Etsy's new Region Filter-how to set yours

Mondo - the whole world in his head from Reclaim2Fame.etsy.com

The last couple of years it seems like every time you turn around Etsy is making changes. Some are kinda cool (treasury tweaks, coupon codes) while others are just silly (circles? really?). I know it is hard to please everyone, but I keep hearing from sellers whose shop views (& sales) continue to nosedive. And they are not happy.

Is seems like many sellers (1) see their shop traffic flatten, (2) wonder aloud in the etsy forums or on Facebook; then (3) Etsy admin announces the-next-big-thing-which-by-the-way-has-already-been-implemented-and-don't-you-just-love-it. Some sellers are happy with the changes..... but many are not & just want their traffic back.

Me? I just keep my head in the sand and blow the cobwebs off my inventory now and again. How is that working for me? It isn't. But that is a post for another day.

Today I want to make sure that if you have an Etsy account, you have heard about the new Region Filter.  If you have NOT set your new region filter to "Everywhere", when you are browsing the items you are seeing will be only from the country that Etsy considers your default location. If you would like to see more than just what is for sale in your country, you need to change your filter setting.

What does this mean? In the words of my favorite Swedish photographer Maria-Thérèse Andersson (Afiori.etsy.com): "Mine was automatically set to Sweden, then El Salvador! How the hell is a casual browser supposed to know these things when even we can't find them..."

In fact, it was Maria-Thérèse who pointed this update out to me last night. With my head in the sand policy, I'd missed the regional filter announcement.  How did she find out? She was looking for her newly listed items on Etsy's main page when she saw that everything listed for sale was from Sweden . In her words: "WTF?" So she popped over to the forums to find out what was up.

Here is her blog post about what happened: Ripped Off By Etsy

Plus a post from one of her readers, julocha from Moments of Perfect Clarity: Etsy: No longer where cool kids are

And a link to the official Region Filter Etsy Forum discussion: Set a region filter to view content and items near and far

Are you wondering - How do I change my Etsy Region Filter? Fortunately it is easy to set your filter, now that you know you have one:

• Sign into Etsy
• Roll over the words "Your Account" on the upper right corner of the page
• From the list that appears, pick "Settings" 

• Click on the Preferences tab

• Scroll to the bottom of the page and select your region that you want to view. Etsy had set mine to United States, but I shop globally so I changed it to Everywhere.

 

• Then click the Update Preferences button and you are ready to rock & roll. Easy peasy once you know it is there.

While you're setting your preferences, why not make sure they are all to your liking? I had no idea that there was a maturity filter automatically on. Nudity and art go together in my world, so I changed the setting to "show me everything" before punching the Update button.

So what do you think of this latest change to the Etsy shopping experience? I would love to hear from you. Are you a seller, worried about your items not appearing on a potential customer's radar? Or a buyer who is happy to select only your country and maybe save some money on shipping? Or do you just not care? Please, chime in. All comments are welcome.

Thursday Giveaway winner delayed because....

I am a goofball.

I have been promoting the new Uprinting.com prize drawing as happening on 6/24 for the last week. Doh! Sooo..... one extra day for anyone to leave a comment & be entered into tomorrow's random drawing. The prize is 250 custom printed color flyers. Click here for details.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Butterfly ACEO

Butterfly Art Card for Etsy customer

 I had a grand time playing with this (slightly 3D) ACEO for a recent Etsy customer. I seem to be low on these little pieces of one of a kind art in my Artsnark shop & will have to make a few more this week. They are so much fun to make and collect! Measuring only 3.5" x 2.5 inches, they can be created in any medium. They are also an affordable way to collect art. If you aren't yet hooked on Art Trading Cards, you must give them a try. 

By the way, this is your last chance to enter the new giveaway that I am hosting for Uprinting.com. On 6/24 one lucky winner gets 250 custom printed color flyers. Simply leave a comment on my blog before 1 am (EST) to be entered in this random drawing. Click here for details. 

Musical Monday - random shuffle

Hellooo Monday

I'm on the run today, so I've let the random shuffle pick a few tunes to share. Lucky for us only good stuff rose to the top. It was risky, we could've ended up with The Wiggles Captain Feathersword or something. (It really is time to clean up the itunes now that Little Dude is past the NickJr. phase)

I was really happy to see this great Boxer Rebellion tune pop up - Back when their album Union came out I was listening to it constantly: 

Next we've got TMBG's Fibber Island .... mmm... houses made of pie... While looking for a video I found this Harry Potter version made by awesomerthankanuph. Warning: you may find yourself humming this little ditty later - it has major earworm potential

While I like this last tune, Money & Run (featuring Nick Cave) from Unkle, I don't care for the video. For anyone with kids in the room, it is not family friendly. 

