Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Any Etsy sellers want to chat / share tips?

378 replies

SinkGirl · 17/03/2021 21:27

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve restarted my Etsy shop (well it has been up and running for five years, but I was pregnant when I started it then I had twins who are both disabled so I haven’t touched it in four years - I’ve just been selling digital downloads, so it’s just been ticking over with very very few sales (about 40 last year).

I’ve added lots of new items including a kit and have been trying to get back into the swing of social media as my pages had died a death. It’s hard going but feel like I’m getting somewhere (have turned over as much in the last month as I did all of last year).

I have a mammoth to-do list including taking all new photos, and restarting my shop selling finished items to run alongside my templates and kits.

I’ve been out of it for so long that I feel like I’m starting from scratch.

Would be lovely to talk to others about how they are doing, share tips on getting the best results, making listings as effective as possible, share info on things like where to order packaging and stuff like that.

Anyway, I’m here if anyone wants to chat :)

OP posts:
Thread gallery
20
ElectricMistofelees · 01/05/2021 21:53

Apologies if this has been mentioned but Etsy has an official podcast. It can be a tiny but basic but I found it a good way of learning as I could have it on in the background whilst doing other things!

SinkGirl · 02/05/2021 15:04

A lovely Mumsnetter who saw this thread ordered one of my kits yesterday and my line of duty templates (hello and thank you!), which have been spread round social media a lot this week but haven’t had many sales. Really want to get my riso prints done as they’ll be cheaper than paper cuts (biggest problem with paper cuts is they can’t be done that quickly).

Currently working on some geometric / optical illusion designs which are great fun - might get some prints done of these patterns too in bright colours :)

Any Etsy sellers want to chat / share tips?
OP posts:
Thoughtsfortheday · 03/05/2021 17:17

Well we opened our little Etsy store on Friday, 0 sales yet (to be expected) and lots of little tweaks to be made but I’m quite happy with how it’s looking considering I took all my pictures on my iPhone!

Would love if you tell me what you all think. 😊

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AllmadebyMeme?ref=search_shop_redirect

Thoughtsfortheday · 03/05/2021 17:17

p.s another big fan of Canva!!!!

doadeer · 03/05/2021 18:41

Awww @Thoughtsfortheday looks so sweet!

Maybe add care instructions to your description and information about delivery etc

You could also maybe add a photo of one packaged up?

Good luck!

Thoughtsfortheday · 03/05/2021 19:37

@doadeer Thank you, great suggestions!! 😊

treehearts · 04/05/2021 12:01

Looks great, @Thoughtsfortheday I've given you a favourite.
I'm very new, and learning as I go, but I was told having a video on an item was good? You could do a 'packaging up an order' video or a close up of the item as outside in sunshine?

JulietMadeChutney · 05/05/2021 10:34

Another question, sorry. Does anyone use the "Sections" and does it help? I don't really at the moment (only got about 40 items) but not sure if I should be?

doadeer · 05/05/2021 11:57

I've just added sections to mine, I only have 12 listings, I think it would help me it I was shopping but I don't really know 🤣

SinkGirl · 07/05/2021 08:04

Yes, I use sections for everything and very useful as your shop grows and spreads to more than one page (think I’m up to about 120 listings now). I wish it had the option for subsections though. I’m really struggling with the limitations of Etsy at the moment - eg. I well printed A4 paper cutting templates and want to offer A3 ones but can’t put them as variations on the same listing as the postage cost would be different and you can’t do that.

I would love to have the option of a download or printed copy on the same listing but can’t do that either as you can’t have physical and digital items on the same listing. Would love to be able to offer individual letters from whole alphabet on one listing but can’t do that either.

Can’t wait to have my own site!

In other news, has anyone noticed an “Etsy pick” badge on some of their listings? I’ve got one but after googling I’m no clearer as to what it actually means! It might just be that it’s my best seller?

Any Etsy sellers want to chat / share tips?
OP posts:
PickledGrrr · 07/05/2021 10:01

Interesting to see what other people are doing on Etsy.

I sell vintage, my only craft item right now is a bauble, so while it's listed I've not made any sales since Christmas!

I sell direct through my Facebook page to avoid fees. Obviously my items are unique so each thing I post is different. Then if it doesn't sell,I list it on Etsy (usually at a higher price, so there's a benefit to following my Facebook page) where it reaches a wider audience through their off-site ads, which have definitely worked for me. They are the ones where you only pay if they buy, I haven't paid for advertising.

The key I think is getting the tags right, having great pictures, using all the pictures, even if they feel like duplicates,just lots from slightly different angles, and writing full descriptions.

Completely agree that erank and canva are great. I have done a few videos and need to do more. The biggest issue I've had is they were taking lots of time to upload.

My shop is www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PickledGorilla

Re pricing, on my craft items, I costed them out, including materials and time, and priced them accordingly. I couldn't believe that they sold at that price, but they do! And on the vintage, everytime I have a wobble and start to think my prices are too high, I get a sale, so def go high and then you can always come down if you need to.

Posting, I've just set up international again. I took it all off in Jan because customs and Brexit etc. I've got a blanket of £30 for all international postage, which so far has covered me. I've paid about £25 to post something tracked to China this week. That gives me £5 to cover boxes, bubble wrap, my time for packing and printer ink for labels. The best thing about opening up international again, is if someone is motivated to pay £30 for postage, they're probably looking at the higher ticket items, which is obviously good!

Following with interest, as I really like to see what other people are doing!

