If you are a creative type then you can take that craftiness and turn it into a thriving business. The easiest way to do this is to start an Etsy store and get your feet wet there.
It’s a great way to test out if you think your product is viable. If it takes off on Etsy, then chances are it will work on your own store.
But, if it doesn’t seem to be selling on Etsy, it might be you and not your product that is holding it back. There are some things you can do to make sure you are giving your creation a chance to succeed.
In this article, I will go over a few ideas that you can use to have a successful Etsy store.
Set up your store for international sales
If you’ve already got a store and are making sales you are leaving money on the table by not shipping internationally.
Though it may seem like it will cost you a lot, there are some companies that offer cheap international shipping. You can always figure out what the cost will be to ship to most places and use that as your shipping fee. That fee can be changed at any time so if it turns out to be too low, you needn’t be stuck paying out of pocket to ship overseas.
Have a recognizable brand
Start out with branding in mind when you start. As your business grows, you want to be recognized when people see your logo. Here are some ideas on getting a professional logo done and trademarked that will help with your branding.
Make sure all of your media have the same imagery. The heading on your website, if you have one, the label on your package and your Etsy storefront should all have the same logo and colors.
Hire a photographer
If your pictures are not professional quality, your sales will suffer. You may get some good results by doing your own product photography, but having a pro will take it to another level.
It may be out of your budget, in which case maybe you could barter with somebody. You could offer them some free products in exchange for quality photos.
Also, make sure you have lots of different photos. One or two will not inspire people to buy. They want to see the item from many different angles.
Get organized
Have a routine that you stick to for best results. Have a schedule in which you set aside time for creation. Then make sure you have time to package and ship your products so they get there quickly.
Make sure you are taking the time to do marketing as well. Set aside an hour per day to do your social media to direct people to your Etsy store.
Drive your own traffic
The great thing about Etsy is that there are millions of people who are on there every day. But, you shouldn’t rely on the algorithm to do all the work for you. Make sure you are marketing your store to drive traffic to your product.