Master Your Etsy Listings: Boost Sales with These Proven Tips and Strategies

Maximize your sales with our ultimate guide to Etsy listings. Learn how to post on Etsy and optimize your listings to boost visibility and revenue.

Are you an artist, crafter, or vintage collector looking to turn your passion into profit? With 96 million buyers, Etsy is an excellent platform to showcase and sell your creations. In fact, in 2021, the marketplace generated over $13.5 billion in sales, with 81% of sellers being women and 97% of businesses being small businesses. However, the marketplace is highly competitive, when competing against 7.5 million active sellers you need to learn how to post on Etsy. Creating an effective Etsy listing can be a challenging task that requires attention to detail and strategy.

In this article guide, we will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to create a successful Etsy listing, as well as tips and tricks for optimizing your listings to increase visibility and sales. Whether you are new to Etsy or a seasoned seller, this guide will help you make the most out of your Etsy experience.

How to create a listing on Etsy?

Are you ready to become the next big Etsy sensation? Well, first things first, you’ll need to sign up for a seller account and log in. Don’t worry, it’s a piece of cake and won’t take long at all!

Once you’re in, it’s time to let your creativity shine.

• Navigate to the “Shop Manager” section on Etsy.com or tap “More” on the Sell on Etsy app.
• Then, head on over to the “Listings” section and if you’re a new seller, make sure to select “Your Shop.”
• Now, it’s time to add that first listing and take your Etsy shop to new heights! Simply click “Add a Listing” or tap the cheerful little plus (+) icon on the Sell on Etsy app.

Sit back, grab a cup of coffee (or tea, we don’t judge), and let the easy-to-follow process guide you through creating a listing that will have your customers singing your praises. You’ve got this, Etsy superstar!

Step 1: Add images

Ready to take your Etsy listing to the next level? You’ll need to add some photos that will make your customers go “Wow, I need this in my life!”

Here’s the lowdown on adding images to your listing:

• You can only use JPG, PNG, or GIF files (sorry, no transparent PNGs or animated GIFs allowed)
• Etsy recommends an image size of 2000 pixels for the shortest side and a resolution of 72 pixels per inch.
• Make sure your file size is under 1 MB or it might not upload properly (we don’t want any technical hiccups now, do we?)

And don’t forget about your shop icon, profile photo, team logo, order receipt banner, mini shop banner, big shop banner, carousel banner, and collage banner! Etsy has recommendations for each, so make sure you follow them.

But the real star of the show is the thumbnail image. This is the first thing potential customers will see, so you want to make sure it’s clear and eye-catching. A few tips to keep in mind:

• Crop using Etsy’s photo cropping tool so the framing is just right
• Take photos from a little farther away so you can crop without losing any important details
• Use the landscape orientation and the 4:3 aspect ratio

And that’s not all! You can even add a video to your listing to show off your products in action. Just click “Add a video” on the Edit Listing page, upload a video with a minimum resolution of 1080 pixels and a length between 5 to 15 seconds, and voila! You’re now a video-making pro.

Step 2: Add the listing’s title.

The second step in creating a killer Etsy listing is, of course, the title! The title should be a captivating work of art, like a headline from a tabloid paper. Just remember, you only have 140 characters to work with, so make every word count.

Here are the rules of the title game:

• A maximum of 140 characters is allowed (short and sweet!)
• Use symbols sparingly, with only one %, :, and & allowed per title.
• And, sorry folks, no $, ^, or ` allowed.
• Keep ALL CAPS to a minimum, with no more than three words in capital letters. Etsy recommends only capitalizing the first letter of each word.

Now, let’s talk about what makes a great title for your lists on Etsy:

• Use descriptive and keyword-rich words that will help shoppers find your item in their search results.
• Make sure to include the essential details, like material and color, so shoppers know exactly what they’re getting. For example, “Black Iphone back cover.”
• Keep it simple, folks! Avoid lengthy titles that are difficult to understand.
• Grammar and punctuation are your friends! They make your titles easier to read.

