In 2017, I opened my Etsy Shop and honestly? I’ve never looked back.
Starting an Etsy shop has been such a fantastic experience. I love creating my products, interacting with customers, and running my blog alongside this business.
The best thing about my shop? All I sell are printables. Which means… I never have to ship anything!
All I do is create the printables on my computer, post them on Etsy, and watch the money come in. Super easy! So easy, in fact, almost anyone can do it.
So, today I am going to dish all the secrets about how you can easily set up your first Etsy shop too. Wanna learn how? Just keep reading!
This post may contain affiliate links where, at no additional price to you, I may receive a commission if you use them. I only recommend products I use, trust, and adore. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.
The first thing you need to do is homework.
I know, I know… homework sucks. But hear me out!
Before you dive into any venture, you need to do your research.
And I mean REALLY do your research.
Don’t worry, I’ve got some great resources (listed throughout this post) to help you where you need it.
As you read the rest of this post, jot down some notes and list out some tasks you’ll need to complete when you’re done reading.
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How much does it cost to sell on Etsy?
Great question! There is a rumor circling around that it costs a ton of money to sell items on Etsy and that is simply not true.
There is a tiny fee (updated fees can be found here) associated when you post each of your items. This covers all of the services Etsy takes care of for you (such as some advertising, legal stuff, technical assistance, and much more).
But guess what? If you use my link here, you can post your first 40 listings for absolutely FREE! Pretty sweet, right?
Start your Etsy Shop now and post your first 40 listings for FREE!
How to Decide What to Sell on Etsy
When starting an Etsy shop, most people already have an idea of what they want to sell. However, if you are currently in the “unsure” category, here are some questions to consider to help you out.
- Do you want to sell a physical product or a digital product?
- What do you enjoy creating?
- Do you currently make something as a hobby that you think might sell?
- What are other successful Etsy shops selling that you find interesting?
- Is there a product you are currently creating for yourself to solve your own question/problem? Would others benefit from it?
Fun fact: I started my Etsy shop by selling junk journals. You can read all about junk journals and how I currently scrapbook here.
How to Open an Etsy Shop
Alright, now that you are all set with your first 40 free listings, let’s hammer out the details on what else you need to do to open up an Etsy Shop.
- Research and decide what items you want to sell on Etsy
- Complete market research by looking at other shops that sell similar items. Are they successful? What do you like about their shop? What don’t you like. Use this only as inspiration to get your creative juices going – never copy anyone else’s work.
- If you haven’t already, use this link and sign into your Etsy account to add 40 free listings to your first shop (it will just automatically be added to your account)
- Once you’re signed in on Etsy’s website, navigate to the top right and click “Sell on Etsy”
- Next, click on the “Open Your Etsy Shop” button
- Walk through the listed options and be sure to select the appropriate currency, location, and language
- Give your new Etsy Shop a name
- Create and upload a shop logo (I used canva.com to do this)
- Create and upload a shop banner
- Fill out the About and Shop Policies sections, be as thorough as possible
- Research and set up your shop financial section (taxes, your bank account information, etc.)
- Begin posting your first items!
Be sure to check out Etsy’s Beginners Guide to Selling on Etsy to learn even more about setting up your Etsy Shop!
How to Post an Item on Etsy
When starting an Etsy shop, it is important to know how to actually post an item on your shop. Let’s dive into the actual steps you’ll need to take…
- Create your product (either physically or, if you’re selling digital items, on your computer)
- Take a series of nice photos of each of your products (think: front, side, close-up, far away, lifestyle)
- Click on “Shop Manager” on the top right of your screen
- On the left-hand-side menu, click on “Listings”
- Then click on “+ Add a Listing” on the top right
- Upload your photos and choose your cover photo (this one will be featured on your shop)
- Create and upload a video (this is optional but recommended)
- Create a descriptive title (be sure to include amazing keywords!)
- Fill out all the applicable information (including price, product type, who made it, category, etc.)
- Add a REALLY good description (more tips on this later)
- If you are selling a physical item:
- Select “physical” next to TYPE
- Be sure to add all of the relevant shipping information – I recommend using Etsy’s shipping label system, they do a lot of the work for you (read more about it here)
- If you’re selling a digital item:
- Select “digital” next to TYPE
- Click on “Automatic” next to RENEWAL (so you don’t have to worry about creating this listing again)
- Enter “999” next to QUANTITY (if you want your listing to continuously renew instead of having to repeat this entire listing process over and over again…)
- Upload the digital file to the listing
Start your Etsy Shop now and post your first 40 listings for FREE!
