A week of vlogging through the disaster! Time to rescue my biggest income stream (if I can)

[@sarahc2533]

I relate to so many of the things you're saying... it can be hard to concentrate and motivate yourself and it's a constant balancing act between pushing yourself and not getting too stressed. I watched one of your more recent videos (I'm typing this 30 Apr 24), and you're doing so well now I decided to go back and watch your earlier videos for some motivation. Well done!

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

Yes, slowly but surely I’m getting somewhere!

[@nickiford6083]

I so agree with your love/hate series watching mentality! I have some KZbin channels I watch because they annoy me that way too, but I'm new to your channel and really enjoying all the vids I've watched so far. Wishing you all the best for continued success - and I'll be here watching!

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

Oh I am always on the lookout for something I love to hate that I can watch while I work 😂 Anything that make me eye roll 🙄 or tut like an old woman and I’m there!

[@ComedorDelrico]

I think you are absolutely killing it. You're managing your nervous system, getting outside and getting exercise. You've gotten a ton of photos and listings done on the day this was filmed, really stepping up to the plate when you need to get things back in shape. I predict your scrapbook paper class will be a great success---after all, you're an experienced teacher. And I think you're going to have a great December on KDP. All of this is from a handful of income streams you've created from your own original art, business acumen, knowledge, and creativity. YOU ARE AMAZING!!! Other random thoughts: I know it's not much consolation when your income is floundering, but your hair looks lovely. :) One of the great things about hate-watching a show that is actually rubbish, is that you can just have it on in the background while you get things done. If it were a truly great show, it would be too captivating and you'd be too distracted by it to focus on your work. I hope you will bless us all with a week of vlogs, but of course I understand if you don't. Thanks for this video! 💗

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

Oh THANK YOU!! That’s such a comforting and encouraging comment 🙂 And you’re right! I put rubbish tv on in the background while I work. Yesterday was The Garage Sale Mysteries - definitely didn’t need to concentrate on that 🤣

[@ComedorDelrico]

The Garage Sale Mysteries sounds delightfully terrible. 😂@@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries

[@AliWade1971]

Great video. I am looking forward to your scrapbook paper class ❤

[@gracegibson9865]

As always I love your transparency, it is great to see the real side of selling online. I completely understand the panic and anxiety, I deal with it too. Routine and getting outside to walk is what works for me as well. Our ships may wander off course at times, but if we keep at it...we will regain control! Onward Captain Mel! Looking forward to hearing more about the courses you will be offering!

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

Thank you Grace, I love hearing your kind words and wisdom 🙂 PS. I might adopt “Captain Mel” as a new nickname 🤩😁😆

[@TaylorHaselton]

Congratulations on having a video take off! Love when that happens. I hope you get your income up. You can do it!

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

Thank you! Still trying just to cover everything but hoping it will all come together somehow. That video has definitely helped but it’s just a one-off so can’t rely on it. So glad I have more than one income stream as I’d be in a right state otherwise 😱🫣😄

[@MouseRetirement]

Last night I worked out my year to date is running 50% down on eBay! Ok I've still got two months to go but that's not going to bring it back to usual. Yikes!!!

[@VioletStilettos]

I thought at the start of this how well you were managing, sitting down writing a list and actually going through it. It is so easy to panic and not be able to see through that fog, I have done it too many times in the past. When I got stuck in a rut with reselling I would list my way out of it, I did find that it would also boost activity to my store. Scheduling the listings to make it seem as though I was consistently listing 1 or 2 items a day seemed to really boost it than just binge uploading...it has been a while since I have properly used eBay though. As always your honesty is refreshing and I feel like I can relate, you can do this Mel. When you are in the zone you absolutely smash it, don't let that panic haze set in. We have just taken the house off the market, we didn't have the attention that we thought we would but then again everything around our area seems to have round to a halt. With the rates falling and a slight change in salary we are going to be able to stay and not have to live on beans on toast. My books are ticking over now it's Q4 and I have dropped the ads which probably means I am selling less but the profit is the highest I have had so far...probably because it is also Q4. I have just under a year until my little one starts school, I am going to try and focus on 1 income stream to build in that time to allow me to work from home. I just need a plan...

