How To Sell Your Products on Etsy Successfully

Posting on Etsy is one smart way to make your products known and attract potential customers. However, with the millions of items listed on the platform, how do you make yours stand out?

Getting to know Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace that helps independent creators share and sell their products to anyone across the globe. 

• It’s a community of sellers and buyers of various products such as handcrafted decor and accessories, vintage items, art kits, and even self-care packages.
• With just $0.20, you can list your first product, and it’ll be up on the website for four months or until it gets sold.
• Etsy also advertises your items on different platforms. The payment for such advertisements, along with the transaction fee, is only collected once you make a sale.

Now, how do you actually sell?

Create a brand to remember

It’s no shocker that there may be thousands of other shops selling items similar to yours. Thus, your brand alone must catch the attention of your target audience.

Of course, there’s no better way to start this than to come up with a name that’s striking or easy to remember. For inspo, some of the short but catchy ones we’ve found are So Gloss, Sew Botanical, and Stylish Sista. If you’re having a difficult time thinking of one, try using the Etsy Store Name Generator which also allows you to check the availability of the names. You can only change your store name up to five times once your shop is open, so be careful not to waste your shots. 

Once you’ve come up with an intriguing name, pair it with an eye-catching logo. You can use Photoshop or Canva to design your own. Now, if you’re not feeling your creative juices flowing, you may create one with the help of logo makers like Tailor Brands, or hire freelancers from platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. 

It’d also be nice if both your shop’s logo and name radiate your brand or products’ image. ‘Coz sometimes, it’s all about the vibes! Speaking of vibes, make sure that your shop would pass your target audiences’ vibe check. Use pictures or visuals that aren’t simply attractive but could showcase your products and how they’re different from others. 

Utilizing your shop’s ‘About’ section is also an excellent way to introduce your brand and your business’ story. It will help customers see beyond your product’s specifications.

Research, research, research

Aside from knowing your product, you must figure out your niche and research about it. While the idea of going over different blogs and browsing through online platforms may seem tedious, the knowledge you get on your market can pretty much define what else you can offer.

If you need design and brand inspirations, you can check out Tik Tok, Youtube, Pinterest boards and Instagram shops that suit your niche. You can also visit online forums like Reddit and popular social media platforms such as Tiktok and Twitter to know your target audience better and strategize how you’re presenting your brand. 

If you want to level up your market research game, you may start checking out research programs and sites like Alura and e-Rank. These programs will help you identify what’s selling and trending in your niche. They can also help you monitor your competition and gauge your business’ potentials in the market you’re entering.

Tailor your tags and titles

Using the correct titles, tags, and keywords will help you amplify your products’ presence. And when it comes to identifying these, SEO is your friend!

Aside from accurately describing your products, put yourself in the shoes of your audience and think of keywords and tags you’d search that could lead them to your shop. It’s important to note that Etsy only allows you to have up to 13 tags per listing, so be sure to use them wisely. 

Sometimes, the more specific, the better. Don’t worry if you need to use lengthy or long-tail keywords as long as they describe your item accurately. Some users are certain of what they want, and being specific with your tags and description might just direct them to your products.

Apart from the tags and titles, be sure to maximize the keywords you’ll find by including them in the product and image descriptions, and even in the shop announcement which is one of the first things buyers will see once they visit your store. And if you’re tech-savvy and know how to edit the front-end of your store, you can also sneak in those SEO keywords into your coding!

Still clueless on where or how to begin? Check out these SEO and keyword sites that can help you decide on which tags and titles to use:

Alura – Aside from giving you a glance at your competitors and the products that stand out in your market, Alura also has a keyword search feature that helps you identify the best ones to use on Etsy.

eRank – Similar to Alura, eRank can be your one-stop source. This program has a keyword explorer feature that works across different sites and marketplaces apart from Etsy; these include Pinterest and Amazon. Its keyword tool can also give you an analysis of the top 100 listings for your chosen keywords and allow you to delve deeper into their details, such as their titles, prices, views, etc.

Marmalead – Marmalead doesn’t just help you find keywords used by real shoppers; it can also provide graphs and detailed analyses of the details behind these, including search volume and real keyword engagement. 

Seller Tools – Seller Tools offers various packages depending on…well, the seller tools you’ll need. And these tools include keyword search, trends, and analytics & reports you can get weekly, monthly, or annually, based on your choice.

Keyword Tool Dominator – Perhaps this one can truly help you dominate your market. Keyword tool dominator gives you long-tail keywords directly from Etsy by inputting the product name or keywords and filtering the searches.

Ubersuggest – Ubersuggest allows you to search through keywords and domains. It also provides keyword suggestions depending on seasonal trends, competition, and market volume.

