Today, every other artist wants to turn his hobby into a side hustle or a full-time job.

But it can be overwhelming at times to decide the start. Questions like which is the best platform? How to promote your art or craft or manage the upfront cost? It can be confusing.

While there are thousands of platforms, Etsy works like a charm for all artists. This platform helps you to go back to your drawing board and create something.

What Is An Etsy Shop?

In 2005, Etsy became an online marketplace that unites artists, creators, producers with customers interested in purchasing their unique artworks.

It showcases products made by artists and individuals. From handmade toys, collectibles, vintage furniture, clothing to small-batch cosmetics, clothing, and accessories—you can buy every particular handmade item.

As per Statista, Etsy has 81.9 million active buyers and is best for entrepreneurs. Eager to join the millions of independent sellers on Etsy? Then start your shop today. Maybe you can begin with two.

If you follow Etsy guidelines, you can easily open two Etsy accounts and link them. Here’s how to link 2 Etsy shops together.

How To Open An Etsy Shop?

Now that you’re ready with your creative endeavor, setting up an Etsy shop is the way to go.

Let’s walk you through 6 simple steps for starting an Etsy shop.

• Register An Etsy Account

Its obvious step, create an account on Etsy. Click on the “Sell on Etsy” link, and then enter your email, name, and password.

Hit the “Register”  button, and you will land on the Etsy landing page. Then, click on open your Etsy account to get started.

• Manage Your Shop Favorites

You need to enter these few things to set up your shop preferences:

• Set your default language
• Enter your country, and currency  
• Select if you’re a full time or part-time seller 
• Click Save and continue 

Come Up With A Good Shop Name

Etsy gives you 4 to 20 characters long space to enter your shop name. Make sure you check the availability of names.

It’s good to spend a little time choosing a name that can reflect your business, is original, memorable, and SEO-friendly. Get creative!

• Organize Your Shop

After you click on “Add a listing,” you can add a minimum of 10 pictures of your product. This means now you can start making variations in your products, add thumbnails, and complete your listing details. 

Add a title, item category, description, price, available quantity, shipping costs, and click okay and save. Choose your inventory pricing, set your shipping prices, and complete your comprehensive listing.

• Choose Payment Options

Add your preferred mode of payment. Your options mainly include PayPal, check or money order, “other,” or Etsy Payments.  You can also accept credit cards, debit cards, Etsy gift cards, and more.

• Set Up the Billing Process

Now that Your Etsy shop is ready.  Set up your billing account to pay charges related to advertising or shipping payments.

In a recent study, HBR estimated that more than 50% of eBay sellers had received positive feedback for 100% of the transactions rated by their buyers. It’s best to understand the fee policies of Etsy shops and automate your billing processes.

Secrets To Sell Successfully On Etsy

As per Forbes, $2.67 trillion was allocated on the top 100 online marketplaces in 2020, valuing 62% of global online retail sales. Well, this shows the popularity of growing online marketplaces like Etsy.

There are thousands of e-commerce challenges regardless of what you’re selling on Etsy. From handling the inventories to customer satisfaction—it’s all your call.

But don’t worry, here are a few secret sauces to succeed on Etsy as a seller:

• Do Your Research

We are often told to sell what you love, but if you can do a little research and find products that are less in the crowd, it will help you make a mark on e-commerce platforms.

Always try to find a sweet spot between what people want and what you can create. 

• Take Better Photos

A picture is worth 1000 words. This is the need of the hour. 

We are visual creatures, and your customers are attracted to high-quality images of your product before even they decide to make a purchase.

If your photos can bring your products to life—then there’s no stopping to your sales.

• Build A Coherent Line

Adding more items in your shop does work, but it’s crucial to maintain an identity with your products. If you’re selling handmade caps, then add more specific kinds of caps to your product lists. The idea is to transition from generic to selling particular products.

• Don’t Forget SEO

Improve your chances of getting found. People often forget the basics, which include SEO. Always use tag spaces, good keyword phrases, and descriptive titles to see your products.

• Customer Incentives Still Works

It’s best if you can allow discount coupons, occasional events, organize free deals or send transactional emails to your customers. This will not only work as an incentive but will also help your brand stand out on Etsy. It will also boost your overall sales.

Conclusion

Telling your story is more important when it comes to selling on Etsy. There’s no secret that Etsy is growing as a platform since Etsy is acquiring UK-based social selling sites and whatnot.

People love to buy good personalized products, and Etsy is the best platform to showcase them.

So, start your Etsy shop today.