I am quickly approaching my one-year anniversary on Etsy and have found that Etsy is a wonderful community of artists — artists that are very passionate about what they do and sell.
I’d like to share with you a few things that I have learned along my journey into the Etsy world.
Setting up shop on Etsy is fairly easy. Compared to having my own .com and having to deal with all the programming and maintaining of a web site, Etsy is a piece of cake. They have great easy to follow instructions. If you have any trouble understanding how to do something, you can always go to the forum and ask questions.
Step one: Banner and Avatar
Design a banner and avatar or have one of the many talented Etsy Designers who sell banners design it for you. Your banner is going to be the first impression of your shop, so make it something noticeable and vivid. Your avatar is next; I suggest that your avatar be of something that represents what you sell. Perhaps a favorite item from your shop. An avatar says who you are and it makes you more recognizable to people especially when you are in the forum. Making your avatar and banner have a cohesive look is even better.
Step two: Shop announcement
Your announcement should be short and sweet, something welcoming and friendly. If you have a Blog, add your link address too, people will enjoy learning more about you.
Step three: Your profile
Your profile should have a more detailed description of you and your business. You might add something about your family, something about what inspired you to start your business. I also like to include a goal in mine, what I hope to accomplish for my customers.
Step four: Shop Policies
Your shop polices should be very clear and easy to understand. I start mine with a welcome and a thank you for visiting my shop. Second is my payment information. Here you will want to let your potential customers know what method of payment you accept and what time line you expect that payment. Third are my shipping policies. Here I describe how items will be packaged as well as an explanation of shipping charges. Don’t forget to mention if you ship international and what your policies are for that. Each country has very different policies so make sure you do your homework and find out about custom and duty fees. Fourth are my refunds and exchange policies. Do you take returns? Do you stand behind your work? What time frame do they have to return an item? Fifth, write about any other policies that you might have. I sell jewelry so I like to include jewelry sizing information as well as information about product variations.
Step five: Item Photos
Make sure that you have good photos. Don’t list photos that are blurry, or are too distant that don’t show details. Take advantage of all 5-photo spaces that are available to show off your items. Try to get a different angle of your items as well as a good close up.
Yes, it’s a lot of photography, but it will be well worth it. If your photos are good you have a better chance of being one of the lucky ones featured on the front page.
Step six: Listing Item
Now that you have good photos you can start listing your items. Take the time to work on your descriptions. Your descriptions should give great details about the product. What is your item made of, what color is it and what are the measurements. You might want to also include the design process and what inspired you to make this piece.
Tags are extremely important, as they are how people will search for your items. Tag space is limited to 14. Be sure to use that whole space. For example, I have a necklace in which the pendant has variety of colors on it. To utilize all my space in one tag I will write, blue green brown, in one tag line. When someone uses any those key words in a search, the item will appear, and will leave you with plenty of other tag spaces.
Step seven: Marketing
Once you have built your shop its time to spread the word. Start by visiting the forum and ask what everyone thinks of your new shop. You might get some constructive criticism but there is always room for improvement. It’s nice to hear what others have to say and get a different perspective from others.
This will also give you more exposure and views. Add your shop to search engines. Here is a great link that will add you to nine different search engines instantly, Dreampal.
Join some Etsy teams. Etsy teams are a great way to meet people to share your talent. I have found that to be so rewarding. I’ve met some wonderful, kind and generous caring people. People who I may never meet in person, but they are people who I will continue to have contact with whether through email, Etsy conversations, or through the Google team forum.
Communing with my new found friends has made me feel that I am not alone in the every day grunge of doing business as well as the demands of producing.
It is my hope that this bit of information will help you and I would like to also thank the wonderful community of Etsy sellers that are so willing to help others freely.
Contributed by:
Alison Kelley
www.alisonkelleydesigns.etsy.com
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