Showing posts with label group promotion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label group promotion. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

The PFT Newbie Column – The Stumble Upon activity on Thursdays


Krysthle Poitras
Hi team,

I would like to introduce myself as one of the many newbies that recently joined the team. I am learning the ins and outs of all the activities, and I'm finding that it`s quite a steep learning curve. Being the adventurous self that I am, I have decided that I will try each activity at least once, even the ones I'm not knowledgeable about, so that I can report on the how-to`s for the other team members who dare not adventure into unknown territory! Lol

I figure this will be a good resource for all future members who also join the team and might feel a little overwhelmed by all the requirements.  Fear not, I am here to mess up and learn for you, so you don’t have to!

Okay, every Thursday is dedicated to the Stumble Upon activity.  If you don’t know what Stumble Upon is, it’s a platform for sharing and finding webpage’s based on your interests. You choose your interest categories and SU (StumbleUpon) will find webpages that have content matching those interests.  When you click on the Stumble button, SU will bring up a page that is of interest to you.

But how is this any good for your business? Well, when you add pages to SU, it inventories them in its large network of webpages for others to discover. You don’t know who might stumble upon your product page, but it redirects targeted traffic that has an interest in your kind of product.  Targeted traffic is much more likely to buy from you, because they are actually interested in your products compared to blindly promoting to people who may or may not be interested.

So how does this activity work? First you need to sign up and have an account. I won’t teach you how to this, as it’s pretty basic. Once you have an account, you are set to go! I recommend downloading the SU app to easily add pages.  Select the appropriate app depending on which internet browser you use. Click on the following link to download: http://www.stumbleupon.com/downloads

Let`s review some of the features you will be using. Your dashboard should be similar to this picture:


 The most important features are all on this home page.  To access the homepage, click on the arrow at the top right of your SU dashboard and choose profile in the scroll down menu. Note that another important feature is here, the Add Page feature.



The Add page feature lets you register a new page for the SU inventory of webpages. If you haven’t downloaded the SU bar as mentioned above, this is how you will want to add pages. 

In the team discussion threads, you might hear talk about adding a review, or reviewing a team member. This means the same thing as adding a page. If you have the SU bar, you can simply click on the SU button in your browser bar, and this will bring you to the Add Page feature. The picture below shows you what the icon looks like, on the top right. It might be elsewhere’s on your browser, but this is where I keep it.


If a page has already been added (or reviewed), it won’t bring you to the add page button. In that case, you can just click the thumbs up as seen on the top left hand side of the picture above. Now you have liked the page, and the Stumble part is done for this particular shop.

But what is it hasn't been added yet? Here is what you need to do. First find the thread with all the shops. It should similar to this:


As you can see, only one shop as signed up so far. You will want to call out no.2 in the thread in case someone else also wants to add themselves to the thread at the same time as you. If no one else is calling the spot, go ahead and add your info.  Add your shop name followed by the listing you would like promoted. Make sure you remove everything after the numbers so that a picture doesn't show up. Then, you will need to choose a topic/category for your listing. Look at the SU categories (What`s this page about section) to figure out which on best represents your listing. Then choose four tags that best describe your product.

The person who signs up after you is the one who does your review. And you are supposed to review the person that is on the list before you. In this case JQ Jewelry Designs. The reason for doing the review is that someone needs to add the listing into the SU inventory. To be fair, everyone does one review (the person before them). Once the page has been reviewed/added, you don’t need to start over each time. You can just click on the thumbs up button at the top of the page when you click on the Etsy listing.

Okay, so to do the review, you need to add the web address that JQ has provided (the listing).  JQ had also provided you with a category/topic and tags. Choose the category she has provided for you and type in the tags she has chosen.  In the Write a Comment section, you have two options. Either you can copy and paste the description from the listing page, or you can write a positive blurb about her product. It’s really up to you.  Once you have finished, just click on the Add This Page button and the hard work is over.



If SU is giving you trouble and won’t let you like pages, you can always piggy back off someone who was able to do it. Team members will often share their “likes page” for you. Follow the link they have provided and it should bring you to the team members reviews.  Find the listing you were looking for and click on the small letter ‘i’ (for info) in the box.