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

Thank you so much for this I loved reading it. I said to my OH this morning that I don’t really have anyone to talk to about business apart from my connections in here because nobody I know is doing the same thing or understands what it is when I try to explain!!! Houses down my road that always sell quickly are now hanging about for weeks if not months. Something has definitely changed and we’ve put off moving too. Will probably sit it out until there’s a shift in the economy that we can actually feel working in our favour!

[@becfisher759]

Would love to see a vlog! My online things are on life support at the moment...people really tightening the purse strings. Good luck!

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

Oh yes, life support is a good description 😱😂

[@gastricmindset9891]

Me too. I always wish they were longer.😊

[@happybunny1329]

A lot of reseller channels seem to be talking about a slow period on Ebay recently. One thing they all say is that you need to list continuously to sell, and so if you've been listing irregularly in the last couple of months, this may have been enough to knock the shop off it's usual pattern. I was also wondering if, with Christmas coming up, you have any craft fairs or craft markets locally where you could take a bagful of your ebay jewellery and try and sell a batch of it locally to get some quick sales. You wouldn't believe how many people buy gifts for themselves while Christmas shopping! And jewellery is perfect for capturing impulse buys. :)

[@Laser2120]

Its not true about the continuously listing having any effect on sales other than the obvious less items on = less sales, eBay addressed that question at one of their events things. What was interesting is what they said after, what really has an effect on your store things like fast dispatching, good interaction, basically if traffic going to you is turning into good smooth quick transactions their system will prioritize yours over others that don't.

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

It’s definitely (for me) going up and down far more than it used to. I’ve got 5 years to compare and there’s a change. I’m adjusting my expectations of it for next year which I think will be healthy, especially as I have other income streams I’d like to build up. Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@happybunny1329]

Thank you... I do enjoy watching your vids! Hoping you do decide to do a week of vlogs, and looking forward to the scrapbook paper class if it gets off the ground. :)@@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries

[@AudreyStar17]

It's a good process to see, though, that you're human! I hope it picks up for you! And what show are you watching? I couldn't understand what you were saying or what show that could be!

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

Thank you! I hope it picks up too, but if it doesn’t it might give me the push I need to lean into other things. The tv show is called Marcella 🙂

[@S.p.a.c.e.C.o.w.b.o.y]

My October is half that of last year (High content KDP) so slightly reassured I'm not alone. I decided I'd not run ads this year to see the organic sales. It seems inflation is taking it's toll this year, a tin of Heinz beans is now £2 not to mention fuel bills etc. Hopefully Nov Dec pick up the slack. All the best.

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

I’m so sorry to hear that your income has taken a dip. Hopefully it’s temporary. My KDP hasn’t changed much but the Etsy and eBay has plummeted. Hopefully I will figure out a way through it all 🤞🏻🙂

[@shellsterooney]

Could you sell items which are in a less overcrowded category? I love selling jewellery but the cost of getting it seen on ebay can be prohibitive. Obv no point in listing an item which ends up with an unreasonably small amount of profit.

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

I’ve definitely considered selling other things but re-introducing smallish vintage items on Etsy has been mostly awful as the time it takes to package items makes it hard to stick to part time hours. Having said that I have some vintage postcards to try on Etsy as I figure they will be quick to list and package and not take up storage space. All three of those things are an absolute must for me! If I can think of anything else small and easy I’ll happily give it a try!

[@Miranda.19]

I started kdp in May and This Month I made $7.59, this is one of my highest selling month. I usually only get 2 or 3$ but yeah I heard of other people who didn’t make more of what they usually do

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

Hi, good luck with KDP! I don’t actually talk about KDP in this video - it’s not that income stream that has dipped 🙂

[@Miranda.19]

@@SparrowsEndBusinessDiariesohh I knoww, I just wanted to state that for my situation

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

Oh of course! I misunderstood 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’m struggling to keep up with comments at the moment so I don’t always connect them with the video they are linked with properly!

[@ZacandOllie]

Hi Mel sorry this is the case at the moment. You are always so inspiring. May I ask what the podcast was called? It sounds really interesting. I have to admit, I struggle to stay calm 😊

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

I think it was an episode of “Letters from a Hopeful Creative” but I’d need to double check. It was about generating cash flow in your business.

[@ZacandOllie]

@@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries smashing thanks.

[@nnekakelly]

Keep swimming:-)

[@SparrowsEndBusinessDiaries]

Thank you!