In this article, we will share the top five things you need to implement this year to start, grow, and scale a highly profitable Etsy shop. Whether you are just thinking about starting an Etsy shop or have one open but haven’t seen the growth and steady stream of sales you’ve been wanting, this article is for you.
Key Takeaways:
- Position yourself as the specialist in one category of product to increase trust in your business.
- Level up your photos by researching product photography, investing in props and backdrops, and offering lifestyle images.
- Increase your knowledge of Etsy strategy by learning how to create and optimize listings that get discovered and stand out on the platform.
1. Position Yourself as the Specialist
To build a successful Etsy shop, it’s essential to position yourself as the specialist. This means getting specific about the product you’re offering and not offering too many random things in one shop. Consumers want to buy from the person they feel most confident in, the business that they feel is the most expert, professional, and trustworthy for the category of the thing they’re thinking of purchasing.
Get Specific About Your Product
To position yourself as the specialist, you need to get specific about your product. You want to niche down and decide on one category of product that you could start offering. This will allow you to get better and better, increase your knowledge about it, learn how to make it better quality, and offer all different variations within this one category. When a buyer lands on your shop, they automatically feel like you know what you’re doing because you specialize in this one thing.
Niche Down and Decide on One Category
Don’t be afraid to get super specific and be the sign person, the phone case person, or the digital planner person. You can always branch out later and even start a second shop if you want, but trust us, picking one thing to focus on and positioning yourself as the specialist in that one thing is going to serve you really well. Plus, it’ll show that you’re an expert or a specialist in one thing, making it easier for shoppers to trust you and your business.
By getting specific about your product and niching down, you’ll be able to position yourself as the specialist, making it easier for shoppers to trust your business and increasing your chances of success on Etsy.
2. Level Up Your Photos
When it comes to being successful on Etsy, photography is key. In order to level up your photos, we suggest following these tips:
Research Product Photography
Product photography is different from other types of photography, so it’s important to do specific research on what makes a product photo eye-catching and click-worthy. Look at the types of photos that are doing well for other best-seller listings within your niche. Success leaves clues, so take note of what types of photos those listings use.
Look at Bestseller Listings
When researching product photography, it’s important to look at the types of photos that are doing well for other best-seller listings within your niche. Success leaves clues, so take note of what types of photos those listings use.
Invest in Professional-Looking Backboards or Surface Boards
If you have room in your budget, consider investing in a few things that will make your photos stand out and increase the level of professionalism. This could include professional-looking backboards or surface boards, a lighting kit, or specific props. Adding a few of these extras can really take your photos up to the next level.
Add Lifestyle Images
Consider having some lifestyle images as well, maybe with friends that you ask to model your items for you or to use them in some way that your product would really be used in real life. This gives shoppers aspirational photos for your product. Be creative and offer the shopper views from different angles, up close, far away, and in different settings. The more quality photos you can use on your listing, the better.
By following these tips, you can level up your photos and increase the chances of your listings being discovered and sold on Etsy.
3. Increase Your Knowledge of Etsy Strategy
It’s important to continue learning and being informed about how to create and optimize listings that will actually get discovered and stand out on the platform. In this section, we’ll discuss some key strategies for increasing your knowledge of Etsy strategy.
Never Stop Learning
It’s important to keep learning and being more strategic and smarter with the way that you build your business. There are so many dynamics at play when it comes to building a successful Etsy shop, and the shops that have reached that level of success are the ones that know what they’re doing and are putting smart strategy into place. You never want to stop learning and being informed about how to create and optimize listings that will actually get discovered and stand out on the platform.
Use Smart SEO
SEO stands for search engine optimization, and this is how we’re going to optimize our listings or create listings that are strategically created in specific ways so that the algorithm on Etsy can tell what it is and help it to break through and be shown to the right shoppers. You want to use smart SEO by doing your research and identifying the keywords that your target audience is searching for. You should include these keywords in your listing title, description, and tags. This will help your listing to show up in search results when someone searches for those keywords.
Create a Content Plan for Marketing
Creating a content plan for marketing is important for bringing traffic to your shop from day one. You want to create a plan for how you’ll promote your shop, whether that’s through social media, email marketing, or other channels. You should also create a plan for the content that you’ll be creating, whether that’s blog posts, videos, or other types of content. This will help you to build your brand and establish yourself as an expert in your niche.
4. Work on Your Shop Consistently
To build a successful Etsy shop, consistency is key. It’s not enough to just start your shop and hope for the best. You need to make it a habit to regularly work on and improve your shop. Here are a few tips on how to do that:
Make It a Habit
Consistency starts with making it a habit to work on your shop regularly. Set aside dedicated time each week to work on your shop, whether it’s a few hours on a Saturday or an hour each day. Make it a priority to stick to this schedule and don’t let other things get in the way.
Put in 100% Effort
It’s not enough to just work on your shop occasionally. You need to put in 100% effort to see results. This means being fully committed to your shop and giving it your all. Don’t give up after a few weeks if you don’t see immediate success. Building a successful Etsy shop takes time and effort, but the results are worth it.
Consistently working on your shop is just one of the many things you need to do to build a successful Etsy business. But by making it a habit and putting in 100% effort, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goals.
5. Use SEO to Optimize Your Listings
When it comes to selling on Etsy, SEO or search engine optimization plays a crucial role in getting your listings discovered by potential buyers. Here are some tips to help you optimize your listings for SEO:
Understand Search Engine Optimization
Before you start optimizing your listings, it’s important to understand what SEO is and how it works. SEO is the process of optimizing your listings to make them more visible and discoverable on search engines like Google and Etsy. When a buyer searches for a specific product on Etsy, the algorithm looks for listings that match the buyer’s search query and displays them in the search results.
Create Listings Strategically
To create listings that are optimized for SEO, you need to be strategic in your approach. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Use relevant keywords in your titles, tags, and descriptions. Keywords are the words and phrases that buyers use to search for products on Etsy. Make sure to include the most relevant keywords in your listings to improve your chances of being discovered.
- Write compelling descriptions that accurately describe your product. Your descriptions should be detailed and informative, highlighting the unique features and benefits of your product. Use bullet points and bold text to make your descriptions easy to read and scan.
- Use high-quality images that showcase your product. Your images should be clear, well-lit, and show your product from multiple angles. Use lifestyle images to help buyers visualize how your product can be used in real life.
- Offer competitive pricing and free shipping. Buyers are more likely to purchase from listings that offer competitive pricing and free shipping. Consider offering free shipping on orders over a certain amount to incentivize buyers to purchase more.
By implementing these SEO strategies, you can optimize your listings and increase your chances of being discovered by potential buyers on Etsy.
Conclusion:
Building a successful Etsy shop takes time, effort, and strategy. By focusing on positioning yourself as a specialist, leveling up your photos, increasing your knowledge of Etsy strategy, working on your shop consistently, and using SEO, you can create a highly profitable Etsy shop. Remember to be patient and consistent in your efforts, and don’t be afraid to invest in your business by purchasing props or equipment that will take your photos to the next level. By implementing these seven tips, you can build the online business you’ve been dreaming of and make a full-time income doing what you love. We wish you the best of luck in your Etsy journey!