Holiday Boot Camp Week 3

I can't believe week 3 has come and gone!  It has been a rather productive week for me, although not so much on the desired out come of this weeks tasks.  So here we go!

Task 1: Get to Know Your Camera
Great reminder of all the great and simply things that most cameras can do these days.  Knowing these basic things can definitely help improve your photographs!

Task 2: Guide to Photography
Wow is there a lot of information there!  Great for any type of business.  I actually got my camera out and played with the different functions as I read about them and jotted down some ideas that sprung from the suggestions of the authors.  I also got out the manual to my camera to figure out how to best use some of the functions it has to my advantage.

Task 3: Photograph Holiday Packaging
I haven't actually decided on this yest so I couldn't photograph it.  I'm worried that my prices will have to increase to accommodate a higher shipping fee.  I'm afraid the boxes I want to use will increase the size and cost of shipping.

Task 4: Mastering Depth of Field
I wish my camera was a little more advanced.  I tried the different steps and suggestions for depth of field, but my camera just doesn't seem to have the capability to make much of a difference from the low to high end.

Task 5: Photo Critique
Well I didn't take any photos, so there is nothing for my buddy to critique.  My buddy is also focusing on adding items, so there was none for me to help her with either.  But I did try and help out Baby Swank with her photos.

Task 6: Add New Photos to Listing
Once again, if I had taken actual photos I may have been able to do this, but alas I didn't.  Once I get my new holiday stuff done I will come back and check these off.

In the next post I will show you what I did get done this week!  I have finished 3 hats in the last 2 week and 2 pair of rain boot booties!

Holiday Boot Camp Week 2

I'm not behind this week and it feels great!!!  While I am still slightly behind on getting Holiday items made and listed, I have a plan and this week's To Do List helped me sooo much!!!

Task 1: Stocking up for the Holiday
This article helped realize there is so much more information I should be putting in my listings to help buyers realize what a great item I have!  Made me realize that the way I shop for gifts may not be the way my buyer is going to shop for a gift!

Task 2: Holiday Project Worksheet
Great work sheet!!!  Definitely helped me put onto paper some of the things that have been floating around in my head.  Like who would my items be for and who would buy them for that person.   And how can I make them an even more appealing gift.  The one thing I noticed is that I have 2 general price ranges: Under $10 and Under $25.  For now this will probably have to stay the way it is.

Task 3: Create To Do List for Holiday Products
This task probably helped me the most!  I'm always making lists, Love lists!  My problem, I write them and end up losing them.  I've started using my Google account more and more in the last few weeks and this week I decided to put my To Do List on my main Google page where I can see it daily, from anywhere.  I can (and have) applied due dates and broken things down from a bigger To Do into the little tasks it will take to accomplish the main goal.  I always feel more accomplishment when I can check off the smaller things.



Task 4: Forum Thread
I've actually kept up with this weeks thread and I feel great about having offered advice and gotten advice from others.  The comments in the threads have given me some great ideas for how to change my listings and hopefully get more views on them.  Plus there are so many small things I can do to improve how the items look when they are shipped out the door!

Task 5: Consult Your Buddy
Well, I'm using you as my buddy.  Along with the weekly forum threads.  I'm not really "consulting" but I am staying accountable to you.

Task 6: Search Ad Stats
I have no gotten into the search ads yet, but I plan to in the beginning of November.

So there you have it.  I have been motivated to accomplish tasks that I have been putting off for some time and I'm very excited to be checking things off my To Do List!