How to start your own Etsy shop and be awesome at it!

"Just as long as we believe in  ourselves, the universe will follow"...

This is for all of you who have pondered on how to create a successful Etsy shop or website to sell your own gorgeous handmade items while making money! Grab a Kopi Gu Yu, Affogato or Kombucha. Or anything really, I don't want to be bossy! 
​
The #1 question I get asked (again and again) is:  
What can I sell on Etsy? 
The #2 question I get asked (again and again) is:  
How do I make money selling on Etsy? 
The #3 question I get asked  you got it- again and again is: 
How does Etsy SEO work? or How do I get found on Etsy?
​
How much money can you realistically make with selling handmade products? Honestly, that depends on your effort but I can assure you, if you can make a side income you can also grow your business into a RELIABLE full time income!
​
My goal is to  de-mystify the process. Maybe I can be a source of inspiration for some of you who are just not sure if you have what it takes or don't know if you have the time. The truth is simple, if you spend more than 2 hours a day, laying around  watching mind numbing reality TV shows, trust me, you got the time. 

New Seller Handbook

---

Yes! Etsy is a very competitive (and the world's most imaginative) marketplace.  But! It's relatively cheap to get up and running and it has built in traffic :)

I believe if you have something to offer that is creative, quirky or funny and something people need or want - the sky is the limit ( NO REALLY!) and the only thing that will stand in your way is YOU. Forget the competition just do your thing !! 

Now go and get inspiration from the Etsy global marketplace. There are lots of items you can sell and find on etsy.  Women's Fashion, Wall Art, Home Decor, Sweet baby gifts, Jewelry, Bath and Beauty items, DIY and crafts, Wedding and bridal shower decorations.. Fast forward. Ok , so lets say you decided to sell homemade soaps. Not just any soap. Goats and Hemp Milk moisturizing soap. You have researched all ingredients, you set your price point, found very cool packing materials and have designed your branding: created a cool logo and designed a banner with a cohesive color scheme. Now What? 

TAKE MY HAND AND HOLD ON TIGHT! 
1) Sign up with Etsy ( as a seller)*
2) Set your shop preferences
3) Choose your shop name carefully
4)  Upload a shop icon and cover photo
5) Craft your shops about section
6) Use shop sections
7) Stock your shop with your gorgeous handmade items*
8) Write interesting listing descriptions
9) Add categories to organize your different products
10) Open your shop :)
11) List new items consistently
12) Ace customer service*
13) Be passionate about your product 
15) Post quality photos*
16) Join Teams on Etsy to become a part of the community*
​17) Market your brand on social media
18) Start a blog

Voila! Those are the main ingredients. Now comes the exciting part. How do you make money selling on etsy. What makes an Etsy seller successful. You have done everything right so far and you are not getting many sales and it's already been 3 days since you opened your shop. Keep squeezing my hand if you are getting dizzy. I've got you!

Most sellers make the same mistakes. They list a handful of items and think that's all there is to it. All you need is to wait for buyers to show up. You probably figured by now It's not that simple. Make sure to use all the tools Etsy offers for sellers. There are many and they are FREE for the most part. Take a look at the shops that are selling similar products. What are they doing right and what would you change to make it better. Fill out the ABOUT section. Potential buyers want to know who they are buying from. But before I begin rambling about the MUST DO'S to become successful, I will mention the most common mistakes.

Mistake #1: Not focusing enough on product photography
Photos are the first thing to either catch or lose the interest of a potential customer. Make sure your photos are well-lit with natural light and create inviting scenes that showcase the multiple uses for her products. Photograph your items on an interesting background. Utilizing the natural light from a nearby window. Maybe use your pooch as a photo prop. :)
Mistake #2: Not harnessing the power of social media
Social media is one of your most effective low-cost promotional tools as a small business owner. By using social media marketing ( FB, Pinterest, Instagram ...) to your advantage, you can grow brand awareness, connect with customers, and reach a new customer base.
Mistake #3: Ignoring the business side of running a shop
A lot of sellers focus only on the aspects of the business that are fun for them. Selling online can be quite baffling at first, since there are so many new skills to learn,”. Spending time reading articles in the Seller Handbook helped me build confidence early on in my business.
​Mistake #4: Giving up to soon
It takes time and hard work to establish yourself online and nothing that's worth doing is easy. Some sellers get their shop off the ground quite quickly ( yes it can happened within a few weeks or months. Most sellers however, need a bit longer.  Maybe a year or two to see real progress and develop a product line that is cohesive and demands attention. The more time, effort and thought you put into building your shop, the more you’re likely to get out of it.

I guarantee you - the deep level of gratification you feel when you see your shop evolve ( and hear your first “cha-ching” sound for the first time - is better than any Kombucha, Kopi Gu Yu or Affogato you ever had. Now, lets talk about what you should be doing.

Read More