Marketplace success tips

There are a few things you can do to set your store up for success on the IndieMe Marketplace. 

SWITCH IT UP
It is good to switch the first image on your page periodically since only one item shows up per keyword search, and the system uses the item highest in view order on your page. We recommend changing the image that is used to represent you in your showcase every once in a while as well so that if the buyers search the website by showcase they will not always see the same image for you and a different image may entice them to visit your page.

NEW WORK
Remember to upload new work to your page whenever possible. When you upload work and label it with the new work icon, your work will show up in the "New Work Last 90 Days" showcase for free and it also helps with your placement in online searches.

GREAT IMAGES
Of course, great images are very important when selling online. When shopping online, buyers cannot touch and feel the products like they can in person, so you have to do that for them through your photographs. Keep your images simple without a busy background that draws the eye away from your product and try to keep the images with a consistent background. You can also add additional images to provide the buyer a close up image or the item at a different angle to show depth or another perspective.

GET NOTICED
Get noticed by applying for our Be Inspired bog. We feature a new artist each week online and it is a great FREE way to get more exposure to our buyers! Email us at [e-mail] for more information.

MAKE IT SPECIAL
You may also want to consider doing a special offer every once in a while like free shipping for a month, or 10% off orders to entice the buyers to try your work. Add this as a notification on your store.

CHECK YOUR PRICING
Look at how your wholesale prices compare to others to make sure you are keeping yourself competitive and look at your minimum order amount. You will want it high enough to make sure first-time buyers have enough to show your work properly, but not too high to scare them off. You are new to them and they like to test the waters so to speak, so give them some room to do that and if your work sells well you will have long time customer.

CHECK FOR ORDERS
Do not forget to check your Order Management often. Some email programs have SPAM and bulk filters that cause delivery problems and we don't want you to miss an order! View your orders by navigating to Artist>Order Management>Manage My Orders.

DIGITAL ADVERTISING
As you know, marketing is important in any business. We recommend doing the online featured ads or premiere ads consistently to help increase activity on your page. Featured ads appear on the Buyer Homepage for a week and then in our weekly newsletter. These ads are only $22.50 and we suggest doing them at least once a month. You never know who will be seeing you for the first time since we sign up new buyers every day. Our Premiere ads show up during searches.

We have great Digital Guides, including a Spa guide, a Holiday guide, and a Coastal guide. These guides are emailed to our entire member list (over 20k).

PRINT IS NOT DEAD
We also recommend our print advertising. Our twice-per-year Buyer's Guide is directly mailed to over 15,000 retailers and is also available as a digital flip book online. We have many artists tell us that they would not have the business they have today without the exposure they received from doing our Buyer's Guides regularly. You will want to consider an ad as this also provides you with a free booth in our 3 times per year Virtual Expo.

Of course, we are always here to help. Call us with questions or concerns at any time.