Whether you are a new seller on the Etsy platform or an existing one struggling with lack of sales, this blog post on how to get Etsy sales is for you.
As a digital marketing expert, Etsy consultant, and most importantly, an Etsy shop owner, I am sharing some secret tips and strategies that go beyond the typical advice you may have heard.
You will find 25 expert tips broken down into four categories to help you increase your sales on Etsy really fast. From crafting captivating listings to utilizing marketing strategies, you will get the guidance and advice you need to take your Etsy sales to the next level. So let’s get started!
Technical Mastery
This section focuses on mastering the technical aspects of your Etsy shop, such as keyword and competitor research, periodically listing items, and utilizing analytics data to improve your shop’s performance.
#1. Mastering Keyword Research
Keyword research is one of the most important technical aspects of optimizing your Etsy shop for sales growth.
There are a few things to keep in mind when researching and incorporating keywords into your listings and shop tags to improve your visibility and get Etsy sales.
One mistake to avoid is using short tags. These are tags that are too short and generic, which will result in your shop being included in fewer searches.
Furthermore, they also cause not match searchers’ intent in most cases which leads to a lower click-through rate (CTR) and a worse ranking in Etsy’s search results listing page.
Short tags may result in fewer visitors to your shop and lower chances of conversion, which means fewer sales and revenue.
To increase the visibility of your shop, it’s good to use relevant and specific keywords that accurately describe your products and match the search intent of potential customers.
Instead, focus on using longer and more specific keywords that accurately describe your products.
Another pitfall to watch out for is high-competition keywords. These are keywords that are frequently used by many other sellers and can be challenging to rank for.
Try to find low-competition longtail keywords (longer, more specific phrases) that are still relevant to your products and less likely to be used by as many other sellers.
Additionally, be mindful of massive editing of SEO, like changing a large number of tags for your listings all at once, as it can reset the indexing of your shop and force you to start with a neutral ranking score, which can take 1-2 months to get the new historical performance based ranking.
This can also drag the whole shop’s ranking down. I personally recommend making these changes gradually and keeping track of your shop’s performance to see the impact of any changes you make.
#2. Proven Etsy SEO Techniques
Etsy SEO is key in driving visibility and sales to your Etsy shop. By utilizing proven Etsy SEO best practices, you can improve your listings’ rankings in search results and draw more potential shoppers to your shop.
Optimizing your product titles and tags is one way to improve your SEO.
This includes using relevant keywords, keeping titles concise and to the point, and including all relevant information, such as dimensions and materials.
Further, ensure your listings have detailed and precise descriptions and high-quality images and include relevant keywords throughout the text.
Another important element of SEO is to have a helpful structure and organization in your shop. This includes creating clear and intuitive categories and using consistent naming patterns throughout your listings.
This will make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for in your shop, which will help improving your rankings.
To dig deeper into the subject visit our Etsy SEO Tips page.
#3. Consistent Product Release Strategy
Periodically listing new items in your Etsy shop is an important strategy for driving sales and growing your business. By consistently releasing new products, you can attract new customers, keep existing customers engaged (if you already have some), and keep your shop relevant in the marketplace.
One way to effectively implement this strategy is by creating a product release plan. This can include identifying key dates and holidays when your products would be in high demand, planning out new product launches in advance, and setting a schedule for releasing new products regularly.
When creating a product release plan, it’s important to keep your target audience in mind. This means identifying the types of products your customers are interested in and releasing products that align with their interests and needs.
Additionally, consider experimenting with pricing strategies, promotions, and marketing campaigns to see what resonates with your target audience.
Another important aspect to remember when listing items periodically is ensuring that your products are good quality, well-photographed, and described. This will help you achieve higher conversion and lower return rates, which can lead to more happy customers and higher Etsy sales.
#4. Impact of New and Renewed Listings
Creating new listings or renewing existing ones on Etsy can give a small, temporary boost in search results, allowing Etsy’s search algorithm to learn more about how buyers interact with the listing and determine its quality score.
This boost can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on how often people search for a particular item.
Instead of relying solely on the temporary boost from new or renewed listings, I recommend you to focus your time and efforts on improving your product, pricing, descriptions, tags and working to increase your conversion rate.
#5. Data-Driven Decisions
Tracking and analyzing your shop’s performance data is essential to getting sales on Etsy. By utilizing analytics, you can acquire practical insights into your shop’s traffic, conversion rates, and revenue, which can help you make data-driven decisions to enhance your shop’s performance.
If you are a new seller or have fewer sales, it may take time for your shop to gain traction and for analytics to provide valuable insights. In the meantime, you can concentrate on building your brand, creating high-quality products, and grinding your marketing strategies.
Key metrics to track your Etsy Shop’s performance:
- Number of visitors to your shop
- Number of views and clicks on your listings
- Number of purchases and revenue generated
- Conversion rate (percentage of visitors who make a purchase)
- Return rate (percentage of buyers who return items)
Product-Based Improvements
Improving the quality and appeal of your products is another key factor in getting sales and growing your business on Etsy.
By focusing on product-based improvements, you can increase the value of your offerings, attract new customers, and improve customer satisfaction.
