What am I doing wrong?

[cricketdiane]

I give up. I don't know what is wrong with my work - I don't know why so little of it sells and I don't know what to do. It is really hard to paint another thing when most of it isn't selling and very few people even look at it. I've tried to be cavalier about it but I really am frustrated. Since October 06, I've probably listed over 500 pieces on the auctions and on my store. Whenever anyone has bought something - I do get it in the mail quickly and send it packaged well. Is there something so wrong with my art that people don't want it? I was doing different subjects but they weren't doing as well as the seascapes and I thought I would try some stylized mermaids - but I've only sold two. What do I need to do? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[artistjillian]

Rob has some EXCELLENT tips and critiques on ebay stores over in an old thread on 'Small Format Art *SFA*' group, if you want to go dredge it up. He's a gem for sharing.

[cricketdiane]

Yay! an aceo sold from my store - do you think they would mind if I sent them a box of about - I don't know how many are sitting here but - all of them?

[cricketdiane]

Just a thought.

[cricketdiane]

Jillian - you really threw me a saving moment of grace today and a much better way of looking at it than where I started. Everyone gave me a strength that I was not expecting. Thankyou so much!

[artistjillian]

:) Adding AN extra one is OK. A bunch of extras is not... Various reasons ...

[sunshinesketches]

Diane, I just checked out your work, and it's gorgeous. I don't think there's much I can add to the good advice above, just give you this word: don't you DARE throw those out! Most of us get discouraged at some point or another, but if you do, don't be afraid to talk about it here. This is a wonderful, supportive, helpful bunch of people with savvy advice. /Karen

[cricketdiane]

Thanks, Karen - I'm glad I asked for help today - instead of throwing them out. It has yielded a strange and amazing journey where I have learned all kinds of things I didn't have one clue about - including that what I've created isn't absolutely horrible. It can get better but I was feeling foolish for believing it was any good at all. And namely - thanks Jillian for leading me to the info from Rob on the SFA thread. I am totally floored. Eleven pages I read and it showed me that the stores are more like a website of our work that is for sale. We aren't trying to get ebayers that are searching so much as surfers from the big search engines. And all the great support today - thanks so much - this has been an impasse I have reached other times and didn't make it through. This time I will - thankyou everyone.

[robnzak]

Diane, Glad you found that thread over yonder helpful...to be honest, I'd completely forgotten about it. As for revising your store listings. Don't knock yourself out over it. When I find I need to revise a bunch of mine, unless it's something urgent, I just let them run until expired and then do my revisions as time allows. I figure if they sat in the store a month and didn't sell, I can afford to let them set unlisted a few days until I find time to revise. And I've also begun cycling & rotating my listings. In certain store categories I list "so many" now and whatever ends unsold after 30 days get to rest a month while another batch of similar items go up in their place...keeps my store looking "fresh". (plus it helps keep my fees lower) rob

[geripatch]

Hi Diane, I only started selling aceos last October/November, and most of what I've learned came from here, so there's not much I can teach you. I don't even have a store or a 'me' page yet! However, I've also had a look at your work and I love your seascapes. Just a thought - I wonder if a larger seascape might sell? Sea aceos are a bit of a niche market, but once some buyers find you, hopefully they will return. I totally agree with changing your titles - they can end up being a string of 'search' words, but it will get you seen. Best of luck with everything and don't give up! Chris

[geripatch]

Diane, I've just been back to your site and couldn't find postage costs anywhere. Was I looking in the wrong place? That might deter some people from buying as they would have to contact you first - anything that makes people dither over their purchase can put them off. Have you also thought of posting outside the US? Chris

[mllamb46]

Oh BTW, does everyone know how to use the "On sale" option in their stores? I think its cool and I have really great success with it. eBay puts this nifty "On Sale" icon beside the listing, I think its been quite helpful. The option is in you "seller manage store" area. Here is a store listing of mine with the for sale icon. Store Item ~Melody

[mllamb46]

Ugg, lets try that again! http://cgi.ebay.com/Limited-Edition-Print-12-Left-Baby-Bunny-and-Tulips_W0QQitemZ170067599546QQcateg...

[peraverde]

hey WOW! I didn't now about that sale thingy. Thanks, thats cool!!! :)

[aliceraygallery]

Hi Diane, So sorry you have been having such a hard time - I went through this myself a couple of months ago and almost gave up. This wonderful bunch of people got me through and now my sales are doing well again - hit and miss, but generally I am doing ok. What works for me is to do various subjects - I get bored with the same one anyway. I have a few fantastic repeat buyers who just buy one particular subject, so when I feel down about lack of sales I paint something that I am sure will sell, they usually don`t take me very long and I get to see the green numbers on my listings again 🙂 It can take time to get a following, as everyone is saying, just stick with it and one day you will wake up and switch on your computer to a bidding war and you will feel fantastic! Just a point, as Chris said, would you sell to the UK or worldwide even? There is the most beautiful seascape in you shop that I would love to buy, but I am in the UK and I see you only sell to the US. I have to say that most of my buyers ARE from the US and Canada, but I still have some great buyers from the UK - it seems the word is spreading over here quite quickly. Also, good advice about "resting" some of your paintings for a few weeks to keep your shop fresh. I have found that re-listing after a few weeks often gets a sale. Chin up Diane and DON`T give up, your work is beautiful and will make lots of people happy. Lynn x

[aliceraygallery]

Hi me again, Just to reiterate what Kathy said - the bunny you did recently was absolutely gorgeous, I love the flowers and everything about it. I am sure if you did more of that kind of thing, even just a garden, you will get buyers coming back for more. Just my two pence worth. Lynn x