INTRODUCTION

Anyone who has ever wanted to have their own online business and make big bucks is going to love Etsy. Etsy is perhaps the most perfect online platform to sell handmade items, vintage items (20 years or older) and craft items. This makes it ideal for those who hoard craft supplies and those who have a lot of vintage items or great handmade items to sell.

It is not overly complicated to set up an online Etsy shop and it is easy to get going. If a person has an Internet connection then all they need are the following: a few great detailed pictures of the items that are for sale, a PayPal account (in order to accept payments via PayPal this account is required) and a determination to be successful.

It really is that simple and easy. It will take a few minutes to get the shop site up and running, but then all you need to do is maintenance and shipping items out as customers buy the items.

Why should someone choose Etsy as their sales platform? There are a variety of reasons, including the fact that the person does not have to actually own and maintain a website.. Etsy is a website that allows users to create their own shops and sell directly from Etsy without the costly overhead of running one’s own website. This means that for ‘pennies in the dollar’ shop owners can get started in their own shops.

It is much less expensive to have an Etsy shop compared to running one’s own website. It is much more economical and easier to do; so many people are choosing Etsy as their option for running their own shops. It is fun and exciting to meet other likeminded people, too. What a great way to get out and meet others and learn a new skill (building an Etsy shop).

Many worry that Etsy will cost a lot of money, but it does not cost much at all to list and sell items. Here is how it works. To start with, there are no membership fees whatsoever to run a shop on Etsy. Each item that is listed is charged $0.20 and shop owners can list items for 4 months or until the item sells. After the item sells (excellent job by the way), Etsy will then collect 3.5% on the sales price as their fee. It is really that simple.

Etsy is an ideal platform for entrepreneurs who are trying to launch a business while still remaining employed elsewhere. There are many Etsy millionaires and if the site is set up successfully there is no reason that Etsy cannot have another millionaire amongst their ranks. It only takes a determination to succeed and some great products and a business can be up and running in no time.

Many entrepreneurs do not have a business plan and therefore do not succeed. It is vital to have a business plan if one wishes to succeed. It does not take a high tech college degree to set up a business plan and no one needs to take any special courses to do so, either.

Creating a business plan will take a few minutes to a few days. What are the goals for setting up an Etsy shop? Is it to be used as a main source of income? Will it replace another site? Is it a new venture? What other goals are set? What are the financial goals? Will the shop be co-owned? Are the co-owners on the same wavelength for owning a shop?

All of these should be factored into the equation when choosing Etsy as the site for your site. There are many great shops on Etsy; just take a look around and see. There are as many shops as there are ideas. If an idea has been thought of, it is likely on Etsy. Just take a look and see.

Etsy can be brought in to supplement an income, or it can be built up to run as a family business. Either way, it can be a win-win situation for many people in today's society, where the price of living is continually skyrocketing and wages are not keeping pace. Simply put, there are many people who are using Etsy to help make ends meet and there is no reason to think that one more person (you) can to use Etsy to make those ends meet.

Many people are surviving paycheck to paycheck and trying to make ends meet. When an unexpected expense comes up they are unsure of where to turn, but if they have an Etsy shop set up they can go and do some quick promoting and get a few extra dollars for those unexpected bills. No one wants to live in poverty and thanks to Etsy, they don’t have to.

Etsy has transformed the business world and made a huge difference in many lives. The impact is amazing and anyone who has set up an Etsy shop knows how to capitalize upon the business and make some extra money when it is needed. All it takes is some great items to sell and a person can be in business. It is that easy. Low stress and a great income are ideal combinations.

Etsy can reach a wide audience and with proper advertising and excellent pricing anyone can rely upon Etsy to make some extra money during the month. A shop can be as busy or as slow as a person desires and it will not cost a fortune to run. It is very easy to set up and get going, and no one will be tied to the computer all day running their business.

There are a few ways to get an inventory set up. Here are a few ideas to get going on:

Collect vintage items from around the house and begin listing those. This should not take too long if there is an attic or basement holding Grandma's old style clothing, belongings etc. Another way to do this is to purge the house of vintage items that are no longer used. It will not take long and in no time there can be some items listed that will earn some money. Choose the best of the best and start with those. Add items a few at a time so as to not inundate customers, and the shop is open for business.

Some people go to thrift stores and yard sales and pick up vintage items that they know will sell. This can be a very lucrative way to get an inventory and it will work as long as the items are over 20 years old and of good quality. Think elegant bohemian style dresses and skirts, 60s tie dye clothing, bell bottoms and the like. It is amazing what some people will pay for good quality vintage clothing, so do not discount anything. If it is a vintage item, there is likely to be a market for it. It only takes a bit of ingenuity and practice to find that market.

