You decided to open a new Etsy shop, and you’re bursting with excitement to share your handmade wares with the world! Etsy shoppers are going to flock to your shop, and you’ll make your first Etsy sale in no time! Unfortunately, that’s the misconception most new Etsy sellers think when they set up shop. This post will go over the top 5 mistakes new Etsy sellers make and how you can avoid them so you can be on your way to building a successful Etsy shop.
How To Start A Successful Etsy Shop – 5 Mistakes New Etsy Sellers Make and How You Can Avoid Them
Bad Product Pictures
Great photos are a major key to success on Etsy. With over 400 million visitors a month, you want to make a great impression and grab buyers’ attention right out of the gate! Think of Etsy as a huge mall; customers are window-shopping, scrolling, and looking for that one picture that catches their attention.
Here are a few tips to help improve your photo game.
- Natural lighting- Taking pictures close to a big window, outside on a cloudy day, or in the shade to capture soft, well-lit photos. Be sure to avoid direct sunlight as that will overexpose and ruin your photos. You can also use natural light bulbs in a lightbox if you prefer to take your photos inside.
- Use a clean, bright background—Make sure your background is free of clutter. You do not want anything distracting your customer away from the item you are selling. Let your item shine and be the star of the show! Also, use a light-colored background to help your item look nice and sharp. Light-colored backgrounds will really make your items pop!
- Make sure your product is in its best form! If you sell clothing, please iron it, make sure there is no wrinkles and it folded nicely, hung or on a model.
- Use all 10 picture slots-or as many as possible. Etsy allows up to 10 photos and 1 video. This is an excellent way to present your items to potential buyers. Showcase what makes your product unique and special. Show different angles and close-ups , graphics of size charts or any import information. The more photos and examples you use the less chance for customer complaints or bad reviews….no one wants that!
Not understanding SEO and Key Words
Not understanding SEO and keywords – SEO stands for search engine optimization. This subject can be overwhelming, so we are keeping it basic and simple for today. SEO is words and phrases that are relevant to your listing. Think of words you would type into the search bar if you were looking for your item. When using those words and phrases in your Etsy listing, Etsy will match the customer search words to your listing, and bam, you might have found a new customer!! Getting found on Etsy is the trick, you can list a live singing magic unicorn with fairy wings but if no one see its you will not sell it and the world would miss out on your wonderful, one of a kind creation.
Lack of Branding
Having a cohesive shop with a logo and banner will build trust with shoppers and give your shop a more professional, well-put-together appearance. Building a brand identity is imperative, as it shows you are a serious seller and will help you build a following for supportive, repeat customers. Although this is super important, it does not need to be expensive. You can design your own branding on Canva ( love love love Canva). You can hire a designer on Fivver.com, or you can find beautiful, top-notch branding packages on Etsy. It does not have to be perfect and you can always change it later.
Underpricing Your Products
Be sure to price your Etsy listings for profit. No one wants to work for free or possibly even lose money! Underpricing your products can lead to serious frustration and lead to you giving up on Etsy. DON’T DO THAT!! Consider your cost of material, labor, and a decent markup, AND INCLUDE ETSY FEES when you set up your pricing. I suggest looking through Etsy and Google to see what items similar to yours sell for and consider your options. Do you ship faster? Do you offer an option they don’t? Is yours better quality? All these things can increase your price point but you want to make sure not to over-price and price yourself out of the market.
Not Knowing Your Target Market
What do you sell, and what problem do you solve? These are important questions to ask yourself when creating your items and listing them. Who is your ideal customer? What is their income level? What are their spending habits? By understanding your ideal customer, you can design products and a shop aesthetic that aligns with their needs, wants and interests. Creating items your customers want to buy will give you more opportunities for sales and a better shot at being a successful Etsy seller!
And lastly , here is bonus #6, something from me personally…..
DO NOT GIVE UP TOO QUICKLY!
Being a successful seller on Etsy will not happen overnight. It is not a post-and-pray scenario where you will be an instant success with no work. Nope. It will take time, work, and effort to learn strategies and skills to start seeing results on Etsy for beginner sellers. I know there are Etsy coaches and gurus who may tell you differently or paint a picture of selling over 6 figures in their first year, but trust me, there is more to being successful selling online than posting your amazing products. The key is to remember your why. It will be hard sometimes, and you will want to quit almost some weeks. You will have nasty customers who tell you mean things and tell you, you ruined their special event or life…. . You will have vendor issues and out-of-stock delays, but DO NOT GIVE UP!!! Etsy can be a game changer for your business, you just need to commit to being in for the long haul !