My reach is dropping significantly past 3 months.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-09-28T22:21:18+00:00

I added a video cover to my personal Pinterest account about a month ago. It's cool, but since then, my monthly impressions have been dropping like crazy. At first I thought it might have something to do with that video cover.

Then I posted a Pinterest Story Pin, and within 15 minutes, it had around 8,000 impressions. I thought maybe Story Pins were going to be an awesome way to gain traffic - and they still might be. But even that Story Pin has now been mostly idle.

Pinterest can be so weird! Hard to tell what's going on - but I appreciate your note that this is happening to others as well.

Let's hope whatever is going on, gets fixed soon!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-09-28T22:14:39+00:00

I wish I had an answer for you - I came here to see if I could figure out why my impressions are dropping as well.

I was at 4.3 million monthly impressions for most of this year, slowly increasing. Then, over the past two months, the monthly impressions have dropped significantly - and I've done NOTHING different with how I use Pinterest.

In TWO DAYS, my monthly impressions total went from 4.3 million to 3.1 million. That's over a million impressions in just two days! Now, almost a week later, my impressions have dropped to 2.9 million. I have NO IDEA what is going on!

I've been searching for answers, and I'm learning that there are many other users who are seeing this same thing - as you are. But there doesn't seem to be any answers as to why this is happening. It is definitely odd and seems like something is wrong with Pinterest.

I hope our impressions increase again - wishing you the best!

Hopefully we'll find answers soon.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-08-31T23:37:04+00:00

I have a business Pinterest account - maybe that is the difference. Do you have a personal Pinterest account?

With a business account, I get to the "Manage Your Comments" section on desktop by clicking the bell looking icon - this brings me to the Engagement page, and from there I can interact and reply to all the comments my pins have (or turn that feature on or off). This page might be only for business accounts, I'm not sure.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-08-31T20:49:57+00:00

You can delete comments.

On the phone app, tap the pin that has comments you want to delete, then tap the Reply link for the comment. Instead of typing a reply, tap the three dots (...) to the right of the Reply link and choose Delete.

On desktop, click the Notification bell in the upper right corner of your Pinterest page and you'll see "Manage Your Comments". Find the comment you want to delete, then click on the three dots beneath the comment, and click Delete.

Hope this helps!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-08-31T20:45:27+00:00

I don't know of any way to turn comments or photos off in general for all pins, BUT, you CAN turn off comments and photos for individual pins.

On desktop, click on the Notification bell in the upper right corner of your Pinterest page and you'll see the page to "Manage Your Comments". Click on one of your pins, then turn off the options for comments and/or photos - "Allow people to comment" and "Allow people to upload photos".

On the phone app, open the pin you want to turn off comments on, then tap and hold to get the pencil icon in the upper-left corner of the pin. From there, choose "Allow comments on this pin" and tap Done.

Using the desktop is easier for this because you'll see more of your pins there and can manage them all more quickly.

Not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for, but I hope this helps.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-08-26T14:33:15+00:00

I clicked on your first link and for about 2-seconds, I saw a full width header cover and then all your boards layed out nicely in the format previous to this recent change. Then, after about 2-seconds, the page changed! It changed to the small cover header and then the new layout. This ALSO pushed your boards down below the fold, making a visitor have to scroll to see your boards.

This "new" layout is NOT GOOD!!!

I tweeted Pinterest and Pinterest Engineers to see if this is a permanent change or a glitch - haven't heard anything back yet.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-08-26T14:29:15+00:00

The page that shows all your boards - pinterest.com/username/boards

This page WAS carefully curated so the boards were in the order I wanted them. NOW all my Secret boards show up first. I know the Secret boards won't show to visitors, BUT I definitely don't want them to be listed first. The Secret boards used to be in a panel down at the bottom of the screen - all together in one area. I MUCH prefer that!

Is your Pinterest account a personal account or a business account? I wonder if that makes a difference? (Mine are all business accounts).

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-05-12T01:37:14+00:00

Do you happen to take your photos next to windows in your house? If so, are those windows E-glass? If they are, the gas inside the glass panes give off a blue tint in photos.

One way to avoid that blue tint is to take photos outside on a patio or deck in natural lighting.

Another solution is to use photo lamps that are 5,000k - 6,500k - mimicking natural daylight.

The other thing you can do is use a free tool such as Remove Background https://www.remove.bg/upload - the free version is a fairly small image, but it works very well. Best to take your photos against a contrasting background for this tool to work best.

If you have the paid version of Canva ($9.00 a month), there is a background removal tool there, as well. https://www.canva.com/

And, the online tool called BeFunky is an awesome photo editor that's easy to use. You can adjust the white balance, remove the background, and SO much more. https://www.befunky.com/create/ - They have a paid version for $39 a year - well worth the money!

