Tips 50-99

50. Packaging brings everything full circle

I have realized that you have got to love, like, or at least tolerate all aspects of what you do, or it is really hard to motivate yourself to work. I do enjoy the more tedious sweatshop parts of what I do – packaging, sewing in labels on the clothes and bags, casting, shipping, answering e-mails, forwarding shipping information, etc. These things take more time then you would think but I believe it shows in the final product the customer can tell the time and effort you put in to making everything just so. It is very important to package things well and thoughtfully. Also, including an unexpected goodie in the package is always great as it makes opening mail even more fun and can lead to repeat sales. – This tip courtesy of Tartx – 3,483 sales so far

51. HARD WORK AND DEDICATION

I get asked all the time how I run a successful shop on etsy. My best answer is a lot of hard work and dedication to something you love doing. Work is fun for me and a lot has been learned along the way. I started with two things I loved doing, sewing and designing and it took off from there. I have put in a lot or hard work improving my store in many ways. Customer service, the best photos I can manage, using facebook to chat with customers and give them a glimpse of my life and striving for an excellent product. – This tip courtesy of PETUNIAS – 10,622 sales so far

52. Acknowledge their order and Get it to them FAST

Everyone wants instant gratification, even when making an online purchase. I know I personally have come to expect it from big box websites, and that mentality carries forward to small time shop sellers too. I want it as fast as possible and I want to know the seller “saw my order”. Unfortunately we are at the mercy of the postal service or other courier of our choice, and we are often left wondering if the seller has our order. So make your customers purchase the best experience possible and the shipping process efficient for yourself.

Invest in a postal scale if you don’t already have one (ebay is a great place to find a topnotch scale for around $20 shipping included), bubblewrap, poly mailers, packing peanuts and boxes….whatever you use to ship. Buy in bulk when possible and don’t forget to sign up with your local freecycle.com organization to hunt down free shipping supplies too. You can also buy mailing labels (again ebay, super cheap) or you can print labels on plain paper and tape to package.Pack you items better than you think is necessary! Be generous with the bubblewrap and packaging because a destroyed package is more grief than a few extra cents spent on packaging. Oh and if you have small boxes that a label doesn’t fit onto, slide that box into a poly mailer with the label on the mailer. Works awesome.Ship within 24 hours whenever possible. This really lets the customer know you are on top of their order.Use Paypal shipping (or Direct Checkout, if you are enrolled) to print your labels. You get free delivery confirmation, the address is printed (no misreading the address by the postman) and for some reason, packages often seem to move quicker when posted with an online generated label. The other benefit of using Paypal shipping is that the customer will automatically get notification their item is being shipped and the delivery confirmation number is linked in the notification for their convenience. I always round up my package weight an extra ounce or two also……I would never want a customer to get a postage due package, and while I do double check what my scale says against the post offices scale, there can sometimes be a minute discrepancy. Better safe than sorry.Finally, communicate to them, either via the message to buyer in your paypal shipping label notification or via a seperate message through etsy, that their package is on their way. This way they know that you have received and acknowledged their order. – This tip courtesy of Earth Elements – 1,440 sales so far

53. Comfy Creations

1) Photos are very important for customers. This is the only visual they have of your products. Good, clear photos allow confidence for the buyer of what they will receive.

2) Customer service. Meet the buyers needs and concerns with good communication. Reply quickly, follow up on custom orders,
create a relationship to insure repeat business, that you are available for their future needs. – This tip courtesy of Comfy Creations – 3,187 sales so far

54. Have Product Draft listings and Special Order Listings ready to go

To speed up computer time, I use the draft listings alot. I have two pictures, one for draft listing, and another for my special order listings. I have all the info that is generic for all listings such as using all the 12 tags, and shipping info on each one. I just save as draft. I think have around 5 drafts ready for each of the above listings. One just uses the copy button and save as draft. Give the Best Customer Service you can Muster UP!! Even if it goes against all you want to say or do. – This tip courtesy of Cats Paw Pottery – 1,196 sales so far

