Greetings all!
I'm a new builder and seller in Second Life, and would love to hear any tips from more experienced merchants for someone just starting out as I am.

I have spent a few months figuring out building before I was confident enough to start selling my wares seriously. I have previous Photoshop experience, and have been using it to my advantage as far as textures and such.

I am still very very shakily starting out though, and have not managed to sell much either in world or via xstreet. Granted my items have been for sale only a couple of weeks so I can't expect miracles. Today I paid the 899L fee to feature one of my better items in the hopes that the exposure will help. Fingers crossed, as I can only afford to feature it for 7 days unless things start selling.

I would love to know how any of you other merchants started out, your experiences, your trials and tribulations. Anything that may be useful for myself, and two of my friends who are also just starting out as new merchants.

I should note, I am not expecting to make a lot doing this. I just want to be able to cover my own costs so that I can continue to make things. My ultimate goal is to make affordable (but not under priced to the point of hurting the market) items, that people enjoy.

Thanks so much for your time. :)

Edit:
If anyone wants to see what I'm trying to sell and maybe suggest either ways to improve my items, my marketing, or whatever, here is my xstreet addy:
https://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&MerchantID=529960

I am currently in the process of setting up in a new (roomy!) main store so I don't have an in-world link quite yet. (Well I do, there just isn't any of my stuff in the building yet)

Thank you everyone who got up early/stayed up late to listen to the all-Beatles show Sunday morning...this may be something I have to do again

Until then, remember that I play every Sunday Morning at 8am EST/5am SLT - listen here: http://85.25.149.102:8504 or check it out on Second Life at The Lost Continent http://slurl.com/secondlife/North%20Norway/32/123/500

and for those of you who missed some or all of it, the All-Beatles set list:

Tomorrow never knows
Helter Skelter
Dear Prudence
The fool on the hill
Back in the USSR
Nowhere man
I am the walrus
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
She said, she said
I'm so tired
Rocky Racoon
Cry baby cry
Yer blues
Hey Jude
Norwegian wood
For no one
Get back
Across the universe
Oh! darling
Octopus's garden
Julia
I want to hold you hand
Sexy Sadie
Twist and shout
You've got to hide your love away
Day tripper
Imagine
Help!
All my loving
Something
The long and winding road
She loves you
Happy Xmas (war is over)

peace,
Dann

All clear just in:

[RESOLVED]-Lindex Disruptions

[RESOLVED] 07:00am PDT - All issues have now been resolved with the Lindex purchases.
**** see above ***

Public Service Announcement!

Do NOT buy any lindens today until this is resolved and you get the all clear from the status blog:
http://status.secondlifegrid.net/

I have finally gotten through all my overtime at work and owed artwork and commissions....and....

I AM WORKING ON AVATARS AGAIN!!! :D

I just came out with my new Mycena avatars!! They are in the vendors now in all my locations!!!

They are sculpted full prim avatars and they come in 7 colors.
The avatars have night glow and day skins and come with cute little santa hats in time for the holidays. :3

Here is the sunset color!


Click the images to see them bigger.

You can also get one of these avatars for free when you buy the toy and provide a proof of purchase from here:
http://www.patchtogether.com/store/store/view/id/166
(The website seems to be down right now, but this deal is still opens when it comes back up.)

Currently I am working on the next avatar already. They are Day Geckos! (Yes, same species as Gex and the Geico Gecko.)
Here is a preview of the sculpts I made for the avatar:
http://www.synchrastudios.com/gallery/d/6818-1/gecko.jpg
(Ignore the picture in the background, that is Kunta-Kanti, my gecko dragon character, I am making a mod of the avatar of her when I have time.)

These are in the process of being textured like this:
http://www.synchrastudios.com/gallery/d/6824-2/GeckoColors.jpg

:D

After that I am working on a new red panda update!
Here is a preview of that head:
http://www.synchrastudios.com/gallery/v/sl/newredpanda.jpg.html
It may come out massively different in Second Life. I am trying to do sculpted eyes on this one. The geckos have prim lids in SL but they're using a rotate script (like the Tokushi Fnuff, and the script was actually written by my buddy Racush of Tokushi.)

