The Crafted Webmaster » Newsletter Articles

Your Sales Funnel Stinks: 7 Reasons Why Your Online Sales Stink

Nicolette Tallmadge — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:45:30 +0000

So if you have an ugly website, bad website copy and a horrible product, your online sales will suffer as a result. But what if the problem is your sales funnel? If you’ve just asked yourself, “What’s a sales funnel”…you definately need to read this week’s newsletter article…and figure out how to create yours.

In this week’s newsletter, I’m continuing a 7-part series on “7 Reasons Why Your Online Sales Stink“. This week’s article is about how your sales funnel (or lack of one) might be stinkifying your sales:

To read the article, sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html. If you subscribe now, you can get my free audio download, “10 Steps to Getting More Traffic on Your Website” and get 10 powerful tips on how to increase traffic to your art website.

Your Product Line Stinks: 7 Reasons Why Your Online Sales Stink

Nicolette Tallmadge — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:30:01 +0000

So your website design and your web copy can help sink your online sales. But what if the stinker is your product line? Don’t get upset. I’m not saying that you’re a terrible artist. But there are ways that you present your artwork online that can be less than flattering…and profitable.

In this week’s newsletter, I’m continuing a 7-part series on “7 Reasons Why Your Online Sales Stink“. This week’s article is about how your product line might be stinkifying your sales:

Your Website Copy Stinks: 7 Reasons Why Your Online Sales Stink

Nicolette Tallmadge — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:45:07 +0000

Unlike website design, website copy is one of those things that often seems to get the short shrift. People may agonize for weeks over the perfect color scheme or the perfect font for their website. But many times when it comes to website copy, many never come up with anything more profound than “Welcome to my website”. Remember, your website is a 24/7 representative of you and your copy must promote your work in your absence and giving it short shrift is a mistake that might cost you in sales.

In this week’s newsletter, I’m continuing a 7-part series on “7 Reasons Why Your Online Sales Stink“. This week’s article is about why your website copy stinks, how it might actually be preventing sales and how you can correct it.

Your Website Design Stinks: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:31:11 +0000

Gotta a question for you…are you happy with your website sales? Yeah…thought not. Are sales slow on your online store? Do they exist at all? There’s a number of different reasons why your website sales stink…seven in fact. Which one is keeping your sales down?

In this week’s newsletter, I’m starting a 7-part series on “7 Reasons Why Your Online Sales Stink“. This weeks article is about why your website design stinks, how it’s affecting your sales and what you can do about it.

Website Promotion: Shooting Your First Video

Nicolette Tallmadge — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:00:50 +0000

So you already know how important video has become on the web and you’ve went ahead and got some basic equipment and software to get started. Now all you need to do is start shooting!

This week’s newsletter article is third part of a five-part series on “How to Use Video to Promote Your Art Website“. In this third article, I share some video production tips that will help make shooting your video as smooth and error-free as possible.

Website Promotion: How to Use Video to Promote Your Art Website

Nicolette Tallmadge — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:30:37 +0000

Did you know that 52% of all web traffic video-related? Or that over 70% of people surfing the web watch online video? Or that on average YouTube visitors spend 27 minutes watching video? So what does that mean for you as the average artist or crafter working away in your studio? It means that if you don’t have video on your craft website, you are missing out on a huge opportunity.

This week’s newsletter article is part of a five-part series on “How to Use Video to Promote Your Art Website“. In this first article, I discuss why using video for your website is important and some basic equipment you’ll need to get started.

How to Get Subscribers to Sign Up for Your Mailing List: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:23:17 +0000

So! Now that you’ve done the hard work of planning your mailing list, finding a service, and writing some newsletters, you’ll need to find subscribers.

This week’s newsletter article is the sixth article in a six-part series on, “How to Plan and Start a Great Email Newsletter“, where I will give some tips on how to get subscribers for your newsletter. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html.

If you subscribe now, you can get a free audio download on “Effective Ways to Market Your Website Offline“, plus you’ll be automatically entered in my “How to Build Traffic to Your Art Website” CD giveaway.

Photo by Ada Community Library

Your Email Newsletter Pre-Launch Checklist: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:14:30 +0000

So you’ve written your newsletter and you’re ready to launch your very first issue. But before you hit that “Send” button, here are some things that you need to check first.

This week’s newsletter article is the fifth article in a six-part series on, “How to Plan and Start a Great Email Newsletter“, where I will go through your pre-launch newsletter checklist. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html If you subscribe now, you can get a free audio download on “Effective Ways to Market Your Website Offline“.

Photo by Ada Community Library

Designing Your Newsletter: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:09:20 +0000

Note: Actually, this is last week’s article..but due to problems with the blog, I did not put up this post until today…sorry for the delay!

This week’s newsletter article is the third article in a four-part series on, “How to Plan and Start a Great Email Newsletter“, where I will go through how to choose what kind of content to put in your newsletter. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html If you subscribe now, you can get a free audio download on “Effective Ways to Market Your Website Offline“.

Photo by Ada Community Library

Planning Your Newsletter Content: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:29:05 +0000

The heart and soul of any good newsletter is the content. What people will read when they open up your email. Great content can make the difference between a successful and effective newsletter that your subscribers wait eagerly for and one that goes straight into the Trash folder.

This week’s newsletter article is the second article in a four-part series on, “How to Plan and Start a Great Email Newsletter“, where I will go through how to choose what kind of content to put in your newsletter. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html If you subscribe now, you can get a free audio download on “Effective Ways to Market Your Website Offline“.

Photo by Ada Community Library

How to Plan and Start a Great Email Newsletter- pt 1: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:31:21 +0000

A great email newsletter program is a major tool in any web marketing toolbox. With a good program of newsletters or a regular email messages, you can:

increase sales, both online and offline
encourage people to visit your booth
encourage people to visit your retail galleries
encourage repeat sales both on and off your website
keep your name in front of current and future customers

In this week’s newsletter, I’m starting the first in a four-part series of “How to Plan and Start a Great Email Newsletter“, where I will go through how to start planning and designing your newsletter program. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html If you subscribe now, you can get a free audio download on “Effective Ways to Market Your Website Offline“.

Photo by Ada Community Library

THE Most Important Thing Your Website Must Do: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:55:51 +0000

Quick! What’s THE most important thing that your website must do?

Showcase your best art? Nope….
Get ranked on Google? Nope….
Sell your work? Definitely important…but nope.

What can possibly be more important than getting people to buy your work?

In this week’s newsletter, I’ll talk about what THE most important thing that your website must do…and how to make sure that your website does it.

To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html If you subscribe now, you can get a free audio download on “Effective Ways to Market Your Website Offline“.

Photo by Leo Reynolds

How to Use Social Networks to Market Yourself – pt2: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:18:02 +0000

So now you’ve set up an account on Facebook, or Indiepublic, or maybe you’ve submitted some photos of your work to Flickr. Now how do you use these channels to get more visitors to your website?

In this week’s newsletter, is the second article in a two-part series on “How to Use Social Networks to Market Yourself“, where I’ll explain how to convert Facebook and Etsy friends into customers. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html If you subscribe now, you can get a free audio download on “Effective Ways to Market Your Website Offline“.

How to Use Social Networks to Market Yourself: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:54:14 +0000

MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook, Flickr…they’re all part of the phenomenon called “social networking”. You’ve probably heard of these sites and you’ve probably have heard of social networking. But what does it mean for you? Isn’t this just one more thing that you have to keep up with that may or may not make you any money? Believe it or not, social networking can be a powerful way to get the word out about your work and to get new customers…if you know what you’re doing.

In this week’s newsletter, is the first article in a two-part series on “How to Use Social Networks to Market Yourself“, where I’ll explain what social networking is and how to get started. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html If you subscribe now, you can get a free audio download on “Effective Ways to Market Your Website Offline“.

The 10 Characteristics of a Great Web Designer: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:43:40 +0000

In the previous newsletter, I wrote about the eight places where you can start your search for a web designer. So now that you’ve began your search and started finding some likely candidates, how do you know which one to choose?

In this week’s newsletter article, I’m including the third and final excerpt from my upcoming ebook, “How to Hire the World’s Greatest Web Designer“, where I’ll outline some key characteristics that you should be looking for when you are researching web designers. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html

8 Places to Find a Web Designer: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:48:25 +0000

In the previous newsletter, I wrote about how to figure out whether you really need to hire a web designer to help you build your website. Assuming that you’ve decided that hiring a web designer is a good idea…where should you start looking? In actuality there are lots of places where you can start your search…if you know where to look.

