If you’re an artist, you’ve probably heard of Etsy somewhere, and even if you’re shaking your head right now, I highly recommend checking it out.
Etsy, in short, is a virtual marketplace specifically for crafters.
So in the same way that you’d go to a tailor for a wool coat before those tailors were replaced by machines, you can still get that wool coat handmade somewhere, and that magical place is called Etsy.
Etsy has anything from handmade jewelry, the gems for making said handmade jewelry, handcrafted leather bags, candles scented like Oxford Library, vintage thrift store finds, to any kind of artwork you can possibly imagine.
And the best part… is that every purchase goes directly to the artist themselves, supporting them and allowing them to keep making their wonderful designs (Etsy only takes a 3.5% cut). Buying on Etsy is buying the blood sweat and tears of a struggling artist. So go check it out.
In short, Etsy is the one stop shop you didn’t know you needed.
See it NowOk. Shameless plug over.
So you’re considering selling on Etsy:
Etsy is wonderful because there’s no restrictions. There’s no one hanging over your head saying “This isn’t good enough to sell.” Etsy just offers a marketplace for you to sell whatever it is you’ve created to the buyers who will love it. That can be anything from an expensive oil painting, to hand lettered Christmas cards.
In short, Etsy is for everything.
But should I use it?
Absolutely.
The biggest draw for sellers to Etsy is that it gives each artist credibility.
Here’s the reasons:
- On the website, buyers can see how many pieces you’ve sold
- They can see those five star reviews from previous buyers
- They can get updates – read about your business in a bio
- They can follow the links to see your work on Instagram and Facebook as well
In short, buyers trust an Etsy seller and the information available to them, a whole lot more than they might trust a self made website. This is important especially for beginner artists who are just starting to market their work.
I’m Hooked, Now What?
Glad you asked.
Setting up an Etsy shop is very easy. Seriously. I’m not going to walk you through the steps, since Etsy does that for you. You make an account, add a profile picture to make it look pretty, set up your first listing, and you’re on your way.
Now we’re into the good stuff. I promised 3 tips for getting started on Etsy. Here they are.
1. Know your Audience.
Can’t say this enough. Etsy runs on the tags on your listings. Your work will be most successful when it is quickly reaching buyers who will love it.
The way this works, is that when your tags include #rustic #farm #wedding #decor, naturally, someone who searches “farm wedding decor” will find your listing first.
This means that your title and tags are arguably the most important to nail down. They’re like the book cover. They reel in an interested buyer, and then your pictures and description finish the deal.
This is where knowing your audience comes in.
Etsy very effectively gives you customer insights, letting you know what tags bring in the most visitors, and what other tags those same viewers are searching while on Etsy. This helps to streamline the selling process, and ensure that you are making the maximum possible reach with those tags. You only get a few, so use them well.
Spend some time looking into those insights and really decide who your audience is to help make your business more efficient.
2. Know your Market
Once you’ve done some research on what your buyers are looking up, the next important step, is knowing the market in which you are selling.
In this new shiny world of running a business one of the important factors to recognize after your consumers, are the competitors. This means that you need to know the norms of the market, and where you fall.
For example, if there are a few other sellers who make the same quality and kind of Christmas cards as you do, you need to know the areas they are selling to, the prices they are charging, and anything else that may be helpful to you. You can learn a lot about what works from more experienced artists in your industry.
Be careful not to get hung up over the title of ‘competitor’. Remember that some of your greatest allies will be other artists in your industry. Try to make friends.
3. Be Real
At the end of the day, what will make you stand out from other Etsy sellers, is you. Buyers, especially those on Etsy, appreciate the story behind your creation as much as they appreciate the piece itself.
We all want to be a part of something more and your customers aren’t just purchasing a product, they are someone out there who has supported you along this journey, and so it’s only kind to treat them as such.
Share those behind the scenes on Instagram, update followers when life gets messy and it’s too busy to run the business for a while. It’s ok to not be that perfect powerhouse of wonderful products, because we’re all human and let’s face it, life gets messy.
Your followers will appreciate knowing the person behind what they are buying, they will enjoy knowing who they are supporting, whose artwork is on their wall, or greeting card they just sent to their Grandma. “It’s handmade,” they’ll say. “By this lovely crafter who has two dogs and hates raisins as much as I do.”
So there you have it. Some tips to get started on Etsy.
I, by no means, am an expert, but these are just some tips I learned when I got started.
What do you think? Any tips for Etsy users out there? Let me know!