Entrepreneurs around the world are taking part in a growing online marketplace devoted to the buying and selling of handmade products. What is this marketplace, you ask. Its called Etsy and its a great place to sell your handmade wares.
Released in 2005, Etsy hosts more than 100,000 sellers worldwide. These sellers market everything from jewelry and candles to soap, clothing, and domestic products. While Etsy created its foundation in the buying and selling of homemade products, sellers can also sell craft supplies and vintage items as well.
Benefits of Selling On Etsy
A Customized URL. Each store owner receives a URL based on their username ” choose your username wisely! Etsy store owners also receive a variety of marketing tools and resources to drive traffic to your store and of course build profits!
No programming or HTML knowledge required. Etsy makes it easy to focus on what you do best and leave the rest to others. Creating your store, managing transactions, and communications with customers are quick and simple processes.
Its free to get started selling on Etsy.
Your First Step
Step one for selling on Etsy is to register for a seller account. This requires you to provide the typical information which will include your name, address and such but will also include adding a credit card to your account. There is no charge to sign up however your credit card will be used to pay for your listing and transaction fees and is therefore a requirement to signing up as a seller.
Listing and transaction fees are minimal on Etsy. It costs 20 cents to list an item for four months and each transaction incurs a 3.5% transaction fee.
Making the Most of your Etsy Store
Both online and off, your store will have competition. Etsy, however does provide a number of tools and resources to set yourself above your competition.
Generate positive feedback. Like the feedback system on eBay, Etsy provides buyers the opportunity to leave positive, or negative, feedback. The better your feedback rating, the more confident customers will be to do business with you.
Research your competition. Its also critical to spend some time checking out the Etsy website, your competition, and other artisans. This will help you set prices, create your online store, and position your products competitively.
Captivating photos. Your customers want to see your fantastic products. Be sure to take great pictures, pictures that represent all you have to offer.
Enchanting product descriptions. In addition to photos, your customers will want to know all the nitty gritty. Were talking measurements, materials, and of course any fun story behind the item.
Take advantage of tagging features and categories. Your customers and prospects search Etsy based on tags and keywords. As a seller, youre able to use 14 keywords/tags per listing.
Cross promote. If you have a business website, direct traffic to your Etsy website and vice versa. On your business website, collect visitor information and establish regular communication with prospects and customers to encourage repeat sales and generate interest.
If you sell homemade products, crafting supplies, or vintage wares, building an Etsy store is a great way to add dollars to your bottom line. Its a fantastic and easy to use tool to showcase your wares, build a community, and to grow your business.
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