Branding Your Etsy Squares, Step #3

Etsy sellers need to think dynamically about how to make 

their Etsy Squares stand out from the pack.

In essence, you need to brand your Etsy Squares, so the buyer knows it is your Etsy shop and your Etsy item just by glancing quickly at the square.

And when we say brand, we don't mean to just put big words "My Shop Name Here" in your square, but to visually brand your images. Make them work for you 110%.

Our steps will hopefully help you accomplish this goal.

If you want to research this more, you can probably search for ways to maximize your Etsy 'thumbnail.' We like saying "Etsy Squares" though, so we are going with that. ;-)

Click Here If You Missed Step #1.

Click Here If You Missed Step #2.

Step #3

Continue thinking about what should be visible in that square.

It shows as 170 x 135 in a Gallery View Search on Etsy.

So it isn't quite a square.

But it certainly is a rather small space for you to make the huge cry necessary to grab the viewer and move him/her toward clicky-ness.

What grabs the seller?

Eye-contact and faces.

Why do we have so many human models?

Why do we love magazines, television, and movies?

Let's run some experiments....

Which set of sweaters is more visually appealing to you?

A.

or B.

Humans, human faces, human eyes.

Which square would you click on?

A.

or B.

A.

or B.

A.

or B.

Humans are instinctually attracted to faces.
We want to know how people are feeling.
That is basic human nature.

And when you are an AG fan, you are attracted to AG faces.

From ShimmerMyst:

From 123 Mulberry Street:

If an Etsy Square is a great picture of a beautiful doll face, I am more likely to click on it.

From Selah Soo Designs:

First, I know the model doll is an AG and this item is meant for AGs.

Second, this type of square gives me a deeper feeling for how the item 
would look on a doll, and in turn on my doll.

From Yelena Boutique:

You want to kick-start the viewer into thinking, 

"Oh that _____ looks so good on that doll, I wonder how it would look on mine."

From Mimiville Designs:

From Tails and Tentacles:

100% of a sale is found in generating an atmosphere where the viewer can 
easily imagine using that item themselves.

You have to make the viewer want your item.

It is a difficult job, and it all starts in your Etsy Square.

Oh, the pressure.

If you like Liberty Jane Patterns you have probably noticed their squares.

They often focus on the doll's face and the dolls sometimes make
eye-contact with the viewer, i.e. the camera.

We don't even see the whole item the pattern makes, 

but the squares still yell: 

"Click On Me!"

Experiment with your photography.

Try to get your doll to make eye-contact with the camera in a natural pose.

If you upload your pics from your camera to your computer and notice that the doll never looks directly at the camera, try again.

Practice makes perfect and digital photography allows you to easily practice.

Practice.

And practice some more.

Here are some more examples of 
beautiful doll faces and eye-contact Etsy Squares.

From The Surfin' Monkey:

From Chic Doll Boutique:

From Camelot's Treasures:

Another from Mimiville Designs:

From Cutie Pie and Me:

From Lil Princess Doll Store:

From Gilly Gals:

From Among the Dolls:

Again, just because your square may not show the whole outfit, 
that does not mean it is the end of the show. 

If the square is eye-catching, I will click on it,
view the listing and flip through all of the object photos.

For example, there is a difference between what the square shows and 
what your first picture looks like in the listing.

Here is the Melody Valerie square:

Here is the actual first pic of this listing.

And you can happily include the full-length, frontal image in the subsequent pics.

I have no problem flipping through more item pics.

We'll probably say this 600 more times, but your listing NEEDS to include at least one full-length, frontal, straight-on, no artsy angles picture of your item for sale.

Like this one from Minipparel:

All of us buyers are looking for this shot amongst your pictures.

It tells us how it will look on our own doll.

Tells us how the fit is.

And doesn't hide anything.

If I only see 5 artsy angles shots, I am wondering 

a) what the seller is trying to hide from my vision and 

b) why the seller didn't think to just give me a full-length, straight-on shot. 

Both of these thoughts are frustrating and will put me off buying the item.

We have several more steps for how to Brand Your Etsy Squares to help you learn more about what types of squares we tend to click on and how to make them yourself.

So Stay Tuned!!!

___________________

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to let us know!!!

We have had one request to "critique someone's squares" -- 

so we will offer this service to you completely free.

But it does mean we'll post about it on here, haha.

That way our advice can help as many people as possible.

Even the shy peeps who don't ask us to critique their squares. ;-)

So if you want your squares critiqued, 

comment below or email us at nora.demington@gmail.com.

When we are able to, we'll post about your squares and our advice and examples on how to improve them.

________________

p.s. We have a doll jewelry giveaway happening right now, here...

http://thedollwardrobe.blogspot.com/2013/08/2-sisters-sew-crafty-earring-dangles.html

Enter on or before Aug. 31st, 2013.