Common Etsy Seller Mistakes to Avoid

Etsy is one of the most popular and lucrative platforms for sellers all over the world. While it may seem simple to showcase and sell your items on Etsy, the actual process is easier said than done. Although it’s a great portal to sell everything from craft supplies and vintage items to handmade products, the initial days can feel daunting and overwhelming. It is only through careful planning and a sensible approach towards business development that you can build your Etsy shop. Read on to find out about some of the common mistakes made by Etsy sellers, so that you can be careful to not make them with your own store.

Mistakes to Watch Out For

1. Your photos are the first things the customers will notice. So, you absolutely need to make sure that they’re not subpar. Try clicking the photos in natural light, while keeping the background and the props minimalistic. This way neither will you be overcrowding your photos nor confusing the buyers as to what the actual product is. Editing is important, too, but not in an excessive manner. See to it that the brightness and contrast complement each other, and the white balance is up to the mark. You can either hire a professional photographer or invest in a DSLR camera, or use a point-and-shoot camera with at least 10 megapixels and a macrosetting. Crisp, detailed images can be pure gamechangers as far as the image of your store is concerned.
2. After the photos, the second-most important thing is the description. When someone lands on your Etsy page, they’ll check the description of your product to find out more about its features. Don’t waste this space. Try to give as much detail as possible, including the colour, size, material, etc. Tell them how your product is unique and will add value to their lives. Having incomplete and bizarre descriptions can make a customer feel iffy about going ahead with the purchase. Be descriptive, innovative, and accurate.
3. The power of social media is evident in today’s age in almost every section of our lives. Hence, it’s only wise to employ this tool as a marketing technique for your Etsy shop. Attempt to promote your store using social media as much as you can. Etsy allows sellers to link their stores to Facebook and Twitter along with pinning them to their personal Pinterest feeds. Promote your store as much as possible using social media channels, and soon your products will become a brand in themselves.
4. Using the right keywords is the easiest way of attracting people to your business these days. When you give your product keywords and a title, do so from the perspective of a potential buyer. Brainstorm as to what they might search for, look up relevant keywords on Etsy, and use the ones closest to your product while also keeping the ongoing trends in mind. It’s best to be as direct as possible with your titles and keywords, and avoid fluff at all costs in this regard, or else your products won’t be easy to discover.
5. It’s tough to have a bunch of items available from the very first day. It’s surely important to list out the best products, but you should also see to it that your page doesn’t appear empty. Devote time towards creating a substantial listing so that customers don’t give a pass to your page in favour of one that looks more trustworthy. Having a consistent product offering is crucial to building your brand. Source enough inventory so that your shop doesn’t come across as empty.

Conclusion

It’s easy to get disheartened if you feel your shop isn’t doing well from day on. However, you shouldn’t allow this to discourage you. Helping your brand grow requires time, patience, and diligence. There are skills you cultivate gradually, and once you see your store taking the shape you’d envisioned, the sense of gratification is worth the wait. So, be careful about not making the mistakes listed above, and you’ll be good to go.