Tips for Starting an Etsy Business

Are you thinking of starting an Etsy business? If you have been keeping up with my blogs on business, you will recall that I opened my Etsy shop in March of 2012. It took me two months to make my first sale. Sales were slow at first. Over the years my shop evolved into what it is now. I learned a lot of the past seven years and made lots of changes. Here are some of the things I learned over the years.

SELECT YOUR PRODUCT: What are you good at? Make sure your product is sellable. Create a quality product. Unique is good. Look at what is selling. Check out your competition.

CHOOSE YOUR NAME: You can use your own name or choose something catchy that will identify you with your product. Make sure no one else uses your name.

USE GOOD PHOTOS: Learn how to take good pictures that will showcase your products well. Take advantage of the 10 spaces Etsy gives you to showcase your product. Make your art stand out with mockups.

FILL OUT THE LISTING TITLES: Create good titles. Use keywords and phrases that will help buyers find your items when searching. Fill out the description to help the customer know what they are getting. Include dimensions, colors, and whatever else is applicable. Use all 13 tags. Create sections for your products. Make sure you use all applicable sections in listing details to make it easy for customers to find you.

USE VARIATIONS and PERSONALIZATION: Etsy provides 2 variations; use them both if it will help the customer with the checkout process. Etsy’s new personalization section lets you collect information from the customer. If you sell custom items, this is invaluable.

FREE SHIPPING OR FLAT RATE: Can you offer free shipping? That’s up to you. If you are able to offer free shipping, I recommend it. Customers are looking for free shipping these days.

CUSTOMER SERVICE: Make sure your customer service is stellar. Make customer service your top priority. Put yourself in the customer’s shoes. Respond promptly when a question arises. Try to avoid issues by being proactive.

KEEP YOUR SHOP FRESH: Regularly add new products and update listings to stay relevant.

BE PATIENT: It takes time to be successful. Set attainable goals. Learn from your mistakes. If something isn’t working, re-evaluate.