55. Be Personal

I think most of my sales are generated by my item descriptions (something that’s been a difficulty for me transitioning to wholesale) which usually include a snippet about my inspiration for each perfume. I get a lot of responses about my writing, and those conversations have fostered some great friendships that have also turned into my best repeat customers (who give great referrals). I would say it’s important to do something you really love and let your personal involvement show through. On Etsy, especially, everyone is excited to be participating in the handmade economy, they want great shops to root for and will do so much of your marketing for you if they feel invested. Etsy is all about community, being friendly and engaging with customers goes a very long way. Oh, and use Facebook! – This tip courtesy of Wiggle Perfume and Sundries – 9,048 sales so far

56. Blue Sky Pottery

I’ve been a seller on etsy since August 2006 so have weathered all the many changes that have occurred over the years, which has meant that my strategy for selling has had to change several times in order to help buyers find my shop and my items. I get a kick out of send my pottery all over the world to be loved in foreign homes and filled with food and drinks I’m sure I never heard of or will ever get an opportunity to try.

I’ve sent over 3000 pieces of pottery out (many of the orders listed in my stats are, of course, for multiples pieces of pottery) with the average order around $68. I’ve never been an etsy featured seller nor am I featured in front page treasuries very often. I find that my main traffic sources after Etsy is google, yahoo, facebook, bing and my own website: www.blueskypotterycolorado.comI would say that fully half of my orders come from first time buyers to etsy who are finding me through the major search engines, and another quarter of my buyers are repeat customers coming back for more pottery. The rest are seasoned etsy buyers and a few are other sellers here on etsy.As for secrets of success, it’s ever changing. It used to work for me to list and relist my items throughout the day so they would come up early in searches. With the new relevancy protocol and the new front page where the pottery & ceramics category has been eliminated, relisting is marginally helpful. Probably what works best is having the very best titles, descriptions and tags that you can to cover all of the possible words someone might use to find your item. I’ve also started changing my main category on some items so that I can be found in housewares, art, and other relevant areas since pottery & ceramics isn’t as viable or visible.Great photos are a must, too, if you want to draw people in. That has changed over the years as well and I try to watch the trends. So I’ve gone from a soft gray background to a slightly off white one for my pieces. And whenever I can, I try to have some fun with props to fit the season. You’ll see candy corn, skeletons and pumpkins in some of my shots right now. Those will change to christmas tree branches, ornaments and candy canes after Halloween.What else….I try to stay in contact with past customers on a regular but not spammy basis through a newsletter that lets them know what’s new in my studio and offers repeat customer discounts or special offers; I promote my shop locally and will sell wholesale to galleries; I offer coupons occasionally and a couple times a year use Etsy On Sale to discount my pottery for a week or a few days. –This tip courtesy of Blue Sky Pottery – 2,196 sales so far

57. Keep Your Promises

Outstanding customer service does not have to mean rushing to the post office to ship orders the same day they are received, or including tons of freebies in the package. It is as simple as doing what you say you will, when you say you will. For example, if I tell a nervous bride on a tight deadline that I will send her an update on her custom order in three days, I make sure I do, before she contacts me. If I say I’ll email a customer when their package ships, I write it in my agenda for that day and am sure to follow through the moment the package ships. Great customer service is all about letting the customer know that their order is a top priority. – This tip courtesy of Custom Sepia – 2,201 sales so far

58. Customer Service and FAST Shipping will keep them coming back

Customers….. People…not faceless numbers and dollar signs. Most( myself included, because I also love to shop here) aren’t here because they NEED something, most are here for the little indulgences they’d like satified quickly. I mean, aren’t you excited to order something fun and you want it…like…yesterday?? Perhaps you are a slo’ poke’ because you have their money and want to browse Pinterest or Facebook all day for more money,or have OVERCOMMITED yourself and can’t fill their order in a timely manner. Believe me, even if your products are superior, with an attitude like that, they be won’t be coming back to your shop. Sellers are a dime a dozen here and you want to be “stuck” in someone’s brain where they will remember you and order again.. You need to ANSWER convo’s within a day, you need FAST SHIPPING and well packaged products to go with the quality that will make them come back, and they will. – This tip courtesy of Sheri’s Soap Opera – 3,943 sales so far

