Are you wondering how to get your first sale on Etsy? Do not worry, you are not alone.
Many shop owners find it challenging to get their Etsy business off the ground. However, with a little effort and some sound advice, you can be well on your way to making money on Etsy!
In this article, you will learn all the best tips and tricks to help increase your chances of making that all-important first sale.
Please do not think you need to be a Digital Marketing Expert or a sales expert on other platforms to succeed on Etsy.
This article is designed for Etsy first-timers. So read on and get ready to learn how to get your first sale on Etsy.
Here, we will be taking a deep dive into the following tips:
1. Create A Product That Fits Search Intent
If you are wondering how to get your first sale on Etsy, look no further than fitting search intent. When creating a product for your Etsy shop, it is important to make sure that it fits the search intent of potential buyers. This means tailoring your product to what people are looking for.
You must make sure that your listings are keyword-rich and accurately reflect your product. You can use Etsy’s search bar to get an idea of what topics people are searching for, and then use those keywords in your titles, descriptions, and tags.
2. Provide Clear Product Descriptions
Your next step on how to get your first Etsy sale is to describe your product clearly so that it fits with what you are selling and matches the overall soul and style of your store. More importantly, your product descriptions will help entice your buyers to make the purchase.
Imagine going for a first date and you did the bare minimum in describing what you do and what you are like. Chances are, your date is going to run away as soon as possible and scream boring!
Here are some tips you can adopt to improve your product description:
- Detailed physical description of the product since your buyers can’t touch the item, unlike at a brick and mortar store.
- Use short paragraphs and bullet points as it is easy on the eye.
- Check for typos. You do not want your buyers to think you can’t even handle getting your product descriptions correct.
- Share the benefits and uses of the product.
- Advice on how the product cannot be used or might get damaged.
- Highlight the story behind creating the product. You cannot deny that personal stories sell and will increase the connection your buyer has with you.
3. Pay Attention To Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
If you want to know how to make your first sale on Etsy, it is important to pay attention to search engine optimization (SEO). By optimizing your shop and products for search engines, you can attract more buyers and boost your sales.
After doing your keyword research, you will be able to know:
- What people are looking for.
- What are the related keywords people are searching for.
- How much search volume there is for that keyword.
- How much competition there is for that keyword, meaning how easy will it be for you to appear on the first page of the search results.
Once you have your good keywords, start adding them to your shop name, title, and product description. Make sure that the keywords that you are trying to rank for are obvious and easy to spot for the buyer.
For example, if you’re selling handmade jewelry, including the keyword “jewelry” in your shop name. You can also include keywords in your title tag, which is the text that appears in the tab at the top of your browser.
However, please do not go overboard with your keyword inserts. You do not want your descriptions to sound robotic.
Ultimately, you are appealing to a human buyer and you want to make a human connection.
4. Match Title Phrases To Product Tags
If you want to know how to get sales on Etsy, you must make sure that your title phrases match your product tags.
An Etsy product title refers to the name of the product that appears above the listing image.
An Etsy product tag example is shown below under the headings, “Explore related searches” and “Explore related categories”.
It is like a category or a description of the product that you are selling.
The image above was taken from the same listing. There must be a match between the tag and titles.
That way, buyers can continue browsing until they find the product that fits exactly what they are looking for.
If a buyer stumbled upon your shop when clicking on the related searches, you would be very grateful that you ensured your product title and tags were matching.
Can you imagine if your product tag was completely unrelated to what you are selling?
For example, if you were selling handmade necklaces and in your product tag, you put it as a DIY product. It will appear as a necklace that needs to be put together by the buyer.
As such, it will be hard to rank your product unless you were intending to sell it as a DIY necklace, and not as something ready-made to be worn.
5. Analyze Your Competition
When starting an Etsy shop, you have to do your research and analyze your competition.
This will help you to understand what types of products are most popular on Etsy. It will also give you ideas for products to sell yourself and where you can improve.
Besides that, you can also use the Etsy search bar and just have a look at how your competitors are presenting themselves.
If the shops that you identified as your competitors are:
- Not organizing their listings well.
- Not quick to respond to customer queries.
- Not having clear product descriptions but still ranking for those keywords.
- Not having regular listings.
- Listing products that appear to be low in quality
You can start jumping for joy. This is because you have found immediate areas you can stand out in to entice buyers to pick your product instead.
Do not worry, you will learn more about how to improve in these areas as you keep reading.
6. Adding Good Quality Photographs
When it comes to selling online, photographs are essential. This is especially true for shops on Etsy, where buyers can scroll through pages and pages of items before making a purchase.
If your photographs are not high quality, your chances of making a sale are slim to none.
Here are some easy ways you can improve your photo quality.
