Increasing your traffic! Make more Sales series- #5

One of the keys to building your customer base, getting your products seen, and really promoting your store, blog, or items is to get the traffic there. This is a lot harder than it seems. Originally, I thought, "heck, just put your url in some search engines and your set. The people will come running" Well, it does not work that way. There is a lot of competition out there. You not only want traffic, but you want the right kind of traffic- meaning you want people who are truly looking for your type of product to be able to find you.

You also want the occassional person who just stumbles across your site. These are the people who may not know they are interested in your item. How many times have you stumbled upon a site, then thought, "Wow! that is really cool"? You bookmark it, mention it to a friend or two, then go back to it again later. Well, traffic and rotator services provide you those unique customers who may not realize they are searching for your product, but will check it out.

When using the traffic services and rotators you will need to make sure you are very descriptive in your site or shop promotion. Most services offer viewers several sites to choose from each time they log in. Therefore, you have to put the best bait on your hook and gear it towards the right audience. For example, traffic swarm below, allows you to write a description, add a "catch line" which is posted in bold above the description, and choose up to 3 categories for the target audience. You can even become more selective by logging into your account (once signed up) and choosing male/female, age ranges, occupations, etc. for your target audience. If you have done some serious research you may want to narrow it down that precise, but if you are not sure, I would leave those open. You don't want to exclude potential customers.

The services I have listed here for you are all free. I use all of them. I am not overwhelmed with emails, I am not solicited on a regular basis, I choose the time and frequency I want to browse other sites and in return I earn credits. I can spend my credits on whichever of my sites I choose. I actually set my Traffic Swarm as my start page so I remember to browse a few sites every day when log on. You only have to browse for 20 seconds per site, but I find that I often spend much longer than that. Through Traffic swarm I have found several great blogs, great sites, fantastic shops, and informational/marketing tools that I use daily now. I was truly surprised at how many great links I have bookmarked through all of the services listed below. I think you will be, too.

So, choose one or all, sign up, and start increasing your traffic today. Then come back here, and share with us your feelings about these services.

Just an additional FYI, each of these services offers a stats page after you log in so you can track how many referrals you have made, your credits, and how many hits have been to your site. Once you get the traffic, then we will move towards converting the traffic to sales! Good luck!













Finally....
VAS is here!

http://www.viraladstore.com/index.php?aff=27997

The brand new list builder from Mike Purvis and Greg Hickman.

But wait... This isn't just any ordinary list builder. VAS is jam packed
full of super cool features that will just blow you away.

* Mail your downline 10 levels deep
* Earn bonus credits for viewing ads and referring new members.
* Spend credits in the online store on advertising or real IM products.
* The Jackpot Email - This one is really neat! Find the daily Jackpot
email and win a random prize. If one of your referrals wins, then you
do as well :)

http://www.viraladstore.com/index.php?aff=27997

To top it all off ViralAdStore has a powerful downline builder that
will earn you traffic from several other sites just from promoting VAS.

VAS is the only list builder you'll ever need!

Join now for FREE.
http://www.viraladstore.com/index.php?aff=27997

I wanted to share a great program for increasing traffic to your site and pages. Link below, and complete the registration. This is completely free. You can link one site. You will receiv updates on when your site is referred through link referral, you will also receive reviews and feedback to help you improve your site. This really is a great program if you have your own blog, website, etc. It can help you with the key words, phrases, and the reviews let you know if your site is appealing or annoying...

Try it.





I would love to hear about your experiences with this site. Have you tried it? How did it benefit or not benefit you? Share it here. And remember, every time you comment on the blogs or the website at http://www.mommytyme.org you have increased your chances for the drawing of Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts free products giveaway!

Get more Sales Series- Second Phase!

CONTEST! DRAWING! FREE STUFF! HOW? WHY? Simply comment here on this blog, any of my blogs, and on my web site..Mommy's Tyme, and you are automatically entered into my drawing to win free products, samplers, bath, body, skin care products and more from Mommy Tyme Bath and gifts... Each time you comment, you get your name in the drawing again- increase your chances by increasing your activity at all of my blogs, and at Mommy's Tyme, http://www.mommytyme.org

Check it out! See Mommy's Tyme for more details on the prize this month!