Top Secrets for Selling Printables on Etsy
Have you thought of selling printables or digital items on Etsy? When I began starting my Etsy shop, I first was selling physical products. But I quickly switched to selling printables, it was more my cup of tea. Over the years, I have learned A TON about selling printables. Here are my top tips and secrets:
- Create a printable that answers a question or solves a problem. Think: What is a problem I often need to solve using a worksheet or paper product? What worksheets am I already creating for myself?
- Create a blog to help promote your items and show how to use your products – this will go a long way! Here is how I created my blog… Super simple – I can’t recommend it enough.
- Create different sizing options for each of your items. This gives you a much wider audience. Some common sizes include: Letter, A4, A5, Half-Letter, and Personal Size (but there are a TON more out there…)
- Offer the same listing in different colors for more variety
- Add a “Printing Guide” with each of your products
- Condense all of your printables into .zip files (the .zip files are what you will upload to each of your listings)
- Add FAQs into the listing AND into the Thank You email (include things like how to print, how to download, etc.)
- Although you won’t be shipping physical items, this time will instead be spent helping customers troubleshoot digital and computer-related issues. So be sure to set aside some time for this.
Related: The Only Blogging Class You’ll Ever Need to Help You Skyrocket Your Sales
[Update] My Number One Tip for Etsy Sellers
Some Etsy shop owners might find themselves having to give out their mailing address (for tax, marketing, legal, or other purposes).
If you find this to be true, I highly recommend you consider getting a Smart Virtual Mailbox.
This way, you never have to make your home address available to the public.
So, what is a Smart Virtual Mailbox and how does it work?
With a Smart Virtual Mailbox, you are assigned a non-PO Box physical address located at a trusted third-party facility. Once your mail arrives, it is sorted (with junk mail removed), scanned, uploaded to your online account (unopened), then forwarded to your home address.
Why a Smart Virtual Mailbox?
You’re probably thinking “I could just get a PO Box at the local post office.” And, you’re totally right.
However, a Smart Virtual Mailbox is WAY more convenient, cost-effective, safe, and professional. In fact, a Smart Virtual Mailbox has a TON of great benefits including:
- Protect yourself and your family by enjoying a mailing address unrelated to your place of residence
- Never waste time with pointless trips to the post office
- Enjoy checking your mailbox virtually from the comfort of your own home
- Save money with a cheaper mailbox alternative (depending on which option you go with)
- Never have to change your business address (even if you move to a different state)
- Never get junk mail… ever (it’s all sorted out for you)
The Best Part? You Can Try a Virtual Mailbox for FREE!
So, how do you get a Smart Virtual Mailbox? And try it for FREE?
I personally use US Global Mail. And, you know what? I’m absolutely obsessed.
I’ve been using them for a while now, and I honestly can’t believe I was wasting my time with a PO Box for so long…
Anyways, you can try US Global Mail by heading over to their sign-up website here, and be sure to use code SARAH-L5LP33UO.HO to get your first month for FREE!
Sign Up for a Smart Virtual Mailbox with US Global Mail for FREE using Code: SARAH-L5LP33UO.HO
How to Create Printable Images
Here are my top tips to creating printable item photos for your shop:
- Easily create icons for your pages by importing the PDF images into Microsoft Powerpoint. Once they are in a pattern that you like, select all of the pages, right click, and select “Save as Image”
- Stick to your own color palette for background and lettering (keep a list of 3-4 colors that set yourself apart from others!)
- After you have nice looking icons from Powerpoint, import them into Canva to create your finished product listing images
- Be sure one of your photos can be used as a nice looking “cover photo” for the product
How to Create the Perfect Item Description
Next, let’s talk about item descriptions. You really want to JAM PACK your item description with anything and everything your seller might want to know. Here are a few questions and topics you might want to consider including:
- A general description, overview, and sales pitch of the product
- Color, size, shape, format, and other descriptors that set this product apart from your other items
- Unique features that are important to highlight
- What is all included (is this a single item or a bundle of multiple items?)
- How can this item be used? Give a list of ideas
- Is this a physical product that will be sent to the buyer? If so, what and where are your shipping policies
- Is this a digital item? If so, be sure to say in multiple locations that no physical item will be sent
- Instructions on how to order
- Frequently asked questions
- Shop Policies and Terms of Use
Start your Etsy Shop now and post your first 40 listings for FREE!
Taxes and Legal Stuff
Taxes and all the legal stuff behind starting an Etsy Shop can range dramatically. They differ state-by-state, country-by-country, and how large you want your business to be. The nice thing about Etsy is they have your back for most of this. But, I am absolutely no expert. So, check out these great resources to get you started in the right direction and be sure to really do your research before opening a shop!
