Handmade Success

Are you toying ideas on how to start selling crafts online? 

Then, you are on the path to turning your passions into a profitable business. 

Even if you do not intend to create crafts fulltime. Then, to run it as a profitable hobby, you must be selling crafts that make the most money. Else you will end up losing out on money and time. 

Though making the crafts that are in demand is one portion of solving the maze. The other is to build your business on strong fundamentals. There is more to posting all your creations on Etsy and waiting for the sales to happen. 

If you wish to create a successful e-commerce business selling handmade crafts. Then, you can read further to know how. 

Know How to Make Money by Selling Crafts Online Easily

1.     Know Your Niche

This is the most important aspect of selling crafts. If you do not know your niche, you cannot scale up your handmade business. 

That is the key reason I stress about it in my handmade business planner. 

Though no matter how much one lays stress on niching down. It does get difficult to define your niche. I get that because I still struggle with it. 

That is why in my business plan worksheet, the first activity is about defining the business. 

Till you do not get crystal clear on who you serve. There will not be much you can do about setting up a craft business. 

A simple exercise that helps to niche down is – to think about one specific person you can serve for a lifetime. 

2.     Invest in Branding

Nobody buys a me-too product. If the packaging, labeling, and the perception of your product do not signify an emotion. Then, chances are that it will not sell much. That is the reason successful handmade brands narrate a story.

If you have identified a niche for your business. Then, branding becomes much easier.

That means if you identify yourself as a natural hair care brand. Then, you should use all nature-based ingredients in your products. Plus, your packaging and labeling should create minimal wastage. Hence, all aspects of your business must align with each other.

3.     Learn SEO

The year is 2020 and you cannot ignore Search Engine Optimization. 

If you happen to find a drop in your Etsy sales. Then, chances are that you have not updated your tags and descriptions. Or in a worst-case scenario, you never used the right keywords in your Etsy listings. 

Taming the search algorithms to include your products in the search results is an art. The topic is wide and requires an in-depth study. But at the same time, it is simple and logical to understand. You can refer to my previous articles on SEO if you are new to the subject. 

If you are keen to know how to start selling crafts online, then understanding SEO is a must.  

4.     Click Beautiful Pictures and Helpful Videos

This one is a no brainer. But still, makers commit this grave mistake of not putting enough pictures. Or at times putting pictures that do not give a clear visual representation of the products. 

It is mandatory to put up high-quality images of the product to give a virtual tour of your shop. 

Even if you are selling crafts as a hobby, make sure you provide images of your products from all angles. This will lead to engagement in your shop. Thus, that increases the probability of a sale. 

You can enroll in a beginner’s course on product photography to take better pictures. From there you can advance to videos that document your creation and usage.

5.     Drive Traffic to Your Store

A simple equation of online sales is —-> the more the traffic, the more the likelihood of sales.

This concept is relevant in the offline brick and mortar store and craft shows as well. But in particular, for the e-commerce stores, the traffic is the backbone of the business. That is because, in the online world, the majority of the audience does not drift to a new store. Rather, they arrive at a store through an algorithm. The algorithm could be of a search engine or social media.  

That means unlike the real world, the chances of an audience discovering a new shop are rare. So, it is of utmost importance to develop a solid traffic building strategy for your store. Irrespective of whether you sell at marketplaces like Etsy or in your store, traffic is a must.

Traffic building strategies require a blog post on their own. But if you build and maintain your self hosted craft blog. Then, the entire process of scaling traffic to a handmade business becomes doable.

6.     Increase Your Inventory

Do you recall a moment when you bought the only product a shop was selling?

I don’t. I cannot even think of a shop that only sold 1 thing. Nobody in business does that. 

The same rule applies to create handmade crafts for sale.  You have to put a substantial amount of crafts up for sale. Not only the size of your inventory provides options for the customers. But the more the items, the more the chances of scaling up your SEO efforts.

There is no magic number to the number of products you should have in your online craft store. But as a rule of thumb, you should start with a minimum of 10. With time you should scale it up. 

Most of the top sellers on Etsy have more than 200 items in their shop.

7.     Retain Customers With CRM

Some rules of the offline business apply to online ones as well. One of them is retaining customers to increase brand loyalty. 

It is much easier to get your second sale from a happy customer than it is to look for several new customers. That means one should develop strong ties with first-time customers. 

To make those ties meaningful, you should know how to make your customers feel special. A well functioning Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System helps with that.

You can store their shopping preferences in a CRM to help create special products for them.

List of Stores for Selling Crafts Online

There are several options to sell crafts online. Some of them let you sell crafts online for free up to certain limits. Though some require upfront money to start. 

Irrespective of their charges, all of them are worth giving a try. I have used most of them and then settled down with Gumroad and Thrivecart. 