59. Treat all of your customers like gold

It is so important to treat all of your customers like they are your best customer. Take pride in every product that you make and send it promptly and neatly packaged. Communicate, communicate, communicate! Answer all emails ASAP, politely, and never say you were too busy or make excuses. If you do make a mistake, apologize right away and offer a small freebie. Show your customers that you care about your business by taking the best photos you can and writing complete and detailed descriptions of your products. All of these tips will help you build a solid repeat customer base. – This tip courtesy of Paisley Baby – 2,521 sales so far

60. Think like a customer

Put yourself in the customer’s shoes. Do you like good customer service? Do you want to receive acknowledgement of your order and be informed of an expected shipping date? Do you want fast shipping service? Do you want to buy well-made, quality products? If you as a buyer have a question, do you want a prompt response from the seller? If you handle these issues according to the Golden Rule of treating others the way you’d like to be treated, you’ll do well! – This tip courtesy of AJ’s Country Cottage – 2,932 sales so far

61. Answer Their Questions before they Ask

This is a big part of customer service. I have found that my customers really appreciate having all the information they need so that they don’t have to ask a lot of questions. Make sure your item descriptions include all the important details because if you leave out anything, you will have to answer the same question over and over! So, as soon as you get the first inquiry asking “how big is it?” – immediately revise your description to answer that question for everyone. On the other hand, don’t provide too much unnecessary information or the customers will get lost. Just the important stuff. Similarly, include a little note in your packages when you ship them, providing your email address and a brief return policy so your customers know exactly what to do if there is any problem with the order. Customers like to be empowered with good information; it will save both of you some time and your well-informed customers are more likely to come back again. – This tip courtesy of MyHandboundBooks – 2,243 sales so far

62. Make What You Love

Stay true to your aesthetic and make what YOU love. Don’t succumb to making what you think other people will like. Accept that you can’t serve the tastes of everyone and have the confidence to trust your gut. When you create what you love, your shop is guaranteed better visual continuity and the joy you have for your products will shine through. Should you listen to customers, keep an eye on current trends, and draw inspiration from friends and family? Absolutely! But I don’t ever, ever list something you don’t personally like. As an added bonus, when your sales take off and you are making huge quantities of your goods it’s easier to stay the course when you are making something you like! – This tip courtesy of RockitBot – 4,954 sales so far

63. She believed she could, so she did

When I started on Etsy 6 yrs ago my sales were slow and far between. I slogged along for a year or so with dark pictures and little action. One day I woke up and saw this saying “She believed she could, so she did”. It was a wake up call. I began to do research, what sells well? I searched etsy, saw what was trending, what colors were popular… and then incorporated it into my pottery.. made it mine. Things picked up.. but not enough.. Next was add variety, then see what sells best that I made and make more! Add different colors! Check stats for popular tags and use them! Fix my dark pictures!! I use picasa and with a few clicks my pictures were crystal clear. Spread the word within social medias, I made a business face book page. Interact on it! Have excellent customer service. This is a business, be available to answer questions promptly.
Have simple clear titles and tags. Think like a buyer! With those changes I went from 2 sales a month to 100 and more a month! Most important of all was… I believed I could! And so, I did  – This tip courtesy of dgordon– 3,323 sales so far

64. Custom Orders–Personalization

One of the ways that I was able to increase my shop sales was to work with my customers on making their order their own design. I have made hundreds of items that were custom orders. Some are for bridal parties, where they wanted custom desigend, fabric labels sewn to the inside of the purses. Some are adding their own special touch to the design of the item, such as enlarging the product or even designing something entirely new. I have custom created many items for my customers & some items were bigger challenges than others, but in the end it was a great joy to be able to make the customer happy. So my tip is to be open to designing new items that aren’t listed that may coordinate with a theme for their event or special day. – This tip courtesy of OC Styles – 3,319 sales so far

