If you’re thinking that there has to be a good way to earn money online selling your handmade goods that are not a gimmick, then you’re correct. There are a lot of places that will act as an online store for your items. One of the places that you can make money online this way is through Etsy.

Etsy is an e-commerce website. It simply means that you can do business and make money online while someone else is handling the transaction details. It’s also become somewhat of a household name as everyday consumers buy hand-crafted items there.

Getting Started on Etsy

To begin selling anything on Etsy, you’ll first have to create an account on the site. You’ll need to share some basic information. You’ll have to give your name and what email address you want to use for the site to connect with you.

You’ll also need to create an account username and a password. The name that you choose as your username is not the same name that you’ll be using as the name of the shop that you create.

Naming your shop:

Coming up with a name for your shop is what hangs many people up. First, create a list of several different shop names that you like. you can only use 20 characters for it – and this includes both letters and numbers. Make it easy to remember and spell. If you think you will be making more than one kind of thing keep the name more general, so you don’t box yourself in with the name.  Shop names can sometimes be an issue because the name is already taken. Enter the shop name you like on Etsy to see if it’s available. If it is available and the one you want then grab it.

Setting up shop sections

Once you’ve completed registration, you can open up a shop. When you first set it up, you’ll have to put what your currency is since it varies by country. You’ll also need to enter your preferred language to use with the shop.

You’ll need to set Etsy policies. I recommend you use Etsy’s policies that they provide for you.  It adds to your overall Etsy score.

Fill out your About page. This is really important. This is the place where potential customers will go to find out more information about you. The friendlier that you make this page and the more personable that you can make it, the higher the odds are that your buyers will feel like they connect with you.

Make sure that you fill out the areas that explain how your shop was created. Use any amusing anecdotes or touching situations that led to you creating the store. You can also include photos and video here – and you definitely want to do that.

People like knowing who they’re doing business with, it makes them feel like they know you. After the information about your shop is finished, you can begin to list what you have to sell on your shop’s page.

What You Can Sell on Etsy

There’s an extensive list of things that you can sell on Etsy. You can sell things like supplies for creating crafts, items that you’ve made yourself, and vintage things. Each of the types of items that can be sold on the site is listed under categories.

Then beneath each category, the items are broken down into subcategories to make them easier for potential customers to find the items. In all, there are fifteen main categories that are listed on the Etsy website.

Whatever it is that you want to sell has to be able to fit in one of those categories. If what you want to sell doesn’t fit, then it’s possible that Etsy isn’t the right place for you to sell your items.

How Selling on Etsy Works

Selling on Etsy can open a huge door for you because of the popularity of the site. The site regularly connects buyers with businesses to the tune of 30+ million customers. That’s quite a large base for you to be able to tap into.

The site offers store owners helpful tools that they can use to grow their business. Unlike many other e-commerce sites, you won’t have to pay a membership fee to join the site.

But there are some costs involved. For each item that you want to put up in your shop, you’ll need to pay 20 cents. That price will cover Etsy advertising your item for four months or until you remove or sell that item.

Once there is a sale, Etsy’s commission fee on that item is 5% This fee is assessed on the total amount of the sale, including tax and shipping. Payment processing fees are deducted from the sale amount in your payment account.

When you first start your account with the site, you’ll have to provide a way for Etsy to receive payment. This can be done by listing a credit card or your PayPal account. Whenever customers visit your shop, they’ll go through a checkout process.

The money from the sale is then given to you in whatever form you choose to receive it. You can get paid by receiving a check from Etsy or having funds deposited into your PayPal account.

Once an item sells, you’ll be notified – and it’s your responsibility to contact the buyer and make sure that the item is shipped out. Etsy does have shipping labels that you can use, but there is a cost associated with that.

Tips to Make More Money on Etsy

When you list items for sale on Etsy, how well these items will sell could depend on what time of year it is. For example, if you have Christmas-themed items, it’s a good bet to say that they’re not going to sell well in February.

Items that usually sell well are evergreen ones and ones that have a high popularity rate. Pay attention to trending items and cash in on that popularity by selling those items on Etsy – but put your own unique spin on them.

For example, certain styles of ear warmers are very popular during the winter months. If you create some of your own with a unique design, you can cash in on that trend. When you list your items on Etsy, the presentation does matter.

If the photograph makes the item look unappealing, then you’re not going to get buyers to want it. Take good photographs that show your wares in the best possible light, angle, and position. Etsy gives you 10 spaces for photos. Make sure that it’s easy to see the details of your product.

Connecting with others can help your business grow and you can learn helpful tips on pricing and how to build your brand. There are lots of good Etsy groups on Facebook.

When you sell items on Etsy, make sure that you include a business card in every package that you send to buyers.

Good customer service is a must. Always be polite and professional. One unsatisfied customer can do a world of damage to your business.

How to Drive Traffic to Your Etsy Store

Having a store on Etsy isn’t going to do you any good if you don’t know how to get the people to the store. You have to have traffic or your shop will stagnate. Take advantage of SEO tactics. Look up keywords that can be useful when you create your shop and put up the listings for your products. Brand yourself. Make sure that everything that goes out of your Etsy store can be traced back to your shop.

Connect your Etsy store to a Facebook business page, Pinterest, Instagram, and a blog if you have one. Here, you will build a community. You let people get to know you and then trickle information about the items that you’re selling.

On your blog, you can have posts that talk about where your ideas come from or what inspired you to make or sell the product.

Connect with other creative bloggers and go on a blog tour where you talk about the creative process or offer advice on building an Etsy store. Make YouTube videos that show how you create your product.

Use customized labels. Make sure that your packages list your store name. Include items that can promote your business. These can be things like magnets, pens, business cards, and more.

Aside from having a product that people adore, the two things you want to focus on the most for Etsy success are your photography to make your shop look attractive, SEO, and your branding skills to help your audience find you.

In Joy!