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Do you Google?

March 08, 2010 :: Posted by - Barbra :: Category - Biz Advice - Get Noticed!, Headline, how to

By Contributing columnist Susan Averello aka Fantasy Clay

Google Analytics can be one of those great tools that can give you much information about your store or website. It can let you know the number of visitors to your site on a daily basis, how they get there, even what words they use to find your site. If you have your own site or sell on a site that is integrated with Google Analytics, this is a must have tool. Knowing where your visitors arrive from can enable you to market more directly.

Your first step is setting up an account, if you haven’t already. Go to google.com/analytics. This will take you directly to the log in page. From there you can sign in using your Google account; if you have Gmail and/or a Blogspot blog, you have a Google account. If not, there is a link to set up a Google account. When you log in, you need to sign up for Google Analytics-they’ll be a box right there.

The next page is Analytics: New Account Sign Up. It will ask you for your website’s URL. You want to use your store’s main page: i.e. http://username.artfire.com. Then just name the account and fill in the rest with your country and time zone. Click continue. The next page just asks for your name, then click accept policies. After that, you’ll be on a page with some code and some choices. Leave it on the defaults.

And finally, the last step. If you look at the code- there is a UA number; it should be in this format 00000000-0. In a site that is integrated with GA, you just need to enter this number in the stats page. I know ArtFire, 1000Markets and Etsy are and Zibbet isn’t. I don’t have experience with any other shops so you need to check. It will usually be under Stats or Analytics, depending what a site names it.

If you own your own site or a blog, you’ll have to copy and paste the code anywhere before <body> in the page’s html code. It’s easy enough to do on Blogger. Click on Edit HTML, then paste the code any where before the <body> tag. Rather than search the whole page, just paste before any other code. Then click ‘save template’.

Google Analytics stats are not in real-time. They are updated daily, so you’ll have to wait a day before seeing any data. Tomorrow you will have a few graphs, I think everyone gets hooked on the top one; this lists the number of visitors a day. However, Google Analytics will count every visit, including yours, so in the next article, I’ll tell you how to set up a filter so your views won’t be counted.

Photo courtesy of RoundWords

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One or Two?

March 04, 2010 :: Posted by - Barbra :: Category - Biz Advice - Get Noticed!, Headline

One Shop or Two?
by contributing columnist Ashley Pahl aka AshleyPahl

Having an Etsy, Artfire or Folksy shop can sometimes be a very time-consuming activity. Why would a person want to open a second shop? There are many good reasons for making the decision to have two stores, and sometimes it is the right choice. Some good reasons for opening a second shop include:

1. Introducing a new line of items or a different style.

2. Selling handmade if you own a supply shop, or vintage if you own a handmade shop, etc.

3. A shop appears cluttered and is overwhelming to shop browsers.

4. Separating the popular money-makers from the more serious art forms.

5. Dividing a wide range of prices into two so that shoppers can focus and better compare products.

Buyers may have an easier time focusing on the items they are looking for if they are separated from the additional miscellanea that you sell. For example, if you mostly make knit hats, but also have your handmade earrings peppered in your shop, it may be too distracting for shoppers who came to your shop looking for hats. Alternatively, if you have a shop that specializes in sterling silver jewelry, it may help a shopper to focus on what they really want if the more expensive pieces are separated from less expensive “silver-toned” pieces.

Having a second shop may even get you more exposure. You can be listed in directories twice, in Etsy’s search engine twice (when searching for sellers), and could be stumbled upon twice.

The downside, of course, is that a second shop is twice the work. Two shops to stock; two shops to market and promote; two shops to make listings for; two shops to answer messages for and complete feedback for. Additionally, if you decide to move items that you already have listed in one shop to a new shop, you will need to do so manually: copy and paste the titles, descriptions, and materials, re-type the tags, make new shipping profiles, and upload the photos all over again. Not only that, but you will lose all of the hearts and views you have accumulated for such items. Your shop’s feedback will be back at zero and you’ll have to find a way to bring shoppers to your second store.

For many, it may be worth adding a new product line to the original shop and see how it fairs. Additionally, it may help to organize the “clutter” of the first shop into something more manageable for browsers. The shop sections feature and Rearrange Shop feature are both great for accomplishing such a task.

If the pros outweigh the cons and you decide to go for it, here are some things to remember when opening a second store:

1. You will need a second email address. Each email address can only be linked to one account on Etsy.

2. You will need to disclose your additional shops. You must link from your first shop to your second shop and vice versa either in your shop announcement, profile, or shop policies page.

