A guest post by artist and maker Mayi Carles.

Selling online can exist super fun, but information technology's an art ane needs to learn how to main. Customers don't accept the particular live, and so it'south difficult for them to give their money up for a product they haven't even seen + touched + tried or smelled.

Merely despite this little inconvenience why are so many shoppers skipping the mall + deciding to go indie + purchase at site such as Etsy + Big Cartel + Papernstitch Shop or Supermarket? Well, if I accept to make a wild estimate, it's considering indie businesses + handmade boutiques + arty shops offer something more than, a uniquely extraordinary personal + exclusive shopping experience, that no manufactory fabricated store can offer, so some shoppers are willing to take the risk + shop online.

But every bit sellers we have to do our part to brand sure the shopping online experience is as smooth + comfy for our clients as humanly possible. Here are some tips I want to share with you to help your online indie shop get more than convenient for potential buyers:

1. Write a clear + friendly + piece of cake to find return + exchange policy. Fifty-fifty if you don't offer free exchanges + gratuitous returns + free shipping + accept full responsibly for damages or lost packages, having a concrete return + exchange policy will help you gain consumer confidence.

2. Your photos demand to be stunning. I cannot stress this point plenty. There are lots of things that brand a cute photo, merely if I could recommend only 4 tips that are absolutely crucial, these would exist it:

a. Composition. Use interesting backgrounds to make your items pop, being very conscientious about your composition and so it'southward not too crowded or too wearisome. Play with textures + props. Light fabrics + vintage books + scrapbook pages are crawly + easy to apply alternatives.

b. Angles. It'southward important to take lots + lots of pictures + from diverse dissimilar angles, then y'all accept a wide diversity to choose from when editing + and then your customers tin go a sense of the products from all sides.

c. Lighting. Shoot your products in articulate bright daylight or in a light box if you lot accept i. There is nothing more unattractive than seeing a production in darkness. Play with the settings of your camera to adjust your needs.

d. Editing. Don't stress to much near your photo shot, y'all ever take the editing process to retouch your images. And y'all don't need a fancy photo editing software. I personally beloved to apply picnic. Information technology has many of the cool features that expensive photo editing programs have, simply it's completely free.

e. Modeling. If you are selling dress + shoes + accessories, show your items on an appropriate model. This will give your shoppers an thought of how the product looks on. State in your description the size of the model as well, to give a improve reference guide. When a model is non readily available, use a referencing object, like your hand + a ruler or a hanger to shot your items, so that your customers can take an idea of the products proportions.

three. Exist very descriptive near size data + color + texture + fit + any other aesthetic aspect of the product you are selling. Don't just tell me "The handbag is red", I can probably encounter that from the picture, tell me if it's burgundy + carmine + strawberry or rhubarb. Tell me how it feels, is it soft or filled with texture? Appeal to my senses with your adjectives.

4. Show them y'all. Tell your customers a little bit well-nigh you + your philosophy + what y'all're passionate nigh + why the product that they're buying is special. Be sure to blast your "about" page so customers can identify with you + feel they are actually buying from a human existence. The more they tin can place with you, the more than likely they volition buy from you lot.

By following these easy guidelines y'all are sure to please your customers + probably land some sweet sales too.

xo,

Mayi Carles

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Thanks so much Mayi for sharing your business concern tips with us  this calendar week. You can check out Mayi's next invitee mail service with even more than tips for your concern in a few weeks.

More about Mayi:

Mayi Carles is a Panamanian multi-passionate artist + gorging eco-friendly designer + the heart behind heartmade blog + fun indie autobus. To connect with Mayi, follow her tweets at @mayicarles.

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Image Credit: gilded bronze pilus pins via woodland belle; deject studs via the angry weather; sunshine bow via nadinno; tea cup bobby pin via chou chou; big red bow via bowlabeau; white woods dweller brooch via sweetbestiary; flower headband via mayi carles