Another way to get items listed quickly is to go through old craft supplies that are not being used. Grab the camera, get some great pictures and get the supplies listed in order to jump start a business. The house will be purged of excess items and hopefully the shop owner will be making some money. Many people have held on to craft supplies for years or inherited grandma's old craft supplies. Look around, the items are there somewhere.

Lastly, craft items are a big deal, especially around holidays. Look around the house and see what craft items have been made recently. Gather up those that aren’t being used and get those listed first. Now get to work on making more in your spare time (i.e. while mindlessly watching television or listening to a child do their homework) and add more to the listings as the items are completed. In no time at all the shop will have plenty of items for sale.

It does not stop there however; there are also some great ways to enhance an Etsy shop. If a person truly wants to make money and sell products on Etsy, there are a variety of strategies to use and that is what this eBook is all about. Strategies to use to make money selling products on Etsy are as wide open as the mind can be. Use your imagination and make it work for you.

DECIDING WHAT TO SELL: MARKET RESEARCH

While there is no exact science for determining what will and will not sell on Etsy, there are some basics that can be done to help getting stuck with items that will not sell. Review several shops in several different venues to help determine what will and will not be available in an Etsy shop. Review the price, presentation and the sales history for items that may be helpful for a specific shop. This will help you to keep items competitive and unique.

Basically, if an item can be shipped, it can be sold on Etsy. It is really that simple. The key is to find something that is so unusual that the site is nearly the only site selling this type of item. This will take some perusing of the Etsy site to ensure that the items are unique.

It is not enough to just list items. Just because an item is available within an Etsy shop does not make it a best seller. That is where individual shop owners come in. It is up to them to determine how to make items so unique that people cannot resist them. With some ingenuity and creativity it can be done, even if there is stiff competition out there.

A good example is crocheted hats. Many people are making them. That does not mean that another Etsy shop selling crocheted hats will not make any money, it just means that the hats need to be very distinctive. Consider popular sports teams for a great unique theme. Other ideas are cartoon characters, movie themes, etc. If lost for ideas just do a quick search online for 'trending now' topics and convert those to hats.

Another great item to sell is unique patterns or tutorials. Anyone who is creative can do this. It is quick and easy and can be very lucrative. Many people want to crochet a hat, but do not know how. Make a simple to follow pattern, and hey presto, a sellable pattern is created. The same goes with tutorials. Many people want to know how to do something specific.

Give those people step by step instructions using pictures or videos and they will buy the instructions so that they can learn how to do it. Ask friends and family what they want to know how to do. Look at trends and calculate what can be taught and create the tutorial. Then price it accordingly. It can be anything from a computer program, to photography, to a craft project. Be creative and teach others how to do it in a tutorial and watch the money flow in. No need for a college degree for any of these.

Shop owners can also take orders. If someone wants something specific, the shop owner can give that person a turnaround time and make it for them. This is ideal for one-of-a-kind craft items or tutorials. It really is easy to get an Etsy shop up and running and make money on it. The world is a very large place and Etsy can reach all corners of the world. That means the market is there if a person knows how to find it.

Take a notepad and jot down all your ideas on what is available to sell and what can be made to sell. Have a family or friend brainstorming session and really think this thing through. Keep trends and holiday seasons in mind. The more items are ‘trending’ or are seen as holiday specials, the more likely they are to sell during a specific time period.

Learn to think like a customer. What makes a product stand out? What makes a specific Etsy shop stand out over other shops? Jot down ideas and really think as a customer would think in order to find the best answers. As more ideas come to mind, sit back and jot those down as well. It is amazing what happens when shop owners take this step to uncover all of the possibilities.

About now, many shop owners are feeling overwhelmed by all this information. Step back and take this one step at a time. Filter out the search results and choose only those that stand out the most. It is amazing what this little step can accomplish for shop owners. Pick the best idea stands out among all the options, and run with it. That is usually the one that will gain the most customers.

Be the competition that everyone is talking about. It is not a huge challenge to do this if you put your mind to it. Gain from the experience of other top sellers, and ask them questions in forums and in private messages. Get their input and do not hesitate to ask if it is okay to use their ideas.

Review other shops and see what they are doing and how it appears to be working for them. Look at stats and sales and focus on winning without stressing about it. Do not hesitate to ask other sellers how something works for them. Many are more than happy to help a person understand the ropes and get going on Etsy. Just ask. It cannot hurt and can really help you get some insight on what does, and what does not work well.

Ask other sellers why they charge what they charge and how they came to that price. It is amazing what insights you can get from talking to someone with some sales experience.. Integrate the best ideas into your shop, work toward the goal of success and watch the money roll in. It is very possible to make a healthy living by running an Etsy shop. It just takes time and effort.

Many new sellers sell things for too low of price. This is the most common mistake that most people make. It can be very detrimental to undersell things. It is not a good business practice unless an item is on sale, so avoid it whenever possible.

