In preparing to launch an Etsy shop, I hope I’ve done my research. I fear, however, that I’ve done TOO MUCH.
Definitely read the Etsy Handbook, and then peruse the Storque and forums to get a sense of what you need to do, what problems others are experiencing and get great advice.
As a long-time Etsy shopper, the first thing I tried to do was to change my log in to match my eventual shop name. This is VERY IMPORTANT. If you don’t have an account yet, do so. If you already have one under a different name – like your nickname or an email or something, beg and plead with Etsy to get it changed. It did take me a few times dealing with Etsy, but I knew it was crucial.
Once done, I opened a shop account. It’s dormant, but I can access it anytime to get it perfected. For me, this was essential as well, as it gave me the incentive to actually follow through with it. It also forced me to really start thinking about my announcement, shop policies, categories, etc.
That was all about six months ago. What I’m stuck on now is perfecting my banner. Oh, it SUCKS being a designer. I’m a 2-D designer, so am spazzing about making a digital banner. I rarely need to create web designs for my big grrrl job, so although I KNOW exactly what I want it to look like, I’m stumped on achieving it.
My advice: keep it simple. There are plenty of templates (the bannerator) and Etsy sellers who will gladly and surprisingly cheaply make one for you. I initially contracted someone to come up with a banner for my Etsy shop, another for my blog, an avatar, and a logo for print items. The total charge was only to be $45, which is astounding.
I ultimately decided not to go with it, as I was still hung up on my vision. Hers was great, but as a designer, I realized I truly wanted it to be organic—my own. I hate being a perfectionist, if only when it comes to VRS….
Every piece of advice I’d read advises that your name, banner, and avatar should truly reflect what you are selling. I suspect this is possibly the best advice I’ve received, which is why I’ve been paralyzed.
XOX,
Sue
