This week we have a guest post from Blaire Windsor, the brains behind Dirtsy.com, covering the step-by-step process for Artfire sellers to whip their listings into the best shape possible. Follow these steps and see a boost in your traffic & sales conversions!

PREPARE

Before starting, write down a list of product features and benefits. For example, “The light-weight material on this dress is perfect for summer.”

Ask yourself what someone who wants to buy items will type into a search bar. Write down some common phrases they may use. This will help you prepare for SEO.

ENTICE

For the sellers depending on Google for traffic, the title and snippet is what causes buyers to click. Titles are where your pitch begins:

Be descriptive to increase your chances of reaching the right buyer and let them know what to expect. Include details that will help a buyer know if the item if right for them, such as the most important features, scent or size. For example, “Hand-crocheted baby hat with pompoms – White”

Be succinct so your entire title shows up on Google and to increase the chances of social media shares. Keep in mind that Google only shows the first ~70 characters of a listing title and Twitter has a character limit of 140. Artfire automatically adds “[studio] – [category] on Artfire” at the end of all listing titles, which bumps up character count.

Use the Google Adwords Tool to find out what buyers are searching for. I recommend going for the low-competition keywords to increase your chances of showing up on the front page.

SHOW

Once a prospective customer has clicked on a listing or done a search on Artfire, pictures serve as the best attention-grabbers.

Professional images are vital to selling online- a customer can’t touch, smell or try your product, so pictures are key to getting a sale. Use up at least 5 of Artfire’s picture slots to show various angles.

Have a look at Nosh’s article on macro photography and Sara’s photography guide to improve your photography skills.

Natural light is best, though homemade lightboxes can be easily assembled.

DESCRIBE

Anticipate any questions the customer might have and answer them in your listing descriptions. Not many people will take the trouble to contact the seller and wait for a reply, so an incomplete description can lead to a lost sale.

List features like size and color. Add the materials used- many handmade buyers are conscious about what goes into their purchases and some may even be allergic.

Write for Google too. Have your description be at least 250 words and check the Google Adwords Tool for low-competition keywords you can use.

HUMANIZE

Many handmade buyers purchase from Artfire for the experience and the chance to support small businesses. Humanize yourself in your listing description and let your passion shine.

Avoid the passive voice. Instead of saying “this plate was hand glazed,” say “I carefully hand glaze and fire each piece to create plates that are one of a kind.”

REASSURE

Many of the people looking at your listing will be first-time buyers. It’s common to be doubtful when purchasing from a new store, especially when the products can only be seen on a screen.

Reassure buyers by fleshing out your Artfire studio — fill out your Policies and Bio; many customers won’t buy unless they know what your return policy is.

STAY PRECISE

Many people won’t read an entire listing these days. Keep your description to the point and avoid unnecessary wordiness. If it’s long, make use of short paragraphs and subheadings.

Consider the use of a bulleted list if your product has a lot of features.

Once you’re done writing, check if it can be easily skimmed.

VARY

Vary your listing titles, pictures and description across listings to reach as many prospective buyers as possible.

Google regards repetition as spam, so targeting different keywords in different listings can make sure you show up on as many searches as possible.

Author Bio: Blaire Windsor is a handmade enthusiast and small business supporter who left the corporate world to write. She blogs about turning craft to business at Dirtsy. You can find her on Google+ here.

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on an online marketplace like Artfire, the listing serves as both pitch and showcase. It can make or break a sale. Here are 7 ideas on writing to help you write a great listing that sells: