GCU Forum - Spring Cleaning

Sue_132963

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Posts: 1224

Spring Cleaning
May 23^rd, 2008, 1:49pm

You know, I did a quick spring cleaning job in my store this morning and I am REALLY glad I did. It's amazing how just a few 'ho-hum' looking cards can drag down the appearance of the whole page!
I find that the more experience I garner, the pickier I become. That must be the nature of the beast, don't you think?
I was just thinking, if I am this happy with the results of my little spring cleaning--probably a lot of other folks might find the same thing to be true. So thought I would come on and share my experience and see if some of you wouldn't be interested in taking a look at your stores too.
Good luck!
Sue

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Sandra_133229 Gold Member artist Posts: 787	Re: Spring Cleaning Reply #1 - May 23^rd, 2008, 3:34pm You always have such good ideas, Sue. I think I'll try the same. I love to stay organized - it feels fresh to get rid of "dead wood!" Sandra
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Kathy_131728

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Posts: 610

Re: Spring Cleaning
Reply #2 - May 29^th, 2008, 10:12am

Hi Sue,
Just wanted you to know that I did some spring cleaning this morning. I had been thinking about doing it for awhile, but you inspired me to go ahead and just make the time to do it. I deleted some cards, but also highlighted a few in my mind that I want to make better. You are so right, you do feel better when you feel good about your whole store. Thanks for encouraging us to take a good look at our stores.
Kathy

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Sue_132963

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Posts: 1224

Re: Spring Cleaning
Reply #3 - Jun 2^nd, 2008, 6:39pm

Well you are certainly welcome. Here's a really funny one though. I considered deleting a certain card but hesitated. Then went in this morning, after remembering it again, with the decision made to delete it....only to find that it just sold! So be careful what you delete folks...different strokes for different folks, I guess. Wink

sue

Quote from Kathy_131728 on May 29^th, 2008, 10:12am:

Hi Sue,
Just wanted you to know that I did some spring cleaning this morning. I had been thinking about doing it for awhile, but you inspired me to go ahead and just make the time to do it. I deleted some cards, but also highlighted a few in my mind that I want to make better. You are so right, you do feel better when you feel good about your whole store. Thanks for encouraging us to take a good look at our stores.
Kathy

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Kathy_131728 Gold Member artist Posts: 610	Re: Spring Cleaning Reply #4 - Jun 2^nd, 2008, 7:29pm Sue, That is interesting that you wanted to delete, but then had a sale. I agree you must be careful with what you delete. I only got rid of some that I just was not that proud of, so I feel good about what I did. Glad you made a sale. Have a good one. Kathy
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Cassie_133164

Junior Member
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Posts: 100

Re: Spring Cleaning
Reply #5 - Jan 15^th, 2009, 8:48am

Quote from Sue_132963 on Jun 2^nd, 2008, 6:39pm:

Well you are certainly welcome. Here's a really funny one though. I considered deleting a certain card but hesitated. Then went in this morning, after remembering it again, with the decision made to delete it....only to find that it just sold! So be careful what you delete folks...different strokes for different folks, I guess. Wink

sue

Yep. I've had that happen also. The ones I think about deleting sale just before I delete them. Maybe I should think about deleting some more to get more sales. LOL

Actually I am starting to think ones that have been in my store for several months with no clicks I might delete as with over 600 cards my store seems too full to me.

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Catinka_133492

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Posts: 143

Re: Spring Cleaning
Reply #6 - Jan 15^th, 2009, 9:50am

One of the big revelations about business on the internet has been described by Kevin Kelley as "the Long Tail". As it gets cheaper and cheaper to put and keep digital information online (our cards for instance), the bulk of sales end up come from all the little sales (the long tail). The most money is made NOT from lots of sales of a few items, but lots of tiny sales of LOTS of items/files. Each image online here, increases the probability of a sale being made, as more and more people find they can look for just that thing they are looking for. The challenge is in making it possible for people to find what they are looking for. Digital content is not bound by the same restrictions that confine physical inventories. It can stay online and be of use to someone somewhere for a long long time. I believe it is our best interest make use of that very nature of the internet.
Catinka

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Norval_132688 Gold Member artist Posts: 908	Re: Spring Cleaning Reply #7 - Jan 15^th, 2009, 2:09pm Be careful----last years Valentines-------Had a card line for naughty wifes for Husband, didn't sell a one. almost deleted the whole bunch, instead I stored them and reactivated them for this year. My biggest sellers so far. Does that mean wifes are getting naughtier this Valentine's Day???
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Catinka_133492

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Re: Spring Cleaning
Reply #8 - Jan 17^th, 2009, 9:05am

Quote from Cassie_133164 on Jan 15^th, 2009, 8:48am:

Actually I am starting to think ones that have been in my store for several months with no clicks I might delete as with over 600 cards my store seems too full to me.

Quote from Cassie_133164 on Jan 17^th, 2009, 7:05am:

Was getting ready to delete these cards out of my store when I sold them yesterday

I sold 3 cards of Adorable Product ID: 259587 and 1 card of Duckling Product ID: 255208. Yippee!! I am doing a happy dance and really glad I did not hit that delete button now.

Cassie- I couldn't resist - your fine example from another thread (on 1/17/09) supporting the argument that once an image is online you never know when it's payoff will be. The cost of keeping it up there is minimal and simply increases the possibility/probability for a sale. (One of these days I'll get more than just two images into my store!)

