Use these 7 Tips for getting started with Etsy to grow your business. Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on the sale of handmade or vintage items and supplies. It also is a place to sell unique factory-manufactured items.
These items cover a wide range, including art, photography, clothing, jewelry, food, bath and beauty products, quilts, knick-knacks, and toys. Many sellers also sell craft supplies such as beads, wire and jewelry-making tools.
Etsy launched in 2005 and is now the fifth most-visited marketplace in the U.S., after Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Best Buy. Etsy offers some great tips for getting started selling on their platform. Here’s how to set up shop on Etsy:
Gather Essentials
Assemble the building blocks for your new business before you open up shop. This makes the process of starting your shop easy and stress-free. Download Etsy’s handy Quick Start Checklist to begin preparing everything you’ll need. This includes taking photos, setting item prices and adding your bank’s routing number so you can get paid.
Select a Name
New sellers often get stuck on the very first step of the shop opening process: choosing a name. Don’t let this stop you. You can change your store name as often as you like before you open your shop by going to Your Shop > Shop Name. However, after you open your shop you can only change the shop name one time.
Set Specific, Attainable Goals
If you have big plans for your shop, you’re not alone. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, though. So, identify small milestones that will lead you there in a manageable way. For example, set your starter milestone to make your first sale within three months. Your task list become manageable with a clear focus on reaching this smaller objective. For more advice on setting wise goals, read the article, Ready for Etsy Success? Start With an Etsy Goal.
Think about Your Keywords
When people shop on Etsy with specific products in mind, they usually begin their search by typing words and phrases into the search bar. As a seller, it’s essential to think like your customers to determine which of these descriptive keywords they will most likely use to find your items. To make the most of keywords, begin by brainstorming words or phrases that customers might use to find your items.
Once you have a list of possibilities, circle the strongest keywords. Go into the listings editor and, plug those words and phrases into your product tags and item titles and at the beginning of your item descriptions. Once a week, check your Shop Stats (under Your Shop> Stats) to see which keywords are performing best, and replace those that aren’t with something different.
Take Great Product Photos
Most Etsy sellers aren’t professional photographers by trade. In that case, you’ll most likely have some studying to do. Taking photos that are sharp, simple and illustrative is key to selling success. You can learn basic photography principles by reading 4 Essential Product Shots for Your Etsy Listings and 5 Common Photography Mistakes.
Think Like a Brick-and-Mortar Store
Have you ever walked into a shop that was so thoughtfully designed that it made you want to buy everything? Aim to achieve that effect with your target customers as you build your shop. Offer a selection of products that look like they belong together. Sell items at different price points to appeal to a variety of shoppers, encourage multiple purchases and attract repeat customers. Even if you make only one type of product, consider listing it in various colors or different materials.
Done is Better Than Perfect
Perfectionists are always in good company. But, sometimes the obsession with having things just so can become a detriment. When you feel like you’re holding back until something is exactly right, remind yourself that selling is an experimental process, and if you don’t start somewhere, you’ll never get anywhere.
While these 7 Tips for getting started with Etsy are not an exhaustive list, they can get you started running your shop.