Advice on Sales!!

That is how I feel too, a thank you is a very nice thing to do and the little extra something makes someone feel nice, and I like that

but.. I really would like to know where would one draw the line

I like the idea of a sign, also a thank you once in a while sent out the group with a special group only gift might be an idea too

I need to find that happy medium ground

when I first got the group going, I was sending freebies and gifts like 2 or 3 times a week, I think that was overkill and took away that special feeling of getting something

speaking of happy mediums, I have to log off the PC now... heh been negeleticing the RL chores so want to get those done before the kids show up for the weekend hehe

talk to you all soon, keep the ideas coming and please by all means, let us know how different things work out for you

(I am still waiting for my free style designer role to be activated, however I finally got an officer who can send out the notice once she reviews my store)

I also sent a followup to creamy in case my stuff got lost in her inventory.

Czari- I actually have a store in Shiraz mall - I am told folks make sales there but my luck has not been great - I have had a couple sales but not many. I also have a space at Wren Mall- of 3-Ring fame. I know she gets traffic but- nope- not much in sales there either. I may need to go move stuff around there a bit in case it just needs a bit of sprucing up. Honestly- its got to be advertising- or maybe it was pricing- I will update main store tonight then the online places- we'll see.

I was invited to SL so I never went through the info hub situation - was tp straight from OI to my new home. The first time I've been to one of the newbie hubs was when a group I was in was taking the challenge to "walk a mile in another's shoes" so to speak. We did a "fieldtrip" one evening as a group, one of the locations being Ahearn.

My Partner and I chose to be furries for the week and as soon as our furry-feet had rezzed into Ahearn we were called "Fur Fags."

I doubt you'll go to Ahearn (or maybe you will) but am interested in how that idea will be received.

I have a thank you note boxed into each of my products (thinking hard...might have to recheck my Amazing Closet since I sell it as a copy). On my Celtic-inspired products I include a well-known Irish blessing.

Oh, I'm sorry Amar...I thought it was you who was thinking (or someone Mickey suggested for the weekend challenge).

I didn't make many sales the month I rented the one satellite store - so until and unless I get a bit more known, I won't spend (at least much) money on a space.

Ok, so I made a new lamp. I sent everyone a copy via the group. Hope you all like it. I really need to find more time to get creating properly again. All this marketing stuff takes up so much time, lol.

I also joined the FabFree group and sent out an IM inviting all to come see my freebies and L$1 items. So fingers crossed I'll get a little more much needed exposure.

czari!! thank you so much for all your kind words!!


Yes, that is a satilite store, my main shop is in Sea Monk.

Thanks again so much for your wonderful words!!!!!!!!!

You deserve them

ok, sent out my first free style notice, using this post as a time marker so I know when I sent it (and then can see how much activity on the sales I get) if any



Of course right after I send it I try to TP and TP's failed!
welcome to the weekend

I just received it Rhaorth.....that was a great notecard....and the ad/photo is excellent! That item is going to be a hit.

thank you hon, so far one sale (for the shirt none the less) right after I sent the ad

so folks, don't let the fact that it is a freebie group sway you, they buy stuff too! heh

the shirt has sold a few, nothing to make me rich, but enough to inspire me to continue with creating along this line

(I like how the underwear layer works on long shirts for the tucked in look with low riders, currently I am making t'shirts with that and I LIKE IT!!

This is a snapshot of the one I made as a thank you gift I am sending to folks (as discussed previously)


each bead in the words were placed one at a time, time consuming but I LOVE the results, and of course had to add the little sparkle (that is not a bling prim stuck in that location, it is painted it) hehe
(same with the beads on the pants, placed one at a time)

Nice T, Rha

I can't wait to get inworld tonight and get my first notice out.

Oh, I checked into my SLProfile page and had an invite to join a Business and Entrepreneur group - here is their page if anyone is interested: http://www.slprofiles.com/secondlifegroups.asp?a=list&id=698

OK - here's an observation.....I'm out doing my weekend mission....headed to the places with most traffic, to find newbies.....no wonder they don't stay long, when they get here! These places suck. And there's not traffic - it's bots! There isn't even anyone to strike up a conversation with.

So....when someone punches up a popular place with tons of traffic.....they aren't getting squat. So....they think that this is the best that SL has to offer. Bummer.

sadly mickey this is true of a lot of places in SL


and when you find people and not bots, the people are more often than not, rude to newcomers, especially the "welcome" areas

I noticed that Avatar Island (place where I work part time as customer service helping folks with the cyber extruder face on your avatar thing) that they are in the SL picks thing

when ppl are there, they are real ppl, and it is a portal into SL so newbies also are there

there are some designer stores on the sim, but the main attraction is the cyber extruder
(no solicitation but handing out freebies is acceptable)

ty amar

Ok...hit the TP button....

Landed in front of a sign that very clearly directs me which store to head into from the landing point. Rezzed quickly at 64 m.

Took a moment to scan the outside of the building - clean, crisp, reminded me of something I might see in NYC or another large city. I particularly liked the rooftop garden with the glowing green cube (and a great way for the logo to be carried throughout) and wondering if I can go up there from inside the store.

Entering...Noticed the Texturing Competition box as I walked in...easy to see, read, and understand even without clicking for the info what it is about.

