Nathaniel Fried
Selling on Etsy, as with any online selling platform, can be challenging. If you go into Etsy expecting to put your product up and instantly become one of the largest sellers on the platform, then you are going to be sorely disappointed. That being said, with some preparation and a lot of hard work you can build a store that takes a healthy cut of the 3.2 billion USD of revenue Etsy generates.
We reached out to some successful Etsy stores to give us some insight into what really makes an Etsy store successful.
For more technical help like how to post a listing or add the policies, check out Etsy’s Seller Handbook and help section.
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#1 Great Photos Sell
If you hope to sell anything on Etsy you need to have amazing photos. This sounds daunting at first, but really your photos need to be sharp, clear and well lit. The best way to do this is to use a white background and lots of natural light. You want to avoid harsh shadows at all costs. If you want to use an interesting background, like we use wood with Dzefer, you need practice, a good camera and to brush up your camera skills. Don't be afraid to search YouTube for ideas and tutorials.
Contributor: Katarina Vojinovic
Etsy 1: PureCopperCreations | Instagram
#2 Your Product
Even the best photos on the planet won't help if you're selling something that's just not in demand. That doesn't mean niche products fail, in fact, niche products thrive on Etsy. However, it still needs to be something someone will be able to use, wear or gift to someone. Great products also result in great reviews which are the life force of your store, which brings me to...
Contributor: Katarina Vojinovic
Etsy 1: PureCopperCreations | Instagram
#3 Great Customer Service
As a handmade, small business, I am aware that we're constantly competing with giants in the retail industry. They have more products and often much cheaper prices. One of the best ways Etsy sellers compete and win is their customer service. People buy handmade for the unique experience to be treated like VIPs. The better the customer service, the better the review which will bring more customers.
Contributor: Katarina Vojinovic
Etsy 1: PureCopperCreations | Instagram
#4 The Buyer’s Experience
You want the buyer's experience in your store to be great. They need to feel comfortable in order to start shopping. Have your Policies and Terms written out. Etsy has a great template for that. Allow refunds and cancelations (and then stick to your policies later). Fill out the frequently asked questions, your about and your profile. Pictures everywhere. Imagine you have a brick and mortar store. Your dream store.
Set your Etsy store up to look like that. This includes the photos of your products. Make them look cohesive. Again, like a real store. You're going to spend more in a store where there is space, light, and a clear view of the products.
Contributor: Katarina Vojinovic
Etsy 1: PureCopperCreations | Instagram
#5 Getting Found In Search
This is the most complex part of owning an Etsy store. You need to be found in search in order to sell anything. Research your keywords and SEO experts. We use Marmalead (https://www.marmalead.com) to research new keywords. They also have great tutorials and tips for Etsy SEO and always have the newest information. I could write a whole article just about SEO.
Contributor: Katarina Vojinovic
Etsy 1: PureCopperCreations | Instagram
#6 Social Media
To sell online on any platform, you need a social media presence. I prefer using Pinterest and Instagram, but there are many you can choose from. My advice is to choose a couple that you're most comfortable using. You can post something once a day or once a week as long as you are constant and your last post isn't a few months ago. This gives potential buyers a look into your world and builds trust.
Contributor: Katarina Vojinovic
Etsy 1: PureCopperCreations | Instagram
#7 Be Patient
Selling on Etsy takes time. Be patient for your sales to start coming regularly. While you wait for the daily sales, work on all the previous tips. There is always room to improve your store and always something new to learn. Believe in yourself and your product and your sales will come soon enough. Who knows, you just might be the next big thing on Etsy.
Contributor: Katarina Vojinovic
Etsy 1: PureCopperCreations | Instagram
#8 80/20 Rule
The #1 Tip or Trick to getting your Etsy business going is to remember that you are in the business of marketing your business! If you build it they will NOT NECESSARILY come without a lot of hard work to get your name and products out there. While I have known this throughout my career, it is the one thing that I have to remind myself of every day as I continue to grow my shop. It also coincides with the 80/20 rule. You will probably spend 80% of your time marketing your business and only 20% creating the actual items that you sell. I have found this to be one of the largest struggles for business owners out there, and it's not any different with Etsy!
Contributor: Jessie Swinger
#9 Your Profile
FILL OUT everything in your profile and policies and make sure you have a profile pic. This tells Etsy that you are a serious seller and tells potential customers the same thing. For your profile picture, make sure that it is easy to tell what the photo is. If it's a photograph of you, then make sure it's as good as your product photography. If it's a picture of your logo, is it easily readable? If it's a picture of a product that you're selling, does it come across as such or is it confusing to tell what it is? You may need to find a trusted friend who will be honest with you to go over your Etsy page and see if they spot anything to point out to you to work on.
Contributor: J. Bird Cremeans
Etsy: jbirdistheword | Facebook | Website
#10 Etsy Tags
Take full advantage of the amount of tags your given and fill out your product title to the fullest. There is a lot of debate on how to fill out tags and titles but I strongly believe the best resource would be https://marmalead.com/ . They have a free version on their software and an affordable monthly option. They have a blog along with videos and podcasts to really help you learn more about becoming a successful Etsy seller!
Contributor: J. Bird Cremeans
Etsy: jbirdistheword | Facebook | Website
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