Set prices at a reasonable level. Watch craftsmanship and do not undersell or oversell items. This may take a bit of juggling the prices in the beginning but, never sell things for less than they are worth. A good rule of thumb to determine what an item is worth is to figure out the cost to make the item and then double that cost. Thus, if an item cost $2.50 to make, charge at least $5 for that item plus shipping and handling.

Presentation

Part of marketing research is presentation. It has often been said that it is all in the presentation. This holds true for cooking, restaurant dining and listing items on Etsy. Consider websites and how they are designed; an attractive website has a good presentation.

Presentation is part of the finished product. What is a good presentation for the items for sale? Consider the best camera angles. Consider whether or not to have a model wearing the item or have the item on a doll, table or some other object. What pictures stand out more than others? All of this must be taken into account in order for items to stand out and to help customers to choose one shop over another.

Some people like to take pictures outdoors in flower gardens and the like to show off the item. It all depends on what works best for the specific shop owner. There clearly are no hard and fast rules here. It is basically whatever the shop owner is comfortable with. Consider the customers’ perspective and go from there for best results.

There are two view options on Etsy. One is “list” and the other is “gallery”. Gallery is the default view. This allows for users to post pictures horizontally across the page. They are easy to preview for customers this way. If, however, the list view seems to work better, then by all means use it. Basically, go with what produces the best results. It may take some trial and error here to get it exactly right.

More Sneaky Tricks on Researching

Pull up any Etsy shop page. Now, click on an item. It will take you to the item listing section. In this section there is a lot of valuable information that many shop owners can use to enhance their own shop. It gives a description of the item. It gives the price and sometimes whether the item is available in small, medium or large sizes. It also lists shipping costs.

This listing page also shows how often the item has been viewed. It shows if the item has been saved as a favorite and by how many. It shows when the item was listed, if there are more than one available and color options if there are more than one available. In short, this listing page is a treasure trove of valuable information. It also shows how often the item has been listed. Remember, items expire after 4 months so this can be valuable.

It is important to remember that the number of views may be deceiving. Items can be re-listed if they do not sell. It is important to remember that if items are re–listed, the count does not reset nor does it reset there is more than one of the item. Sometimes an item will have a lot of views due to its uniqueness or its exorbitant price. Someone may also not have used the right meta tags for the item. All of these can be a factor, so pay attention and adjust your shop accordingly.

It is a wonderful feeling when someone adds a shop to their treasury or their favorites. It tells the shop owner that the customers like what they see. It is a great way to help see what is and is not working. Just remember, it does not mean that the person clicking 'favorite' is going to buy the item.

PRICING AND SHIPPPING

To start with, Etsy will charge $0.20 per item listed. This lists the item for 4 months, or until it sells. Items can be re-listed as they run out. When items sell, Etsy takes 3.5 percent of the sale as their fee for allowing shop owners to sell from their platform. It is not a lot of money and if prices are set accordingly, shop owners are not losing out at all. Just do a few quick calculations on what items are worth and what the shop owners hopes to make on them, and then set the price accordingly.

Pictures are necessary to gain good sales. Each item can have up to five pictures and if there are additional items that are the same it can be set up so that when one item sells, it is automatically relisted. This saves a lot of time for shop owners who are very busy and need to keep their page updated.

One of the best parts about Etsy is that the shop owner has complete control over the prices that are being charged and the shipping cost. Shop owners can determine their own parameters and what they are and are not willing to ship out. This helps to keep shop owners in control.

A wise shop owner will look over other Etsy shops and see what others are charging for similar items. They will want to be in competition but not overpricing their items. If most shops are selling crocheted or knit hats for $10 then shop owners will want to keep their prices around that level unless they are special orders or specialty items.

One added advantage of Etsy is that they charge on a monthly basis. They give the first 40 listings for free on new accounts as well. Therefore, each month shop owners will be billed the $0.20 per item fee and the 3.5 percent sale fee. This does not include shipping. Shop owners can determine their own payment methods such as PayPal or if they will accept personal checks, money orders or credit cards as well.

PayPal will charge a flat fee of $0.30 per transaction. They will also charge 2.7 percent of the total amount that is charged. PayPal offers a debit card option or users can easily transfer money into their checking account.

Direct checkout is another option. This option will charge a flat fee of $0.25 per transaction as well as a 3 percent fee of the total money that is collected (this does include shipping). Etsy will take these fees out for their shop owners and put the remainder of the money into their Shop Payment account. The deposits are then made each week directly into the bank account that the shop owner sets up for payment. It is very quick and easy and with the simply click of a mouse over the right icon deposits can be made more often if needed.

Just as a side note, many people compare Etsy to EBay. There are a few differences here. EBay will charge 10 percent of the sales price and this includes shipping. They will also charge PayPal fees on top of that amount. Etsy is much more cost efficient and users have much more control over their shop when using Etsy vs EBay.