Walked in to face Michael's desk - what I am seeing out of my periphery vision is confirming my original impression of being at an interesting store in a large city....contemporary/chrome design....layout.....love the online indicator being a bell - a bit of added charm, as well as the mail basket. Noticed the large screen behind the desk and wondered if it would display a video - perhaps of the store's products. Oooppsss...it's for sale. Very nice HDTV for a contemporary home.


Ooooo....just saw the freebie AFK thought bubble...LOVE it!!! Have seen other people with it and always wanted one. THANK YOU, Michael!

The magazines, aquarium, everything I see thus far lends to a very "real" feeling...that SL "immersion" that sometimes pops up as a thread topic. I turn around and...OHHHHH...a dog!!!! I LOVE dogs. Touched him/her and he/she barked. (I'd toyed around to having my dog perhaps roaming in my shop....this is a GREAT use of Zooby's sleeping dog. I'd come back and hang here for the realism alone.)

Ok, products...I've heard they're a niche market...something to do with photography I think? More looking around. Scenes from "The Shining" - one of my fav Jack Nicholson movies! And they're for sale...along with the cool "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Gallery." And a cute photo of Michael and I'm going to assume his partner. Nice personal touch.

Moving into the photo studio area....this must be where the main products are. Again...great setup. I get more of a feel of a fun place to explore than a retail store....which I think for the type of product is perfect. And EXTREMELY creative!

Ok, photography equipment...but are these props or functional in some way? Scanning around a bit I see a sign to click for info, read it...and then understand. Very cool niche market. Especially love the motto "Treat Every Client Like a Diva."

Being a HUGE "gadget" person RL & SL...the Mikon Mini has me intrigued. May have to make a return visit soon.

Headed to the second floor - continued ambiance there...then the Self-Shadowing display caught my eye. Read the info, clicked the product and...ooo...a freebie? Not quite sure how it works...but will check it out when I get home.

Couldn't resist sitting at the laptop for a few and got a grin at the scene on the monitor. Ah, I see another ramp heading up. Is that to the rooftop? (OH...just noticed the laptop is for sale.) Ok...I can see I will need to return and spend more time again...there is more here than meets the eye and objects that "look" like mere props...may also be for sale.

And here I am on the big Glowbox on the rooftop garden...completing my sense of being "downtown."





Even if nothing here was for sale, this is the type place I LOVE to explore to see the types of things that can be created within SL.

LOVED it!!!

I'm gonna have to check that place out!

Ok I've done my challenge, and now I'm done workin till Monday!!!

/194/be/278074/1.html#post2119002

Those are killer boots, Ralektra!! Love the detail around the ankle.

I'm jealous...I haven't even started on my challenge. Will be a busy weekend.

Just keeping up with this thread is turning into a full-time job...lol.

PFFT Challenges!!!!

OMG! Well I am still undergoing my challenge, I got a new store location (my second store)! WOOT! Got it all set up in record time, until I decided to get a Landmark giver and group set up and all that good stuff, then I decided, My hunt is going to be this weekend too ..pfft! I have all the little stars done, items put in, now to do the notecard for freestyle and post a notice on the forums too, then try hide the little blighters good but not too good!! .. OMG .. whatever happened to the FUN STUFF!!!!! D Oh and not to mention this thread that is moving along at a gazillion words per minute!

You guys rock! Im so impressed with all the insights and progress! Just keep at it...and as someone said...it isnt the location that will make your sales, it is your marketing!

With that said, Ive been busy bulldozing bldgs on my sim and installing some new shops. They look awesome! Please come by and check them out...we will have rent signs up soon. So, no work in my store, but hey...i can only do so much LOL

They look like the ones that in storm sells on slex full perm with maps, but according to the comments there, the textures are not full perm (which means you can not export for tweaking in maya or whatnot)

It looks like you made them work for you, good job

(I too buy sculpt maps, but did not get those ones, price too high and no full perm sculpt maps to go with it)

very cool

hehe why do I have a mental image of a girl with an evil grin driving around a sim in a bulldozer ploughing down buildings?

heh

I have been doing the thank you with the gift, so far only a couple ppl have replied with any comments, but hey at least I know some appreciate the thought

I dunno if I will continue to do that or not, as it does take from time I could be doing other things, I might just do the occasional group members only gift thing

I have been giving them the tshirt I posted on here a few posts back, however the notecard in the package says that it may go up for sale later, so I will prolly include it in a bunch of t's I am working on

sculpt maps I got were full perm, but they are done as a transparency so you are right they are not good for exporting to Maya. Course I wasn't gonna be exporting to maya anyway

yeah I don't either being I do not have a clue what I am doing with them if I did LOL
before when I saw that ad awhile back, they were not including the sculpt maps, but now they do (transparent is a good idea to keep folks from trying to screen shot them)
it used to be you had to use their boot, but I am picky, I like my name being the creator on at least most of the pieces LOL

(if I get lazy I might use a premade prim, but not often)

edited to add
that is probably what the comment on that listing was all about, the inability to export them and they just defined it as full perm

ya I actually have 2 or 3 diff sets of sculpt maps, I mix and match hehe

I don't like making shoes cause it takes me forever, but I do like to include a pair with an outfit now and then, and I like to make my own too I do tweak them a bit and personalize them, those boots actually have my initials on them in about 4 places haha