Widget! Widget! Who has a Widget?
What is a “widget” anyway? According to Wikipedia, a web widget is “a portable chunk of code that can be installed and executed within any separate HTML-based web page by an end user without requiring additional compilation.”
“What did she just say?” you are probably asking about now. Translation: a web widget, or simply a widget, is a little program that you can add to your Premium Zibbet shop and it will run all by itself!
I know what you’re probably thinking now: “I don’t know anything about writing computer programs, I don’t care how ‘little’ they are!” Of course, most of us aren’t programmers nor do we desire to be! And that’s one of the great things about widgets–when you find one you like, all you have to do is copy the code that someone else wrote and then paste it into your Premium Zibbet shop.
“But I still don’t get it,” you say. Let’s take a closer look at widgets and how they can be used to customize your shop to improve the shopping experience for potential buyers…
It’s virtually impossible to browse the web today without encountering widgets at every turn. Advertisements, polls, clocks, weather forecasts and games that you see on websites are just a few examples. The first use of widgets was probably as hit or link counters on web pages. Generally, widgets may also be referred to as gadgets, badges and modules, just to name a few! The web abounds with free widgets. Simply search for the word “widget” on Google and you can stay entertained for hours looking at what seems like an endless stream of these little programs!
One of the many useful tools that Zibbet has provided for Premium shops is the ability to add widgets to our shops. Let’s face it, widgets are fun! And because they are so much fun, it’s easy to get carried away with widgets. We need to remember that what we want people to do when they come to our shops is to buy, so we need to be careful to not distract them with too many “toys.”
I believe that the wisest use of widgets in our Zibbet shops is to direct traffic to our blogs, Facebook pages and Twitter accounts to gain followers and to advertise our other Zibbet shops, if we have them. Be sure that you make it easy for your new followers to return to your shop from your other sites!
Because Zibbet is a global marketplace, providing shoppers with a currency converter is an excellent way to assist them with their shopping. Instead of having to leave your shop to visit another website to calculate the cost in their own currency (and possibly not returning to your shop!), I believe international shoppers appreciate the ease of doing the calculations right there in your shop.
Another way to use the widget feature is to include helpful information that appears as text on your FP. For example, I have a widget that contains information about jewelry care and my repair policy. The possibilities are endless… Do you sell pet products? You could provide some helpful ”tips” or “Did you know?” information about pets in a text widget. If you sell vintage items, what about giving some historical background for the time period for a particular item? You could feature a different item and historical perspective each week or month. Providing useful information is a great way to provide shoppers with a little “something extra” just for visiting your shop and could be the key to a return visit that results in a sale!
Zibbet’s generosity even allows you to add your Etsy mini and/or Artfire Rapid Cart to your shop. Although Zibbet allows you to do this, I encourage you to think carefully about making it too easy for a shopper to leave your Zibbet shop and get lost on another shopping venue. If you truly want to sell from your Zibbet shop, you need to do all you can to retain your potential buyers’ attention and keep them browsing in your shop. The longer shoppers stay in your shop, the more likely they are to make a purchase!
For some ideas on how to use widgets in your shop, take a look at these Zibbet shops:
Ariamy (be sure to turn your computer’s speakers on!)
Next week, I’ll provide you with “how to” instructions for adding widgets to your Premium Zibbet shop. I’ll also give you some links to sites where you can get the code you need to add widgets that will enhance your shop’s functionality.
Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!
Diamond Back Vintage Button Brooch can be found at Callooh Callay on Zibbet.
This article was edited on 11/11/2011 to removed shops that no longer have widgets to view as examples.
Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of three Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Denim and Pearls and A Stitch and a Prayer. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.Tags: Blog, Customize, Facebook, Google, Success on Zibbet, Twitter, Widget
I really do love this feature. It’s one of the biggest reasons, I signed up.
But I want to know when will there be a widget that we can embed on our website’s or blogs that has our zibbet items in it? Like the etsy mini or the artfire shop window.
