Hello sweeties! I'm gearing up to start selling CW designs in my commission shop in between taking slots for commissions, and I had a few questions I wanted to ask you all (and any one else that's curious about this thread!)

My main ping group is SweetTarts, but I've noticed a few other artists have ping groups dedicated solely to design sales/auctions.

1. Would you be annoyed if I pinged just one group for both CW sales/CW commissions/CW auctions? What arrangement do you prefer?

2. If you're interested in design sales, do you prefer them to be fully finished and ready to submit, or do you like sketch design sales (or both)?

3. When buying a cw design, do you prefer the CI to be already finished (with the option for a new one of your choice for a fee), or would you prefer choosing your own design after purchase?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, and anything related! I'm still such a noob (even after 5 years lmao).

1. As long as we know what group your pinging for them ahead of time, I think which you pick is up to you.

2. I honestly think a bit of both varieties is a great idea. I've seen various artists have a lot of luck posting sketch sales to be finished, but full designs sell well also :)

3. Personally I prefer if a CI is already picked because ususally I am BAD at choosing Cis (I'm sure you've noticed)

1. I wouldn't mind! That's up to you =)

2. I usually prefer fully finished designs, but it's also up to you! xD

3. I think most peepz like to pick the CI, but a lot of them don't mind. =)

1. I prefer different ping groups, but don't mind just one.
2. Both. I like unfinished ones because I can still make changes generally, but I also like to see the finished product before buying sometimes.
3. I personally prefer to come up with my own CIs, but I think most people don't.

ooh i love giving my opinion hahaha

I can only speak for myself here ofcourse, but here are my thoughts :)

1. I wouldn't be annoyed myself (as long as the titles let us know what the ping is for), but I can imagine having another group for design sales/auctions would be handy to keep things a little more organised, so i think having another group for sales/auctions is a good idea

I've never actually bought a design before, so i don't know how valuable my answers are for your other questions, but i have been considering it lurking a lot so that might still count for at least a little bit c:

2. I like both, but fully finished designs are probably easier

3. & I think an already finished CI with that option for a new one (for a fee) is a good idea, just in case the CI really isn't up to someone's tastes (tho if it's a sketch design i would personally prefer to choose a CI myself)

1. Personally I think it's more beneficial for you and for the user if you had separate ping groups.

[Spoiler=lengthy explanation for my reason] If you use the same group and decide one day to ping four separate times (auction, slotting, commission opening, design sale) because your schedule is about to be hectic or for whatever reason then users might think its all for the same thing and miss out.

What I'm trying to say is the ping group name helps me to recognize what is it for so then I know whether or not I want to take the time to look at it. I am in several groups for commissions and even though I don't have the money to purchase them I know that one day when I do I'll be looking for those pings.

However if I see that it's your ping group for slotting then I know right away I need to go take a look at that and see if I can get a spot.[/spoiler]

2. Either seems perfectly fine. Unfinished designs can allow for the users to express their interpretation to you for the finished product.

3. With or without a CI is fine too for the same reason i explained in .

Thank you so much for allowing all of us to share our opinions with you! I appreciate it.

Hi buddy! <3

1. Would not be annoyed at all! But I think a separate ping group might make things easier as the people pinged would know that they are being pinged specifically for a new design they can purchase as opposed to a new item.

2. I don't often buy designs but I guess I'd like them as sketches so I could get changes if I needed them.

3. I usually like a custom CI (because I am crazy and need all the SM tributes I can get lol) but I think some people don't care so much about the CI. I guess it depends if they'd want to say put it in a gallery or pet TC or just their wardrobe.

Thank you! I've been going back and forth on the idea of starting a new design group, because I still feel like a small fish in a big pond sometimes in terms of popularity/notoreity?? (mostly because of my like 2 year long hiatus ahahahaha), so I was afraid starting a new group would mean I'd be advertising to like...3 people. :P It's good to hear that pinging just one group for all my CW needs could work out, as long as I'm clear about what I'm pinging for!

I also tend to like finished designs (then you know what you're getting!), but I think doing a mix of both could be fun. Sketch designs at least would let the buyer put their own stamp on something, if they want. ^^ Thank you for your feedback!! I've noticed you've bought a good number of designs, so I really appreciate a veteran in the field weighing in. :D

Different ping groups do seem so much more organized. I think I'm just worried that no one will join my second one! ? I think I'm getting overly nervous over nothing, though, haha. CIs are tough, because they seem really important to some people, and not to others. I personally love CIs and have a hard time picturing myself selling a design without one, BUT if my name/concept doesn't jive with a buyer, I can understand that too. Hopefully I can find a balance there.

