back to rl work before my boss kicks my butt

Oh wow - Massive thread! =p I haven't read it all yet, but even I'll be taking some of these suggestions into thought.. Lol.

OP & Others: I also have space in my own 'shop' area that I'd be willing to lend out to new Designers so long as it isn't for poses or skin That's mine! Lol. No rent or commission necessary, and you can place a LM/Pick in your profile to the exact location and NO prim limits!

OMG, I know.. I had to put a plug in, lol.

I've been meaning to pose a thread like this too. I've had alot of thread looks, and two sales on my poses (from the same person though) and everyone always says they LOVE my shapes and skins, but I haven't sold any of those. I've even lowered the prices, have a demo right next to the vendor and gorgeous shots (least i think so).

Maybe someone could drop by and let me know what they think, too? Lol. I do this almost entirly for fun, but I'm running low on cash to keep uploading stuff and it'd be so cool to make some of it back.

It's also been suggested (by a RL friend) that my prices could be too LOW and make it all look cheap? Maybe I should just have certain things/versions cheaper, and better ones more expensive than they already are?

I'd be thrilled even to just get a random IM/suggestion in my box that says that someone loves my stuff, other than those I meet randomly about.

It's likely also an issue for 'by passers' that I'm high in the sky - Though oddly I get alot of people flying through since there's SIMs all around the one I'm in. I know the actual shop isn't too thrilling but I'm working on it =p It'll have the first floor converted into more of a club/lounge sometime next month when the SIM owner comes back.

Evotive - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Utopia/77/101/260

As for the OP - I thought your shop was the one on the other side of the hall, lol, also with "Rose" in the name.. Whereas you could use some more appeal, it looks pretty good for a start! You could also place your name on the logo, so they know whose shop it is. Such as " ... Designed by (your name here)"

This thread rocks for beginners!

-- Also - I tried for SO long to get anyone to sponser some events for my club (before the remodel) it's so hard getting any feedback from some owners. I messaged dozens, none ever replied nor one hit here on the forums =( Best of luck to any who attempt this feat!

woohoo malina that was me, I bought one of your poses twice, lol. too funny. Its hard breaking into poses i think they are some great ones already around so you really need to get them noticed. Have you got a flicker page??? You could always post them there with the name of them and where you are. When I tped into your store, i tped right outside where it was awfully pink even for me, lol. It took me a little bit to find you. glad i did though, I will definately keep it bookmarked and keep an eye on it. I love poses and will always buy if they are worth it. Keep your chin up it will happen!

You didn't TP directly to the shop? Hmmm.. I might have had a bad link posted, all new links/etc have a direct route Did find it kinda funny that you bought the same one twice, but it thrilled me nonetheless lol. Thank you SO much.. It gave me the extra cash I needed to upload a new couple poses I was working on. Have four I'm working on right now, and am re-working a couple older ones too.

I don't have a Flicker but will look into it =) I love taking pictures and wouldn't mind going crazy for another page. I'll also work on the color scheme a bit Adding in some decorations to make it less empty anyway. Thank you loads for your suggestions!

I love new poses and find it so hard to not buy them up when I see good ones. Suppose all mine are similiar to others but am hoping to hit a different path with the new set that's in the works.

I talk too much =x lol

hehehe yeah i just figured oh well good for you, lol. Glad I could be of assistance .
I think you are right with the poses though you need to find a niche in the market. Seriously though if they are beautifully done it doesnt matter what genre you do. I have literally hundreds of poses, hundreds and hundreds, but i cannot resist a really well done pose that shows emotion. If you ever do animated cuddles give me a shout, maybe we can do some collaborating

When i get to playing around with my photos again ill use your pose and credit it. I am in a flicker group that is all about sharing the poses we find inworld. I find alot of little stores with great animations thru the group, plus i find them reasonably priced too.

