How To Get More Sales on Etsy: Seven Easy Tips
Hey guys! Although I'm very new to the world of selling jewelry on Etsy (a little over two months), I've been fortunate enough to talk with many more experienced people than myself regarding tips and tricks that will help increase your store views and sales.
After spending a ridiculous amount of hours reading through Etsy forum posts, blog articles, and personal testimonies from successful Etsy store owners, I've put together this short list of tips that may help if you're experiencing a lag in sales.
Number One: Know Your Target Audience
This is incredibly vital to your store. Without the proper SEO, or "search engine optimization", your store will not be found via the search function on Etsy, or on Google.I'm currently working on and always revising my own store's SEO, so please note that mine is not perfect. I'd highly recommend joining the CindyLouWho Team on Etsy. They have an excellent thread regarding SEO information. You can read this thread by clicking here.
A few quick tips would be to use all 13 tags that Etsy provides, and use phrases not single words for your tags. For example, if you're selling a red beaded necklace with a crystal pendant, do not enter your tags as "necklace", "red" or "pendant".
Instead, use "red necklace", "beaded jewelry", "red bead necklace", "crystal pendant", etc.
Also be sure to use your tags in your title, if possible, and in the first few lines of your item description. According to many Etsians, this will help increase your SEO and boost your views, which will hopefully lead to sales!
SEO is a lengthy topic, so for more up-to-date information on this, I urge you to visit the CindyLouWho Team's thread above. It will explain the most current recommendations for the best SEO for your Etsy store.
Number Three: Add More Items!
Although not guaranteed to grant you more sales (as there are many successful small shops on Etsy), it's generally considered a good rule of thumb to add as many quality items as you can to your store. This way, you will have a better chance of your store being viewed and browsed, which could lead to a sale.
Most Etsians recommend 40 items at the minimum for good browsing, and about 100-150 as the top inventory goal for many.
Number Four: Beautiful Photos
You may have a great item that has maginificent quality; however, if you photograph that item poorly, it's likely that no one will click on it.
Taking pictures of items in a lightbox is very popular for many Etsy stores; the crisp white background often provides a clean contrast for items without any clutter or distraction.
Personally, I prefer more flavor to my images. I photograph all of my items outdoors on a large stone rock, as I like the style is provides. Other Etsians have been known to use logs, cuts of wood, mannequins, and live models when photographing their merchandise.
I believe that these methods are acceptable, especially if you don't like the "plain white background" look. However, please note that natural light takes the best photos, so I highly recommend that you do not use flash for any of your photos, as they often turn out grainy.
Editing your photos is also important - I recommend Pixlr Express. It's free and the software is easy to use!
Number Five: Use Social Media To Connect and Promote
Spread the word about your store! Create a professional Facebook page for your Etsy store, link items, display pictures of works-in-progress, and connect with your audience. If you target your audience correctly, their paid ads can bring you many likes to your page.
Twitter is also another great venue - just remember not to spam your readers with your item updates. Engage with your audience, compliment other Etsy stores and their items. This will bring you much positive attention!
I also recommend adding your items to Pinterest and Wanelo, especially if you have many followers who may see your merchandise.
If you're looking for a Group Pinterest Board to join, please click here to read about my Pinterest Group Board. Anyone can join and share their items, as long as it's from the Etsy site! ^_^
Blogging is another important aspect of social media that many Etsians use; it allows you to build a more personal and honest connection with your loyal customers and fans.
Number Six: Add Keywords To Your Shop Descrption
Although this is technically a form of SEO, I think it's very important that stores include keywords in their shop descriptions and messages. Instead of a greeting right off the bat, type what you're selling.
For example, if your store sells handmade wax candle figurines, you should type something like: "Handmade wax candles. Candle Figurines. Scented candles."
This will improve Google's reading of your store and what you're selling, making it more likely for you to appear in a Google search.
Number Seven: Don't Under Price Your Items!
While browsing the forums, I see many disgruntled and panicky sellers asking about their prices. Most often, they think that if they lower their prices, their items will sell. In 99.9% of cases, this is not true.
The problem with undervaluing your work is that buyers will perceive the item to be cheaply made, or of poor quality, if it is priced too low. Unless your target market is those who only buy at super low prices, you'll want to fairly price your items. Remember to count your time and materials towards the costs - pay yourself for your beautiful work!
I hope these tips can help! I'm by no means a huge seller on Etsy (although I'd love to be one day!). I'm very new to this site, but because I'm new, I know that there's a lot of information out there that many newbies don't have access to, or just haven't run across yet (especially if they don't forum browse).
Remember, don't give up! Running a successful Etsy store takes time, and for new stores it may take months to get that first sale. That's completely normal, especially if you sell in an over saturated category like jewelry.
Give your store a year at the minimum, and try to build your connections through following people on Etsy and favoriting items that you like. Creating treasuries is another great tool for connecting with other Etisians, and it's fun to see beautiful items being brought together as a cohesive collection.
