Online marketplaces are now in the mainstream. The best thing about these marketplaces is that they allow business owners, individuals, and others to sell their products effortlessly and from any location. Etsy is one such eCommerce platform that has become a rage among artisans. This global marketplace is ideal for selling handmade, vintage, and unique items. Aside from that, you can also sell craft supplies there on Etsy. However, to sell on Etsy, you will need to have an account. If you are wondering how to sell on Etsy, read this post. Here, we are sharing a step-by-step guide to help you get started with the Etsy eCommerce site and enjoy all the benefits that come along. So, without any further ado, let’s get started…
Step-By-Step Guide To Have Your Etsy Shop
Here are the 8 most important steps that you need to follow to have your Etsy shop up and running without any hassle. Take a look…
STEP 1: Create an Etsy account
The process of having an Etsy shop starts with creating an account with Etsy. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Go to Etsy.com
- Now, click Sign in (you can choose to create an account with your email address or an existing Google, Facebook, or Apple account)
- Select ‘Get Started.’
NOTE: If you already have an Etsy account, even as a buyer, you can use the same credentials to log in and select “Open Your Etsy Shop” to start creating your own store.
STEP 2: Set Your Shop Preferences
Now, it’s time to put in some information about your business. You will encounter questions like how long you have been selling goods, etc. You can choose to skip the questions that are skippable. After that, you will get to see the “shop preferences” option. Here, you will need to designate the basic settings for your store, such as the country where you are based, your default language, the currency you plan to use, and so on.
NOTE: It is worth noting that choosing a different currency other than the one in your Etsy Payments account will cost you a 2.5% currency conversion fee on each sale.
STEP 3: Name Your Shop
To have a unique image on the Etsy store, you will need to name your shop. Since you know that Etsy is a platform for selling vintage, handmade, and unique items, it becomes crucial to give your Etsy shop a creative name. There are certain guidelines for names set by Etsy, make sure you adhere to these guidelines. Here are the Etsy’s guidelines for naming your shop:
- Your shop’s name should be unique and memorable
- Your shop’s name should reflect your brand’s essence
- It should be 4 to 20 characters long.
- There should be no spaces or special characters.
- Your brand’s name should be original
- The name you choose should not be in use already.
- It should not violate trademark rules.
- It should not be obscene.
Here are some tips to come up with a unique Etsy shop name:
- Get Creative: You can combine your product name with an adjective to come up with a unique name.
- Short is Sweet: Try to keep the name of your shop short as it is easy to remember and looks sweet as well.
- Be Original: There is no point stealing somebody else’s idea. Instead, try to be original and come up with your own ideas.
- Brainstorm Ideas: Etsy gives you around 5 chances to change your shop’s name (it’s a pretty good number for that matter). So, don’t panic! Keep brainstorming ideas to come up with the name that stands out.
- Test Your Ideas: You have enough chances to test your ideas, take advantage of that.
NOTE: Etsy allows you to change your shop name up to five times. Even after that, you can change the name of your shop; however, for that, you will need to request the Etsy team for a name change. The process takes some time as the Etsy Support team will review your profile prior to approving your request.
STEP 4: Add Items to Your Shop
The next step in the process of opening your Etsy shop is to add the items to your shop. The best thing about the Etsy marketplace is that you can sell as many items as you want on Etsy. However, according to experts, you should:
- Start small and expand your product listing gradually as you grow your online presence on the platform.
- List the number of items that you can manage effortlessly as with more items you will need to put in more effort, which may be daunting initially.
- Consider listing charges before listing your products, as Etsy has a listing fee for each item you add to your shop.
- Adhere to Etsy’s policies and guidelines when listing and selling your products on Etsy.
- Keep your niche in mind when cataloging your products, as some niches necessitate more listings for visibility.
This is all about listing your products, but that’s not it! What else, then?
There are other aspects as well that you need to keep in mind to stand out on the Etsy marketplace, such as product images, number of images, product description, keywords, and so on. Here is what our experts say when it comes to listing your products on Etsy:
- Add good-quality photos and videos of your products. Etsy allows you to add up to 10 product photos per item.
- Make sure all the product images are taken in natural light. Additionally, each item should be shown in use along with other objects to show scale.
- Etsy allows you to upload one video of your product. However, it should be of 5 to 15 seconds.
- Give your products titles that describe them in as much detail as possible. However, the title must be limited to a maximum of 140 characters.
- It is crucial to add product descriptions so that your customers can get insights into products. Product description includes the type of product, category, occasion it is designed for, features of the product, the usage of the product, and so on.
- Your product listing needs to be renewed after every four months on Etsy. You can choose to renew your products every month or select the “Automatic” option under “Renewal Options,” to get your listing renewed automatically. However, know that Etsy charges a fee for a renewed listing.
- Add additional details, such as product size, material used, and color, to make it easy for your customers to understand.
- You may need to add Production Partners (if there are any). Production partners are external companies or individuals who helped you produce the products that you listed on Etsy.
- Tag your items with relevant keywords on Etsy to attract the right customer to your shop. Tags are short descriptive phrases. You are allowed to use up to 13 tags per item listing. Make sure you use relevant phrases per listing to attract the right audience.