Be friendly, establish a rapport with your audience

Whether it’s an old client or a prospect who won’t run out of questions, try giving the best customer service right from the very first interactions. Once they show interest in your product, you better show interest in doing business with them too!

Like in any relationship, the best way to establish a connection is to show transparency and communicate effectively. While answering too many questions can sometimes feel annoying, keep in mind that the way you respond to your clients could affect their purchase intention and influence how they see your brand and perceive you as a seller. It’d also be nice to provide them with updates and pictures of their orders. It can help you better establish trust with each other and show the customer that they are valued.

Know your built-in Etsy tools

Etsy offers various powerful tools that can help you better manage and market your business. Some of these tools include the Etsy Ads Campaigns and the Smart Pricing Tool.

Etsy Ads Campaign

Etsy Ads Campaign allows you to set your daily budget for your ads and identify which listings you’re advertising. Once settled, expect your listings to appear throughout the platform, including the Category Pages, Etsy Search, and Market Pages on the website and the app.

Smart Pricing Tool

Meanwhile, the Smart Pricing Tool can be your guide when you choose to offer a free shipping guarantee. A free shipping guarantee attracts more buyers and prioritizes your products in the US search. However, this might compel you to adjust your pricing to minimize your cost. It is where the Smart Pricing Tool comes into play—it’d allow you to change your listings’ prices, including their variations, and tell you how you can price those that are under $35 to guarantee that your shop would eventually recover the shipping costs.

Statistical Reports

Etsy also offers detailed statistical reports that can help you gauge your shop’s performance and determine how to market your products better. These statistics include your shop’s visits and views, revenue, conversion rate, and orders. 

You can also manage your shop on the go! In case you’re out running some errands, you can still edit your listings and respond to potential customers by simply installing the app on your phone. It allows you to have control over your business wherever you are.

Utilize social media

Spread the word!

Promote your products on your social media accounts and link them to your shop. It’d also help to know where your target audience is usually active and make your brand known on that platform. If the buyers you’re eyeing are active on Instagram, for example, you may reach out to influencers or communicate with your audience through stories and posts they can relate to. These posts or stories could be scheduled weekly to give your followers something to look forward to. 

If you’re both artsy and tech-savvy, you may create IG filters people can play with or use to flaunt their purchases from your shop. You can also throw giveaways and challenges to attract more people and encourage them to spread your posts throughout the platform. Speaking of purchases, you may share your buyers’ feedback on your products and let their words of satisfaction speak for your brand. 

Know your competitors

Legend has it that keeping your enemies close (closer than your friends even) is a surefire way to win a battle. In this case, keeping yourself updated on the progress and strategies of your competitors may do the same wonders!

Let’s face it, Etsy is a vast platform with millions of sellers, of which thousands could be your competitors. Nonetheless, it won’t hurt to browse their pages from time to time to see how you can keep yours unique and what adjustments you can make with your products and pricing. You can also join different communities on the platform to learn more about the competition and customer experiences or stories in your niche. 

Some major no-no’s

Now that you’ve mastered all the knowledge and perhaps, also mustered the courage to set up your own Etsy shop, here are some major no-no’s you have to beware of:

Low-quality photos and visuals

Your buyers aren’t detectives, don’t make them decipher the images of your products. It’s also a big turnoff if your shop’s featured photos aren’t straightforward and aesthetically pleasing. And if you’re thinking of purchasing expensive cameras and equipment for this, stop right there!

You can take excellent images of your products even with your smartphone. All you need is to be creative and know some of the basics of photography—finding good lighting and framing your subject. You can also set up a pleasant background using curtains, fur sheets, or even blankets and throw in items that fit your brand and products’ aesthetic. In case you have items that aren’t produced yet, try using mockup generators; they can help you test your designs and get fine and flawless photos for your listings.

Bypassing the tags and descriptions

While the process of curating descriptions and tags may seem tedious, these are what can bring potential customers to your shop. Thus, be sure to identify the right keywords and utilize these sections wisely.

Responding late to queries or not replying at all

Buyers on Etsy can find items similar to yours in a snap. If you’re not quick enough to respond to inquiries, they may lose interest in your products and find another from your competitors. 

Also, be sure to communicate with them nicely. Buyers can leave reviews on your shop, and these reviews can define your brand’s reputation. 

Apart from all these dos and don’ts….

Perhaps, the first and boldest thing you can do is set up your shop and transform your crafts and ideas into tangible products other people would want to hold dear. And if ever you get cold feet, don’t hesitate to head back to this article and use it as your playbook!

*Please note that Etsy is a trademark of Etsy, Inc. This content is not created or endorsed by Etsy, Inc.