How to Write Calls to Action

You're posting to Twitter. You're posting to Facebook. You're writing a blog. You're doing everything, it seems, except making your product, your true love. And while doing everything, you're getting no feedback or response.

What's wrong? Your tweets are informative and not terribly full of hashtags. Your Facebook posts are not "salesy," they're about you and your love of the product you make. Your blog contains articles relevant to your business; they aren't just filling space with articles about your dog. It just isn't making any sense.

The problem could be that you aren't including a Call To Action (CTA) in your tweet, your status updates, or your posts. (Something else? I hear you groan.) Yes, something else.

A Call To Action is a persuasive argument you are making with your followers to do something. Think of it as subliminal messaging. You're not screaming "BUY MY PRODUCT NOW!!!" like a used care salesman; instead, you're nudging your followers step by step. Here are some examples of Calls To Actions:

Join me .....

     Click here.....

          Try this.....

               Download now...

                    I invite you....

                         While supplies last....

                              Get it now!

                                   In a hurry? Call me ....

                                        Act quickly!

                                             Limited quantities available!

                                                  Add to cart

                                                       Reserve your spot now!

                                                            Today only!

How many times have you responded to such language? Personally, I'm a sucker for "Click here" or "Download Now," with my thought being I can always click out of the webpage or delete the download. But I still respond to the ask, which is what the marketers want me to do. 

So, do you feel the pattern? No where in this list do you find the words "BUY MY PRODUCT NOW!!!!" rather, you change your vocabulary to suggestive language, but keep the tone of immediacy. 

Ok. Now you get the idea. But then what? Now you need to implement these Calls to Action in your tweets, in your status updates, and in your posts. 

So your tweet of "#glamorous #red #statement #necklace #sale three left!" becomes "Inventory Reduction Sale! Statement Necklaces 50% off - limited quantities available!"

Your Facebook status update of "Tested new spice samples" becomes "We fell in love with the taste of ____ at this local Thai restaurant and spent all weekend making samples. Share with us your favorite foods and restaurants!"

Your blog post ends with a direction. What was "Until the next time I decide to post" becomes "Don't miss my next post! Add me to your RSS feed today!" or "What are your thoughts about .....?"

So take some time to review what you've written, and turn it into words that make You Do Something!

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Treasury Sunday, June 15th

Treasuries are so incredibly important to Etsy small businesses like me, because they help get our products in from of other members in ways we can't do on our own. Today, I'd like to show my appreciation to the curators of two of my favorite treasuries to feature my products in the past week or so. Please take some time to shop these fabulous finds and support small business!

'Orange You Glad It's Summer' by ariella42

Cocktail rimming sugar - ora... dellcovespices $3.95	Sunshine on a Cloudy Day - R... creatiate $9	Sugar Scrub Cubes - Orange S... SymbolicImport... $11	Orange Necklace, Orange & Go... GlitterbirdGla... $22
Orange Blossom votives, set ... DLitesbyDorene $11	Victorian Baby Sandals Sprin... Hopphopp $33	Harvest Gold Yellow Orange R... Thebracelettre... $22	Orange Knit Leggings Organi... FineThreadz $40
Beach house Indoor/Outdoor F... MicaBlue $35	Bombshell Perfume Oil mojospa $15	Nectarine Orange Magnet Vase... Mtbaldyglasswo... $15	Amber Opal Boho Bracelet Set... byjodi $215
Starfish and Seashell waterc... Splodgepodge $20	Bright Vintage Floral Bath T... AmeliaBedeliaV... $18	Fabric Eyeglass Case Women. ... MegExpressions $8.25	Sun Kissed peach Nail Polish... IndiePolish $8.75

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'Soft summer mood ' by SymbolicImports

DECORATIVE PILLOW - Gold Pol... JillianReneDec... $40	organic tropical fruit core ... hobilium $15	Beach Decor - Starfish Night... CereusArt $15	Brown Cone Shell Beads, 50 B... CloudNineSuppl... $4.5
Sea Whites. 8x10. Fine Art P... MilesOfLight $30	RTW3067D - Maxi sun dress in... ElenaVUSA $335	Jewelry Herkimer Diamond Ear... wulfgirl $50	modern numbers clock simple ... uncommon $65
Coconut Green Tea 12 oz. can... DLitesbyDorene $17.5	white, beach pottery shards,... SeaZephyr $10	Sheer Silk Fabric. Hand wove... FabricTreasury $10	Fine bone china small stonew... madebymanos $17
Gold Dipped Pedestal Lamp- M... WorleysLightin... $70	Beach Bungalow Butterflies FarmhouseMud $72	50 PERCENT OFF Pair of vinta... andthebigbadwo... $25	sewing pattern lamp umbu $175

