Guide to Etsy

 

Research the Competition

The quickest way to find the top sellers is Etsy’s bestsellers page. Here, you’ll learn plenty just by taking a glance. The page features a diverse list of items in a variety of categories.

For instance, the page might display sustainable and educational items marketed toward children, seasonal clothes or accessories, and personalized and bespoke jewelry.

Click on any one of these bestsellers, and you’ll learn even more. When you’re checking out your competitors, focus on:

• The kind of feedback they’re receiving
• How they brand their store
• Whether they’re offering free shipping or special discounts
• If the products are personalized
• The information included in descriptions
• The amount and type of images they use
• Their shipping and return policies
• How they integrate keywords

Delve Into Etsy Data

Now that you understand the basics of a good listing, you might want to go deeper. With some data to inform your decisions, you’ll have greater confidence you’re targeting the right products.

Discover trends

Analyze pricing

Find keywords

Optimize listings

Identify Your Etsy Niche

One way of getting started is listing various items to see what sells. However, you’re likely to get off to a better start if you trade in a niche. Selling this way makes it easier to market to your ideal customers.

What should you look for in a niche? Ideally, you’ll want something that’s a popular seller and something you’re also passionate about. Further, when you’re selecting products for your niche, focus on profitability, ease of shipping, and items that have high demand but low competition.

There’s more to it than that, though. You’ll also want to focus on creating a unique style: something definitively yours that others will have a hard time copying.

Understand Your Buyers

Before you can sell to your customers, you need to understand them. Start by looking at Etsy from your customers’ perspective. If you were buying, what would you expect to see from a product? What search terms would you use? What instills confidence when you read a product listing?

Now refine this to more specific questions. Etsy has a great list of the top 20 questions buyers ask, which can help you get inside your buyer’s mind.

Tips for Selling on Etsy

There’s more to a good Etsy listing than SEO keywords. It’s best to have clear descriptions, strong branding, good customer reviews, and an up-to-date bio. Let’s discuss these.

Write the Perfect Description

This article has already covered the essentials of writing strong product descriptions. However, as they are such an essential part of your Etsy business, there’s space for more. Aside from detailed, keyword-rich, honest descriptions, you should also use:

• your brand voice
• short, punchy paragraphs 
• bullet points
• creativity

Brand Your Etsy Shop

Branding builds confidence and loyalty. It gives you a unique voice that buyers recognize, helping you get noticed in a crowded market.

Begin branding by identifying your unique selling point. Then:

• Detail the story behind your business and integrate keywords.
• Use your understanding of your customer demographics to appeal to them.
• Create a tagline or statement. Make it something memorable.

When you’ve decided what you want your brand to look and sound like, start working on its cohesiveness. Ensure your Etsy shop, packaging materials, and everything in between has the same look, style, and tone. Most importantly, make sure it’s uniquely yours.

Keep Your Shop Bio Current

Don’t just use your bio to tell buyers who you are. Use it to make shop announcements, offer discounts, and highlight sales and new listings. If there’s anything else worthy of including in your bio that will differentiate you, include that too. For instance, if you’ve gained a further diploma in art or jewelry making, shout about it.

You could also add your latest or best reviews, any publicity you’re picking up, or any changes you’ve made to order processes, returns, and disclaimers.

Encourage Etsy Reviews

It’s no secret that getting reviews encourages customers to buy. However, getting your first bit of feedback isn’t always easy, even if the customer is happy.

That said, there are some ways you can actively encourage your customers to leave a review. You could:

• Put a note in with orders: Include a polite message with each order you send out asking your buyer to leave feedback. Remember to invite your buyer to contact you directly if they’re unhappy in any way.
• Use your listings: In your listings, explain the importance of feedback to your business and ask customers to leave feedback once they receive their items or to contact you directly if they have any questions.
• Get friends and family to buy an item: OK, so it’s cheating a little bit, but one way of kicking off your feedback is to ask people you know to purchase an item and give an honest opinion.

Advertise Your Etsy Shop

One way to advertise your shop is Etsy Ads. Etsy’s PPC feature works pretty much like any other PPC advertising campaign. Once started, these ads give you better visibility on Etsy’s search engines, and Etsy will show your ads through a mix of its properties.

To sign up:

• Sign in and choose Shop Manager.
• Choose the Marketing option.
• Click Advertising and select your budget. The default amount is $1 daily.
• Check your advert and then choose Advertise.

In addition, don’t forget to make the most of free advertising opportunities. Consider posting on social media, encouraging word of mouth, or joining an Etsy Team.

Provide Excellent Customer Service

Regardless of your seller status, you can always offer stellar customer service, such as emailing customers to confirm orders and shipping. They will get notifications from Etsy, but customers always appreciate a personal touch.

Remember, excellent customer service starts before the customer orders. You can achieve this by writing detailed item descriptions, having clear shopping policies, and using quality images.

You could also focus on building customer relationships by inviting customers to sign up for your newsletters, following up with customers post-sale, and encouraging future purchases through special offers and discounts.