Tips for How to Get More Sales On Etsy

If you want to increase your Etsy sales, you've come to the right place. Whether you're just starting out or you're an established seller wanting to grow your business, boosting Etsy sales requires a strategic approach.

From optimizing your shop's appearance to engaging with your customers, there are numerous tactics you can employ to attract more buyers and turn them into loyal customers.

Want to know more? Great! Stick with us as we reveal our top tips for increasing sales on Etsy!

Hone Your Branding

Brand aesthetics play a crucial role in securing those all-important Etsy sales. Consistent, polished branding can massively influence how potential customers perceive and engage with your products, setting you apart in a very crowded marketplace.

Ultimately, on Etsy, where creativity thrives, a strong brand aesthetic serves as a visual ambassador, conveying the quality and uniqueness of your offerings to a global audience.

Remember: a well-crafted brand aesthetic encompasses elements such as logo design, color schemes, photography style, and the overall presentation of your Etsy shop.

With that said, here are some tips for establishing an effective brand visual:

• Stick to a simple color palette (three shades maximum), and don't deviate from it. These colors should appear in your logo, packaging slips, social posts, etc.
• Pick a font (or combination of fonts), and again, stick to it across your logo, product packaging, marketing materials, website, etc. Ensure your font is easy for customers to read and reflects your brand persona.
• Develop a unique product photography style. Whether that's through specific props, backgrounds, or photo editing techniques, find a style that sets your photos apart and makes them instantly recognizable.

As we've touched upon, consistency is key to building a cohesive and memorable brand that:

• Enhances the appeal of individual listings
• Contributes to a professional brand image that attracts and retains customers

So, on the face it, this might seem like a lot of work to begin with, but it will be worth it in the end!

Design an Eye-Catching Etsy Shop Banner

Now that you have a few guidelines for your brand's visuals let's turn our attention to your Etsy shop banner. This is one of the first things potential customers see when they visit your store. 

So, make it count by ensuring it's visually appealing and reflects your brand's identity. It needs to convey what your shop is about at a glance.

Remember: Use high-quality images, typography, and a color palette that aligns with your brand's overarching aesthetic.  

However, avoid overcrowding your banner with too much text or too many images. A clean, focused design ensures your message is clear and the visual elements don’t overwhelm the viewer.

Use Keywords Strategically

For the uninitiated, a keyword is a specific word or phrase potential customers use when searching for products on Etsy.

Strategically inserting keywords throughout your Etsy shop plays a crucial role in improving your shop's visibility. They help search engines like Google and Etsy's algorithms understand what your shop and products are about, making it easier for them to match potential customers with your product listings.

That's why it's imperative to pepper them throughout your product listings in a way that reads naturally. After all, you could have the best products in the world, but if no one finds your Etsy store, you won't make any sales!

With that said, it would be wise to include keywords in your:

• Product titles
• Product descriptions
• About section
• Tags
• Shop announcement

...and so on.

However, you'll need to conduct keyword research to pinpoint the keywords your audience is actually searching for.

Here are a few pointers to help you with that:

• Understand your target audience: Start by identifying the terms and phrases your ideal customers use when searching for products similar to yours. Consider their language, preferences, and the specific features they might be looking for.
• Leverage Etsy’s search bar to pinpoint keywords previous shoppers have used: Type relevant terms related to your products into Etsy’s search bar and observe the autocomplete suggestions. These are based on popular searches and provide invaluable insight into what buyers are looking for.
• Analyze your competitors: Look at high-ranking shops selling similar products to you and note the keywords they're using in their product titles, descriptions, and tags.
• Use keyword tools: Utilize keyword tools geared towards Etsy searches, such as eRank or Marmalead, to source data on search volume, competition, and keyword variations.
• Check Etsy trends and insights: Etsy occasionally publishes trend reports and insights highlighting popular search terms and emerging trends. Use these resources to stay updated on what’s trending in your niche.
• Review your shop’s analytics: Etsy’s Shop Manager provides analytics on search terms that have already driven traffic to your shop. Review these to understand which keywords perform well and refine your strategy accordingly.

Write an Engaging "About" Section

Your shop description/about section is your chance to communicate your brand story, connect with your audience, and pique their interest in what you're offering.