Oh and an app for putting our zibbet shop in a tab on our facebook page too. Again also something etsy & artfire have available.
Those are pretty important. I’m already dropping my artfire in favor of zibbet, but I hang on to my etsy due to features like that…but it’d be better if I only had one shop for my fine art originals & handmade type items.
bentrealm, According to this discussion http://zibbet.ning.com/forum/topics/any-plans-for-an-etsy-mini over on Zibbet’s Community Hub, this may be part of the next 3 month battle plan!
About widgets is one of the few internet/computer things I know about but you have given me more thought as to how they can be used so thanks,Vicki…..and that is a very long sentence!
Thank you, Vicki, for the shout-out - I (until now) owe ALL I know about widgets to Barbra at AllAboutTheButtons! She walked/talked me thru the “Flag Counter” on my site…….There’ll be more at Grandmother’s House, due to this article and its important input!
One more thing - I just dropped in, Vicki,at AStitchAndAPrayer, and I’m guessing the music is a widget, too? Beautiful! And, o.k., just ONE more thing, with Zibbet an International Venue, I think the Currency Converter is a MUST !
Very helpful article–and thanks for featuring my brooch!
Thanks everyone! I’m glad that you’re finding this information about widgets useful. Next week I’ll be sharing specific information about how to install a widget in your shop. I’ll use installing a Facebook badge as the example and give you step-by-step instructions from start to finish!
GrandmothersHouse, Yes, the music is a widget.
Most widgets have links back to the source so when you see one you like, look for a link. That way you can go “shopping” for the same or similar widget for your shop! Again, more about that next week…
Excellent, Vicki! you are the best!
And I second your caution on setting up links or widgets to send people away from your brand, your shop.
And excellent call, featuring CalloohCallay’s photo ~ CC’s brooches are simply to die for!
xo Karen
Great article Vicki. Widgets are great, very useful and handy and it’s fantastic that Zibbet supports them.
Thanks so much for including my shop link.
Thanks for letting me know about that discussion! I would really love to see that included in the next 3 month battle plan
Great article Vicki!
Thanks for using the link to Wild Goose Chase. Maybe my house will sell with the House for Sale Widget.
I just spread this article around.
I Stumbled it, Twittered it, Facebooked it.
Hope everyone else does, too.
Judy
This is such a helpful article, Vicki. I look forward to next week’s article on instructions for widgets. Thank you for posting!
Catheline
Thanks So Much, Vicky! I can’t wait to integrate these things into My Shop.My Sons will be soproud of me!
Thank you Vicki, can’t wait for the next article!
LOL Can’t wait for the next article! I DEFINITELY got messed up with those and would like to add a couple more to my shop, but don’t know quite how to do it!
-Marguerite
Vicki, this is a fantastic article! I only put a couple of widgets on my page so as not to distract the buyer. I did add the currency converter, because I, too, think it’s a must have for an international presence.
Hi, thanks for the examples, three of the shops dont appear to have any widgets, is it because they can only be viewed by people in the US? Also is currency converter accurate, ie is it the same as the conversion on paypal? Thanks, Penny
Penny,
Thanks for the ‘heads up’ that some of my example shops no longer have widgets in their shops. One of the shops appears to now be Basic but was Premium at the time this article was written. The other two shops, both still Premium, must have opted to delete the widgets that were there at one time.
Regarding the accuracy of the currency converter widget used as an example, I’m assuming that it’s kept up-to-date by the source. However, I suggest you check out the website where the converter came from for verification of the accuracy of the converter. I don’t know how this particular conversion tool compares to PayPal.
Vicki
Hi Vicki, this was so beneficial..thank you so much. I have been reading codes and about codex for a while. Like math its a the right string sequence. Zibbet has justified the links so it fits nicely and presents well on the page. I how have the feed burner and currency converter….:)
Thank you so much………….:) well done.
I wondered how to add widgets, will be glad to learn how to add them! I’m new at all this and have been reading all your articles, very helpful, thanks!