STEP 5: Add Inventory and Pricing Details
Next comes the inventory and pricing details. You will need to enter product prices, quantity, shipping, and other details. Here is what our experts suggest to price your products appropriately:
- Price your products in such a way that you are able to cover material costs, labor costs, production costs, shipping costs, and Etsy fees.
- Additionally, your product prices should not be too high or too low. Try adding appropriate prices so that attracting customers and making profits becomes easier.
Shipping Details
Aside from product pricing, you will need to set shipping prices. For that, you will need to include all the shipping details, including the shipping costs, shipping services you are using, country of origin, shipping destination, processing time, and so on.
NOTE: You can calculate shipping prices using Etsy. All you have to do is fill in the product weight and dimensions, the shipping destination, and handling fees (if any).
Return and Exchange policy
Etsy has a ready-to-use returns and exchanges policy for all sellers. According to this policy, buyers can return or exchange items within 30 days of receiving them. However, buyers will pay the return shipping costs. You can choose to use the same template for your return and exchange policy or create a customized return policy for selling your products on Etsy. Whatever you choose, having your return and exchange policy clearly established on Etsy is crucial to proceed to the next steps.
Choose Your Payment Preferences
After you have added your products to your Etsy shop, it’s time to set your payment preferences. More often than not, Etsy sellers are required to use Etsy payments. Etsy payments include almost all payment options, such as payment via credit cards, debit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and so on. Aside from that, you can also use Etsy gift cards and store credit, Klarna, and more to make payments. However, in India, Etsy provides a payment facility through a payment aggregator, such as Razorpay, to process payments. Therefore, it is crucial to keep your location/country in mind when setting up payment preferences.
NOTE: There is a processing fee for Etsy Payments. However, it varies depending on the location or country you live in. Additionally, there are transaction fees, currency conversion fees, square fees, and Etsy Gift Cards, Credits, and Coupons. Therefore, it is crucial to read the terms and conditions and understand Etsy payments in detail before hitting the enter button.
STEP 6: Set up Billing Details
As you know, Etsy charges fees for several things, including product listing, listing renewal, selling, and so on. It is crucial to set up your billing details for seamless billing. Here, you can either use your credit card or debit card so that Etsy can charge you for selling fees. US-based sellers can opt for the auto-billing option. However, this option is not allowed for sellers in other countries, such as India.
NOTE: Know that the billing options and selling fees vary greatly based on the country you are based. Therefore, it is crucial that you go through all the details pertaining to billing, pricing, and listing on Etsy.
STEP 7: Open Your Etsy Shop & Start Selling
Once you have completed all the six steps outlined above, it’s time to click the ‘Open Your Shop’ option to get started. The moment you will hit ‘Open Your Shop,’ Etsy buyers will be able to see your offerings and make purchases effortlessly.
STEP 8: Customize Your Etsy Shop
Finally, tailor your Etsy shop to align with your brand. Only clicking on ‘Open Your Shop’ option is not enough. You will have to tailor your shop according to your customer’s needs and preferences. Know that your customers will not just come for the products that you sell; there is more to it. And what’s more, is the experience that you will provide your customers with. Customizing your shop will allow your customers to navigate through your shop comfortably, find what they want easily, and buy seamlessly. Here is what our experts suggest:
- You should have an intuitively organized Etsy shop.
- It should be easy and simple to navigate.
- Your products should be well-organized along with their titles and descriptions
- You should keep your customers’ unique needs and ease in mind when curating your Etsy shop.
- You should regularly update your shop and product listing to attract customers.
Additionally,
Consider adding a personal bio and your photo to help your customers know more about you and your business.
The Bottom Line
So, these are the 8 steps to open your Etsy shop. Following these steps will make the whole process of opening an Etsy shop a breeze for you. However, if it all seems like a task, then you are advised to partner with a professional Etsy account management service provider. Etsy account management service provider, such as Selling OS will not only help you open your Etsy shop but also guide you to enhance your sales and brand visibility. Whether you are just embarking on your online business journey or already have an online shop, Selling OS can help you with everything, from soup to nuts. We can help you boost your monthly revenues with our all-encompassing strategies and extensive experience in the field. For further information, please reach out to Selling OS!
How Can Selling OS Help Etsy Sellers?
Selling OS is a renowned online account management service provider. We help businesses and individuals alike establish their shops on online marketplaces, including Etsy. Selling OS boasts a team of highly experienced and trained account managers and eCommerce experts. We offer all-encompassing account management solutions to businesses and individuals planning to establish stores/shops on online marketplaces, including Etsy. Our vast services include Listing Optimization, Order Management, Return Management, Inventory Management, Customer Engagement, Performance Monitoring, and so on. We offer tailored account management solutions to clients based on their unique requirements and preferences. Our team is well-versed with Etsy’s policies, tools, and guidelines to ensure fair operations. We can not only help clients optimize their stores but also help them maximize their sales by improving customer engagement using our strategic solutions. So, if starting a digital business is your goal, then partner with us. We can help you make your dream a reality with our strategic solutions! Contact us for the most innovative account management solutions and let us help you soar higher in this digital landscape!