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The Etsy marketplace has made it way easier for artisans and crafters to profit from their creativity. Plus, in crazy times like these where it’s harder to do things in person, it provides a place online to share your wares.
But in order to be a successful Etsy seller, it takes more than just setting up your shop and listing items. You need to learn the entrepreneurial skills that will take your hobby to a business and help you stand out from your competitors.
So, I’ve put together a list of ten essential Etsy selling tips to help take your business to the next level.
Know Your SEO
The most important part of setting up your shop and listings is SEO (search engine optimization). That’s how your customers find you in search. It is important to make your Etsy shop SEO-optimized. Doing so will help your shop and products rank near the top in web searches.
Be sure to consider everything from your business name to the product titles and descriptions. When writing product details, every aspect of the product should be addressed (size, color, condition, uses, shipping, etc.) to minimize any concerns from a customer while satisfying the search engines.
You want to use any word that a potential customer might use when looking for an item like yours. Be specific. Instead of “gift for mom” say “gift for gardening mom” or “gift for nature lover”.
Additionally, keeping your shop updated by adding new content will also help optimize search results.
Post Quality Photos
The first introduction any customer will have with you is your product photos. Be sure that you’re using quality, high-resolution photos that show your products professionally. Use different angles and depths to show the detail of your items.
It’s always a good idea to post multiple images, with at least one of those photos showing the product in action. You may also want to use an item to help show the scale of the product in one of your photos.
While you don’t have to hire a professional photographer, you need to use a good camera and present your products in a good light. You can get a simple photo box on Amazon of make your own using poster board. Make sure the light is bright and shows off the product.
Become a Part of the Community
The Etsy community is huge, and it’s filled with tons of sellers who you can both help and learn from. Try participating in the site’s forums by providing feedback to other sellers and getting advice from your own favorite Etsy sellers.
To build in-person outreach, you can search for local events in your community to participate in. Attending events within your own community, such as meetups and pop-up shops, are opportunities to spread awareness and network with other sellers and potential buyers.
Set Up Social Media
Even if your products are unique, there will likely be other sellers that offer similar items. What sets your products apart relies on how well you promote your shop beyond the Etsy website.
Starting social media accounts for your business to share information about your products is one way to increase visibility apart from Etsy. I recommend starting with just 1 or 2 platforms that you know your customers hang out on. My personal pick for my shop is Instagram.
Consider including details about yourself and your products (how they are manufactured, etc.), and be sure to use relevant keywords and hastags for SEO. Another great idea is to post about topics that your shoppers are interested in.
For example, if you sell eco-friendly products, share info about how your shopper can be eco-friendlier in their day-to-day lives. Not every post should be about the products. Share free information and then occasionally share how your products can help.
Using the story or live feature on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is a quick way to announce new products or any upcoming news about the company. If customers happen to post pictures with your products, feature them on your page (with their permission, of course) or story to increase engagement.
This strategy increases your visibility and provides completely free marketing opportunities. You can promote your blog, products, sales, and discounts – and doesn’t cost anything more than your time.
Provide the Best Customer Service
Shoppers are more likely to buy from shops where they receive great service. It’s important to provide customers with the option to contact you by email or chat and keep them happy by replying quickly to any questions or feedback.
Make sure to respond favorably to your customers if any problems arise, even if you feel that the issue wasn’t your fault. When on social media, be sure to reply to any comments or inquiries. Throughout the buyer’s journey, follow up with your customers to ensure that they’re enjoying their purchase.
Sending out thank you emails or asking about their shopping experience shows customers that you are dedicated to providing excellent service. Your best marketing efforts will come from happy, satisfied customers that recommend your products to their friends through word-of-mouth and on site reviews.
Build Your Brand
Branding isn’t just about your shop colors and logo. It’s about you too.
Joining the Etsy community, creating unique products, providing outstanding service, and establishing yourself as an expert through blogging are all ways to establish your brand.
Consider creating a distinctive logo for your shop. Use your new logo on your shop, ads, business cards, and packaging. This will help establish trust and confidence with your customers, showing the quality and professionalism in your business.
It’s also important share your story, why you created this business and why you love it. People buy from people they know, like and trust, so share the story behind your business.
Research Successful Etsy Sellers
Not only is it important to perform research about your particular product – to determine how it might sell, who your competition is, and how to price it appropriately – but you also need to take the time to research what other successful Etsy sellers are doing.
Take a look at the shops that appear frequently in the search results. Ask yourself, what are they doing right? What would you change to make it better?
After observing other Etsy shops, start performing research to enhance your seller skill set. Finding blog articles, eBooks and podcasts from your favorite ecommerce platforms and successful Etsy sellers are a few ways to get started.
Market Your Brand on Pinterest
Contrary to what some might think, Pinterest is more like a search engine than a social media platform. It’s like Google except it focuses more on images than text.
For most products being sold on Etsy, Pinterest can provide a large pool of customers interested in that product. People use Etsy to search for info on everything from parenting, to home decor, to organization, to crafting. It’s the perfect place to share your products.
It’s important to make sure your Pinterest images are vertical and eye-catching. You also want to include the same SEO terms you would use in a listing on your Pinterest post.
Create a Mailing List
Emails are a fast way to reach customers. By sending email campaigns, you can keep customers in the know of any new products, changes, or sales your business is holding. It’s also a great way to assist customers and seek feedback.
You can also use emails to build rapport with your customers by discussing topics related to your products. So if you sell gardening products, share info on gardening. If you sell party decor, share party planning tips and inspo.
This action helps maintain brand awareness by appearing in the shopper’s inbox every week. Creating a campaign may seem like a workload, but using email automation systems, such as MailerLite, makes designing emails easy.
You can put a link in your customer thank you message asking them to sign up for your email list, you can share about joining the list on your social media, or even in the announcements section of your shop.
Be Creative with Packaging
Customers are always excited to receive their Etsy purchases, and you can make it even more exciting by providing creative, quality packaging. Not only will it delight your customers, it shows that you’re professional and appreciate their business.
Add some personality to your packaging – something beyond boxes and envelopes. Include business cards with the product for customers to give to family and friends. The Etsy community is full of creative shoppers and sellers, so go beyond expectations with beautiful and creative packaging.
Obviously, this only applies to physical products, but even if you sell digital products, you can send a cute coupon with your product or a nice thank you note.
Conclusion
The key to selling on Etsy is to be credible and trustworthy. Focus your marketing efforts on customer service and how you’ll present your business to potential customers. Stay up to date on trends and continue to seek new ideas through research.
By establishing your business in every aspect (outreach, SEO, product quality), you can help build your brand and reputation on a great marketplace.
Interested in selling on Etsy? Use my seller referral link and we’ll both get 40 free listings (worth 8 dollar menu items).
Do you know how to sell on Etsy successfully? Let me know your tips and tricks in the comments below!
Cheers,
Emily