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Featured Shop: Amelia Bedelia June 9th

Today's featured shop is Delia with Amelia Bedelia Vintage. Please take some time to learn about her approach to vintage shops - special offer at the end!

Amelia Bedelia Vintage opened in 2009 when I had discovered Etsy as a buyer and realized I could open up my own shop!  I have always been a collector, digger, treasure hunter, whatever you want to call it, and Etsy gave me an outlet to share that love with a whole community. 

Vintage Full Fitted Sheet

Here at Amelia Bedelia Vintage you'll find lots of bright mid century goodies and fun retro home decor pieces to brighten up your day. :) Running this shop allows me to dig for treasure and pass it on to you in the hopes that you'll find a piece that makes you smile! 

Faux Bois Vintage Flip Clock

 I am addicted to color, and my shop is filled with bright and happy pieces from the 1950’s through the 1980’s.  The colors from the mid century era just blow me away, and sometimes I wish I was born in the Mad Men age!  Each item you see is something I would be proud to have in my own home, and usually that’s where it stays until its new owner comes along.

Plaid Vintage Soup Mugs

Sometimes it’s hard for me to part with these things, but I need to pass it on to other vintage lovers or I’d be on Hoarders for sure!  This guy was one of my favorites….but he has a happy and loving home now.

 You can also find me at www.thehappyforest.etsy.com , where I just opened a new vintage clothing shop!  I found it too confusing to have clothing mixed in with home décor and wanted my shoppers to have a more streamlined browsing experience.  Here you’ll find MORE color and bright vintage wearable pieces from the 1950’s-80s. 

Vintage High Waisted Skirt with Matching Jacket

Although I do spend the majority of my time thrifting and estate saling, I do have a pseudo day job as a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern (MFTI).  What’s nice is that the flexible hours of being a therapist allow me plenty of time to maintain my love of vintage goodies!  And when I’m not doing any of the above, you’ll find me tucked into a cozy corner with some Harry Potter and a freshly brewed French press, dreaming my day away….

Bright 1960s Book Collection

Come and Pin with me!  Find me at www.Pinterest.com/superfluff

Any readers of this lovely blog can use special coupon code DLITES20 at either Amelia Bedelia Vintage OR The Happy Forest for 20% off their purchase!  **Expires Sunday, June 30th!

Inventory Reduction Sale!

I'm moving soon and have reduced my prices on all ready to ship products. All items 50% off:

• 12 oz candles, regularly $17.50, now $8.75!
• 7 oz candles, regularly $8.50, now $4.25!
• Tea lights, regularly $6.50, now $6.25!

Pricing is for on hand inventory only - once the products are gone, they'll be hand poured at the time of order and back to full pricing!  For a list of current items available, please click here for an updated inventory.

Soon, I'll post my inventory on other products, so stay tuned! 

See what you want but it's not listed on my Etsy site yet? Please email me or request a custom order.

Strawberries are in Season!

Every June I try to find a new product to introduce to you as the fragrance of the month, but I just can't seem to stay away from Strawberry!

So, in the spirit of my annual tradition, I have three Strawberry scents for you to choose from this month:

Strawberry, in and of itself, is a thrill of its own. Sweet, juicy, and fragrant, you will think these small berry fruits are being stirred into a sugar syrup in your own kitchen. Bring on the shortcake, the cheesecake, or the ice cream...you will not be disappointed with the fragrance of this candle.

Strawberries & Creme interlude jar candle

Strawberries & Creme is a custom blend I also introduced last summer.  Providing a lighter, richer dose of strawberry, this fragrance adds a healthy dose of vanilla. What comes to mind to me is sliced strawberries on a bed of freshly whipped creme fraiche, ok, maybe yogurt if you're being healthy. 