Below is a list of some of the popular stores to sell crafts online. Though the list can get bigger depending upon your experiences. 

1. Etsy
2. Amazon Handmade
3. Folksy
4. BigCartel
5. Ecwid
6. GumRoad
7. WooCommerce
8. Samcart
9. ThriveCart
10. Shopify
11. Paypal

Conclusion

Most of the companies are struggling to cope up with the hiccups caused due to the global pandemic.  The situation raises workspace insecurities and the further prospects seem doomed. 

Thus, this is the best time to start selling crafts from home. You can start testing your creations through family and friends. From there free craft fair events and the ones with nominal charges can be the next step.   

Once you are confident of your craft. Then, the obvious step is to sell crafts online to serve a global audience. 

If you have never sold online before. Or you have never gone beyond a few sales on Etsy. Then, this is the article you need to read to figure out how to start selling crafts online.

The article lays out the core essentials that you need to make your handmade business a success.

If there is some step left out that you think is beneficial. Then, do let us know in the comments. 

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Whether you are new to Etsy or a seasoned seller, you must be wondering why are your Etsy sales down.

Before getting into the reasons and probable solutions to the problem. Let us take cognizance of the fact that the phenomenon is common. Though there must be some exceptions. But most of the conversations about selling on Etsy forum report drop in earnings.

Much like handmade products, each Etsy shop is unique. That means the reasons for a shop not doing well could be unique too.

But if someone were to collect the generic reasons for the shops to not do well. Then, the 2 broad reasons could be:

• Changes within Etsy
• A seller not changing/updating a shop as per changing trends

If as a handmade seller, you wish to know more about the reasons and solutions for lack of sales. Then, please read further.

Know Why Are Your Etsy Sales Down

Understanding Why Are Your Etsy Sales Down

Sales as a formula functions on 2 factors –

• Traffic
• Conversion

The more the traffic and conversion rates, the more the sales. That means when you see your earnings drop. Then, either or both of the above factors dropped.

So, the solution lies in lifting both of them.

Also, as mentioned before, both Etsy and the individual shops affect these 2 factors.

So, let us concentrate on each of them one by one.

Understanding What Is Going on With Etsy?

If you make use of the Etsy’s platform to sell, then for obvious reasons, you got to abide by their rules.

That means you got to adapt to the changes within the Etsy platform.

Since its start in the year 2005, the niche e-commerce store has undergone several changes.

Though the breakthrough ones came about since the company went public in 2015.

The two such major changes that cost sellers their sales were:

• making sellers share the costs of the company’s advertising expenses
• making sellers offer free shipping

Apart from other reasons, the above 2 cause a great impact on sales.

As mentioned before, not complying with the above could affect Etsy sales. An Etsy shop owner cannot control the platform’s decision. But the seller can adjust their shop to maximize their sales. That is why it makes sense to —–>

Understanding What Is Wrong With Your Etsy Shop?

Irrespective of what changes Etsy comes up with. Every seller has a responsibility to bring sales to their shop.

The broad level changes made my Etsy do affect the sales of individual shops. But no shop should compromise on the basic parameters to bring in sales.

The mandatory basics that every Etsy should have are:

1.     A Branded Store

New visitors do not have more than a few seconds to decide whether they want to stick to your store or bounce off.

So, make sure that you capture their attention within a heartbeat.

Store’s name, cover image, profile logo, and listings should all shout your brand.

So, have a keen look at your store to know if it will excite your target audience.

2.     Listings Complying With SEO Standards

As an artist, if SEO is a new term for you. Then, consider yourself fortunate that you never had your Etsy sales down.

But if your struggle to get sales on Etsy has been far and long. Then, I am sure you know about Search Engine Optimization.

In simple terms, SEO is the art and science of bringing web pages on top of search engine results.

Though SEO as a term is universal for all sorts of platforms. But its workings differ for various platforms like Google, Etsy, Facebook, and Pinterest.

So, if you cannot find your store/ listings popping up when you search for your listed products. Then, go back and optimize your store as per Etsy SEO.

3.     A Consistent Source of Traffic

As sales come from the traffic that converts. It means that there should always be a steady flow of new traffic so that the conversions happen.

A branded search engine optimized Etsy shop is a subset of the Etsy platform. So, a change in the Etsy will affect the number of eyeballs that an Etsy shop receives.

That is why every Etsy shop must have an external source of traffic. Since that traffic source is not from Etsy, so it performs despite the changes at Etsy.

External traffic source ensures that an active shop does not lose sales no matter what.

So, what traffic hose do you turn on when your Etsy products do not sell?

How to Make Sales on Etsy?