65. Be Original

I think it’s important for the long-term success of an Etsy shop and for the larger market of Etsy shops that each artist strive to make what he or she offers unique to his or her store. That is much harder to do than it was 6 years ago, as the number of Etsy stores increases, and an overlap of styles, ideas and products is naturally more likely. However, I believe that offering something that a customer knows they can only get from you increases the likelihood of sales. – This tip courtesy of johnwgolden– 12,562 sales so far

66. Create a Consistent Feel

I think a key factor to making and keeping a successful etsy shop (or any online shop for that matter) is to create a consistent feel among your products. Ways to easily do this are with materials you use and also with photo backgrounds/angels/and props. Creating a unified shop will give your customers security that your shop is well thought out and cared for. – This tip courtesy of Jenna Lou Designs – 7,046 sales so far

67. Easy ship…Comfortable Price Point

Sales success for me =Finding useful products that I could make sell and ship at a reasonable cost….for me and the buyer:) – This tip is courtesy of CassyLainTotes – 2,368 sales so far

68. Quality, quality, quality

The quality of your product comes before everything else. Work hard to make sure that your designs are original, “on brand” and have a unique design appeal for your target customers. Materials and making also need to be top notch. Never compromise and always make your work as good as it can possibly be.

Our regular customers sometimes make fun (in a kindly way) of the length of time it takes us to develop new designs – our iPad bags were in development for over a year, and we’ve been working on our upcoming silk and satin wraps and scarves for about a year and a half now. But it’s worth taking time to make sure your items are excellent. If you have a really high quality product to sell, customers will come back time and time again AND tell their friends and family about you. – This tip courtesy of Baba Studio – 2,692 sales so far

69. CUSTOMER SERVICE. CUSTOMER SERVICE. CUSTOMER SERVICE

Customer service is extremely important. Treat people like you would like to be treated. Always be positive and ultra polite with everyone. Make your items with care and love and treat them that way when you package them up – no sloppy packaging! Answer e-mails and convos as soon as you get them – even if it’s only to say you will get them an answer, and then do follow up ASAP. Send a personal acknowledgment e-mail with “thank you” when their purchase is made, and let them know when you are mailing out their package. Include a handwritten thank you note with an invitation to shop with you again. Add a little freebie along with your business card and their invoice. Mail out their purchases either the day they’re bought or the next day the Post Office is open. Always go the extra mile to please your customers. – This tip courtesy of Greenwillow Crafts – 1,938 sales so far

70. Stock your shop

This may sound obvious but make sure you have lots of inventory. It’s easy to open a shop and then only list 20-40 items, and wonder why sales are slow. Etsy is a crowded marketplace so to ensure you have a running start you should aim to have 80-100 items, all beautifully photographed and then keep relisting or adding new items to keep it all looking fresh and current. – This tip courtesy of Red Ruby Rose – 3,538 sales so far

71. Never give up….keep adding products it may take a few tries to find what works for your line

Most of my sales are Custom Bridal Orders I wd safely say that this past season I tripled my business and at least 75% of my current orders are Custom Wedding Orders. Don’t overwhelm yourself by adding too many different items at first I think that’s what happened to me…until I found out what really worked for my Etsy shop. Enjoy the process! – This tip courtesy of KaraMiaSofia – 3,049 sales so far

 72. Happy customers are repeat customers

Customers are attracted to my shop because of my great designs. Nothing trumps a fantastic product. But they keep coming back and they refer all of their friends because of my customer service. Time after time, I’ve heard customers say, “I don’t even look anywhere else because it’s so much fun to work with you!”

