Do you have an Etsy shop? Are you working on growing your shop? There’s no time like right now to start turning your dreams into reality.
I know many of Everything Etsy’s readers are major DIY craft lovin’ girls that dream about selling on Etsy but haven’t taken that final step. What are you waiting for? It’s really easy and you don’t have to have everything perfect and all figured out to start. Trust me. I’ve done it.
I had no idea my Etsy shop would turn into a business that includes selling all over the world and writing on multiple blogs. It all started with listing one item.
I know lots and lots of Everything Etsy readers are new to Etsy and trying to tweak their shop and increase sales. You can do it! Feel it, Dream it, Believe it, Be it! Keep improving everyday and you will be shocked with the results.
I know some of you have successful Etsy shops that have allowed you to stay home with your family and be creative at the same time. I love that! You are an inspiration! Maybe you want to start growing your shop and brand through writing on your own blog. You won’t regret it!
No matter what your dreams are, now’s the time to take action!
Selling online and blogging can open up a world of opportunity for you and your family. I know because we are living it! My sweet husband had no idea what he was getting into when he created a blog for my Etsy shop back in 2008. Now we have grown it into so much more!
We have an exciting new project coming your way soon. I’ll share more on that later, but right now I’d like to hear about you!
What’s your next project on the way to reaching your goals? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
~Kim
*Visit Kim {my sweet blogging friend} at The TomKat Studio to download this inspiring print.
Thank you for so much inspiration, Kim! I’m trying everyday to get my name out there and bring people in to my shop. Blogging has helped by connecting me with great mentors, like you 🙂 The best thing anyone can do is take that first step, and then another, and another. Every sale is validation that you are doing something right!
Hello,
I started on Etsy a few years ago, and I’ve only had 4 sales 🙁 I don’t know what to do to get traffic to my site!! I opened a page on FB to advertise my stuff, I’ve sold one thing 🙁 I have Twitter, and Pinterest….I get lots of Likes and followers, and some comments….but no sales 🙁 Last year I got sooo discouraged on Etsy that I just let it go! I let my product listings expire and never went back on! I did go back on right before Christmas 2013, and with no luck again! I just don’t know what else to do to get sales!! Last year when I was on, I was having Etsy run the ads/promoting me…with no luck still!! I just really don’t know how to advertise, or where to advertise, to try to get more sales!!! I know last year when I was on, my pics weren’t good at all, but I’ve learned how to work my DSLR camera better now (NOT perfect yet) and my pics, to me anyways look a lot better!! But still no sales!! I would like to start a blog, but 1 I don’t know what site to use to write the blog on. 2 I know I will have a lot of trouble coming up with things to write about! I mean I’m creative when it comes to crafts (most of the time anyways) but when it comes to writing creatively I just can’t do it!! I mean I’m actually having to pay people to come up with a title for each piece of my jewelry and write a description!! I don’t know what else to do!! You know I’ve been looking at all the items trending on Etsy, (What’s really selling) and I’ve looked on some seller’s pages…and sometimes I honestly can’t believe the stuff that they are selling….and wonder to myself, why can’t I sell stuff like that? I mean the one that stands out to me right now is, painted mason jars!! I’ve seen those selling really good!!! I mean how hard could it be to paint some mason jars?? But then I think well I can’t even sell my jewelry, so how would I be able to sell those mason jars, even though a lot of people are!! Does anyone have any suggestions for me?? Last thing, would anyone be interested in writing the descriptions and coming up with a title for my jewelry and posting it to Etsy, or at least sending me the written info, so that I could post it on Etsy?? Or do you have a suggestion of where I can find someone to do it for a rather cheap amount? Thank you for your help in Advance!! And if you have any advice for me, on any of my questions/problems please get in touch with me!! My email is Hartline22 @ live.com
Thank you
Laura
Hi Delilah!
Thanks for your sweet comment! Blogging does help get your name out there. Leaving comments can lead people right back to your shop! I tried to click on you link but it didn’t go through. Could you leave it here…I would love to stop by! 🙂
~Kim
Oh, boy! Silly little oversight, forgetting the “blogspot.” Thank you for asking, hope to see you soon 😉
http://www.elated-memories.blogspot.com
And if you’re interested in visiting my shop here’s that link, too:
http://www.emprintables.etsy.com
Thanks! Great shop! Printables for parties are always awesome…they save so much time and money!
~Kim
Thank you so much for sharing my free printable, Kim! The quote is so simple, yet so powerful in inspiring us to go for our dreams! Opening my Etsy shop in 2009 was one of the first steps that catapulted my business and I am proud to say we are close to 20,000 Etsy sales! (crazy!) This is such a wonderful post and I hope it inspires many more to take that next step! xoxo
Kim, you are such an inspiration! I love watching your beautiful business grow! Thanks for the fabulous print!
~Kim
I love this inspiration- it is exactly what I want to achieve. I have a 5 year plan to be self employed and doing what makes me happy!