Here are some further tips and tricks to help price items to their best advantage:

Remember, even if components of an item were bought at discount, they should be charged at full price. Save the discounts for a special sales event or 'coupon' gift here and there. It is a great way to stay competitive.

Charge for labor as well. Many people only charge the cost of the materials or components. This is a huge mistake. It is vital to charge for labor as well. Consider the minimum wage in your area. How long did it take to make the item? Charge accordingly.

If it is not an item for sale, but rather a tutorial, remember how long it took to create. Charge accordingly (using minimum wage to calculate) to keep from losing money.

Expenses should also be factored in. This is a regular business so calculate overhead costs as well. Many shop owners leave this out and it can wind up costing them in the end. Factor in the cost of listing items ($0.20 per item plus the 3.5 percent of the overall cost per item sold). PayPal fees should also be factored in. Many people forget that these are the costs of running a business and they do not charge accordingly for them.

Besides calculating an hourly wage, the cost of materials and the fees, it is important to make a profit. This profit is what the 'company' (i.e. shop owner) is making if they had to pay for hired help. Employees would earn a wage and so should the business owner. Do not sell the shop short by short changing the shop owner. Pricing is a detailed art and it may take some time to calculate everything, but it is well worth the effort and it makes the business more professional.

By making the business more professional shop owners are much more likely to be making a profit and putting the right efforts into running their shop on Etsy.

Fun Pricing Tips That Will Help Earn More Money

In addition to the above mentioned suggestions, these tips and tricks will help to keep the profits rolling in without a lot of effort.

Consider a grab bag of ‘one of a kind’ craft items that are not substantial enough to sell as single items. This could be bits and ends of ribbons, scraps of paper for scrap booking projects, or single earrings for those who have only one ear pierced. It is easy to sell items inexpensively like this. It is fun for customers to go to a discount section and peruse items for a quick sale as well.

Consider unique tutorials that take only a few minutes to show or teach but can really help a customer to accomplish something. This could be directions for a quick book, how to create a quick 'how to' video etc. Even an easy pattern is a great tool to sell here.

Remember to never sell yourself short. It is not what the shop owner would pay for the items, but rather what the customer is willing to pay, and many customers are so busy they are willing to pay very, very well. Again, talk to other shop owners for some great ideas on how to consider this if it is a challenge.

CHOOSING AN ETSY SHOP OVER A PERSONAL WEBSITE

Many people wonder why they should choose Etsy over a personal website. There are a variety of reasons that Etsy makes more sense. Here are a few of the best reasons we have come across for choosing Etsy over a personal website.

Alexa ranking is a great reason to use Etsy. Currently, Etsy is ranked 136 on the Alexa rank and they are number 41 in the United States alone. This is much higher than most users could have on their own personalized website. Many people search through Alexa to find where the best places to shop are. They want to select higher ranking sites and Etsy is definitely one of those. Starting out at the top just makes sense, so use Etsy and jump right to the top or set up a personal website and wait it out. It is an easy choice.

When someone is looking for handmade items, guess where they start looking. Etsy is the place. No one goes looking for a personal website when Etsy is online. It just makes sense to put products and handmade items right where people are looking for them. Why make the search hard when it can be done so easily?

Many people look to Google to rank their website higher so that they will be more readily seen. While this is all fine and dandy, personal websites are going to have to do a lot of work to climb to the top. So who is at the top? Etsy is at the top when it comes to handmade items and products. It is just simple logic to cut out the hard work and jump to the top of the spectrum here.

While there is not anything wrong with having a personal site, it is going to take a lot of time to build up the clientele. Why not build up the clientele on Etsy and then mention the site somewhere on the shop page? Besides, most customers are going to be searching on Etsy so they will not be looking for a specific website and could be missed. By choosing Etsy the shop is guaranteed to be seen by millions, not just by a few.

It takes time to build up trust, as well. Those who have their own personal website have to not only build up their client's trust, they also have to build trust among their clients. On Etsy, reviews are usually given and there is peace of mind that the money will not be scammed and the product not delivered as is the case with some websites on the market.

Designing a website takes some skills that many people do not have. There is coding and placement of objects that can take up a lot of time, not to mention skills. On Etsy, there are templates that make it very easy to create and set up a shop. It is so streamlined that many just upload and they are done. No special skills are required. This can save a lot of headaches and hassle when setting up a shop.

THE GRAND OPENING OF AN ETSY SHOP

Here it is, the big day. The new Etsy shop is ready for business. What a fun and exhilarating time. In order to open shop, the new shop owner will have walked through many steps. Here are a few steps to ensure total and complete success.

Choose The Name Carefully

What is in a name? Think about it for a minute. It is important to have a catchy, easy to remember name for an Etsy shop. It should reflect the shop owner, what is being sold (or most of what is being sold) and something that people can easily and readily remember.

