GCU Forum - How come I haven't sold even one card

Doranne_146044 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 4	How come I haven't sold even one card Aug 7^th, 2011, 12:37pm I have been a member for almost a year now and haven't sold one card. What am I doing wrong?
Back to top	: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/dorannealdenscardstore IP Logged

Doreen_137017

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 5273

Re: How come I haven't sold even one card
Reply #1 - Aug 7^th, 2011, 12:51pm

Hi Doranne,

Your imagery in general is quite lovely. Your text is difficult to read on some of your cards and border/text color may not be appealing to all buyers, so you could probably improve that a wee bit.

In general I'd say two things: You only have 31 cards in your store and for someone to find those in a sea of 500,000 is difficult at best. So you need to fill your store by making more cards.

I don't know when the last time you created a card, but any store on the internet that is not updated at the very least weekly with new product is not likely to move up in search engine rankings.

And third, we all have to market our own cards. GCU certainly does a lot of advertising and marketing, but they do so as a business entity. Each store owner has the responsibility of marketing their own store outside of GCU to help drive traffic and create links outside of GCU.

There are some great tips at the GCU Community blog if you haven't poked around there

http://gcucommunity.com/

I hope this helps you a bit anyway!

Back to top

Salon of Art:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/SalonOfArt

IP Logged

Cara_131386

Senior Member
artist

Posts: 428

Re: How come I haven't sold even one card
Reply #2 - Aug 7^th, 2011, 1:11pm

Your images are really beautiful! I would agree to make more cards and also to make your text more easy to read, as well. The public is very picky and they wont buy things that are difficult to read or that they don't understand. That said, just keep pluggin, get more cards up & you should begin to make some sales. Best of luck!

Back to top

Perl's Card Store:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/perlscardstore

IP Logged

Cathy_151407 Junior Member artist Posts: 61	Re: How come I haven't sold even one card Reply #3 - Aug 7^th, 2011, 1:36pm It took a while for my shop to be found. Now I do outside promoting.
Back to top	Cathy's Celtic Cat Cards: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/cathyscelticcatcards IP Logged

Delores_132508

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 978

Re: How come I haven't sold even one card
Reply #4 - Aug 7^th, 2011, 1:56pm

Just keep designing cards and getting more in your store. You might want to take a look at the more popular cards in the categories you design for to see what kinds of designs sell the best. Also, you might want to try submitting one of your cards on Friday to the Critique Clinic and you will get some good feedback from some knowledgable GCU members.

As Cara said, just keep plugging away.

Back to top

Grandma Dee's Cards:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/GrandmaDee

IP Logged

Rebecca_140932

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 624

Re: How come I haven't sold even one card
Reply #5 - Aug 7^th, 2011, 3:01pm

Here is a pointer ... take it or leave it, it's up to you. Wink

I noticed that this card http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/-With+Best+Wishes+-+boats+on+water-greeti ng+card-766193?aid=146044 has text written across the picture. This card is beautiful without the text. If you must have the text, write it on the inside instead of across your beautiful creations. When text gets in the way of the picture is takes away from it instead of adding to it.

On this one: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/-On+Fathers+Day,+Man+on+a+Bench-greeting+ card-755048?aid=146044 the text is too big for the card. It runs right off the edges of the card which will be cut off and show even less of the text.

This card: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Happy+Birthday,+cake,+birthday+cake+with +candles-greeting+card-779315?aid=146044 would look better if the "Happy Birthday!" was added to the bottom underneath the picture, but just big enough to run the length of the picture. Also, on the inside text, "Of" should not be capitalized. "And" should not be capitalized. "Another" should not be capitalized. You do not have to write "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" on the inside if it is on the outside, but if you choose to keep it, add an exclamation mark.

This card: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Happy+Easter+-+narsissus-greeting+card-7 66189?aid=146044 is just beautiful. The only thing I would change is ... "Hope" on the inside text doesn't need to be capitalized. Also, add an exclamation mark after "Happy Easter" so that it looks like this - Happy Easter!

On this one: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Get+well+soon,+flowers,+marigolds,+brigh t+orange+and+yellow-greeting+card-779318?aid=146044 you don't need to put "GET WELL SOON" on the inside text because it is already on the outside of the card, which is beautiful by the way.

Just a few suggestions. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. We artists have to stick together.

Back to top

Grant Greetings:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/GrantGreetings

IP Logged

Angela_134247 Gold Member artist Posts: 761	Re: How come I haven't sold even one card Reply #6 - Aug 7^th, 2011, 4:26pm I do think font placement is key in your cards, which are absolutely beautiful. Also, as has been said many times, research card categories that are big sellers and create cards for them. Also, instead of general cards for birthday or other occasions, create specifics like for family members or specific ages.
Back to top	FairyGirl Cards: http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/fairygirlcards IP Logged

Rebecca_140932

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 624

Re: How come I haven't sold even one card
Reply #7 - Aug 7^th, 2011, 5:10pm

Quote from Angela_134247 on Aug 7^th, 2011, 4:26pm:

I do think font placement is key in your cards, which are absolutely beautiful. Also, as has been said many times, research card categories that are big sellers and create cards for them. Also, instead of general cards for birthday or other occasions, create specifics like for family members or specific ages.

Well said, Angela!

Back to top

Grant Greetings:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/GrantGreetings

IP Logged

judith_134088 Senior Member artist Posts: 352	Re: How come I haven't sold even one card Reply #8 - Aug 7^th, 2011, 6:09pm Lovely collection... I have to force myself to spend the whole month of July on marketing & taking baby steps with all this social media stuff ... let's see where all this takes me?
Back to top	Painted Cottage: http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/PaintedCottage IP Logged

Donna_156115 Senior Member artist Posts: 486	Re: How come I haven't sold even one card Reply #9 - Aug 7^th, 2011, 8:19pm Hi Doranne, Your cards are really beautiful. I agree, make lots more cards and yes make the text visible on the front of your card. You can always make the image a little smaller and move it up, using the bottom part of your card for the Happy Birthday , etc. Your designs are great. Love them.. Donna Collins
Back to top	Designs by Donna Collins: http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/designsbydonnacollins IP Logged

Frank_146127 Junior Member artist Posts: 66	Re: How come I haven't sold even one card Reply #10 - Aug 8^th, 2011, 4:28am It must be down to the promotion of your store as your creations are superb You've got some great advice from fellow artists so imo it's only a matter of time before the sales start to rocket!
Back to top	Photicimage.com: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/photicimage IP Logged

Doranne_146044 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 4	Re: How come I haven't sold even one card Reply #11 - Aug 9^th, 2011, 7:47am Thank you all for your great feedback... will try to find the time to amend my cards and work on the advice you gave me. Thanks again
Back to top	: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/dorannealdenscardstore IP Logged