#6. Streamlining Preparation for Faster Turnaround
Fulfilling orders promptly and efficiently is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction and building a positive reputation for your Etsy shop.
Streamlining your product preparation and dispatch process can help you turn orders around faster, increase your efficiency, and ultimately lead to faster turnaround times and happier customers.
#7. The Power of Free Shipping
Free shipping can be a powerful strategy to drive more sales and traffic to your Etsy shop.
Studies have shown that a majority of shoppers, 66%, expect free shipping from the seller, and 79% of shoppers think it makes them more likely to buy.
By offering free shipping, you can boost the perceived value of your products, making them more appealing to potential customers.
However, remember the cost of shipping when setting prices for your products to ensure it’s feasible for your business.
By leveraging the power of free shipping, you can give your shop a competitive edge and drive more sales on Etsy.
#8. Differentiate Your Products
Make your products better than your competitors in every feasible way.
What matters is discovering ways to differentiate your products and make them stand out from the competition.
#9. Use Videos to Boost Sales
Adding videos to your Etsy listings can significantly increase your sales, as it allows customers to see your products in a better light.
According to Wishpond, videos can increase conversion rates by as much as 86%. Make sure to keep the videos relevant and high-quality to make the most impact.
By adding videos, you can showcase your products in a creative and engaging way, helping customers make informed purchasing decisions, and ultimately having more sales.
#10. High-Quality Product Photos
High-quality product photos and SEO-optimized alt texts can significantly drive sales and visibility for your Etsy shop.
Make sure to use high-resolution photos that showcase your products from different angles and in additional use cases.
This will give potential buyers a better sense of the product and help them make an informed purchase decision.
Besides, including SEO-optimized alt texts for your images will help them to be indexed by search engines like Google, making your products more discoverable and increasing your visibility.
#11. Effectively Utilizing Promotions
Whether it’s a sale, a discount code, or a gift with a purchase, promotions can be a powerful tool to entice customers to make a purchase.
According to Statista, 93% of shoppers use a coupon or discount code throughout the year in the USA.
Setting clear goals for your promotion and targeting the right audience will lead to increased sales.
#12. Prioritizing Customer Satisfaction
Providing excellent customer service is crucial for building a successful Etsy shop.
Prioritizing customer satisfaction means going above and beyond to help your customers during every step of their buying journey. This includes:
- Promptly responding to customer inquiries.
- Providing detailed product information.
- Offering a hassle-free return or exchange policy.
By providing an exceptional customer experience, you can build trust and loyalty with your customers, which can lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.
Investing in customer satisfaction will not only increase sales but also help grow your business in the long run.
#13. The Power of Gift Wrapping
Etsy is a marketplace for individuals to shop for themselves and a popular destination for people looking for gifts for their loved ones.
Offering gift-wrapping services can be a great way to get more Etsy sales and appeal to this market.
In addition to gift wrapping, consider offering gift messaging or gift cards.
Gift cards can make the gift-giving procedure even more convenient for shoppers, as they can add a unique touch without worrying about preparing the item themselves.
Providing these possibilities is beneficial for last-minute shoppers who shop from a distance.
#14. Making Your Products Giftable
Building on the previous tip, making your listings giftable is an effective way to expand your Etsy market and increase sales.
Design your products so that they appeal to a wide range of customers, including those looking for gifts.
What you can do to make them appealing to gift seekers on Etsy are:
- Creating products that are versatile, timeless, and suitable for a variety of occasions.
- Create items ideal for birthdays, weddings, holidays, or as a thoughtful gesture.
- Create products that come in a variety of colors, sizes, or styles so they can make them more appealing as gifts.
- Offer gift-ready packaging, such as gift boxes or bags, to make your products more attractive to gift seekers.
By making your products giftable, you sure will drive more sales and grow your business on Etsy. It’s a great way to complement the previous tip of gift wrapping and messaging services to create a holistic experience for the customer.
#15. Testing Etsy Ads for High-Potential Products
Etsy Ads can be a powerful tool to drive sales and visibility for your shop, mainly if you are new to the marketplace or have had limited success with sales.
Nevertheless, it’s always good to be strategic when determining which listings to advertise.
Instead of spreading your advertising budget thin by marketing all of your listings, think about testing ads for only your highest-potential products.
Testing fewer products at a time will allow you to see which products are most successful and where your target audience is engaging.
#16. Target Low-Competition Products
Keyword research tools such as eRank, EtsyHunt, and Marmalead can help you identify low-competition products.
You can increase your visibility in search results by listing low-competition products and getting more sales.
For example, suppose you are selling “wedding invitations” and have an Etsy shop for invitations.
Instead of targeting the broad keyword “wedding invitations” (which has a high level of competition and half a million results on the Etsy Search Results Page), create a listing within the same product range that targets a niche query.
In that case, you could target a search query like “passport wedding invitations” with less competition (around 1.5k results as of January 2023) and still relevant to your shop.
However, it’s important to note that having fewer listings for a query doesn’t necessarily mean there is a lack of demand.
Utilizing the keyword research tools mentioned and knowing how to do keyword research for your Etsy shop can help you determine the demand for specific keywords and phrases.