In this week’s newsletter article, I’m including the second excerpt from my upcoming ebook, “How to Hire the World’s Greatest Web Designer“, where I discuss the eight places you can find a great web designer. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html

Do You Really Need a Web Designer?: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:51:55 +0000

If you’re in the midst of building a website or you know that you’ll be needing help with building one, you may be thinking about hiring someone to help you out. But do you really need to hire someone? Or is this a job that you can do yourself?

In this week’s newsletter article, I’m including an excerpt from my upcoming ebook, “How to Hire the World’s Greatest Web Designer“, where I discuss the four situations when your really need to consider professional help for your website. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html

Preparing Your Site for the Holidays: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:00:57 +0000

Ahh…the summer’s almost over (although you wouldn’t know it by the 100 degree weather we’ve been having here in Virginia), the kids are returning to school and before you know it the holiday decorations will be appearing at the local shopping centers and malls preparing for the busiest shopping season of the year.

So why I am talking about this now when it’s still August? Because now is the time for you to start getting ready for the holidays.

Did you know that online spending between November and December was over $24.6 billion last year? And that figure is expected to grow!

You can benefit online holiday sales by preparing now. How? By….

Creating incentives for “early birds” and “last minute procrastinators”
Giving your customers a reason to do their shopping on your website and not the local mall
By making your website a great place to do holiday shopping

In this week’s newsletter article, I list ways you can start preparing your website to capture holiday sales. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here: http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html

Using Your Website to Increase Show Sales: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:00:00 +0000

Booths
Originally uploaded by rpongsaj.
If you do shows as your main or as a major source of income, you know that the upcoming holiday show season can be the make or break time for you. Just like most retail businesses make the majority of their sales and profits during the holidays, most show artists make the bulk of their money during the holidays.

But did you know that if you have a website, there are some things that you can do to help jump start your sales? In this week’s newsletter article, I list eight ways you can use your website and the Internet to help increase your craft show sales. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here:
http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html

Artists Selling On the Web: This Week’s Newsletter Article

Nicolette Tallmadge — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:32:35 +0000

The subject of artists selling on the web is a topic that’s almost as old as the Internet itself. The subject has reared its head on the American Craft Forum a couple weeks ago an artist described how she eliminated the retail section of her website to ease the concerns of the galleries that carry her work.

The topic brings up some pretty strong reactions on both sides of the issue. Naturally many artists want to use the Internet to promote themselves and perhaps to capture sales from all over the world. Just as naturally gallery owners are concerned as to how this effects their bottom line. Some owners are going as far as to refusing to buy from artists who have an online retail presence. Rick Siegal, a speaker for the Rosen Group’s Buyer’s Market wrote a blog post concerning this issue and got some pretty harsh comments about it. One comment went as far as calling wholesalers who also have an online retail branch as “greedy” and “stupid”. Ouch!

Meanwhile, some artists are skeptical of galleries who don’t want artists to have their own retail site, but will also ask artists if they can include work on their online store…

The problem I have is that stores do not want me to sell online retail…but many times the next thing out of their mouth is “can I put your things up on our website”?

Is this not the same thing in a way? They are competing with other bricks & morter stores that are thousands of miles away. They have no issue with it as long as the $$ is going into their pocket I guess. I find this very interesting.

As someone who blogs about how artists can use the Internet to promote themselves you can guess my opinion on the matter. The bottom line is that the Internet is here, it’s not going anywhere, and it’s already to changed the the arts industry in ways we couldn’t imagine 10 years ago, and it will continue to do so. The next generation of craft buyers will grow up using the Internet to do everything; communicating, making friends, finding a place to live, paying bills, finding a job, working, and shopping…and they are not going to wait for us to catch up. The best thing to do is to figure out how to use the Internet so that it benefits both artists and gallery owners…not to fight against it.

In this week’s newsletter I outlined a number of ways in which individual artists can sell online without negatively impacting their relationship with their gallery accounts. To read the article sign up for the Crafted Webmaster Newsletter for free here:
http://www.craftedweb.com/subscribe.html