3. All listings must be manually re-listed. There is no way to just switch them to a new account, and you will have to pay listing fees again.

4. The same PayPal account can be used for multiple Etsy accounts – there is no limit.

5. If you are not using the same banner, avatar, packaging materials and business cards that you use for your first shop, you may need to get new ones, which will add additional costs.

All in all, the decision to open a second online shop is really an individual one. What works for one business may not pan out for another. It may be worth the financial risk to open a new store, or it may be more practical to better manage your first shop. Many Etsy businesses do quite well with multiple shops, and as the old adage goes, “you never know until you try”.

Poster image courtesy of The LoveShop

“Open” image courtesy of The Back Porch Shoppe

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Camera for a Cause

March 03, 2010 :: Posted by - Barbra :: Category - Artists helping others, Etsy Spotlight, Headline

By contributing columnist Michelle, aka: littletoad

The Daily Foto Project is the unique brain child of Melissa Azizi a self-taught Australian photographer. So what is exactly is The Daily Foto Project? It is a 365-day photo project where Melissa takes a photograph everyday for a year. But, that’s not all. She lists each image on Etsy and donates 5% of sales to a charity of the buyer’s choice. I have been following Melissa’s work for a while now and she was nice enough to answer some questions I was dying to know about her and this project.

So how did you come up with this idea? I’m from Sydney and my partner and I arrived in Berlin in May 2009. I broke my foot 2 months later! So, I pretty much spent my first European summer indoors and immobilized. Of course, I was down about it as my partner had also started a new job working really long hours and we had just moved into a completely empty apartment. The ordeal was a bit stressful, but ultimately being immobilized gave me time to reflect, especially about those that are really in a less fortunate position. I wanted to turn my little foot misadventure into something more positive for me and for others. Personally, I needed a way to happily re-acquaint myself with Berlin again and to develop my creativity.

How did the charity aspect of the project come along? I didn’t want the project to just be for and about me. It’s been done before, I’m sure. I thought it would be a great idea that when people buy a photo, that they’re also giving something positive to the world too. So, I donate 5% of the buyers purchase to a charity of their choice. I like to call it being a ‘Conscientious Consumer’.

Are there days when you really don’t want to take a picture? Not at all! I always think it’s interesting to see what I can come up with, especially on those days when I haven’t left the house until later in the evening and I’m losing light.

Is photography a hobby or do you do it professionally? I’m not professionally trained as a photographer, but I always treat it professionally.

What do you do when you aren’t taking pictures? I’m a film producer!

How many pictures do you take in a day to get the one you plan on using?There’s no limit, but I have taken anywhere between 5 to 50! I take my camera everywhere as I never know when I’ll need it!

Do you have a plan of what you are going to shoot for that day or do you just wait to find inspiration? It’s a mix. There are days where I’ve planned to visit a certain area, such as the Charlottenburg Palace, so I know I’ll use a photo from there. But, I take my camera with me everywhere, even up the road to the grocers. Who knows where inspiration may hit?

How have you been promoting this project? Mainly online and word-of-mouth. I have my own website, use Twitter, have a Facebook fan page and of course, my Etsy shop.

What kind of response from fans and Etsy sellers have you gotten? Positive responses. The good thing about Etsy is that it’s community-orientated and if you need advice or tips, other sellers are happy to help out. And many Etsy sellers are also on Twitter and Facebook, and they happily give their thumbs up too.

Why did you choose Etsy as your platform for your project? I wanted to find a site that was already established as a place for people to visit if they wanted to buy photographs. With an established site comes the pros, such as high traffic and a community. I received an email from someone who happened to have their Etsy store link in their email signature. I clicked on it and discovered a whole new world!

Can you give us a few examples of the charities that have been chosen through your sales? We all know about the recent devastation in Haiti, so the project has donated to American Red Cross for Haiti & Habitat for Humanity for Haiti. A lesser known charity has been the German Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired and even the Wikipedia Foundation.
And now the BIG question,What are you going to do after the 365 days are up? A big party, perhaps? Or, an exhibition? Or, a photo book collection! Too many ideas right now!

A huge thanks to Melissa for taking the time to answer my questions and for the good work she is doing with her talent. Looking at her site I hope will inspire us as artists to not only be creative but to also find ways to use our art to help others.

Image courtesy of TheDailyFoto.

Camera imageNYLightMetals

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Earn any medals lately?