A good name can help to build the brand. The 'brand' is what people are going to know the shop by, so this is a vital and integral part of being successful. It should be easy to read. It should have each and every word capitalized including 'and', 'or' and 'the'. It is best to have it catchy so visitors can remember it, as well.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

A profile picture or avatar is important to have on any Etsy shop. It can be a logo, a picture of the shop owner, a picture of a product the shop sells or something else. It can be changed whenever the shop owner desires. Many people opt for a picture of the shop owner themselves as this can sometimes instill confidence into the buyers if they can see what the shop owner looks like.

More tips and tricks for great photos are to remember that Etsy has some pretty high standards for photos. It is vital to remember that the buyers are usually artsy folks who want uniqueness and creativity. For best results photos should be unique. They should show all of the possible angles of the item up for sale.

Remember that a plain background with few distractions will show the item off much more clearly than any other background. Consider using the same background for all photos. Always seek out natural light for photos. This will show the photo off with the best results and give potential buyers a really good idea of what the item truly looks like.

Other Picture Tips From Seasoned Etsy Sellers

Camera angles can really add to a photograph. Placing items slightly off-center can be very dynamic and give a lot of edge to any photo.

Keep it tight. If the frame is completely filled potential customers can see how large the item really is. Sellers can also use something as comparison by laying it next to the item that is for sale.

Blurry backgrounds with an item standing out clearly are a great sales tactic that many sellers swear by.

Less is always more. Never crowd pictures with objects that should not be included, unless it is one small item to show a size comparison.

Group similar items together, such as several smaller items; just make sure that potential customers know exactly which item is for sale.

Follow the rule of thirds. Picture a box with nine separate sections. Place the photos where vertical lines will intersect with horizontal lines. This adds a visual interest to the photo. Remember, these lines are invisible.

Customization

Once the basics are done it is time to customize the shop. This grand opening is exciting, is it not? Choose a banner by selecting a favorite picture of a product or something similar. It only takes a few minutes but it can be a valuable asset to any shop. It could also be a banner stating the name of the shop that the shop owner creates themselves.

A shop title is suggested if the name of the shop does not explain what is being sold. Example: 'crafty hats' would denote that creative hats are sold on this shop site. Whereas 'hats' would not denote that creative hats are sold. This can be edited if at a later date the shop owner chooses to change it.

Many shop owners want to corner the market on the name of their shop. In order to help seal the deal on this they will purchase the domain name of their shop. A good example would be if the name of the shop was “This Is My Etsy Shop” that shop owner would get the domain name of 'this is my Etsy shop com”. It would help to denote that this is their site and help them to gain even more customers.

Shop owners could also set up an email account for their shop using the name of the shop with their favorite email provider. These little touches are what sometimes make a shop stand out from the crowd, so pay close attention to them and implement these ideas whenever possible. It is amazing how more results will pour in by simply paying attention to some of the smaller details.

NOTES ON SHIPPING

It is very wise to calculate shipping costs accurately, otherwise items can wind up costing a lot more to ship than they should. Check with the local post office, Fed Ex, UPS and any other shipping services that are available in the area. Some will be less expensive than others. Always use the least expensive means to ship items, as long as they will deliver on time, each and every time.

Do not forget to calculate international shipping, as this can become very costly. If shop owners are willing to ship internationally always ensure that the right shipping fees are charged.

One of the nicer features for shop owners on Etsy is that they will allow shop owners to purchase shipping labels. They are less expensive than the postal service and there are no lines to wait in. All the shop owner needs to have is a scale that will measure by ounce. Etsy will then add the shipping label to the Etsy bill when it is billed out. How easy is that?

Be sure to include shipping in the pricing of items. This can be done in two ways; items can be listed to state 'includes shipping' or they can say 'plus shipping'.

Many shop owners swear by bubble-type mailers that are available in office supply stores and post offices. Keep a supply on hand for best results and so that there is no need to run to town when something sells.

Watch out for gimmicks that state 'free shipping'. These are not really free and someone always has to pay. Do not be the victim of any of these and fall prey to them.

CREATING LISTINGS THAT SELL THEMSELVES

Products that sell themselves are very valuable to any seller. It takes time, skill and effort to make items to sell, so sellers need to ensure they are using their very best work skills when creating items for sale. High quality craftsmanship along with attention to details are all very important in helping a product to sell itself.

Customers are very discerning and will be the final critic for any product that is sold. Give them what they want - high quality at good prices. They will then return for more.

Use tags. There is a space for 13 tags to help describe the items for sale. Use them to the best advantage. Consider SEO and good descriptions as two great tools to sell anything. If unsure of which tags to use, do some research on SEO and keywords to get the hang of it. It only takes a few minutes but can put the item at a potential buyer’s fingertips if it is done right.

