I have been posting items on Etsy since 2008 and have had a lot of ups and downs on the site. It has always been a well put together site, but lately it seems to be focusing more on something other than helping the people who are paying their wages. I don't seem to be seen at all anymore on Etsy. I research the "new" ways of listing items and being seen, but it isn't working out like it used to.
I have been a member of Zibbet since March 2011. I have yet to make a sale, but I haven't tried very hard there either so I haven't expected one.
Today I listed four items on Zibbet. Yesterday, I listed five items on Etsy. Zibbet seems to be like etsy used to be. I saw myself on the front page! I was so excited! But that is how all of the items listed work on Zibbet. They all get their fair share of front page time. Yes, I think you get more if you are a premium seller, but even a glimpse on the front page will reach more viewers than no glimse at all.
I posted some of the listings to my Facebook page (which is linked to my twitter page). I used to get quite a few views on Etsy this way. Yesterday I think I ended up getting a couple of views on a keychain I posted on Etsy and Facebook. Today I got up to 29 views on a necklace I posted on Zibbet and Facebook! And that was when I checked it only a few minutes after I posted it.
Zibbet is free to list items on as long as you don't post more than 50 items. After that you would need to purchase a Premium account for $69 (that price may change but once you sign up, you are locked in at that price for life). Etsy only costs 20 cents to list an item and you pay a percentage to them when you sell an item. This doesn't sound like much, but if you list one item per day for a year you will be paying $73 per year. And that isn't including the 3.5% on each item you sell. And to be seen, you have to relist items as well or they will be buried in the pages of items for sale. Relisting costs the same as listing, 20 cents.
I just wish Etsy didn't change so much about their site. I used to spend hours in the forums checking on things I wondered about, or following some funny people, or learning to take pictures like the professionals. It was a lot of fun. I seemed to know a lot of people that way. Then it changed and everyone had to join a team and get to know everyone else. It seems to be trying to become the next Facebook instead of the great handmade shopping market that it once was. I miss it.
I think I may put up a few more listings on Zibbet. I feel more of a homey vibe when I am there. It feels as if there are real people behind it that actually care about the little guy. I just wish a few more people would find out about Zibbet. But not if it means turning into another anonymous Etsy.
Check out some of my latest Zibbet listings:
http://www.zibbet.com/carelebeads
My Etsy shop link is always on the sidebar.
Here is another link:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Carelebeads?ref=ss_profile