1.     Get More Visitors

a) Pinterest

Pinterest is the surprise game-changer in the current times of blogging. Despite having a personality of social media, it works as a search engine.

Although its search results come up as media, in essence, it works on keywords. That is a saving grace as the search intent keywords are similar across search engines.

If you understand Google’s SEO. Then, getting to understand the algorithm of Pinterest becomes easier.

As a novice, you can pin relevant images with the keywords that describe your products.

b) Blog

Blogging to uplift declining sales at Etsy requires a professional approach. You need a self-hosted craft blog to tackle that.

The more you fill up your blog content with the appropriate keywords. The more are the chances that someone will land on your Etsy via your blog.

For instance, this blog is the main source of traffic for my business.

c) Instagram

Instagram is a boon for artists and creative makers. It displays images and videos much like a gallery.

Though it isn’t much link oriented. But creatives should know how to navigate Instagram to their advantage.

But associating with relevant hashtags and being consistent pays.

d) Facebook

Facebook is a big giant to control. No matter how much I learn about it, it again changes its algorithm.

This platform requires an in-depth study. But once you get it right, it pays over and above what you invest in it.

There are more don’ts than dos with Facebook.

That is why as a rule of thumb, do not post direct links to Youtube videos or links from external sources.

Instead, share what is already on Facebook related to your category. Then, wait till you have accumulated a substantial number of audiences. Then, move on to sharing content related to your business.

e) Quora

I love Quora. I got back to blogging because of this platform. Though those days you could get do-follow links from this UGC platform which is not the case today.

But still, it is brilliant to develop your authority on a subject. My first sale of a handmade business plan also came through Quora.

So, I can vouch for this platform to bring quality traffic.

2.     Create More Listings

A lot of Etsy sellers who do not get sales must start listing more products. It is one easy way to bring more traffic (not sales) to your site.

More traffic will increase the probability of sales.

Much like the offline store, lack of inventory is a sure sign to lose the interest of visitors. So, fill up your store with more variants to offer more choices. That will increase the dwell time on your store.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.

3.     Make Your Listings Attractive

The world that we live in still judges everything based on looks. That is why your product pictures must stand out.

Etsy provides a lot of image variations. Use all of them to give a pleasurable virtual tour to your audience.

You can hire a professional photographer or you can study the photography basics and get on to the job.

4.     Start Doing SEO

This is by far the most precious advice on getting more sales irrespective of whatever you sell at Etsy.

The search engine works on keywords. That means whosoever lands on your shop from google is a hot lead waiting to make a decision.

This blog of mine would not function without the right kind of keywords. Likewise, without SEO, you lose out on a major chunk of sales.

It is unfortunate that most of the Etsy sellers that I talk to complain of SEO being some techno jumbo. But the happy news is that it is easy and simple to learn.

As an artist, if you understand your customers well, then you can start with SEO in the next minute.

The tags and descriptions on Etsy listings work on SEO principles. Thus, you cannot ignore them at your peril.

5.     Start Focusing On Alternative E-commerce Platform

This advice sounds counterintuitive to the entire post. The more you limit to a single platform, the more vulnerable your business becomes.

In simple terms, you should refrain from keeping all your eggs in a single basket. Retailing at more than one platform ensures that you have multiple revenue streams.

Apart from Etsy, Amazon handmade is a wonderful alternative. Though you can always start selling from your blog.

Conclusion

Etsy is a sales platform for handmade crafts. A lot of individuals use the platform as a side hustle or to fuel their small business.

So, a drop in sales has a huge impact on the bottom line.

If you or an Etsy seller you know is struggling to make the platform work for them. Then, you can share this article with them. It would be as good as giving an Etsy seller a thoughtful present.

If you have some tips and hacks on working with Etsy. Then, would you mind sharing them?

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Are you worrying because your Etsy shop closed? Did you know what was the reason for its termination? Were you selling products related to Disney? Or did you use an image that you found on Google? 

If you have never mulled over the questions above. Then, count yourself as a fortunate one. Because in the recent past, a lot of makers had to part with their online handmade business. Most of the Etsy beginners commit mistakes as a rookie. Thus, they need to know what not to do as per Etsy’s regulations. This will help them optimize their shops so that they do not jeopardize their income source. 

Know Why Etsy Shop Closed? 

There could be many reasons because of which Etsy could shut down your shop. In their Seller Handbook, they get into the details of those reasons.  

I could summarize them as follows: 

1. Non-compliant GDPR
2. Legal/ Copyright issues due to external help. (Includes photographers, creative writers, designer, store helper)
3. Violating mature content policy through profanity/ nudity.
4. Intellectual Property Infringement.
5. Violating the European Union’s New Online Selling Regulations.
6. Not adhering to Distance Selling Regulations for EU and UK customers. 