You can spend all of the money you want on advertising, but I’ve found that “wow-ing” customers is the most effective way to spread the word. Communicate well. Under promise and over deliver. Encourage your happiest, most loyal customers to share about it through social media and link back to your shop. Be friendly and let your customers know how much you appreciate them. – This tip courtesy of Less Ordinary Designs – 13,282 sales so far

73. Get found

The tried and true advice you hear all the time is probably the most important- take great photos, write interesting and informative descriptions, have a good product that appeals to a wide range of people and take care of your customers. But that’s mostly helpful once you have eyeballs on your site. If no one sees your shop, it doesn’t matter how great your photos are. Probably the thing that has gotten me the most eyeballs on my shop and therefore sales is getting featured on blogs. First make sure your shop is as good as it can be so when people do see it, they stay for awhile. Then, think of who your target audience is. Are they stay at home moms? Crafters? College students? Newlyweds? Cooks? Do some research. Find blogs your target audience would read, particularly ones who do features on Etsy shops or artists or items they like. Send the blog author an email explaining who you are, what you do, a link to your shop and why their readers might be interested in your products. Be personal and specific- don’t just send a mass email. You might have to send a few emails before anyone responds, but someone will. That can and does snowball- other blog authors see the feature and might contact you directly. You can also buy ad space on blogs who offer it and I do that sometimes, but I think having the author actually write about your product is the most effective. A mention on a site like Apartment Therapy or Daily Candy can equal thousands of views and hundreds of sales, but small blogs are helpful too. Any blog mention can help to single you out from the pack of shops on Etsy! – This tip courtesy of Art Shark Designs – 4,483 sales so far

74. Have unique products displayed the best way possible, described completely

Cultivate your client base and treat your customers like you value them. – This tip courtesy of Blue Dog Rose – 7,149 sales so far

75. Todd Young Art

There are many tips for on-line selling. Everyone loves Todd’s art and the more people see his art, the sales increase. So, have a website and a Facebook fan page. List as many things as you can on Etsy. Take advantage of their search ads. It’s a minimal investment than can increase sales. Give great customer service before, during and after the sale. People want their items as quick as possible, so don’t delay shipping. Be honest and fair. - This tip courtesy of Todd Young Art – 4,625 sales so far

76. Add Special Touches to Packages

Bring the handmade experience home to each customer with love. Ever since I started, I always have added extra special touches to every package that goes out. It gives people the sense of feeling overwhelmed with joy as if their best friend send them something in the mail! Etsy is unique in a sense that there is no middle man! Goods go from seller to buyer and so should this unique handmade revolution. Whether it’s drawings on the outside of my packages, logo stickers, business cards, carefully packaging everything up, writing personal messages – it goes a long way and will bring people back wanting more ! – This tip courtesy of good4you – 7,728 sales so far

77. Make Good Descriptions

I try to have godd clear descriptions for my items with good pictures show exactly what the item looks like. – This tip courtesy of Schmetzpetz.com - 4,323 sales so far

78. Find a Niche and Run with It

Finding a niche helps narrow your focus and efforts on the things that you are interested in. It’s no fun working hours on end on things you don’t really enjoy. I’ve had a life-long love for dogs and I know that there are millions of people that have that same love. But what sets my art apart from many other dog artists, is that it combines a dog with an inspirational message – my niche!

For years I’ve collected inspirational and motivational quotes in a journal. Putting these two things together- dogs and inspirational messages – has been the catalyst to making the amount of sales I have within a few short years. There is no shortage of either adorable dogs or great messages. The more listings I made, the more pathways there were to my shops front door. Because of Etsy, I have been found by several companies whom I now have licensing contracts with and my art is now available not only on Etsy, but large online poster stores and gift shops throughout the US. – This tip courtesy of Going Places 2 – 3,582 sales so far

79. Make a unique product

The very best thing you can do is to come up with a product that fills a need in the marketplace. Make something that you have a hard time finding, or something practical but in a way that no one else has done it before. And then make whatever it is so charming, darling, fabulous, and beautifully photographed that you will be noticed by bloggers, pinners, and treasury-makers. – This tip courtesy of 1canoe2 – 8,756 sales so far

