There are numerous online platforms for e-commerce. Each site has its own advantages and disadvantages. Etsy, an important marketplace, is one of these platforms. In this article, we’ve compiled essential information and sales techniques you need to know for success in selling on Etsy.

What is Etsy?

Etsy is an e-commerce platform where you can sell digital products (like PDFs, JPGs, etc.), antique items, hobby materials, and handmade goods. The key to successful selling on Etsy is offering products that are original, unique, and handmade. Selling items purchased from a store, referred to as “reselling”, is strictly prohibited. Sellers who violate this ban may have their trading activities temporarily or permanently halted.

How Do You Open an e-Commerce Store on Etsy?

The process of opening a store on Etsy for e-commerce is quite straightforward. You can open your store and start selling by following these steps:

  1. Click on the “Sell on Etsy” link on the homepage. Then click on the “Open your Etsy Shop” button on the following page. Once you’ve filled out the required information, you’ll need to confirm your email address. Activate your account by clicking on the verification link sent to your email.
  2. After activating your account, you’ll be redirected to your management panel. Click on the “Your Shop” menu header. You will be asked to define settings that may be necessary for your shop. In this section, you should set options like country, currency, and language correctly for your shop.
  3. After defining all settings related to your shop, you will need to choose a name for your shop. Remember that you won’t be able to change this name later. So, ensure the name you choose is memorable and represents your brand identity.
  4. Click on the “Add a Listing” button to start adding information and photos of your product. It’s very important to accurately and completely fill in the requested details.
  5. The next step is to define the shipping process. If you choose the “By itself” option in shipping options, you can send the product alone. With the “With another item” option, you can add multiple products to the same shipping package.
  6. The final step, crucial for reaching your customers, involves knowing the keywords your target audience might use. To rank high in internet searches, add keywords that will make your products stand out in the “Tags” section. In the “Materials” section, write the type of materials you use in your products. You can also pay a certain fee to ensure your products appear at the top of search results.

Etsy’de e-Ticaret Mağazası Açma Süreci Nasıldır?

Etsy’de e-ticaret için mağaza açma süreci oldukça kolaydır. Aşağıdaki adımları uygulayarak sizlerde mağazanızı açabilir ve satış yapabilirsiniz:

  1. Öncelikle, ana sayfadaki “Sell on Etsy” bağlantısına tıklayın. Daha sonra açılan sayfadan “Open your Etsy Shop” butonuna tıklayın. Burayı doldurduktan sonra e-posta adresinizi onaylamanız gerekecektir. E-posta adresinize gelen doğrulama bağlantısına tıklayarak hesabınızı aktifleştirin.
  2. Hesabınızın aktivasyonu sonrası yönetim panelinize yönlendirileceksiniz. Bu ekranda “Your Shop” menü başlığına tıklayın. Mağazanız için gerekli olabilecek ayarları tanımlamanız istenecektir. Bu kısımda mağazanız için ülke, para birimi, dil seçimi gibi ayarları doğru bir şekilde yapmalısınız.
  3. Mağazanıza ilişkin tüm ayarları tanımlamanızın ardından mağazanız için bir isim seçmeniz gerekecektir. Seçtiğiniz ismi sonradan değiştirme şansınız olmadığını unutmayın. Bu sebeple seçeceğiniz ismin akılda kalıcı olduğundan ve kurumsal kimliğinize hitap ettiğinden emin olmanızı öneririz.
  4. “Add a Listing” butonuna tıklayarak ürününüzün bilgilerini ve fotoğraflarını eklemeye başlayabilirsiniz. Burada talep edilen ayrıntıları, eksiksiz ve doğru doldurmanız oldukça önemlidir.
  5. Bir sonraki adım ise kargo sürecini belirlemektir. Kargo seçenekleri arasında “By itself” opsiyonunu seçtiğinizde ürünü tek olarak gönderebiliyorken, “With another item” seçeneği ile de aynı kargo paketine birden fazla ürünü ekleyerek gönderim yapabilirsiniz.
  6. Son aşama ise müşterilerinize ulaşabilme açısından önemlidir. İnternet aramalarında öne çıkmak için hedef kitlenizin kullanabileceği anahtar kelimeleri bilmeniz gerekir. ‘‘Tags” kısmına ürünlerinizin aramalarda öne çıkmasını sağlayacak anahtar kelimeleri, ‘‘Materials’’ kısmına ise ürünlerinizde kullandığınız malzeme türünü yazmalısınız. Aynı zamanda belli bir ücret ödeyerek ürünlerinizin arama sonuçlarında ilk sıralara çıkmasını sağlayabilirsiniz.

How Can You Increase Your Sales on Etsy?

After opening your shop, your first goal will be to start selling on Etsy and then to increase your sales. So, what should you pay attention to for your shop to be successful?

1) Making Quality Photo Choices

One of the key considerations for customers when shopping is the product image. The photos you add to your shop must be your own. Stock photos or readily available images are not acceptable. The resolution of photos should be 2000×2000 or 1000×1000 pixels to be compatible with all pages visitors access. Before uploading product images, pay attention to high resolution, correct lighting, multiple photos, detailed display of the product, and well-adjusted color contrast.

2) Enhancing Customer Satisfaction

Increasing positive reviews from your customers can escalate the trust in your shop, accelerating your sales on Etsy. You can boost your attractiveness by sending small gifts along with the products to your customers. Offering fast delivery and personalized options (such as custom-made items) can set your store apart from others. Similarly, thoughtful packaging during the shipping process can also enhance customer satisfaction. It is important to make your customers feel valued and show them that their opinions about your business matter.

3) Conducting Market Research

You may want your handmade products to be priced higher than mass-produced items. However, it’s crucial to conduct market research about the category and product you want to sell beforehand. If you set your product price significantly below the market rate in order to increase sales, you might find yourself unable to keep up with the orders and create a perception of low quality. On the other hand, if your product price is much higher than the market rate, you risk not making any sales at all. You should set your product prices from a buyer’s perspective, pricing them appropriately for their value.

4) Sharing Your Shop’s Story

Etsy customers always read your story and product descriptions. They will want to experience the feeling of owning a personalized or limited-edition unique item. You can arrange your “About Us” section to narrate your overall story. Share honestly and sincerely about how you started your business or you can narrate your source of inspiration in this craft.

Etsy Commission Rates

When selling on Etsy, you need to pay according to certain commission groups. These groups and the fees deducted from the sellers are as follows:

  • Listing Commissions: Sellers on Etsy pay a listing fee of 1.41 TL for each product they add. Listing fees remain active until the products are sold and are renewed every four months.
  • Transaction Fee: A 5% transaction fee is deducted from the price of the sold product.
  • Payment Processing Fee: A standard payment processing fee by Etsy is 6.5% plus 3 TL per transaction.
  • Advertising Fees: One of the Etsy commissions is the off-site advertising fee, which is deducted when an advertisement is posted off-site for you, and this product is sold thanks to this ad. This commission rate is 15%.

You will need to dedicate extra time for budget planning topics such as sales made and the cost of your product to you. To be a successful shop owner on Etsy, you need to balance your income and expenses in a profitable direction and proceed strategically towards this goal.