A Bit of Shameless Self-Promotion - My Etsy Shop

Did you know that I design and sell personalised party invitations on Etsy? No? Well I do, and I thought it was about time I updated you all on some of my new designs - as well as the exciting news that MY ETSY SHOP IS NOW NON-PROFIT.
I have decided to donate 50% of the proceeds from my shop towards the work of the Children's Garden in Manila, after my recent trip there. It's something small I can contribute to this amazing work.
So now when you purchase one of my designs, you're also helping feed and clothe orphans and street kids in the Philippines.

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My Blog Design Webstore is Up and Running...

I've gone and gotten all flash on ya.
My little Blog Design service has been foundering with my humble self-coded PayPal buttons not working properly. I have no idea how many potential sales I've missed, but I finally got the chance to sit down and Google some better options.

After many dead ends and complicated, way-too-expensive alternatives, I finally stumbled across a shopfront website called Wix, which let me create and customise my own webshop, with loads of pre-designed templates to use as a jumping off point. This took me the better part of a day to do, but if you go there, you'll see how I was able to create different shop sections, a gallery, FAQ and contact pages. there's no limit on how many pages you create or how many images you upload.

***UPDATED***
I started off using the free version, not realising that the shopping cart was only available for the Pro eCommerce account. I discovered it when somebody tried to purchase a package and got an error message... I looked it up and discovered that I need to go pro if I wanted to sell stuff. Duh.

So I messaged Support at Wix and they got right back to me and gave me a discount code for 30% off. I bought a year's eCommerce package which comes with free domain and some adSense and Facebook Ad vouchers. It works out to just over $12 a month, with the discount.

Wix takes 0% commission on sales so I can sell as much as I want and they don't get a cut.

I'd love you to go visit my new venture - it's easily findable on my "Blog Design Service" tab under my (newly redesigned) header.

I've got a whole lot of options on there, not just complete makeovers.
You can get personalised sidebar button collections, custom designed social media buttons or even just a new header.

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER 
If anyone wants to test out the cart for me, I am offering Maxi makeovers at the same price as a Mini with coupon code: BLOG101.

My Greatfun Blog Design Webstore

If you want to help promote my store, have had a makeover by me and want to update your button or if you have benefited from my free buttons and blog tips, grab a button and spread the word...

<center> <a href=" http://greatfun4kids.wix.com/greatfundesign"><img border="0" src=" http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy162/donnasimone/Greatfun4kidsblogdesignbutton_zps01076245.jpg" width="180" height="180"/></a></center>

What do you think? Not bad aye?

 

I'm Branching Out... (new Custom Blog Design service)

Since I began blogging four and a half years ago I've learnt a thing or two. I've figured out how to manipulate html code, create buttons and make things click. I've shared what I've learnt with you, my readers, creating a whole page full of Blog Tips and How To's.

My social media buttons post is one of my most popular ever, with over 150 comments, all from bloggers who had been googling for hours/days/weeks trying to figure out how to  make/get the jolly things. I love helping fellow bloggers out.

I also love beautiful blogs. And helping other bloggers make theirs beautiful.
I love to share what I know, what I've learned. Happy to share my knowledge for free so you can DIY your own blog.

But not everybody is a DIYer. Not everybody feels confidant playing with images, fonts and colours. Some people are html-phobic.

I get that.
That's why today I decided it was time to start offering a custom blog design service. With my baby heading off to school soon, I'll have the time. I have the PayPal account.
Other people do it, why not me?
For the bloggers who love a pretty blog, but don't have the time or energy to fiddle and tweak their own.
I am here to help you. Now you can let me re-design your blog.

You can check out what I am offering on my brand new Custom Blog Design webshop.

<center> <a href=" http://www.greatfundesign.com/"><img border="0" src=" http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy162/donnasimone/Greatfun4kidsblogdesignbutton_zps01076245.jpg" width="180" height="180"/></a></center>

I can create Headers, grab buttons, social media buttons, sidebar buttons, buttons for memes and linkies or do a complete blog-design overhaul...

I don't impose my style or flavour on you, but want to hear who you are and what makes your blog tick.

My design for you will reflect that, not be a carbon copy of somebody else's.

So. Here I go. Launching out into the deep with another entrepreneurial undertaking.

Wish me luck (and check out my new design webshop!)

