Advice on Sales!!

Awwww thank you i'm glad you liked it
I'm going too be releasing it with 2 other makeup styles and also a lighter skin tone aswell with the same 3 makeups. For 500L for the set

nope you should see it in the list once you go to the website and check the groups you are subscribed to (you will know it when you see it)

when I send out the sign, it will have the textures with it as well, so yep, just gotta wait till it is sent out though

K on this page
http://www.hippo-technologies.co.uk/
at the bottom it says to "click here to read messages for any group you belong to"

click that, then it will give you a login window, under the log in boxes it says
"For instructions on using this service, including how to get a password, click here!"

click that then read that page and follow the instructions given
I prolly won't be logged into SL till tomorrow (weekends are my RL time, spend it with the boys and hubby)
so I will try to get the info to you, or maybe someone who has the info (that is a part of the hunt) can send you the info cards so you know what is what and how it works

I love it, too, Ralektra. You did a GREAT job with it!!! The signs are impressive and the whole feel is classy and welcoming.

Klyks, your shop and your merchandise are outstanding!!!!!!!! I'm not in the market for a fountain or emitter now, but I almost bought some things anyway just because your items are THAT good. I'll definitely be back. I've never seen fountains this good in SL.

And the shop is nicely laid out. The arrangement makes sense. I had no trouble with slow load times or anything else.

Market this shop well. Your work deserves to get attention and you deserve the success.

What Miles said, Klyks!! I was just...speechless. I'm a sucker for fountains and anything with a "babbling brook" sound. And the rain emitter...I am so going to have to go get one of those.

Question - Inside the main entrance on the terra cotta fountain, there was a hanging ivy plant and Adirondack lantern. Do you sell those separately? I looked around but couldn't find them.

~ ~ ~

I did a bit of store visiting today. I went to Immy's "Darkly Cute" (and it is!), Marcel's low prim store (very nicely laid out and easy to navigate), and Ralektra's new location (lovely store). I've been to many of the shops of the posters on this thread in the past. The main thought I had was that there is no "one way" to set up shop - each one has its own personality!

For instance, I would never have thought to elevate a shop like Ralektra has without it being completely in the air...but it is a great idea...and works beautifully!

Great work everyone It was a refreshing outing for me today.

well it had to be elevated some because of the hillside it's on (pain in the butt which is why I think original owner just wanted to dump it), then once I put it on the ground I realized that it might interfere with my neighbor's view so I moved it up just a bit. I still want to be able to see the water lol

Miles and Czari, thank you so much for your kind words which came just when I needed them most. I'll stick with the direction I'm going then and hope for the best. Czari, thanks for pointing out the confusion there, I will reorganize a bit. All of those items are available separately but in a fairly inconspicuous area at the back of the property which needs to be better highlighted. I must say I'm happy with finally having tried the XstreetSL listing enhancements. The expensive option gave me view numbers I wouldn't have thought possible and I'm sure it will pay for itself easily. With a slurl attached to the XstreetSL ad it seems a great way to increase traffic quickly. Am also looking at the possibility of buying some ad space in a couple of SL monthly reviews like "Prim Perfect", etc.... If any of you have experience doing that and know which would reach the most eyes then I'd love to hear your thoughts. Good luck to all and I'll be following this terrific thread! Klyks

I have very limited experience placing ads -- thus far, I've advertised in three publications. I especially like Prim Perfect for my products. Although it's focused on homes and furniture, I like the idea of reaching Prim Perfect's readers.

I think the same may be true for you, Klyks. Prim Perfect is probably a very good advertising venue considering the style of your merchandise.

And this is not to imply that other publications wouldn't also be good! I'm looking forward to reading what others have to say on this topic.

Rats, did I miss a free skin opportunity??

You are most welcome...I was chattering away to my Partner last night telling him he HAD to come see your store. It is a delight just walking through it.

One question you asked which I didn't address originally was loading times. At the time I went to your store, my PC only had 512K RAM. I know loading time for textures and such generally have to do with the graphics card, but no matter where I go, my loading time is usually a bit slower than my Partner who has a newer PC. When I landed in your store with 512 RAM...everything loaded VERY quickly - emitters, particles...EVERYTHING!! So no problem there.

Just a half hour ago I upgraded my PC to *drum roll* 2.5 gig RAM!! I am so excited to see what difference that will make in SL.

Thank you for letting me know where to find the lantern and ivy vine! (LOVE THOSE)

YES!!! What you are doing, IMO, DEFINITELY works!! I don't know when I've had such fun just wandering through a store...and I'm NOT a shopper.

