How to Sell on Etsy

Jerad Clough

May 10th,2024

Title

How I started an Etsy Shop For my daughter and did $47,000 in Revenue in just over 60 days!

Starting an Etsy shop with my daughter turned out to be one of the most rewarding and profitable decisions I've ever made. It all began quite innocently, with a new hobby and a stroll through Menards, which led us to discover a business opportunity that exceeded all our expectations. Here’s how it all unfolded.

“It was crazy! We listed on product and started getting over 12 orders a week!”

Title

Discovering Our Product

It was during one of our leisurely walks through Menards that we stumbled upon a simple yet appealing item—a pizza peel. As someone who had recently invested in a Glowforge laser for hobby projects, I immediately saw potential in this plain wooden tool. Inspired, I suggested to my daughter, "That would be a cool thing to engrave." Her eyes lit up with excitement, and we decided to buy one to experiment with.

Back home, we designed a custom engraving that included our family name. The result was stunning, far exceeding our expectations. It wasn’t long before our neighbor noticed the engraved pizza peel and wanted to purchase one. This was when the light bulb went off—I turned to my daughter and said, "Maybe you should sell these on Etsy!" At only 12 years old, she was thrilled at the prospect.

Setting Up Shop

Once the orders began to flow in, we started to streamline our production process to increase efficiency. Every design was templated, allowing us to easily swap out names and swiftly laser engrave each item. Initially, managing about 10-15 orders per week was quite manageable, even for a 12-year-old. However, as the holiday season approached, the pace intensified dramatically, and we found ourselves handling over 40 orders per day. This surge in demand prompted us to expand our operations significantly. We decided to import more bamboo items, thereby raising the bar on both the quality and variety of our offerings. In the following sections, I will guide you through the process of creating an Etsy shop and scaling it effectively. We’ve even imported container loads of blank items that you can choose from, providing a vast range of products to customize and sell through your own Etsy shop. This approach not only simplifies the setup for new sellers but also enhances the potential for business growth and success.

Here is a link to one of our stores! - Teehive Custom Gifts

How to Create an Etsy Shop.

01

Product and Keyword Research: Finding the right niche
Remember, a successful product is one that meets existing demand. The interplay between keyword research and product research is a classic "chicken or the egg" scenario. It's not always about the material or item itself; often, the design or concept can drive demand. For instance, while "Custom Pizza Peel" might not be a highly searched term on Etsy, "Housewarming Gift" could have a high volume of searches, making it an ideal category to introduce a design on a custom pizza peel.

1) You can make it.

2) There is demand.

3) Less competitive. Choose keywords that are less competitive.

Here is how I perform my keyword research. Click Here

02

Create your store

Creating an Etsy store is a straightforward process that opens up a world of opportunities for selling handmade and personalized items. To start, sign up for an account on Etsy.com and choose a memorable shop name that reflects your brand. Once registered, set up your shop preferences, such as language, country, and currency. Next, add a banner and profile photo to make your shop visually appealing and inviting. You can use Canva to create banners and give your store a good "feel"

03

Create product listings

Photos: Creating an effective product listing on Etsy is crucial for capturing the attention of potential buyers and converting their interest into sales. Start by taking high-quality, well-lit photos of your product from multiple angles to showcase its features and craftsmanship. I use an app called photo Room where you can auto remove backgrounds.

Titles and Description: Start with the Keyword Research! Write a clear and concise title that includes key keywords to help your listing appear in searches.

In the description, provide detailed information about the product, including dimensions, materials used, and any customization options. Highlight the unique benefits of your item and why it stands out in the market. Be sure to also mention any important care instructions or guarantees. Check an example of ours here: Custom Charcuterie Board

Price: It is good to start with a lower price ot get the Algorithm going! You can raise it later. You need to get some sales and reviews. Set a competitive price by researching what similar items are selling for on Etsy. Determine your shipping costs and policies, taking into account the best practices for packaging and timely delivery.

Finally, optimize your listing with relevant tags and categories, making it easier for customers to find your products when they search for specific terms. A well-crafted listing not only attracts buyers but also sets the foundation for customer satisfaction and repeat business. - I cant stress enough - Keyword research and optimize listings!

04

Marketing
With your Etsy store set up and your products listed, it's time to focus on marketing to draw in customers and boost sales. Effective marketing for your Etsy shop involves a combination of strategies that can increase your visibility and attract more buyers.

1. Utilize Etsy Ads: Invest in Etsy’s advertising platform to promote your listings. This can help increase the visibility of your products directly within Etsy's search results, targeting customers who are already looking for items like yours.

2. Leverage Social Media: Create social media accounts for your shop on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Use these platforms to showcase your products, share behind-the-scenes content, and engage with your audience. Social media is also great for running promotions and directing traffic to your Etsy shop.

3. Email Marketing: Build an email list from your existing customer base and use it to send out newsletters, product updates, and special offers. This direct line of communication keeps your shop top-of-mind for past customers and encourages repeat business.

4. Collaborations and Partnerships: Partner with bloggers, influencers, or other Etsy sellers to reach a wider audience. Collaborations can provide mutual benefits by cross-promoting your products to each other’s followers.

5. SEO Optimization: Optimize your shop’s SEO by using relevant keywords in your product titles, descriptions, and tags. Understanding what potential customers are searching for on Etsy can help you tailor your content to meet those queries.

6. Participate in Community Events: Engage with the Etsy community by participating in forums, joining teams, and taking part in local events or Etsy-sponsored promotions. This can help increase your shop’s exposure and build a loyal customer base.

By implementing these marketing strategies, you can increase the reach of your Etsy shop, attract more visitors, and ultimately, drive more sales. Marketing is an ongoing process, so continue to experiment with different tactics and adjust your strategies based on what works best for your shop and products.

05

Speed and Reviews
Once you start getting some orders. Make sure to get the Etsy Algorithm on your side: Do these 3 things:

1) Fast responses to messages. I would have it on my phone and response as quick as possible

2) Fast Shipping - Exceed expectations.

3) 5 Start Reviews. Put a hand written card in each box asking for a review. If you happen to get a bad review reach out to them and get them to switch it.

06

Repeat
Continuously add new product and new designs. Keep your shop fresh.

We have now been importing so much that we are selling our blank wholesale. We could also source other items so email jerad@theteehive.com if oyu are interested!