Hi, Malina I've added you to the Merchants List that is being kept constantly updated here:

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dfz3dk33_0d2dvsbgx

Ooooh, thank you Skell! You've no idea how much I appreciate it, lol. I also have a SLX account, but still gotta add stuff to it Will likely do that tomorrow - Been feeling lazy! Lol.

Surreal - I can always refund you, ya know.. I just wasn't sure if you bought for yourself and another so I didn't IM to ask, lol. Have seen "Gift" options in other stores, so hoped the Mod/Trans option would suffice until I got my hands on one of those vendors.

I've made the Flicker account, but it says it cant be used for selling so I'll just post pictures, info and such Should work just as good, lol, and gives me another space to upload pictures to. No idea what to really do with it, so it'll give me something to poke around with tonight.

I don't suppose you could send me an invite to the group? I'm a poseball-addict, and love to try them no matter what they are! Gosh, I've also just made my first animation last night - It's so short but it's so sweet! I might try making a cuddle animation now too, but not sure how to get them to 'relate' to each other. It truely baffles me how they make one animation, then a seperate one and have them match lol.

Always uploading works in progress, so feel free to drop me a line anytime you or anyone else would like to see what's coming.

Oh interesting. We havent had too may issues, but then we have had traffic of about 7,000 to 10,000 from the beginning. FABGlitter was actually created out of reuests from my partners DJ group for her to have her own club, so it has certainly helped. When we first started I sent out notecards to proberly ummm 20 well known designers and receieved replies from most 5 came on board right off the bat and a couple are still regular sponsers of our events.

Since then we have had several of the vendors in our mall ask to participate and sponser events (usually specific themes) which has also been wonderful

Im really excited about Rha coming on board as her clothes look awesoe and her shoes are drool worthy. YAY.

Yeah, most seem to prefer already busy places and not help out the new people Having a well known DJ definately helps too, lol.

Rha's designs totally rock, too.

Blah =x Too tired to post much more! Off to bed with me.

heheh no worries on the refund, was my mistake but really no probs.

yeah you cant sell on flicker, but you can put up your ad work and poses and such, i love flicker i have let it go the last few weeks, just not enough time in the day to get everything done that i want to. Go to my flicker page and add me to your page and i will send you the invite to the group.

I know what you mean about joining them up again in sl, the poses that is. It took me weeks to get all the poses in my love beds perfectly aligned and looking good.

QFT! I'm getting behind just reading this thread!

But don't stop...I love it! (Bookmarking it for later reference - this thread should be a sticky!)

Czari- don't forget to contribute your own results - this is a great resource for all of us-

Not sure how effective it may be but SecondLife Directory approved my blog and it now is set for ranking- I am hoping to continue to add our mutual input there as well as my new releases. I love that Skell is keeping up the merchants page - extremely valuable as a concentrated place for all our ideas and links.

Folks, if you have been added to my blog list, please be nice and link back!

http://virtual-freebies.blogspot.com

Absolutely will do Amar Months ago I rented a small shop space just to try out a physical space for my items as opposed to strictly SLX. I enjoyed the experience but with 25 prims, ran out of space fast since most of my items (furniture type) are better rezzed.

Took the plunge, went Premium, got my 512 plot for my store...whhheeeee - 117 prims vs 25 - I was in heaven. Errrmmmm, then due to the land prices purchased the next plot over...then the next.

Was also completing my final mentoring to become faculty at ^ASL^ and busy designing lesson plans, etc. Began an intensive course on Gimp. Then RL cropped up... *Puff*Puff*

Sooooooo....atm, Czari's Attic has the shell of a build sitting on my land and...that's where I stopped. As soon as I get going again, will definitely be adding any helpful input.

I joined the Biz group and can't wait to have something to contribute!!!

Thank you all again everyone!!

Edited to add: Oh, almost forgot! I am making a list and plan to come visit the requesting shops here. Plan to start a blog for the reviews. (Tonight is the one year anniversary of becoming engaged to my Partner, so head a bit up in the clouds today!)

