Etsy has really grown in leaps and bounds. And while I don’t personally sell on this platform, I have it on good authority that those that do are finding it surprisingly easy to make money creating things that they’re passionate about. I had a few questions about how folks are doing what they do. I’m going to attempt to share a few of the answers that I found to the following questions:
- With over 400,000 active sellers on Etsy, how can you make your store stand out?
- How can you ensure that your items on Etsy sell and that you actually make money from the time you put into it?
Here are a few tips on how to succeed with Etsy.
Sell a Product Line
Many sellers make the mistake of selling a disparate range of products that have nothing to do with one another. Unfortunately, that makes it hard for people to buy multiple items from you and reduces the chances of repeat sales.
For example, if you’re selling handmade plates, hammocks and earrings, you’ll get some sales but it’s unlikely that you’ll build a strong presence.
On the other hand, if you make a whole line of jewelry from earrings to necklaces made from a special kind of reflective seashell, you’ll get a lot of repeat and multiple item sales.
Store Management Tips
List at least one item every day. Why? Because if you don’t, your items will get pushed down very quickly. When someone does a search, they won’t see any of your products if you aren’t posting daily.
Aim to have between 50 to 100 items in your store. People tend to browse between two and three pages when they take the time to look at a store. Don’t have less than 50, as that means you’re missing an opportunity to sell. However, if you have over 100, your best products could be diluted by products that most people won’t see anyway.
Sell items priced below $50. Not that you can’t sell higher priced items, but the Etsy community as a whole tends to be a community that buys many cheaper products rather than single large purchases.
Artistic, Not Commercial Photos
If you visit the Gap’s or Target’s website, you’ll see a bunch of examples how not to do your photos on Etsy.
The look to go for is the artsy look, not the corporately professional look. How can you add personality to your photos? How can you make sure they’re high quality, yet don’t come across as stilted or corporate-ey?
Make sure your items are clearly visible. One common mistake on Etsy is to take a photo where the actual item on sale is out of focus.
Be Part of the Community
The best way to ensure your success on Etsy is to become part of the seller community. There you’ll get to interact with thousands of successful sellers who are more than willing to share their tips and experience.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. In time, give back to the community by answering questions when you’ve had your own success.
Finally, just go out there and do it. The only way to know if you’ll succeed is to start listing things today.