♥

Bonus Freebies and New Designs (in my Etsy Shop)

I've been busy at work today and yesterday on my wee Etsy Shop, GreatfunDesign.
I've added new listings, optimised my SEO and added bonus free party Printables for most of my Personalised Invitation listings.
My back is killing. My butt is numb. I'm starving. But I love it!

Did you realise I have an Etsy shop?
I've been giving away free printable party invitations for years, but recently decided to sell the personalised versions through Etsy.

Since I opened my shop I've sold five designs and had 100% happy customers. Not bad.
But it could be better.
I tried running "ads" but after two weeks and only one sale, I decided to stop spending money I don't have yet, and concentrate on perfecting my little shop and adding to my merchandise.

I'm loving Etsy. It is so easy to work with.
While hunting around last night, I discovered a cool free app called Etsy Shoptimizer which gave me a "report card" on each area of my shop and showed me what I needed to do to improve my chances for people finding (and choosing) me. Thanks to Shoptimizer I now have a straight-A shop, from previously being a giant "F".

As part of the process I added in a couple of new designs, and a new shop section: "Party Printables". This is for personalised printables, like individual Water bottle labels, goodie bag tags or place cards, where you send me your guest list and I send you some cool personalised printables for each guest. (I'll be adding to this section over time; right now there's only one design in there).

While I was at it I decided to make my invitations even more enticing by giving away something free with every sale. Printables I've already designed (soda bottle labels, thankyou cards, gift tags) which will hopefully add to the appeal and increase the value of what customers get by buying one of my personalised invitations...

Along with the party details, I add in the party child's photo, turning them into a fairy, a princess, a Jedi battling Darth Vader or Peter Pan.
I honestly love each and every design.

The bonus freebie printables are not too shabby either. Some of them you'll have seen before, others have been specially created to match the invitations...

1. Jurassic Juice Soda Bottle labels (free with Dinosaur Invitation)
2. Neverland "thankyou for coming" tags (free with Peter Pan Invitation)
3. Fairy Fizz Soda Bottle labels (free with Enchanted Forest Personalised Name Tags)
4. Star Wars Force Juice Soda Bottle Labels (free with Star Wars Invitation)
5. Royal Soda Bottle Labels (free with Princess Party Invitation) 
6. Red Injun Juice Soda Bottle Labels (free with Wild West Party Invitation)
7. Enchanted Forest tags (free with Enchanted Forest Fairy Invitation)
8. Pirate Punch Soda Bottle Labels (free with Pirate Party Invitation)
9. Boy vs Wild Water Bottle Labels (free with Boy vs Wild Adventure Party Invitation)

It doesn't matter where in the world you are because I email you the high-quality file and then you print off as many as you like, however you like. (If you're in New Zealand I can even get you a great deal on magnets).

So you can see I've been busy playing shops. I'd love you to come by, maybe *favourite* something, add me to your circles, or even share my designs with friends who have birthday parties coming up...?
I'd be eternally grateful.

Thanks a bunch ♥

I Opened a Shop

Here I am, sweeping the front step and laying out the welcome mat of my brand new Etsy Shop.
I've done it - gone back into the Personalised Invitations business, thanks to my savvy daughter Miss Fab.

There I was the other night, updating my Free Party Invitation Website and Miss Fab was looking over my shoulder.
"Whatcha doin' mum?" she asked.
"Adding in my new invitations," I said.
"Do you sell them?" she asked.
"No they're free," I told her.
"FREE???! You should sell them!" she exclaimed.
She got me thinking, mainly cos she's the second person to say that in the last two weeks.

I've been down that road before, back in the days when I was a blogging newbie.
Long before I'd ever heard of Etsy.
It was hard work for little return. Clumsy and messy and a pain.

So I made all my invitations simple, printable and free; I put them out into the world as a gift.
Here's a few of them (they're clickable)...



 
 But now... well... there's a proper merchant site with shopping carts and everything. It kind of changes things. Of course I am still offering the freebies, don't worry. But now I can personalise invitations for people without a headache (and maybe earn some dosh.)

So I've opened an Etsy shop. It's called GreatFun Design.
I've updated ten designs, and I'm offering them at NZ$15 for a digital copy of the invitation, personalised with your kid's photo (edited to look like a fairy or a dinosaur hunter or whatever) and party details. I plan to add other printables and more designs as time goes by and I figure out properly how it all works.

I've even created a discount coupon you can use:
Enter "BIRTHDAY1" at the checkout and you'll get 20% off.
(As well as a super-duper cool birthday invitation with your kid's face on it)

THE SHOP IS OPEN
please come visit!

♥