But please note that the Seller Handbook keeps evolving. That means the reasons that could kick you out of the Etsy platform can also change. The above list is as per the time I wrote the article. You can come back to this article for updates. 

How Do I Close My Etsy Shop? 

Not all Etsy businesses get closed by Etsy. As an Etsy seller, you can also close Etsy shop by going to the Shop Manager. 

Once your Seller account closes, you can only use Etsy as a buyer. 

In case you are wondering how to close Etsy shop after several unsuccessful attempts. Then, that means you got some unresolved cases and unpaid Etsy fees. Once you resolve both, you will find the option to close the shop. 

Can You Reopen a Closed Etsy Shop? 

Either you as a Seller or the Etsy can close your shop. But in case you wish to reopen a closed Etsy shop. Then, different rules apply as per who closed the shop. 

If you closed your Etsy shop. Then, you can reopen it by going to Account Settings through a desktop browser. As of now reopening a closed Etsy shop is not possible through a mobile browser or the Etsy app. 

But if your Etsy shop suspended or got closed by Etsy itself, then the situation is tricky. 

Etsy mails such shop owners stating the issues for closure/ suspension. You can send a direct response to that mail letting them know that you resolved those issues. 

In case, you cannot get to your shop even after resolving those issues. Then, you should contact their Support. 

Etsy Shop Closed: How to Make Sales Now?

An Etsy shop can close for a lot of reasons. But the reason to reopen it is to get sales.

Etsy is a significant tool for artists to make money. Hence, it is in the interest of creative makers to have their Etsy shop up and running.

But in case Etsy does not reopen your shop. Then, instead of mulling over your loss. It is better to not incur losses of the opportunity cost of alternative options.

Some of the options you can try are:

• Open a Second Etsy Shop 

Yes, that is an option. If you had a busy Etsy business before your shop got closed. Then, you can open a second Etsy shop to replicate the same numbers as your previous one. 

But do not use the same email address as that of the previous shop. In an ideal scenario, you should even try not to use the same IP address as your previous shop. 

• Sell on Amazon Handmade 

Amazon came up with a store for Handmade items in the year 2015. Since then it is gaining popularity among the creative makers. 

Simple listing fees and the Amazon brand name benefit a handmade seller. Opening a handmade store on Amazon should be on your radar irrespective of your success on Etsy. 

• Sell Digital Printables/Downloads 

Digital art, calculators, worksheets, and planners are a boon to handmade sellers. They do not require much work after being created. Plus, they do not accrue packaging headaches. 

Creating your first digital product does require a lot of mental stress. But once you get a hang of it. You will find yourself on a creation spree. 

My digital products keep the bucks rolling amidst lockdown and other unforeseen calamities. 

• Sell Through Your Own Store 

Setting up, marketing and scaling your online store is for the experienced ones. But an independent store must be in the long term game plan of a handmade artist. 

You can control and navigate your store the way you wish to. Thus, you can relax your fears about your shop vanishing all of a sudden. Though you must adhere to the general principles of not infringing copyright laws. 

• Open Your Own Brick-and-mortar Store 

Most of the handmade artists dream of opening their boutique. The brick-and-mortar store would showcase their unique handcrafted products.  

The customers could see, touch and appreciate the crafts in person. But such luxury comes with a cost.  

Real estate rent, employees, and the upkeep of a physical store can eat up your profits. Before opening a physical store, please make appropriate adjustments to your business plan. 

You can select one or more of the options above as per your skills and preferences. In addition, you can start a blog to market your store. The blog will jumpstart your marketing efforts. That way you will increase the probability of making sales. A blog serves as a single marketing channel for all the shop options above. 

Conclusion 

Etsy is the most popular marketplace for creative handmade makers. The platform has a huge flux of buyers and sellers. That means Etsy is essential for selling handmade products. 

But in case your Etsy shop closed for some unfortunate reason. Then, do not fret. Though Etsy is important, it is not the only means to thrive as an independent artist. 

This article lists the viable alternative options that you can consider. After reading this article, you should head to the Etsy Seller Handbook. The handbook is the principal resource to know the rules and regulations of Etsy. Complying with the Seller handbook prevents the occurrence of Etsy shutting down shops. 

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One of the best Etsy tips for beginners is to know what to do before opening an Etsy shop. 

That means you should be clear on 2 aspects: 

• WHAT is it that you sell on Etsy
• WHO is going to buy what you sell on Etsy 

If you are crystal clear on the above points. Then, it will be easy to set up and optimize your Etsy shop for maximum success. 

If you have a computer and an internet connection. Then, you can open an Etsy shop in a jiffy. But opening a shop with Etsy will not bring sales. The real work begins after you have opened an account with Etsy. 

