Tips 250-322

250. Be Branded

Make your brand the best it can be. Create/buy a great logo that is timeless and really shows your business in the best light. Make sure that you think through the way you word your listings, your photography style, and even your customer service – so that you are consistent throughout your business. Customers are buying more than just your item – they’re creating an experience by shopping with you – so make the most of that experience from the time they click into your shop until they receive the item. It’s the best way to gain word of mouth sales, repeat customers, and to truly last through time. - This tip courtesy of The Shabby Creek Shop – 4,775 sales so far

251. Look for design trends in fashion and home design magazines

Shoppers want to incorporate trendy pieces into their life to create style without doing a complete head to toe makeover. Many shoppers lack the confidence and creativity to mix and match items together so you need to show them together. When items are photographed as a set, they sell as set resulting in a much larger order.

Great clean photographs will get many more clicks than marginal photos. The time spent composing and editing the image is well worth the investment. Photos taken in natural light without any supplemental lighting look much more professional. You don’t need a super uber expensive camera. Most $150 to 200 point and shoot digital cameras will give great pictures if they have good white balance capabilities. Additionally, you don’t need to be a Photoshop wiz improve you photos: Picasa and Fotofuze.com will do wonders for your pictures. – This tip courtesy of Pop O’ Color – 3,491 sales so far

252. Don’t be afraid to change

When I opened my etsy shop I had a clear idea of what I wanted to sell. It turns out that some items that sell great in person, don’t do as well online. The opposite is also true.

I added new items and discontinued slow moving ones until I came upon the right mix. I found a couple of items that sell really well and most of my other items compliment them in some way. It is important to keep changing even when you get the right mix. – This tip courtesy of Originals by Lauren – 2,361 sales so far

253. Keeping It Clean and lots of color choices

I have found throughout my years at Etsy that customers prefer a seller with a theme. It keeps them browsing within your specific shop and many times, leads to a sale containing multiple items! Sometimes it’s tough when you want to add an unrelated item, but it’s best to “keep it clean”.
Another great tip? Whenever I add something to my shop that turns out to be wildly popular, I immediately begin to offer it in several different colors  – This tip courtesy of JustBeachyShop – 1,460 sales so far

254. Dedication, Craft and Customer Service

There is no one specific tip that will launch any one business into success. Instead, I have found that determination combined with attention to the details of your craft and the desires of your customer base can keep you on the track towards success. Listen to what the market or your specific customer base wants. Then create a well crafted, quality product that you love, advertise it and then keep at it even when times get tough. Also, be sure to stay in touch with your customers. Whether it is via social networking, etsy teams or craft fairs, listening and being responsive to your customers is a key to maintaining a small business. Then, make, make and make some more. Some people think that having an online craft business is an easy job with lots of down time but the reality is that you have to be prepared to work longer and harder than the average worker especially if you run your shop alone. The good news is, if you adore what you create and care about your customers then the long hours will be a labor of love! – This tip courtesy of Surly – 11,602 sales so far

255. Stick with what works

When our shop first opened, we had a bunch of different product lines and it was difficult to find the best demographic for our shop. Eventually, we cut out the products that weren’t selling as well and focused entirely on the ones that were the most popular: the bacon! This allowed us to narrow our target audience and really maximize our advertising. – This tip courtesy of HDE Bacon/Hashdelecable – 1,275 sales so far

256. Read Etsy Success blog posts

Pay attention to Etsy Merchandising Guide that is put out at the beginning of each month so you can tag your items accordingly. – This tip courtesy of Sora Designs – 10,613 sales so far

257. Probably good photos

No. 1 — Take GREAT photos, and take your time. We have a $100 Nikon and I don’t think a really expensive, complex SLR is necessary, but time, patience and a critical eye is needed.
You’re shooting for something as good or better than the top sellers in your field and that image is all you have to draw them into your shop, not someone else’s.

No. 2 – Have a full shop. The internet moves fast and a one-page shop is boring — people click and then rapidly click elsewhere. I think you need at least 3 to 5 pages to encourage people to stick around and browse.

No. 3 – Pay lots and lots of attention to tags and titles! This is what gets you found in search and brings people to your shop. Read forum threads on this and try to keep up with it. (And get used to the idea that your shop will need major revisions as Etsy institutes major site revisions — you’re shop will never be done. It’s a work in progress)

No. 4 – Relist at least several items daily, and expect to spend a little money on Etsy beyond the listing/sale fees. Your costs would be much, much higher doing art & craft shows or running a retail store. But please note, although we’ve had great success relisting to get exposure, with the new browse section
that’s probably not going to be as efficient.