Here are a few tips for achieving precisely that:

• Communicate your brand's origin story. Share the background of how your shop came to be. Personal stories about your business's journey, inspiration, and the passion behind your products create a narrative that customers can connect with.
• Clearly explain what makes your products special. Let customers know what sets your shop apart, whether it’s unique materials, handmade craftsmanship, custom designs, etc.
• Feel free to brag about your expertise. Mention any relevant skills, experiences, qualifications, or certifications that contribute to the quality and authenticity of your products. This builds trust and reassures customers.
• Provide behind-the-scenes insights with a video or photos of your studio, workshop, creative process, etc.
• Naturally incorporate keywords relevant to your niche to improve your shop's searchability.
• Include up-to-date links to your business's social media pages.

Include a Shop Announcement

Adding an announcement to your Etsy shop has several benefits. Not least, a welcoming announcement sets a positive tone for your customer's experience with your store, making them feel valued and appreciated from the start.

In addition, your shop announcement is also the ideal spot to keep customers informed about important updates that could influence their purchasing decisions. Use it to share changes in processing times, introduce new product launches, highlight upcoming sales and promotions, offer coupon codes, or notify customers of temporary closures. By keeping your announcement current and engaging, you ensure your shoppers are always in the loop and more likely to take action on your latest offers and updates.

Alternatively, you could use your shop announcement to highlight your policies—especially those that might appeal to shoppers, such as free or quick shipping, generous return policies, or product customization options.

Finally, we encourage you to incorporate a call to action into your announcement. For example, you could invite customers to follow your shop for updates, sign up for your newsletter to receive exclusive offers, or connect with you on social media. These actions not only increase engagement but also help build a loyal customer base that’s more likely to return and make repeat purchases.

Use High-Quality Photos to Inspire Purchases

Photos are perhaps the most critical element of your Etsy listings. In fact, Product photos are considered even more important than shipping costs, customer reviews, or the price of the item when it comes to influencing Etsy shoppers to make a purchase.

So, it will be no surprise that high-quality, professional-looking photography can make or break a sale.

Customers often associate top-tier product photos with high-quality products, so producing best-in-class product photography should be high on your priorities list. 

When taking your own snaps, ensure your photos are:

• High-resolution: Use a high-quality camera or smartphone to capture clear, detailed images.
• Well-lit: Shoot in natural light or use diffused lighting to avoid harsh shadows.
• Uncluttered: Keep the background simple and free of distractions to keep the focus on your product.
• Accurate: Capture images that accurately represent your product's true colors and textures to set realistic customer expectations.

Pro Tip: It's wise to include close-ups and lifestyle shots to give customers a clearer idea of product quality and how they might use the item in their everyday lives.

Use Video to Pique Customer Interest

In addition to high-quality product photography, consider incorporating a video into your listing. This can work wonders for enhancing transparency, building buyer trust, and providing additional details about your product that photos alone may not convey. For example, your product video might better showcase the item's texture, color variations, detailing, how it moves, etc.

But, most importantly, consumers want to see product videos! As many as 82% of shoppers have purchased a product or service after watching a video. So, give the people what they want and start uploading videos to your Etsy listings!

Pro Tip: Be sure to review the Etsy Help Center guidelines for uploading videos to your product listings, which were, at the time of writing:

• The video needs to be between five and 15 seconds in length.
• It shouldn't have any audio.
• The recommended resolution is at least 1080 pixels.
• You can include only one video per listing.

Hook Customers with Detailed Product Descriptions

Buyers rated product descriptions 8.5 out of 10 for influencing their purchase decisions, so it's imperative to spend time and effort writing descriptions that entice shoppers and guide them through the buying journey.

With that in mind, here's some sage advice for writing compelling product descriptions:

• Lead with the key details. To capture the buyer's attention and encourage further reading, kick things off with what customers are most interested in.
• Ensure your descriptions are comprehensive and cover all necessary details, such as materials, dimensions, colors, and intended uses.
• Incorporate storytelling into your product descriptions to help customers envision themselves using your products.
• Building on the above point, it's best to highlight benefits over features. For instance, let's say we're selling an office chair. Instead of just listing that it's made of high-density foam and breathable mesh fabric, you could say something like, "Experience all-day comfort with our office chair, designed to provide superior support and ventilation, enhancing productivity and reducing fatigue during long work sessions."
• Integrate relevant keywords into the text to enhance your SEO performance. Remember, this needs to read naturally; don't stuff keywords into your product description for the sake of it!
• Improve readability by avoiding large blocks of text. Where possible, break information into bullet points or smaller paragraphs.

Offer Competitive Pricing

You need to price your products competitively to stand any hope of increasing your Etsy sales.

