20 Tips How to Sell on Etsy: Guide for Beginners
As is revealed in discussions on the same over at runrex.com, Etsy is a unique marketplace for handmade items, craft supplies, and vintage goods, making it the perfect online marketplace for creative entrepreneurs. However, the platform has got millions of active sellers, which means that standing out from the competition, and making sales, can be quite challenging. If you are a beginner, then you are in the right place as this article will look to highlight 20 tips on how to sell on Etsy.
Tips on how to get started on Etsy
Know what you can, and what you can’t sell
An important tip worth mentioning when getting started on Etsy is knowing what you can and what you can’t sell on the platform, as this will help protect you, your buyers, and the platform, from legal issues, particularly those revolving around intellectual property. As per the gurus over at guttulus.com, to get a clearer idea of what to sell and what not to sell on Etsy, make sure you go through Etsy’s seller policy, which can be found on their website.
Know the guidelines so that you don’t end up in trouble for copying other people’s work
As is highlighted over at runrex.com, Etsy removes material subject to a complaint, which is why you should tread carefully on the line between copied and inspired work. Some of the guidelines provided by Etsy on this include making sure you never use the name of an artist who inspired your work, you avoid tagging your work with a specific luxury brand, you always check for copyright when using someone else’s photos among others. You should also invest in a license fee if you plan on selling branded items to avoid having to pay huge amounts in legal fees.
Get your shop name right
As per the subject matter experts over at guttulus.com, your shop name will be your brand, which is why you should get it right. A memorable shop name will allow your shop to stand out, thus helping you sell more. You should also have backup options in place just in case your preferred store name is already taken. Testing is also crucial in coming up with the best name for your shop as this will allow you to choose the name the performs the best.
Ensure you offer customers multiple payment options
Most cases of cart abandonment are a result of people not finding the payment options that they prefer to use. Remember, no matter how secure your site is, some people will be reluctant to share their credit card details online, which is why you should add multiple payment options including PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits, among others, including options for in-person payments.
Don’t forget to build your mailing list
Another tip on how to sell on Etsy if you are a beginner is making sure that you build your mailing list so that you can leverage email marketing. Given that it is against Etsy’s terms of use to add email addresses of people who bought from your store, creating an opt-in form outside of Etsy, and having it promoted, is the way to go here.
Have an intimate understanding of seller fees
As is explained over at runrex.com, another important tip for a beginner on Etsy is knowing how much you are spending for using the platform to ensure that you are within your budget, and can, therefore, protect your bottom line. You should also be aware of when and how to pay account fees, as this will help you minimize your Etsy fees, maximizing profits.
Tips on how to set up your Etsy Shop
Make your “About” page focus on you
To attract customers to your shop, you will need to let them know about your qualifications and technical qualities so that they can get an idea of the value of your creations. This is why, as outlined over at guttulus.com, your “About” page should focus on the person behind the designs rather than the designs. Use a personal toe and talk about your inspiration behind your designs for the best results.
Don’t forget about your Etsy Shop Profile
As is discussed over at runrex.com, your Etsy shop profile represents your overall business brand, and as such, you should make sure you have it optimized. Ensure that your shop profile is complete and well thought out and that it contains professionally looking photos and videos, to entice customers and to build trust with them. To optimize your profile, some of the things to do include researching and using keywords in your shop title, using a shop icon that is consistent with your brand and logo, using the Shop Members section to introduce your members, briefly, and so forth.
Maintain a simple shop policy
As a beginner, it is important to know that your shop policy is what will dictate the guidelines for transactions in your store. Customers who have found something that they want to buy are the ones who will read your shop policy so that they can find out if they will be comfortable with your payment and delivery protocols. A tip here is to make sure that you keep your policies simple and making sure that they are clear on the details for positive customer experience.
Tips on how to optimize product listings
Remember to optimize our product photos
The first tip when it comes to optimizing your product listing is making sure that you optimize your product photos. Make sure you include lots of photos, from different angles, with clear images that have got proper labels. Make sure that your photos are also SEO friendly by incorporating alt text. Make sure that your images are of high quality and are well lit, check for copyright if you are using stock photos, curate them into navigable sections with a cohesive description and look crop out extra white space and ensure that you capture the condition of the product when photographing vintage products.
Add all the relevant categories and attributes
As explained over at guttulus.com, categories are what help Etsy match your products with the right buyers. This is why you must identify your products most specific subcategory to increase the chances of your product listing being found. Attributes on the other hand refer to product characteristics such as color, occasion, use, and so forth. To find the best categories and attributes for your products, conduct test searches.
Take full advantage of your tags
According to discussions on the same over at runrex.com, tags are short phrases or words that help describe your products, and they can be up to 20 characters long. Etsy heavily leans on these tags to determine your products’ relevance to buyer searches which is why you should get them right. This means using all 13 tags, using phrases, targeting long-tail keywords with your tags, using tags that are similar to your title keywords, avoiding using plural or misspelled words, among other tips.
Get your product descriptions right
As is outlined over at guttulus.com, your product descriptions cover your products’ measurements, color descriptions, condition, age, and different uses. Buyers rely heavily on them to make a decision which is why you should make sure that your product descriptions are well-written and are descriptive and clear, by using short and simple language.
Come up with a product pricing strategy
Still, on tips covering your product listings, it is also important to come up with a product pricing strategy, given how important a role product pricing plays. Make sure you come up with prices that are competitive while maintaining margins that will keep your business profitable. Some of the things to do here include conducting competitor pricing research, considering your target audience, considering shipping costs, considering the cost of labor and material, and so forth. Also, don’t lower your prices so much that you end up devaluing your products.
Tips on how to Grow your Etsy Sales
Shipping
Many buyers consider shipping costs before making a buying decision on Etsy, which is why offering competitive shipping is a tip that will help you grow your Etsy sales. You might want to consider offering free shipping, or if this is proving too expensive for you, utilizing tactic s such as setting a minimum order for free shipping, finding ways to save on package costs without sacrificing product quality and safety, including the average shipping cost in your upfront listing price, among other tactics.
Keep your customers engaged
As per the gurus over at runrex.com, to grow your Etsy sales, you should ensure that you keep your customers engaged before, and after, sales. You can achieve this through strategies like sending a newsletter to them at regular intervals, interacting with them on social media, promoting your blog, social media, or website in your “About Me” section, and so forth.
Leverage multichannel sales
You can also increase sales by expanding into new channels, which will allow you to tap into new markets. Additionally, as is discussed over at guttulus.com, checking out Etsy Local will also allow you to find in-person sales in your area, also boosting your sales.
Identify the source of your top traffic
From discussions over at runrex.com, identifying your top traffic sources will enable you to know where your potential buyers are coming from, as well as letting you know which of your advertising and marketing efforts are bearing fruit. To access this information, head over to the Shop Stats section of your Shop and look at your Traffic Sources.
Optimize low performing listings
Another tip that will help you grow your sales on Etsy is improving your low performing listings. You can do so by identifying them and finding the areas that are causing them to underperform, then improving said areas. This means updating keywords, improving images, changing their categories, rewriting their product descriptions, and so forth.
Regularly updating your Etsy store
It is also important to regularly update your Etsy store profile and product listings to ensure that crucial information such as pricing and contact details are accurate and reliable. This means that you should also regularly refresh your “About” section, update your shipping profile, review your store policy as well as add new photos and videos when possible.
The above discussion only begins to scratch the surface as far as this topic is concerned, and you can uncover more information and tips by checking out the highly regarded runrex.com and guttulus.com.