Which Social Media Sites do you use for your Etsy Store?

This post will give you a list of the social media sites that I use to promote my Etsy Store. 

Let me preface this by saying that I have had my Etsy store up for a little over a year and realized that due to the vast numbers of people who have a store on Etsy, it is important to publicize your store using social media and I have made this a major priority in recent weeks.  It is my goal to compare which social media site gives me the most clicks.  Etsy shares statistics which give you the entryway through which your visitors arrived.  This is all new to me at this posting so I will have to get back with you and share my impressions on the results.

In no particular order, the first Social Media site I use is Twitter.

My Twitter page is: https://twitter.com/LetOurLightShin

Every time I add a new item in my store, I share a link and photo on Twitter.  In the last week, I also hashtag each item with the following: #EtsySeller and #LetOurLightShine which is my Etsy store name.

The second Social Media site I use is Pinterest.

My Pinterest page is: https://www.pinterest.com/letourlightshin/

As of today, Pinterest is the social media site where I have received the most clicks into my store. So far, I have not paid for ads in Pinterest, but I do have a business account. My goal is to also add every finished item onto two boards that I have created.  I have two Pinterest Boards that directly reflect my Etsy store. 

• First Board: Let Our Light Shine: Rosaries and Chaplets
• Second Board: Let Our Light Shine - Christian Gifts

The third Social Media site I use is Facebook:

My Facebook business page is: https://www.facebook.com/letourlightshineUSA/

Last week Facebook offered to give me $30 in ads if I would pay anything.  So I paid one dollar and got $31 worth of ads.  I'm not sure I will do it again any time soon because I got 3,000 clicks on Facebook but NONE on my store.  Many said they liked my Facebook photo of my item, (the ad was one item in my store), but no one actually clicked on the link which would take them to my store. So, I'm still thinking about this one.... No more ads with Facebook for now.

The fourth Social Media page is: Instagram:

My Instagram page is: https://www.instagram.com/letourlightshineUSA/

I have added a few clicks with Instagram and I can honestly say it is the site that I've spent the least amount of time on as of today. 

My goal for the month of November is to really research how to share on all of these sites and see which one gives me the most feedback.  Whichever one that is, will get most of my attention as I work on my Social Media with Let Our Light Shine!

On a store note...

I added this five decade rosary this week and it is beautiful.  It is all Swarovski crystals and they are vintage.  I also added this Swarovski vintage one decade rosary.  Also gorgeous! Please take a look and if it interests you, please click over to my Etsy store.

Bye for now... and God Bless! Remember... prayer is everything!

Jen :-)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/455417200/handmade-vintage-swarovski-rare?ref=shop_home_feat_4

https://www.etsy.com/listing/568414335/handmade-swarovski-vintage-blue-beads?ref=listing-shop-header-0

Let Our Light Shine now ships INTERNATIONAL!

My Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/LetOurLightShine) now ships to the US and other International countries. Check out individual listings on Etsy for countries available. 

Let Our Light Shine has now been open almost a year and a half.  I see that we have views on this blog from countries all over the world.  As a storefront, when I originally chose to ship only to the US, only those in the US could view my online store.  Now, I have added hundreds of additional countries so my viewing area, beginning today, has grown significantly. Yeah! 

I'm SO excited.

If you live outside of the US and would like to take a look at my Etsy store, Let Our Light Shine, please visit the store links listed on this page.

Another exciting bit of news, that was announced today on Etsy, is that Etsy now gives Etsy Sellers the opportunity to offer gift wrapping during checkout. This means that if you purchase an item from my store and would like to have it gift wrapped and shipped to someone on your gift list, then you may select this option during checkout.  I have included a photo of my gift wrapping; viewable during checkout, too.  

Notes from my Etsy Store:  I also added a new set of one decade rosaries yesterday. The photo and link are listed below:

Divine Mercy and Lady of Fatima - One Decade Rosary

Rosary for Breast Cancer Patients - St. Agatha of Sicily

Today I added a one decade rosary with the centerpiece of St. Agatha to my Etsy store.  This rosary is made with vintage pink fire polished Czech beads, a vintage pearl glass Czech Our Father bead, and the St. Agatha centerpiece.  The 1 1/2 inch crucifix was made in Italy and the whole rosary is hand made by me using the unbreakable rosary pattern with nickel silver. 

My grandmother had breast cancer many years ago and through the power of prayer, she had it removed and was healed.  St. Agatha had her breasts removed in an act of torture. Even through this horrendous act, she stayed fast in her faith.

St. Agatha is the patron saint of breast cancer patients.

More details about St. Agatha may be read here: Wikipedia of St. Agatha of Sicily

One Decade Rosary - St. Agatha Rosary

What kind of jewelry wire do you use?

I don't know about you but whenever it is time to start a new wire-wrap project, the first thing I look for is the size and type of wire that I will be using.  If money were no object, I guess I would choose pure gold and silver but since that is not the case, then I need to pick the wire that best suits my project and makes the items affordable for me, as the designer, and those visiting my online store.

We all have favorite types of wire and of course find new types of wire along the way but for now, I will be sharing some of my favorite types of wire.

I don't endorse any company or get kickbacks from sharing certain brands.  I like reading what other artists use when they are sharing from their heart, not their purse. However, you may be able to recognize the brand from the details that I share.

I LOVE copper based wire.  There is a company that I use most of the time that makes over 190 different sizes and styles of copper based wire.  It will depend greatly on how you are using the wire in your design but for me, most of my designs use wire wrapping.  I need the wire to be sturdy enough to be used as a bracelet or rosary, to name a few, but also look gorgeous and smooth as the wire is wrapped, trimmed, and given a smooth edge.  The KEY is to find "tarnish resistant".  This means that they have coated the top metal with a protective coating that will keep the metal from turning color.  I have bought silver for many years and have been so disappointed when it turned to a lovely dark color a few weeks after purchase.  If you don't mind that discoloration then the plain metal is for you but I prefer the protected wires that keep the metal the same bright and shiny color for a long time, especially if you keep the item in an air tight container or zip lock bag. I use the silver and brass over copper with the tarnish resistant coating.

If I am looking for one of the strongest wires, for some of my rosaries, I choose a stainless steel wire.  The stainless steel is so strong that it makes callouses on my hands. I use the 20 gauge for a regular wrap but if I am going to wrap several times around the wire, I will go to the 22 gauge.  Both are amazingly strong and should never change in their appearance.  It has a nice handsome silver color and yet is very light in weight and STONG.

One of the newest wires that I'm using is nickel silver.  It is easy to work with like copper based wire and holds its shape but has a sterling silver color.  The surprise for me was that it has absolutely no silver in it.  It polishes up beautifully. (Note:  I just finished a one decade rosary with the nickel silver and LOVED the way it looks!)

The two wires that I use the most are silver over copper along with brass over copper.  Both have the tarnish resistant coating and I have used them for years and they still look beautiful.

Christian Women's Bracelets

Christian Jewelry?

I looked around at some of the Christian Jewelry available from commercial stores and never found exactly what I was looking for so I decided to make my own.  I wanted a bracelet that was beautiful, yet represented our Christian faith. 

Matthew 10:33  King James Version (KJV)

³³ But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

The two bracelets below are both made with vintage Swarovski crystal beads. The first is a turquoise crystal beaded bracelet on silver wire with a silver cross charm.  The second is a one decade rosary bracelet also made with Swarovski crystal beads, brass wire and crucifix.

Both completely different in design, yet symbolizing our faith, prayers and our focus on the cross.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/558513915/womens-bracelet-handmade-wire-wrapped?ref=shop_home_active_13

https://www.etsy.com/listing/480660605/one-decade-rosary-bracelet-handmade?ref=shop_home_feat_1

In the near future, Etsy is going to add gift wrapping options within our Etsy stores during checkout.  I have all of my supplies ready so I'm excited to begin with this newest feature. 

**As always, no animal products are used in any of my store items or packaging. **

New Swarovski Peridot and Tanzanite Crystal Bead Bracelets with Vintage Swarovski Charm * Rosary Wire Repairs

Two new bracelets listed this week at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LetOurLightShine

New Peridot Swarovski Crystal Beads on Golden Brass Artistic Wire

New Tanzanite Swarovski Crystal Beads on Golden Brass Artistic Wire

These two bracelets were listed this week in my Etsy shop.  I am working hard to get as many items completed as possible as I know we are all looking for Christmas gifts.  In addition, there are weddings being planned, birthdays to celebrate, and many other reasons you may want to purchase an item in my online Etsy store.  

Each item that I make is completed by hand in my home and is made to the best of my ability.  If I don't like the way something looks, I start over and/or redo the part that I don't think is up to my standards.  

Both of these new Swarovski beads are gorgeous!  I love the colors and they look beautiful within the bracelets.  

I have vintage and new Swarovski crystal beads within the items in my Etsy store.  I love both.  If you have a personal preference about the lead within the older crystals, then the new Swarovski beads will appeal more to you.  I love them all! 

Here are a list of my social media pages:

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/letourlightshineUSA/
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/LetOurLightShin
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/letourlightshin/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/letourlightshineUSA/

Someone asked me about repairs on my rosaries and I would like to address this question.  As long as someone is willing to pay for the shipping both ways, to my home and back to your address, I will be happy to repair the wire on one of my rosaries or other wire repair items free of charge.  They should not break under normal use but if they are pulled with great strength, anything is possible.  As far as the beads, if one is lost or broken, I can not replace those because many are vintage and limited in supply when I make the item.  I do not keep extra beads after an item is designed and sold.  However, the wire is always available and I'm happy to repair any problems with the wire. Hopefully, that should never be necessary.  :-)

New Czech Alabaster Opal AB Fired Polished Beads * Vintage Swarovski Beads * Five Decade Rosary * Stainless Steel Wire

New Five Decade Rosary - Czech Alabaster Opal Beads - Swarovski Vintage AB Clear

I am really pleased with my new white AB Czech beads and the way they look with the Swarovski vintage beads from my collection.  It is a great blend of the vintage and the new!

