Advice on Sales!!

The SL world is very big now, you can't expect sales to drop into your lap. A few years ago, yes but today you have to be actively searching for sales, like in the real world. But I tell you don't give up. Even after searching the most populated places, I did find one or two people looking at items and not just staring blankly at the wall. Although, most places seem to want to game the traffic stats and are being used as camp sites. The worst blight on SL in my opinion.

Good luck!

Oh, Rhi....I know how you feel, hon! It's taken me over a year to get where I make a few sales a day....It's in the publicity...make friends with bloggers, get your name out there! Hold an event in your store with a freebie, post your releases on SL forum and xstreet forum, sponsor clubs by giving them items or gift cards to use as prizes in their contests, put freebies out with your LM, Get in FashCon, Sales Consolidated, FreeStyle, FabFree, all the groups...and wait, but do not give up. It takes time......LOTS of time.


Mainly, remember, you're doing this because you enjoy it, not to make money. When I quit trying to make money, I had a much better time in SL.

The people who tell you they're making big money in SL are lying....Don't buy into the "goldrush dream" that anyone who rents a shop will be pulling down 6 figures...it just doesn't happen. So don't worry about sales. Rent a few shops in a few high traffic places, if they don't get sales, don't rerent, try different places...

Mainly....just enjoy what you do, and remember to take a break from the work, and have FUN....that's what SL is about.

Have had some really bad news today in RL because of money issues i'm having too have my internet cut off so i will be leaving SL and because of this i'm going too be closing down my store.

So i personally want too thank everyone for all their advice and help and wish you all the best of luck with your stores and i hope i will be back eventually.

Best Wishes

Rhianna xx

I'm awfully sorry to hear that, Rhi. You'll be missed.

oh darn. i sure hope things work out quickly for you. good luck. make sure you post right away when you get back online. *hugs*

I am really very sorry that such statements have been brought into this excellent thread. They are totally untrue. Don't assume that the fact that it's taken *you* over a year to make a few sales a day, means that it's the same for everyone else. It isn't.

On this one I agree with Phil, this remark makes no sense. Even though meant well, because following a goldrush will disappoint most people fast. Aiming for bg bucks should not be your main gaol, but aiming for a profit is not that bad.

Looking back on my own shop, a few months ago I was very glad to break even, where now I could cash out. No 6 figures of course, but I saw my turnover more then double in 2 months time, so it is possible if you want it. And I am not going to rest with this result either of course

Bottom-line: Indeed do not think you can make cash in very easy way, but if you want to make money, it is possible. But you have to work for it, that is for sure.

OK - three things-

@ Rhi- oh hun, so sorry- please hurry back we shall be here waiting for you in one incarnation or another when you return.

@ Dani, Phil & Marcel- absolutely- it is what you put into it! You may not get rich and live off it- but you could with the right thing/timing/application- ANyTHiNG IS POSSIBLE- except- success with out effort.

and lastly to everyone- Got a group invite to this group:

Best Advertising for High Society VIP's

If you want to have effective and cheap advertising in SL and want to work with an experienced team , then ***High Society Advertising*** is the right group to be in.
Group-Notice costs 250L$
500 l$ for a land sale ad
1000l$ for a rl enterprise


LIMIT 1 SPAM PER HOUR !
NO BEGGING !!!
NO RESPECT OF RULES= EJECT

No chating allowed in the group chat , take it to IM please !

I declined at first but am waiting to hear more- I didn't have space for them but if worth it I will bump another.

Opinions please? Anyone worked with them or thru them? Am waiting to hear from them as well i dropped IM's on them.

I agree 100%. I more than covered my tier and other expenses in the first week my store opened. Of course, it took plenty of work to get ready.

Thank you everyone and i'll keep you all informed, bigs hugs

I am so very sorry to hear this, Rhi. My prayers and best wishes for a quick return to us. You were the impetus for this entire thread that has helped so many of us...so THANK YOU hon! *HUGS*

Thank you so much for that excellent break down of how you advertise. I really appreciate that, plus your advice in this thread as well as so many others.

