Topic of the Week: Identifying Our Biggest Challenges as Online Sellers

[Julie Law, Orallo]

Since our inception and through various threads, many have commented on the many challenges we face as online AVC sellers. I thought it would be appropriate to start a new thread that would allow us to identify those challenges in a central location so that we can then prioritize them, initiate new discussion topics and work to overcome them together.

So the question of the week is: What are your greatest challenges as an online seller in the AVC product categories? In what areas could you use the most assistance / support?

[Judy Dunn]

What a great topic. I think my greatest difficulty is keeping up as I also work, I am in private practice and have been for 30 years and I am buried in paper work and clients and would rather be doing this but can't do it full time yet-sure wish I could. So my biggest issue is time. My second one is, I had never been on a computer until I started selling on line-always had an assisstant doing that par,t so there is a lot I don't know about computers. ug! So if anyone knows any short cuts of any kind please let me know as I'm open to learn.

[Debsgreatfinds]

Finding out what its called is my biggest challenge sometimes the things I find theres not one on the net to get the info on the item.

[A Vintage Revolution]

try iantiqueonline.ning~ very helpful!!
Marie

[MaggieDressler]

If you're every stumped, email me a photo and I'll help you out. -- Maggie

[Carolyn O'Bayley]

Maggie
That is very generous of you. The PGP board on e used to be a valued resource. Perhaps a separate group of volunteers here on AVCOSA could be a good resource. I'd be willing to offer my library and help whenever I could.

[William & Susanne Waites]

IMO, the most challenging problem is achieving and maintaining good organic search results. In addition to our business, I actually do search engine optimization for others. Even with this skill set, I find it difficult and time consuming to stay competitive for relevant search terms. If the buyers can't find you when searching for what you sell, that's a serious problem.

A second and related problem is presenting inventory in its most favorable (truthful) light - textually and graphically. Most of us are experienced in face-to-face selling/service. You can read a buyers face, hear a vocal inflection, ask questions and get an immediate answer that helps you offer what the buyer is truly looking for. Obviously, that is almost impossible online unless you have very sophisticated software.

Third, is the simple matter of time management. In a physical location, a new inventory item can be numbered, priced and put on display. Online posting requires photography, the ability to write as well as you speak and the time spent uploading product files. Plus the time necessary, in the first instance above, to make sure the postings are maintained and removed when an item is sold.

Of course, if you live mucking around with old, interesting and beautiful stuff, it's worth the effort.

[Diana]

Yes, yes, and yes - you made 3 great points here !

In person is hard enough, but it can be even harder online.

Getting established is tough because folks don't know you and can't stop by to meet you and get to know you, so it is harder to gain trust.

But, it can be done.

I wrote about how I do it in a Squidoo lens/page and I have had many thanks for it.

I hope you all are doing well :)

Organically Yours,
Diana

[Karen Mantone-Pillar]

My biggest challange is promoting. I have 3 shops, Etsy, RL and my own site plus occasional sales on Ebay. I am set up on Twitter, Facebook, Blogger and The Vintage Village all of which offer great opportunities for promotion, but I find it all so overwhelming that I rarely use any of them! I could definitely use some tips on how others manage to keep up with it all.
Karen
CharmingsCollectibles.com

[JenniferLynn's Finds]

I'm with Charmings. My biggest challenge is getting views to my shop. With my handmade shop, I have no problem. The views on my vintage shop, however, are dismal at best. :( I do promote it, particularly when I list new items or have a sale. I see my items from time to time in Google, but I'm just not getting much traffic.

I also agree with the Waiteses: I love doing this! I love old things, especially old, pretty things and old, interesting things. There's no way I will just stop doing it, but I definitely need to get traffic to my vintage shop up.

Jen M.
JenniferLynn's Finds

[Cheri]

I must say I agree that promoting is my biggest challenge!

I am fine with doing it in a "background" way that involves search engine submission etc, and even manage a Tweet evry now and then, but not very good with the more "in yer face" type promoting. I feel kinda reserved when it comes to that, and wish I could shake the feeling. After all there is nothing wrong with saying "Come and Buy!" when you are in the selling biz, yet it just doesnt come easily to me!

[A Vintage Revolution]

Everything that everyone has stated so far I totally am in agreement with.
On-line selling is very time consuming! I am not sure most people understand that. I have a booth plus I do etsy an sometimes ebay. The booth is much easier-price it and drop it off! On-line is photographing, writing a great ad, constantly checking the on-line shop and then packaging and shipping. Plus I play dangerous and have my wares in the brick and mortar shop AND on etsy. I, too, do twitter, a blog and facebook. My other half is jealous of the computer since I am on so much. Currently I am unemployed and though I have the time to do all of the above I am not making enough money to make our bills by far. When I do have work, there isn't enough time to do all of the above. Crazy! As much as I would love to work my passion, a real job would be better!
As for information, I, of course, google and yahoo my items to the max plus I joined iantiquesonline and have found a wealth of generous souls that share their knowledge.
So, please if anyone can help with info on how to promote-please share!
Thanks!
avintagerevolution.etsy.com
emcyem (on ebay)
Yesterday's Antique Mall
Lake Worth, FL

[Carolyn O'Bayley]

All of the posts so far are great. I've learned something from all of them.

One of the reasons I joint AVCOSA was to help promote my online sales. I can write good descriptions, post good pictures, manage the sales, etc. However, for the life of me I cannot master "linking"....Yes, Ruby Lane gives instructions on how to link, but it never works for me.

Right now on VV they have wonderful promotional tools of listing items for sale in different categories with direct links to the item in your shop/website/etsy, whatever. I cannot figure out how to put the title there with a link. I can link using the IP address, but I cannot master the "words". I don't expect a lesson on this in this discussion thread.

My Ruby Lane sales have skyrocketed in the past 3 months. I have no idea if it is because of my promotion attempts via VV, AVCOSA or just plain building up a clentele. I have almost 1,000 hits a day in my RL shop so I know some of the promotions they do are working.

I really want to become more adept at the technical part of selling online.