5 Etsy Tips for Beginners That Will Make You Successful 

1.     How to Start an Etsy Shop for Success

Although Etsy shop means e-commerce. But the basic rules of running a traditional brick-and-mortar store apply to Etsy too. 

So, that means your shop should resonate with your ideal audience the moment they have a look at it. For that, your customers should be able to stick to your shop the moment they arrive on it. 

For that, your Etsy shop must have the following: 

• Appropriate Header Banner and Shop Logo 

Consider the Etsy banner as the retail shop banner. Thus, you must include WHAT you sell and WHO can benefit from it.  

One of the good examples of that is a shop selling African beads. As you can see, its banner mentions what and how and for whom do they sell. 

Even though I arrived at their store for the first time. I can gather the following information: 

• they sell fair trades African beads for crafters
• they are popular and sell a lot of beads
• their shipping schedule is quick

Likewise, you should be able to design a banner that talks to your audience. 

The logo dimensions are small. That is why you need to use it with prudence. In an ideal scenario, it must depict what your brand name is. As with Beadchest, their logo shows a chest full of beads. 

So, refrain from using whimsical brand names.  Go with one that you can reproduce as an image in a vector logo. Else, you will have the lone option to use your brand name itself as a logo. 

• Descriptive “About Us” section 

Believe it or not, the more you talk about your origin and process. The more the audience propels towards your brand. 

So, it is a great idea to mention your love for the craft that made you chuck your corporate job. Or, how you getting laid off made you transform your childhood hobby into a business. 

Also, adding images and videos of how you go about creating your craft involves the audience. 

Furthermore, you can also include what makes your shop different from others. As with thebeadchest, they demarcate themselves as quick shipping fair trade suppliers. 

• Inclusive Shop Policies

This one is tricky. No matter how much you fine-tune it. It will keep evolving with time. Every sale will teach you to add/ subtract from your policies. That is why policies are always a work-in-progress. 

Even though the policies change with time, the basic ones remain constant. They are regarding : 

• Shipping 

• Returns

• Exchange

• Payment

• Customized Orders 

An easy way to think about them is by thinking about them like the pre-nuptial agreement. You must include all the details that will shield you from issues that might develop later on. 

2.     Create Irresistible Listings 

After setting up your shop. Now is the time to list your handmade products. 

Most of the handmade sellers find it difficult to describe their listings. That is why I made this checklist for help. 

1. Add 5 images of the product listed from different angles.
2. The images must be 2000 pixels wide.
3. Use the appropriate image taken from the top as the thumbnail one.
4. Give an SEO Title to your listing in 140 characters.
5. Categorize the listing as Handmade, Vintage or Craft Supply.
6. Add the attributes of your listing – color, occasion, material.
7. Toggle on the Renewal Options – 4 months auto-renewal or manual.
8. Mention if your Item is Digital/ Physical. 
9. Describe your Listing up to the minutest details.
10. Mention if you allow Customization.
11. Mention the third party production partner (if any). 
12. Place Your Listing in one appropriate Section out of 20.
13. Use all the 13 tags so to get found in Etsy search.
14. If you live EU, put Price/ Unit. 
15. If you live in Germany, summarize the main features. 
16. Mention Price and Quantity for listings and its Variations.
17. Mention Sales Tax on the listing if your Shop charges it.
18. If you offer Variations, mention them.
19. Mention SKUs if you are super organized.
20. If you offer personalizations, mention it.
21. Add the Digital files for non-physical listings.
22. If you sell from the US/ Canada, mention Weight and Size for Calculated Shipping.
23. Use the appropriate Shipping Profile.
24. Fill in the Shipping Upgrades, if any.
25. Decide if you want this Listing in the Etsy Ads Campaign.
26. Save your Listing.
27. Preview your Listing to check for errors before publishing. 

3.     Promoting Your Shop 

This is the most important aspect of using Etsy. Setting up a shop on Etsy/Amazon Handmade or even your Shopify store does not bring customers. Sales come with promotion done right. 

In this era of digital marketing, there are 3 basic ways to promote. Though all 3 are inter-related. 

They are :

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 

SEO is a topic that requires an in-depth study. But for the sake of brevity, SEO for artists involves thinking as your customers think. 

That means the use of words and phrases that your customer feed in Google to get solutions. 

So, for example, if I use the phrase – “buy African beads online” on google. Then, I get a chest full of results. You will get a pat on your back if without clicking on the above link you know who tops the results. 

Yes, it is the thebeadchest.  

By the way, you must have arrived in this article by searching for Etsy business tips. That is the power of SEO when done the correct way. 

• Social Media 

As a newbie, you might find SEO overwhelming. Then, you might wonder how do beginners sell on Etsy? 