I'm interested in this as well. I only have a passing knowledge of in-world publications. I never read them. Not sure why they just seemed superfluous if I can find similar info on blogs or via Google. I asked my Partner and he says he never pays any attention to them either. BUT, we may not be good indicators in this regard.

What experience have others of you had with advertising in publications and/or do you read them and/or what is the advantage of them?

Reporting my sales have been rather improved of late- not sure if people are feeling better, if I am getting more exposure or if my Body Art is that illusive niche market Not complaining. If you guys want to see them, besides the store they are on my blog page.

im interested to hear about folks who have advertised in publications in world also. I too never read them unless someone tells me there is an article in them about my sims. i dont really know of anyone who reads them on a regular basis, but would be interested to hear more about this as well.

klys i would also love to hear more about the listing enhancements you use in SLEX and the results....can you give me some numbers and let me know what you are doing exactly? thanks!

One note about "in-world" publications: I rarely read one in-world. I do, however, read those periodicals that publish online.

The Metaverse Messenger is available as a pdf. Prim Perfect is available as a pdf and in the Calaméo format, which you read in a browser.

Some publications also have excellent blogs. (The first review I ever got was in Prim Perfect's blog three days after I opened a Christmas store last year. It was unsolicited, a nice surprise, and a wonderful boost.)

klyks
I finally got a chance to have a peek at your store

load time is average for me, and worth the wait
nice stuff

I am not really into fountains because they all tend to look the same, however...

the one I see right where I tp'd in looks awesome
and the water spout in the center, WOW
it looks... real, and the ripples in the pool (lower part) awesome!

off to look around

ok wow....
I love your stuff, I looked at the emitters thinking what can I use this for or that for LOL

by the way, does the personal rain cloud come as just the cloud too? If not, could just the cloud be something you might offer later?

a dark cloud over me would be perfect for those "not going great" days hehe

I now need to decide if I need any of those things, they are all so fun LOL
(sadly most stuff I buy, just sits in my inventory, and I have to not impulsive shop right now until sales pick up)

Two things- loved Klyk's store Gorgeous stuff -

re in-world pubs- never read them- seems that is common to us- wonder what is the determination?

I thought about advertising in some of the fashion magazines, so I picked up a few. When I woke up from my dead faint at the prices for advertising I put them back on the shelf and tried to slip away unobtrusively. I think my eyebrows are still stuck on HOLY SH"T

did the same

amazing how much they charge

as for reading them, me either

so this begs the question.. who does? some one must.. else why?

correct, or it is a false image, making those of us who need the exposure think that people read them, and it is all a front for the magazine makers to make money from ads...

hmmm maybe I should start a magazine

Well- I started a poll instead- now i am off to bed
Sleep well night!

Thanks for visiting, I saw you on the visitors list indeed

Chances are big that the layout is going to change a bit so that everything is on the same level, as my property might get a bit bigger. More about that when the time is right

Ways I promote my business:

Add boards
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What I am trying out at the moment, is a few add boards at NCI. No idea if they do any good, but the price is interesting enough to give it a try. Delivered the needed stuff yesterday, so it will take a while before it shows. Will keep you updated on the results.

Search ranking
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Most of my efforts are for a good Search ranking for the keywords I am interested in. The easier people are able find you, the more people will come and have a look. Definately an important one.

Gift certificates
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Just started with those. Not only for sale as presents, but I also have a handful of them to a club owner on my estate. He can give them as prizes, or to regular visitors. Most certainly must have some impact on sales, but only started yesterday so not clear yet. If this works out, I will spread them around more and more.

Classifieds
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The two classifieds I have, I will keep running, but apart from showing up in search classifieds when people search for my company name, I hardly believe they do any good if you do not pay big bucks for them.

Hunts
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The first hunt I participate in, is the one Rha organizes, and I am very anxious about the results. If it works, I will join more of them.

Forums
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Both on the XStreetSL forum as this one, I post new products. Could not say if this does any good, but it is free so why not try it.

External sites
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When I started Sampireun Design, I joined SLX and OnRez. Onrez I do not even care to update anymore, and XStreetXL (former SLX) I do update bot hardly sell anything. Compared to my inworld sales, it does nothing. But since I put an slurl to my store at every item, it might well be that half my sales come from the exposure on XStreetSL. Furniture is something you rather first test out before you buy it. So I do recommend this site very much. And again, the use is free, you only pay a commision on your sales.

The store itself
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From the start, I tried to make my store look as good as possible. Also the suroundings. In my opinion, in a good looking store, people will spend more time then in a place where your items happen to be for sale. Often I get compliments for the place itself, so it is worth the effort.