Start Selling On Etsy In Ten Minutes Or Less
If you’ve got a hobby or craft that you want to monetize, I’m here to tell you that you can, and should, start selling on Etsy.
I’ve been an Etsy seller for almost two years and have made a small side hustle out of selling non-toxic soy candles with my shop, Rock and Reef Candle Co.
It’s been a wild ride! When I first started out, I found it confusing. Some days, when I sold a candle or got some great feedback, I’d get into bed with a huge smile on my face, feeling like I’d made it. On other days, sometimes weeks, I’d sell nothing, and the imposter syndrome started to creep in…
“Are my candles just not very good? Can anyone even find my shop?” Should I quit?”
The answer to the last question? No! And, in those times when I felt like quitting, I reminded myself of why I wanted to sell in the first place — to provide value for others and to make a bit of extra cash. I’ve made just over $700 since I started. Not life-changing, but enough to cover two months of mortgage, which I am extremely grateful for.
My biggest piece of advice if you’re thinking about opening an Etsy shop is to just do it.
Even if all you do today is create an Etsy account and choose a name, then that’s a start. Inaction keeps us stuck, and when I feel stuck, I’m always reminded of the title of one of my favourite books — “Feel the fear, and do it anyway”
- Let’s start with the most important aspect of any shop – your product offering. Before you officially open your shop, research the product that you’ll be selling FIRST, and see what sort of things are already on Etsy. This gives you scope to check out your competition and, more importantly, carve out your niche. If you’re not sure what to sell, check out e-rank. It’s a great tool to see what’s selling well on Etsy and what the most popular search terms are on any given day, week, or month.
- Create your product. Whether you’re making trinkets, tables, felted animals or digital products, there really is no limit to your imagination when it comes to Etsy! Once you know what you’d like to sell, make a few products and refine them until you’d be happy to sell one to a friend or family member. It’s important that your product is of good quality so that people want to buy it!
- Photography. Good product photography is one of the best ways to build a credible and alluring shop. If your products look nice, people will want to buy them. You don’t need a super-expensive camera, but you do need some nice lighting and a phone. I’ve made $700 on Etsy and I’m still taking photos with an iPhone 8! Remember, you’re not just selling a product, you’re selling a lifestyle, an evening in, a romantic idea for someone, etc. Your photography should reflect how someone can integrate your product into their own life. When you nail this, you’re onto a winner.
- SEO. Once you’ve nailed the basics, it’s time to look into all-things SEO. This helps your shop get seen by more people — more people means more sales. To start, I’d recommend checking out some free videos on Youtube to help you understand the basics of SEO and how to apply it to your shop. My favourite channel for this is Lauren Thurmond, who was a godsend to me when I first started out. If you’re already clued up, head back to E-rank and check out their long-tail keywords listings. They break down the popular keywords and highlight how competitive each one is. If the keyword is green, this means there’s low competition and, in theory, your product is more likely to sell. If it’s in red, that’s usually an indicator of a saturated market.
Etsy is an amazing, friendly marketplace and there’s no doubt that real money can be made when you show up, stay consistent and, I cannot stress this enough, follow a formula. Once you nail the above, you’ll be on your way to making sales and some extra cash along the way.
Good luck!
A x