I also recently finished an adorable custom avatar for my boyfriend of a tri-colored border collie (Jay!):
http://www.synchrastudios.com/gallery/v/sl/JAY_4.jpg.html
http://www.synchrastudios.com/gallery/v/sl/JAY_3.jpg.html
http://www.synchrastudios.com/gallery/v/sl/JAY_2.jpg.html
http://www.synchrastudios.com/gallery/v/sl/JAY_1.jpg.html
I re-used the prims from the fruit fox (all but the ears) but I made a whole new avatar with them for him. :3

Which is actually the same thing I did to make this personal custom avatar of my sloth character "Noodle" for myself:
http://www.synchrastudios.com/gallery/v/sl/NoodleTree.jpg.html
http://www.synchrastudios.com/gallery/v/sl/NoodleBeams.jpg.html
http://www.synchrastudios.com/gallery/v/sl/noodlewinter.jpg.html

For future reference this is what I have to do on my to do list right now...
1. Gecko avatars (being textured!)
2. Red Panda avatars update (head is in the process of being sculpted)
3. Anglaroos avatars update (concepted)
4. Custom avatar trade with Whinge (concepted)
5. Organic Nashua (custom) avatar update (concepted)
6. Caracal avatars
7. Synchra (custom) avatar update (concepted)

Grab a latte and find your comfy chair, Keltish is coming to YOUR house.

SUNDAY, December 13th, 2009
Keltish Online in Second Life at The Blarney Stone Pub in the original "Dublin" sim
12:00 noon - 1:00PM SLT (3:00PM - 4:00PM EST SLT)

For information on SL location and how to listen to us through winamp or some other listening software, check out the Keltish Kalendar at our website.

As a Prim Perfect staff writer, I am very pleased to announce the publication of our Christmas 2009 issue. Personally, this is my second favorite issue ever (the Halloween issue last month still rates as my personal fave.) Winter on Wolf Mountain... with a side trip via motorcycle to Route 66. It's all here, in droves. The photography is astounding, the writing is great, and really, the fact that we stuffed one magazine full with good solid information nearly all about ONE region pays testament to the value and scope of that region! Wolf Mountain, in a word... rocks.

If I haven't managed to convince you to read this issue, please go scan the offical announcement at our Prim Perfect Blog.

If I have indeed convinced you - there's no time to lose! Dive directly into the magazine right now, right here! See you on the slopes!

Come to P4 for tonight's lineup!

5:00 QUINTON WHITMAN
5:30 MARKSEERY MELODIE
6:00 MUSICMAN APPLETOR
6:30 IAHN XELTENTAT

Come listen to some of Second Life's talented live artists! Going on NOW, from 5 - 7 SLT

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ecstasy%20Commerce/225/15/23

Hey y'all...
it's December! which means a few things....


1. buy PRESENTS for your friends and families http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/presents/id310215036


2. shows!

2a. BEATLES TAKE TWO!!!

ok, ok so technical difficulties kept me from playing the first all-Beatles show...so that means this one will be better!!

Same Bat Time: Sunday Dec 13th 5am SLT/ 8am EST/ 1pm GMT

Same Bat Place: if you're in Second Life, check it out at The Lost Continent...if not, listen from the comforts of your own home (follow the "listen here" link)

Different Bat Channel...listen here: http://208.53.138.158:8700

check out the info: http://www.dannrusso.com

and make your requests here or by emailing dannrussomusic (at) aol (dot) com

2b. Dann in RL!!!

McGann's on Portland St, downtown Boston (near the Garden - T to North Station)

9pm Tuesday Dec 15th


3. as always, have a safe, healthy, happy holiday season whatever season you celebrate...cause the crux of all the messages are...


peace & love,

Dann

SBS ONE will be showing the Second Life Documentary Alter Ego next Monday at 11:25pm on Australian TV. Alter Ego is from director and Writer Shelley Matulick, this film looks at Second Life users lives on and offline. (Commissioned by SBS in English)