When I started my Etsy store I had some knowledge of how the online market worked and what I wasn't familiar with I spent many hours research. Through a lot of trial and error I created a business that has been sustainable for both me and my family. Here are the 10 steps I took to make 22,000+ Etsy sales in less then 3 years.
- Pick the right name and start building the brand. Will you be selling one item, or do you want to create a brand? This will determine the name you pick. If you're going to sell one item, incorporate the name of that item into your business name. If you're going to develop a brand, you'll have to choose a name that will encompass multiple things. Your business can be as simple as your name. Once you've decided on your name, check numerous social media platforms to see if the name is taken. If the name hasn't been taken, make sure to register on all major social media platforms.
- Create listing- Title and description are everything they are what bring the customers to you and convince them to purchase the item. The title is a direct description of your product and should contain keywords and key phrases. I find my keywords by thinking of words that a customer would look for.
- Tags are essential- they should be phrases that are related to the title and are repeating your title.
- Shipping- the best is free shipping. Include the shipping cost in your price and offer shipping upgrades. Consider offering international shipping as this will broaden your market.
- Photos- Lighting is vital; using natural light is best. Take pictures from different angles, people using your items, for example if you're sellig mugs have pictures of people using the mugs. Create an atmosphere where potential customers can see themselves using your product. Use natural wood backgrounds.
- Work daily on Etsy- the more listing and time you spend on Etsy, the more it will work for you.
- Etsy will consider you a more serious seller once you start adding more listings and will boost new seller listings. If you have varieties list each item individually, start with at least 50 listings and keep working.
- Marketing-set a small budget so that your listings are recognized via Etsy and google.
- Work on your social media -Are you posting regularly? Are you interacting with your following? Are you utilizing Pinterest? Clients want to get to know you, but won't be able to unless you create content where they can.
- Check your listings daily- See how many likes you have, you may need to change photos. Each product should be listed twice with different titles and pictures to see which one does better. Is it a live event that does better or a product shot?
These are some of the steps took to grow my business the past 3 years, but there is so much more to add.
Creating a successful online business takes time and dedication. Rome wasn't built in one day, and chances are your business will take a lot of hard work in order to succeed. The good news is that with time and effort, everything is possible, so if you do not see immediate results, don't give up. I spent many hours (and still do) trying out different methods. Pay attention to what's working and what's not and be flexible to change the way you do things. The online world is constantly changing, which means you'll need to stay a step ahead of the game.
Do you have your own online business? What's something you wish you would have known when you started?
Do you have questions, please email or leave them in the comments below!