I know how it is because I’ve been there! You want to increase your sales or start selling on Etsy and you could use a little help. When I started selling on Etsy in 2008 I had no idea what I was getting into…ha! I read everything I could find and stumbled through opening my own shop.
You might not want to read a whole book on it before you go ahead and jump in there, so I’ll share a few tips that I’ve learned along the way.
1. Product Selection – Choose the products you want to make…keep it simple! Shops that are full of similar products tend to do the best. You want them to remember your shop for bags, pottery or greeting cards. Make products that you love and others will love them too!
2. What’s Your Market? – Who is going to buy it? If you have a super-slim group of folks that would even want or need what you’re selling…be ready to wait for those sales. Specializing is great, just don’t get carried away. 🙂
3. Research – Observe others with products like yours. Check their prices and tags. Don’t make exactly what they’re making, but you want people to find you easily so you need to know the categories and tags that work best.
4. Pick a name you can grow with! – I have seen so many people go wrong with this one. Read How To Pick a Name For Your Etsy Shop.
5. Stock Up – You have to have stock to choose from…make 25 items or so to open your shop. Do you like to shop in stores with only 5 products? Most people don’t.
6. Photograph Your Products – Take multiple shots of each item and edit them to stand out in a crowd…not blend. You can use free software like PicMonkey. You might want to check out How To Photograph Your Work for Sale on Etsy.
7. Price It Right! – Research the price for your item and what the shipping charges. Super-low prices can equal cheap or poor quality to some people. We all want to make money, but make sure you would buy it at that price.
8. List It! – Describe your item in detail because the buyer isn’t able to hold it. Your multiple photos will help, but explain the quality to them. Everyone enjoys a little background story…maybe you have something to share about your product.
9. Get Great Cards! – Hand cards to everyone, mail them to family and leave them on tables or billboards. It’s a cheap way to spread the word. They can’t buy from you if they don’t know you sell something. 🙂
10. Packaging It Up – The packaging is the first thing they see when your they open your box or envelope. First impressions are big! Plan to include a small gift as an extra surprise. You’ll be happy with the results of this small gesture of appreciation.
11. Customer Service Counts – Make each sale count and get a repeat customer with quick responses to convos and great customer service. Show them that shopping on Etsy is so much better than going to the store for their next gift.
12. Grow! – Increase your stock to over 100 items…you will see some sales! Read Increasing Etsy Sales – Mind Your Item Count.
13. Blog – Get a blog! Blog about your products, favorite recipes, how to make your products, great new products in your shop…whatever. Once you get the hang of blogging you’ll find it to be a valuable tool for your Etsy business.
14. Tweet – Twitter is a fun way to spread the word about your products and meet new people. Just be sure to tweet about other things too. Tweeting about ONLY your shop and products might not give you the response you want.
15. Facebook – Facebook is widely used by Etsy sellers because you can share your shop products so easily. Try it!
Are you still reading…I can go on and on about this! {obviously}
16. Giveaways – Don’t be afraid to approach bloggers about doing a giveaway on their blog. Many will be happy to and you get links to your shop and lots of exposure. Don’t underestimate those links!
17. Renew Your Products – Renew your listing or list new items daily!!! Trust me on this one…do it! A dollar or so a day will go a long way in getting you new customers.
18. Teams – Join teams on Etsy and work together to promote your shops. We have a team for Etsypreneurs like you…check it out!
19. Keep Improving – Sales can go up and down for no reason at all…stay positive during slow times and work on your stock and photos. Think ahead to upcoming holidays and start planning for huge sales!
20. Have fun with it? Your creativity shines through when you’re enjoying your work. Don’t get caught up in what you’re not doing, just take it one step at a time.
I hope this list will help you get off to a great start or improve your sales. It’s not rocket science, but you do have to spend a little time on your shop to see those big results!
Etsy is a wonderful place to sell your beautiful handmade products! You can’t beat waking up to sales in your shop or working on your next new product while watching a movie on a rainy day. This is my kind of business!
~Kim
Other posts you might be interested in for your Etsy business…
Kim, what great tips! You’ve learned much in your time with Etsy. My niece started an Etsy shop and I’m going to share your tips with her.
I’ve missed reading your posts lately. Glad to be back.
Blessings,
Debbie
Hello, I’m so glad I found your blog a few weeks back. It helped me a lot while opening my Etsy shop! Thank you for todays tips too.
Veronica
These are all great tips!! I’ll definitely be referring new Etsy sellers (or those who are thinking of starting a shop) to this article 🙂
You’re always so helpful. This is very useful. Thank you!
So many times I have heard about inventory count. I am almost half way there. With spring on the way I really need to add to it. Warmer weather will call for hairbows.
Great tips. . .except maybe for one. #16. I’m not sure I agree with doing giveaways. I have done maybe a half dozen or so and have found that the followers on these blogs are only looking for free stuff. None of the giveaways led to additional sales and then I was out one item. Just my opinion, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a feature or more info on this topic (hint, hint).
Thank you! As a newbie, I can really use this information!
Thank you!
Wow. Thank you so much for this article!
Hi, I am just in the process of creating my stock to open an Etsy shop. Your tips are great, thanks very much for posting them.
Annie.
Good set of ideas. Especially about having enough items in your shop. Two pages is a minimum. Trying for 100 is better. My goal this year is 200 items.
One thing you left out is to identify your target market. Trying to sell to everyone is a mistake. Identify who your customer is and find them.
Wonderful tips and fun to read too!
This is my first time seeing your site, and I am hooked. Great advice. Your site is very aesthecially pleasing as well. By the way, I found you through Handmadeology Today. I can’t wait to read more!
I wish I had known more when I opened my shop. I mistakenly thought I was just going to create my days away………….and share the items on Etsy. Then, about Day #2, I could see I was in for a pretty steep learning curve. (still no way near the top of the curve yet!!)
Photography, pricing, shipping, packaging, writing descriptions……….Oh, and then start a blog, get more items made……..and then it is back to Photography.
It all seems daunting, but the catch is………I love it! Haven’t done anything this involved, or this fun for years.
Thanks so much for the information for us new folks here…. Keep it coming!
@Stitchknit You must have an A-type persoonality like me. The business, the blog, the follow up, and everything else I have branched off into keeps my life haphazard….but I love it too! Happy Selling!
Now I know that I did just about everything wrong! LOL How do you find your market at Etsy? I was looking for new customers, my old ones are who bought my stuff. Thanks for all the info. going to read it again!
Now I know I did almost everything wrong. Now to start over… LOL
Thank you! You’re the big help.
Thank you for this helpful summary. I see so many shops with 200-300 items doing stellar sales. I am working on listing more. Yuk. The worst part! I wish I could just create all day. I am sure I am not alone!
These are great tips–I think! I manage a little Etsy shop, selling items for a friend, but I’m trying to get the guts (and inventory) up to open my own. I’m bookmarking this!
Great tips for newbies! Thank you!
this is great thanks for the advice! would love to do a giveaway with you! love the style and layout of your blog!
Have just started selling on etsy and really appreciate the tips from somebody who has been there . . . big *THANK YOU*
Hello Kim,
Thank you so very much for all your helpful words, since I am very new on Etsy this is all very helpful.
Have a lovely day.
Ingrid Wilson
ingridsartwork
wow, reading these great tips has reminded me how much I still have to do! Thanks for a great article 🙂
.-= LeMariageDePapier´s last blog ..Starry Night Desert Island Printable Wedding Invitation =-.
Your right it’s fun the wake up to those sales and it’s fun to make things while watching TV! It’s totally my kind of job also. On top of all that you can live wherever you want. :))
I haven’t opened a “shop” yet either, still trying to get my inventory to at least 25 (to start). I make “Tree of Life” Pendants..seems like a lot of people are doing the same. I sat watch TV 2 hrs & made 5 more. I love making them! I’ll keep reading everything I can find
These are great tips summed up in sections so an easy read. I have taken note of all of these and am hoping to get my first sale as i am still rather new to Etsy! Finers crossed!
