In an increasingly automated and mass-produced world, Etsy, the global marketplace for unique and creative products, is booming. At last count, the mecca of independent shopping had around 81.9 million active shoppers, all looking for something a little different, from digital art to reworked vintage treasures.
The Etsy platform has been so successful and continues to grow because it empowers sellers to make money off of what they love and helps shoppers find something truly special. It’s essentially a people-driven marketplace, and that makes it very attractive to creatives looking to sell their work.
The platform works by charging a listing fee ($0.20 per item) and taking a percentage of sales (6.5% of the price you display for each ad plus the amount you charge for the shipping and gift wrapping). Creating a store is easy and fun – the platform walks you through and you can get up and running with as little as $0.20 outlay – it’s pretty much a risk-free affair!
Want to boost sales on Etsy? Read on for top tips from successful designers covering everything from photography to packaging, and learn how to sell your art on Etsy…
01. Get the right settings
Setting up an Etsy shop is simple, and luckily the platform itself will guide you through it. A few tips to prepare: When setting up your accepted payment methods, give potential customers as many choices as possible to ensure you make the sale.
It’s also important to take the time to understand Etsy’s seller fees, making sure you know what you’re spending and have it included when pricing your product (more on that later). ).
Use the same currency for your product price and your payment account to avoid conversion fees, and when you update your profile, remember to remove or exchange items that aren’t selling, so you can avoid paying renewal fees.
02. Well groomed
Product photos should always be nice and clear against a clean background, but that doesn’t mean they should be basic or boring. It’s actually very useful for potential buyers if you have a range of photos – we suggest a flat or lifestyle shot as your primary seller with later photos showing more detail. Artist François Gautier creates incredible flat lays for her Etsy shop and said: “I love to put beautiful objects next to my prints/drawings. This extends and defines the universe of the drawing. For example, if a drawing is about love, I will put an object in the shape of a heart, red colors…”
Laura Brown from Elby Brown Jewelry agrees: “My pieces are inspired by the forest, so when it comes to photos, I often style pieces with woodland flora and fauna – lichens, woodland flowers, seeds, twigs.
“Photos tell the story of your brand, so your aesthetic should come across as much as possible in stylish shots.” Don’t be afraid to try a few things, though. “It’s good to experiment – sometimes it takes a while to figure out what works best with what you’re doing – that’s okay, remember you can always delete later!”
03. Include lots of details in your ads
Add as much detail as possible to your Etsy listings, so potential customers know exactly what they’re getting. The Etsy platform facilitates good quality detailed listings, so just take your time when adding new products.
“I sell original designs, limited prints and unlimited prints – so it’s really important to show what I’m selling – if the print run is limited to 30 prints for example, so the customer knows what they are buying” , explains Gautier.
When it comes to learning how to sell art on Etsy, don’t make the mistake of relying on customers to find you – social media is a great tool for drawing people to your products. Don’t forget to link to Etsy. Laura Brown promotes her Etsy page on Instagram, and gives good advice to post regularly, every day if you can. “Don’t be afraid to try to budget for advertising — most manufacturers do this at some point, especially if you’re in a crowded market,” she says.
Speaking about what to post on social media, Laura says: “It’s so nice to watch pieces being made – I think people like to see how things are done, especially by hand. It shows all the love and time you’ve invested.”
Her final tip on social media is don’t be afraid to show your face: “As a creator, you’re an important part of your brand! People will want to know more about you and it’s nice to see the face. behind the brands,” she added. said.
05. Set the right price
If you’re new to selling your art, this can be a particularly tricky area. Creative Designer, Laura Lane, whose ceramics explore Cornish folklore, advises trying to have a range of prices at certain price points, which will obviously vary depending on what you’re making. “Essentially it will be a lower price, mid price – which is probably your daily bread item – so for me it’s cups, then higher prices for desirable items. I make clocks – I don’t I don’t tend to sell lots, but if people have a collection of your pieces, it could be something on a wish list for a big birthday maybe, or a birthday present.”
When deciding on the price of your items, think carefully: are you renting a studio or have you dedicated part of your home to your art? Think about your cost price, which is basically the basic costs you incur while completing your work.
From there, you can move on to working out a retail (and wholesale, if you need to) price. “There are different ways to solve this problem, but the Design Confidence have good calculators and advice.
“Take a look at the prices of other manufacturers and think about your place in the market. I would say there is a tag to not undercut others, that’s why it’s important to set realistic prices even if you’re just selling as a hobby, selling at realistic prices also supports full-time makers by not undercutting them,” says Lane.
06. Don’t neglect the packaging
It’s important to put a lot of effort into your postage and packaging when selling on Etsy because the platform, by its very nature, attracts customers who want to buy handcrafted products. You also want the whole experience to be positive, so that they come back more and more and also leave good reviews.
When deciding how to package, think about your products and your brand and try to extend that. “I use eco-friendly silver and where possible, ethical materials, so my packaging reflects that as well – recycled, plastic-free and minimal,” says Brown. “Try to align your values from start to finish as much as possible, otherwise it won’t make sense,” she advises.
07. Create a consistent brand image
When it comes to building a brand for your work, make sure your Etsy shop is online with your other online accounts, so people can recognize you quickly and build brand affinity.
“I think it doesn’t matter if you change your brand colors so much as long as the logo itself is consistent. I give myself a color palette that I can mix and match throughout the year,” says Lane, whose ceramic and brand are instantly recognizable as his own. “Your brand vibe or personality also needs to be consistent, so if you generally have a neutral background and suddenly go a bit neon, it might feel a bit inconsistent,” she concludes.
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