That is why Social media is a popular alternative to promote Etsy for beginners. 

There are several social media channels. Among them, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram work best for handmade artists. 

For any social channel to work in favor of your Etsy shop. You must know how to build an engaging audience. Once you have a nurtured audience, you can pivot them towards your Etsy shop. 

Coming up with content to post on social media is challenging. But you can begin by posting videos related to your craft on all your social media channels.  

Once you begin to see some engagement. Then, you can check your stats to know which posts resonate most with your audience. You can use that data to create more content that is similar to the popular ones.  

• Ad Campaigns 

When in doubt, do not run ads to bring sales. That is because you might blow up your money on ad expenses that do not convert. 

Ads work best when you know what works for your shop. You can check your Etsy stats to know which listing brings you maximum views. As an experiment, you can create Etsy ads for those listings.  

If the Etsy ads work, you can move on to Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google ads. But if ads on Etsy fail, you should go back to improve SEO and social media marketing.

4.     Aim for Seller Protection

Etsy is a wonderful platform to start your handmade business. But bad reviews, shipping delays, and any unforeseen circumstances can lead to issues. This could make you question is selling on Etsy worth it. 

The best way to avoid ruining your Etsy business is to never violate the platform’s rules. Besides, if you use Etsy’s payment platform and have an impeccable Seller history. Then, you get auto-enrolled in Etsy’s Seller Protection Policy. 

The policy gets you some added benefits. The best one is investigating chargebacks and resolving cases of such Sellers. 

5.     Relax and Let the Shop Relax Too 

If you understand what is Etsy and how does it work. Then, you must know that you should not run your Etsy shop 24×7. 

As per Etsy, they are the marketplace for independent creators. That means as an Etsy seller you should not act like multinationals and big business houses. 

You are a solopreneur and you must put your shop on a vacation mode when you are resting. You create thoughtful handmade products unlike the mass-produced ones in factories.  Hence, you deserve to take some rest to recharge yourself. Working in haste can hurt your small business in the long run. That is why it is in your interest to rest, refresh and come back with more creative ideas.

On the vacation mode, your shop pulls up in searches. But a notice of temporary shut down appears when someone visits it. Furthermore, you can set-up vacation auto-replies for incoming inquiries. 

Thus, Etsy ensures that you remain stress-free during vacations. 

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.

Some More Etsy Tips for Beginners

1. Add QR Code to your Shop Banner. The code could lead to your Social Media/ Shopify Store/ Blog/ Mailing List.
2. A desktop web browser is mandatory for opening a shop. Once a shop is open, then you can sell on Etsy app.
3. Invest in learning how to take Product pictures.
4. Invest in a Keyword Research Tool.
5. Work on a Business Plan from Day one.
6. Price your Products so as to maximize returns.
7. Use the appropriate hashtags on Instagram. 

Conclusion

Though not in detail, this article serves as a mini beginners guide to selling on Etsy.  

Etsy is one of the best ways to start your handmade business from anywhere in the World. 

All you require is a stronghold on your craft and some technical know-how. If you keep working on both these skill sets, you will gear up for a successful home-based business. 

If you have never used Etsy. Then, you should read this article to know how do you win at Etsy.  

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Using Instagram for Artists is the latest trend in the creative world. 

If you are a handmade creative and doubtful about starting your craft blog. Then, the most popular app for sharing images and videos could be your best option. 

Read further to know how you can harness the power of Instagram to your advantage.

How to Make Instagram Work for Artists for the First Time

1.     Follow Relevant Art Influencers on Instagram

Any new Instagram account will have 0 followers. And that is better compared to having irrelevant followers. 

An Instagram with zilch followers grows more than the one with fragmented followers. 

That is because of the unique algorithm of Instagram. The algorithm has an affinity towards the kind of habitat you build. 

That means it will grow towards the kind of accounts you follow and get followed by. 

As a newbie on Instagram, you do not have a choice of followers. But you do have the option of choosing who you follow. 

Hence, if you follow artists on Instagram. Then, the probability of your account getting labeled as an artist increases. 

This one hack is simple and it works. 

Take my word, if you start following the stalwarts in your niche. Then, you will start getting visibility. 

2.     Use Instagram Art Hashtags

Once your account gets within the feed of your niche. Then, the next step is to get into the feed of users searching for your niche.

For that, you will have to use the hashtags. Not all hashtags are the same. That means each hashtag has its unique connotations.

If you have an understanding of using SEO as an artist. Then, it is easy to understand hashtags. 

Instagram allows 30 hashtags per post. Consider this as an opportunity to target 30 different sub-niches in your category. 

That is why you should strategize them to cover both broad and narrow searches. 

You should assign 10 each to cover high, low and medium searches. 