In our previous phase of this series- Get more sales- found only here at Mishaps of Mommy, http://mishapsofmommy.blogspot.com, we discussed the opening of a store to sell your items along with the joining of social networks to promote- I was going tomove towards RSS feeds, however, many people have been contacting me with questions about the details of opening a store- so, I thought we might want to expand a bit further before moving ahead....


I. Once you have established your stores you need to move to the next steps-

Create a "look" or banner:

http://www.bannerfans.com/banner_maker.php This link is an easy, free, banner creator... However, there is not animated text or graphics at this site. But, you will need to choose at least a leaderboard, a button size, a small box, and a header banner. Typically, you will use the header or leaderboard for your shops, with the small squares and buttons for you social networks/avatars/icons.

Here are a few I have for my stores:











II. The next thing you need to focus on is :Start submitting your store to web searches, directories, and more:

http://www.dramba.com/

http://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/submit

http://us.mg4.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.rand=76qa9rb47sr0e

(These are just a few- just type free web submission into your browser to find more...)

Do you have an SEO? A great promoting tool you would like to share? Add it to the comments....

III. Finally, Share your logo's, banners, stores, everywhere you go.... and check your store sites for widgets, mini stores, etc. Many allow you this option and you can simply cut, and paste the code to your social networks, your web sites, and more... So, go get busy!








PS- Here is one other link that you can check for sites, ideas, hot items to sell or create. There is a variety of tools at this resource to really help you along in your endeavor.

http://worldofhandmade.com/

And a social network that will help you along with the above link. Remember, when you sign in, tell them Mommy Tyme Referred you....


Visit The Handmade Artist Hangout





Once you have created your stores and banners, share them here! Go ahead and post your banner with the link to your store here - It's like free advertising! I can't wait to see your work! Also, go ahead and load your widgets or mini stores! Let's share our selling sites....Come on, get busy...

Grand Opening- New Store

Visit the Grand Opening of my New Shop

http://www.shophandmade.com/Store/Mommytyme



I have added a few items, but shop now! Get great discounts, deals, and more. Now is the perfect time as I start my set up!

Super Sales at the Flea Market

Once again, I decided to try my bath, body and skin care products at the monthly flea market held at the Civic Center in our town. I wasn't sure how well I would do, but determined not to give up. My previous experience at this market had not went well, but if you read my blog about that experience, a lot of the blame lied with me and my attitude at the time. This time, I was determined to put a big fat smile on, and sell! sell! sell!

I also used a few ideas from my previous flea market fiasco's. Someone once told me that everything is a learning experience. So, as to feel that I did not waste my booth fee's the previous times, I was determined to use the knowledge I had learned and consider it an investment!

This time I set up a "Try me" table that held sugar scrubs, lotions, lip balms, solid perfumes, and a spritz. I made a big sign that said Try Me. Next to this I set up a Contest where customers could enter their email, address, and name. The winner would be put with my web site contest entries to win a sampler basket. Several people stopped just to sign up for the contest, or the try me table. This gave me an opportunity to approach them and discuss my products. Now, some people were rude and told me they were not interested (but some people are just like that), while others listened to my intro, thanked me and moved on, but some actually listened, look and bought! That was fantastic. So, the Try Me Table and the Entry form contest are "keepers" for future shows.

An added benefit to the contest/drawing is that I got people's email addresses to add to my customer list for future sale flyers and email promotions. And the winner will receive a sampler basket, and after trying the products, will hopefully return. All people who entered the contest were given a business card so they can check my web site for the winner in the next two weeks! That also gets the people to my web site and to my stores- along with all the other people, shops, and social networks I promote on my web site. So, I look at the contest as an investment.

A second change I made for this flea market was a special DEAL. People at flea markets are looking for low cost, great finds, and special deals. So, I offered a 2 for 5.00 soap special (which is an online offer I have right now to build my customer base). This went over well. Especially when I informed people of all the great ingredients in my custom blends like organic cocoa butter, shea butter, lanolin, vegetable glycerin, organic kokum butter, olive oil, and more. I talked to EVERY single person who came to my booth and explained (if they let me..) the benefits of each ingredient. Before they could get rid of me, I asked "What scents do you prefer" once they answered I would find a product that had a similar scent, get the product out, and ask them to smell it. This helped get people's interest.

