Win it here! Enter and Win! Its fun. Its free. Its a giveaway!
June 12, 2009 | By
Take a look at my blog to win! Check out my page and add comment to be entered in my give away! Don't miss out on the fun, join our scavenger hunt today, to be entered to win!
We have all seen these and many more enticements to join the fun and win something for free! I don't know about you, but right now the word "free" tends to perk my ears. Fun and winning are right there too, grabbing my attention and drawing me to whatever is being offered. Which is the point. The clever shop owners that have harnessed this trend and used it to their advantage are reaping the rewards.
I asked Maya from SWStitchery about this trend. She was kind enough to give great answers and a real positive spin to this topic.
My first question to her was concerning how these giveaways and contests affected the foot traffic to her shop as well as the groups she is involved in.
She had this to say, "I have definitely seen an increase in views to my blog & shop as have the people that have been included so far." She also added, "I believe word of mouth can be better advertising than the big bucks campaign. My giveaways alone have translated into a few sales so so far, so good I say!"
I would tend to agree with her. It seems that especially in our community that word of mouth and the connections we make are one of the essential keys to being successful.
I also asked her about the expense of the giveaways versus the benefits to her business. This is what she told me,
"With the couple of giveaways I've had the pleasure of doing so far, the items individually may not be expensive but I try to mix it up and offer a variety of items. That's just one reason why being on the Etsy Dark Team is great. I have awesome team mates that are more than happy to trade items with me so we all have something new & interesting to share with our customers, repeat and new!"
Team mates as well as other independent artisans, or even musicians, was another idea Maya suggested and incorporates into her own give aways. Her affliates, a band called The Redding Shift, has been included in her wonderful giveaways. She had this to say about that:
"Giving samples from my team mates & affiliates, such as the band The Redding Shift, not only gives me a chance to make it a larger giveaway but I think the winners appreciate the opportunity to try out something they may not have otherwise been exposed to. It's also a great opportunity to everyone involved to have their work viewed (or heard!) by people that might not have normally stumbled across such items."
I asked her, Are giveaways more fun, than a truly effective marketing tool?
"I think giveaways & contests are one of the best kind of advertising. You get to chat with people about the giveaway, see what they're interested in from your shop and get to put together a great package for a lucky winner. Who doesn't like free goodies, right? And most people I know will talk about items they're really excited about."
We closed with a question that occured to me right away when I saw contests and giveaways as a marketing strategy - Are the connections made during giveaways and contests long term? Or do you find them to be fleeting (gone as soon as their prize is delivered)? This was her answer:
"I don't find the connection fleeting because the people who didn't win this time may win next month or in a random drawing so they follow my blog & heart my shop, checking back for the latest news & updates. I've made a lot great new friends and connections!"
I would like to give Maya of SWStitchery a huge thanks for taking the time to answer these questions for me. Nothing like seeing something from the inside out. Giveaways and contests are not only fun, but a trend that could be of real benefit to our shops and the bottom line. Sales.
That's all from Xane for this time kids! Tune in next time to see what I'll dig up for you from the land of crafting trends.
Photo top left: OOAK Devilish Bear - Lutina Raye and Red Rose Brooch Pin, by SWStitchery. Available at publication.
Photo mid right: May Giveaway, at combiled by StaticWhite. No longer available.
EXTRAS:
The Redding Shift - go check them out!
Xane Dravor Likes the darker side of crafting. If it is dark, full of teeth and covered in stuff best left to nightmares, she might have it on her shelf somewhere. Sculpture and paintings being her primary mediums. Come by and see what we mean at - House Morbid Ltd
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