No. 5 – Try out any advertising opportunities that Etsy may offer now or in the future beyond relisting. Search ads are not working for us, but showcases (now discontinued) were absolutely great! Many sellers had no luck with showcases at all, but some did fantastic and you never know until you
try.

No. 6 – Invest in good packaging materials. We use papermart.com– great prices, much cheaper than U-Line or Wal-Mart. Sloppy, unprofessional packaging will not encourage repeat sales and will risk damage to your items. (But papermart.com does not sell in small quantities, so stocking up a little at Wal-Mart in the beginning is a practical move until you’re making a little money and have an idea of the volume of sales possible). Consider investing in attractive business cards. We get 1,000 for $30 and include them in every package. Those cards can get around. We get tons of hits everyday from people searching directly to our shop and I believe a lot of it is due to those cards.

No. 7 – In the case of damage to your items and/or customer unhappiness, do your absolute best to keep ‘em happy! Refund, replace, whatever it takes. Buying online is risky. You can’t actually see it, touch it, try it on, etc. A no-risk buying experience helps build confidence in your shop and all of Etsy in general. We also convo everyone when their package ships, and always do your best to keep in touch if internet goes down, you get behind, etc. A little extra customer service goes a long way. – This tip courtesy of The Pendant Emporium – 14,526 sales so far

258. Do What You Love

It’s not a new concept but it has held true for so long that people forget how true it is. If you do what you love you cannot go wrong. At Spiffing Jewelry we don’t jump on the latest trend or catchphrase to make sales. We design our items with the excitement and care that we feel ourselves. We all wear what we make and when our customers wear it too we know we’ve made a connection to them and that matters so much more than a sale to us. – This tip courtesy of Spiffing Jewelry – 17,166 sales so far 

259. Be a shameless self promoter

Customer Service – Always remember that taking care of a customer is your easiest and best building block. Go above and beyond to make them happy and satisfied. Over 65% of our sales come from repeat buyers. Most of our repeat buyers purchase a minimum of 3 times and several have made as many as 20 purchases over the last 3 3/4 years. Without building those relationships we wouldn’t be where we are today. When an Etsy convo comes in I make it a priority to respond quickly. I feel our customers and potential customers have a lot of other options for products like ours and if we can answer questions quickly it makes them feel like a priority to us and they like that. They also don’t like to wait, so we try to avoid making them wait as much as possible. – This tip courtesy of StephieMc – 10,478 sales so far

260. Be unique

Be unique- make a product that is special, & then buyers cant resist!  Of course, good photos are essential. – This tip courtesy of Sudlow Jewelry – 11,392 sales so far

261. The more you list, the more you sell

aving your shop active. Try to list something new as often as possible, fill up your shop, stay visible. Luckily, I enjoyed making new items so much and still do. Another tip would be , enjoy what you do or do what you enjoy. Keep up with the trend but have your own uniqueness. Yes, keep your shop active as much as possible, list as often as possible. – This tip courtesy of 5andunder – 8,742 sales so far

262. Put all the info in your listings

Make it easy for shoppers to get all the info they need about your products right away, without having to dig for it. Put details in every listing for your item’s size, shape, color, options and shipping methods. Give them an idea when to expect the item to arrive after they’ve ordered, and tell them about how it’s produced. Also remember to give this info in a clear, concise manner so it doesn’t read like a novel. – This tip courtesy of Bread and Badger – 4,686 sales so far

263. Optimize Exposure

1. Put the any keywords a customer might search for in the listing title. Be as through as possible without making it too cluttered. This will bring your listing towards the top of searches.
2. Tag your items. Put every possible tag that might relate to your item on each listing. This will also help bring your items to the top.
3. Pretend to be the customer. Go on the main etsy site and search for your items. Play with adjusting the item listing & tags to see how to make your item come to the top of the search.
4. Renew listings. Renewing old listings will bring them to the top of the search.
5. Sale’s and coupons. Bring more people to your store with social networking promotions and email marketing campaigns. Constant contact is a great option to help drive traffic. Etsy on sale (an etsy app) is a great tool to use to have storewide sales that will help create buyers.
6. In store promotions. “Feature” promotions in your store that will incentivize people to purchase more. Featured items will appear at the top of your shop home page under your banner. Make the main listing image something easy and simple to read like “Buy one, get one free” or maybe a % off coupon to be used at checkout. These listings won’t make you any money because they aren’t meant to be purchased but they will boost your sales.
7. Every time someone purchases, send them a coupon to incentivize repeat purchases. – This tip courtesy of Remember When Design – 3,943 sales so far

