Sites Like Etsy, But Free

www.driftwoodmall.com

In an attempt to look for sites like Etsy, but free, I had an inspiration. I love Etsy, and I still continue to sell successfully on the site, but like many people, I was looking to find alternatives. When you have handmade goods and interesting supplies to sell, there's no harm in listing them in more than one place, especially when they are selling on a regular basis.

I couldn't find any sites like Etsy that were free and suited my needs. I tried Bonanza and never had any luck. I do make handcrafted items, but I also like to sell natural supplies, like driftwood, shells and various cool and interesting things from the woods. So many other people are more creative than I am, and I like to provide supplies to those people and see what is created with them. I've had success in the past selling items like this, and I've often had people approach me to find out how they could become sellers of similar items.

This is how Driftwood Mall was born. The site is an online marketplace, very much like Etsy. It offers FREE listings, which is great since you never really know whether something is going to sell, until you list it and people come flocking. If you are a seller of handmade items, natural supplies, creative art or recyclable materials, you are invited to apply for a shop.

How Driftwood Mall is Like Etsy:

• online marketplace for buying and selling handmade goods
• seller payment goes to straight through Paypal upon confirmation of sale
• users can favorite items and share via Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and more
• offers a blog (small at the moment) with related tips for buyers and sellers

How Driftwood Mall is NOT Like Etsy (but better...shhhh):

• no listing fees!
• seller payment is sent to Paypal immediately, and commission comes out of that payment. This means no monthly bills and no waiting for payment to be deposited based on certain conditions
• no added site shipping fees. This means that customers know exactly what they will be paying without being surprised by added shipping costs upon checkout.
• no vintage items that aren't handmade. I love vintage, but these items get in the way of the true spirit of creativity. 
• more specific categories that open up brand new markets and inspiration. Some of these include recyclable materials, natural supplies and half-finished projects.
• available sister blog where you can request one of your products for a feature post
• a small site at the moment (but we're open to changing that fast!) Smaller means customer service right now is fast and personal. If you have questions, we've got fast answers.
• viral contests available. Donate an item and watch traffic flood to your shop as people share your items on Facebook and Twitter to gain entries in the contest. (Email shop (at) driftwoodmall (dot) com to inquire now about donating an item for the contest...or contact us from the site.)
• sellers are encouraged to share links to their Etsy shops, as well as their personal websites. We believe in abundance. There's enough to go around and everyone deserves a piece.

How Driftwood Mall is NOT Like Etsy (and maybe not so good ways):
we are a growing site that launched in May of 2012. Started by one person in a living room, this was an enormous project that spawned entirely from drive and passion. We don't have as many cool bells and whistles in place yet, but if you join and help us spread the word, all that is listed in this section may fall right into place.

• Etsy just added cool functionality to accept credit card payments without using Paypal. Currently, Paypal is the only payment option available at Driftwood Mall
• No forum (yet!)
• Not as well known yet, but you can help fix that as well.

Sell Shells, Beach Treasures and More!

Sell Shells, Beach Treasures and More Online!

Did you know that you can sell shells online? Everyone loves to collect seashells, but very few people have access to beautiful, natural shells from different coasts and seashores. No matter what shape or size of shells you like to collect, you can put them online for sale and earn money at home.

Where Can I Sell My Shells?
Driftwood Mall is a new online marketplace that offers natural supplies, like seashells, beach glass, driftwood, bark, acorns, pine cones and so much more. In addition to craft supplies from nature, sellers can also list handmade arts and crafts, recyclable materials and other interesting and creative items. Listing on the marketplace is free and all you have to do to begin selling shells is sign up for a free account and click Apply for a Shop.

Why Do People Buy Shells?
The world is full of inspiration and creativity, and so many people have found their passion in the arts. Driftwood Mall pairs creativity with nature by offering a way to buy and sell one-of-a-kind art and unique creations made from natural and creative materials. People buy shells for many different reasons. Some might use them to make breathtaking seashell wreaths or wedding centerpieces. Others use tiny shells for jewelrymaking and beading crafts. Larger shells might be used for home decor or landscaping purposes. The list is endless and this is the reason that shells sell online.

Sell Shells Online Now
If you already love to collect seashells from your local beach, or you're interested in turning an interest into a money-making hobby, visit Driftwood Mall to begin selling shells and other natural items. We'd love to sign you up as the newest vendor in our marketplace and welcome your collections, treasures and creative handiwork.