Step 3: Describe your listing

The next step is very important for your lists on Etsy. The listing description is your chance to win over shoppers with your fantastic item descriptions and make them want to hit the “add to cart” button.

First things first, make sure to choose the right item type – physical or digital. Then, it’s time to get creative and show off your products in the best light possible.

Here’s what you need to know when writing descriptions for listings on Etsy:

Put the important stuff up front.

Think of your description as a movie trailer. You want to hook the audience with the most exciting parts right away. Plus, Etsy’s algorithm likes descriptions that pack a punch in the first 300 characters, so make them count!

Make it easy on the eyes.

No one wants to read a novel-length description, so break up your text into short paragraphs and bullet points. Not only will it make your description more digestible, but it’ll also make sure your message gets across loud and clear.

Sprinkle those keywords.

Think of your keywords as fairy dust – sprinkle them generously! They’ll make your listing shine brighter in searches and attract the right shoppers.

Stay on brand.

Your listing description is an opportunity to show off your unique brand voice and connect with shoppers. Make sure your descriptions sound like they’re coming from the same person each time.

Proofread, proofread, proofread.

No one likes a typo-filled description, so make sure to double-check your work before hitting the publish button. Your shop deserves to look professional and put together.

And, if you’re feeling extra fancy, you can add some optional details like tags, custom orders, and production partners. Just remember, production partners, are individuals or businesses that help produce your goods, not your employees or vendors.

Finally, don’t forget to add attributes to your listings! They’ll give buyers a clear picture of what they’re getting and make it easier for them to find your products in searches. It’s a win-win situation!

Step 4: Pricing and Inventory: The Deciding Factors!

Ready to start selling on Etsy? Great! But before you get started, you need to make sure you have your pricing and inventory in order. After all, nobody wants to sell a product for less than it’s worth, or run out of stock in the middle of a busy season.

Here’s what you need to know about pricing and inventory on Etsy:

1. Set Your Prices: Make sure you’re charging a fair price for your products. Consider the cost of materials, labor, and any other expenses you might have when setting your prices. And don’t forget to factor in taxes!
2. Quantity Matters: Don’t run out of stock! Make sure you have enough inventory to meet demand. Keep an eye on your sales and adjust your inventory levels as needed.
3. Add Variations: If your product comes in different sizes, colors, or other options, be sure to add those as variations in your listing. This way, shoppers can select the options they want and see the correct price and availability.
4. Make it Easy: Adding SKUs, variations, and personalization options to your listings can be a bit of a headache, but it’s worth it in the long run. By making it easy for shoppers to find exactly what they’re looking for, you’ll increase your chances of making a sale.
5. Check and Double Check: Finally, be sure to double-check your pricing and inventory before you hit the “publish” button. You don’t want to sell a product for $10 when it’s really worth $100 (or vice versa!).

With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to price and stock your products like a pro!

Step 5: Set up shipping

The next step in creating your Etsy shop is to set up your shipping options. And let’s face it, without shipping options, you’ll just be selling dreams and good intentions.

Here’s how to create shipping profiles that are as amazing as your products:

1. Select Shop Manager on Etsy’s homepage, and choose Settings.
2. Go to Shipping settings, and then select Shipping profiles.
3. Fill out the necessary shipping information and get ready to be a world traveler, because this is where you’ll set different international and domestic handling fees.
4. If you’re feeling generous, include shipping upgrades for those customers who want their products to arrive faster than a superhero.
5. Make sure to include the size and weight of the item, because we all know size does matter.
6. Click Save, and prepare to conquer the shipping world!

Now, let’s set up shipping for new items:

1. Choose an existing profile from the list under Shipping options or get creative and click Enter custom shipping options to configure unique shipping preferences for the listing.
2. Select I’ll enter fixed prices manually under Shipping prices.
3. Fill out the fields for the origin country, postal code, and processing time.
4. Decide which nations you’ll ship to because let’s be real, some Etsy shoppers only look at items sellers can ship to their country.
5. Choose Everywhere else if you’re feeling adventurous and want to ship to all countries without exception, or choose the Add another location option to list specific countries for shipping items.
6. Make sure your rates reflect every country you ship items to, so your listings will appear in international searches and you can have customers all over the world!

And there you have it! Set up your shipping options and get ready to see your shop soar! Remember, you can save time adding shipping prices by creating different shipping profiles, offering free shipping or discounted rates to customers who purchase multiple items, and including shipping upgrades that suit your shop’s needs. Happy shipping!

Step 6: Opt for marketing

Okay, now let’s jazz it up a bit. Get Your Listing in the Spotlight!

With the power of Etsy Ads, you can ensure that your listing is front and center for shoppers. So why not give it a shot and let the world know about your amazing product?

Think of it as hiring a personal assistant to give your item the royal treatment it deserves. You’ll get to watch as your listing goes from a hidden gem to the centerpiece of the party! And the best part? All you have to do is sit back, relax, and watch the magic unfold.

Just create a listing from the Sell on Etsy app and voila! Your item will automatically be added to your very own Etsy Ads campaign. And if for some reason you change your mind, simply head over to your Advertising page and remove it from the spotlight.

Step 7: Save or Publish Your Listing

It’s time to bring your creation to life and get those sales rolling in!

First, you get to choose whether to save it as a draft or hit the publish button right away.

Preview

Take a sneak peek at how your listing will look to potential buyers by clicking Preview. However, your variations will only be visible once you hit the big green button (aka the “Publish” button).

Save as Draft

If you’re not quite ready to hit the “Publish” button yet, click “Save as Draft”, so you can upload the list on Etsy later. Just make sure you’ve filled out all the important details like the category, quantity, price, shipping costs, and listing title before saving it.

You can find all your drafts under the “Drafts” section on your Listings page. Also, you don’t have to worry about losing them, your drafts never expire. so you can take your sweet time perfecting them before listing them on Etsy.

Publish

Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for! Click “Publish” to make your listing live on Etsy. Just remember, it takes 24 hours for your listing to appear, so don’t get too excited yet.

By the way, Etsy charges a 20 cent fee for each listing and your listings will expire every four months. You can choose to renew them either automatically or manually. If you opt for automatic renewal, Etsy will simply take the fee out of your Etsy Payments account. But if there are not enough funds,, they’ll just charge your linked credit or debit card instead. And there you have it, you’re now officially an Etsy seller!

How to post on Etsy shop

Most sellers fret  about how to post on Etsy. When it comes to creating listings on Etsy, consistency is key. So here are some tips and hacks you can follow for all of your Etsy listings.

Specify product category

Categories on Etsy are like little beacons that guide shoppers to your listings. The more specific you can get with your categories, the more opportunities you have for your listings to be discovered. It’s like hitting the jackpot of online shopping!

Etsy’s listing categories start with a broad category, and then they get more and more specific. Imagine it as a funnel that narrows down to the exact item you’re looking for. By categorizing your listings down to the most specific subcategory, you increase your visibility on Etsy.

It’s like a treasure hunt, and you want to make it as easy as possible for shoppers to find the treasure (AKA your amazing products). The more specific your posts on Etsy are, the more likely it is that shoppers who are looking for products like yours will find them.

So, don’t be afraid to get granular with your categories. The more specific you are, the more opportunities you have to make your listings shine and get discovered by shoppers who are looking for exactly what you’re selling.

Use all 13 tags

If you want to know how to post on Etsy? This is it! When it comes to your listings on Etsy, tags are like little secret weapons! Each tag you add to your listing is like a golden opportunity for it to show up in a shopper’s search. Imagine all those potential customers searching for products like yours, and then BAM! Your listing appears, ready to be discovered.

You want to make the most of these opportunities, right? That’s why it’s recommended to add at least 13 tags to each of your listings. And we’re not talking just any old tags, oh no! Your tags should be descriptive phrases that sound natural and are made up of multiple words.

Think of your tags like a secret code that only the most relevant shoppers will understand. If you can imagine someone typing a phrase into Google, it’s a safe bet to include it in your tags. The more descriptive and varied your tags are, the better chance you have of attracting the right shoppers to your listing.

Describe your product, its unique qualities, and who it’s meant for. Make sure to use a mixture of tags that give a comprehensive picture of what your product is all about.

So, are you ready to unlock the power of your tags and skyrocket your Etsy sales? Get tagging!

Refresh listings

Updating your listings on a regular basis is crucial for maintaining their visibility on the Etsy platform. The platform prioritizes fresh and current listings, so it’s important to refresh your posts every so often.

Ideally, you should aim to update your listings at least once a month. This will help keep them relevant and at the top of the search results.

Don’t neglect your listings. Regular updates will keep them current and increase their chances of being seen by potential buyers. You can use product management tools such as Sellbery to manage your product listings. It will allow you to automate your listings on Etsy and refresh them easily. Make updating your listings a regular part of your routine to ensure their success on the platform.

How much does it cost to list on Etsy?

How much does it cost to list on Etsy, you ask?

First off, it’s free to sign up and create an account on Etsy. That’s right, you don’t have to pay a single penny to start your journey towards turning your hobby into a money-making venture. However, there is a small fee for listing on Etsy, which is a mere 20 cents for each item. This is the equivalent of one piece of gum, so it won’t break the bank.

Now, here’s the catch. When your item sells, Etsy takes a cut of the sale, which is anywhere from 3.5% to 5% of the item’s price. For example, if you sell a product for $20, you’ll keep about $18.50 to $19.50. Not too shabby, if you ask me!

To sum it up, the cost of listing on Etsy is 20 cents per item and a small percentage of each sale. Essentially, you only pay when you start making money. However, you should learn about Etsy hidden fees, such as transactions, ads fees, etc so you can predict your profit margins and adjust the pricing accordingly.

How to sell on Etsy successfully

Ready to take your Etsy shop to the next level and make some serious dough? Then buckle up, folks, because I’ve got a few tips that are guaranteed to sell more products than a bakery on National Donut Day.

1. Free Shipping Frenzy: Who doesn’t love free stuff? Offer free shipping on your products and watch as buyers flock to your shop like seagulls to a french fry.
2. Collaborate, Don’t Compete: Teaming up with other Etsy sellers is like a high-five for your shop. Cross-promote each other’s products, host joint giveaways, and watch your sales soar.
3. Join the Club: Joining an Etsy team is like joining a secret society, but with more crafting and fewer handshakes. Connect with other sellers, share ideas, and promote each other’s products.
4. Packaging Perfection: Make your orders stand out by using unique and eye-catching packaging. Think eco-friendly materials, personal touches, and even a little surprise bonus item.
5. Loyalty is a Virtue: Reward your repeat customers with a loyalty program that’ll make them feel like royalty. Offer discounts, free gifts, and exclusive access to new products.
6. Use Etsy’s Features to Your Advantage: Etsy has all sorts of handy-dandy features, so make sure you’re using them to your advantage. Coupon codes, automatic renewals, digital products, the works!

So there you have it, folks! Use these tips to take your Etsy shop to the next level and sell more products than a Black Friday doorbuster sale. Happy selling!

How to get your Etsy shop seen

Looking to get your Etsy shop seen by more potential customers? Well, buckle up and get ready to take some notes because I’ve got a few tips and tricks to help boost your visibility on and off the platform!

Create a brand

First, consider your shop name and branding. Your shop name is the first thing that potential customers will see, so make it catchy, memorable, and descriptive of what you offer. Your branding should also be consistent across your shop, so make sure your shop banner, logo, and product images all align with your brand aesthetic.

