Table of Contents:
1. How to Set Up a Minishop Thread
2. FAQs
1. First, you need to have an idea for the store that you want to open. Be sure to remember:
- DO NOT STEAL ANYONE ELSE'S IDEAS/ITEMS! (this will get you in lots of trouble)
- You cannot sell images from the GavSim or online Doll makers (Candybar, etc.)
- If you use anything that is not yours, remember to give proper credit.
- Protect your work by watermarking it with "Sample" or some other text.
Read the Rules for the Minishops: http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3944635
2. Click on the Minishops.
3. You can set up a store in either the main Minishop forum, or in one of the subforums, depending on what you plan to sell. Also, it is a good idea to read the stickies--especially the ones for the rules and watermarking.
Stores with multiple services/works for sale that span 2+ subforums will fit fine in the main Minishops forum, along with Pixel art, avatar edits, and so on.
Requests and Commissions: Art auctions and custom artwork are best suited to this forum.
Breedable/Changing Pets This forum is for customized or interactive pets.
Breedable/Changing Pets Roleplay This forum is for users who want to role-play with their pets.
Art Freebies This forum is for users who are doing artwork or providing other shop services for free. Some are for charities, others are users who cannot afford to pay.
Pricing, Assistance and Suggestions This forum can be used for anything from seeing what your artwork is worth to finding partners for a Minishop.
Art Contests A forum for art contests. Game on!
Services A forum for users selling services such as bumping for auctions/stores, image hosting, and a slew of other services.
Personalized Graphics This forum is for wishlists, ID cards, banners, and other images that are custom made for users (does NOT include avatar art).
4. Click on "New Topic" to set up a thread. Title the thread "Setting up," or something similar to let other users know that you are not ready to have anyone post yet.
5. Decide how many posts you will need for your store. The number of posts and what posts you need may vary depending on what you have in mind, but this is a generic setup. It is best to simply post 10 times as fast as you can with the word "Reserved", since you can always go back and edit in the content (and it helps prevent n00bs from posting prematurely in the thread).
If someone posts in your thread and you are almost done, you may PM a purple mod designated to the Minishops forum and politely ask that he/she delete the post.
1. Introduction/Updates/Rules
2. Store items/Prices
3. Store items/Prices
4. Ordering Information
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
6. Tips/Customers
7. Affiliates
8. Blacklist
9. Reserved for future use
10. Reserved for future use
Affiliates: other user-run stores that you support. This is commonly done by displaying banners and links to their stores.
Blacklist: You may encounter thieves, trolls, or non-paying customers--you commonly warn them and others by placing them on your blacklist.
It is always a good idea to reserve a few extra posts just in case you need the room to expand the store. This way, if you decide that you would like to add another section to the store, you can simply edit the post and add what you want.
6. When you have added in all of your desired content and ready to open the store, go to the first post and edit the title to read the name of your store (or whatever else you want it to read).
7. Congratulations! your Minishop thread is ready for business!
A Rule
Please do not Quote this Post
