Challenge suggestion

[Liz]

So I had a thought to maybe draw some more votes to our next creative challenge. What if the person coming up with the challenge offered a small prize as a giveaway that we could give to a voter. It was just a thought.

[The Crochet Queenn]

HOW ABOUT WINNER TAKES ALL!!! I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY FUN.

[Nora of Noradora & NoradoraMora]

I don't know that this would work as we have had people who's challenge item has sold before the challenge was over.....and not sure that they would want to make another to give away!
Nora

[Liz]

I like some of these ideas. I know others have commented about number 1. I can see the pros and cons and can't see why we can't have 2, 1 on ning and 1 on etsy.

Number 2 is what my other team does and then we all try to get treasuries to feature those items in. If nothing else it has helped with my views.

I like number 3 too.

[Nora of Noradora & NoradoraMora]

When we had the chat on Etsy ...no one came to ning to post!

[Liz]

I would say the advantage is replying directly to a certain comment and a little more privacy depending on what you want to post.

[Nora of Noradora & NoradoraMora]

I agree Liz .....I seldom replied to the Etsy Chat when we had it cause the thing I wanted to reply to was 6 pages before and who would know what I was talking about.

[Nora of Noradora & NoradoraMora]

I personally don't like etsy for 2 reasons...1 you can't post to the exact link to answer someone and 2 it is not as private as ning is and ning is our home base...as has been discussed many times before. I know you can't get to ning during the day...but is that the reason to go away from ning. It was said many times when we had the Etsy Chat thead they never went to ning...so they wouldn't come to ning if we did it that way. Of course our new leader will probably change many things when she takes over.

[Doris M. Sturm]

I noticed that since we have had a CHAT section in Ning, a lot of the regulars who used to post have dropped off, stating that they liked posting on Etsy because other Etsians could see them and they felt they weren't as secluded as in Ning that is confined to participating members. I cold name a few who have joined other crochet teams because they chat in the Etsy Forums, but I won't.

I have stopped participating as much because I have noticed the decline in this team and concentrated more on my own blog which I find more rewarding and enjoyable, but understand that's not right nor fair, since there's always something to do here, even if just to look at other team members items or make a new friend. It just not been as fun as it once was when there was more members chatting, posting or whatever. Our chat feature in here is never used - I never see anyone actually chatting - do you?

My other team, the Etsy Honey Bee Helpers has folded as well due to non-participation and the same excuses about "I didn't know" or "nobody told me" when everything is right here in Ning (same as it was with the honeybees) - but nobody came to Ning to read, so it was just the teamleader and I - and dragging and trying to educate every single person became simply too exhausting.

I remember when I first joined I knew nothing and I'm sure made some stupid comments, but I started to read EVERTHING and made it my mission to be informed and if I didn't understand something I just wrote to a member - any member - and asked...people can't help you if you don't ask.

I think it's confusing the way Etsy says to join a team as if it is just something you do to get sales up...most people who join teams just do it because it's what's suggested on Etsy when you first join and a lot of members are brand new Etsians (as was I) who didn't have the foggiest idea of how Etsy even works...so you're dealing with a brand new Etsian who still has to learn the Etsy ropes and has to learn the team thing...

I think that before a member is allowed to join a team, they should be familiar with the basics in Etsy and have read all the Team FAQs and they got totally confused by it, be asked to wait on becoming a member until they learn something....I mean it's either really screen people in the beginning or loose them along the way, which I think is even more frustrating...

[Nora of Noradora & NoradoraMora]

All great ideas...and they would work for some but not for others!

[Julie - RedBerryCrochet]

Hey ladies, just wanted to pop in and add my 2 cents. I don't know why the question about the chat thread being moved to Ning keeps coming up, it's been answered so many times! But the reason is like Nora said, Ning is our home base, it always has been, and I wanted to boost the participation here, and plus all our team news and announcements are here.

The reason we didn't have monthly Challenges and and monthly sales events is because these events are a lot of work! I couldn't even get someone to commit to 1 blog post a week. And frankly the less participation there was, the less I was willing to do for the team. It's hard for you all to realize how much work is involved in being a team leader, I realize that, but also remember that I was doing this for free, and my own shop suffered because of it.

Anyway, hopefully your new team leader will make changes to satisfy you all :)

[Julie - RedBerryCrochet]

That's okay Val, I realize it wasn't a popular decision with several members. But I was hoping that the promo thread would really get the participation and attention of buyers/Etsians in place of the chat thread.

[Pam Todd]

Have a bit of time to catch up today, so just read through this thread. I am so sorry for all the frustration and negative feelings about the team. I don't have answers. But, a few comments.

Challenges are fun, but sometimes people don't have or make things that match the theme. I apologize for not voting, even though I entered an item, in the last challenge. Time just got away, and when I thought to check it out, the winner was chosen.

I can't imagine being the team leader, having all that responsibility (especially different kinds of tracking to do) and still have time to crochet. Julie, thank you so much. And, Sally, best wishes to you as you take over as our new leader.

Really can't think of anything that could really cheer you all up. Just sending positive vibes your way, wishes for sales, times to create, good health, and anything else you need.