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Joan_135833

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Posts: 591

Re: Spring Cleaning
Reply #9 - Jan 18^th, 2009, 5:56pm

You have made a very valid argument extremely eloquently. I am just starting out in this particular universe but have noticed that the specificity of what's on offer seems to be a huge selling point. Although customers surely visit the artists' stores, I feel certain that so many do come to the site with a definite object in mind. You're correct when you encourage the use of internet's very nature. Another wonderful example of this philosophy is ArkivMusic, which, aside from offering just about every classical recording in the catalogs, has also bought licenses for recordings that have gone out of print and is re-issuing them on demand - to one customer at a time. So, fellow members of the Greeting Card Universe, I would say: keep your work out there!

Kind regards from one who happily joined the club a few weeks ago,
Joan

Quote from Catinka_133492 on Jan 15^th, 2009, 9:50am:

One of the big revelations about business on the internet has been described by Kevin Kelley as "the Long Tail". As it gets cheaper and cheaper to put and keep digital information online (our cards for instance), the bulk of sales end up come from all the little sales (the long tail). The most money is made NOT from lots of sales of a few items, but lots of tiny sales of LOTS of items/files. Each image online here, increases the probability of a sale being made, as more and more people find they can look for just that thing they are looking for. The challenge is in making it possible for people to find what they are looking for. Digital content is not bound by the same restrictions that confine physical inventories. It can stay online and be of use to someone somewhere for a long long time. I believe it is our best interest make use of that very nature of the internet.
Catinka

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Cassie_133164

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Posts: 100

Re: Spring Cleaning
Reply #10 - Jan 19^th, 2009, 8:14am

Quote from Catinka_133492 on Jan 17^th, 2009, 9:05am:

Quote from Cassie_133164 on Jan 15^th, 2009, 8:48am:

Actually I am starting to think ones that have been in my store for several months with no clicks I might delete as with over 600 cards my store seems too full to me.

Quote from Cassie_133164 on Jan 17^th, 2009, 7:05am:

Was getting ready to delete these cards out of my store when I sold them yesterday

I sold 3 cards of Adorable Product ID: 259587 and 1 card of Duckling Product ID: 255208. Yippee!! I am doing a happy dance and really glad I did not hit that delete button now.

Cassie- I couldn't resist - your fine example from another thread (on 1/17/09) supporting the argument that once an image is online you never know when it's payoff will be. The cost of keeping it up there is minimal and simply increases the possibility/probability for a sale. (One of these days I'll get more than just two images into my store!)

I'm so glad I did not delete those. I did delete about 20 cards though Sad

Now I can only think those 20 might have sold someday but oh well, what is done is done. I have created 20 new cards to replace the 20 I deleted and will continue to create many more cards and hope for many more sales.

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Catinka_133492

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Posts: 143

Re: Spring Cleaning
Reply #11 - Jan 19^th, 2009, 9:04am

Joan - thank you for your reply. I hope GCU understands this aspect of the cumulative effect of the power of more and more images. I think they do have a concern about concerving server space - I thought I'd read such a point elsewhere - something I found troubling. A good internal search system that returns relevant and quality images to customers' searches is very necessary for retaining customers.

Also thank you for the tip about the music archive. As for musical imagery - your music cards are wonderful!. Will pass your site on to friends with classical music interests.

Cassie - by the way I really enjoyed your animal cards. Those chicks and ducklings are captivating.

Perhaps we forget there may be people who have seen something they want, bookmarked it (can that be done?), and return later to get a card. Imagine the disappointment to find it gone. This is after all not an auction site where one expects there is only a limited amount of time in which to purchase something.

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Jeff_135713

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Posts: 620

Re: Spring Cleaning
Reply #12 - Jan 19^th, 2009, 9:19am

I think it would be a great addition if people could keep a list of cards they are thinking about buying or are interested in. That way when they come back they can find them again.

I know this can be done (sort of) with the favorites system but I think it would be nice to have a method of noting cards that are interesting...for instance birthday cards, that you don't want right now but will in the future.

It would help use all and this kind of bookmarking system would ensure the customer would return here where they know they have things already marked rather than some random site.

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Catinka_133492

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Posts: 143

Re: Spring Cleaning
Reply #13 - Jan 19^th, 2009, 12:29pm

Quote from Jeff_135713 on Jan 19^th, 2009, 9:19am:

I think it would be a great addition if people could keep a list of cards they are thinking about buying or are interested in. That way when they come back they can find them again...

Does the GCU shopping cart have a basket system that can be saved, or a wish list? I believe these are common features that can be had.

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Cassie_133164

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Posts: 100

Re: Spring Cleaning
Reply #14 - Jan 19^th, 2009, 3:05pm

Quote from Catinka_133492 on Jan 19^th, 2009, 12:29pm:

Quote from Jeff_135713 on Jan 19^th, 2009, 9:19am:

I think it would be a great addition if people could keep a list of cards they are thinking about buying or are interested in. That way when they come back they can find them again...

Does the GCU shopping cart have a basket system that can be saved, or a wish list? I believe these are common features that can be had.

Great ideas. No the cart does not save items. I tried that one day and the next day when I was ready to buy the card it was no longer in the cart. Sad

so I had to go get it and put it it the cart a second time.

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