 264. The importance of customer service in every business aspect

I stress very highly on customer service for my shop. Although being a one-woman shop, I try my best in providing the best customer service to my customers. I am happy to receive the thank you notes, appreciation messages, and feedback from them. It has also gain many regular customers for Marolsha. I am always grateful to all the wonderful blogs and sites who taken the time to visit, review and featuring Marolsha on their sites. -This tip courtesy of Marolsha – 6,973 sales so far

265. Customer Service

Internet sales can sometimes be difficult and scary for a customer without the person to product contact or person to person contact (especially with custom orders, which we receive a great deal of) so I think it is very important to try and answer convos and emails in a timely manner and to be patient, clear, and helpful with customer inquiries. If a customer feels they’ve experienced good or even outstanding customer service, likely, they’ll leave great feedback both online and to friends and family. – This tip courtesy of Tesoro Jewelry – 9,741 sales so far

266. Take good care of your customers

I find that great customer service is a big part of=my jewelry shop’s success. Since day 1 I’ve invested detailed attention to every convo, always try to go the extra mile for special requests and do anything I can to help customers feel happy with their purchase. They’ll remember you for the outstanding service and they’ll come back! – This tip courtesy of Shlomit Ofir Jewelry Design – 11,192 sales so far

267. Exceptional Customer Service

If it weren’t for your customers, you wouldn’t have a shop. Therefore, your customers are your most prized possession, and should be treated so. Shoppers want to feel cared for, like there money is going to not only to a quality product but to a quality person. Someone who deserves/ appreciates their business. So be kind, treat others how you would like to be treated, and have fun with it! Just because you are not working with your customers in person, does not mean it can’t be a personable experience for both you and your customer:0) – This tip courtesy of Morgan Prather Jewelry Accessories – 14,394 sales so far

268. Things change, learn to adapt

Change is inevitable, and you need to learn to adapt when change happens, because it will happen. Gone are the days when you can just list an item with out thinking about tags/titles/photography. Etsy is always changing, and it doesn’t do your business any good to cry about the way it used to be. You need to be on your toes, and have a plan B ready in case something changes. So when changes happen, take time to find out what the change was, and start figuring out what your business needs to do to adapt to the change. Even if that means changing your selling venue or your product line. Also don’t spend too much time or money investing in trendy items, as trendy items are only trendy for so long, and you don’t want to be stuck with a bunch of unsellable inventory. – This tip courtesy of Modern Switch – 2,247 sales so far

269. SEO

Being easily found by potential buyers is key in making a sale. You can’t sell anything if no-one can find you! When I finally took the time to really search for keywords and phrases customers are using and then adding them to my titles, tags and descriptions, my sales really took off. And checking the stats pages really helps in determining what works and what does not. – This tip courtesy of Frosted Willow – 16,432 sales so far

270. Make it Personal

Getting to know your customers is key to small business success. One of the reasons shoppers love Etsy is because they are able to work one-on-one with the artist. When you take the time to get to know your customers and their occasion for giving, you will make a lasting connection with them. Not only will this make the sale more memorable for both of you, but you will surely gain a return customer! – This tip courtesy of juliethefish designs – 6,961 sales so far

271. Branding

Branding is essential. There is a lot of online competition out there. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish yourself from your competitors. Don’t try to imitate the success of other designers. Develop your own unique style and remain true to it with consistency. For example, the brand that I have developed for my business is ‘simple and modern, artisan craftsmanship’. I am consistent with the designs I create, and my descriptions paint a picture. People who buy handmade are interested in the artist – the creativity and the skill involved. They want to read the interesting story of how you created it, your inspiration, etc. That is why they are buying handcrafted, and not mass produced. According to Google Analytics 73% of my shop visits are repeat customers. They know my style and what I have to offer. Once you have developed your brand, marketing is a never ending process. Promote or Perish. – This tip courtesy of Classic Designs – 20,226 sales so far

272. Be adventurous

Don’t be afraid to try something new.  My shop is very different from what it was when I opened it back in 2006. Like many crafters I work in a several mediums and not all of them translate in to sales, but I kept experimenting. A couple years ago I bought a magnet machine and in order justify the purchase I had to do something other than use my photos. After a few false starts I decided to try some of my favorite quotes and they were a big hit. Sometimes the things I am unsure of become my best sellers. - This tip courtesy of Chicalookate – 2,554 sales so far

273. No Time To Stand Still

We have found the most important thing is to keep pushing new ideas and keep constantly evolving. You really can’t rest on your laurels and take having any sales for granted, as it could so easily change.