Use Natural Light Whenever Possible
Sunlight gives the best results, and it is free! If you can take your photographs outdoors, that’s ideal. If you must take them indoors, try to use a window as your source of light.
If that is still not possible, yellow lighting that is attached to a camera stand is another highly recommended option.
Use A Tripod
A tripod will help to keep your photographs steady and will result in sharper images. Tripods used to be a very fancy and expensive object to own in the past.
But now, most influencers and e-commerce sellers own some form of a camera stand as it does help to enhance the quality of their videos and photos.
Avoid Distractions In The Photo
Please let your product shine in your photo. Just like a photo shoot, you want the center of attention to be your product.
If you took the picture of your item on top of a fancy car or beside your cat, it could distract your buyer.
However, there are exceptions to when your product is recommended to appear with a related object or character, such as when it is in use. Please keep reading to learn more.
Show The Use Of The Product
Your chance of making your first Etsy sale will be greatly improved if your product features and uses are showcased in the photos.
For example, a picture of a handmade massage roller on its own may look nice. But pictures of the roller massaging your feet and showing your relief may sell more.
7. Doing Social Media Marketing
When it comes to promoting your Etsy shop, social media is one of the When it comes to promoting your Etsy shop, social media is one of the most effective channels out there.
Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook allow you to connect with a massive audience of potential buyers.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can start your social media marketing.
- You can start by creating a profile on these social media platforms using the same name as your Etsy Shop.
- Invite family and friends to like and share your profile.
- Use high-quality images of your products on your social media accounts. Make sure to showcase your products in the best light possible and use attractive hashtags to draw attention to your posts.
- Write interesting and engaging captions for your photos. Do not just write a plain description of what the product is.
- Social media platforms love stories and that is what makes them go viral. So do give your followers a sneak peek into what it is like to use the product or how it makes you feel.
As much as social media marketing helps, it requires plenty of effort on your part to continue promoting as it does not have much to do with SEO.
SEO on the other hand, if done correctly, generates more passive income.
8. Have Clear Policies Written In Your Store And Product Description
If you want to make money on Etsy, you MUST have clear policies written in your Etsy store and Etsy product description. This will help protect both you and your customers, and will also make your business seem more professional.
People are much more likely to buy from a shop that has clearly outlined policies, rather than one that is vague or unclear. Make sure to state things such as your return policy, shipping information, license to operate, and more.
Your return policy is one of the most important aspects of your shop. You want to be clear about what items can and cannot be returned, as well as the conditions for a refund.
If you are not clear about your policies, then you may end up with unhappy customers who are not sure if they are eligible for a refund.
This will help ensure that both you and your customers know what to expect from each other, which will lead to fewer misunderstandings down the road.
Learn from Etsy on how to set up and manage your shop policies. You can also download some free templates on Etsy Shop Policies here.
9. Get Personal!
When a customer visits an Etsy store, they want to be able to find information about the store owner. This helps build trust and credibility with the customer.
By having information about the store owner on the Etsy store information page, you can help make your shop stand out from the competition.
Some things that you may want to include on this page are:
- Your name and contact information
- A biography or introduction about yourself
- Links to your social media profiles
- A photo of yourself
- Why did you set up this Etsy shop
Having all of this information readily available for customers will help them feel more connected to you and your shop, which can lead to more sales in the long run.
10. Utilize The Promoted Listings Option On Etsy
When you have a shop on Etsy, there are a few different ways that you can promote it to make sales. One of those methods is through the use of the promoted listings option which is effectively paid advertising on Etsy.
The promoted listings option is a great way to get your shop in front of more people, and it can result in more sales for your business.
The first benefit of using the promoted listings option is that it allows you to reach a larger audience. When you promote your shop, it will be shown to more people who are looking for items like yours.
This means that you will have a greater chance of making a sale than you would if you were not using the promoted listings option.
Another benefit of using the promoted listings option is that it can help you to increase your visibility on Etsy. When people search for items on Etsy, they will be more likely to see your shop if you’ve chosen to promote it.
This means that you will have a better chance of being found.
11. Reach Out To Family And Friends For Support
For most people, asking their friends and family to support their business might make them sweat. However, asking for support does not mean asking for loans, money or to buy your product.
Most times, what we need is just some nice words from them and to share to their networks about our business. You can demonstrate your product to them, and if they can see the value of it, sharing your product should definitely come easy!
If they still do not help you out, well, you and your business are better off without them.
12. Utilize Facebook Ads
If you have the cash to spare and want to make your sales quickly, you can try navigating Facebook Ads. It is a quick way to get access to a huge audience.
First, you need to create a Facebook Ads campaign. When creating your campaign, be sure to target people who live in the geographic area where you sell your products. You can also target people who have previously visited your Etsy shop or website.