Something I heard along the path of life somewhere (paraphrased) - Listen to the people who are successful doing (whatever) and emulate them.

And, although some will surely disagree, I believe there's absolutely no shame in this and it is an often overlooked strategy. I've spent more time than you can imagine looking at the layouts and the "feel" of as many obviously successful SL businesses as I could find. This doesn't mean copying what you see but rather incorporating certain ideas which you see as beneficial to your business and to the mood you want to create. I'm not a particularly creative person by nature - any success I've had has been mostly the result of pure stubbornness lol - and taking some time to see the amazingly varied projects and businesses of SL really helps get me thinking "outside the box."
Rhianna - I really hope this situation is short lived for you and that we'll see you back before long. You've really started something amazing here with this thread and won't be forgotten.
Jojo - here's what I've noticed so far with the SLX/XstreetSL listing enhancements. My most popular item is a larger fountain called Arveles. It's a fairly large ticket item ($750L) but seems to be an eyecatcher which is why I chose it to try out the enhancements system. I paid for one month of "home page featured item" status for the fountain ($2899L) and one week of the same for a cheaper item ($899L) Now, when I go to the "traffic" page of my account, I have 3 columns of numbers to look at: "Views," "Purchases," and "Homepage Views." The "Views" column seems to have remained unchanged with a typical day netting between 5 and 10 views. But the "Homepage Views" column has given me closer to 1500 hits per day since I started the ad. I'm not sure as to why they separate the two numbers and I certainly haven't seen the sales for that fountain increase 100 fold as the numbers might indicate. However, there was an immediate increase in traffic and in interest for that item and as long as the enhancement charge pays for itself I consider it worth the effort. I'll keep you posted and if anyone following this thread could explain the difference, in terms of catching and keeping eyeballs, between "views" and "homepage views" I'd be appreciative.
Rhaorth - answered your question about the emitter inworld. This brings up the the question of accessibility. Did it make a difference that I had a display at the TP point which indicated my online status? I think that if the majority of SL users are like me, they are very impatient when it comes to asking basic questions like "can it be modded?", "are other textures available?", etc...and are more likely to move on to another store than send a notecard or IM. I realized that I am much more likely to communicate with a business owner if I feel I've been invited to and, also, there have been several occasions where I picked up custom work commissions just because I happened to be in the shop at the same time as the customer. On the other hand, I've seen some avatars scurry away when they are aware that the owner is watching. The online indicator seems to be a good compromise and I'm happy with it so far.
Miles and Czari - I will definitely keep everyone posted on my (perceived) results after I've placed a couple of paid ads. I'll start with Prim Perfect just because it's the one publication I read every month and caters to a demographic that might be likely purchasers of my stuff (as Miles mentioned) I'll also check out Metaverse Messenger which Miles mentioned. My feeling is that if the ad only pays for itself it's still worthwhile when a business is new and, as Miles mentioned happened to him, you never know what kind of free publicity may come of it. We can't forget that the more copies of our products which are rezzed inworld and viewable, the more people can say "hey, where'd he/she get that?" and right click to find the owner and shop link.
Marcel, am on my way to see your shop as soon as I post this. I've got "low prim OCD" and am always looking for prim saving products and building techniques. If you have time I'd love to hear a little about your gift certificate system and how you implement it. If there's an uncomplicated method of doing this (asking too much here lol) I think it's a great idea. Funny how if we receive a .50 cent gift cert in RL it's likely to end up in the trash bin but if we get a $150L offer in SL we can't pass it up.
Am having a terrific time following this thread. Thanks to all who've offered their knowledge! Klyks

Marcel, I loved the store. Easily navigated, room to move, great designs and clear displays. You've answered a vexing question for me - How does one encourage visitors to add your shop to their picks list without resorting to "questionable" tactics? Marcel's solution: Ask nicely! It's that simple and probably ultimately more effective than subtle "bribes." Am I out of line here? The new weighting on "Picks" has become a bit of an issue and I certainly wouldn't blame anybody for doing whatever they feel is necessary (and ethical and not against ToS etc...) to increase their traffic. Still, I get gut level bad feeling when I see any kind of exchange offered for placing a business in your picks and would like to avoid this tactic if possible. This is entirely subjective and I respect those who will disagree with me. Thoughts?