This should lead you to the “Stumblers Who Have Liked This” page. Click on the thumbs up at the top of the page, and you have accomplished your stumble.



Once you are finished doing this, all you need to do is share via other social media if you have chosen to do so. For example, if you provide a link for Pinterest, so that others pin your listing. You are expected to do the same with the team members that have also provided links to pin. Same applies to Twitter, Wanelo and other social media sites. And don’t forget to heart each item too on Etsy.

Hope you will now have the confidence to go and participate in the next Stumble Upon Activity on Thursday!

xox Krys



Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Are Your Colors On-Trend?




The Pantone 2012 Fall/Winter Color Report is certainly not new News ... but with many of us well under-way creating for the Fall/Winter season right now, a little reminder can't hurt!

When Pantone speaks, Retailers listen, and these are the colors that women will be seeing when they are in the stores. It may still be hotter than heck, but Summer Clearances are going on and the Fall items have shown their pretty faces everywhere!

There will be a lot of women wearing these colors, and they want to accessorize in the very same shades. If you create jewelry, knit & crochet pieces, handbag accessories - just about anything that will be worn or toted around - these are the colors you should be thinking about.

For those who carry and/or create supplies, these are the colors your customers will want. Those who create personal items like Bath & Body, using these shades in your items will be au courant and much more likely to catch the eye of shoppers.

Items for the home are not exempt from color trends. If a woman is attracted to the so-much-fun bright colored jeans we are seeing, they'll also be excited by the same hues when they're looking for cool stuff to put in their home. And don't forget all the college kids decorating their dorm room!

Here's a quick roundup of the Shades of Fall that you can keep in mind when creating ...



To see Pantone's palettes for the home, visit this site

Contributed by Jill Q of jQ jewelry designs

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Christmas in July Pinterest Giveaway!!!




The Promotional Frenzy Team on Etsy has planned a very Special Event . . . Christmas in July!!!

Watch our Pinterest Giveaway page beginning July 1st for the Giveaway Promotion from one of our team members ... a different one each day!

 You are invited to COMMENT and REPIN the wonderful items being given away in order to qualify for the random drawings. Winners will be notified by the individual team member whose item is won.

Watch for Pins like this ... different items, of course ;D



Tuesday, June 12, 2012

What's So Great About June . . . PEARLS!


Artist, Johannes Vermeer ... The painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring"

Pearl is the official birthstone for the month of June and is also the birthstone for the Sun Signs of Gemini and Cancer. Fresh water pearls are given on the 1st, 3rd, 12th and 30th anniversaries. 

United States: First Lady ... Michelle Obama

An organic gem, pearls are formed inside mollusks such as oysters and mussels. They are formed when an irritant such as a tiny stone or bit of sand gets inside the mollusk's shell. A shiny substance, called nacre, is secreted around the object to protect the soft internal surface of the mollusk. As layer upon layer of nacre coats the irritant, a pearl is formed. Light that is reflected from these overlapping layers produces an iridescent luster. This process of building a solid pearl can take up to seven or eight years.The most valuable pearls are perfectly symmetrical, relatively large, are naturally produced and have a high degree of iridescence. 

Stunning Stick Pearl and Lamp Work necklace by CalliopeAZ

The main oyster beds are in the Persian Gulf, along the coasts of India and Sri Lanka, and in the Red Sea. Chinese pearls come mainly from freshwater rivers and ponds and Japanese pearls are found near the coast in salt water. Freshwater pearls occur in the rivers of Scotland, Ireland, France, Austria, Germany, and the USA (Mississippi). The coasts of Polynesia and Australia produce mainly cultured pearls.


