Starting and Running a Business on Etsy

Are you an artist, crafter, or vintage collector and would like to get started selling your products but aren't sure about the next steps to take? If so, starting a business on Etsy may be a good option. Everything from homemade candles, artwork, crafting supplies, vintage collectible items, and handmade clothing can be sold on Etsy. Etsy provides a platform that is easy to get started with and is user-friendly. This can take a lot of the hassle out of building a website or hiring a web designer to do it for you. If you want to just get started and focus on making and selling your products right away, Etsy may be the right fit.

Whether you are looking to generate additional side income or would like your Etsy shop to become your primary source of income, the customers and interest are there. Etsy is a great place for gift shoppers or people who want to get custom manufactured or unique handmade items that you can't find in the stores. Customers can find a lot of really unique products on Etsy, and this is what makes it great for sellers who create their own products because Etsy shoppers are looking for new, interesting, and distinct items. This article will cover the basics of starting and running a business on Etsy.

Etsy Basics

To start off, we will discuss some of the basic parameters of operating a business on Etsy. Etsy is very user-friendly, and it does not require its sellers to be technologically savvy. It is already an active marketplace with customers who will be using its search engine to find products they are interested in. This is one of Etsy's main benefits. It also drives customers to its sellers' shops by using onsite and offsite ads. So instead of building a website and learning to drive traffic to it, you can concentrate on creating the items you would like to sell.

Although Etsy provides these services to their sellers, they do charge listing fees, transaction fees, and fees for onsite and offsite ads. In addition, other fees may also apply to certain Etsy users. Etsy also controls your Etsy shop, and they have the right to take your shop off of the platform if they feel you have violated any of their policies.

Starting and running a business on Etsy can be an accessible, profitable, and fun way to get involved in eCommerce. Someone can have limited technological capabilities and still create a lucrative business with the right products and a sense of passion. The following list of steps will help you get started.

• Know Your Product and Niche

  Of course, to start an Etsy shop, you need a product to sell. If you don't yet have a product in mind, you can do market research on products that can be sold on Etsy and have a demand. Focus on products that aren't overly represented in the marketplace or a product that has a unique spin on it or caters to a specific niche. Remember Etsy focuses on handmade products, original artwork, vintage collectibles (20 years or older), crafting supplies, and custom manufactured products (i.e. custom coffee mugs or t-shirts with original artwork).

• Creating an Etsy Account

  The first step to selling your products on Etsy is to create an Etsy account. Go to Etsy's website and click "Sign In," and then "Register" to start this process. You can use your email address, Facebook, Google, or Apple account to create your Etsy account. After setting up your account, upload a profile picture and write a quick bio. If you already have an existing Etsy account that you use as a customer, you can also use this account to open your shop. To do so, log in to your account and click the "Sell on Etsy" link. From here, you will complete your registration and can start setting up your shop.

• Creating an Etsy Shop

  From here, you will go on to create your Etsy shop. You will first need to come up with a name for your shop. It should be something easy to remember and related to the products you are selling and the niche you are targeting. At this point, you can customize several features of your shop. You can upload your shop banner and logo, which will become part of your shop's identity and help your shop stand out to customers. Clear and high-quality images are essential to help your business look professional.

  You can write your Shop Announcement, which is your initial welcoming message to customers. This welcoming message will detail the goal of your business and products. Next, you can list your Shop Policies, including any terms related to delivery, returns, payments, and any other rules or guidelines applicable to your customers.

• Listing Your Products

  At this point, it's time to start listing your first products! First, on your Etsy account, go to "Shop Manager." Then click on "Listings" and then "Add a Listing." From here, you will add various details that showcase your product. First, you will want to upload high-quality photos of your product. These should display your product from different angles. You could also use different backgrounds, themes, or contexts of use in your product photos so that your customers can see your product in a variety of different ways. Showing your product in various settings or uses can help intrigue your customers and pique their interest, showing them all of the ways your product can be used.

  Next, you will write up your Listing Title. This is different from the name of your product. When creating your listing title, focus on the keywords or phrases people would use to find your product on the Etsy search engine. This will help your product pop up when they type their searches into the search engine. The length of your title should not exceed 140 characters. If your product name is different from the keywords people would use to find it, it's better to list the product name in the Item Description rather than the Listing Title.

  After this, you will write your Item Description. A good description will capture the attention of your customers and will provide all the relevant details of your product. Write the most pertinent information first. Keep it relatively short and break up longer segments by bullets or separate paragraphs to make the text easier to read. You will also need to figure out how you want to ship your products and list the relevant shipping details in this section. Finally, add any other additional links or resources for customers to learn more about your product.

• Receiving Payments

  Once your products are listed, you can set up your account to be able to start receiving payments! First, you will need to provide all of the necessary bank account information Etsy will need to process your payments. Next, you can create a deposit schedule that will determine how frequently you receive deposits; this can be daily, weekly, biweekly or monthly. Once Etsy has issued a payout, you should receive the money within five business days.

• Promoting Your Etsy Shop

  Promoting your Etsy shop will help attract customers and build momentum. You can use social media to help promote your products. Etsy allows its users to link their social media accounts to Etsy, which is an effective way to help gain traffic to your shop. You can also use Etsy Advertising to help promote your shop. This is a paid advertising service Etsy provides on the platform to help users promote their products to customers within the Etsy search results.

  Good old-fashioned word of mouth is also a great way to help promote your Etsy shop. You can create business cards, info cards, and flyers, hand them out to friends and potential customers, and post them on local bulletin boards. You can also add this type of promotional material to the packages you ship out to your customers. You can also use a feature on Etsy that allows you to provide sales and coupons, which can help attract new customers and reward repeat customers.