I Tried Etsy For 30 Days

My Rollercoaster Journey of Selling Digital Products on Etsy

Etsy has become one of the most popular online marketplaces for individuals looking to sell their handmade or vintage items, craft supplies, and digital products.

With over 7.5 million active sellers and 90 million active buyers, Etsy has created a platform for creatives and small business owners to showcase their unique products to a global audience.

Many people have turned to Etsy as a potential source of income, and some have even made it their full-time job. I decided to put Etsy to the test by starting a 30-day challenge to see how much I could make selling digital products on the platform.

Week 1

During the first week of their 30-day challenge. I wanted to find some ideas about what I should sell on Esty so I studied some Etsy shops and watched youtube videos and finally decided to sell digital products on Etsy, particularly canva templates and KDP Interiors.

The next step involved conducting research to determine a price range and then setting up my shop and uploading two coloring pages to my shop.

However, a few hours after uploading those coloring pages my account was suddenly suspended without explanation, which posed a significant challenge to my selling journey on Etsy.

I was very disheartened as I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong. I emailed Etsy to ask why my account had been terminated and they responded to say that they will review my account and get back in touch with me in the next few days.

Week 2

After facing the unexpected challenge of having my account suspended during the first week of the 30-day challenge, my account was reinstated during the second week. Although they did not state any specific reason why my account banned.

I was determined to finish the challenge, so I uploaded four more listings to my shop. I decided to invest in running ads on Etsy to promote their digital products, which would increase visibility to potential customers.

My decision to run ads paid off, as I was able to secure my first sale on day, 2 days after getting my account back. This was a significant milestone for me as it showed that their shop had started to gain traction and my efforts were paying off.

Getting the first sale is often the most challenging aspect of any online selling venture, and it can be a critical turning point for sellers to gain momentum and continue growing their business.

Overall, the second week was a period of renewed motivation and progress for the creator as they overcame the setback of their account suspension and managed to my first sale.

Week 3

During the third week of their 30-day challenge, I continued to focus on expanding their digital product offerings on Etsy. I uploaded eight more listings to their shop, bringing my total to 14 listings.

By increasing the number of products they were selling, I hoped to appeal to a broader range of potential customers and increase my chances of making more sales.

My efforts paid off, as I saw a significant increase in traffic and sales compared to the previous week. They received a total of 55 visits to their shop, which was an improvement from the 39 visits they received during the previous week.

I also managed to secure two orders, which was an increase from the one order I received during the second week.

In summary, the third week of the challenge was a period of growth and progress for the creator as they continued to expand their shop and saw an increase in traffic and sales.

Week 4

During the final week of the 30-day challenge, I faced a setback as I did not make any sales. Despite this, I remained determined to complete the challenge and continued to upload more listings to my shop, bringing their total to 19 listings.

Even though they did not make any sales during the final week, I remained positive and focused on the progress they had made throughout the challenge.

Final Thoughts

The 30-day challenge was an opportunity for me to push myself out of my comfort zone and gain valuable experience of a new marketplace.

Through my journey, I learned about the importance of product research, pricing, marketing strategies, and the risk of account suspension.

Despite facing setbacks like their account suspension and a sales slump during the final week, I remained positive and motivated to complete the challenge.

Ultimately, I made 3 sales of £18.17 ($21.87) but due to fees and ads I ran I ended the challenge with a net loss of £6.11 ($7.35).

Moving forward, I plan to continue expanding my shop and adding more diverse listings. However, I also plan to explore other ways to make money online, diversifying my income streams and minimising my reliance on Etsy alone.

Thanks for reading.