I am very excited to be going and selling at my first market in October 2013. I love that this will bring me face to face with my potential customers and give me immediate feedback. I think it will be just the thing to fuel my passion!
Victoria- It sounds like an awesome plan! I know you are going to love meeting everyone at the craft market. I’m off to take a peek at your shop!
~Kim
Your blog is always so upbeat and positive! Ive been plodding along with my ETsy shop – I must admit not having that much direction with it lately but am keen to get back into it…renewing often, creating new products and lines and getting more involved.
Ive also been thinking about Christmas lately – it will be here before we know it!
Hugs
Anastasia
https://www.etsy.com/shop/percivalroad?ref=si_shop
Anastasia – Your shop is full of beautiful things! Thanks so much for your sweet comment! Just keep at it and you’ll see it grow fast! I’ve always found that when I have 100 or more items in my shop my sales really increase. One time I had over 200 items {in my first shop} and the sales would get pretty crazy at times. They more items you have the more keywords are out there leading back to your shop. It’s a cool thing!
Thanks for stopping by! Good day! 🙂
~Kim
How inspiring! My 11 year old daughter and I started an Etsy shop in July to raise money and awareness for a local childhood cancer charity. I started a blog to help promote it and became more active in social media. It’s a small start up but we are thinking of dedicating to a few other causes that touch our hearts. I have found out that I am more creative than I thought but am astounded at the amount of talent on Etsy. If you would like to visit our shop you can visit through the dedicated page on my blog or directly at http://www.etsy.com/shop/NixHeart. Thanks for your wonderful post!
Hi Kim,
I’ve been following your blog for a while now and you are always such an inspiration! My shop has been (very) slowly building- I just broke the 100 mark on items, and my sales are steadily increasing! My next thing is to (finally) start a blog- I’m excited to see where that takes me!
Thanks again and have an awesome day!
Hi Kim,
Thanks for the nudge! Your articles on selling and setting up shop are very helpful to me as a wannabe Etsy seller. Thank you for all of them. Being technically challenged, I have to learn the technical skills it takes to set up a blog and the shop. But learning new things keeps your brain young, right? 😀
I’m working like crazy to get as many items as possible ready for my etsy shop. With 1 Christmas season under my belt, I’ve learned that I need to have several items in the shop well ahead of time for people who are already beginning to shop for gifts. Guess not everyone waits until the last minute like I do!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/WillSewForChocolate
Thanks for the encouragement! I am so fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom to my 6 month old daughter, and I am trying to develop my etsy business in my free time (as in, whenever the baby is sleeping!) as a fun hobby and way to keep my creative juices flowing. I often get discouraged because I see SO much beautiful stuff out there in established shops, but I know every successful shop started the same way I am, one step at a time. I am currently working on search-engine optimization to get my shop as much exposure as possible.
Hey Kim,
thank you so much for this inspiration. I’m starting an Etsy Shop, but it’s a lot of work to get everything done and photographed, I want everything to be perfect. And for now I still have a full job, so unfortunately, I can only work on my shop during my *little* free time.
Your blog is amazing. I’m really thankful for all ideas, and tips!
Hi Kim!
Thanks for all that you do and for the inspiration! I opened my Etsy shop about a year and a half ago and definitely have big dreams for its growth! Thankful that I just had my 500th order the other day! It’s such a blessing and not only that – SO much fun!
BIG hugs!
Here’s my shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BabyBirdandBubBub
Hi Kim,
Etsy is a big jump and I’m just leaping in. My shop is finally open and I’m working on a new blog too. Exciting and scary. In addition to adding more items and blogging away, I’m getting ready for a Christmas craft show in November. Thanks for the encouragement.
Hi Cristal! Yay for you! A blog can do amazing things for an online business…you won’t regret it!
~Kim
Love your stuff!
I’m definitely trying to grow a bit this year – trying to move away from Facebook and move my sales more onto other sites such as Etsy. Also just discovered twitter (@dinkythings1) which is a more powerful selling tool than I thought (having been baffled by it for a while!)
alex
x
Alex – When I finally got the hang of using Twitter I was shocked at how much it helped…just keep growing your followers! Thanks for stopping by!
~Kim
I love reading your blog and you inspired me a lot to create my own blog however I am finding it hard to come up with things to write and I haven’t updated it in a while. I feel that I am more of a crafter than a blogger and I get easily distracted with life and forget updating my social media accounts. I tend to be more successful when selling my crafts in person during events but my dream is to be also successful on Etsy. Do I HAVE to be a blogger to be successful on Etsy? Please help.
xx
Dor
I originally opened my Etsy shop almost 2 years ago, but I never quite got the hang of it. Now I am back up and running and this time I’m putting everything I have into making a success of it. Not sure where to start, but in my search I ended up on your blog and I’m glad I found it. I truly needed the inspiration!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoutureBabyandCo