Selling on Etsy can be overwhelming, especially if you are a beginner.
Unlike most online marketplaces, Etsy exists for crafts workers, creators, and distributors of custom made and handmade items.
If you are having doubts about Etsy, think about the benefits you stand to get—the high traffic along with the low fees and zero monthly subscription fees.
That’s not all, you’ve got much more info to uncover in this article.
Keep reading to learn all you need to know to run a successful business on Etsy as a beginner.
To sell on Etsy as a novice:
- Understand Etsy’s Requirements
- Be Clear About Your Business Goal
- Set Up Your Etsy Store
- Design Your Concepts
- Upload Your Products
- Set up Shipping
- Link Your Store to an Ecommerce Platform
- Set Up Payment Gateways
- Promote Your Store
Shall we dig deeper?
1. Understand Etsy’s Requirements
To sell on Etsy with no prior experience, familiarize yourself with its requirements. That way, you know exactly how to play your game.
First off, understand that Etsy is a niche-based marketplace. That means you can’t sell non-hand-crafted items or items machine manufactures.
Remember, you sell self-made unique craft items from different categories—toys, clothing, bags, jewelry, etc.
Bear in mind that competition is pretty intense on Etsy. This is why you must carve out a niche for yourself and create a unique brand that stands out. Be intentional about it.
You don’t list dangerous items like drugs, knives, guns, etc. Likewise, items with prints that promote drugs, prostitution, murder, etc. should be a no go area.
Also, you are required to pay a $0.20 fee per listing and a 5% commission on each sale. However, you pay only a 3% commission if Etsy is your payment processor.
2. Be Clear About Your Business Goal
To sell on Etsy even as a novice, be clear about your business goal. You don’t want to dive into an ocean not knowing how to swim.
Decide what to sell (depending on your skillset) and whom to sell to. That way, you know exactly whom your items are most appropriate for.
Start first by identifying your target audience and build your brand around them. Key factors such as location, age, sex, religion, etc. play critical role in choosing your niche.
Know where you want to be in the next five to ten years from now. A business plan could help in this regards. A business plan helps you chart an operational path you can follow to achieve your business goal within set time.
Analyze market trends using tools like Google Trends and Ubersuggest to position yourself at the sweetest spot in the market.
3. Set Up Your Etsy Store
To trade on Etsy even as a rookie, set up your storefront where you can list your items for sale.
First things first. Go to Etsy.com/sell, click “Get Started” and create a free seller account. Once you’re done creating your account, set up your store to represent your brand.
Choose a language for your shop and set your country of residence and your preferred currency.
Pick a brand name. HOLD ON! No rushing in this. This part is critical for your business, especially as a beginner.
Here are some tips you must know when choosing a brand name: Use words that express the feeling you want your brand to evoke, and make sure the name is related to what you sell.
4. Design Your Concepts
To sell on Etsy with no prior knowledge, design your concepts.
Well, for starters, figure out what you can offer your target audience on Etsy. What are other sellers offering, can you create something better? You answer that! Dig through Etsy’s product categories to niche down and find something that interests you.
Second, find products within your skillset and design your unique concepts around them. Make sure you verify demand and competition for existing products you create and its profit potential.
Last, create product mock-ups so you can give customers a feel of what you sell. Keep your mock-ups designs unique but classy. Use every available tools to bring your designs to life, but don’t copy trends. That can be limiting.
5. Upload Your Products
To sell on Etsy as a novice, upload your products to enable customers find what you sell and make purchases.
When uploading your products, make sure you include images, videos (if any), thumbnails, titles, and descriptions. Also categorize your products so shoppers can easily find what they are looking for.
Decide on your product prices. Bear in mind factors such as market competition, and demand for the products and set a price with favorable profit margin. Don’t forget Etsy’s $0.20 listing fee per product.
Once you are done adding all your product details, hit “Publish” to go live, or hit “Save as Draft” so you can come back to it later—if you are not done yet.
One last thing, on Etsy, prices appear in your preferred currency. Keep that in view when choosing your preferred currency.
6. Set up Shipping
To sell on Etsy with no prior experience, set up a supply system so you can get items across to customers.
When it comes to shipping, you have two options: Shipping on per-product basis, or shipping on per store basis.
To set up shipping, create shipping profiles, include shipping info on your listing, and link your shipping profiles to your listings. Make sure you to include your country of origin, postal code, and processing time.
Write your shop’s business policy to give shoppers the impression that you are indeed competent.
7. Link Your Store to an Ecommerce Platform
To sell on Etsy as a beginner, link your store to an ecommerce platform. That way, you get to reach a wider audience.
If you recall, Etsy is an online marketplace for exclusive and creative items. Unlike Amazon, Shopify, etc., Etsy is niche-specific. You have access to more features and flexibility when you link your Etsy store to an ecommerce platform.
You can leverage any of these ecommerce platforms—Squarespace, Shopify, Amazon, if you want to make it big as a dropshipper.
8. Set Up Payment Gateways
To sell on Etsy with no prior know-how, set up payment gateways.
Decide how you want to get paid.
Your customers can choose from a variety of payment options such as credit and debit cards, or Apple Pay. Add your address, bank account and connect your bank account so you can receive payments.
To set up payment gateways on Etsy, click “Get paid” tab on your Etsy dashboard, click the “Sign Me Up” button to enable direct checkout.
Read the terms and conditions, and then click “Continue” to accept them. Enter the required information and click “Continue”, enter the needed information and click the “Sign Me Up” button.
Accept other forms of payment such as Personal check, money order, PayPal, etc., and click the check box to select each type of payment you want to receive. Click the “Save” button when you’re done.
9. Promote Your Store
To sell on Etsy as a beginner, promote your store to the right audience so you can increase sales.
That’s important because you have over 2 million other sellers to compete with on the Etsy space.
One of the thrilling ways to promote your items on social media. In today’s business world, you can’t do without social media.
Use email marketing to reach out to existing customers on promotions, discounts, or latest items in the marketplace. is to share your behind the scene
You can also get help from influencers.
As a beginner, don’t use all promotional techniques; rather, pick any 3 and focus your effort on those three to see results. Check your performance to see the progress so far.
Reassess your strategies for better results.
Recap
Selling on Etsy isn’t that difficult if you know what to do, especially when you are a beginner. Understand Etsy’s requirements and be clear about your business goal.
Set up your Etsy store, design your concepts and upload them on your store so customers can see and make purchases.
Configure your shipping and link your store to an ecommerce platform so you can reach a wider audience.
Finally, set up payment gateways you need and promote your business so you can drive more traffic to your store and make sales.