So what are you playing today? Want to share? Post & add a link over at XmasDolly's blog . While you're there, have a listen to what other folks have posted. Great way to start the week!

----------

By the way, I'm hosting a last minute random drawing for Uprinting.com on Thursday. If you would like a chance to win 250 custom printed color flyers, just leave a comment on my blog before 1 am (EST) on 6/24 to enter. For prize & contest details, click here. (Really low # of entries so far, so good odds)

Happy Father's Day!

Little Dude & his Dad (with reflection of Louvre)

Illustration Friday - Launch

Ship of Fools

 Laura stretched her gleaming neck

  Like a rush-imbedded swan,

Like a lily from the beck,

Like a moonlit poplar branch,

 Like a vessel at the launch

When its last restraint is gone.

  - from Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti

The new Illustration Friday prompt, Launch, was rattling around in my head when it dislodged this poem from my school days. Remember Goblin Market? Back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth English teachers used to assign this poem to get the symbolism/feminism discussion rolling. If you're intrigued by lovely ladies, goblin men & forbidden fruits it is a fun one. You can catch it here.

Ship of Fools was  was originally created for a collaborative self portrait book. It measures 4" sq. and is a mix of watercolor pencil and metallic inks/paints on paper. It it now in my ArtSnark Etsy shop. 

Rossetti reminds me- I don't think I have mentioned yet the wonderful Pre-Raphaelite exhibit we enjoyed at the Musee d'Orsay last month. The dryly titled A Ballad of Love and Death: Pre-Raphaelite  Photography in Great Brittian, 1848 - 1875 showcased classic photos and paintings from some of my favorites, Julia Margaret Cameron, Lewis Carroll, John Ruskin, Dante Gabriel Rossetti (Christina's brother) and others. Several models/poses/scenes were similar (or almost identical) in these early photographs and the paintings. Some of the photos were handcolored, increasing the resemblance to the famous paintings. While I knew these folks were reading the same material (and in some cases hanging out), it never occurred to me just how much the photographers and painters were influencing each other. 

Loaded with lovely images, the exhibition book, The Pre-Raphaelite Lens was too heavy to lug overseas.  I've since found it (cheaper) on Amazon.com and am saving my pennies. Another interesting source for Pre-Raphaelite info is mixed media artist Maureen Tillman's blog . On her right sidebar you'll find links to some of her great posts about these artists and their models/muses. 

Sorry if I've bored you with the ramble. I'm on some heavy cold meds, so the synapses might be misfiring more than usual today. If you are feeling inspired to "Launch" - make an illo, post it online and share the link over at IllustrationFriday.com. Or just pop over there to see what everyone else is up to. 

-----------

Before I go, I'm hosting a new custom printing giveaway for Uprinting.com. Next Thursday 1 random winner gets 250 color printed nightclub-style flyers. To enter leave a comment before 1 am (EST) on 6/23. This particular giveaway is only open to USA residents though - sorry about that International folks. Click here for flyer details.

Enter to win 250 custom printed color flyers

 Those groovy guys at Uprinting.com are at it again!

Today they are offering up another great custom printing prize for one lucky winner. Officially called Nightclub flyers, these would be perfect for all kinds of promotion - business or personal. (I could have really used some at last Friday's Global Etsy Craft Party ).

Here are the details:

Prize:      250 Nightclub Flyers for One (1) Winner
Size:        choice of 4.25" x 5.5" or 4" x 6"
Paper:     14pt Cardstock Gloss
Printing:  Front Only
Time:       3 Business Days print turnaround time
Restrictions: Limited to US residents 18 years old and above only. 

To Enter: Simply comment on this blog before 1 a.m. (EST) on 6/23 to enter. Be sure to leave an email address if your contact info is not in your profile. 

On June 24 I will use random.org to pick a winner from all who leave a comment & also meet the sponsors restrictions listed above.  That doesn't give you a lot of time...so hop to and leave your thoughts.

Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive night club flyers for hosting. I've been thinking about what to put on my flyers. I could printing some artwork to slip into Etsy packages.... but I'll probably use these for the day job instead. Maybe print some game-promo for a tradeshow or something.

What will  you do with your 250 flyers if you win? Announce your reunion or summer bash? Advertise your garage sale or garage band?

Before I forget, here is an easy to use Nightclub Flyer template get you started. It is free to download. Should you have any questions this printer also has amazing customer service people. (I speak from experience here- as some of you know, I am more than a little digitally challenged)

And if you would like to enter additional random drawings from Uprinting you should look them up on facebook, twitter, or GiveawayBlogs.com