March 01, 2010 :: Posted by - Barbra :: Category - Artists helping others, Headline

Art For Art’s Sake: Staying True To Your Vision

By Contributing ColumnistBette Miles-Holleman aka BadMsM

My oldest daughter, an aspiring artist, had two of her works entered in a local show. She didn’t win a prize, but many people praised her for fine work that looks much more advanced than that of a 15 year old. Despite the praise she received, she was upset that she didn’t win a prize. I told her that shows like this only reflect a few peoples’ opinions and tastes, and the fact that they didn’t award her a prize does not invalidate her or her work. Art, after all, is subjective.

I’m not sure if my daughter understands, but I think she has enough passion to carry her through her disappointment. I have to remind myself that this is also a part of the creative process. Every artist must learn healthy responses to criticism, constructive or otherwise.

How many of us indie artists have felt this way at one time or another? Sure, we need to evaluate our work and strive for the best, but we need to be comfortable with who we are and what our art says about us. It will grow and evolve just as we do, but we need to remember the vision that got us here in the first place. Personally, I like to read my customer feedback for a reminder of why I do this. It’s nice to hear what kindred spirits and those who ‘get it’ have said about my work.

In this competitive world that seems to be all about accolades, prizes and titles, it can be easy to fall into the trap of looking to those things for validation. And while we are encouraged by sales of our works, we still do it for love our art, and the joy of creating unique items that speak to us in a way that nothing else can.

That’s what it’s all about!

Drawing courtesy of Chloe Holleman.

Medals photo courtesy of drfeltgood

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The Art of Bowl-ing

March 01, 2010 :: Posted by - Barbra :: Category - Etsy Spotlight, Headline, Shops to Watch!

Shops to Watch: Julie’s Adorabowls
by contributing columnist Ashley Pahl aka AshleyPahl

The second installment of Shops to Watch features Julie of Julie’s Adorabowls. Julie creates gorgeous, decoupaged bowls, plates, and dishes, as well as delicate earrings and magnets. Her Etsy shop opened in mid-December, 2009, and in its first two months alone her shop enjoyed almost 20 sales. The dishes start out with a sturdy glass or porcelain base, and are decoupaged with an acrylic sealant over lovely origami or elegantly patterned paper. Browsing through her shop, there are over 50 bowls and dishes to choose from, all of which would make a lovely gift. In addition to being a colorful decor addition to a home, they are functional as well. Julie’s decoupaged bowls would look lovely on a dresser holding jewelry, or in a home office organizing small craft supplies.

Julie took some time to discuss her work, her business, and what advice she would give to another artist just getting started.

What led to your decision to open an Etsy shop?
It’s been kind of a whirlwind. It all began when I saw an online tutorial about how to decoupage ornaments using origami paper last November. From that day forward I became obsessed with decoupaging. I thought, ‘ornaments are great, though seasonal.’ I tried to look for an item that I could have out year round, and that’s when I started decoupaging these little bowls. Before I knew it I had 60 bowls. I knew then I had to find a way to sell them, in order to justify making more of them. Then came Etsy. Managing an online store is perfect for me because I can work from home with my two small children.

What is your first inspiration when making a new piece?

When I make a piece, I am first inspired by a pattern or color that I see or sometimes both. It could be a cocktail napkin, nice giftwrap paper, japanese papers, or scrapbook paper. When I do find a paper that I fall in love with, I am so eager to decoupage with it. It is an exhilarating feeling to be able to preserve beautiful paper which in itself is so fragile by decoupaging it onto a dish.

What do you do to market your artwork? Which method do you find to be most successful?
I find that advertising is most effective so far in marketing my work. I am new to Facebook and am hopeful that I will get good results with that. Thus far, I have not spent a great deal on marketing. I have just been focusing on making products to stock my shop and improving my photos and website. I am now getting to the point where I think I need to delve into all of the good information out there about how to really market and promote one’s shop.

What advice would you give to another artist wanting to open a shop on Etsy?

Take your time and really make your photos good. I was too eager to get my products up on the site in the beginning and my photos were not great. Since those first photos I have learned a lot from Etsy forums about how to improve photos and I have retaken all of them. I am much more pleased with my pictures now, but still feel there is lots of room for improvement.

Another piece of advice would be to not get discouraged if sales don’t come right away. It is a learning process and it is amazing how many different facets there are to the whole process, from marketing to photography, pricing, and of course, creating. Even packaging and shipping are new skills you have to learn. Enjoy the process. Give it four seasons if you can, at least to determine if it’s worth continuing.