When it comes to pricing your products, needless to say, you don't pluck figures out of thin air. Instead, research similar items on Etsy to gauge the going market rate.

Pay careful attention to why some products are more expensive than others. For example, do they offer customization? Are the materials higher quality? Are they offering something unique?

With this price range in mind, then consider the following:

• Your costs (materials, shipping, Etsy fees, packaging, and so on)
• The time spent creating the product
• The profit you wish to generate

Armed with this information, you should get a more realistic perspective of what you should charge for your products.

That said, as you go about pinpointing your product prices, here are a few other strategies to keep in mind:

• Detail benefits: As mentioned above, ensure your product descriptions emphasize the product's value and benefits - this can go a long way toward justifying a higher price.
• Product bundles: Offer sets or product bundles at a slightly discounted rate to increase the perceived value and encourage larger purchases
• Custom orders: For personalized or custom products, set higher prices that reflect the added value and customization.
• Promotions: Offer introductory prices or limited-time discounts to attract buyers and generate interest.

Win and Retain Customers with a First-class Shopping Experience

A staggering 86% of buyers will pay more for a great customer experience! So, if you're not already, this is your sign to start putting more thought into your customer service strategy. To help you with this, here are some pointers to steer you in the right direction:

• Offer fast and friendly communication: Responding to customer inquiries quickly and courteously can lead to positive reviews and repeat business.
• Go above and beyond: Yes, this sounds cliche, but bear with us. Going the extra mile to put a smile on your customer's face will set you apart from your competitors. For instance, include surprise extras like a small freebie, product sample, or discount coupon in your orders.
• Use high-quality, attractive packaging that enhances the unboxing experience: For instance, add a branded touch to your packaging or use special packaging for occasions like birthdays or holidays.

Earn Etsy’s Star Seller Badge 

Building on everything above, offering customers the best possible experience will stand you in good stead to gain its star seller badge.

As Etsy puts it, “The Star Seller badge is our way of recognizing sellers with a proven record of providing a great customer experience.”

So, how do you get this badge?

In short, you'll need to:

• Reply to customer messages within 24 hours
• Ship orders on time with a tracking label or Etsy shipping label
• Earn an average customer rating of at least 4.8 out of five
• Generate $300+ worth of sales with at least five orders

As you might imagine, there are several benefits to becoming an Etsy Star seller, these include:

• Boosted rankings: Star Sellers are often featured more prominently in search results, resulting in increased visibility and potentially higher traffic to your shop, which, in turn, should equate to more sales.
• Enhanced customer trust: The Star Seller badge signals to customers that you're a reliable seller, which works wonders for building trust with prospective customers, allowing them to feel more confident in purchasing from you
• Competitive edge: Becoming a star seller differentiates your Etsy shop from competitors, potentially increasing your chances of making a sale.

Overcome Customer Objections with an FAQs Section

Add an FAQs section to your Etsy shop to give customers all the information they need upfront. Not only is this a great opportunity to naturally incorporate some keywords for SEO purposes, but it also gives you a chance to tackle potential customer objections that might deter a shopper from making a purchase.

By preemptively addressing common concerns, you can build trust and reduce friction in the purchasing process, which could ultimately lead to an increase in sales.

Creating a Comprehensive FAQ Section

Identify your most frequently asked customer questions. These might range from inquiries about shipping times, product care, and customization options to concerns about return policies and payment methods.

By answering these questions in your FAQ section, you provide clarity and save yourself time repeatedly answering the same questions - win-win!

If you need help figuring out where to start with compiling your own FAQs, scour other Etsy shops in your niche. This should give you a good sense of what people want to know before they commit their hard-earned cash on a purchase.

Crafting Clear and Concise Answers

When writing the answers to your FAQs, be clear and concise. Avoid jargon or overly technical language. This might confuse shoppers, so opt for simple, straightforward language instead.

Where applicable, include visual aids like images or short videos to enhance your explanations.

Addressing Shipping and Handling Concerns

One of the most frequent areas of concern for online shoppers is shipping. Be sure to address questions about shipping costs, delivery times, and tracking information. If you offer international shipping, include details on customs fees and delivery times to avoid any nasty surprises.

Handling Custom Orders and Personalization

If you offer custom or personalized products, dedicate a section of your FAQ explaining the process. Detail how customers can place custom orders, the information you need from them, and any additional costs or timeframes involved.

Return and Exchange Policies

In your FAQ section, clearly outline your return and exchange policies. Specify the conditions under which you'll accept exchanges or returns, any deadlines for making a return, and how customers should initiate the process.

Updates and Improvements

Periodically review and update your FAQs based on customer feedback and changes in your business. Adjust your FAQ content accordingly if you notice recurring questions or new issues emerging. Keeping your FAQ section current ensures it remains a valuable resource for your customers.

Promote Your Etsy Shop

Boosting your Etsy shop's visibility goes beyond optimizing your listings for search engines. To stand out and attract more customers, you need to adopt a multifaceted approach.

This could include leveraging social media, engaging in influencer marketing, and running strategic paid ads.

Let's delve into these tactics and explore how they can elevate your shop’s presence.

Social Media

Social media provides ample opportunities to enhance your shop’s visibility and engagement.

Focus on creating a compelling narrative around your brand to make the most out of this resource. This can be achieved through a combination of:

• Visual storytelling: Share high-quality, eye-catching photos and videos of your products in use, stories behind their creation, sneak peeks of upcoming items, etc.
• Behind-the-scenes content: Building on the above point, social media users love behind-the-scenes content. So, give your audience a glimpse into your creative process. Whether it's how you source materials, your design process, or the day-to-day running of your shop, this transparency is great not only for boosting engagement but also for building trust and connection with your audience.
• Customer testimonials and reviews: Showcase satisfied customers and their experiences with your products. User-generated content can be incredibly persuasive, so encourage shoppers to share their own photos and tag your shop.
• Interact with your followers: Social media is a two-way street. So, respond to comments and messages promptly and engage with your follower's content as well. Building relationships and interacting with your audience fosters loyalty and encourages repeat business.
• Hashtags: Use hashtags relevant to your product and niche to increase the discoverability of your posts.

Influencer Marketing

Partnering with influencers can unlock doors to new audiences who trust their recommendations.

If you're thinking about dipping your toe into the sphere of influencer marketing, follow the steps below:

• Find the right fit: Look for influencers whose ethos, values, aesthetics, and audience align with your brand. Their followers should be people who would naturally be interested in your products. To help you find potential influencers to collaborate with, utilize influencer discovery platforms and/or search for hashtags related to your niche.
• Craft a collaboration strategy: Reach out with a clear proposal and offer to send your products in exchange for a review or feature. Be specific about what you’re hoping for—whether it’s an Instagram post, a blog review, or a YouTube video.
• Track performance: Monitor how the collaboration impacts your shop’s traffic and sales. Tools like Google Analytics and Etsy’s own dashboard can help you gauge the effectiveness of your influencer partnerships.
• Build long-term relationships: If an influencer partnership proves successful, consider developing a long-term relationship. Ongoing collaborations help maintain visibility and create a more authentic connection with their audience.

Run Paid Ads

Paid advertising can give your Etsy shop the boost it needs to cut through the noise and attract new customers. Both Etsy’s internal advertising options and external platforms can be leveraged to drive traffic and potentially increase sales. Let's take a closer look:

1. Etsy ads: Etsy offers its own ad platform which allows you to promote your listings within Etsy’s search results. You can set your own budget and choose which listings to promote. This targeted approach increases the chances that your ads are seen by shoppers who are already looking for similar products.
2. Social media ads: Utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to run targeted ads. These platforms offer robust targeting options. By this, we mean you can target specific kinds of social media users you want your ad to appear to—for example, their interests, behaviors, and even location. For your ads to be effective, craft compelling ad copy and use striking visuals to grab their attention.

Pro Tip: Start with a small budget to test the waters and see what works best. Track the success of your ad campaigns and adjust your budget and targeting as needed to optimize results.

Are You Ready to Make More Etsy Sales?

In the ever-evolving world of Etsy, standing out amidst a sea of creative talent can seem daunting. However, with the right strategies, you can elevate your shop from just another listing to a must-visit destination for eager buyers.

As we've explored, the key to skyrocketing your Etsy sales lies in a multifaceted approach. From refining your brand aesthetic to leveraging effective keywords and promoting your Etsy store, these are just a few of the many things you can do to set a solid foundation for drawing in potential customers.

Remember, increasing sales on Etsy isn’t just about attracting new customers; it’s also about creating a shopping experience that turns first-time buyers into loyal advocates.

That's all from us; we hope these tips help you secure those much-coveted Etsy sales. Don’t forget to tell us how you get on in the comments box below!