For instance, for digital portrait artists, some of the relevant hashtags could be:

1. High Search – #digitalportrait , #digitalpainting  , #digitaldrawing
2. Medium Search – #digitalportraitartist   , #digitaldrawingartist , #digitaldrawingillustration
3. Low Search – #digitaldrawingandpainting , #digitalportraitfromphoto , #digitalportraitsforcats

As you can notice, the 3 searches differ in their volumes. Therefore, the highest search volumes have the highest competition and vice-versa. 

Thus, the strategy for artists needs all the relevant hashtags. 

3.     Post Beautiful Media of Your Work

Did you ever look up what does Instagram app describes itself as? 

In gist, it describes itself as a simple, fun and creative app to share photos and videos. 

So, you got to do what the Instagram platform expects its users to. That means you got to share simple and engaging media of your artwork. 

Your pictures and videos should draw your target audience towards your profile. 

Media that shows your creative process will engage your audience. The more the engagement metrics, the more the chances of conversions. 

Instagram for Artists Dos and Don’ts

1.     Do Remain Consistent With Your Branding

Branding is of utmost importance to build a sustainable business. Successful branding requires consistency. 

I am sure you can identify Frida Kahlo’s art style the moment you see it. That is because of the diva’s consistency in creating floral designs and self-portraits. 

I hope you get the point. 

You can never occupy the mind share of your customers if you keep doing generic work. Thus, as a branding strategy, do remain focused on a single niche as an artist on Instagram.

2.     Do Remain Consistent With Your Posting Schedule 

Much like the branding strategy, the posting schedule also requires consistency. 

The algorithm of Instagram will not work in your favor if you will turn lazy. You have to devise a consistent posting plan and you got to stick to it. 

The posting plan will differ as per your marketing strategy. But you should try to post a minimum of 4-5 times a week.  

The benefits of posting at regular intervals will amaze you. 

3.     Do Switch to a Business Account

If you have started a handmade business. Then, it makes sense to run your Instagram as a business account. 

When you switch to a business account from a personal one. Then, you get to see the analytics and also sell from the Instagram app. 

So, with a business account, you get to see what kind of content sticks with your audience. Also, you get to know the performance of your hashtags. 

The best part is that it does not cost to use the business feature of Instagram. 

4.     Don’t Get Into Useless Traps

How many times you have used the #likesforlikes or #followsforfollows? 

If you understand that the Instagram algorithm considers relevancy of utmost importance. Then, it is easy to understand that random likes and follows are of no use. 

Rather, in the long run, they will hurt your brand.

A small but relevant following is much better than a huge and random one. So, obtaining likes and follows through organic reach is the best way to move forward. 

5.     Don’t Make Your Account Private

What is the point of using Instagram for artists if the audience cannot see it? 

Most of the creatives fear that their work will get copied. That is why they keep their account closed. Their fear is valid. But by not letting people see their work hurts the business more than plagiarism. 

That is why you should keep your Instagram open for all. It is one of the best ways to spread your creativity.

6.     Don’t Auto-post to Facebook 

Facebook owns Instagram. That is why there is a seamless integration between both platforms.

Instagram platform appreciates hashtags. But that is not the case with Facebook.

Using hashtags on Facebook could hurt the reach of your business page.

So, if you are sharing the same post from Instagram to Facebook. Then, ensure that you delete the hashtags on Facebook after auto-posting. Or you could also disable the auto-post feature to avoid spoiling your Facebook reach.

Conclusion

Today is the best time to turn your creative hobby into a professional business.

With the advent of social media, there are many options to showcase your creativity.

Among all the options, it seems that Instagram is for artists only.

The platform focusses on images and videos. Thus, it works for creative makers. 

If you use the hacks mentioned in this article. You will be able to turn your side hustle into a profit-making machine.

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I am sure you must have tried selling handmade products at least once in your lifetime. 

If there are more than a few instances, then I know for sure that you did start a handmade business in your life. 

I do not know what you create and how well you run your handmade label. Without knowing the numbers I respect you for taking the action to bring out your creativity. Irrespective of whether you are a hobbyist or run a side-hustle or a full-fledged business. As long as doing your own handmade business, you got all my love and respect. 

Now I know that you can guess that I too am a creative person. I would do anything to bring in oodles of opportunities to make new stuff or learn new skills. 

Indulging in arts and crafts is fun. But the love for spending all your time in creativity may get limited. The limitations could be a day job, family time, or household chores. 

But what if I told you that you do not have to compromise between your hobbies and day job? What if you could make your creative pursuits a full-time job? 

But for that to happen you will have to understand how to operate a business venture. If you envision yourself selling handmade products for a living. Then, you got to read further. 