80. Carve Your Own Niche

To be honest, I didn’t really do any ‘market research’ for what I do. I paint and draw what appeals to my aesthetic, and it makes me extremely happy that people respond and quite often relate to my little curious characters. I think that subconsciously when I am creating something new, I want it to be something that I absolutely would love myself, and I am a firm believer that when you infuse your work with yourself, chances are someone else will love it too. That being said, it is a risk, but I feel it’s one worth taking, especially in creative endeavours. Especially in art, I feel, you are always taking a risk; your work is not an object that someone needs, and it’s not an object that has a specific use (such as, say, jewellery). Your customer has to want it for you to make the sale. And as with most artwork you can never appease everyone, there is always risk involved. What you can do to minimise the risk is know your niche. Know YOUR customer. You have to ask yourself “what kind of person am I selling to?” and then make sure every little detail is FOR that person. Be prepared to work really hard. I know everyone probably says this, but it couldn’t be more true. In a sense you have to dedicate yourself to what you do, and find a balance between that and your everyday life. You have to constantly push yourself, and you have to be patient and resilient. There will be times when you will doubt what you are doing, and this is a great opportunity for re-evaluation of your work, or of your strategy. Do not be afraid to change everything, but stay true to yourself. – This tip courtesy of The Little Fox – 5,096 sales so far

81.Fresh and Frequent

Make sure you have a range of items, not just one or two. Fortunately I’m an illustrator so can use my images on many products. I’m constantly looking at what new products might be nice with the images on them, or if there are kinds of products that are popular and suit my style. On top of having fresh products and ideas, relist relist relist! You can just leave those items sitting waiting for views. Even with changes to the search algorithms I’ve found relisting to still be a strong tool for exposure in categories and searches. – This tip courtesy of Immortal Longings of London – 3,545 sales so far

82. Make It Personal

I think it’s really important to show your customers that they’re buying from a real person not a faceless company. I always include a handwritten thank you note with each order, and make sure my customer service emails are always friendly. I also write about my work and my crafty life on my blog ( bugsandfishes.blogspot.com ) which helps show people the person behind the products  – This tip courtesy of Lupin Handmade – 5,421 sales so far

83. List only items that you love

I have found that I have returning customers due to the unique perspective I bring to my product. I list vintage photos and there is plenty of competition in this field. I want to have a niche, and that would be that my photos would stand alone and each one would “speak” to the viewer and pull them in. The way I weed out the average items was to decide if it was something I truly “loved”, and when that photo presents itself I list it. Its pretty simple. Keep standards high, list, treat customers like they are actually in your store physically and you will be successful. – This tip courtesy of Clancys Classics – 7,484 sales so far

84. Variety is good

Always add more products or designs to your listings to keep customers interested in coming back to your shop. The more listings you have also increases being found in search. – This tip courtesy of ElizabethDavidDesign – 3,457 sales so far

85. Think like your customer

I create products that are both fashionable and functional. By communicating the benefits of my products, buyers can see how my items will be helpful in their daily life. My products have been designed based on my own needs. My customers have appreciated that and found them very useful as well. – This tip courtesy of Jimmy Pickles – 7,426 sales so far

86. Appreciate Your Customers and Tell Them So

I think the thing that I appreciate most when I make a purchase is when the seller appreciates me as a customer. I remember the experience and go back again and again. I always try to remember this with my customers and express my gratitude for them and for their business. Everyone has a set amount of dollars to spend on extras and there are literally billions of products on the market to choose from. When a customer makes the choice to buy from me I feel like it is my responsibility to make sure they know how much it means to me and my family. Sometimes it is hard to make contact with each customer, but doing so as often as you can will make a difference. – This tip courtesy of The Hat Cottage– 5,798 sales so far

87. You were Born an Original, Don’t End Up a Copy

Be true to who you are. Your work is original. Keep it that way. Potential buyers will appreciate that your products are unique and different from the rest of the marketplace. Add your own personal touch to each item you make and don’t forget the dash of sparkle!  –This tip courtesy of Ahmelie – 5,755 sales so far

88. Customer Service Really Is Key

Giving good customer service sounds pretty basic, but it is especially important for online businesses. Because you can’t meet your customer face to face, you’ll have to work even harder to establish trust.

