Changes at Artfire

Art Community Forum | EBSQ Self-Representing Artis

Forums Register Login My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums

Chat Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ Ticket List Log Out

Changes at Artfire

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Marketing & Business (both online and off)] >> Selling Your Art with Team EBSQ >> Changes at Artfire

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Changes at Artfire - 7/31/2011 8:27:24 AM

bromley2

Posts: 20632
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Clarion, Pa.
Status: offline

I am wondering what everyone thinks about the changes at Artfire. In case you missed it....about Aug.12 they are going to an all paid site. No more free shops. Those shops that have not changed over will be turned into a buyer only shop....I guess they will take down everything and identify you as a buyer only. They are also going to change the monthly charge from $9.95 a month to $11.95 a month. If you sign up now for a pro shop the fee will remain $9.95 even after the change, but if you wait until after it goes to the higher rate you will be charged the higher rate.

I am really torn by this. I have yet to meet anyone that has done well with a pro account over there and I am doubting that it is worth it....but I put in time to make my shop, I hate to see it go, plus if I don't act now I will have to pay even more for a pro shop.

I am wondering if they are biting the hand that feeds them with these expensive changes. Will we really get that much help with sales if the site is all fee based? I don't know. So confused here. I need to make my decision, soon

C

_____________________________

http://www.moondancedesign.com
EBAY
My Bonanzle Booth

Post #: 1

RE: Changes at Artfire - 7/31/2011 9:07:48 AM

imakeart

Posts: 5731
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Athens, GA
Status: offline

Wow. I had no idea this was happening Carolyn. Thank you for bringing to my attention.

I closed my shop. I realized I just did not have the time to market on Artfire and Etsy and with zero interest happening on Artfire I decided to focus on Etsy.

I wonder what the consensus is over at Artfire about these changes?

After having a Pro account for a month, the only benefit I saw from it was how one's items came up in their search. If you had a Pro account your items would come up in search before a Basic account holder. The rest of the Pro features are just fluff. Yes, they are handy and might increase your views, but they are still fluff.

Ultimately know matter where you sell your art, you have to market. You have to find people who want to buy your art and then make it the most appealing thing to that group of people. So in that sense it doesn't matter where you sell if you know how to market to the fullest.

I hope my rambling thoughts help.

_____________________________

Amanda :-)

web:www.amandamakepeace.com
deviantART:MakepeaceArt

(in reply to bromley2)

Post #: 2

RE: Changes at Artfire - 7/31/2011 10:05:52 AM

gillie

Posts: 5747
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: imakeart
Ultimately know matter where you sell your art, you have to market. You have to find people who want to buy your art and then make it the most appealing thing to that group of people. So in that sense it doesn't matter where you sell if you know how to market to the fullest.

I mostly agree with that, but with one caveat: I think you're still better off selling at a site where you have at least some chance of drive-by traffic, and like it or not, that's where Etsy wins. It's one of the few handmade-centric venues that get huge buzz as a venue for buying awesome stuff.

As a business owner, I can understand some of Artfire's rational behind the changes. They have a significantly larger team than we do, and they want to ensure they're able to keep the lights on and have a marketing budget for the holidays if they're going to grab any real portion of Etsy's BUYERS, not just sellers. Since they don't make any income from their free accounts but they use a lot of bandwidth and site resources, they had to seriously think about how to stay in business in this economy. Whether or not this ultimately bites them in the ass, only time will tell.

_____________________________

Amie Gillingham
co-founder, EBSQ
web: http://www.ebsqart.com
blog: http://blog.ebsqart.com
twitter: http://twitter.com/ebsq
Get out of the vacuum and express yourself!

(in reply to imakeart)

Post #: 3

RE: Changes at Artfire - 7/31/2011 3:44:18 PM

imakeart

Posts: 5731
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Athens, GA
Status: offline

quote:

I think you're still better off selling at a site where you have at least some chance of drive-by traffic, and like it or not, that's where Etsy wins. It's one of the few handmade-centric venues that get huge buzz as a venue for buying awesome stuff.

Very true!

_____________________________

Amanda :-)

web:www.amandamakepeace.com
deviantART:MakepeaceArt

(in reply to gillie)

Post #: 4

RE: Changes at Artfire - 7/31/2011 4:59:08 PM

bromley2

Posts: 20632
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Clarion, Pa.
Status: offline

I didn't realize that about Etsy. I have been doing Amanda's suggestions for SEO on Etsy and I finally finished the process Glad I did now that you tell me bout that!

Amanda, I wondered about all the things a Pro account gives you and wondered what you thought since you tried it out. It mostly looks like fluff, but I thought maybe I was missing something. I still don't know what to do....it is a nice looking site. I may give it a try, but keep up more with Etsy, I don't want to lose the momentum I have going there.

I agree with you, Amie. It totally makes sense as a complete business decision. I think they will lose some people, but hopefully not a lot and in the end they will probably be better off. I am sure it is a decision they didn't come to lightly!

C

_____________________________

http://www.moondancedesign.com
EBAY
My Bonanzle Booth

(in reply to imakeart)

Post #: 5