Categories are a vital part of listings. Put things in the right categories so that the right buyers will see them. Whether an item is vintage, a craft item or supplies it should fit neatly into a category and bring potential buyers to the shop. Take advantage of more details such as 'exclusive', 'occasions', even 'style' and use them to highlight items appropriately. If customers cannot find an item due to bad categorizing, then there is a potential loss of sales.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Not enough be said about good customer service. Let’s face it, customers want to be able to get a hold of a shop owner if they have questions. This is just part of good customer service. It is quick and easy to carry on a conversation with a potential customer within Etsy. Check it frequently and interact for best results.

Often a customer that has a question is seriously considering a purchase. Do not lose that potential sale. Answer questions promptly and go above and beyond to offer up whatever customers are seeking. It only takes a moment to change a possible sale to a definite sale.

Be friendly, polite, respond quickly, and always go that extra mile to ensure a happy customer. It will really pay off in the end and sometimes it can gain the shop owner a great review. It is well worth the extra few minutes that it takes.

Create a policies page for the site. There should be specific written policies that state terms for payment, shipping and any refunds that may be requested. This benefits the buyer as well as the seller. Having something in writing can be very helpful if there are any discrepancies.

When a customer sees such policies in force, they are much more likely to select a shop that has more positive sounding policies. Go above and beyond and be that shop. It is really worth the time it takes to create those policies.

BRANDING

Branding is anything that makes a shop stand out from other shops by giving it an extra touch. These extra touches can come in many forms. Here are a few that most sellers use to help brand their shops.

Use hand written ‘thank you’ notes whenever you ship an item to a buyer. This may be a short note that simply says 'thank you' or it may be a note card or something similar. Buyers want to know that they are appreciated. This is one easy way for sellers to show that appreciation.

Include a small bonus such as a button or ribbon that can be attached and detached from a hat, a less expensive pair of earrings or a smaller set that match the first pair. It does not have to be anything too valuable, but customers will notice it and think of that seller more often than not.

Always include a business card so that buyers can remember what site they bought the item from. This is a great way for buyers to remember to return to a specific shop and buy more items.

Pretty packaging is always appreciated. Wrap items in raffia, or tissue paper that is wrapped up in raffia. Use a pretty ribbon or pretty tape to wrap things. Anything that will convey beauty and class will go far in helping to brand a shop.

Always take extra care when sending items and ensure that they are properly packaged so that there is no damage or breakage. This is a vital step and a key component in keeping customers coming back for more. It takes only minutes but can make all the difference in the world to a buyer.

HOW TO FIND POTENTIAL BUYERS FOR PRODUCTS OR ITEMS FOR SALE ON AN ETSY SHOP

No Etsy shop is complete without buyers. These buyers are what keep an Etsy shop going so it is a vital part of the business to find them. There are many ways to locate buyers and we have done some research for you so that you can use these strategies and get your shop up and running.

Now that the shop is up and running, it is time to call in the buyers. Marketing may sound pretty scary to some people, but it is really easy once they get the hang of it.

Family and Friends

Start by telling family and friends about the Etsy shop. Many people have family and friends that want to buy what they make. Now they can share their shop and make that happen in a professional manner. It will make the shop look better to have more sales, and family and friends can be proud to help their family or friend get their shop going. This makes it a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Wear It

While it only stands to reason that wearing what one makes will garner sales, many shop owners never think of it. Wear it and wait for people to ask “Where did you get that?” It is amazing how many sales this can gain a shop owner. Keep a good supply of business cards on hand to give to those who ask where something was bought. It is a great way to advertise and smart shop owners will always give a few extra cards to those who do buy, so that they can also hand out a card to friends or acquaintances who also ask where something was purchased.

Social Media

No Etsy shop is ever complete if it does not use social media to advertise for free. In short, tweet about it, share it on Facebook, and talk about it on Google+. Ask friends and family to do the same. Get others to share their status about it or to share your status about it.

Etsy has made this super easy to accomplish by including links to Facebook and Twitter so that visitors can share pictures and products from shops. Even Pinterest is in on the deal here. Pin it, tweet it, Facebook it and watch the customers flock to a shop. It is free of charge and a great way to get new customers as well as repeat customers.

Newsletters or Mailing Lists

Create a monthly newsletter that tells customers and potential customers the latest and greatest about the shop. They can subscribe to it and it can be a great resource for any shop owner. Talk about upcoming events, specials and anything else relevant to the specific shop at hand.

Coupons and specials could also be included in the newsletter. There are many easy software programs you can use to create newsletters quickly and easily. Most of the programs will allow up to 2500 contacts, which is a fairly large audience that will have access to the newsletter. Always make sure to give an 'opt out' at the end of the newsletter for those who are no longer interested in the shop or products that it has to offer.

