By Erin Wawok

Jul

02

Etsy is an online marketplace where everyday people buy and sell predominantly handcrafted, vintage, or one-of-a-kind items. Currently, the site has over 198 million sellers worldwide, all of whom are looking to grow their brands on this massive platform. This can make standing out from the crowd extremely difficult. But if you’re truly interested in setting up your own online Etsy shop there are several things you should consider:

What kind of sellers should sell on Etsy?

If you’re an artist, collector, designer, or craftsperson, Etsy is the perfect platform to showcase your talent and sell your work to people all over the globe.  The only criteria that the site has for sellers is that you must create the product or produce it in sellable form yourself. If you are looking for a way to earn money from your creative skills, selling on Etsy can give you a great starting point.

 

What kind of things should be sold on Etsy? What are NOT good things to sell on Etsy?

Etsy gives arts and crafts experts the opportunity to build a name for themselves within the ecommerce industry. The hardest part of setting up your online enterprise is choosing what to focus on. An important point to remember is that Etsy shoppers are in the market for reasonably priced, one-of-kind items. The site breaks down products into various categories:

Home and Living:

If you have a passion for selling home decorative or interior design items, selling in the Home and Living category may be the perfect fit for you. People who shop this section of the site are looking for various items from handcrafted planters to custom art, and more.

Jewelry:

One of the best-selling categories on Etsy is jewelry. Many of the pieces sold are completely handmade, making them highly desirable to shoppers worldwide.

Clothing:

Handmade clothing is another popular category on the ecommerce site. This category is ideal for individuals who have a knack for sewing or embroidery. Most of the people selling clothing offer the option to personalize items or add accents. Accessories like belts, bags, shoes and other items are also available.

Kids and Baby:

Items from the kids and baby category make great gifts for children, which is why this section is so popular among mothers. There is a wide variety of handmade products for both children and infants; some of which can be customized.

Craft Supplies and Tools:

Some sellers on Etsy sell craft supplies and tools so that other people can create their own products and sell them through the site. This can be extremely profitable, as long as you’re able to maintain your supply levels.  You can become the go-to source for people who need supplies for their hobbies.

Vintage:

This category is dedicated to older or antique items. If you have antique dishes or other older items that you have restored, you can sell them on Etsy under the Vintage category.

Toys and Games:

The toys and games category on Etsy features a wide range of handcrafted toys and games for all ages. You can find everything from baby items to electronic games in this section.

 

What kinds of activities or actions help Etsy listings reach the top of the search results?

Make A Good First Impression

If you are selling your products on Etsy, you’ll want to make sure that people can find you on the first page of Etsy search. The first thing you’ll need to do is take amazing photos of your products. Taking attractive photos will draw in potential customers, and is an important part of your marketing strategy. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make sure your product looks its very best.

Keywords Are Key!

Just like Google or Pinterest, the Etsy search bar is a search engine. This is important to know because the site uses algorithms to ensure that good content gets ranked higher on the search results list. Make sure you are using appropriate keywords throughout your product description to ensure your audience can find you.

 

This can be accomplished through search engine optimization (SEO). You need to use good keywords and place them strategically throughout your listing.

How To Select The Right Keywords

Choosing the right keywords is more of an art than a science. You should choose your keywords before you list your products on the site. Periodically, you should also review your listings and adjust them as necessary. Think like your customer would. What words would you type into the search bar to find your product?

 

You should then try searching for the phrase in different ways to see what comes up. If the results don’t look like your product, then you may need to make adjustments to your keywords. You’ll want to make sure that your title and description contain your keywords as well.

 

Categories And Tags

 

You will need to select the right categories and tags to ensure your listing gets found on the first page of Etsy search. Look for the “ideal listing” and scroll to the bottom to see the list of tags. You can then go back to your own listing and use the same categories as the ideal seller/listing. Since they have already figured out the Etsy algorithm, you’ll want to ensure your product is listed the same way.

For more tips from Listing Mirror on marketing your business, check out our blog! Listing Mirror provides listing management, order fulfillment, inventory syncing, and warehouse management services. Register today to get started on finding the right solutions for your business needs.

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Erin Wawok

Erin is the Co-Founder of Listing Mirror.