With over 400,000 active sellers on Etsy, you need to determine how you can make your storefront stand out, that your items on sell, and that you earn money from the time you put in. Here are a few tips on how to succeed with Etsy.
Sell a Product Line
Many sellers make the mistake of selling a disparate range of products that have nothing to do with one another. Unfortunately, that makes it difficult for people to buy multiple items from you and reduces the chances of repeat sales. For example, if you’re selling handmade plates, hammocks and earrings, you’ll get some sales but it’s unlikely that you’ll build a strong presence. On the other hand, if you produce a whole line of jewelry from earrings to necklaces made from a special kind of reflective seashell, you’ll get a lot of repeat and multiple item sales.
Storefront Management Tips
You should list at least one item every day, otherwise your items will get pushed down very quickly. When someone does a search, they won’t see any of your products if you aren’t posting daily.
Aim to have 50 to 100 items in your storefront. People tend to browse between two and three pages when they take the time to look at a store. Don’t have fewer than 50 items, as that means you’re missing an opportunity to sell. However, if you have over 100 items, your best products could be diluted by products that most people won’t see anyway. Sell items priced below $50. Not that you can’t sell higher priced items, but the Etsy community as a whole tends to be a community that buys many cheaper items rather than single large purchases.
Artistic, Not Commercial Photos
If you visit the websites of The Gap or Target, you will see a lot of examples of how not to prepare your photos for Etsy. The look to try to achieve is the artsy look, not the corporately professional look. In order to ensure that your photos are high quality, yet don’t come across as stilted or too corporate-looking, make sure your items are clearly visible. One common mistake on Etsy is to take a photo where the actual item for sale is out of focus.
Be Part of the Community
The best way to ensure your success on Etsy is to become part of the seller community. There you will get to interact with thousands of successful sellers who are more than willing to share their tips and experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. In time, give back to the community by answering questions when you have had your own success.
Finally, just go out there and do it. The only way to know if you’ll succeed is to start listing things today.
