Why do we chat?

A relatively new Etsy seller said in Chat the other day that she hadn't sold anything at all on the site until she started hanging out in the chat rooms. Are hoped-for sales what bring us to Chat? Are they what keep bringing us back?

Certainly, there's no guarantee that being a chatter will lead to sales, but it does happen. And surely regular chatters don't come in every day just to pimp their shops (although having others meet new shops is a nice fringe benefit). We all have a pretty good idea that flying in just to spam announcements and shop promos doesn't work anyway; it's more about being part of the community, or is it?

So, why do we chat? Specifically on Etsy, but also in other communities?

Image from a sculpture by redclaysculptress, thanks!

Five Questions for ... cdosehn

Anyone who visits Chat early in the morning (Eastern Time) will have met regular cdosehn, a friendly and welcoming presence in our talkative midst! This month is her four-year Etsyversary, and it seemed like a perfect opportunity to get her answers to a handful of questions:

Q.  How has Etsy changed in the four years you've been selling here? What's your favourite feature?
A.  I think the biggest change has being able to rearrange your shop!
Q.  What do you do for fun when you're not chatting or running your Etsy shop?
A.  I love to be out in the woods or fishing with my hubby. Being with my grown children is wonderful as well.
Q.  What tool or piece of crafting equipment would you like to have if money were no object?
A.  Oh I would love a bigger embroidery machine with more designs and space to embroider on. Or my own designing software.
Q.  Knowing what you do now, is there anything you would have done differently when you first opened your shop?
A.  The only thing I would have changed is taking better pictures of my items and posting more tags on my items.
Q.  What has been your most successful way to promote your Etsy shop? The least effective?

A.  The most successful way I have found to promote my items in my shop is going in the chats. Once there, always be friendly. I have met through Etsy some wonderful people that I can call my dear friends from all over the world.
The least effective I guess would be the forums in the promotion section - a lot of post and runs, and no one really looks in each others' shops. First thing besides saying Hello in the chats when I enter is go to everyone's shop and have a look around and post a item from their shop.

Do you trade?

This Storque Blog article about Trades through We Swap got me thinking about some of the more home-grown trades taking place right here on Etsy. Interest in trades is popular in the Chat rooms of course, and it would be great to hear from some of you who have first-hand experience trading with other Etsy sellers.

Please drop me a convo, or leave a Comment here to help put together a checklist or guide to successful trading. Or add a Comment to let other blog readers know you're interested in trades now, or for the upcoming holiday season!

Chatter FrawgzDezignz has offered a detailed view of Trades on Etsy, based on her own experiences:

• Communication is key, for both sides
• Read Feedback before you start
• Successful trades can lead to future sales
• Check Feedback Left for others too
• Some people are difficult to deal with
• You have a right to turn down any trade
• Wait to leave Feedback
• Package and ship well
• Be honest in all communication