I don't get particularly worried about most of the changes that etsy brings out (especially now that I'm focusing on my own website), although I have to admit that a lot of them make me do this:
However, the changes that have just been made to the profile pages really do have potential to impact negatively on sellers in my opinion. Profile pages now feature all of your favourites and treasuries in a way that does not distinguish them clearly from your own products, and they are featured quite prominently.
I can see how this is a great idea for buyer-only accounts because it should help to promote sellers. It is also probably a very clever move for the site as a whole, as it might increase the chance of buyers spotting something they like from a different shop and they'll make a purchase. Not so great if you bring in your own traffic and lose buyers because they click away to other shops featured in your profile!
MagicJelly made some great points in an etsy forum thread- if this is part of the move towards etsy becoming more of a 'social' site, why couldn't seller profiles feature blog integration, press appearances, CVs or artist statements and links to our twitter and facebook profiles?
I've made all of my favourites and treasuries private and I guess that's the end of me making treasuries. The fact that these new changes weren't made optional just explodes my brain a little bit ( ...perhaps due in part to previous episodes of *headdesk*-ing).
What are your thoughts? Love? Hate? Indifferent?