Klyks

'though I enjoy popcorn as much as the next guy- if it starts getting crazy, start another pay for picks thread please and thank you

Whoa.....I've been misinterpreted. Sit down, re-read what I've written, and think about it.


You don't walk into SL, rent a shop, put up some vendors, and start earning tons of money...it just doesn't happen. This, however, is an idea that is promoted in some places. It takes time and effort to be successful in any business. That's all I was saying, and I believe all of you will agree with that.

The main point I was trying to make, however, was not to get caught up in worrying about sales, but remember why you started designing in the beginning. When it becomes all stress and work, it isnt' fun anymore....

Perhaps my wording wasn't how you would have said it, but the sentiment is true.

Time you stopped talking bollocks.

Most people do not make a profit in their first year. *FACT*.

Dani did indeed make more than a few sales within a couple of months of starting. However it tailed off. It's a normal thing. You have to regularly re-invent yourself. It isn't always an easy ride.

See? That's what I meant- none of that here please- this thread has managed to be a great font of information and we have kept drama to a minimum with any one who got upset got it back under control- Let's try to keep it civil- please

I will try and keep it civil, however when people talk rubbish I will speak my mind. People must realise that making money here isn't guarunteed and Phil seemed to attack Danielle.

I worded the post very carefully so that it couldn't be seen as an attack, even though some of what I quoted was very difficult to misinterpret - the word "liars" used about some people, for instance.

But let's leave it now. This is an excellent thread and it's a shame that it was posted at all. It's far better to do what someone suggested - look at the successful ones and try to pick up good ideas from them, rather than post false information about them. If you want to continue it, I invite you to start a thread about it, but let's leave it out of this one.

I would not do it
think about the amount of spam the people in the group would get (if folks would join the group)

besides there are plenty of places that one can advertise at no cost.

(I paid for the fashcon one and still unsure if it was worth it. I would not do it again, especially on a pay per notice level, ouch)

OK we'll agree to disagree... Let's make peace

Well before any thing goes further- let's understand my statements were not directed at you, Bee, although I did quote you- I just don't want us to lose momentum. I can see where a blanket comment as to "people lie who make statements of great wealth" can be misconstrued- by the same token, we now have clarification as to what the intent was. If we all just read slowly and respond slower we will avoid misunderstandings- myself included since quoting you made it look as if I meant you directly or exclusively. My apologies for my own leaping before looking.

just some thoughts

re: getting rich in sl... you will get out of it, what you put into it

re: having the online status indicator at the store, I liked it, and mean to put one at my place but always forget or get sidetracked

re: paying people to place you in their picks. I see nothing wrong with this, just another form of advertising. How is it any different than paying for a top level classified? If one can afford to do it, why not?

Re: what should and should not be said here in this thread, I personally think that we all should have the right to put our viewpoints in here, even the ones that are not in a kool aid positive light. After all, isn't that what the thread is about... both the good and the bad?

The thing that intrigued me about it was the pay for post. It wd depend on who the other members are...

As a clothing designer, I find I hardly ever buy clothes any more- so clothing adverts are mostly wasted on me - and I can see why the folks joining an Advertising Notice book are looking to advertise not buy... If the designer of shoes wants my clothes and I her shoes we are good- but if I pay $250 for a post and only other clothing designers see it who proly have similar outlook, then i wasted my money. I would not mind say, Fashcon or similar, having this policy since I find one post a week to not be enough- I release very often and would like to be able to let people know more often.