[HG] Some Help Needed

I don't know if this is the right board for this, but oh well. So I've been making adopts (which I have a couple future adopts ready to be sold already), but I've been having trouble selling them all. I have several designs from past sales that just won't sell. I try to lower the prices, but I make the original price reasonable. What can I do to ensure the adopts I make to be sold? I have several just sitting around waiting to be bought, but I've had no luck. Anything can help me so don't be shy to tell me the truth. I just want to know what I'm doing wrong ♥

I don't think you're doing anything wrong necessarily, I think it's a simple as sometimes a design won't appeal to anyone. This could be due to quality, simplicity, and sometimes even the lines a design is done on turn people away from it. 

@Wey - That's what I've been thinking, but I've had a lot of trouble selling adopts, and it's been going on for awhile. With every design I make, I know I get better. Even from my first design to my most recent I can see a lot of improvement.

i also don't think it's an issue on your end, i've noticed lately people just dont seem to to be buying designs as much as i remember back when i first joined, though it has been a little while since then lol. it seems like selling a full sheet nowadays is either hard to do or takes a long time. there could be any number of reasons for it, people's interests just come and go over time. for me, i already have charries i'm happy with and i don't feel like buying more since i'll feel bad if i end up neglecting them lol. it could be some others feel the same way, but again there's lots of reasons out there.

you probably don't have to reduce prices if the issue is demand, personally if i started selling designs again i'd wait about 4-5 days before reducing prices. many players don't log in every day so some interested buyers might notice a sale a few days after it's posted. but of course it's up to you ^^ ♥

@Bubbles - Thanks. I've just noticed that others players quickly sell adopts unlike I have been. I still have a couple adopts from like a year ago, but I'm sure they'll all get sold eventually. 

I also don't think it's anything you're doing wrong. I've seen a vast improvement in your art over the one year I've been on EV, I think it really is just a demand problem. I do agree with Wey though, some lines and the way the character is designed is a turn away for me. Even if the quality is great. There's been several designs that I've had the opportunity to buy from the likes of Maple, Altair and Yeon, but they just don't appeal to me and that's okay. Some things that don't appeal to me may appeal to others. I do understand what you mean though, I've had trouble selling some designs too. Sorry if I seem to be rambling, just wanted to put my input in. ♥

@Deer - No need to apologize! This is the sort of feedback I was wanting. And thank you so much! I can even see my improvement from my first design ever, to my latest one. I think another thing too is that I always have adopts up. Since I can only make designs, I get carried away and make a lot of adopts. I'll try to slow it down for a bit and see what that does. ♥

If it helps I struggle to sell as well, I think a lot of the time it's just the style of lines. I don't go very realistic for my big bases (my last series was so I could have character placeholder designs) and those sell terribly without some super complicated or unnatural design on them that I hardly feel like making. Even if you use realistic bases you're usually going to need either a really layered up design or a very well counter shaded/nicely white marked plain one for it to even have a chance of selling.

I have noticed there's a huge saturation of the market right now as well, every time I look at recent it's 99% character or design sales. So that's probably the main reason. I don't buy many designs, mainly due to issues I had with ownership a long tine ago, so I usually look for unique lines that clearly show a design and something I think will suit a designless character or that I can see a personality in.  Also when I look at the sales, a lot of the time if I like a design it's just way too pricey for me (literal scrooge) and I don't think it's worth the amount they're charging or what the ab is if there's a lot of competitions.

And this will probably sound strange but the "weight" of a lineart and design affects how I feel about it as well. For example these paso fino lines that have popped up by dozymare, are really heavy looking on the tail side if they're kept to their original orientation and they're also very downhill/off centre to the right side. They look a lot better if the lineart if flipped. Same goes for white and colour distribution on a design. Lineart wise you could play around with the opacity or colour mode to make it look different, there's a lot of pure black lineart being used lately. 

Other things to consider when selling - the layout of a post, do I have to scroll a lot? Eh. Are there a lot of rules to remember outside of crediting? Also eh. Can I view the design well or am I stuck to small previews? Maybe consider adding larger versions with watermarks vs just a small preview and sending out unwatermarked versions when sold. Also just look at what's happening with the market in general, design sheets aren't selling well, but one off designs are doing a little better for example. 

@Maple - Thanks! That helps a lot! I'll try and keep away from batches for now, and try selling individauls. Like I said before, I try not to price them too high. Around 200k - 300k usually. I've been trying to mess with lines to keep away from the black, but I haven't had much luck lately. I think my main personal problem with art is that I can't use krita, gimp, or any good programs. I've tried trying to find something better than Pixlr, which is what I've been using, but I haven't found anything better that works for me. 

I really like your style Maple, but I can never manage to get a design off of you sadly. I try to have characters from didn't players so I have different styles on my site. I mainly just make designs, so I think that's why I always have adopts for sale. I try to add shading to my designs but it's very difficult for me due to what 'program' I use. 

A cold streak happens.. I've had design sheets go without buyers. I like your designs! Like I said, it just happens. On EV it seems designs arent priced too high lately. It works out for the buyer but the seller hurts. It might just need spacing out on the sales. I'm not sure. I hope you sell again soon!

I'd agree that there isn't any one reason a design may not sell. I've had tons of designs that never sell, and it's never something where I can pinpoint one reason between any of them. I think for a lot of people too, as we acquire more and more designs, we become more and more picky. At least that's something I can say for myself. I own more designs than I'd like to admit, and as that pile grows I become a little pickier about what I'm buying. 

I am also a firm believer that the base/lines can make or break a design 100%. Theres been many times I've seen a design I may kind of like, but the lines are not my style and I don't want to try to revamp it and hope I like it better on a new lineart. Basically if I can't be 100% into it as it is, I don't bother buying it. 

Try not to get too discouraged! Just stockpile all the unsold stuff and try selling them at a later date. Sometimes it just needs time and maybe new people will see it later on and love them!

@Siren + Nebula - Thank you so much! I've just noticed that since I started to sell adopts, not all of them sell. I still have some from the first adopt batch that hasn't sold yet. I try not to price things too high, but I slowly increase my prices the more I improve. Everyone's help has been much appreciated, and makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one with this issue. This is why I love the EV community! ♥ ♥ ♥