What do you do when you are in need of inspiration?

Every now and then I take a look at my shop and realize that I am leaving out certain colors and color combinations, and then I feel a strong drive to find those colors in new paper, like neutrals, cream, beige, browns, black. One day I realized all of my items were bold and bright colors, which are beautiful, but I like to cover the whole spectrum for my own inspiration and to appeal to more people. It was so fun to work with neutrals for a few days and I loved the end result.

How do you manage your time between crafting and being a mother?

I do most of my work before the children wake in the morning and after they go to bed. I can also squeeze in an hour or two when they nap in the afternoon. It makes for a busy schedule, but I actually find my work relaxing and enjoyable so it doesn’t feel like work.

What has been the most rewarding part of running your own craft business?

I love the end result of a project, but it is really the process for me that is most rewarding, from finding the paper, to making the item. It is a great feeling to share it, too, when you finally list the item on the website.

Being my own “boss” is extremely energenizing because I know that the success or failure of my business is purely my responsibility.

Julie’s work is sold exclusively on Etsy. You can find her shop at JuliesAdorabowls. A big thank you to Julie for talking to us at Indie Smiles!

Bowling photo courtesy of GreenBeeGoods

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Indie Mascot Kitty Katie

February 25, 2010 :: Posted by - Linda :: Category - Headline, Indiesmiles news, blogs and their owners

LindaGJ aka LindaGJ

Hi everyone, Katie here.
Yes, I became an IndieKitty awhile back when Linda GJ wrote an article about Cat Blogs. Well, since I have my very own blog : http://glogirly.blogspot.com/ I have been elected with becoming the new Mascot for Indiesmiles, which I am not at all surprised, since I am well known for my sharp tongue and sarcastic wit. A floofy, sweet lap cat, I am not. I am so right for this job because I soooo… fit the meaning of Indie.
‘INDIE’
The Urban Dictionary defines Indie as “Cooler than Emo.” Now I don’t know who this Emo guy is, but I’m going to assume he’s very cool. The Urban Dictionary goes on to note that Indie is an informal version of Independent. Here’s where it gets even cooler: Indie has come to symbolize originality and forward-thinking.
So as an Indie Kitty, I am an independent, original, forward-thinking, cooler than emo CAT. Now how cooler than emo is THAT!!
Just call me Indie’s Mascot Kitty Katie.
You all also will have to go visit my blog which is all about me.
Here is the movie I was featured in with the article that 1st introduced me here on Indiesmiles. I am the star and it all about me… naturally!

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Is it?

February 25, 2010 :: Posted by - Barbra :: Category - Folksy Favs, Shops to Watch!

By contributing columnist Elle aka: EllesDesigns

It’s Not Art…

As I browsed the newest items on Folksy this week, I came across a really beautiful necklace that caught my eye. The ‘scimitar’ shaped pendant featured gorgeous shades of purple, with just enough silver to reflect the light, and eye catching layers, too. I was mesmerised, and the shop just gets better! Not only does it feature really beautiful, contemporary jewellery, they are all made with recycled materials too!

I decided to talk to the shop owner about their new business, and how it was going! Annie started making jewellery to wear herself, and eventually began giving it to friends and family. They were really impressed with her talents, and suggested she start selling online…it’s a big first step, though! I really struggled with gaining the confidence to list my items, but Annie didn’t have the same problem. Within a week she has created a shop on both Folksy and Misi, and started making sales!
Her inspiration for pieces often comes from what she has in the house to craft with. As well as unwanted CDs, which created the gorgeous necklace that attracted my attention, she has made pieces with dominoes, chess pieces, mah jong tiles, draughts pieces, and bottle tops. Things that would usually be thrown away are transformed into really gorgeous, unique pieces.

And the name? It‘s Not Art was inspired by a stamp, she recalls. “Lots of people get really precious about ‘art’ and so on, and I liked the self-deprecating tone of the stamp and adopted it as my name”. It’s certainly a name I think you’ll be seeing a lot of, the whole collection is utterly gorgeous!

I’m off to look for more new talent on Folksy, but let me know what you think of Annie’s work…I’m in love with it! It’s definitely on my wish list.

Photo courtesy of Gypsy Pottery

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The Power of The Pen & Pencil!

February 23, 2010 :: Posted by - Barbra :: Category - Etsy Spotlight, Headline

ginia18

By contributing Columnist Michelle aka: LittleToad

The Best Illustrators on Etsy That You’ve Probably Never Seen: Part 1

I had the pleasure of asking these talented artists questions about their work and where they hope their work takes them. Please not only read this article but visit their shops I promise you will be transported to a different world and look at ours in a new way. These are undiscovered talents that I know will become your new favorites.

1. Babayagada

Lena Yampolsky is the extraordinary artist behind these magical and sometimes surreal images. She gets inspiration from the melting pot of languages and cultures and also her endless fascination with beauty of nature. “The cores of many of my works reflects flawed irrational features of human beings character”. In the future she hopes to do more illustrations, write a comic book for children and also do some animation. She hopes that her personal projects one day will be her way of making a living.

2. SoRAd

Jasmine Bashaj is the artist behind SoRad, an eclectic mix of wacky and just plain fun images. I dare you not to get a great big smile when looking at her work. She was working for someone else when she thought, hmmm, shouldn’t I be doing this for myself and getting the credit for it? So she decided to start her own line of greeting cards. She is currently working on incorporating her illustrations into baby clothes-so stay tuned. Her inspiration comes from everything and anything. “Ideas come to me usually when I’m going to sleep, just pop into my head really. My Mac book pro is covered in (virtual) sticky notes with ideas.”

3. MenageriePrints

Vic Turnbull is a children’s illustrator who creates these amazing humorous and heartwarming images. Her ability to convey emotion in her animals is astounding and one look and you will fall in love with them as I did. ”I want to bring them to life, give them a character and personality.” She is inspired by other illustrators and artists and hopes to one day explore the possibility of creating picture books. “A number of children’s books had an impact on me as a child and I’d love to follow in the footsteps of some of these by writing and illustrating my own story.”

4. Blackmago

Blackmago’s way of creating his animal illustration’s is truly unique and completely original. His work is graceful and extremely charming to look at. He is inspired by his own life, his friends, his mother and his past. When asked where he hoped his art would take him he responded “I just want to be a source for helping others to be happy, to smile with the simple things on life, just to help other dreamers to dream more and to believe dreams can come true.”

5. deeplyshallow

When I first saw the work of Jason Gurley I was instantly enthralled. His work really does transform you to a different world and the colors alone are enough to make you an instant fan. He is inspired by just about everything. “If a coworker says something embarrassing, I’ll probably have a rough sketch of the moment captured by the end of the day.” Weather, architecture, other terrific illustrators, novels, a bad dream, science fiction, his adorable fiancée and her own crafty creations are also inspiration for Jason.

6. vcying

Victoria Ying’s work is charming with an amazing sense of style and movement. Her work reminds me of images you would see in a Paris gallery. She is inspired by films; especially films with great stories and great storytelling through images. Black and white movies are often her favorites. She also loves fashion and fashion design. She hopes one day to write and illustrate her own children’s book and maybe do some character licensing work on the side.

7. LoxlyHollow

When I first laid eyes on Elisabeth Zuniga’s work I was transformed back to my childhood and reading Beatrix Potter in the grass. Her work captures the beauty and the essence of being a child. “I love fairy tales. I love living in a world of make-believe and lovely places. My inspiration comes from my favorite books, which are The Chronicles of Narnia, Winnie the Pooh, Wind in the Willows, and the Beatrix Potter tales.” Her fondest hope is to become an illustrator for children’s books. She wants to create magical worlds through her art that will give children as well as adults a lovely place to visit as they read.

8. ZarsArt

Zar Galstian’s art is beautifully stylized and how she draws people and the situations around them is truly one of a kind. “A lot of my artwork definitely has an animation influence. But besides that, I always try to put a story behind the artwork I create, or some sort of insight into who that character is. I draw from my family and experiences a lot; they are usually the inspiration behind most of my artwork.” It is her dream to one day design characters for animated feature films and she’s always wanted to illustrate children’s books.

9. SleepUnderStars

I feel in love with Sleep Under Star’s work the moment I came across it on a random etsy search whim. Her work put a huge smile on my face and I was hooked not only on her unique characters but her bold and unique color combinations. She grew up in Hawaii and spent a lot of time outdoors–running around, flying kites and looking up at the clouds for hours. “I think we adults gain a lot from reconnecting with childhood feelings: a sense of long days and bright colors, playfulness, and waking up each day bursting with new ideas.” She also gets her inspiration from food (my kind of lady) “In my Hawaii Dreams Box Set, I picked envelopes in shades that reminded me of comfort foods: yellow like lilikoi ( passion fruit), the green of honeydew bubble tea, orange for orange cream soda, and red-orange for li hing mui (a salted plum snack). For Christmas, I used minty teals and reds like mint candies and gingerbread house decorations.”

