Advice on Sales!!

Hey Mickey! You do not have IM's on and I wanted to ask you something with out boring our cohorts to tears .

OK, I just spent two days catching up on this thread after not reading it for almost a week. I'm now bugeyed and full of ideas.

The one thing that I did last night was to install a new visitor tracker in my store. This thing can tell me where my customers got their tp from. For instance, it will tell me if they came in from SLX or from my picks, or my classified ads. It emails me the results every day, and will optionally IM me when someone TPs in. I love it. So that was my weekend challenge taken care of.

Now onto my next challenge.

And I promise I will try to keep up with the thread now. I do. I promise.

how does it know if they came in via slex or not?

also what is the name of it, that sounds like a handy visitor tracker

It is called Visitor Source Tracker. Sold by Kerhop Seattle.

This is the SLX link:
http://uncensored.slexchange.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=805503

Basically, it has 9 squares. You stand on a square and create unique teleport spots for each landmark you want to identify. I have one for SLX, Picks, Classified Ads, and landmarks given out at my satellite stores.

Then you put that landmark in each of those places. When someone teleports to that square, it recognizes that and records it. You get an email once per day with the statistics.

Wow, that sounds like a really useful too, Cheree! Thank you for the info.

~ ~ ~

Ok, the scripting for the Lady's Dagger is going to have to wait what with hurricanes, power outages, and the like.

However, as the challenge was for a new product, I made a ceiling fan with blades and a light that will go on/off with a touch. (Local lighting needs to be turned on to see the light of course.)

I sent one to the Biz Network Group and FabFree, but if you are not in either of those groups and would like one, see my sig for the location to both see the fan in operation as well as pick one up for 1L.

The first day I built it Mickey purchased one for her store and it sold within hours, thus her purchasing a replacement.

She also requested one for her Casablanca room which I delivered today.

This gave me the idea to offer custom texturing (to the extent of my abilities) for my products. They are mod anyway, but some people, especially newbies, don't have a clue how to do that yet.

~ ~ ~

I have received several items from you all in this thread and thank each of you...I have been swamped trying to get my challenges done that I haven't had a chance to open them yet...I will do so VERY soon and can't wait....this is like Christmas daily!

interesting and neat way to do it

I would have to update all my stuff on slex to have the same lm on it LOL, but other that it sounds really cool
thanks for the info and the link
I will check it out later, going to go lay back down, been a bad couple days

amar I never heard back from creamy, I was in bed all day yesterday, so checked email and nothing, saw on her blog that she had crashed, so she prolly never saw my questions.
hopefully you can find the answers (and get your tag if you have not already gotten it)

/me stumbles back to the bed

I just realized when I read this that I did not create one for my forums signature. So now I have updated that, too.

I am also leaving it unhidden for a while if anyone wants to drop in to see it. It's fairly simple, but effective.

Rha- I put the info in a notecard and dropped it on her- I saw her take it too so she is aware. If I still don't get one- oh well - I realize she is very busy and may not have gotten around to looking at the store- I know they have certain standards. Maybe she will get to it eventually.

Sorry if it is just lost somewhere in this thread...what is Vint's?

Vint's prim skirt maker, it's a free prim skirt maker like looprez but much easier too use. If you want a copy i can send you

Thank you for sending me that copy! I can't wait to play with it, let me just get a crowbar and pry some time out lol

I will play with it next week after the sidewalk sale

So a couple days ago I asked for some way to mass invite peeps- I asked in the products wanted thread also- and was directed to Crystal Gadgets where they have the thing for free - http://crystalgadgets.com/gadgets/send-invites/

So used it today- works like a charm- sent off invites quickly and efficiently. Now I need to find a way to get a list of those already in group so I can compare any new invites against existing members so as not to annoy peeps with multiple invites... open for suggestions.

And while we're on it... check this out!! http://crystalgadgets.com/gadgets/texture-optimizer/

I actually took a class on that (I think I've taken a class on everything under the sun...lol!)

Prior to THAT class, I went to one months previously that used that technique to build an entire Japanese tea room! It was awesome. (of course then I was following the instructions from the teacher - I haven't tried out the loading multiple textures using that gadget yet.

If anyone wants the class notes on how to use that item (that loads multiple textures at one time, thus saving $L) just IM me here or in world and will drop those on ya.

Wheeee...I'm finally keeping up with this thread!!!

Amongst the things I've put in practice from this thread and the resulting Biz Group are:

*Getting one of the free huts at the Big Dog Free Market until I get my permanent store set up

*Taking Mickey's excellent advice to put my shop name at the beginning of every item I sell so customers can locate anything in their inventory they purchase from me quickly

*Decided to change my perms depending on the items. Furniture items are now Mod/Trans and avatar items (jewelry, etc.) are Mod/Copy.

*Joined the Biz Group and FabFree

*Sending out regular 1L notices within the FabFree group (as well as putting it in my forum sig)

*Listing any new product or 1L items on the Shopping forum

*Have a collaboration partner!!! (I've given some thought to perhaps becoming primarily a "wholesaler"

*Doing these things has resulted in more sales of my items than I've had in months (because my products were in inventory gathering dust until I could "get around" to making my store "perfect"

Many thanks again to all the people who have posted, given helpful tips, insights, and to Skell for pulling all the info together for us in one location!

Me! Me! I'm picking up my copy today!