Communicate

Communication is the miracle solution to most problems. I have had angry customers become my most loyal fans simply by listening to and taking their concerns seriously. Get back to people when you say you will, even if it’s just to say I’ll need to get back to you later.

Compromise

Bend over backwards to please your customers. Most people are honest. You may get taken advantage of a time or two, but it’s worth it, especially online where your reputation is everything. And besides, Karma will catch up to them eventually. 

Manage Expectations

This is the KEY thing I learned in customer service in my cubicle days. YOU are in charge of the customers expectations. If you think you can get something shipped in two days, tell them three. If something goes wrong, you have breathing room, if you get it out in two days – voila’ – you’ve exceeded expectations! Write this phrase down and tape it to your forehead if need be: UNDER promise and OVER deliver.

Show good will and the vast majority of others will as well.
Best of luck in your business and all you do! – This tip courtesy of On Your Case – 4,559 sales so far

89. Go beyond what you think you should do

I have over 4000 sales and I have 100% positive feedback. I have zero negatives and 2 neutrals. This is a result of a very high level of customer service.
If we make a mistake we respond to the customers convos right away and apologize for the error we made, and thank them for letting us know and for giving us the chance to create the mistake. We make personalized monogrammed items and sometimes we do make an error we try hard to make every name perfect but we may type an extra i and not catch it. When we do we make a new one usually the same day and ship it that day. Most customers do understand that mistakes happen it is how you handle them and how you show the customer you appreciate their business.

We also spend lots of time answering convos to make sure the customer’s finished item has thread colors that match and will look good together. We are very patient with answering convo questions as this is how the customer can learn about the product they are ordering. We are an online shopping market place not a store where they can touch and feel the product. If your customer is happy with your level of service and the items you made they will come back and tell others. If they are not happy they will tell even more people and they will not be back or gift your products to their friends. – This tip courtesy of Shopmemento – 4,508 sales so far

90. Do what you love

To do what you love and be patient, I don’t stress about my designs because I do what comes to mind. Be patient, not everyone will like your item/s, but that’s perfectly fine, the right buyer will come along. Also, make use of facebook, twitter and other networking sites. – This tip courtesy of Neskat – 4,349 sales so far

91. Great COMMUNICATION and welcome CUSTOM orders

The truth is that if I had to choose the #1 effective Etsy sales tip, it would be to display artistic photographs that clearly show your product in many detailed views. However, since I am guilty of taking my own photos, in not always the best lighting, and not always the best backdrop, I will go ahead and focus on the 2 things that I DO well:

One of the major tools that have boosted my Etsy sales is that I keep in close communication with my new and existing customers. I check my email as often as possible throughout the day, and I reply to requests as soon as I can, even if it means I have to tell the inquirer that I have to check with my vendors next time I shop for fabric. In addition to sending out shipping confirmations, I include a simple yet fun “Hair-How-To” instructions with every incoming order so that my customers can learn how to fix their hair in an up-dp just like I do in my listing photos.

Secondly, custom orders have helped me expand my store’s variety. Although it can initially be stressful when a customer requests an item that is not currently carried in my storefront (mostly due to the large amount of time it takes to make a brand new piece, sourcing new material, the modifications that follow, calculating a fair price for the amount of work, etc), usually, I am very pleased with the outcome and so are my customers. These new items then become permanent pieces in my store, and often they become best sellers. It not only allows me to exercise my creative muscles, but it is rewarding to know that a customer/friend is happy and now has something that was specially made for her. – This tip courtesy of Mixbaby – 6,038 sales so far