We are always looking for new ways of improving our photos, descriptions, titles etc… and the most important thing is keep adding new items as often as possible. – This tip courtesy of Couplehome – 1,966 sales so far

274. Answer convos promptly

Be willing and open to custom orders and questions. Often times, people are impulse buying items and the sooner you answer their questions or set up custom listings/orders for them, the more likely you can solidify a sale. Your phone is your friend. There isn’t a second I’m not connected to my site even when I’m out and I always try to read convos and answer them even when I’m out an about. Customer service is always important! – This tip courtesy of Very Vintage – 14,910 sales so far

275. Pin, Share, Tweet

There are many social media venues out there, go on Pinterest and create boards for etsy, ect. Share your items and make friends and expand yourself on there as much as you can. Share things that will interest others and yourself be it crafts and other things. Also use Facebook make friends with other etsy sellers on there, the more you socialize the more friends you get and it expands the sharing. Also of course twitter works aswell, tweet your items on there. Add interesting topics on your tweets to catch attention and share your items. You never know when someone will take interest of your items and post them too. There are so many different people and companies that use social medias as a way to advertise, you can too. Don’t give up sometimes it takes time, it took me some time. – This tip courtesy of Patsdesign – 7.057 sales so far

276. Love What You Do

You have to love what you do, because you need to be prepared to work hard at it. The internet is a wonderful venue, but it’s not magic. Like a brick and mortar shop or the craftshow circuit, it takes a lot of work to be successful. You can’t simply throw a few pictures on the web and expect the sales to start rolling in. You are not just the maker of your goods; you are the photographer, the marketer, the copy-writer and the shipping department. You are customer relations and bookkeeper, purchasing department, janitor and all-around juggler. Being head-honcho and chief minion is ever so much easier if you love what you do! - This tip courtesy of Art of Spirit LeatherWorks – 1,916 sales so far

277. Keep it Real

Be genuine. Know who you are and match your words, actions, and message. I value customer service and relationship before anything, and I make sure it shows. Use your name if you want your customers to identify with you, the artist…the creative entity behind the photos and the product. If you have their name, use it – when you correspond with them, when you talk to them on your Facebook page, or your Twitter account, or any other situations where you have a conversation. Make it personal. That’s usually why they’re shopping with you – for the experience of getting something special, something that is made by a person’s own hands and imagination. Communicate, communicate, communicate! -This tip courtesy of Rock Your Nose – 11,953 sales so far

278. Happy customers make for great sales

I pride my self on Customer service. I believe a Happy Customer is worth their weight in gold, so to speak.

I have gone the extra mile to make sure my customer is satisfied with both my service and my product and it has reaped it’s own rewards!

Especially when the customer tells you that you exceeded their expectations, its always worth it, they tell someone, and they tell someone, that is the best word of mouth marketing you can get and next thing you know you have an amazing business.

I have to say of all the things any company can offer me besides a good product is that they stand behind their product and offer good customer service.

So I offer that to all my customers! And I have lots of happy ones! – This tip courtesy of Michelle Verbeeck, Custom Leather Jewelry – 6,647 sales so far

279. Don’t Price Yourself Out of Business

One of my suggestions for shops on Etsy is to not price your items so low just to get a sale. I personally don’t want to work 16 hour days for next to nothing in profit. I will guarantee you will start to hate what you are doing if you get busy enough to work at it full time and you are only making a few dollars an hour. You also devalue your trade/craft by under pricing your items. There will always be someone that will be selling the same item that you are for a lower price…who cares. Find a price that covers all of your expenses, materials and pays you a fair wage that you can survive on if you were to be busy enough to work your craft full time. – This tip courtesy of Tiny Tokens Designs – 17,341 sales so far

280. Stay Human

What has helped me helped me most is to remember to stay human. Forming a connection with my customers makes my work something I’m excited about and ready to show up for. Turning my customers into friends creates a bond between us and makes my jewelry more than just a product. – This tip courtesy of Dank Artistry – 8,310 sales so far

281. Take Professional Looking Photos

Pick one background which works with most of your sale items and try to replicate a consistent look. Lighting is very important as well as a decent camera. Try to take a picture at the same place at the same time of the day if they are taken in natural light. – This tip courtesy of Michelle Chang Jewelry – 8,100 sales so

282. Give great customer service and always be kind

We’ve found that replying to convos in a timely and friendly manner is very important. Etsy is such a wonderful community with a lot of very nice people. With quick responses you clinch sales, but not only that, you build a reputation of reliability and friendliness. We always try to help out as much as we can – and we try to be positive in our contact with customers. We have not only increased business with good communication, but we have made some really good friends. – This tip courtesy of BirkaScandinavian – 7,766 sales so far

283. Find Your Niche

Don’t waste your time or effort trying to be everything to everyone. If you continually make things you love and make them well, you’ll be able to market them more effectively.