Eheheheh, happy to have your opinion! You're a newbie to CWs, but you also seem VERY alert/observant and well-researched, so I respect that. ^___^ I think your suggestion of letting a buyer choose their own CI for sketch designs sounds like a great idea, since the very point of a sketch sale is to allow the buyer more freedom with the design. Thank you!

Thank you so much for your in-depth reasoning! It makes a lot of sense, really. I've had a few occasions where I've delayed releasing a CW or opening slots because I'd already pinged my group once that day. I try to be really conscious about over-pinging, as it gets on my nerves personally (and I'm sure it annoys others at times, too!) Really appreciate your feedback, thank you!

@Cresenta Hey friendo! Thankfully, it seems like it CAN be done either way (1 ping group, or multiple). I'll have to ruminate on what I think will work best for me. You bring up another good point about CIs that I hadn't considered, that people want specific ones to match an interest or whatever. I tend to make totally random ones, so I could see how someone might prefer getting to choose. Do you think offering a CI with an option for a new one (for like...an additional 300 csc or something) sounds fair? Maybe just for the finished designs?

I think plenty of people will join a design group! Also, I think as long as you would be willing to change a CI, that would be perfect!

<3

That's perfectly fair! 300 CSC is totally reasonable for a special CI :)

1. I'd be fine either way as long as I know to follow a new group for designs if you decide to create a second group! c:

2. I actually like both! Sometimes it's nice to be able to purchase a design and ask for a small change here or there, but I also love designs ready to go out!

3. I tend to like being able to have some input on the ci, but I don't get bothered when it's not an option (and sometimes I have a hard time coming up with an idea).

Hope that helps some! XD <3

I agree with you. Having both things should be fun. I wouldn't do two groups though.

I'll be looking after seeing what you'll do. :*

answering questions....

1.whatever is easiest for you with the ping groups.

2. with design sales I like sketches and complete designs. With the sketches if you are willing to do minor changes I think are good(if any are needed by the purchaser), and with the complete designs I like seeing your finished idea.

3. I always prefer a CI provided, since I suck with coming up with them myself. But if push comes to shove, I can come up with them.

I can't wait to see what goodies you have coming out in the near future!!

@Cresenta Wooot!

Hey, thanks for your input! I'm glad to see most people are pretty flexible about designs. I figure I'll try out a few different things! I think what I'll try is to do a CI with a finished design, with the option to change for a small additional fee, and I'll probably just leave the sketch designs open as far as CIs go. It seems to be split pretty evenly in regards to who wants to do their own CI, and who doesn't mind using one of mine.

Do you mean you'd lump everything under one group? So, I'd ping SweetTarts when I want to release one of my own CWs, and then also ping SweetTarts (though not on the same day, loool) if I have a design to sell? Or just not to have one group for finished design sales and one group for sketch design sales? Just curious!

Thank you for answering! It seems like a good idea to do some finished designs and some sketches. I like that! Sometimes I have a vague idea that would be good for a sketch, sometimes I have more complete ideas - so that works out well for everyone. 's idea of doing finished CIs for finished designs and leaving the CI up to the buyer for sketches was one that I think I'll use - though of course I never have a problem coming up with a CI design if the buyer doesn't have any ideas. So I think that will work out for everyone!

1. I want to be pinged for everything so its all gravy either way

2. either or

3. I like to pick my own CIs :D

I said I'd have only one group for CW releases and sales of CW designs. =)

You won't sell designs that often to "annoy" people who are not interested in release. Also, even people who aren't interested in purchase a design to release like to see the design flat sales. They're spoilers of upcoming CWs, because someone will release them after all, you know? =P

Haha yessss, I agree. I get sad when my pings are low for the day! Give me alll the pings! I'm definitely going to leave the option open to pick your own CIs, maybe just with a little extra if I've already drawn one. But if I don't have a strong idea for a CI, I'll leave it open!

Gotcha. Good points! I'm probably just going to use the one ping group for now, unless I suddenly become like....Cathii or something, with a ton of awesome sales and pings happening all the time. Seems unlikely, because she is a productivity goddess! And I am definitely...not. XD

You're awesome in your own way. And I mean it. =P

Aww, thanks! Didn't mean to put myself down, hahahaha! Merely cowering before the work ethic of my bff. :PPPPPP

1. for cw releases: one group for cw designs/commissions/design auctions: a different group Personally, that helps me identify what's being pinged for (I'm less likely to delete a ping thinking it's just an ad to something I've already seen that way too haha)

2. I like both honestly.

3. Again, I like both haha. Sometimes it's nice to not need to come up with a CI idea, but if it starts as a sketch instead of a fully realized design, maybe go ahead and let the CI be a choice?