The ultimate guide to selling on Etsy
Andrew Stuckey • May 15, 2020
From jewellery makers to nifty knitters, the UK is filled with men and women who love getting their craft on.
Offering bespoke goods at a reasonable price, opting for a product that's handmade as opposed to mass produced, is something that's more popular today than ever before – meaning if you're the type who enjoys spending their Saturday night with a ball of wool as opposed to falling asleep in front of the telly, there's never been a better time to transform your part time hobby into a full time job!
One site that's a must for anyone looking to make a quick quid from their craft hobby is Etsy. Providing a platform for thousands of users worldwide, it's the perfect place to set up shop and start selling your wares – provided you've done your research, that is.
Back to basics
Once you've set up an account - which won't cost a penny – it's important to start things off on the right foot.
First and foremost, you'll be asked to provide a name for your store. Try to keep it short, simple and fun – successful names such as ThinkPinkBows and Thevelvetacorn are just two examples that could provide some inspiration should you need it.
Next, be sure to take professional-quality photos of your stock. Remember, Etsy is going to be your shop window to the world, and if all people see when they visit your store is a bunch of pixelated images shot on a camera phone, chances are they'll spend their money elsewhere.
Shooting great pictures of your stock on a digital SLR is the best way to go. Not only will this help to enhance your store's professional look, it'll also provide a series of hi-res images that your customers can then use to examine your goods in greater detail.
Lastly, if your products are handmade, bespoke and beautiful, let your audience know this by nailing a unique product description. If you've spent hours honing your craft, don't scupper your chances by falling at the last hurdle – instead, take your time, write from the heart and the rest will follow.
Brilliant branding
Once you've successfully nailed the basics, it's time to start thinking about your wider brand.
For this you need to consider the type of brand you want to be. Do you want to be a fun, entertaining brand like Innocent, or would you prefer to be a homely, instagrammable brand like John Lewis? There are loads of options you could opt for here, just be sure to choose one that matches your tone of voice!
Also try to shoot and edit your photos in a similar style, this will help your audience become familiar with your brand as well your products. Some great examples can be seen here by Etsy sellers Beanforest and Belle & Boo.
A good logo can go a long way on your products too – something that helps to maintain your brand's visibility once a sale has been made.
Perfect promotion
With your brand, products and store all ready for action, now's the time to start promoting your goods online. This can be done in a number of ways, and via a number of channels, though the most popular two are Instagram and Facebook.
Instagram is a great way of showing off your wares online as it allows you to take advantage of hashtags. What this means is that if you're selling, for example, woolly hats, you could use the hashtag '#WoollyHats' in your post's caption, which then makes your products visible to anyone who searches for that particular tag.
While Instagram is great for those who wish to harness the power of pictures, Facebook is perfect for those who wish to tell their brand's story in a little more detail. What's more, by running a paid advertising campaign on Facebook, sellers will be able to target a niche audience – ideal if you're looking to sell baby grows to expectant mothers, for example.
It doesn't stop there
Once your Etsy store starts generating the odd sale, it's important to maintain your brand's identity, tone of voice and image even after a customer has paid for their goods.
Using a fancy font on your packaging or attaching a handwritten note to your goods are just two examples of how even the smallest detail can go a long way – long after a sale has been made.
If possible, you may also want to start a spreadsheet, highlighting each of your customer's birth dates – something you can then use to send a birthday card to them from your brand each year. Not only will this make your customers smile on their birthday, it'll help to keep your brand firmly placed in their minds, which is handy if they're thinking of buying your wares again.
Just remember, turning your part time hobby into a full time job can take time, so don't be disheartened if things take a while to get going. Be sure to check out our blog for handy hints and money saving tips.