In 2020, the arts and crafts e-commerce site, Etsy, made over 1.7 billion dollars in revenue. With supply chain issues hampering gift-giving this year, the site is expected to do even better. That means, there’s never been a better time to start selling your creations on Etsy. This post will talk about what Etsy is and how you can successfully make money online sell your handmade goods on this platform. We’ll also go over some tips to help you make your listings stand out from the rest.
What Is Etsy?
Launched in 2005, it took a while for Etsy to get off the ground, but once it did, it was an amazing success. Unlike big online shopping sites like Amazon, this American e-commerce business focuses on handmade items, craft supplies, and vintage wares.
Etsy connects people who want to sell their arts and crafts to buyers that are interested in handmade goods. One of the primary draws of the platform is that you can sell your creations using the Etsy site or the app, so you don’t need to build a website.
If a seller goes on Etsy looking for hand-knitted red mittens, or a colorful pottery mug, they can search for these exact items. Etsy will then display a list of products that meet the description. Once a customer decides on something they like, they can add it to their shopping cart and purchase the item. While Etsy charges a small fee to facilitate the sale, the seller gets the majority of the profit.
For those who would like to start making money online, Etsy is an ideal place to begin. You don’t need any special tech skills, and all paperwork is taken care of for you. Plus, your unique items will be presented in front of millions of prospective buyers.
What Can I Sell On Etsy?
If you’ve ever been to a local arts and crafts fair, you know the types of things you can purchase. For example, wreaths, jewelry, knitted baby clothing, Christmas decorations, decorative home accessories, and more are just a few favorites. These same things (and many more) can be found on Etsy. Most creative people have their own special talents. Some are good at drawing, others are excellent seamstresses, and many more can make homemade gifts and decorations.
Etsy considers itself a global art fair, and you’ll find thousands of unique creations, craft supplies, and vintage items on the platform. Here are some of the most popular items to sell on Etsy:
- Handmade Jewelry
- Stickers
- Craft Supplies and Patterns
- Journals
- Toys and Baby Items
- Miniatures
- Home Decorative Items
- Organic Soaps, Lotions, and Other Beauty Products
- Purses and Bags
- Candles
- Vintage Items (Must Be at Least 20 Years Old)
It’s important to note, however, that this list is just the tip of the iceberg. If you are at all interested in selling on Etsy, have a look around the site. You’ll find plenty of unique, interesting, one-of-a-kind items to inspire you.
How Do I Get Started Selling My Homemade Goods on Etsy?
In this next section, we’ll break things down step by step. As long as you follow them in order, it’s super easy to get started right away.
1. Register
As with most online sites, the initial step is registration. So, first, you need to go to Etsy.com and click on “Register.” It is in the upper right-hand corner of the home page. Next, enter your name, email, username, and password.
Note: Don’t forget to read all the policies on the platform to make sure the item or items you plan to see meet the Etsy guidelines.
2. Open Your Etsy Shop
Now you can open up your Etsy shop. Just log into your account, and at the bottom of the page, click on “Open Your Etsy Shop.” You’ll be asked a series of questions. Select the answers that apply to you and proceed to the next step.
3. Choose a Name and Set Your Shop Preferences
After you’ve completed the initial setup, you will want to customize your settings. To begin with, you need to choose a name for your shop. You’ll also input some information regarding the currency you want to use, your country, and the language you wish your page to be in.
This is also where you will also choose a title—a short description of the kinds of products you will sell in your Etsy shop. The title should be as descriptive as possible so that customers can find your items.
Some Other Preferences You Can Include:
Shop Announcement: You can set up an announcement that includes more details than the title section, such as other information you might want buyers who visit your shop to know about.
Links: Etsy allows you to link to your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media pages so you can promote your items easier.
Auto Message to Buyers: You will also want to create a generic message to buyers that they will get automatically when they purchase from your shop.
4. Come Up With Your Shop Policies
This section is where you will have a welcome messenger to greet your customers and give them more details about your shop and your mission if you choose. You’ll also want to create your refund policy, so customers know whether you accept refunds, store credit, replacement, or other solutions.
Additionally, there will be another section called “About Your Shop.” This is just another place you can add more details about yourself—why you chose your name, how you got started making the items, and anything else you might want others to know.
5. List Your Items
Finally, it’s time to list your items. This section is very self-explanatory. You will come up with a title that describes the item you want to sell, discuss more about the listing, and choose the specific category for your product.
This is also where you will specify the price and the number of items you have available to sell. For example, if you have five red hats, you will want to list your inventory here.
Don’t Forget Photos
Product listings without photos are almost not even worth it, so you must take a clear picture of the item the seller will be getting. Also, be sure to adjust the thumbnails since that is what customers will see when searching for particular items.
Determine Your Shipping Fee
In this section, you will list the shipping costs, origin zip code, where you will ship, weight and size of the item, and other details.
Preview Your Listing
Be sure to click ‘preview listing.’ This will show you how your shop and listings look from your potential customer’s perspective. When you are happy with how things look, click “Finish.”
Select Your Payment Method
There are several payment methods on the platform, including Etsy Payments, PayPal, and others. Etsy Payments is the most convenient, and with this option, you can choose to get your earnings through your bank account, debit card, and more.
At this point, you will also be required to ender your billing preferences to authorize any fees or commissions that you will owe to Etsy.
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How to Make Your Etsy Listings Stand Out From the Rest
Etsy is a fantastic place to start selling your arts, crafts, and vintage items. However, while it is easy to list items on Etsy, selling them is another story. There is a lot of competition, so you need to set yourself up for success if you want to make a profit. Just like there are different ways to maximize your income with other online business ideas (paid online surveys, content writing, or selling unwanted items, for example) there are tricks to earning on Etsy as well. Here are a few tips to help your listings stand out from the rest of the pack.
Consider Using a Premade Etsy Template
Etsy offers sellers some great-looking templates to help customize the appearance of your shop. Look through them and find one that reflects your items and personality best.
Fill Out Your Store Bio Section
You are given 5,000 characters to write a bio on your e-commerce shop. This is an excellent opportunity to talk more about your “why.” Also, since humans are driven by emotion, this section gives you the chance to offer a heartwarming story about your brand.
Be Sure to Complete Your Profile
It may seem like just more forms to fill out, but completing your profile can help your audience find you more trustworthy. Let them see a photo of you and a short bio so they can develop a personal connection. This makes them more likely to make a purchase.
Take Advantage of All the Free Tools You Can
Finally, the Etsy platform has some excellent tools to help you no matter what stage your business is in, from beginner to advanced. Since their success is closely tied to your success on the platform, the information is solid. It can help you with marketing strategies, branding, SEO (search engine optimization), and other strategies you may not have thought of.
Here’s to your first sale on Etsy!
