Social Shopping Networks Part Two--This Next

I discovered ThisNext when a fellow jewelry artisan recommended one of my necklaces...thanks August Studios!!


ThisNext  sends visitors down one of three paths: Discover, Recommend and Shopcast. The discover section lets users browse products recommended by others. Clicking on a item allows them to add it to their wishlist, recommend it, or find out where to buy the product. Users can recommend products by creating themed lists, or simply by clicking on an easy to install 'Add to ThisNext' browser button.

Appealing to the blogging crowd, ThisNext's standout feature is shopcasting: bloggers can create small banners for their website. These shopcast badges either display their own recommendations or those of the ThisNext community, broadcasting the products they love or must have.

So I started playing around with it and here's what I came up with:

zurdesigns' recommendations at ThisNext

Powered by ThisNext. Get Widget!

And this is the blogcast

Here are some sweet products I discovered at ThisNext. Check them out!

There is also a way to post this information directly to Blogger or TypePad and code to embed for other blog types.

ThisNext, unlike some of the other social shopping networks does not have groups so it's a bit more challenging to find other handmade artisans using this network.  They do have a rich and lively community which is highlighted by its Maven Program.  Mavens are the leading and most influential members of the ThisNext community. They are the tastemakers and trendspotters that make ThisNext such an awesome place to be. They find the most unique products from the coolest stores, find them first, and write informative and interesting recommendations.

ThisNext is definitely worth a look-see if you are looking to get your products seen in a wide audience.  The tools make it simple and easy to use because we all know that time is our scarcest resource in running our handmade indie business!  Have fun with ThisNext!! 

Social Shopping Networks Part One--Kaboodle

I have recently been experimenting with social shopping networks as a way to promote my own designs and to 

promote my fellow artisans as well. Sites like Kaboodle, 

This Next, and Wist have spearheaded a category of e-commerce sites called "social shopping" in an attempt to combine two favorites online activities: shopping and social networking.

In today's post, we are going to talk about Kaboodle.

I must admit, I began using Kaboodle because it is one of the sharing options in Etsy, whether you are listing a new item, sharing a favorite item from someone else's shop, or promoting a beautiful treasury. But Kaboodle has a lot more to offer above and beyond that.  

Kaboodle is a social network based on shopping and can put you in touch with other shoppers who have similar interests in products. Kaboodle also features product reviews, and as you grow to know the community, the product reviews become more relevant since you'll recognize some of the reviewers. A handy bookmark allows you to recommend your own products as you browse the web.

And as with every social network, the more time you take to build a targeted community, the better you will do with Kaboodle.

Additional features include:

• Lists--whether you know it or not, if you are sharing an item from your Etsy shop or your favorite treasury, you are creating a list on Kaboodle.  There are pre-made list titles such as "Things I Love" or you can create your own lists.  For instance I have a list for items recently listed in my shop.
• Styleboards--where you can make a collection of some of your own work, or some of the favorites from other artisans--here's an example of an actual styleboard!

Delightful... by triplyksis

• Blogazine--a great way to help promote your items and those of other handmade artisans; you can create a style board and include that in your blogazine or you can blog about some of your favorite picks!
• Polls--you can create your own polls for other members to vote on...you can also take polls on a wide range of shopping topics including, "which dress should I wear to my boyfriend's sister's wedding?"  This could be great additional exposure for for your own designs or those of your fellow artisans!
• Groups-this is usually how I find friends within the handmade industry; by looking at groups that are either related to Etsy, handmade, crafts, or art...you can pretty much find your peeps.  There are groups of all types and forums within each group.  This is a great way to get your links out there, meet new artisans and build your community within Kaboodle

Given the fact that Kaboodle is one of the sharing choices connected within Etsy, you owe it to yourself to maximize the effect of sharing your own newly listed items, your favorite items, or those wonderful treasuries!  When you have a minute, give Kaboodle a try! Oh and follow them on Facebook and Twitter!

Next week I'll talk a bit about This Next! Stay Tuned!