If anyone questions the value of stainless steel in a rosary, they would know how strong it is by the callouses on my hands.  When you are bending the wire, it takes added strength so it leaves its mark on the palms of my hands afterward.  However, knowing that the rosary will last a lifetime gives me great pleasure.  So, if you are unsure about which rosary wire to use, stainless steel is a great option because it is amazingly strong, yet light in weight.  It will continue to look the same for years to come. Anything will break if used inappropriately, but if used as it is made to be used, it will last for years and years.  My thought is that it would make a wonderful wedding gift which should look exactly the same when the couple is celebrating their 75th Anniversary!

Please check out this latest rosary on my Etsy site from my online shop: Let Our Light Shine!

 

Light Rose Swarovski Bracelet and Earrings

I'm really pleased with the new beautiful Swarovski bracelet and earrings.  Almost everything in my store is adorned with a cross or Christian symbol.  There are only a few exceptions and earrings are one of them.  I had several requests for earrings to match my bracelets so this is an example of a matching set.  

My bracelet is hand wire wrapped and honestly I take great pride in my work.  I am not trying to mass produce items as fast as possible to turn a profit.  Of course, I want to make a few dollars on each one so that I can buy more beads and wire, however, to me, each piece is artwork.  I take a lot of time on each item and make sure it is something I would want to wear myself or give as a gift to a loved one.   There are other wire distributors that have wire that is cheaper but this wire has been wonderful for me and it shapes beautifully and items I made for myself over a year ago have never tarnished.  If they do tarnish at some point, I know I can use a silver cloth to clean them but so far, I have not needed to do so.  

I also love the vintage beads as much as I love the new beads.  Each have their own personality and look.  As with any jewelry item, it is all personal preference.  The handmade, hammered hook may be pushed it a little to form a tighter clasp if you prefer.  

These earrings are minimalist hand-hammered ear wires that match the bracelet above. I make my own ear wires so I do not have any clip earrings at this time. 

As always, I do not use any animal products in my jewelry items or wrapping supplies. As a Christian Vegan, everything is made to glorify God and keep animals safe. Hope you enjoy the new items I have added to my online store.  :-)

Vintage and New Swarovski Crystal Beads

In many of my designs, I use vintage and new Swarovski beads. I believe they are ALL absolutely beautiful.  When Swarovski originally designed these beautiful crystal beads, he said he wanted everyone to be able to afford a "diamond".  The idea being that his crystals looked like diamonds but were affordable. 

The following two sets of beads are in two bracelets that I have on my site, Let Our Light Shine. Each are beautiful in their on unique way.  One is vintage - one is new. Could you tell the difference?

Now, these two sets of photos do not have duplicate beads so the comparison is not exact, however, I share the two comparison sets of beads to share the beauty of both. The first photo is Aurora Borealis which gives the rainbow shimmer on each bead but the second design is not Aurora Borealis so you can see the visual difference.  Otherwise, both are turquoise, close in color, and have beautiful cut and design, looking completely uniform in every way, flawless.  

The first photo is a vintage pair of Swarovski 5000 round AB (Aurora Borealis) turquoise beads. They are vintage and I have had them in my collection for over twenty years.  Each bead is exactly like the next in that group and you see no bubbles within the bead; no flaws. 

The second photo is made with NEW turquoise Swarovski 5000 beads.  The beads in both photos are 8mm.  The new Swarovski beads are also flawless and have no air bubbles within the beads.  The facets all match and each bead is exactly like the next in that size, color, and shape.

In September 2012, Swarovski introduced a crystal which was virtually lead free.  I prefer to use Swarovski frequently in my designs as it is the most beautiful bead, in my opinion.  When I use other beads, if the design allows, I always include a Swarovski bead in the design.

If you want to read more about Swarovski beads, here are a couple of links for your reading pleasure:

https://www.swarovski.com/Web_US/en/brand

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarovski

New Tanzanite Swarovski Beads 8mm Silver Women's Bracelet

 Newest Swarovski Silver Wire-wrapped Women's Bracelet

https://www.etsy.com/listing/548003310/womens-bracelet-handmade-wire-wrapped?ref=shop_home_feat_4

I love purple and the color of Tanzanite so when I found these Swarovski beads in the color of Tanzanite, I knew I wanted to use these beautiful beads for bracelets for my store. There are plenty of photos so you can see the beauty of Swarovski beads. Keep an eye out for more new colors, as well as, vintage beads in Let Our Light Shine!