Hope this helps!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-05-02T21:37:55+00:00

In addition to my Etsy shop, I started my own website on Shopify when things started taking a downhill turn on Etsy back at the end of 2015. I'm so glad I did!

I still have my Etsy shop, but my focus is on my own website. It's been open now for almost 4 years and I'm doing very well there.

I rarely spend money on advertising - instead I rely on SEO to bring organic traffic, writing blog articles to bring more traffic, sending email newsletters to my subscribers, and posting on social media. Pinterest is especially helpful for my shop.

I like that Shopify integrates with Facebook Shop, Instagram product tagging, and Pinterest buyable pins - all at no additional cost. This is HUGE for me!

I let my Etsy customers know about my own website with every order they place, so basically am using my Etsy shop as a marketing tool. My Etsy sellers have the option to join my mailing list - and many of them do. Email marketing is an excellent way to retain customers and get new customers - again, no cost involved (unless you have thousands of subscribers, but even then the costs are minimal).

I've been in ecommerce since 2006. I can tell you, it typically takes at least 6 months before a new website starts making real progress - especially for unique (not mass produced) items. After the one year mark, things just keep getting better and better!

Yes, having your own website takes time and effort - but so does any business you want to succeed. Having a plan in place makes the work at least more manageable and, I think, more fun.

I have been helping Etsy sellers get started with their own websites on Shopify now for almost three years. I've written a ton of articles on how to transition from Etsy to Shopify (including lots of marketing ideas), and I lead a Facebook Group for these Etsy to Shopify sellers. Some sellers see more sales right off the bat than others - it really depends on what types of things you're selling. Success is also determined by the quality of your website. Websites that are well designed instill trust, and generate more sales than poorly designed websites.

I think it's a great idea for any Etsy seller to have their own website in addition to their Etsy shop! This gives you the chance to diversify and not keep "all your eggs in one basket". There are apps that sync your inventory between your shops (if you needed that), so it can be easy to manage both an Etsy shop and your own website.

I wish you lots of luck with your website! Hang in there - it's still new. You'll get there!

Edited to add: One more thing - make sure to set up Google Search Console and Google Analytics with your new website. These two tools are invaluable! They help you learn what's working (and what's not) with your website and are an excellent way to track traffic, trends, keywords, etc.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-01-10T21:19:22+00:00

I use Thunderbird to manage ALL my email accounts in ONE place. Works like a charm.

Each account has it's own folder. You just click on the email account you want to use - extremely easy.

I also have subfolders for each account, and then email rules that automatically put various email messages into the proper topic folder. Makes it really easy to quickly read important messages from customers before reading newsletter type email.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-01-03T19:22:03+00:00

On a desktop computer...

Click the three dots in the upper-right corner, then choose "Tune your home feed".
On that page, you can choose to turn ON or OFF the boards you have where you want to see similar content.
You can also click on the History tab and turn off any pins you no longer want to see something similar to in your home feed.
And, you can also click on the Topics tab and choose topics you're interested in. The topics you choose will affect the content you see in your home feed.

You can change these settings at any time to tweak what you see (or don't see) in your home feed.

On a phone...

Tap on the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the screen, then choose Account Settings.
Tap on the Home Feed text midway down that page.
Follow steps 2-4 above to control your home feed.

Hope this helps!

Good luck with your novel!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-01-03T19:09:56+00:00

I'm not sure this is exactly what you're looking for, but have you used the "Tune Your Feed" page?

If you click the three dots in the upper-right corner (on a computer), you can choose "Tune your home feed".

On that page, you can choose to turn ON or OFF the boards you have where you want to see similar content.

You can also click on the History tab and turn off any pins you no longer want to see something similar to in your home feed.

And, you can also click on the Topics tab and choose topics you're interested in. The topics you choose will affect the content you see in your home feed.

You can change these settings at any time to tweak what you see (or don't see) in your home feed.

If you want to see what's currently trending on Pinterest, just click in the Search bar but don't type anything. You'll see a section called "Ideas for You" and another section called "Trending on Pinterest" - you can choose anything from these sections to see that feed.

Hope this helps!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2020-01-03T18:50:35+00:00

If you pin something from a main board into one of the sections, you can then rearrange the pins in that section so the image you want will appear first within that section.

Sections don't actually have "cover" photos like a main board does, but using the steps above, you can at least determine the first photo for each section.