92. Have a good thought out description

Having a good description for my items was one of the most effective single thing for my shop besides taking good photos. There are lot of different opinions about the worth of a good description ranging from – you have to describe an item like you would describe it to a blind person to – people will not read the descriptions anyway. For me seeing an item and its description is very important. I want to know about it before I buy it . Why should I buy this and not that? Why should I buy from you ? A good description will def. help me in that decision , that and good photos.
It also shows me as a buyer that the person behind the shop took a lot of time and effort to tell me a little bit about it. Yes there are a lot of my customers that will not read my lengthy descriptions but there are also a lot that will and they might decide to buy from me because of it. – This tip courtesy of NiciLaskin – 5,958 sales so far

93. Have Stellar Customer Service

The best ways to have stellar Customer Service is to respond to emails quickly and ship your orders daily. Customers want quick answers to their questions! If they don’t get a quick answer from you, they will find another seller and you will lose the sale! Monitor your email hourly and try to respond to emails within a couple of hours. Especially if you are trying to build up a new business! It may mean that you are answering emails at midnight, but I’ve gotten some of my largest sales by responding at midnight! If you want to grow an internet business, you have to make yourself available to your customers as much as possible.

Ship your customer’s orders the next day. Or have very clear cut production/delivery times if you sell items that are made to order. Customers feel like you genuinely care about their order (and you should!) if you make their order a priority by shipping it as soon as possible. I have some wonderful repeat customers that appreciate they can count on me shipping either the next day or before the time frame I have posted. – This tip courtesy of Owl Say Designs – 8,365 sales so far

94. Think like a buyer, not a seller

It isn’t about you, it is about them. What will draw people to your shop? When writing item titles and descriptions in etsy, use terms that the general public will use to search for your items. For example, if you make pottery, most people are less concerned with your technique, or the cute name you gave it and more concerned with style, color, etc…. You can still talk about the technique, but do that later. Put the important stuff at the front. To make it easy, show one of your pieces to a non-artist friend, and ask her/him “If you wanted to buy something like this, what words would you type in Google to find it?” That will help you to shift your thinking when writing effective descriptions and titles. – This tip courtesy of graciedesigns – 5,091 sales so far

95. Always Continue to Grow Your Product Line

As shops we start from almost nothing and grow one sale at a time. Headband Shoppe started in 2009 with just eight unique made-to-order items that I sold over and over again, but today has nearly five hundred items for sale. Trust me, this does not happen overnight – this takes time, patience, and the constant desire to create new unique products. Take every opportunity to design a new piece and grow your product line. Whenever a client approaches asking for a custom design, take a moment to photograph the final product and add it to the shop as an inspiration for future clients. Sale by sale, piece by piece the shop will grow. From 8 items to 30, from 30-50, from 50-100, and so on. The more items in the shop, the higher chance clients will have to find, love, and eventually buy from you. – This tip courtesy of The Headband Shoppe – 5,703 sales so far

96. Excellent Customer Service is Essential

Taking the time to thank each and every customer, no matter how busy I may be, is remarkably valuable for my business. I am acknowledging a new order, thanking someone for purchasing a handmade product and opening up the lines of communication. Great care is taken in creating each piece of jewelry and I believe just as much care should be taken with your customer. – This tip courtesy of DLK Designs – 5,000 sales so far

97. Listen to your customers

My business has evolved greatly by listening to what my target market wants and needs, and do custom work to make whatever a customer wants for their organizer to work best for them! I also put an emphasis on high quality materials and well made product, which will actually last for the years of hard use a coupon organizer can get! Referral business is huge for me! – This tip courtesy of Glowgirl16 – 10,238 sales so far

98. LOVE your clients

I would say to take care of your customers, as they always take care of you. Also, when thinking of new ideas, ask them first, they love to share input. I have some wonderful customers, and they keep coming back. So grateful! – This tip courtesy of Rosebud Lips – 7,217 sales so far

99. Sell what you love

If you truly love what you do, your passion will come across to buyers in your products. Of course, a great photo will always draw a buyer in, but the difference between a browse and a sale is that connection that the buyer will feel when something is made with love. – This tip courtesy of whichgoose – 8,079 sales so far