Necklace focal created with Pearls, Swiss Topaz & Labradorite by jQ jewelry designs




There are many types of pearls:

* Natural pearls - made without human interference
* Cultured pearls - This method was first used in 1893. A foreign substance, often a small piece of shell, is intentionally inserted into a living oyster.
* Keishi pearls - formed when the oyster rejects the inserted substance. The resulting keshi pearl is 100% nacre. This gives it an especially lustrous and shimmering surface quality.
* Baroque pearls - pearls that have irregular shapes
* Biwa pearls - an irregular shaped pearl which forms in the freshwater of Lake Biwa, Japan
* Freshwater pearls - pearls which form in fresh water mollusks and resemble puffed rice
* Blister pearls - pearls which grow attached to the inside of the shell * Mabe pearls - cultivated blister pearls
* Seed pearls - small, tiny pearls used in Victorian jewelry and sewn on clothing, often wedding gowns.

Freshwater Pearl cluster dangle earrings designed by Galla15 of Trinkets N Whatnots

Pearls are usually white, but may also be black, gray, silver, cream, lavender, peach or pink depending on the type of mollusk and the water it lives in. They are now being dyed a rainbow of other colors and are used in fashion jewelry. Because the nacre is organic, pearls are very sensitive to heat, cosmetics, hair products and humidity. Care should be taken when wearing and storing them.

Beautiful combination of Keishi Pearls, Lampwork & knotted silk by Peelirohini

LORE:

Pearls were once thought to be the tears of God. The ancient Greeks believed that wearing pearls ensured a happy marriage. Pearl is often referred to as the "Queen Gem"; Diamond is referred to as the King Gem. Cleopatra was said to have dissolved a pearl in wine and swallowed it to seduce Mark Anthony because it was thought to be a powerful aphrodisiac, and to attract love. They were prized by royalty, both male and female, and were even worn by knights who went into battle in the Middle Ages, believing that pearls would protect them from harm. As an emblem of modesty, chastity and purity, the Pearl symbolizes love, success, and happiness. In many countries they are used as a wedding gift and still symbolize a happy marriage.



 DID YOU KNOW?

The Pearl of Allah, the largest pearl on record, was recovered from a giant clam on May 7, 1934, off the coast of Palawan Island, Philippines. The pearl is 9.4 inches long and weighs about 14 lbs. According to the "Guinness Book of Records," the San Francisco Gem Laboratory has valued the pearl at $40 million. The Muslim diver who found the pearl said its surface bore the image of a turbaned face, and he named it the Pearl of Allah.

Pearl of Allah



It may be the world's largest pearl, but it's also the ugliest! It is just me, or does this thing resemble a brain?    Ewww . . .

Victor Barbish, who owns 66 percent of the pearl on behalf of his daughter, told WorldNetDaily he received an offer in 1999 from individuals who said they represented Osama bin Laden. They tried to purchase the pearl for $60 million as gift to Saddam Hussein "to unite the Arab cultures," and Hussein was prepared to accept, according to the pearl's owner. 


from Jill Q of jQ jewelry designs









Thursday, April 19, 2012

Learning to Nurture the Creative Process



 
The creative process is a deep and mysterious thing ... more so for some than others, but we all know how exhilarating it is when we have those Ah-ha Moments!

As kids we enjoyed the luxury of slowly waking from sweet slumber, while simultaneously calculating the possibilities of the day ... and all this before our feet even touched the floor. We were still innocent enough to feel a giddy excitement about what the day had in store, never doubting it would be brilliant!


Happiness is ... knowing that every day I will be Brilliant!

Picasso said, "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."

I wasn't intimidated by the box of 64 Crayola colors, worried about what to sculpt with my play dough, and lord knows, as soon as I could get outside to greet the day there was no need for Nintendo to facilitate my game playing adventures. I made up my own games and more importantly, my own rules. I was not in survival mode back then, life was easy ... life was fun.

 
When we become adults, the times seem to change. Corinthians puts it much better than I ever could ... "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." What a shame!!!

The creative spirit resides deep within, even as a young child. But as grown-ups with lots of distractions and the stress of daily life, what happens when we become scattered and our creative juices suddenly and unexpectedly run dry? As a jewelry designer, I ponder this dilemma, albeit only momentarily. I have several quick fixes under my belt. Here are some suggestions to help you through those unproductive periods that haunt us all.

Sometimes it can be hard to get your act together ...

• Commit to taking time out of your day, maybe early in the morning before anyone else is awake, to be quiet and at peace, even meditate if the spirit moves you to do so.