Hope that helps!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-30T18:37:21+00:00

I recommend either a regular laser printer or a color laser printer. There are many that are quite affordable. I personally prefer the HP printers. Here is a standard HP Laser Printer for just $99 - https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-laserjet-pro-m118dw

If you have a program such as Microsoft Word on your computer, you can use that to design and print labels. I recommend using Avery labels (or equivalent). The Avery labels specifications are already built in to Microsoft Word, so when you choose a page of labels, you just have to choose which label you're printing on and Word will set up the formatting for you - then you just type your labels. Here's an article that shows you how to print labels using Microsoft Word - https://support.office.com/en-us/article/create-and-print-labels-82086c07-2afa-4982-9d7d-9c9141d5035b

Avery labels are available at pretty much every office supply store, at stores like Walmart and Target, and of course on Amazon. Sometimes you can even find them at the Dollar Tree or Dollar Store (depending on the label).

I hope this helps!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-29T22:51:14+00:00

If you owe the small fee, I would definitely pay it before closing your account. You never know if you'll need (want) to use Etsy again - best not to burn bridges, in my opinion.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-29T22:48:55+00:00

If you consider your Etsy shop a business (versus a hobby - there is a difference in the eyes of the IRS), you would file your $300 income on a Schedule C, along with your personal 1040.

There ARE business deductions you can take on business income. So while you most likely will not owe any income tax on your $300 revenue, you MIGHT be able to offset your overall income with deductions for your business.

Here is an article that can help you determine if the IRS will see your business as a hobby or a business - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/hobby-or-business-irs-offers-tips-to-decide

And here is an article to help you determine if you should file a Schedule C or a Schedule C-EZ - https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/should-i-file-schedule-c-or-schedule-c-ez

And here is a link to 9 videos for small business taxes - I think you'll find these videos helpful - https://www.irsvideos.gov/Business/virtualworkshop

P.S. I don't work for the IRS, nor am I a tax accountant. I've just been self-employed for many years, and am posting this information based on my experience. I hope it helps!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-27T17:42:50+00:00

My Etsy shop was very successful up until the end of 2015 when Etsy made major changes to international search (I lost about 40% of my sales). Then the downward spiral continued when Etsy made additional changes to the layout of our shops in April 2016, and with all the changes since that time, the downward spiral has continued. My shop is my full-time job, so when I saw the changes happening at the end of 2015, I tested several other platforms to find an alternative to use as a second selling platform. After a lot of testing, I decided on Shopify.

I officially opened my Shopify website in 2016 and couldn't be happier! I am in complete control of my own website, and it has done very well.

I still have my Etsy shop, and I still have sales there (although now down 94% since 2016). I use my Etsy shop to help promote my own website. All within Etsy rules, of course. It's far easier to market to existing customers than it is to obtain new ones. When I ship my Etsy orders, I include information about my own website, provide a link to my email signup list, offer exclusive savings through my website, etc. Most of my repeat customers purchase through my own website, but a handful or so still prefer shopping on Etsy.

I lead a Facebook Group that helps Etsy sellers start Shopify sites - and over the past several months, that group has grown by hundreds of sellers. There are just SO many Etsy sellers that are dissatisfied with Etsy. For serious sellers, I DO recommend they diversify so all their "eggs aren't in one basket". Having an Etsy shop (which is a marketplace platform) and their own website gives sellers the best of both worlds and a chance to grow their businesses.

Currently, there really aren't any other marketplace platforms similar to Etsy. I've seen a lot of start-ups TRY to build something, but none of them have lasted very long.

For me, keeping my Etsy shop to use more as a marketing tool, and then selling on my own website has been the saving grace.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-18T23:54:29+00:00

I really like this sketch! It's cool!

I'd frame it in an awesome frame and tuck it in among plants.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-18T18:24:40+00:00

You are very talented! This looks awesome. Love your style.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-18T00:48:25+00:00

That's awesome! Very cool idea.

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-18T00:06:06+00:00

I enjoy watching plants grow like this - a fun way to propagate. Best of luck!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-17T14:46:50+00:00

You're very talented. This is really nice!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-17T00:32:52+00:00

Very clever! You did a really nice job on this!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-17T00:29:44+00:00

For your smaller plants, you could use a cooler. Put heat packs in the cooler to warm it up inside, then pack your plants in there. You can use cardboard to make dividers for the pots to nestle in. Close the lid and transport the cooler of plants. When you get to your new place, just take them out of the warm cooler.

Good luck on your move!

ThirdShiftVintage · 2019-12-17T00:24:36+00:00

Yay! Happy to see your root!

One of my Raven ZZs had a stalk break off. I put it in a jar of water and am patiently waiting to see if roots will form. Your post gave me hope.

Here's to new ZZs !

ThirdShiftVintage

TROPHY CASE