When I fell in love with antique keys, I was ecstatic to find how many other people loved them too. When Tiffany popularized their lavishly blinged-out key necklaces, I knew not everyone would be attracted to those, and that some people would rather have a real antique key that was once used to unlock something over a decorative, reproduced key encrusted with diamonds. I’d do best to focus my energy wooing those people. – This tip courtesy of Urban Heirlooms – 1,434 sales so far

284. Be one of a kind

It’s important to create a unique product that stands out from the rest and then you need to stay focused on that product. So many people flood their shops with unrelated or half baked products hoping something will sell. I think it’s best to find one concept that people respond to and then make it and market it the best you can. Be one of a kind! - This tip courtesy of Jeeta – 1,526 sales so far

285. Market Through Your Listings

One of the best ways to keep a customer on your page once they have clicked on one of your items, or to increase a sale to several items, is to market within your own listings. Take pictures of complimentary pieces, give links to matching sets, or even links to your shop section where a buyer can see more pieces similar to what they have just clicked on. – This tip courtesy of CaughtREDhanded – 11,745 sales so far

286. Inspiration

Offering something to the world that inspires is probably my number 1 etsy sales tip. Sure, taking great photos and offering something beautiful helps, but what will your work do for the customer once they receive it?  I receive weekly emails from people who are moved by the words I use on my work and let me know the difference it has made in their day to day life. how does your work inspire others? – This tip courtesy of mbartstudios – 2,275 sales so far

287. Color, color and more color.. oh yeah, and lots of options too

The most popular comment I receive from my shoppers is that my shop is so colorful and I offer so many options. Customers spend a long time in my Etsy shop, there is so much to look at and items are so colorful. Having great photos is key too. People love to have options and spend time browsing… so make your shop attractive and have colorful options! The longer customers are in your shop, the more they see.. the more they buy. It’s a win-win. – This tip courtesy of Jesse Janes Jewelry – 11,756 sales so far

288. Make what sells

Develop a product you love AND that sells. Focus your energy on the profitable part of your inventory and expand on it. – This tip courtesy of  Risky Beads – 7,566 sales so far

289. Pictures Pictures Pictures

When customers are searching and browsing on Etsy you have one tiny little square picture to grab their attention and make them click on your item and look further. If your pictures are blurry, too far away or just plain boring you have lost an opportunity for a sale. When I am shopping on etsy for myself even I have often clicked on pictures of something I wasn’t even looking for just because it looked awesome and the picture pulled me in. So do whatever you have to to get great pictures. Many photographers will work trades or you can offer discounts on your products to get better images in return. It will definately pay off in the long run! – This tip courtesy of Oops I Knit It Again – 5,224 sales so far

290. Customization Means Everything

I believe that one of the things that makes our shop successful is our ability to customize each item. About 85% of our sales have a name, initials, or short inscription added, and we have found that our flexibility with that option is what makes our customers return. Happy selling! – This tip courtesy of In Blue – 13,188 sales so far

291. Make items that go together

I make dollshouse furniture and for each design I make roomfuls of coordinating items. This encourages customers to buy more than one thing, or come back later to complete a room. I also sell nothing that is not my own original design. I get my ideas in the wee hours of the morning; my imagination is my greatest asset. I also keep a large stock which is ready to go–right now. No waiting. I work every day, at least eight hours, and love it. So, in essence, work hard, be reliable, be original and be quick. There you have it! – This tip courtesy of In Some Small Way Minis – 2,167 sales so far

292. Make what you love & love what you make

I have found over the years, that if I create things that I want and love, then others tend to enjoy them as well. I take great pride in my work, and really want to create items that will be LOVED by my customers. I never create something that I think is just okay. I try to show them in the best way I can, and tell others how they can enjoy them as well  – This tip courtesy of Designs by Tami – 3,482 sales so far

293. Shine with Originality

In a crowded marketplace, your most effective weapon is your imagination. Mark your work with a bit of your soul – something completely distinctive to you. While it may be tempting to take the easy road and copy somebody else’s work, you are only reinforcing their brand, not creating your own. When you are true to yourself, it shines in your work…and shows in your sales. – This tip courtesy of TrickyKnits – 2,745 sales so far

294. Colours and diversity

Be sweet and reply kindly to everyone  And constance. –This tip courtesy of Ma petite papeterie – 1,831 sales so far

295. Stay True to Your Own Style

Everyday Etsy gets bigger and bigger. More stores. More Products. New tools. Different ways to shop. It is easy to get lost on the site. The trick is to build a clear brand identity. Make your shop name and aesthetic a complete package that is rememberable. Make sure all the items you sell reflect that theme. If you do this your shop and your products will stand out in searches and treasuries. Blogs will take notice and it will be harder for someone else to come along and “borrow” your good ideas. Use social media to give “voice” to your “look” and stay active in the community. And most of all, have fun. Eventually it will be really hardwork and you will need to remember how fun it was in the beginning. Good luck! Be inspired. Stay true. – This tip courtesy of BROOKLYNrehab – 2,380 sales so far

