Understanding Etsy

Does this sound familiar? You’ve visited Etsy.com and while you recognize some of the terms flying around, you aren’t quite sure what they are exactly.

Don’t worry, Etsy has its own language. Here is a list of the most common terms you may come across.

Hearts/Favorites: This is Etsy’s internal bookmark. You can heart specific items as well as shops, and it will be saved for you as your Favorites. This is available to every Etsy account.

Convo/Conversations: Etsy’s internal mail system. Any registered user can convo another by visiting their profile or shop and clicking “Contact”.

Treasury: A treasury is a collection of 12 items (with four alternates that are hidden) that anyone, buyers or sellers can create. It is a way to show off your favorite items and is a nice way to promote things you adore. You can find the Treasuries off of the home page of Etsy.

Alchemy: A section of the site where you can ask for a custom item and have people bid on your request.

The Storque: Etsy’s blog. It has a variety of sections and features.

Showcase: Showcases are a collection of paid advertisements and can be found in a variety of places, such as the Front Page, the Storque, the Search Pages, and the Gift Guides. Sellers pay for day long slots in those designated places, and can switch which items are shown at any time.

Pounce: A way to view items that have just sold, and what is left in that seller’s shop. You can also use the Pounce tool to search for new sellers that have yet to make a sale.

The Time Machine: Another way to search for items that have sold recently. This shows only the items that sold, not what else is available.

Colors: A way to search based on color. The color you choose may pull up interesting results; it will be in the photograph somewhere, but may be in the background, not on the item.

Gift Guides: A collection of Etsy-selected items based around a theme.

Shop Local: A way to search for sellers in your area.

Featured Seller: An interview with an Etsy-selected seller.

Relist: An option sellers on the site have once their item expires. Items can be listed for 20 cents (US) for four months, and once that item expires, or if it sells and can be remade, sellers can relist that item without starting from scratch.

Contributed by:
Brandi Hussey
 www.catiesblue.com
 www.catiesblue.etsy.com