Swap & Tell Link Up
Has Officially Ended!
Thank you to all who participated!
If you are a shop owner (i.e. someone with goods or services), my three co-hosts and I would like to invite you to Swap & Tell, where you can trade products with other shop owners and review / get reviewed in a blog post or on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
Why a product swap?
As shop owners and creative people, we value our product and want others to value it too. This means advertising and reaching people by word of mouth. The best advertising comes when someone talks about your product to those they know. When you send one of your products in a swap, think of it as an advertising investment.
How Does It Work?
Participants will link their product to swap from their blog, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram account. After completing a swap with another shop owner each participant will blog, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest about what they got and link back to the shop it came from in a new post the following week. Specifics about the rules of exchange will be posted with the link up.
Who Can Participate?
Anyone in the U.S. with
A) a product or service ~ Etsy shop owners, Website owners, brick and mortar shop owners, consultants, designers, etc.
and
B) a blog, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram account
What Kind of Product or Service Can I Link Up?
Whatever you sell that you would like to swap, whether it’s goods or services. Handmade items, vintage wares, beauty products, clothing, jewelry, books, linens etc. are all acceptable goods. One of the services I will be swapping is a custom graphic design element, such as a button design, a blog banner or logo.
By participating in Swap & Tell, you can expect:
* Exposure for your shop: Your products/shop will be introduced to new audiences
* Opportunities to help fellow shop owners: Great and unexpected things happen when you extend kindness to others
* New connections with other shop owners: Networking opens up new collaboration possibilities and new friendships
Q. Is this link up like others for general posts about DIY, recipes, decor, etc.?
A. No, this link up is tailored to shop owners for the promotion of their products and services.
Q. How do I let someone know I would like to swap products?
A. Just visit as many links as you like and leave a comment with the one you want to swap with
Q. Do I have to swap every week?
A. When you swap and with whom is completely left to your discretion. Remember, it’s all about promoting and helping one another. A swap means a review for your product too!
Q. If no one “bites” can I offer the same item the next week?
A. If you don’t make a successful swap you are free to offer the same item again.
Q. Can I offer gift cards in the swap?
A. Absolutely!
Q. Does the product or service I offer need to be of a certain monetary value?
A. No, the range of items offered will be varied, both in type and value. It is up to each participant to decide the suitability of the value of their item as well as the item of those offering to swap. Again, the value of the swap is in more than the products received, but in the exposure you will receive from reviews.
Q. What about shipping?
A. Exchange address info with your swap partner. Each person will pay shipping
for the item she/he is sending.
Q. I only have large items in my inventory that can be costly to ship. How can I participate?
A. Yours is a case for when gift cards are the perfect swap.
Q. Will I receive a plug for my shop on the party?
A. Although there will be featured swaps from time to time, the “plug” you will receive will be from whoever you swap with, not on the party itself.
Q. Will you offer sponsorship spots?
A. As the party grows we will offer sponsorship spots.
Q. How long will the link up stay open?
A. Each link up will be live for 4 days.
Q. What are the time requirements for shipping the product?
A. Please be prepared to ship your product no later than one week from the time the swap ends. (The timetable for services will be worked out between those swapping.)
Q. What are the time requirements for posting the review?
A. Reviews should be posted no later than two weeks from the time the swap ends.
(The review timetable for services will be worked out between those swapping.)
Q. What is required in the review?
A. The review should contain a photo of the product received; your own scoop on the product; and a link back to the product, shop or person (their choosing)
*The review for services may or may not include a photo, details to be worked out between those swapping
Q. Can my link be from Etsy, or does it have to be from a blog, Facebook, etc.?
A. Yes, you can link directly from your Etsy shop.
Q. If I don’t have a blog how can I post a review?
A. If you don’t have a blog, you must have Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram on which to post a review.
It’s all about promoting and helping one another. The value of the swap is in more than the products received, but in the exposure you will receive from reviews.
A swap means a review for your product too!
Word of mouth advertising = traffic = sales!
Oh this sounds fun! I am excited! Thanks for the invite!
And I’m excited that you’re excited!
This sounds like fun. I was wondering if vintage items will be allowed?
Donna, they’re not only allowed, they’re encouraged!
What a great idea! I’ll have to read this through a little more thoroughly. I do not have a blog, but I have lots of very cool stuff, and would love to participate. I’m in!
So glad to have you join Cynthia! After reading through it, if you have any questions feel free to ask away!
Sounds like fun Ann. I’m not a blogger and I would like to participate. I need to figure out how to email a picture. It’s probably quite easy, but I’ve never been shown. This is an outstanding idea and thank you for the invitation.
Hi Dixie! Yes, emailing a picture is a piece of cake. If you use outlook, when you create a new message you’ll want to look for the paper clip symbol, click on that and then choose the file (picture) that you want to send. I’m happy to answer any questions if you get stuck. : )
what a great idea! I’ll have to dig through my closet and will plan link up if I can find something. Thanks for the email.
~Ellen
http://www.everydayfancy.com
Hi Ellen! Looking forward to seeing what you find!
Sounds fun! I won’t be around this week, but maybe next time.
hugs,
Jann
This sounds like a great idea. I will be looking around the house for something to offer up.
Oh I’d be so happy to have you join in!
Great idea! I’m in!
Yay Catherine, I’m so glad. It will be fun!
This sounds like fun!! I just might hafta join in!!
Shelly
I would love that Shelly! It goes live at 7pm and will be open for at least 5 days.
Oh, this looks like so much fun! I’m definitely excited for next week.
Great idea. :)
Thank you Tina! I’m excited too!
I love this idea!
Hi there Kirby! Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you can make it for the swap soon!
This sounds like a really cute idea….I’m leaving for NY tomorrow and will have to see what I can find for you next swap!
JP
Great idea! I would love to participate! Thank you for hosting this event!
I can’t wait for the swap to start. Look forward to seeing you there, Gigi!
Great Idea – great minds. I plan on participating. Although my Etsy shop opened long ago, I have just recently begun to list items.
Looking forward to the swap! Kathy
Hi Kathy! How exciting that you have started listing items! I’m so glad you plan to join the swap!
Saw the post on Donna Distressed Down Home and came over to find out what was going on. Well, it sounds like GREAT fun and the most original idea I have seen in a long time! I am really looking forward to participating!
Yay, that makes me happy! Thank you Suzan!
I’ll participate! Can’t wait! and thanks for the opportunity.
Yay, I can’t wait either! Looking forward to seeing you there!
I am interested too!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mindiemay
Oh good Mindie! See you next Wednesday!
Ann,
I just watched the video which answered my questions. I think you need to tell people, like me, to “Watch this for more details!” or something to that effect it would be helpful. You know, we get so used to the “talking heads” on the Internet who never really say anything, I think my mind was programmed to not watch it. When I did, you answered all the questions I had, and then some. You did a great job on your first video by the way. I do have a thought. I would love to meet and network with shop owners who have blogs and are within 100 miles of my zip code. I realize a lot of people sell on line so that part isn’t important to them. I’m just putting another bee in your bonnet. Maybe there could be a location map or a field where we could put our location? Thanks for all you are doing!
Ginene
Thanks, Ginene. You’re so kind. I like bees, and you know what? I sell online and meeting people in my area who sell and blog IS important to me. So I love your idea! I’m going to add a field for location today. Great thinking!