To Artfire or not Artfire?

I'm having issues with Artfire. But you intelligent ones could probably figure that out from the title.

Basically, I don't have time to concentrate on more than one shop. Well, if anyone happened to check out my iCraft shop, you'd see I have one photo sitting in it. I was planning on listing things, but damn, it kept giving me error messages so I just gave up. It wasn't very user friendly, but maybe because they were having site issues the one day I decided to fill it up? Who knows.

Plus, Google will drop any duplicate listings, and having the same items in so many places would just put me out in left field in google shopping searches. (y'know, the left field that no one visits because it's so overgrown with weeds and there's strange noises and it smells funny).

I was already having issues because all of my listings on Artfire were logged into Google Shopping, and NONE of my listings on Etsy were. So I changed all the names. It didn't seem to matter. And even though none of my Etsy listings were showing up in Google Shopping, my views on Etsy could run laps around my views at Artfire. (and give them black eyes and kick sand in their faces). So I've currently deactivated all of my listings in Artfire.

So why am I having issues with wanting to keep it? Well, because you don't have to be a member of Artfire to purchase from me. In fact, I've installed a "RapidCart" right here on my website so you can purchase directly from Ze Blog without having to leave. (and I really like keeping you all here! Maybe I should install some couches and serve coffee..)

But if no one is even looking at the listings on Artfire, what are the chances they're gonna BUY anything, right?!

Plus I'm working on trying to sell things directly on this website - Squarespace doesn't "support" any "carts" but I could technically have a page with all my product, and put in a paypal button, but I could send an invoice and yadda yadda yadda.

Does anyone out there have any suggestions/input/guidance/humourous anecdote?

With me starting a job soon, I'll have less time with my shop and such (and apparently it's already too difficult to post a 5 minute blog once in a while! yeesh!) So I'm thinking I should just downsize and stop paying the monthly fee on Artfire.

Alright, off I run... But first! A pic...

                                      

I know I complain a lot about my cat, but I do love him. And he's very sick. :( I'm gonna miss this guy!

Anyhoo, have a great day everyone! It's FRIDAY! WootWoot!

How freakin' cool is that!

Okay so, I'm still trying to figure out my Artfire account (and iCraft, and Zazzle, and... oy, too many to remember) and I was looking to find that little code thingy that I could put on this website so when you clicked on the Shop! link, it wasn't *just* showing my Etsy shop.

So there I was, clicking around, and I noticed Rapidcart. So now, if you click on the Shop! link at the top there, you'll see my Etsy shop, and underneath that, a display of my work listed at Artfire as well. BUT! You can purchase straight from that! You don't even need to bother going to Artfire, just click on the picture, add it to your cart, and walla!! How exciting is that!

A while back I was looking into adding a payment option onto Squarespace here, but it's currently not available to do that. Poop. That was kinda the point to starting my own website. I guess I should have researched it a tad? But the thing is, the dog is farting so bad right now I can't think or breathe.... I'll be right back...

Oy... room is clear. Wish he wouldn't do that, but it appears to be a favourite hobby of his. Atleast they're not as bad as the time he ate a veggie burger with us. Oh man. Although his breath stank worse than his ass. Never doing that again.

                                     

Anyways, like I was saying, but the thing is, squarespace is awesome in so many other ways, so I really did want a website here. But now with rapidcart, that's kinda like having a purchasing option on it, yes?? Maybe I need to fill up Artfire with more than I have at Etsy! Ya, that's it! I'm hip, I'm hip!

So today I'm filling up my time with feeling like complete poop, and trying to make my photo art cards look appealing. I've taken photos of them in the light box, but me thinks I need some on a nice clean looking cool desk or something like other peeps do. Now finding a nice clean looking cool desk might be a tad difficult... hmm.. I'll see what I come up with! Because these pics may show the card all nice and all, but it's not really "great picture worthy" material, yes?

                          

I get so freaked out with product photography because sometimes it really sucks. I'm apparently not that great at setting things up, but then again, shouldn't I be? I'm selling my photography here. Shouldn't my product photography be freakin' amazing or something? Don't want peeps to think I wasn't the one that took these photos hehe.

In other news, I'd love to go see Howie Mandel at the Oakville theatre in September. But it's $124 per ticket. Yikes. While I'm sure he's worth it, that's not exactly in the budget!

Off again my friends... Have a super fantabulous Friday!!