A Seller’s Guide to Etsy

When Etsy first launched, its primary focus was independent crafters. However, Etsy gradually changed its approach and allowed larger businesses to join.

Now, you’ll find suppliers of packaging, materials, and other business essentials on there.

If you’ve visited Etsy recently, you may also have noticed sellers specializing in antiques and collectibles. Printables are popular, too.

With all these changes, it’s fair to say Etsy has gone from strength to strength. In 2019, it had over 45 million buyers, a notable increase from 2018.

Although these figures are impressive, it still lacks Amazon or eBay’s audience share. However, it’s affordable and easy to use, and most importantly, Etsy is a niche site, placing sellers in front of their ideal customers.

Anyone new to Etsy is bound to have a multitude of questions. This article aims to answer many of them. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll have all you need to get started.

How to Prepare for Selling on Etsy

Before you begin selling on Etsy, you’ve got some work to do. Like any sales platform, Etsy works best when you research the competition, understand your buyers, and focus on a niche.

Research also helps you discover selling strategies and potential areas where you can outperform your competitors.

Research the Competition

The quickest way to find the top sellers is Etsy’s bestsellers page. Here, you’ll learn plenty just by taking a glance. The page features a diverse list of items in a variety of categories.

For instance, the page might display sustainable and educational items marketed toward children, seasonal clothes or accessories, and personalized and bespoke jewelry.

How to Prepare for Selling on Etsy - Research Competition

Click on any one of these bestsellers, and you’ll learn even more. When you’re checking out your competitors, focus on:

The kind of feedback they’re receiving
How they brand their store
Whether they’re offering free shipping or special discounts
If the products are personalized
The information included in descriptions
The amount and type of images they use
Their shipping and return policies
How they integrate keywords

Delve Into Etsy Data

Now that you understand the basics of a good listing, you might want to go deeper. With some data to inform your decisions, you’ll have greater confidence you’re targeting the right products.

You’ll find there are some great tools to get you started. For instance, Marmalead uses machine learning to help you: