By Kate Gatski, Etsy business owner (Gatski Metal) & co-author of “Starting an Etsy Business for Dummies.”
Are you excited about selling on Etsy? That’s great! You’re already on the right path. An enthusiastic attitude and a good dose of persistence is what you’ll need for a solid foundation.
To get started, I suggest reviewing the Seller Guidelines and the Seller Handbook on Etsy. Is it overwhelming? Yes, it sure is. But don’t try and absorb it all at once. Read it in small doses and make a list of links to revisit later. Even after your Etsy store is established, try to keep reading (and learning).
Now that you have a taste for the Etsy website, you can start building your shop. Here are my top ten tips for selling on Etsy:
- Take the best photographs you can of your products. Then try to take even better photos next time. Check out these tips on how to take great photos from the Etsy blog.
- Create a template for your product descriptions. This can be a list of questions you need to answer each time you write a description.
- Develop a personal connection with consumers by creating a short bio and telling your personal story. This can also be in the form of a short list. Be sure to add these to your About page, your shop announcement and possibly your policy page and product descriptions.
- Research and identify the top performing keywords related to your items. You can do this through Google’s free Keyword Planner With the right keywords, your product will have a higher chance of showing up in search results. Schedule time to do this now (and time to do it later). You will continue fine-tuning your titles and tags for many years to come.
- Set your prices and tell yourself that it’s okay to adjust them. Have the confidence to make changes over time. It really is okay!
- Come up with a unique packing plan, and set up a little packing station. Be sure to consider a personal touch – a short, handwritten note is ideal.
- Establish your shop policies. This is a good way to set boundaries of what you will or will not do.
- Think about ways to talk about your shop, whether in person or on social media. Can you describe your process, your inspiration, or how your items will be used? Write your ideas down, and share them with people and on your social media platforms.
- Invest your time in improving your shop, but don’t obsess about watching your stats, comparing yourself to others or looking for quick sales. Every Etsy store is unique.
- Map out a plan for your success (it will happen). Make a list of both short-term and long-term goals for your enterprise.
That’s it! If you work steadily and consistently on your Etsy shop, you will be delighted with the results. I can’t say there won’t be slow times. Don’t lose heart, just keep focusing on your work. Be confident in yourself, and keep at it. You will achieve more than you can imagine.
Thanks for being here. Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments below. We’d be more than happy to answer them!
I am Kate Gatski. My husband, Ben, and I create sculptures, tables and home décor in a rural shop in Pennsylvania. We established our business, Gatski Metal, thirteen years ago and have been selling on Etsy for six years. We support our family of five solely from this business. I am the co-author of, “Starting an Etsy Business.” Please consider signing up for our email newsletter here.