Selling on Etsy is a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to grow their business and develop a long-term revenue stream. With over 20 million potential customers and almost 1 billion monthly page views, it’s no wonder that so many sellers choose to list their products on this popular e-commerce platform.
👉 Discover our workbook to start your digital product business simply and quickly !
Plan Ahead
As a new seller and a small business, you may have a lot of ideas for products to sell, but before you jump in and create a store full of products, make sure you have a plan in place. Many successful Etsy sellers recommend starting with a single product, testing it on the site, and seeing how it performs before committing to a larger inventory.
As an emerging seller, it’s also important to consider your long-term goals for your business.
What type of products do you want to sell ? Where are your products manufactured ? How will you source or manufacture your products ? What are your sales goals for each product ?
Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ll have a better idea of how to proceed.
Be Visible and Stay Connected
There is no doubt that visibility is key to selling more when ruining on online store. As a new seller, you can boost your visibility by participating in the community and connecting with other Etsy sellers.
Participating in forums, blogs, and groups related to your field of interest can help you meet other sellers and learn valuable tips and tricks. Connecting with other Etsy sellers also offers you the opportunity to become a valuable member of the Etsy community.
Establishing relationships with other sellers can help you get feedback on your products, find beta testers for your products, and find new customers.
As a new seller, participating in the community and connecting with sellers can help you boost your visibility and improve your reputation.
Provide Quality Photos
Sellers can only sell what shoppers can see, so it’s important to provide high-quality photos for your products. If photos are blurry, poorly lit, or don’t show the product from many different angles, you won’t attract many shoppers. But with the right photos, you can catch shoppers’ attention and help them understand what your products are all about.
If you’re new to photography, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to improve your photos without hiring a professional. You can use natural light, try out different angles, and even use your phone to take photos.
Once you have the right photos, you can upload them to your product listings so shoppers can see what you’re selling.
Develop a Winning Product Listing Strategy
The best way to sell more on Etsy is to create an appealing product listing. A product listing is the main page that shoppers see on your Etsy shop. It contains information such as the product name, description, price, quantity, availability, shipping information, and more.
A detailed product listing is critical to boosting your sales. A product listing with all of the right information will help shoppers understand what your product is, why they need it, and how much it costs.
There are several different strategies you can use to create a winning product listing. You can start by including clear product photos, a detailed product description, a unique product title, sample sales, and more.
👉 Discover our workbook to start your digital product business simply and quickly !
Create a marketing plan
One of the best ways to kick off the new year is to create a marketing plan for your Etsy shop. It’s important to note that your marketing efforts should be focused on growing an established (not new) Etsy shop.
Etsy is not a platform designed to help new sellers find buyers. It’s meant to help existing businesses grow their revenue through a loyal customer base. Start by assessing your key marketing areas and setting goals for each. For example, your marketing areas may include social media, content marketing, paid advertising, email marketing, etc.
Your goals will vary depending on your marketing areas. With this in mind, try to set goals that are measurable and specific.
Use data to drive your decisions
While it’s important to set goals for your marketing efforts, it’s also crucial to use data to drive your decisions. What does that mean ? Well, in order to effectively measure the success of your marketing efforts, you’ll need to track data.
This data can help you determine the following :
- What marketing channels are working best for your business ?
- Which channels need improvement ?
- What type of content works best for your audience ?
- Which type of content needs to be reworked ?
Etsy’s Marketing Statistics page is a great source of data that can help you determine your marketing strategy.
Create a stellar product listing
Having a stellar product listing is key to growing your Etsy shop. This is the first thing that potential buyers see when visiting your shop, so it needs to be appealing and reflect your brand.
There are a few things to keep in mind when writing your product listings :
- Use high-quality images : First and foremost, your product listing needs high-quality images. This is where most buyers will get their first impression of your products and brand. Make sure you have at least one good-quality image per product listing.
- Describe your products thoroughly : While having beautiful images is important, having a thorough description is just as significant. Your product descriptions should be detailed and include all relevant information such as sizing, materials, care instructions, etc.
- Write your titles with keywords in mind : Your product titles can be one of the most effective (and easiest) ways to rank in Google search. Your titles should include one or two keywords that are significant to your product and brand.
👉 Discover our workbook to start your digital product business simply and quickly !
Establish a presence on social media
Most Etsy sellers fail to take advantage of one of the best ways to grow their business : social media. There are many social media platforms that can be useful for Etsy sellers. Such platforms include Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, to name a few.
While each social media platform has its benefits, it’s important to not spread yourself too thin. For example, it’s a smart idea to have a presence on Instagram and Pinterest. However, don’t try to manage both platforms at the same time.
Choose one platform and fully commit to it. Doing so will allow you to provide the best content to your audience and will help you to be more consistent. For example, you can post a Pinterest board once a week or once a month and stick to it.
Communicate with Your Customer Base
It’s important to maintain a relationship with your customers, even if you are a one-person operation.
- Respond to customer service requests : Etsy has a system for responding to customer service requests. Make sure you are checking your customer service requests regularly and responding to any questions or concerns customers have.
- Keep your customers informed : Check the “About” section of your Etsy shop regularly to make sure that your customers see your most recent updates.
- Stay on top of negative feedback : Negative feedback is something that every seller has to deal with at some point. Respond to any negative feedback left for your shop promptly and professionally to show customers that you are willing to work with them to resolve issues.
Promote Partner Brands
One of the best ways to gain new customers on Etsy is by promoting partner brands through your Etsy shop. Partner brands are companies that have a strong relationship with Etsy and are looking to expand their customer base.
Partner brands are often larger, more recognizable brands (like Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, or Bed, Bath & Beyond) that are eager to expand their product lines but might not have the resources to do so on their own.
Partner brands are a great opportunity for new sellers to expand their customer base and gain new followers.
Don’t forget about Google search
Did you know that 96% of all online searches begin with Google ? This means that having a robust SEO strategy is crucial to be found on a search engine. SEO is a long-term strategy, so don’t expect to see results right away.
However, if you follow these tips and commit to them, it will help you to climb the rankings for your targeted keywords and bring more organic traffic to your Etsy shop.
Here are some tips to get you started with optimizing your Etsy shop for Google:
- Choose your keywords wisely : Determine which keywords you want to rank for and then create a list of keywords that are relevant to your products. Next, create a keyword research spreadsheet and use it to track your progress. There are several strategies you can use to decide which keywords you want to rank for.
- Create engaging content : One of the best ways to increase your page rank is to create engaging content that helps Google understand what your business is all about. The content you create for your Etsy shop should be helpful and solve a problem.
- Build links to your website : One of the most effective ways to increase your page rank is to build backlinks to your website. The easiest way to do this is to reach out to other bloggers and see if they’d be interested in linking to your website.
Try PPC advertising
It’s no secret that advertising can be a great way to grow an Etsy shop. With that in mind, don’t overlook paid advertising, especially if you’re short on time or don’t have the resources or skills to create your own content.
The good news is that there are several places online where you can get started with paid advertising. The most popular platforms include Google AdWords, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads.
Keep in mind that these are paid platforms and you’ll likely be charged per click. However, if done correctly, these ads can help you to convert more sales without having to create your own content.
Don’t Forget the Importance of Shipping
One of the most important things to consider when selling on Etsy is shipping. It is important to keep in mind that shipping costs can add up, especially if you’re selling items that are heavier or larger.
If you promise to ship your products within a certain time frame, you need to make sure that you do so. If you don’t, you could risk receiving negative reviews from your customers. It’s also important to offer free shipping to your customers.
You can do this by offering free shipping on all orders above a certain amount or by creating a new listing for your products that features free shipping. Offering free shipping is a great way to attract new customers and encourage them to buy from your shop.
Our final word
Once you’ve established an initial marketing strategy, you’ll want to create a marketing plan that outlines your overall marketing strategy. This will help you to stay focused and organized while scheduling your social media posts, email campaigns, and content creation.
Your marketing plan should include company information, a sales strategy, and an outline of your goals. With this in mind, it’s important to stay consistent with your marketing efforts. This includes setting goals for the year and keeping track of your progress.