selling on etsy part 4 of 5

Selling on EtsyA look at the prospect of creating a business storefront on the Etsy marketplace.

Table of Contents

Section Title PageWhat is Etsy? 3Selling on Etsy 10Shopping on Etsy 19Etsy Storefront 23Selling Costs & Fees 35Etsy SEO 39

The Steps 45Some SEO Tips 59

Tips for Earning Income 63Etsy Resources 76Alternatives to Etsy 84Apps for Etsy 91Works Cited 106

Tips for Earing Income

Tips on how to increase your profit margin with

your Etsy shop

Image Source: Google Images

Tips for Selling on Etsy

Think of your Etsy Shop as an Online Boutique

Have a clear and descriptive listings, beautiful photos, and a cohesive look

Don’t throw up a bunch of stuff and expect it to sell

Sellers have to put some thought into it to have any real success


Shops are a Work In Progress

It is an impossible task to get everything perfect when first opening

Mistakes are a given

Every sale (or non-sale) is a chance to learn more

Do your best, open up shop, then make tweaks to listings based on how well they sell

Trial and error will be your best friends


Most Common Etsy Selling Mistakes:

• Introducing products that don’t catch on

• Undercharging for shipping

• Buying a bunch of the wrong materials or shipping supplies that will never be used

Compiled by Author from Sources: lansdownelife.com


Use Etsy shipping labels with self-adhesive mailing labels

Etsy allows you to print postage at home with a small discount

International postage is available- Don’t forget to sign the customs form


Keep active

Even if nothing sells, don’t be stagnant with the shop

The items will fall out of favor in Etsy searches- Etsy searches seem to favor “activity”

More is more

Every listing is a potential entry point into the shop, so more is better


Answer your emails ASAP

Convos is Etsy’s internal email messaging system

Customers typically message sellers to ask questions about items before they purchase them

Answer quickly to catch them while they are still on Etsy

Before you respond, take a breath to really understand what the customer is asking


Keep a tight rein on spending

It is easy to “need” something for the

business and spend money

Be smart about how much is spent and how much raw material is

stocked

Keep basic materials and shipping supplies in stock

Keep “improvement” purchase to a minimum (a new craft table, a new

printer, etc.)



• Add listings slowly after the fist page or two of listings are created

• You can create a batch of items and then save them as draft listings to publish one or two each day

Add new listings a few at a time

• As commonplace as PayPal has become, it’s extra hassle to some buyers

Give customers as many options to pay as

possible

• This is a separate app just for Etsy sellers• Every time a convo or a sale is made a notification is sent to your

phoneUse the Sell on Etsy app


Tips for Selling on Etsy- Photography

• They help show the scale of items without having to take a photo for each specific item

• Use one photo for each sized offered• Use props that everyone is familiar with and

that are relevant to the items• They should compliment and help inform

about products - Not distract from them

Using Props

Compiled by Author from Sources: merriweathercouncilblog.com Images Source: Google Images


Selling through Photos

Product photos are key to success on Etsy- They’re deal

breakers and makers

Fancy equipment is not needed to take

great shots

It’s not just the quality of the

photos, but also displaying products

in the right way

Nothing will draw in a potential customer

more than the photographs

Compiled by Author from Sources: etsy.com & blog.fanchimp.com & etsyireland.blogspot.com


Use a tripod to balance the camera to prevent blurry photos

Use neutral colored backgrounds that does not clash with or blend in with the product

Try not to use props in the main product photosTake photos during the day in a well lit room-

Using a flash can wash photos out and alter their colors

Compiled by Author from Sources: instructables.com


Get photos of all sides of the product

If products are wrapped or have great packaging, take photos of that too

Use the macro setting if items are small - it's important to see as much detail as possible

Use models if item are meant to be worn

Compiled by Author from Sources: instructables.com

Etsy Resources

Some helpful resources to assist you in managing

your Etsy storefront

Image Source: Google Images

Selling Resources

For those who have honed their craft but need a hand with becoming a successful seller

