Etsy Treasuries - Do they help sales?

This was an really interesting question posted on my Beadscrumptious fan page and I thought it would make a really good blog post .... particularly because it gave me lots to think and ponder about......

I must admit I have 'ummed' and 'ahhhed' over this question many times.  What is the value of making an Etsy Treasury or being included in them? Do they help increase sales? Does listing them on Facebook or Twitter help increase sales?

.....this is my own interpretation of treasury lists....

It is a huge compliment to be included in someone's treasury list and considering the amount of time it takes to make one I like to return the compliment by listing the treasury on facebook and twitter.  I feel this is helping to promote myself, the person making the treasury and all the other sellers that have also been included.

Does this increase sales?

To be honest, I don't know without asking my customers where they heard about my shop.  But what I do know is that being included in a treasury does increase the number of people visiting my shop.  Therefore increasing my exposure.

I also know (from testing this myself) that when I list a new item in my shop on facebook and twitter this also increases the number of people visiting my shop.  This is getting me 'noticed'.  People are 'favouriting' my shop, my beads and 'liking' my facebook fan page directly from Etsy. 

This can also have a knock on effect because if someone on Etsy adds you as a 'favourite' it will come up on their activity feed.  If they are in 'circles' with other people, all of the people they are connected with will also see that they have added you as a 'favourite' on their activity feeds. This all increases your exposure, especially if people come across to your shop to view your products.

Etsy is such a huge market place that I have always worried that my shop could be lost within the hundreds of other bead selling shops on Etsy.  So all this exposure is very valuable to me.  As a new seller to Etsy I think it also adds credibility to my work.  Having admirers and people adding your work to their list of favourite items is a great compliment.

I also view Etsy as a big community of Sellers helping each other out.  At least this is what I have found so far....and in these difficult times we need as much help as we can get!  I have joined a few teams on Etsy aimed at Sellers helping to promote each others work and it is through these that I have learnt the value of making and being part of an Etsy treasury lists.  There are some very talented and kind people out there!

I know I am just scratching the surface of how this world of social media works (more blogs to follow I think...) and this is entirely my interpretation of a tiny aspect of it (Etsy).  I would be really interested in hearing your views.  Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

One last thing......does being on the front page of Etsy help increase sales?

Sarah xx