If you’re interested in selling handmade, vintage or unique items online, Etsy is a great platform to start with. Founded in 2005, Etsy has grown to become one of the largest e-commerce sites dedicated to handmade, vintage, and unique products, created yourself or dropshipped with Etsy print on demand companies.
In 2022, the platform had 89.4 million active buyers and generated $2.57 billion in revenue. With such a large market, there’s plenty of opportunity for anyone looking to sell on Etsy.
However, with so many sellers on the platform, it can be difficult to stand out and make sales. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the key steps you need to take to start selling on Etsy, and provide you with some tips on how to make your shop a success.
How to sell on Etsy in 2023: 7 steps
1. Create your Etsy shop
The first step to selling on Etsy is to create an account and set up your shop. To get started, go to Etsy.com and click on “Sell on Etsy” in the top right corner of the screen. You’ll be prompted to sign up for an account or log in if you already have one.
Once you’ve logged in, you’ll need to set up your shop. This includes choosing your shop name, adding a profile picture and cover photo, and creating your shop policies. Your shop name should be unique and easy to remember, and your profile picture and cover photo should be eye-catching and reflective of your brand.
Your shop policies should include information on shipping, returns, and exchanges. Be sure to include details on how long it will take for you to ship your products, what your return policy is, and any other important details that your customers should know.
2. List your products
Once you’ve set up your shop, you can start listing your products. To do this, click on “Add a Listing” on your shop dashboard. You’ll be prompted to provide a title, description, and photos of your product, as well as information on price, quantity, and shipping.
When creating your product listings, it’s important to be descriptive and include as much detail as possible. This will help potential buyers understand what your product is, what it’s made of, and how it can be used. You should also include high-quality photos that showcase your product from multiple angles.
When setting your prices, it’s important to consider the cost of materials and any overhead expenses, as well as the time it takes to make each product. You’ll also need to factor in the cost of shipping, which can vary depending on the size and weight of your product.
3. Optimize your shop for search
To make sales on Etsy, you need to make sure that your shop and products are visible to potential buyers. One way to do this is to optimize your shop for search.
Etsy uses a search algorithm to rank shops and products in search results. This algorithm takes into account a number of factors, including the relevance of your product to the search query, the quality of your photos, and the number of sales and positive reviews you have.
To optimize your shop for search, you should:
- Use relevant keywords in your product titles and descriptions
- Include tags that accurately describe your products
- Use high-quality photos that showcase your products
- Encourage customers to leave positive reviews by providing great customer service
4. Promote your store
In addition to optimizing your shop for search, you should also promote your shop through other channels. This can help drive more traffic to your shop and increase your sales.
Some ways to promote your shop include:
- Social media: Use social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to showcase your products and drive traffic to your Etsy shop.
- Paid advertising: Consider using paid advertising channels like Google Ads or Facebook Ads to promote your shop and products to a larger audience.
- Collaborations: Partner with other businesses or influencers in your niche to reach a wider audience.
- Email marketing: Collect email addresses from your customers and send out regular newsletters and promotions to keep them engaged.
5. Provide great customer service
Providing great customer service is key to building a successful Etsy shop. This includes responding promptly to customer inquiries, providing accurate information about your products, and shipping orders quickly and securely.
Here are a few tips for providing great customer service:
- Respond promptly to customer inquiries: Try to respond to customer inquiries within 24 hours, and be friendly and helpful in your responses.
- Be transparent about your products: Provide accurate information about your products, including any flaws or imperfections.
- Package orders carefully: Make sure your products are packaged securely to prevent damage during shipping.
- Ship orders quickly: Ship orders as quickly as possible, and provide tracking information so that customers can track their orders.
- Follow up with customers: After a customer receives their order, follow up with them to ensure that they’re satisfied and to ask for feedback.
6. Keep improving your store, products, and listings
To stay competitive on Etsy, it’s important to continuously improve your shop and products. This can include updating your product listings with new photos and descriptions, offering new products, and experimenting with new marketing strategies.
Here are a few ways to improve your shop:
- Conduct market research: Stay up-to-date on the latest trends in your niche, and research what your competitors are doing.
- Experiment with new products: Offer new products or variations of existing products to keep your shop fresh.
- Monitor your analytics: Use Etsy’s analytics tools to track your shop’s performance, and make adjustments as needed.
- Ask for feedback: Ask your customers for feedback on your products and shop, and use that feedback to make improvements.
7. Be up-to-date about Etsy’s policies
Finally, it’s important to stay up-to-date with Etsy’s policies to ensure that you’re in compliance with their rules and regulations. Etsy has strict policies on what can and cannot be sold on their platform, as well as guidelines for shipping, returns, and refunds.
Here are a few key policies to keep in mind:
- Prohibited items: Etsy prohibits the sale of certain items, including weapons, illegal drugs, and counterfeit goods.
- Intellectual property: Etsy has strict policies on the use of intellectual property, including trademarks, copyrights, and patents.
- Shipping: Etsy requires sellers to provide accurate shipping information and to ship orders in a timely manner.
- Returns and refunds: Etsy has guidelines for returns and refunds, and requires sellers to provide accurate information about their return policies.
By following these key steps and tips, you can set yourself up for success on Etsy and start selling your handmade, vintage, or unique products to a large and engaged audience. Remember to stay patient, stay persistent, and always be willing to adapt and improve as you grow your shop on Etsy.
Wrapping up
That’s it—this was my simple 7 step guide on how to sell on Etsy.
To sum up, selling on Etsy can be a great way to turn your passion for creating handmade, vintage, or unique products into a successful business. By following these steps and tips, you can create a successful Etsy shop and start earning money doing what you love.
Just remember to take it one step at a time, be patient, and always be willing to adapt and improve. With a little bit of hard work and dedication, you can build a thriving Etsy shop and turn your creative hobby into a profitable business. Good luck!