SinkGirl · 07/05/2021 13:11

Does anyone have any good tips or sources of advice for social media advertising?

Before I had my twins I had a pretty decent social media following and sold most of my work through there. I’ve been trying to build it back up but it’s very slow going.

My templates / kits shop is doing well but my art shop is tumble weed basically. I know it’s expensive so buyers will be fewer and further between but I need to get in front of the right audience.

As the traditional first wedding anniversary gift is paper, I’m trying out some targeted ads on Facebook towards those married under a year with an anniversary coming up and will see whether that brings any traffic but I’m at a bit of a loss.

More than happy to spend some money on advertising but feel like I’m doing it haphazardly really.

OP posts:
SinkGirl · 07/05/2021 13:13

Oh and I’ve ordered my first ever Riso prints, some line of duty ones and a few of my maps to see how they come out. Have lots more ideas - has worked out quite pricey as I’ve only ordered in small quantities as an experiment, but if they sell I can get the price down a lot further. Going to experiment and see if I can cut some of the map prints so they’re combo paper cuts and prints which might be quite cool.

OP posts:
doadeer · 07/05/2021 16:15

For fb advertising I'd speak to Rosie at www.baobab-digital.com

She's lovely and really affordable.

I think you could target on that, I'll have a look later and see if I can see how you would do that.

I do fb ads and I get lots of traffic but one thing I'd say is as they are usually etsy guests they don't leave reviews.

I also have a target audience of those who have engaged with my brand page on fb and it's almost like retargeting.

jobsagudden · 07/05/2021 16:50

Just marking to follow up when I get a second.

SinkGirl · 07/05/2021 23:19

@doadeer

For fb advertising I'd speak to Rosie at www.baobab-digital.com

She's lovely and really affordable.

I think you could target on that, I'll have a look later and see if I can see how you would do that.

I do fb ads and I get lots of traffic but one thing I'd say is as they are usually etsy guests they don't leave reviews.

I also have a target audience of those who have engaged with my brand page on fb and it's almost like retargeting.

Thanks - will look her up. I have targeted to those groups with my current ad so will see if it’s successful!
OP posts:
soulx · 08/05/2021 18:24

.

HidingFromTheChildren · 08/05/2021 18:39

Had £70k of Etsy sales last year.

Sales are a fraction of what they were during lockdown & I think lockdown easing is to blame.

My personal best is £11.5k in 30 days.

doadeer · 08/05/2021 19:40

Wow @HidingFromTheChildren thats huge! What do you sell?

HidingFromTheChildren · 08/05/2021 19:53

I sell prints.

The best advice would be to do proper optimisation on your titles & tags.

I use the Google AdWords keyword planner tool to see the most popular search terms & make sure they're in the title.

Most of my good year on Etsy was due to lockdown to be fair but it'll probably do £40k this year with much of that in the run up to Xmas.

HidingFromTheChildren · 08/05/2021 19:57

Also etsy ads don't always bring sales.

I find that I break even on Etsy advertising so tend to have a small advertising budget & it's best to check your stats to see if it's paying off for you.

SinkGirl · 09/05/2021 14:02

What sort of prints do you sell, and do you sell the actual prints or printables?

I’ve just listed a couple of printables in my shop and waiting on my first batch of Riso prints next week. Problem is you really need to order them in volume to make them really cost effective but don’t have the confidence to order loads that may not sell! Will see how it goes.

The 30 day period on offsite ads is stiffing me a bit - my most loyal customer to date clicked through an offsite ad so I’m getting stung for 15% on every purchase they make at the moment! I don’t mind the 15% on downloads etc but it’s tricky on things like kits which cost a lot to put together.

OP posts:
treehearts · 09/05/2021 16:34

Impressive, @HidingFromTheChildren
What are your margins like? (Mine are currently dismal 😂)

SinkGirl · 09/05/2021 17:31

Heads up - on Facebook today I noticed you can now add a shop, add unlimited items and link through to Etsy / external site to complete the sale. Need to go through and add everything (looks like you can upload a CSV from Etsy or similar so going to get on that tonight).

Feeling frustrated at the moment as have so many things half done and all need to sort of come together at the same time so I have to kind of keep working on bits and it’s driving me a bit crazy.

OP posts:
SinkGirl · 13/05/2021 09:48

Oh my goodness, I had the best day yesterday!

My riso prints arrived - the first ones I’ve had done so they were a bit of an experiment. I didn’t have much faith in myself to be honest so I only ordered 10 sets of four (plus some map designs). Put them on Etsy yesterday afternoon, shared on social media and had sold six of the sets by this morning!

Now really kicking myself that I didn’t order more as it would have been much more cost effective - but have tweaked the design a bit and ordered a load more this morning.

I feel deathly today as had my COVID jab yesterday but I will definitely be focussing on designing more prints after this.

Obviously nowhere near as successful as @HidingFromTheChildren but I’m absolutely chuffed. Onwards and upwards.

My templates shop is doing well too - on track to have my best month yet. Yesterday someone’s order was delivered and within an hour they came back to order more which makes me really happy :)

Even better I put the prints in my paper cuts (well I guess now paper cuts and prints!) shop rather than my templates shop which means I’m driving more traffic to that, more people are favouriting my shop which is brilliant.

Definitely worth experimenting with something a bit different. I had some small maps printed up too but need to take better photos as it’s so dark in here. I’ve more than covered the printing costs now, and I still have lots of stock of the maps and a few more sets of the riso prints. Hooray!

Any Etsy sellers want to chat / share tips?
OP posts: