I actually dread to think where it will all be in another 10 or even 5 years, its getting far too advanced for my liking
5 Likes
I absolutely agree with you Debbie, it’s like a sci fi moving taking shape in real life
3 Likes
My step daughter is doing a reading at her son’s wedding and just sent it to me to ask if I can make it more readable as its rather a small font (and a bit paler than you want if you are shortsighted). I made it as big as I could and then my firiend, Chatgpt, did the rest and made the background whiter and the font darker. We even had a discussion about the merits of parmesan cream sauce on fish the other day. He promised he is not drinking reservoirs full of water 
3 Likes
Yes Debbie, I find it all a bit scary especially when my phone answers questions that my partner asked 
We end up with two phones answering, slightly out of sync so we can’t understand them anyway.
I’ve never used AI, is it that recognisable when you read it? Perhaps I’ve read it and not realised? What makes it stand out? The reason I’ve never used it is that I think relying on that kind of a tool will eventually make you very lazy when it comes to writing a description and you loose touch with English and grammar. Almost akin to when calculators first came out, made me very lazy with mathematics 
2 Likes
Made me laugh @JOYSofGLASS , I’m sure it’s useful but I do wonder where it’s all heading, five years ago I’d not even heard of AI.
We went for a meal the other night to Patrington Country club and they have robots that bring meals and drinks to the table but she can’t distinguish between the two so kept repeating ‘your meal has arrived’ when it was drinks. She also got confused and brought us a pint of Worthingtons that wasn’t for our table so we had to send her on her way. I can see before long there will be minimal staff and more robots.
2 Likes
Step Daughter when shown a photo of it, with Bob beside it for size, said.. that’s fine, husband can hold it up at the back of the room and i will be able to read it
1 Like
I think if you came across a description written solely by AI you would know, they are usually very elaborate and flowery, just over the top, like describing a scrunchie as a diamond.
I don’t think it can really be avoided and in the same way we had to get used to computers and mobile phones etc it will soon be a way of life but I still won’t ask it to write my descriptions lol.
I agree it will make people lazy, goodness knows what the next generation will be like.
I don’t like the way things are advancing but I do have google home in every room and people worried about them listening and using the info we gave them, I have arguments with mine when they mess up and play music that I don’t like.
I suppose it’s here to stay and we will have to get used to it or get left behind.
1 Like
Morning, can anyone help me please?
Which option is it to put an item at a discounted price?
Thank you
I’ve just managed to do this myself as a newcomer and found it easy after asking for help on here … click on the item you want to discount, click edit this item then scroll down to the price section. Hit the sale knob just under the price but don’t alter the price. Hitting the sale knob enables you to put in your sale price and folksy does the rest… don’t forget to hit save at the bottom of the page also. I hope that makes sense? If not I’m sure someone will be able to explain it better, but I found it easy to do after directions 
3 Likes
Thank you Jill, yes as I went back in to edit I spotted that too.
I’m adding items for the summer seconds event
2 Likes
You can put -ai after every search Debby, and it doesn’t show you the sunmary, just the web links.
Doesn’t always work brilliantly for very niche searches that have no web based results, but in the good old days we would have just changed our search questions. 
1 Like
For newcomers to Folksy, and us old hands that forget, there are loads of resources in the Folksy Blog or Sellers Handbook, that show how do do things like putting things on sale, or adjusting postage price for multiple items.
Everyone is super helpful here, but advice is frequently spread across different threads, and often repeated as it’s hard to find specific help unless the title is obvious.
The blog/handbook has most of the info people often ask about, neatly summarised into articles.
New shops will have had links to these resources (and lots more advice) in the series of Welcome emails you had when setting up your shop. If you didn’t get them, check your spam.
But if you want to just go straight there, here’s the main blog link Hello, we're Folksy | Folksy Blog, and here’s the Sellers Handbook, which sits in the blog
How to sell craft - a Folksy seller's handbook | Folksy Blog
And here is one of Folksy articles about getting found in AI searches
8 Likes
That’s an interesting list - and definitely food for thought.
1 Like
Hello, I see quite a few familiar names on this thread from my two month experiment over on the daily listing thread.
While not new, I feel new , as I’ve yet to sell anything on Folksy ! I used to have an account, with a previous business over on E* and did quite well, so thought I was fairly savvy. And I have also sold my silver jewellery in person with no problem at all - not even the slightest quibble about price.
However, tech marches on and I think I need an “update” .
The daily listing challenge was interesting and increased views considerably. But still nothing sold. Perhaps I need to improve my photos , or listing copy ? I know I should include some shots of how things are packaged. But any other thoughts welcome.
Is it just the case that most sales are generated by external activity - newsletters etc. Where do your sales come from ? Thanks Folksy pals, for your thoughts.
I think your photos are good and fresh to look at. Been quiet on here this month but always find August quiet due to the holidays. Prices for food etc has gone up and find hitting a lot of purses.
When I do make, which is not daily atm, post on Facebook, use meta on business fb, which automatically posts to insta. Schedule posts on my personal page as well. All posts hit at the same time. On a few groups on fb post to them at the same time, folksy do not advertise our shops down to us to promote as much as possible. I no longer do the challenge found it got too much and have almost walked away from the forum per se.
Just keep at it, not long until Christmas.
3 Likes
I do think your shop and your products are splendid!
To answer your question, sales come from a variety of sources. Of my most recent examples, one sale was directed via my own Instagram post, two came through Folksy search, but they were for discounted end of line greetings cards. These were my first sales here for a while, though my E*** sales have been a bit more consistent.
Your prices are very similar to my original art prices and they are a tough sell at the moment. There isn’t much money around for non essentials. Please don’t be tempted to reduce your prices. Your products look to be of high quality. I am a little concerned that only my bargain items are selling through Folksy search which means I have to work even harder to promote my other products on social media.
I also sell at physical markets which in turn generate further online sales although my E*** shop has been the main beneficiary of this route.
Do hang in there. We need genuine artisans on Folksy.
3 Likes
Folksy does not advertise, so it is still unknown. To get any sales you need to invest your own time and money to bring your own customers to your shop, whichever way you can, be that constant social media posts, paid ads, flyers, leaflets, email subscribers, anything you can to tell people you exist. It is a lot of hard work, so be prepared to put in all the hours you have on getting yourself noticed, and good luck.
3 Likes
Almost all of my sales seem to come from social media, I find Instagram better nowadays than facebook although I think one of my recent new customers came from FB. I also share new items to pinterest (although no idea what I’m doing on there 
) and Google.
I have local customers that buy direct and that’s where most of my commissions come from, most have been with me since I first started, in those days I did a few craft fairs and gained some local custom.
My high end items are mainly bought by collectors/return customers and although they are my most expensive items they are also my best selling so I don’t think you need to reduce prices, don’t undervalue yourself, your items look lovely.
If you make high end pieces reducing them too low can actually put customers off, people may question why and may presume cheaper materials have been used.
I think jewellery is one of the harder categories to sell in as there are far more jewellery/silversmiths than a lot of other crafts.
Hopefully sales will pick up nearer Christmas as your items are perfect to buy as gifts.
2 Likes
I’m happy to report 4 orders on August so far getting me off to a very fine start to the month.
Not on here as had to close my shop while I took a mini break as I’ve been unable to post, but, more importantly I am unable to tell customers thinking of ordering that I couldn’t post until tomorrow and be sure they knew that.
But yes people are still spending money. If you sell things which are good for gifting, people will still buy for birthdays and anniversaries etc
If what you sell appeals and you have worked to build up good SEO.
OOH make that 5
4 Likes
Thank you for your thoughts and encouragement.