296. Blog Buzz

I love reading blogs, especially fashion and lifestyle blogs. Find your favorite ones and get in touch. You can get some new people to your fabulous Etsy shop with the help of great bloggers! – This tip courtesy of Shoppe Sugar Cookie – 3,258 sales so far

297. Love what you do, and do it well

If you truly love what you are doing and believe in your product/shop/vision, it shows. First and foremost is to have a unique and original idea. always give your customer the very best you can — this means not only your best product, but also your very best customer service, your best online face — your very best, all around.
When you truly love and feel good about what you do, your pride and enthusiasm will show in all areas of your work. - This tip courtesy of cozyblue – 5,420 sales so far

298. There is no magic bullet…but enjoying what you do and being constant bring results

I’ve been working on Etsy for over 4 years and I am confident when I say there is not a magic bullet for success!! It’s not only new items, or renewals or social media or good pictures……It’s all of it and more, and in a constant basis to make it a habit! There is not a single activity that would generate your success, this is like a puzzle an requires constancy ad patience because things are not always as you expect or wish but doing a structure process and being constant doing it will ensure success in the long run. – This tip courtesy of MariaPalito – 3,023 sales so far

299. Finding a Balance Between Being An Artist and Being A Businessperson

I truly believe you must find balance between being an artist and being a businessman/businesswoman. You can have an amazing product, but if you’re afraid to put yourself and your products out there, no one will know about it. On the flipside, you can spend all your time and money on marketing and advertisement, but if your products are not at its best, it will only go so far. In the indie entrepreneur world, we have to wear a lot of “hats” especially if we’re a one-person machine running the business and creating the products… but to find the full potential of your business, you must find time to concentrate on both, and doing it to the best of your ability (even if that means going out there and learning how). – This tip courtesy of Steppie Clothing – 6,907 sales so far

300. Be yourself, everyone else is taken

It is tempting to imitate successful designs, descriptions and photos. You have to resist the temptation because today’s shoppers are very sophisticated. Usually they can detect a wannabe sooner or later. Our customers appreciate good craftsmanship and originality and that’s what exactly we offer them. Many of them keep coming back. – This tip courtesy of sjengraving – 6,786 sales so far

301. Find your passion

Nothing will ever work out if you don’t love what you work for, beginning a store on etsy is easy but keeping it and making a life out of it requires all your heart. Try a few, if not a bunch of things that you love to make or do, and find out what you feel most passionate for, when you find it, you will be rewarded with your customers’ smile and lovely feedbacks and success will then come along! – This tip courtesy of Sparkles Macaron – 1,768 sales so far

302. Offer Excellent Customer Service

Great photos, fresh listings, and lots of promoting are the obvious tips for a successful shop. I also think excellent customer service adds to a shop’s success. Presentation is everything! I add a personal note to the buyer and include a little Free gift with every order. I take great care in packaging my items and offer Free gift wrapping. I like to think that when my buyer opens the package, he/she is happily surprised. Many of my buyers have complimented my packaging, Freebies, and personal care I give to each order. I’ve found those little extra touches bring repeat buyers back to my shop. Satisfied buyers often send friends and relatives my way! – This tip courtesy of paperplanet – 1,771 sales so far

303. Provide the handmade experience for your shoppers

Hand write a thank you note, allow customizations, and be flexible. You don’t get that kind of service from a big box store, so that’s what makes shopping on Etsy such a personalized experience. Providing the great experience keeps your shoppers coming back for more–and, in turn, recommending your shop to their friends! – This tip courtesy of polishedtwo – 12,409 sales so far

304. Free Advertising Sites

There are a lot of free advertising sites. You don’t have to join them all but start at the top and join a few. You will get the views and sales that you want to promote off of Etsy!

Twitter.com ( you can tweet an item from your shop right on your item page. Do it all day)
Facebook.com (advertise your shop and items)
Craftori.com Formerly EtsyLush ( there is a free option and a paid one. You want the free one. Upload your items there)
Pinterest.com (You make boards, like treasuries. People like and re-pin items. You name the boards anything you like)
Tumblr.com (Join and add items from your shop. People can follow you and you can follow them)
Stumbleupon.com (Read help link below. Worth joining)
www.theredheadriter.com/2011/05/how-to-guide-for-stumbleupon.html
100craftlinks.com/cgi-bin/ldb/ldb.pl (I get lots of views from here)
craftseekers.com (Go to submit a site and add your shop to the free bronze listing)
craftjuice.com (list an item of yours anytime you want)
Wanelo.com (Great place, I get lots of views here)
Instagram Web Profiles (you can keep updating people on your current projects.