Teaches artists how to successfully sell their handmade goods online

Also features the newest handmade, vintage and supply items found around the web

Gives insights on how to increase sales and hot get the most out of advertising spending

Selling Resources

A blog from a successful Etsy seller that’s gives inspiration and tips to other Etsy sellers

Posts are about how to be more successful on Etsy and offer help

There’re free printable tags, photo tips to make your images pop and giveaways

Selling Resources

A blog with tips on how to connect with customers and craft tutorials to inspire new projects

Selling Resources

A sister site to Everything Etsy

Revolves around the building blocks for successful marketing and sales that build a shops’ clientele

Offers tutorials and instruction on the technical side of building an online presence

Selling Resources

Has lots of marketing tips, as well as giveaways, tips on eco-friendly packaging, and ways to find holiday success

Also has advice, inspiration, tips, and practical how-to’s

(Handmade Success)

Selling Resources

A resource for more than just Etsy sellers that is run by two sisters and moms

Every week a brilliant mom entrepreneur is interviewed about what it takes to run a successful online business

Selling Resources

A weekly marketing newsletter for creative entrepreneurs, bloggers and social media marketers

Get emails packed with marketing tips, branding how-to’s and advice from successful online sellers

Subscribe and browse the archives for the answer to any marketing question

Contact Us for the Full Presentation:

Mediacontact USA Inc.13575 58TH Street North #160

Clearwater, Fl. 33760

T: 727 538 4112E: [email protected]

www.mediacontactusa.com

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.mediacontactusa.com/

Works Cited

"About Etsypreneur." Etsypreneur — Daily Tips, Inspiration, and Education for Etsy Sellers, ETSYPRENEUR.COM, etsypreneur.com/about-etsypreneur/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016.

Adam, Timothy. "About." Handmadeology, www.handmadeology.com/about/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016. Danielle. "How to Create a Cohesive Photo Style for Etsy Shop." the Merriweather Council Blog, 30 Jan. 2011,

www.merriweathercouncilblog.com/2011/01/my-etsy-photo-taking-tips-tricks-and-tools-for-developing-a-cohesive-style/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016. Donadio, Nicoletta. "10 Mistakes You Are Probably Doing Right Now on Your Etsy Shop."Fanchimp Blog, 28 May 2013, blog.fanchimp.com/10-

mistakes-you-are-probably-doing-right-now-on-your-etsy-shop-part-1-3ddb5e7e803b#.lpigil73t. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016. "Etsy Ireland: Etsy Sellers Product Photography Tips." Etsy Ireland, 9 Apr. 2013, etsyireland.blogspot.com/2013/04/etsy-sellers-product-

photography-tips.html. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016. "Everything Etsy - About | Facebook." Facebook - Log In or Sign Up, www.facebook.com/EverythingEtsy/about/?

entry_point=page_nav_about_item&tab=page_info. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016. Heaton, Erin. "14 Tips from my first year selling on Etsy." Landsown Life, Lansdowne Life, 11 Aug. 2014, www.lansdownelife.com/2014/08/14-tips-

first-year-selling-etsy.html. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016. "How to Start Selling on Etsy." Instructables.com, Autodesk, Inc., www.instructables.com/id/How-to-start-selling-on-Etsy/?ALLSTEPS. Accessed

17 Oct. 2016. "Sell on Etsy? Here Are 10 Marketing Sites You Should Follow." Launch Grow Joy, www.launchgrowjoy.com/10-sites-every-etsy-seller-should-

subscribe-to/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016. Sittig, Laurel. "4 Essential Product Shots for Your Etsy Listings." Etsy, Etsy, Inc., 19 June 2014, www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/4-essential-

product-shots-for-your-etsy/22504064051. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016.

selling on etsy part 4 of 5

Small Business & Entrepreneurship