Strawberry Jasmine interlude candle

Strawberry Jasmine is a new fragrance for 2012.  While inspired by this list of trendy fragrances for 2012, testing proved it to be fruity, floral and feminine, and an eastern flair to an early summer blend. The strawberry is fresh, sweet, and citrus, providing a rich undertone base, and jasmine adds top floral notes, creating a slightly exotic Asian blend.


All strawberry fragrances are 15% off throughout the month of June, and are available in home fragrances of candles, room &linen sprays, and diffuser oils, as well as bath & body fragrances of lotions, body wash, and body sprays. For a complete listing of available products, please visit my Etsy shop here. 

Want more strawberries? Check out my Pinterest board for recipes, crafts and more!

5 Steps to Posting Treasuries on Your Blog

In last week's post Blogging for Growth, I addressed some strategies I used recently to redesign my blog. Thank you for your comments and feedback!

Today, I want to share with you a "secret" strategy I use to create content while increasing traffic to my blog: Treasuries!!!

Many of my followers are owners of shops on Etsy, so you are aware of the benefits treasuries bring to your products. These pretty collections position our products in eye catching displays which increase our visibility throughout Etsyland. They act like shop displays bricks and mortars use to catch our attention. Additionally, these collections have a way of showcasing our products to those who might not otherwise find us in the vast virtual marketplace. And if we're super lucky, the Etsy gods will choose a gorgeous treasury featuring one of our products to showcase on the front page for an hour. Treasuries....we love them - don't we?

Here's a favorite of mine from the past week:

'Peachy Gifts' by ShariSilk

Set 5 needlecraft accessorie... GaffneyGirlStu... $7.95	Creamy Peach Goats Milk Hand... eleandhoney $7	Shabby Chic Coptic Stitched ... SeamsVictorian $42	Pink Camelia 10X10 Photograp... machelspencePH... $14.99
Custom order lace teapot an... Dprintsclayful $120	bridesmaid dresses / Romanti... FM908 $98	Personalized GRADUATION JOUR... EternalJournal... $14.95	LOVE in Letterpress topblocktype $32
Bubble Bracelet Peach trendy... Bellesansdire $11.99	Romantic Necklace Vintage St... ATwistOfWhimsy $22	Pastel Sunset Circle Texture... madhatterceram... $28	Peach earrings Rose Gold dan... Vitrine $24
Leather Peach Journal - Han... reneweduponadr... $24	Mango Papaya tea lights, 6 p... DLitesbyDorene $6.5	Post It Note Holder & Pen Se... GiftsNThisNTha... $5	Graduation Block Personalize... ekm43 $25

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Alas, creating treasuries is just not my thing. I know I should do more, as just curating a treasury brings visibility to one's store. But I just don't have the knack let alone the desire to create them. But I can promote them to others. So I comment and tweet about my gratitude.

Then it clicked.

Since I'm fairly adept at promoting...and I needed more content for my blog....why not add a day focused on treasuries? I could give these fantastic creations additional life in the virtual world while continuing to promote them.

I receive questions from time to time on how to make this happen. So, here you go:

• Choose the most gorgeous treasuries to feature your products. 
• Use a tool such as Craftcult or Treasury HTML Code Generator.
• Take a deep breath and create your blog (or at least the treasury portion) in html. (Trust me, you'll be ok at this.)
• Publish your blog.

And here's the most important step

• Promote the blog to others included in the treasury!

For every treasury you add to your post, you can draw 16 other people to see your wonderful creation! Be careful when you convo everyone that you don't use language to "sell" them on your blog. My convos basically say, "Our products were recently featured in this beautiful treasury, which I've included in today's blog. I hope this brings additional visibility to your shop!"

Word of caution - for this week's Treasury Sunday I used the widget from Craftcult. I find it to be a touch more user friendly than the code generator. However, I noticed in the email post I received on my blog (do you do this? If not, you should!), that the treasuries were not included in the email. The only graphic to come through was my "Advertising Opportunities Available". Glad that message got through, but not at the expense of being the only one. So in the future, I'll be using the code generator.

I've found that by including posts with treasuries, traffic to my blog has increased, followers to my shop have increased, I'm included in more treasuries than before, and I've even received some sales from grateful shop owners! Give it a try and let me know how using treasuries works for you!

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