And- Tada!!! I got my GiftGiver Tag for Free*Style- woohoo!!! OOH- and what is going to be my first freebie.... Hehe- a gorgeous Red sequins gown I've not even released in stores! Get ready, On your Marks, Get set...

hmmm picking up on Czari's thread:

*I have picked up a bit more land so that I can reorganize/rebuild my store, which I will be doing in about a week

*I have gotten to know some neat people

*I have joined the Biz Owner group, now there's a group with benefits!

*I have added newer, easier to read signs

*I have joined Fab*Free and Freestyle, with awesome results!

*I have decided not to leave a mall I had planned to leave because I realized that there was more to gain from it than actual sales

*I have learned the value of posting new products and events in the forums classifieds

*I have had more sales in the last 2 weeks than I had in two months

*I have added a newer, better group joiner (and incidentally free which I always seem to find something free right after I pay $350L for it...)

*I have gotten a script for freebies to group only which I haven't tried out yet (next week I hope)

*I have knitted a sweater

*probably more but I'm addlebrained.

and a VENT

sl borked and changed perms on something to no copy/transfer (well I could have had a gas emission of the brain kind but I check like 4 or 5 times so I dunno) and I'm waiting for the fallout from that lol

OK- I like that, Ralektra... Here is my progress report...

*I have definitely made more sales in the past WEEKEND then in the 3 months (almost) I have had stores.

*My stores all look better - cleaner, neater, more sophisticated.

*I have learned tons about marketing and about my "craft" as well.

*Made many new friends and seen some great places around SL that I may have missed- like Jojo's sims - wow! (makes note to take bf bike riding!)

*Had a hell of a lot of fun and lost much sleep

O.o I wish you hadn't mentioned the "L" word. There is a plot of land adjoining mine that has my name on it....literally. Before I realized it would pop me into another tier level, I negotiated with the owner on a price for the land. He agreed to it and set it for sale to me. Then after I did a bit of double-checking prior to purchase and realized the tier jump, I spoke with him, apologized profusely and explained. He understood and said if I ever wished to purchase the land and it was still for sale he would honor our price.

That was a couple of months ago I think. He has it set for rent (complete with rental box on it)...OR for sale...to me.

I keep wondering if he's potentially losing a sale there as the HUGE parcel of land behind me (that was set at an exorbitant price) sold.

Or is it "supposed" to be my land in the great cosmos of things.

/me wanders off to ponder while getting more caffeine

I'll send it as soon as i log inworld Ralektra, should be on shortly.

Congrats on getting your group tag Amar can't wait to see your freebie and the group inviter.

My progress report.

*Rented a small section of land to have my store on.

*Joined FabFree and recieved designer tags from both FabFree & Free*Style.

*Sales have increased 3 fold.

*Decorated my new store and changed logo, store name.

*Met some wonderful people and recieved great advice on Marketing.

*Started a Blog.

*Researching how to improve my items in Photoshop with extra's

*Attending classes to learn a little bit more about prims, sculptys etc.

I think that's everything but i think of more i'll add to it

progress report since the start of this thread

redid store design (finally I think I am happy with it)
offered free rent for my little stores, some ppl took me up on the free rent. only mentioned it here, so when new ppl rent I explain they can pay to rent thus keeping the spot as long as they want, or free rent 1 month at a time, until someone else wants the spot) some want to pay to rent, some take the free offer, it is all good to me, I like seeing folks there

removed my bar, with no traffic it just took up space, even though I love my bar and it has fond memories, it had to go (again) and I put in more stores for rent, sort of finishes the look outside

joined fab free and free style groups, sent out a notice to each and had a lot of traffic and some sales.

announced via the forums, my blog, the group, and a sign in my store that I will be discontinuing the giftcard system and that my stuff will be getting a price overhaul, which I have already started, understandable sales have stopped, which I expected to happen.

I joined the in world biz group, can not form any opinion on it as all I have seen so far is ppl using it to advertise or give out stuff (not that it is a bad thing, just have not seen much else) granted I have been sick since friday so not been in world much

can't remember if there is anything else.... if there is it will come to me

I have seen an increase in traffic since joining the freebie groups, so hopefully that will continue

my plan now is to finish this shirt, make one as a sample, finish the overhaul on the items in the store, and at the end of the week, release the new shirt along with the announcement of price reductions on much of the stuff in the store and the removal of the giftcards.

hopefully that will help bring sales back

I plan to have a new release weekly, on fridays, which will work out for the groups too as they only allow one announcement per week.

good luck to everyone else, not sure how active I will remain in this thread, as I will most likely be spending a lot of the time in bed

Man last night we had some great ideas kicked around! You need to basically log in and start chatting- we have only had the one meeting but last night's impromptu chat was ery productive. And actually the adverts and gifts amongst ourselves are a great idea since it exposes us to the critique of our peers before turning an item loose on the world

Are you sick? I thought you just maybe had a cold or something- I'm sorry- hope you feel well soon.

I thought it was a cold too, but not sure now

since Friday I have had a massive headache (migraine level) that eases and then comes back with a vengeance
I can manage about an hour in front of the pc then it start building again (the headache)

not sick as in head cold or flu, just body hurts like hell, and the headache is incapacitating

I am hoping it goes away soon

sorry I missed the chat last night

pe you feel better soon- how long has it being going on? You've checked the std stuff right? Allergy, molds, a/c duct cleaning - change of diet recently? Glasses.. it's the obvious stuff we miss at times- see a doc- the went to school for something!

It was a great chat If you haven't see Jojo's Etopia you need to- it's awesome there.