Do not despair if there are a few that opt out. Chalk it up to weeding out those who would not be interested in your products and do not dwell on it or feel stressed.

Offer Coupons and Sales Periodically

These can be included in newsletters, on Tweets, on Facebook, on Pinterest and on Google+. Remember to show where the coupon or special was found so that shop owners can see where they are getting customers from.

A great way to do this is to give a small discount or free item to the 10th person to like something or some such idea like that. It could even be the 10th person to share or the 10th person to re tweet something. However it is done, the number can be adjusted accordingly and it is a great way to spread the word.

BLOG ABOUT IT

In addition to creating a domain name from the name of the Etsy shop, add in a blog. It is here that shop owners can have a lot of great communication with their potential customers and their customers. Here are a few things that a blog can do.

A blog can promote an upcoming event such as a sale or giveaway. It can offer up coupons and feature a new item that will be available soon. It can direct traffic to the shop and it can encourage others to share the blog, which can help to drive more traffic to the site.

It offers customers and potential customers a way to ask questions, discuss upcoming events and to share their thoughts. It gives a great resource for customers to leave valuable feedback for shop owners.

Be consistent in blogging. Just as in any other blog the more consistent the blogger is, the more likely they are to have a following.

Take the time to build up a community. There is great power in numbers, so build it and they will come.

Do periodic giveaways. The more incentive a reader has to visit the blog the better, so do giveaways and freebies now and again for some added zest to the blog and to the shop. It can be something as simple as a necklace or tutorial, or it can be something that is worth much more in value.

Be sure to 'brand' the blog as well. Remember the branding advice given above and find some ways to brand the blog so that users will continue coming back time and time again.

Have fun with the blog. Users want to have fun on blogs. They want to learn about new products. They want to laugh with shop owners who share funny stories about products or failures. Give it to them.

Trade some blog postings with a friend or another shop owner in order to get guest postings. It is a great way to get more readers, as the guest poster can link back to their site and vice versa. This way they are helping to spread the word about the blog they guest post in, as well as the Etsy shop that that blog owner has.

Expand the Network by reaching out to likeminded people. It is amazing how many will want to share their site and blog, and why not? It is a great way to expand the customer pool. Share and share alike; if the shop owner does not make a specific item, but knows of a shop owner that does, a quick referral can help connect customers and blog owners. This only takes a moment and is not detracting from one’s own shop if they did not carry said item.

Recognize another shop for service above and beyond the call of duty. It is amazing how reaching out like this can expand one’s own shop. When other shop owners see recognition they often give it in return.

Each time a blog post is swapped, there is potential for more customers as there are links that can be cross-posted for the shop and blog.

Contribute by guest writing, and feature specials on each blog. Work together for the betterment of everyone. By not being selfish, shop owners are assured that they are helping to increase their own sales.

Build up backlinks by giving relevant content to other blogs and sharing links to each shop. It will take some time, but is completely doable for any guest blogger.

KNOW THE MARKET

Understanding the target market is vital to being a successful Etsy seller. If a shop owner wants to make money they need to know their specific market. Know the age group that products will sell the most to, and know where they live (some will live in a specific area while others may be all around the world).

Know their economic status; do the products cater to a higher end market or to any market? If selling luxury items this is vital to success.

Remember that sometimes, less is more. If items are catered to a higher end market, keep it simple and elegant. There will be more sales if there is an elegant simplicity in the shop.

KEYWORDS AND SEO

Many people do not take the time to understand what keywords and SEO techniques are. In any Etsy shop this is a vital competent to making money by selling products. It is quick and easy and will not take up too much time for any shop owner.

To begin with, a keyword is the word or phrase that is used whenever someone wants to find something and does a search on their favorite search engine. This word or phrase is what pulls up the potential sites that will cater to that searcher.

Choose keywords that will convey what the Etsy shop sells most of. There are plenty of options here, so give it a long hard thought. Put the customer’s shoes on and think like the customer to come up with these words.

Check the search volume for keywords. Make sure keywords that are chosen are in the top of the listings not in the bottom of the listings. This is easy to accomplish by doing the proper research on the products and keywords. Use any keyword analysis tools that are available (many sites have these and they are also available via online searches).

Check the competition. If a shop wants to stand out from the crowd, this is one area to go . Choose high volume keywords that are unique and perfectly describe the products.

Narrow down the niche. Focus on a small niche for big results. Small niches are actually searched less, but they have a lot less competition. This gives shop owners a great edge over that competition. Make the Etsy shop the best of the best and there will be no question which shop to buy from.

While jumping right into things is exciting, it is important to do the leg work and make the Etsy shop the best ever in order to get what the shop owner wants out of the deal. Most shop owners are caring people that want to deliver quality products to happy customers.

They start small and work their way up. They know that to build a successful business they have to do the leg work and deliver a quality product each and every time. They are not in such a hurry that they jeopardize their success. Instead, they take their time and do the research and leg work that are required to be successful.