.-= Jemma Yates´s last blog ..Teal, Brown and Gold Gerbera Original Painting on canvas- 'Wild Gerberas' =-.
Thanks for writing this post. It was reaslly useful when I was setting up my own Etsy shop. I’ve linked to this post from my blog.
I hope your right about this because I think it’s starting to look like I need all the help I can get in on this project of opening a shop. Unfortunately I’m in it now and researching a little late but our product is pretty and I know it can sell it is just getting it in the right venue.Hopefully Etsy can be that vehicle. thanks for the tips!
Thank you for some great information. My show season is over and I really am trying to learn all I can about selling on ETSY. Opened in October and have three sales so far (actually five but I had to do two over the phone because her credit card would not process), so I am very happy. I would love to be able to drop most of my shows and be a seller on ETSY to give me more time to create. I love the idea of getting started with 100 items. My next goal!!
Hi Kim, thanks so much for the tip! I just signed up to etsy a few hours ago, so there are loads of images to load from my existing website.
I was just wondering though if shipping costs don’t present a challenge for people selling away from the U.S. Anyone is welcome to fill me in if they know 🙂
Kim,
I love your site. I am working on opening a store- in the very beginning stages. I know exactly what I am going to make, however I am having a hard time finding some products wholesale. Do you have any suggestions? I want to apply vinyl lettering to ANYTHING? As well as have items monogrammed. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.
Great tips, thank you! We just started and nothing yet, the products are pretty interesting but very few right now, so we’re hoping to improve
Great article. I definitely agree with your ideas on stock. The more items you have, the more exposure and traffic you will receive. That will lead to more sales. A lot of people unfortunately get discouraged and give up when their 5 items don’t sell. You have to keep building and putting more items out there.
Hey! Nice tips!!! I will use them to start an Etsy!!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ZipaDeeDoodads7
Check my shop out!!!!!!!!! <3
wow, this is very encouraging for someone really new on etsy!thanks!
So helpful! Thank you for these terrific tips!
Cindy Allen
@craftlanding
Great tips.
I do learn a lot from you.
Thanks for share
JW
Great tips.
Thank You for sharing..
Great tips I am just starting out trying to get my shop open. cant post on stumbleupon for some reason.
#OME, #OhMYEtsy, my name is roni, and i am so glad i was on facebook to catch your post, i am so the new #FAnGirl for your blog, thanks 4 the great info, i am very new to etsy, i have sold 2 items, just rebooted and working hard and praying hard, and listing new items this week,
thanks
roni
http://www.facebook.com/poetronigirl
http://www.etsy.com/shop/poetronigirl
ronithepoet@gmail.com
I have been following Everything Etsy for some time now and I always learn something. Thanks for your devotion to the Etsy community.
The Amber Dragonfly
Carol
Thank you for posting these helpful tips! I need to sell some things on Etsy, but you’ve also inspired me to promote Made in USA Etsy stores on my website. You did a great job with your writing and your layout!
~Diane
Thanks for the great tips. Like so many who already responded, I’m new to etsy. The photography has been the biggest challenge for me, b I am working on it and trying to improve with each item listed.
I also started a blog and fb page for my jewelry, right now I have to figure out how to balance it all. Fortunately I have a lot of completed pieces but I do miss all the time I had to work in my studio.
Just opened a shop in April, so this is really helpful. SEO is important as well….but that’s a whole other blog. 🙂 Thank you for this. I have been debating about diversifying my products and then I saw your first item on the list “product selection”, keep it simple. I guess I’m just frustrated with no sales, but you’re right. Stick to it and promote, promote, promote!
http://www.nancyharrison.ca
thank you so much.
Hi! I have an Etsy shop where I draw portraits of people https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/JKAIU/tools/listings/294115843
But everytime someone buys one then Etsy marks it as ‘sold out’.. How do I prevent this from happening?
This is something that may have occurred in the early days of feminized seed products but nowadays this is a very rare occurrence.
looking good
nice post