- Etsy Taxes 101: Understanding the Essentials
- Etsy’s Copyright Policy
- Etsy’s Legal Resources
- Etsy Sellers Handbook
Tip: Again, as a heads up, you might be asked to provide a mailing address during the legal side of setting up your Etsy shop. Feel free to use your home address. However, if you’re not comfortable with your home address being public knowledge, try out a Smart Virtual Mailbox.
Etsy Marketing 101
Marketing is a multi-faceted topic. I mean, you can get a whole college degree in marketing! But for the sake of Etsy, there are a few things you need to know.
First, once you post your listing, Etsy automatically adds it to their own search engine. If you keyword your image correctly (learn more about Etsy SEO on their page here), you could even show up on the first page of search results! In addition to having your item featured on Etsy, you can sometimes have your item show up on Google as well. Again, this is all about keywords.
You can also boost your reach by investing in Etsy Ads, or even promote your shop by creating a new Instagram or Facebook account and sharing items, tips, and more there.
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But the Real Secret to Marketing is…
However, out of all of these great marketing strategies, I have personally found the most success by creating pins on Pinterest. I know, some of you reading this might be thinking… really?! Others might know exactly what I’m talking about. But Pinterest actually brings in over 90% of my traffic and the majority of my sales… it’s insane!
How do I get such great success? My secret is using a combination of Tailwind and Canva. I use canva.com to create pins, and I use the Tailwind scheduler to add them to the Pinterest site at optimal times. SUPER easy and it has been the absolute key to my Etsy shop success. Although Canva is free to use, Tailwind is not. However it is an investment you will not regret making. Tailwind will post your pins FOR you (as many as you want per day!) and will only post them during the times that they will perform the best. It will save you HOURS each day and will make you 10-100x more than it costs. Here is a coupon to try out Tailwind for free!
Replicate my Etsy marketing success by using Tailwind! Try it for FREE today!
Top Books on Successful Etsy Strategies
To bulk up your research and really prepare you to be successful in your Etsy venture, I highly suggest you grab one (or more!) of these AMAZING books. I ripped through most of these in no time using Audible (my number one reading tip!) during my commutes.
- Starting an Etsy Business (for Dummies) by Kate Shoup and Kate Gatski: If you only grab one book, this is probably the one. It seriously covers everything you’ll need to know!
- How to Sell Your Crafts Online by Derrick Sutton: This is a great book for actually selling physical crafts on Etsy.
- Etsy-preneurship by Jason Malinak: This book is the perfect starter-guide to the business side of Etsy. A great read if you are confident about your crafts or product, but not-so-confident on the business side.
- Mind Your Business by Ilana Griffo and Page Tate & Co.: This is a great workbook-style book that walks you through the ENTIRE process of starting your business from scratch. Even includes important things you absolutely need to know for your Etsy business, such as all of that sticky legal stuff. A must read!
- Business Adventures by John Brooks: This is another great business-minded book that is full of amazing tips and lessons about running a successful business.
Related: 21 Life-Changing Books You Have to Read This Year
Final Words of Advice
Before you leave for this great adventure of starting an Etsy shop, let me leave you with some of my top tips.
- Keywords make a HUGE difference, really spend some time researching how to properly SEO your listings
- I can’t recommend this enough: Start a blog alongside your Etsy Shop. That, along with Tailwind, and you’ll be raking in the big bucks in no time. Seriously…
- Photos can make or break a sale, be sure to invest in a good camera and spend some serious time on your photos!
- For digital sellers – Don’t neglect the Thank You email (located in Settings > Info and Appearance > Message to Buyers)
- Consider running sales and giving out coupons – explore the “Marketing” section in your shop!
- Also consider running Etsy Ads
- Once your shop starts moving, consider opening up a business bank account to help you separate your finances, it is SOOOO helpful!
Further Reading
Want some more great side-hustle related tips and secrets? Check out these awesome blog posts:
- 21 Legit Side-Hustle Ideas to Start this Weekend
- The Only Blogging Class You’ll Ever Need to Take
- 10 Surprising Reasons to Start a Blog in College
- 17 Fool-Proof Blogging Tips to Bring in the Big-Bucks
You know, I could go on and on about my Etsy experiences. But if I did, this post would turn into a book. I just wanted to grab all of the most important information from my head and plot it into this blog post to help you on your way. Hopefully, you have found what you were looking for and will be starting an Etsy shop in no time! Good luck, I know you can do this!
Don’t forget to grab your FREE 40 Etsy Listings to get your shop off to a running start!
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