• The space in which you work needs to be comfortable as well as inspirational. Hang pictures of images that kindle the imagination, paint the walls your favorite color, and place your special pieces in prominent locations throughout the space.

• Go for nature walks, they are refreshing and you will be surprised by the things that inspire you along the way.

• Engage in artistic pursuits other than your chosen medium. Even though I am passionate about jewelry design, I also write, play the flute and shop ;D

• Go with the flow. Creativity is a mysterious process that ignites unexpectedly and if you allow it, will flow continually all your days. When an special idea explodes let it take you over ... It's not about you, it's about the process. Creating really is a form of surrender. For me, it often takes place in the early hours of my day, while I am putting a bead on, taking a bead off, until I am no longer thinking, just doing, and that's when something fresh & unique just might become form. Once the trance is broken I may as well walk away until the next urge to slip back into my studio takes over. I live for those moments.

It is nice to remember the days of our carefree childhood and how much easier it was to 
"let our freak flag fly", but I sure would like to believe it's still possible to live that way each and everyday of our lives. So, even though the restrictiveness of our daily schedules try to crowd out our precious play time, it is important to take the time for creative pursuits and conceive the impossible!






Contributor: Jill Q of jQ jewelry designs

Photo Credits:
Happiness is ... Sarah Jane Studios

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Keepin It Clean ... Caring for Your Jewelry


Caring for Your Jewelry

You can just never have enough jewelry!


Jewelry is one of our favorite and most personal accessories. But did you know that chemicals found in everyday substances like hair spray, lotions, perfumes and other cosmetics can permanently damage the luster of pearls and the shiny finish of silver and gold? Exposure to chemicals, even household cleaners and chlorinated swimming pools, can damage and discolor precious metals and may harm some colored gems. The sulfides in air pollution will cause silver to darken, and the more humid the climate, the faster sterling will tarnish. Knowing how to care for your jewelry can make all the difference in keeping it beautiful for generations to come.

Perfumes & lotions can be very harmful to jewelry, especially pearls ...

The most difficult is cleaning jewelry that includes gemstones within the piece. If your sterling silver jewelry begins to show signs of tarnish, simply wipe it clean with a silver cloth. Most cloths come in two parts: a cleaning cloth and a polishing cloth. A chemically treated cloth, makes the job a lot easier and faster. The Sunshine Cloth is one of the best known and is great for sterling silver and won't harm gemstones. I would avoid silver dips because some may take the color and polish off many gemstones. Special cloths are also available for cleaning gold.

Considered the best ... Sunshine® Polishing Cloth for Sterling Silver, Gold, Brass and Copper Jewelry

Some stones are notoriously delicate:
Amber
Coral
Drusy
Emeralds
Foil-backed glass stones
Malachite
Mother of pearl
Opals
Pearls
Peridot
Unstabilized turquoise

These delicate gems need VERY gentle cleaning. They should not be exposed to silver dips, ammonia, hot solutions, ultrasonic cleaning or any abrasives. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft and porous. Be careful about chemicals in hair spray, cosmetics or perfume. They can damage pearls in particular. Opals also require special care. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner or ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light. Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise and malachite require special care because they are rocks, not crystals. They should just be gently wiped clean with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may absorb chemicals, even soap, which may build up inside the stone and discolor it. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, ammonia or any chemical solution.

Compact-size Ultrasonic cleaners are available for at-home use ... but Be Careful what you use them on!!!

Liquid silver jewelry is very difficult to clean. You can use a soft cotton cloth or a Sunshine Cloth. Avoid dips. They leave residue deposits between each bead and make the necklace stiff. A good alternative is to take dry baking soda (or baking powder) and rub it on the liquid silver beads. Then pat and brush off the dry powder.

Now that your beautiful jewelry is clean, the question is how to keep it from tarnishing and becoming dull again? Put your jewelry on after applying makeup,lotions, perfume and hair products. In a perfect world, after wearing your silver jewelry, take a few seconds to wipe it off with a soft clean cloth. But that's in a perfect world . . .