How to Sell Crafts for the First Time 

1.     Friends and Family

The first buyers of my handmade creations were people whom I knew. Since I tried selling handmade notebooks and cards when I was in 7th grade. So, my buyers were my friends and family. 

As far as I recollect, I made some diaries that were as per zodiac signs.  

Since my target market was people whom I knew. So, it was easy for me to customize my creations. 

It must have been about 25 years ago when I made my first sale with handmade products. I am hopeful that you can also replicate my strategy to get your first sales. 

Create your first product and pitch it to people whom you know. This strategy never goes out of trend. But do insist on getting paid. There is no point in creating and giving away your creations for free. 

2.     Craft Fairs

Craft fairs are the obvious transition from selling to people whom you know. 

These days there are a lot of options to exhibit products at various crafts stores. Some of them are even free craft fairs to join. 

The craft stores give access to a large audience in local geography. That means displaying at a craft fair is a sure means to increase your sales. 

The audience that visits a fair is an engaged one that is looking out to make a purchase. 

Also, the craft organizers take care of the operations. So, as a handmade seller, you do not have to worry much. If you concentrate on crafts that make the most money. Then, you can get the most out of craft fairs. 

After displaying at your local craft fairs. You can move on to the ones outside your area to cover a wider base. 

 

3.     Etsy 

Craft fairs are beneficial to get your craft out to an audience in a particular geography. Since the fairs happen at a physical location. Therefore, the impact that they create is within a locational boundary. 

That means to capture another set of audience, you need a different craft fair. If you have an experience of displaying at craft fairs. Then, you know how taxing that can become. Plus, the cost of logistics adds to the overwhelm. 

That is why selling crafts online is an obvious transition from a physical craft fair. 

Etsy is a popular online marketplace to sell your handmade crafts. It works much like a local craft fair. Though the difference is that the buyers and sellers do not meet in person. Nor do the buyers get to touch and feel your products before making a purchase. 

The buyers rather arrive at your Etsy store looking for a handmade product. Your product pictures and description make a major influence on their buying decisions. 

Once they make a purchase, then you ship them your products.

It is a breeze to create products at your home. Then, sell them to buyers all over the World.

4.     Amazon Handmade

Etsy brought a revolution in promoting a handmade lifestyle. A few years ago, Amazon also entered the same category as Amazon Handmade. 

Though both the platforms are for handmade items. But both of them differ in their offerings.

Etsy has existed for more than a decade, while Amazon Handmade is a few years old. In the recent past, Etsy brought in various changes in its policies that have made the Sellers wary.

That is why most of the Sellers now consider Amazon Handmade as an alternative to Etsy.

There are a handful of advantages of displaying on Amazon Handmade. Of them, the best one is that you can use FBA to deliver your fast-moving generic products. Their plain and simple Amazon Handmade fees does not hurt either. Amazon Handmade charges no listing fee. Rather, there is a flat 15% referral fee when you make a sale. 

5.     Your Own Store(s)

As a Handmade seller, you can sell on Amazon and Etsy to widen your base beyond the local craft fairs. Though both of them come with their pros and cons.

The fact is that although both these online marketplaces cater to handmade marketplaces. They are in essence online craft fairs managed by third-party platforms. 

That means they create the rules and they control the flow of the audience coming to your store. 

Why would you want to run your handmade business at the whims and fancies of someone else?

If you have years of experience running your Etsy store. Then, you would know how online marketplaces come up with changes in their policies. At times, many Etsy shops get shut for non-compliance with their changed policies too.

Another issue with third party e-commerce stores is the loss of potential customers. Many times customers view your Etsy store through a google search. But then, they land to your competitors because the search leads them to others in your Category as well.

The above 2 reasons emphasize the importance of running your handmade store.

If you have the experience of all the above 4 stages of running a handmade business. Then, your standalone store is the next progression.

An online craft blog is a must for every handmade artist. Though going ahead with a physical store is a subjective decision. A brick-and-mortar store is not mandatory if you sell digital products like art prints. But if you have large products like bar furniture and handmade houses. Then, a physical store will help in sales conversions. 

Conclusion 

Selling handmade products as a thriving business is not easy. You can sell one or two products as a hobby artist. But if you wish to thrive as an artist-entrepreneur. Then, you will have to change your strategy.

It could be that you do not know at what stage you are in your handmade business journey. You could be selling crafts from home. But you can always transition selling crafts from home to the entire world. You can even try selling crafts of other artists and charging a commission on it.

There are a few stages until you become an established solo artist-entrepreneur. This article will help you know which junction are you in your path to becoming a thriving artist.

Once you know which part you belong to. You can then grow from there to reach the next stage. Though no matter where you are right now. You must know that there is always a scope to betterment.

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