Besides those changes, I also brought some items to the flea market that are not handmade. I used those as my "grabbers", or product that perked interest and would get people who typically would not stop at my booth over to my booth. I took books, old jewelry, some glassware, and vases. This helped tremendously. I had more traffic at my booth than any of my previous flea markets. Now, this is a tactic you can only use at a flea market, as farmer's markets and craft shows generally have strict guidelines on what you can and can not sell.

Finally, this time I spent twice as much time with the set up. I set everything out in easy, organized fashion. I usually go for the "pretty: factor and arrange things esthetically. Instead I set things up according to like items, fragrances, price, etc. I put items that I had several of in a basket and turned the basket on the side for easy access, but left out a few of the items for people to see. This saved me space, and avoided too much distraction for the buyer. I made big posterboard signs with block lettering (instead of fancy pictures and script), that clearly lined out prices and specials for customers. Sometimes individuals do not feel comfortable asking about prices, and although all items are usually tagged, those tags can fall off. I don't want to lose one single sell or over a missing price tag.

Towards the end of the day I put out a big sign that said 1/2 off End of the Day Special- although I lost some money on this, it gave me new customers who may not normally have tried my products. Not everyone is willing to splurge on themselves when it comes to bath and beauty- this gave them a chance to try a product at a really good price. Hopefully, they will come back.

One thing I did this time to help bring customers back was I listed my web site and web store on every box, label, etc. Not just on the tag, I literally wrote it on the box. A lot of times people will lose a tag, but if the site is directly on the label, once they find they like the product can look for more. Even if the product isn't used up for another 3 months, that website is still on there and as they realize they are out, they can order more!

So, I had a great flea market this past weekend. Unfortunately, that is the last one for the season. I had to try 2 before I really got the hang of it, but now I know for the future events!

I hope some of these tips will help you in your ventures. I would love to hear your thoughts, tips and ideas when you sell at different venues! Please comment and share!


Next Saturday I have a booth at a "Biker Show", so I can't wait to tell you all about this. I can safely say, this is my first Motorcycle show event- but I have created a few items that I hope will be tailored to this group of customers (without stereotyping)- I have created a sunburn bar, super moist lip balm, new jewelry items, ponytail holders, and tattoo care bar!


PS : see my new items just listed at my stores below! The super fat butter bath bar is amazing- it's like lotion and soap all in one step! My Shades of Green is the first piece in my jewelry line utilizing a new wire technique- Please tell me what you think! Excited for feedback!

Increase Your Sales

I initially created this blog to share with my readers the things you should NOT do when trying to market and sell your own products. Every once in a while, though, I do something right! In turn, I want to share those tid bits with you also!

Lately, I have started a few new marketing campaings with my Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts Line. I was becoming frustrated because sales had hit a lull and was actually debating on just giving up! It is really upsetting when you are paying more for store fees, consignment shop fees, and booth fees at flea markets/festivals, then you are bringing in. I LOVE creating my bath line, though, and the thought of not selling and sharing my products is too much for me to consider. So, instead, I started doing some research on how to get more customers, how to increase sales, and how to convert traffic into sales.

There is way too much information for one simple blog entry, so I thought I would create a running series over the next few months and share the tips, objectives, and goals that I am setting with Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts. Simultaneously, I will still continue my stories from the road and updates of sites I find helpful along the way. So, thus begins my Increase your Sales Series....

So stay tuned, come back and often and learn as I learn. Together we will learn to increase our retail sales, opportunities online, sales online, and marketing. I beg you to share your stories, triumphs, and even failures with tips and ideas I list during this series! Let's all help one another to achieve our goals as we strive to be self supporting Mommy 'Prenuers!


Visit My Other Blogs that You might Find Interesting:

http://mommysreviewsyoucanuse.blogspot.com

http://mommytymeswordsofwisdom.blogspot.com

Please browse my stores at:
http://www.MommyTyme.etsy.com
http://www.MommyTyme.winkelf.com
http://www.fuzzb.com/MommyTyme