Shop-Based Optimization
This section focuses on optimizing various aspects of your Etsy shop to have more sales.
Some tips covered in this section include knowing your competition well, making your shoppers feel intimate and welcoming, consistency in your shop’s branding and style, and getting reviews from satisfied customers.
#17. Knowing Your Competitors
It’s essential to have a good understanding of your competitors and what they offer in their shops.
Make comprehensive research on your competitors to identify their strengths and weaknesses and find ways to differentiate your products and services.
Things to look for when researching your competitors on Etsy:
- Are they offering unique features?
- Do they have better pricing?
- Do they provide a more personalized customer experience?
- Are they following trends?
- What kind of shop features are they utilizing (banners, announcements, about section, social media account, etc.)?
- Do they regularly make adjustments to their shops and listings?
You can stay up-to-date and get more sales with industry trends by keeping an eye on your competitors.
#18. Building a Connection with Customers
According to a study, 80% of consumers are more likely to buy when shop owners offer a personalized experience.
Creating a personalized and welcoming shopping experience can help build a connection with customers and encourage them to return to your shop.
You can do this through small gestures such as offering a personalized thank you note or a small surprise with their purchase.
Making customers feel special and appreciated makes them more likely to share your products with friends, family, and their audience organically, leading to more sales.
Personalizing the shopping experience can also help set you apart from competitors and create a memorable impression with customers.
Here is a real example I found on Twitter:
#19. Multichannel Promotion
Promote your shop on various channels utilizing social media, influencer marketing, and reaching out to bloggers and media outlets.
One strategy is to search for “best [product] for [purpose]” blog posts and reach out to the author, suggesting that your product is better than the listed options and requesting that they consider adding your product to the list.
Here is an example:
This will definitely increase your visibility and credibility, leading to more traffic and sales to your shop.
#20. Consistency is Key to Achieving Success on Etsy
According to statistics, 92% of people don’t achieve their goals, but those who do have one thing in common: consistency.
Be consistent in improving your Etsy shop, from crafting captivating listings to utilizing marketing strategies and providing excellent customer service.
It’s important to remember that building a successful business on Etsy takes time and effort, and it’s essential to keep going.
By staying consistent in your efforts and not giving up, you increase your chances of getting more sales and reaching your goals on Etsy.
#21. Harnessing the Power of Positive Reviews
Acquiring customer reviews is a powerful way to grow your sales. Positive reviews can serve as social proof and help demonstrate credibility for your Etsy shop.
While having reviews may be difficult if you are new to the marketplace, keep this in mind and start thinking about methods to get reviews for your future sales.
Some ideas for getting reviews quickly on Etsy are:
- Send a follow-up email to buyers after a purchase, asking if they are satisfied with their purchase and if they would be willing to leave a review.
- Include a small note or card with your products, asking customers to leave a review.
- Respond to reviews, whether positive or negative, promptly and professionally.
By actively seeking out reviews and making it easy for customers to leave them, you can harness the power of positive reviews and boost your sales.
Emerging Verticals
Etsy is constantly evolving and new trends and product categories are emerging all the time.
To stay ahead of the curve, it’s important to keep an eye on emerging verticals and consider how they might apply to your own business.
#22. Differentiating Your Business with Unique Products
Creating unique and original products is something you have to consider to stand out in the crowded Etsy marketplace.
While it’s helpful to be inspired by the work of others, it’s necessary to avoid simply mimicking other products.
Instead, seek to create something unique that will set your Etsy shop apart from the competition.
Some ideas for you to create original products:
- Experiment with unexplored materials or methods.
- Create a unique product line or niche.
- Integrate technology to deliver different kinds of products as a substitution for current ones listed by your competition.
- Create a bundle of items that complete each other.
- Create a product that can be used in numerous ways.
By differentiating your business with original and creative products, you can attract more customers and get more sales.
#23. Be Active in the Etsy Community
Being active in the Etsy community is a great way to promote your products and build relationships with other sellers.
Participating in forums, joining teams, and offering to help others with their pain points through your products are good things for you to start with.
So, be active, participate, share your knowledge and help others with their pain points, and you will see a positive impact on your sales.
#24. Utilizing the Explore Feature
Etsy’s Explore feature is an excellent opportunity for sellers to create and upload video posts that will be featured on the Etsy shopping app.
These videos can showcase the creation process, real-world use of your products, the story behind your Etsy shop, and more.
Create engaging and relevant videos to inspire shoppers and help them make educated purchasing decisions.
Additionally, sellers can monitor the performance of their posts through metrics such as total reach, total likes, revenue generated, and listing & shop visits.
To get the most out of the Explore feature, Etsy suggests uploading at least two videos weekly and ensuring the videos follow the guidelines for creating and updating content.
#25. Partnering with Other Sellers on Etsy
Partnering with other Etsy sellers is an effective strategy for expanding your business and reaching new audiences.
Cross-promoting each other’s products and hosting giveaways or contests together are all good ideas.
Moreover, working with other sellers can help you build relationships and network with other professionals in your industry, which can benefit your business.
Partnering up can be mutually beneficial, so don’t hesitate to contact other sellers and suggest working together.