Optimizing listing attributes

Next, pay attention to your tags and categories. Each tag you add to a product is an opportunity for it to appear in a shopper’s search, so make sure to use keywords that describe what you’re selling. Categories act like tags and adding more specific categories creates more opportunities for your listings to get found, so categorize your products down to the most specific subcategory possible. You can look at Etsy top selling items to learn how they are categorized and apply that knowledge to your listings.

It’s also important to make sure your products stand out in a sea of competition. High-quality product photos can make all the difference, so invest in some quality photography equipment or consider hiring a professional photographer. Make sure your product descriptions are clear, and concise, and highlight the unique features of your products.

Use paid and free advertising

You can use promotional tools available to market your Etsy shop. Etsy ad campaigns are great for advertising your listings on the marketplace. Furthermore, you can create a social media account for your shop and start spreading the word about your amazing products. Share your listings, interact with your followers, and don’t be afraid to add a little humor to your posts. People love a good story, so don’t be afraid to share the story behind your shop and your products. Let your personality shine through and connect with your customers on a deeper level.

Reach out to shoppers on other marketplaces

Additionally, to reach out and get your Etsy shop seen by a larger audience is to target customers on other platforms. One way to do it is by using Etsy Shopify integration. Think of it as a sports coach scouting players from other sports departments. This integration will allow you to connect with the shoppers on Shopify and market your Etsy shop.

Boost your seller rating 

Engage with your customers and build relationships with them. Respond to their messages and feedback promptly and be friendly and professional. By creating a positive shopping experience for your customers, you increase the chances of them becoming repeat buyers and even leaving positive reviews. This will boost your rating on the platform and increase the chances of your Etsy shop being seen.

In conclusion, getting your Etsy shop seen is all about paying attention to the details and putting your best foot forward. Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to boosting your visibility and increasing sales on the platform!

Etsy listing Optimization tools

Are you ready to take your Etsy listings from drab to fab? Then you need to arm yourself with the right tools! Think of these Etsy listing optimization tools as your own personal superhero squad, ready to help you boost your visibility and conquer the marketplace.

Here are some of the popular Etsy listing optimization tools.

EtsyHunt: First up, we have the Keyword Research Tool. This tool is like having a sidekick who’s a master of mind-reading. It’ll tell you exactly which keywords to include in your listings to help them rank higher in search results. Combine it with the other Etsy SEO tips and you’ll be able to successfully increase your sales.

Sellbery: Next, we have the inventory management tool. Sellbery is a product management tool that can be used as a personal stylist for your listings. You can automate your listings and bulk list products using it. It will allow you to make accurate and eye-catching listings that are enticing to potential buyers. Additionally, Sellbey can be the secret weapon for listings for SEO optimization. It’ll help you climb the search engine rankings and attract even more traffic to your shop.

Adobe Photoshop: Photo Editing Tools are like having a fairy godmother who can turn your average photos into stunning, professional-looking snaps. They’ll make your listings stand out and increase conversions.

Putler: Last but not least, we have an Analytics and Reporting Tool. Putler is like having a crystal ball that gives you a glimpse into the future of your listings. It shows you how they’re performing and helps you make data-driven decisions to optimize them even further.

So, go forth and assemble your superhero squad! With these Etsy listing optimization tools at your disposal, you’ll be unstoppable.

So how to list on Etsy

In conclusion, creating and optimizing Etsy listings is a crucial part of building a successful Etsy business. With so many active sellers and buyers on the platform, it’s essential to make sure your listings stand out from the competition. By following the step-by-step instructions and tips provided in this guide, you’ll be able to create compelling listings that catch the attention of potential buyers and help you increase your visibility and sales on Etsy.

Remember that creating an effective Etsy listing takes time and effort, but it can be a rewarding experience. With Sellbery you can turn your passion for crafting, art, or vintage finds into a profitable business. With over 80 million active buyers, Etsy provides a great opportunity to reach a wide audience and build a loyal customer base. So go ahead and put your new knowledge into practice, create some amazing listings, and watch your Etsy business thrive!