People always love giveaways! You can promote your items, new arrival items, promotions and giveaways on your own blog. - This tip courtesy of Joom – 6,810 sales so far

305. Make Goods People Love

Along with great pictures, informative descriptions, and appropriate tags at the end of the day you have to sell products that people want to buy. This doesn’t mean you have to compromise your art but you do have think about the market and fine-tune your product line to tap into your special niche. Think critically about who your customer is, and what you would want if you were in their shoes. Once you do this you can concentrate on sharing your goods with the world! – This tip courtesy of Medium Control – 5,955 sales so far

306. Troubleshoot for The Best in Customer Satisfaction

Our ulitmate goals is to ensure that our clients are dead chuffed with their order. To that end we include a little note with every package that greets them, thanks them for their purchase and asks that old retail chestnut…”If you are happy with our service, please tell others. If for any reason you are not, please tell us. Our goal is to make you happy.” That way, should something have gone wrong along the way the client knows that their joy is our job one. – This tip courtesy of buttonempire – 4,390 sales so far

307. Tags, Titles, and Photos

Use Etsy’s tagging system to your advantage! Brainstorm the words and phrases that a buyer would use to search for and that best describe your items. If your items don’t show up in the first 3 pages of the search results, buyers won’t find you at all. Include the most popular words/phrase in your title, too. Repeating those words brings you closer to the first page of search results. Once you do get your items in those first 3 pages, your thumbnail photo will decide if the potential buyer clicks on your item or another seller’s item. – This tip courtesy of JustJaynes – 8,801 sales so far

308. Re-list, re-list, re-list

The best tip I can give for Etsy success, is to re-list frequently! I list each item with a quantity of just one, so that when that item sells, it gives me the opportunity to re-list, and appear at the top of the search results once again. If sales are slow, I try to renew a listing or two every couple of hours throughout the day…again, to keep my items closer to the top of the search results. There are so MANY amazing items on Etsy…I want to make sure at least a couple of my items are near the top of search results every time! – This tip courtesy of Define Your Space Vinyl – 5,267 sales so far

309. Shine with Originality

In a crowded marketplace, your most effective weapon is your imagination. Mark your work with a bit of your soul – something completely distinctive to you. While it may be tempting to take the easy road and copy somebody else’s work, you are only reinforcing their brand, not creating your own. When you are true to yourself, it shines in your work…and shows in your sales. – This tip courtesy of TrickyKnits – 2,748 sales so far

310. Do what you love

Make sure you are passionate about what you sale and that it is something you would like to buy yourself. At SevenAcreWoods I love plants and farming and things made of yarn so that is the focus of my shop. I provide products from my little organic farm such as plants, seeds, and alpaca fiber. I also hand craft things myself in knit and crochet. These are things that I love and are passionate about. – This tip courtesy of SevenAcreWoods – 3,254 sales so far

311. The Flaws of Attraction

A key element to connecting with your consumer correctly identifying your work. For example, if you are creating whimsical bits of magic that have bone dry descriptions and bland names, you might be missing your target. If your art tells a story…..then tell that story in the bones of your shop. Keeping a consistent and matching tone to your shop is the flame that draws in all the intrigued little moths. – This tip courtesy of KiWi Cuties – 1,540 sales so far

312. Provide a product that is better then expected

A great photo is the best way to drive in new traffic, however the best way to get a sale, referrals, and repeat customers is to give something that is well packaged and even better in person then in the photo. – This tip courtesy of TheMonogramGiftShop – 3,080 sales so far

313. Be Catchy, But Stay Classy

Our tip for being successful is being catchy, but staying classy! This applies to every part of your shop. Your name, your items, your shop front, and even the way you interact with customers!

Start with a name. A cute name, catchy, one that people will remember, or possibly even connect with! You want it to stand out in a world of other shops. We named our shop after the fact that we are a family of FIVE SISTERS! Crazy, right?! But people love our name! We have had many, many people e-mailing us, telling us that they are one of five sisters, or they have five daughters, or just love our name! We are remembered at the post office by our shop name!
So come up with a cute, catchy, classy name!

Another major factor in becoming successful is photography. That is a huge one! Take good photographs of your items! High quality photos usually means high quality items. If you photograph your items well, people are more likely to spend more time in your shop, sifting through items just to look at the photography! (I know I do!)

Give your costumers a good experience. You want them to enjoy working with you, to remember you, and even advertise for you! If they enjoy your items, they will probably tell friends and family about it. And you want them sharing positive feelings about the items and your shop. So give them something to brag about.
If you’re in the wrong, admit it. Apologize to customers, make sure they know how sorry for you. Chances are, if they are mad, a good apology will cool them off. (Unless they are the spawn of the devil! And we’ve dealt with a few!)

And my last tip is… Enjoy what you’re doing. If you love working on Etsy, people will know.  – This tip courtesy of FiveSisterz – 2,110 sales so far

314. Try To Foster Return Customers

We treat every single sale, every single customer the same way – everyone gets a thank you message the day they order recapping their purchase and going over the shipping method/timeline, everyone gets a message the day their order ships, everyone gets a beautifully wrapped package with a handwritten note card and, for larger orders, a little thank you gift. This often leads to return customers, and then we make every effort to keep them with us – that means going out of our way for custom requests, finding out of print fabric, including seasonal thank you gifts. It is well worth the extra effort to treat your customers with incredible care, communication and appreciation. – This tip courtesy of SewnNatural – 2,793 sales so far

315. Stick with your Theme

When I first opened up my shop I wasn’t even sure anyone was looking for primitive rustic miniatures, because when I searched for them I couldnt find any. It was a mental fight I had with myself not to veer off and make the basic miniature dollhouse style. It may be slow at first, but people will find you, and will tell you your items are just what they were looking for. Stay unique with your theme by sticking to your original plan. - This tip courtesy of MiniatureCabinDecor – 1,102 sales so far

316. Sell good stuff

Make and  sell good quality items and everything else will take care of itself. Also, customers like fast shipping. I always ship next day. – This tip courtesy of Craftiness – 3,254 sales so far

317. Consistently Relist

Consistently add new listings to grab the attention of shoppers. And to keep your shop looking fresh. It also helps to keep your listings at the top of the search. Relist! Relist! Relist! not just when items expire, relist to keep your items on the first 1-4 pages of the search. –This tip courtesy of Pamela Porsch Designs – 1,730 sales so far

318. Treat your customers like GOLD

Our most effective sales success tip to treasure our customers. I think that’s why we have so many repeat buyers. We usually send out a thank you email letting the customer know that if they have any questions or issues with their order they can contact us and expect a lighting fast response. We always follow up just to ensure there are no issues with our service or products. We also include a hand written thank you and small freebie in each order. Which is always recived very well. We are thankful for each and every sale here on Etsy and make sure to let people know that. – This tip courtesy of Moxie Madness – 2,280 sales so far

319. Use Every Skill You Have At Your Disposal

One of the things that I know has made my yarn shop such a success on Etsy is that I draw on a wide range of skills and traits that have served me well in other pursuits in life. In my life before Etsy, I was an avid photographer, writer, knitter, and creator. I’ve been able to bring these skills to my shop in an effective way. I just had to focus them on the task of presenting my items in their best possible light. Probably the most useful tool has been my warped sense of humour. I try to give my products inventive names and descriptions. It helps to be a little bit nuts. My advice to new shop owners would be to take some time to assess the skills and personality traits that have been your strengths so far in life, and see how you can harness them to the personality of your shop. It becomes part of the unique branding of your business. – This tip courtesy of See Jayne Knit Yarns – 8,625 sales so far

320. List Often

Listing often will give your shop more visibility and also keep your shop fresh. Visibility will help with new customers finding you and reminding regular customers that you still thriving. Plus, listing new items will give customers a reason to keep coming back to see what’s fresh and new. –This tip courtesy of artgoodies – 2,694 sales so far

321. Take great photos and be very descriptive when describing your item

Answer convos right away. If you don’t; someone else might and you may lose that customer. I wouldn’t have a successful business without my smartphone; it allows me to communicate with my customers via convo anywhere I am. – This tip courtesy of 3sweetpeasjewelry – 10,768 sales so far

322. Provide Fantastic Customer Service

I always provide the absolute Best Customer Service. No matter what. True, sometimes the customer isn’t always right, but when they come to my shop and make a purchase from me, they are! My feeling is when they make a purchase and something goes wrong (and it will eventually on an order or two) fix it and fix it at no cost to your customer. Then, not only are they happy, but they are more likely to be a repeat buyer. never stand on principle, it isn’t worth it.

Second, I always use top quality materials. When my customer receives their purchase, I want them to feel they received MORE than their moneys worth.

And lastly, be quick to respond to ALL messages, whether they are good or bad. In other words, if there is a problem address it PROMPTLY! If you want the sale and want to be successful, keep a constant eye on your messages, people don’t like to wait, they will go somewhere else.