Sell Driftwood

There are a million and one ways to make money. Did you know you can even sell driftwood? You can sell anything, really, if you know where to market it. Sometimes it's better to leverage the power of other people's talent, rather than recreate the wheel. If you want to sell driftwood, I've got just the place for you to do that.

Driftwood is a glorious part of nature's ebb and flow. It really just consists of pieces and parts of trees that have drifted for days, weeks, months or even years over rivers, through the ocean waves or tumbling around in other waterways. Driftwood is always unique, always special and often inspiring of creativity and artistic talent.

Many people have daily access to driftwood, but only those people who live near accessible waterways. Landscapers, artists and woodcrafters often have a need for certain shapes, sizes and types of driftwood that they either cannot find themselves or don't have the time to search for. If you have driftwood, or know where to get it, you can sell driftwood pieces to these people via the website Buy Driftwood For Sale.

If you would like to sell driftwood, whether it's large or small, straight or twisted, round or square, check out the website and use the contact form to inquire. There are no listing fees and your commission will come out of the sale of each piece. Put on your walking shoes, load up your pickup truck, get out your digital camera and sell driftwood for a profit.

Peer to Peer Lending, 3 Ways to Earn

I'm always on the lookout for ways to make money online and I discovered something this evening that I hadn't heard of before. It's called peer-to-peer lending and the program works pretty much how it sounds. I need money, you have money, you let me borrow money and I pay you back. Of course, it's a bit more complicated than that, but what a dream come true!


I've actually had this bright idea myself, but I wouldn't have been creative enough to call it peer-to-peer lending. It's a great concept and with the program I found, there are actually 3 ways to earn money. Depending upon which side of the coin your lifestyle ends up on, you'll find that at least 2 of these ways to earn might pertain to you.

1. Borrow Money
You can sign up with this peer-to-peer lending program to borrow money from investors who have money to lend. All you need to do to complete the application is sign up, choose a loan amount, and list your purpose for the loan. Investors will review your criteria and make a decision as to whether or not they think an investment in your is worth their while. Once an investor chooses to loan you money, you'll make a fixed monthly payment toward the loan. You'll also find some great information on the site regarding loan types and ways to get a loan, plus loan calculators and information about rates and fees.

2. Lend Money
If you've got some spare cash to lend, you can join this peer-to-peer lending program to lend money to borrowers for a potential return on your investment.This too, is a simple process and requires some simple information to signup. You'll set your investment criteria, choose which loans you'd like to invest in and then have a portion of borrower payments deposited directly into your account. Enjoy returns of 10.59% on your investment. The site has an excellent FAQ section and many informative links providing answers to your questions.

3. Affiliate with a Peer-to-Peer Lending Company
The third way to make money with peer-to-peer lending is by affiliating with the company and earning commissions for those people that you successfully refer. You guys know by now that I thoroughly research all programs before I recommend them to you. I have checked out the company's FAQs and policies and also research the scam boards to make sure this whole thing is legitimate. I wouldn't want to make a recommendation to you knowing that you'll end up involved in something malicious. If you'd like to earn affiliate commissions for recommending others to this service, signup as an affiliate on ShareaSale and search for Prosper.

Warnings About Peer-to-Peer Lending
When researching information about this peer-to-peer lending company in particular, I did find some less than favorable information; as is usually the case with any online business. If you intend to take the option to invest, you must remember to be extremely careful which borrowers you choose. Like everywhere, there are scam artists that ask for money with no intention of repayment. The company is taking action against scam artists, however, so make sure to read the FAQs and research in-depth before deciding to invest in a great return for your dollar.

The Good News
I read more good reviews than bad ones regarding this particular peer-to-peer lending organization. Many investors raved about the ROI they realized from lending money. Obviously there are many happy borrowers as well. My recommendation is to take a peek at this company and see if they offer an avenue that can help you. Whether you need to borrow money or you'd like to invest and enjoy a return on that investment, it seems like this could be an interesting and lucrative way to accomplish either goal.

Find out more about peer-to-peer lending here.

Online Sellers, Print Postage Online

There are so many ways to print postage online and if you're an online seller, having this option really makes online business life a lot more convenient. Recently, I was introduced to a cool product called pbSmartPostage from Pitney Bowes.