Definitely on mine!

Congrats Czari- on your Partnership and your efforts- you have done a lot!!

And today I did reshoot my dress pix and will redo the add shortly- between bouts of RL- I need t take something for that.. is there a shot do you suppose?

Don't forget to Create!

Like many of you, I got bogged down with trying to do everything in this thread, this week....but took a few days off to create some new items for the store. That is important! The new items have already started selling, and I received a request to decorate a home.....that all the marketing in the world would not have created, without the new items in place.

Don't forget your friends!

I had several old friends ask what I've been up to lately.....and I said I've been working on the store. And they said....."You have a Store?" omg So I went through the whole friends list with an invite....and have made quite a few sales off that.

On figuring out where your customers are coming from....I pay attention to number of hits on classified...match that with visitor list numbers in store....it's about 1/3 of the traffic...so yes, a classified is important. I have sign boards in the store that direct people to a home I have for sale....and I have a visitor name taker at that location as well....so I can match up names. The traffic from the store, to the home...is half of the visitors at the home....so that's very important. So yes....I can see how having several locations would be beneficial.

Also....have you figured out a ratio of how many people you need in the store, to create a sale? I count the sales for the day....then the number of visitors. On average....it's about one sale per 7 or 8 people. Even if it's just a small item. Do you know your ratio on that?

I've been debating on how to approach store shoppers to join the group....beyond them clicking on a box to join....and I received a very nice notecard from a store this morning, thanking me for shopping at their store, and inviting me to join the group.....rather than just sending me a cold group invite. It did not annoy me at all...in fact I thought it was very nice.....so I think I will print my sales activity for the month....then go through the list of purchases, and send a nice thank you note to each of those people.

I also got a notecard from a store owner, today.....asking the group to send suggestions on what item they would like to see created next. This is a great idea.

Mickey.. if I had people to count that might help

Damn it- I am going to get in contact with the Capture Role Play Group and see if they can arrange to dump their victims on my lawn!

Amaranthim....I think that getting out and about, and getting out of your workshop helps, too. People read your profile, and click on your ads to visit, when you're out visiting other places.

I went dancing the other night, at a popular place....then went home (that home is advertised for sale in my pics)...I was still standing at the tp location.....when someone tp'd in right on top of my head. I had seen him at the dance spot. So he got a tour of the home....and although this one won't work for him....another one might....plus he got to see the furniture I sell all set up, and in place. Then, I noticed that he bought some furniture from the store, the next day.

You definitely need to go dancing in one of those gowns of yours.

I do- I hardly ever wear other stuff now since I started making clothes - I do get comments- guess I need to go dance at more popular places .

I second the don't forget to create

Also remember your health, don't sit in one position too long, take a break from the pc, move around etc.

I spent way too much time on my latest items, and thus am paying for it in RL
(did something to my shoulder due to how I was sitting, so please remember to get up and stretch and walk around etc) (I never heed my own advice)

Thank you for the nice compliments

Several weeks ago, I had added some fun stuff to the outside of the shop. There is a provocative pose ball in the telephone booth....a cat name Ralph, that wanders around, and visits with people....he has a litter box and food dish, near the bus stop.....added the bus stop with a bench....and there is a cute poseball on the bench, that covers you up with a blanket, so you can sleep on the bench.....then I added dumpsters in back...and there are some great pose balls back there.

There is a fellow who sleeps on the bench quite often....and I've noticed several couples enjoying the phone booth (myself included)....so I assume that they've landmarked this location....for their fun....which is fine with me.

I also have PennyWhistle's Rottweilers at the entry to the home for sale.....people go nuts over them.....great conversation starters.

Add some Fun!

Part of Talon Faire's listing in search includes reference to the gardens- how there are romantic pose balls, dances and is a lovely place to stroll - hope that helps Heck there is even a milk bath for those of a feline persuasion .

/me raises hand... I'll help