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Contents:
Understanding Etsy's handmade-focused audience
Tailoring your products and branding
Learning Etsy's unique fee structure
Providing personalised customer service
Leveraging Etsy's robust seller tools
Avoiding common pitfalls like over-automation
If you’re an Amazon seller looking to expand your reach, Etsy should be on your radar. There are a lot of similarities between the 2 platforms, but you can’t just copy-paste your Amazon approach.
Etsy caters to a different audience seeking unique, handmade, and vintage items. You need to tailor your offerings and approach to thrive. On top of that: follow Etsy's Policies!
Carefully read Etsy’s terms of service and strictly follow their policies. Take any notifications from Etsy seriously and make requested changes promptly. Building a compliant, policy-abiding shop in good standing makes growth easier. Don't try to cut corners.
Follow this guide to understand the Etsy marketplace and set your shop up for growth.
#1 - Know the Etsy Buyer
Etsy buyers want creative, handcrafted products - not mass-produced items. Lean into what makes your products one-of-a-kind. The key is to provide a personalised touch, take your own pics, offer great customer service, and a unique shopping experience - even if you aren't making 100% handmade items.
#2 - Understand Etsy’s Fee Structure
Etsy fees include:
$0.20 per listing for 4 months
5% of the sale price
Additional fees for offsite ads, payment processing, and shipping
For example, if you sell an item for $50, you’ll pay $2.50 in Etsy fees. Factor this into your pricing.
#3 - Create Compelling Listings
Amazon requires your main image to be the product on a white background, per their terms of service. However, that same photo may not fare as well on Etsy.
On Etsy, devote time to compelling lifestyle imagery, natural settings, and photos that tell a story - not just the product itself. Invest in detailed listings, good storytelling, and showcasing your creative process. The main image expectations differ between the platforms.
#4 - Provide Responsive Customer Service
Etsy buyers expect to engage and learn your backstory. Be ready to answer questions, share your passion, and converse personally. Go beyond just order fulfillment.
#5 - Leverage Etsy’s Seller Tools
Use Etsy's dashboard, Promoted Listings, coupons, shipping, and inventory management tools to work your way to Etsy Success. Focus on your shop while Etsy handles the backend.
Do:
Take great photos
Optimise titles and tags
Promote on social media
Offer free shipping/gifts
Don't:
Neglect your shop
Use overly promotional announcements
Etsy Success Bonus Tips:
#Bonus Tip 1 Think Twice Before Using Amazon FBA
When fulfilling Etsy orders, reconsider using Amazon FBA. Some buyers (really) dislike receiving Amazon packages, expecting a more bespoke, hand-packed experience, and may leave a negative review. Ship yourself if possible.
#Bonus Tip 2 - Take a Gradual Approach
When launching your Etsy shop, don’t upload your entire catalog at once. Instead, build up your listings over time. This helps the Etsy algorithm see you as an active, engaged seller. Slowly drip-feed new products as you have inventory ready to ship.
When fulfilling orders, purchase your shipping labels directly through Etsy's integrated shipping platform. This gets you commercial base pricing, allowing you to ship items for less compared to retail rates.
Etsy's labels also automatically include tracking information, meaning you don't have to manually enter tracking numbers for your customers. Buying postage via Etsy saves you money and time while making the fulfillment process smoother.
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