Here's what I like about Pitney Bowes. When I was 16, (a hundred years ago) I worked at an insurance agency as the administrative assistant. One of my jobs was to run bulk mail through a postage machine to get it ready for the Post Office. The machine I used was a Pitney Bowes and I was fascinated by the entire operation. So many companies nowadays end up going out of business because they don't flow with the changes. Pitney Bowes isn't one of these companies. They understand the need for individuals to print postage from home, not just large businesses. This is where pbSmartPostage comes in.

As a small at-home business owner, you'll be able to:
- Buy and print postage stamps online
- Print exact postage (so you don't overpay)
- Get discounted USPS rates on certain services
- Ship and track packages online
- Automatically verify address to reduce undeliverable mail
- Save time, gas, etc. by not going to and from the post office

I realize that there are a few great companies out there that provide similar services, but many of them haven't been in the postage business as long as Pitney Bowes. If you haven't yet selected your postage software, I encourage you to try out the pbSmartPostage 60-day free trial.

Facebook Like Site for Network Marketing and Business Opportunities

Today one of my lovely online friends introduced me to a new site called BizOppers. It's a lot like Facebook but geared more for those of us who are involved in business opportunities or have websites to advertise. Like Facebook, you set up a profile and list your links. Others come to connect with you and you can share and swap info about your business and your expertise in network marketing.

One of the great things about BizOppers is that not only will you almost immediately connect with thousands of potential customers and share business opportunities, but you can also make money by referring people in your network. BizOppers offers a free version and some extra perks if you upgrade. Refer people who upgrade to Gold and you'll begin generating monthly commissions.

With the free account, you'll be able to set up your profile, list your business referral links and connect with thousands of other people. You can also ask for connections who can help you with your business needs, as well as list yourself as an expert or professional in several fields.

So far I'm enjoying my time on the site. I've only just set things up this morning and I've already got several connections. There is a leaderboard for the top referrers of the site and it's always fun to browse and see who's made the most connections.

Come on by and join me at BizOppers. See you on the inside!

7 Ways to Promote Your Etsy Shop Using 5Georges.com

7 Ways to Promote Your Etsy Shop Using 5Georges.com

There are so many ways to earn 5 bucks on gig sites like 5Georges. Here are 7 ways that you can create a gig to promote your Etsy shop.

1. Offer to Create Treasuries - post a gig offering to create 5 or more Etsy treasuries using the buyer's items for $5. You can put on your thinking hat and find items that relate to your own and create a treasury based on those items and others.

2. Discount one of your Etsy items to only $5 - Sell an item that you make or offer it at a discounted rate of only $5. This can help you to gain lifelong customers and repeat buyers. Keep the shipping fees in mind when selling an item which needs to be physically shipped.

3. Offer a $40 discount coupon for only $5 – when someone buys your coupon for 5 bucks, you can create a custom Etsy listing within your shop. Include the discount already purchased by the buyer. For the example listed, your $50 item would only be $10 for each person who buys your coupon. This is a great way to offer savings to your customers while getting your name and products out there.

4. Offer to Blog about a fellow Etsy shop - since Etsy is all about networking, you might already have a crowd following your Etsy related blog or website. Offer to write an article, blog post or product review and post it to your blog or site. Interesting articles on your site will help you as well. 

5. Create an Etsy Banner for $5 – your digital artwork is bringing in customers left and right. Offer up some of your talent to fellow Etsy owners to spruce up their shops as well. When people are satisfied with your services, they'll talk and tell their friends where to find you for additional business.

6. Offer to Promote Links to your followers – post Etsy and other craft-related links to Facebook wall, groups and Twitter followers. People will gladly pay 5 dollars for the extra attention to their Etsy shops, plus your followers love to hear about new and exciting products and creations.

7. Advertise Another Etsy Shop for 1 month – post a gig advertising an Etsy shop for one month, or offer to include promotional materials inside the orders you ship out each month. People love this form of advertising and your customers could become their customers as well.This form of advertising would be well worth 5 bucks for many Etsy shop owners.

There are several sites out there that allow you to tell the world what you would do for 5 dollars. 5Georges.com allows promotion of website links, as well as encouraging users to network and share the wealth. Check out 5Georges.com and start promoting your Etsy shop and others.

Another Way to Get Exposure to Your Business - Give Free Gifts!

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