Next, create a Facebook ad that promotes your product. The ad should include a photo of the product and a brief description of what it is. You should also include a link to your Etsy shop or website so that people can learn more about your products.
Finally, test different versions of the ad to see which one performs the best. You can test things like the text of the ad, the photo, and the target audience. By testing different versions of the ad, you can find out which version generates the most sales.
By using Facebook Ads to promote your Etsy shop, you can make your first sale within a few weeks. Try it out and see how successful you can be!
13. Utilize Pinterest
Pinterest is a social media platform that can be used to help promote your Etsy shop. When you create a Pinterest board for your Etsy shop, make sure to include pictures of the items you are selling, as well as pictures of the process of making the items.
You can also include pictures of people using your products. This will help potential customers see what your products look like and how they can be used.
Make sure to use keywords in your board titles and descriptions so that your pins will show up in Pinterest search results. For example, if you are selling handmade jewelry, you could use keywords like “handmade jewelry”, “unique jewelry”, and “artisan jewelry”.
Pinterest is a solid tool to use to support your Etsy business because it is a visual search engine. The more photographs or videos you have about your product, the easier it will be to direct visitors to your Etsy store from Pinterest.
Another huge advantage of using Pinterest over Facebook Ads? It is FREE.
14. Treat Your Etsy Shop As A Legitimate Business
When you’re running an Etsy shop, it is important to remember that you are running a business. Just like any other business, there are several benefits to treating your Etsy shop as a legitimate operation.
Here are a few of the most important benefits:
Increased Credibility
When you treat your Etsy shop as a business, you increase your credibility with customers and potential customers.
By acting professionally and putting in the effort to grow your business, you show that you’re serious about what you’re doing and that you care about your customers.
This can lead to more sales and more repeat customers.
Improved Customer Service
When you run your Etsy shop as a business, you also improve your customer service. This is because you are taking the time to learn about your customers and what they want.
You’re also more likely to go above and beyond for your customers to make sure that they’re happy with their purchase.
15. Organize Your Etsy Shop Professionally
When you organize your Etsy shop professionally, you can make a good impression on potential customers. They will be able to see that you are a serious business owner who takes their work seriously.
This can result in more sales and more customers. Additionally, organizing your shop can help you become more efficient and organized in your work. This can lead to more productivity and less stress.
Just like going to a grocery store, a restaurant, or a book shop. If you see that the store is neat, professionally arranged and things are easy to find and purchase, you will go there again, right?
Compared to entering a dodgy store that smells bad where nothing can be found easily. It is doubtful that they will be making sales.
16. Keep Listing New Products
When you list a new product on Etsy, you are increasing the chances that someone will find and buy your product.
Additionally, you can go back and update your product listings for your old items. Perhaps you found an area that could be enhanced such as the type of photo you uploaded, or the description you wrote.
You are simply polishing up your Etsy shop by doing this and making it more appealing to your customer.
17. Write Personalized Thank You Notes
It’s always a good idea to show your appreciation to your customers, and what better way to do that than by sending personalized thank you notes?
Thanking your customers for their purchase not only shows that you appreciate their business but also helps to build customer loyalty. Here are some ways you can write thank you notes to your customer.
It is an excellent way to get repeat business, especially when customers see that your shop provides not only quality products but also quality customer service.
Customers love getting personalized thank you notes because it shows them that their business is valued.
When sending a thank you note, be sure to personalize it as much as possible. Use the customer’s name and mention something about their order. You could also include a coupon or discount code for future purchases.
Whatever you do, make sure that your thank you notes are handwritten – this will set your shop apart.
You may wonder how you can write thank you notes to customers when you are still searching for that elusive first sale? Consider adding these thank you notes as part of your after-sales service in your product description.
18. Be Clear About Shipping Policies And Pricing
Have you felt frustrated when you placed orders for items and suddenly surprise charges appeared at the end when you are making payment? It has happened to most people.
Please DO NOT do this to your customers.
When it comes to pricing your items on Etsy, you must be clear about your shipping policies and pricing. If you want to know how to get more sales on Etsy, having clear policies is one way.
You do not want customers to be surprised by additional charges after they have made a purchase or at the checkout counter.
Make sure that the cost of shipping is included in the price of the item, and clearly state any extra fees that may apply in your product descriptions.
For example: if you are shipping outside of your country, customers should know that they may be charged extra fees by customs.
The old trick of hiding costs and slipping them in was from the previous century. Nobody will accept this now so please be upfront.
19. Be Friendly And Professional
It is important to make a good impression on potential buyers. One way to do this is by being friendly and professional in your shop descriptions, titles, and conversations with buyers.
Make sure that all of your content is well-written and error-free. Typos can make you look unprofessional, and no one wants to do business with someone who cannot even spell correctly.
Be sure to also be humble, polite, and respectful in your conversations with buyers.
Autumn 