10. Paperyoyo

I feel in love with the work of Gwynne Simmons the moment I saw the illustration featured here. She captured the emotion on the cat and girl’s face perfectly and her other work does exactly the same. She is as versatile in subject matter as she is in the medium she uses. “I love making up characters and moments and bringing them to life through any medium. I like to switch it up and will work with fabric and felt one day, and will be painting or cutting paper the next. It’s fun to be able to switch because each medium makes me think differently about an idea.”

11. beautifique

Nina Mata’s work grabs you right away with very bold color choices and unique subject matter that ranges from oh so cute to totally bizarre (in a good way). She is inspired by anything and everything around her. “I see facial expressions everywhere! From a bathroom tile to a crack on the wall, they all have a story to tell.” Her main goal is to write and illustrate children’s books.

Picture courtesy of Virginia Lindsay of ginia18

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Going! Going! Gone!

February 19, 2010 :: Posted by - Barbra :: Category - Biz Advice - Get Noticed!, Headline, how to

indiegiveaway

Contributing Columnist Lauren aka “>Jewels Of Saraswati

I love the excitement of running a giveaway each month for my shop! If you are new to giveaways, but always wanted to have one, here are a few basic tips to get the wheels turning…..

First, what kind of giveaway do you want to have? Will it be through your blog, your Myspace, Facebook, or Twitter? There are so many ways to do it! Although it is not imperative that you use social media, these are by far the easiest and the most successful platforms. If people are following and interacting with you already, they will surely want to be a part of your giveaway!

Choose an item (or two!) you think many people would enjoy receiving and spend time on creating quality photos of it.

Some ideas if you want to work through your blog:

Your blog is a great place to make your official announcement, reveal your start/end date and explain the rules to participate.

You will need to decide how they will participate. One suggestion would be to have them follow your blog to enter, or leave a comment on the post. A really fun interactive way to do it is to have a theme. For example, say you are having a Valentines Day giveaway. Have participants tell you how they fell in love with their significant other in their comment to enter. This way your followers get involved and enjoy being part of the process!

Don’t forget to post numerous lovely photos of the giveaway item and explain what makes it so special! If you can make more than one of the same item, post one for sale in your shop as well, and offer a discount during the giveaway period.

Don’t have a blog of your own? Head to the forums and search for a blog looking to sponsor a giveaway. There are two that come to mind, one is Christie Cottage who does a “Win it Wednesday” and the other is Etsy it up! They sponsor it, promote it etc. and you are responsible for mailing the item. You can even post a thread in the forum saying you are looking for a blog that will do this. It is great promotion for both parties!

Some ideas if you want to do a giveaway on your Facebook page:

You can ask your fans to post something on your wall to enter. It can be their favorite item from your shop, their favorite color, a story, just about anything. There is room to get quite creative!

Another idea that works well is simply tell all of your Facebook (or blog) followers that they are automatically entered if they are following you. It is a great way to show your appreciation for their support and no one has to do a thing!

Other ideas/tips:

You can also run a giveaway from your Twitter account by asking followers to RT your giveaway, or on your website if you have one.
To be fair, use a random number generator to choose your winner or have a friend/family member pick the winners name from a hat.
Remind participants to leave a way for you to contact them if they win.
Once you have winner, contact and congratulate them and don’t forget to ask for their mailing address. Assure them their info will not be used for any other purpose.
Have a deadline for them to respond if they do win.
Include a discount code with the giveaway item. They may want to share with friends or be encouraged to visit your shop and make a purchase!

Once you have it all figured out, promote it.

Ways to Promote:

Use high traffic sites like Indie Smiles where you can post your giveaway and your link! (http://www.indiesmiles.com/happy-giveaways/)
If you are on Etsy, get into the forums! If you are in Artfire, Folksy or another online venue do the same! Have others share their giveaways too.
Blog about it.
Tweet about it.
Post details on your Facebook fanpage
Mention it in your newsletter/mailing list if you have one.

Have fun and enjoy the ride! You will be surprised at how excited your fans will get when they have a chance at winning a free item from your shop!

Pendant photo courtesy of MDStudio.

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