If you have any tips or stories to share, please let us know! <3
After spending a ridiculous amount of hours reading through Etsy forum posts, blog articles, and personal testimonies from successful Etsy store owners, I've put together this short list of tips that may help if you're experiencing a lag in sales.
Number One: Know Your Target Audience
- Who are you selling to? Is your product for adults, children, teens, etc?
- Are they male or female, or does your product appeal to both genders?
- What is the general price point of your items?
- Once you have a price point, what type of person is more likely to buy your products? A stay-at-home mom? A financial consultant? A farmer?
- Collectively noting this information will help you not only gear your merchandise towards your target audience, but it will help target these people via ads (should you decide to run any).
This is incredibly vital to your store. Without the proper SEO, or "search engine optimization", your store will not be found via the search function on Etsy, or on Google.I'm currently working on and always revising my own store's SEO, so please note that mine is not perfect. I'd highly recommend joining the CindyLouWho Team on Etsy. They have an excellent thread regarding SEO information. You can read this thread by clicking here.
A few quick tips would be to use all 13 tags that Etsy provides, and use phrases not single words for your tags. For example, if you're selling a red beaded necklace with a crystal pendant, do not enter your tags as "necklace", "red" or "pendant".
Instead, use "red necklace", "beaded jewelry", "red bead necklace", "crystal pendant", etc.
Also be sure to use your tags in your title, if possible, and in the first few lines of your item description. According to many Etsians, this will help increase your SEO and boost your views, which will hopefully lead to sales!
SEO is a lengthy topic, so for more up-to-date information on this, I urge you to visit the CindyLouWho Team's thread above. It will explain the most current recommendations for the best SEO for your Etsy store.
Number Three: Add More Items!
Although not guaranteed to grant you more sales (as there are many successful small shops on Etsy), it's generally considered a good rule of thumb to add as many quality items as you can to your store. This way, you will have a better chance of your store being viewed and browsed, which could lead to a sale.
Most Etsians recommend 40 items at the minimum for good browsing, and about 100-150 as the top inventory goal for many.
Number Four: Beautiful Photos
You may have a great item that has maginificent quality; however, if you photograph that item poorly, it's likely that no one will click on it.
Taking pictures of items in a lightbox is very popular for many Etsy stores; the crisp white background often provides a clean contrast for items without any clutter or distraction.
Personally, I prefer more flavor to my images. I photograph all of my items outdoors on a large stone rock, as I like the style is provides. Other Etsians have been known to use logs, cuts of wood, mannequins, and live models when photographing their merchandise.
I believe that these methods are acceptable, especially if you don't like the "plain white background" look. However, please note that natural light takes the best photos, so I highly recommend that you do not use flash for any of your photos, as they often turn out grainy.
Editing your photos is also important - I recommend Pixlr Express. It's free and the software is easy to use!
Number Five: Use Social Media To Connect and Promote
Spread the word about your store! Create a professional Facebook page for your Etsy store, link items, display pictures of works-in-progress, and connect with your audience. If you target your audience correctly, their paid ads can bring you many likes to your page.
Twitter is also another great venue - just remember not to spam your readers with your item updates. Engage with your audience, compliment other Etsy stores and their items. This will bring you much positive attention!
I also recommend adding your items to Pinterest and Wanelo, especially if you have many followers who may see your merchandise.
If you're looking for a Group Pinterest Board to join, please click here to read about my Pinterest Group Board. Anyone can join and share their items, as long as it's from the Etsy site! ^_^
Blogging is another important aspect of social media that many Etsians use; it allows you to build a more personal and honest connection with your loyal customers and fans.
Number Six: Add Keywords To Your Shop Descrption
Although this is technically a form of SEO, I think it's very important that stores include keywords in their shop descriptions and messages. Instead of a greeting right off the bat, type what you're selling.
For example, if your store sells handmade wax candle figurines, you should type something like: "Handmade wax candles. Candle Figurines. Scented candles."
This will improve Google's reading of your store and what you're selling, making it more likely for you to appear in a Google search.
Number Seven: Don't Under Price Your Items!
While browsing the forums, I see many disgruntled and panicky sellers asking about their prices. Most often, they think that if they lower their prices, their items will sell. In 99.9% of cases, this is not true.
The problem with undervaluing your work is that buyers will perceive the item to be cheaply made, or of poor quality, if it is priced too low. Unless your target market is those who only buy at super low prices, you'll want to fairly price your items. Remember to count your time and materials towards the costs - pay yourself for your beautiful work!
I hope these tips can help! I'm by no means a huge seller on Etsy (although I'd love to be one day!). I'm very new to this site, but because I'm new, I know that there's a lot of information out there that many newbies don't have access to, or just haven't run across yet (especially if they don't forum browse).
Remember, don't give up! Running a successful Etsy store takes time, and for new stores it may take months to get that first sale. That's completely normal, especially if you sell in an over saturated category like jewelry.
Give your store a year at the minimum, and try to build your connections through following people on Etsy and favoriting items that you like. Creating treasuries is another great tool for connecting with other Etisians, and it's fun to see beautiful items being brought together as a cohesive collection.
If you have any tips or stories to share, please let us know! <3
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