I recommend keeping jewelry tightly sealed in ziplock jewelry bags with no-tarnish strips (available from most jewelry suppliers) inside with the jewelry. Change the strips every 3 to 6 months, depending on where you live and how fast jewelry tends to tarnish. Common blackboard chalk will also help prevent tarnish, as well as activated charcoal. Pacific silvercloth is embedded with thousands of particles of silver. These silver particles absorb tarnish-producing gases, keeping your sterling silver clean and shining between uses.


May be cut into squares and stored with individual pieces of jewelry in a plastic baggie

Proper jewelry storage is often overlooked. Jewelry should never be tossed into a drawer or thrown on top of a dresser - that's just asking for scratches and cracked gemstones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the finish on your silver and gold, and the harder stones can scratch the softer ones. By storing each piece of gemstone jewelry separately in an airtight baggy, you can prevent scratches and wear, as well as tarnish.

Keep your special jewelry safe for generations to come!

WOW!!! The Ultimate in Jewelry Storage ;D


Contributor: Jill Q of jQ jewelry designs




Thursday, April 12, 2012

Mother's Day Challenge


We plan on holding many different challenges, like our first ... the April Trend Challenge.

This time we want to see what you have specifically for MOTHERS DAY!

Wikipedia says, "Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society."

For this challenge, please post your submissions in the comments section.  Give a link to the item you have specifically for Mother's Day.  Please make sure you tag and title it so that everyone can find your gifts!!

These must be NEW items to be entered in this challenge.

SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY:  May 4th Midnight Eastern time.

On May 6th we will put all the submissions up on this blog for people to vote for their favorite submission for Mother's Day.  Voting will end on Mother's Day May 13th, Midnight Eastern Time.

We will give a blog feature to the winner.  The Feature will be posted May 18th, contingent upon the winner responding with the information necessary :)

Below are ideas for what would make lovely Mother's Day Gifts. 

Popular Mother’s Day Flowers

                                                                        ● Callas  
                                                                        ● Freesia
                                                                        ● Gerbera Daisy
                                                                        ● Hydrangeas
                                                                        ● Irises
                                                                        ● Lilies
                                                                        ● Orchids
                                                                        ● Roses 
                                                                        ● Tulips

Mother's Day Flower colors

Pink is the traditional favorite for Mother’s Day flowers. Other colors to wow Mom this Mother’s Day include:
● Monochromatic (flowers in the same color)
● Blush pink, antique ivory and cream tonesHot Pink and Orange Mother's Day Flowers
Hot pink and berry tones combined with shades of red




New emerging trend this year for Mother’s day are bold, vibrant and exciting color combinations including:
                                                 ● Hot pink and orange
                                                 ● Citron and purple
                                                 ● Shades of orange hues - tangerine to peach
                                                 ● Purple accented with bright green
                                                 ● Purple and lime green and magenta
                                                 ● Pink, coral and turquoise together



Popular Mother's Day Floral Designs


● Monochromatic (flowers in the same color family) floral arrangements
● Floral arrangements designed in baskets
● Strong botanical or color groupings surrounded by beautiful smaller flowers and foliage
● Natural, earthy and garden-style arrangements in vintage style glassware
● Soft and feminine mixed flower combinations
● Simple, mono botanical (one flower variety) designs in clear glass vessels


Popular Mother's Day Plants




                                                                    ● Azaleas
                                                                    ● Chrysanthemums
                                                                    ● Dish gardens
                                                                    ● Gerbera Daisy
                                                                    ● Hydrangea
                                                                    ● Kalanchoe
                                                                    ● Orchids

Think family trees, family birthstones, stamped jewelry that is personalized.  Charm bracelets.

Perfume, candles, Beautiful handmade, thoughtful cards!

Any item you are making specifically for Mother's Day -  post a link in the comments below to enter a chance to win a blog feature.

*** LIMIT 2 ENTRIES  

********** WE ARE POSTING ALL ENTRIES TO OUR PINTEREST MOTHER'S DAY BOARD.  Please check it out and help repin and follow it.
http://pinterest.com/etsypromofrenzy/mothers-day-challenge-items/




Peelirohini was the very first winner of our Blog Feature Challenge!!!