Always make changes and improvements to the shop in order to keep the cutting edge that has given success thus far. Remain positive when things slow down and work on building things back up. Keep the blog going and keep making guest posts.

It is natural for things in business to ebb and flow, so roll with the flow and things will soon even out. Etsy shops can be very lucrative, but it is vital that shop owners keep the products fresh and rotate them frequently.

Avoid the desire to load too much onto the shop site at a time. It is much better to add a few items each day than to add too many items in a day. This keeps potential customers returning for more and it helps keep the shop looking fresh and clean.

When there are too many choices customers are overwhelmed, so do not swamp them with too much at a time. It is easy to add more, but take the time to do it right. Add in valuable descriptions that utilize keywords and SEO practices for best results. Remember to use meta tags as well. These help to pull in more potential customers.

Keep the storefront eye catching and alluring. It should show a prime example of the products that are available in the shop and it should be refreshed frequently so that the products rotate. This is a great way to keep potential customers returning for more.

OTHER TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE AN ETSY SHOP STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

• Add unique banners.

• Make frequent announcements on blogs, in newsletters and on social networks.

• Use sections for different products.

• Choose a great avatar.

• Give excellent product descriptions. Include the materials used, colors and so on to help customers visualize things as well as see the picture on the computer. Remember that different monitors will show colors differently, so this is very important.

• Keep titles for items short and sweet. Long titles are distracting and customers will stop reading.

• Give clear and concise descriptions of items as much as possible. Include measurements, if needed for sizing.

• Be creative and clever and do not be afraid to use humor and word play in both descriptions and definitions of items and on the shop page itself.

• Select great adjectives to describe things. Do not be vague here.

• Use both upper case letters and lower case letters. Check for spelling and grammar so that grammar 'Nazis' will not attack the shop owner. It is amazing how many shop owners cannot spell and someone will bring it to their attention, every time. Double check and get a dictionary if need be.

• Always answer questions promptly and politely, even if the potential customer is not polite. Pretend it is a long lost grandmother who is too old to know better, if that helps.

• Tell people 'thank you' when they add the shop to a treasury. It is a polite gesture and will go far in helping that person remember the shop at a later date.

• Use manners and say 'thank you' often and in every way possible to customers and potential customers.

• Never appear too eager. This makes it look like the shop owner is desperate. Even if that is the case, take a deep breath and do not appear to look desperate.

• Be a good team member if giving guest posts and getting them. Work together; that is how business works well.

• Be a team player.

• “Dust” the shop occasionally, purge items that are not selling well and keep the shop looking neat and tidy.

• Use high resolution images whenever possible. It is amazing what a great picture can do for the shop.

• Remember the old business mantra: “The customer is always right”. Or at least allow them to think so.

• Always follow the rules that Etsy has set forth. Do not be guilty of violating any terms.

• Price items appropriately and competitively for best results.

• Be realistic and stay focused on the overall goal. Remember to focus on the shop and not on the competition. It is wise to know what the competition is doing but remember that the focus should remain on the shop itself.

• Learn good marketing techniques. It is amazing what a few good techniques can do for a shop when they are applied properly.

• Take a long hard critical look at the products and ensure that they are high quality. Ensure that each item is unique and worth the photo.

• Offer discounts for multiple product purchases, or offer an extra freebie of some kind. It is amazing how many customers will go for this and it can add in a lot of money on sales if it is done properly.

• Always clearly list the postage and handling costs. There is nothing worse or more annoying than having to look for this information when a buyer is considering purchasing a product. It can make all the difference between a buyer and a leaver.

• Have shop policies clearly stated on the shop. Include reserves, returns and ‘failure to show up’ so that customers and potential customers know what to do and how to go about it.

• Check back daily on the shop. Even if there are other things going on in life this is still a business and must be maintained or customers are going to go elsewhere. Many shop owners routinely check in the morning and at night before bed to ensure they do not miss anything vital.

• Be the customer once in a while and look at the shop page with a critical eye from the customer’s perspective. Change things that do not appear right or look out of place. It only takes a moment and can make a huge difference.

• Brand everything in the shop for great visibility.

• Fill out the fine details like the shop announcement so that visitors will know what to anticipate from the shop.

• Learn to be very detail oriented. Remember, it is the little things that count, so give people what they want - details.

• Never tell a customer that something is a bad idea. Only tell them if it is possible to make as a special order or not. Simply put, the customer is always right.

• Never sell email addresses from the newsletters. That is considered spamming and customers hate it and will unsubscribe in a second. By the same token, do not spam them with too much email, either; once a month or once every two weeks is plenty.

• Do social media slowly. There is no reason to add it all at once. It can be time consuming to set up, so choose favorites and start small. Remember that it will take time to build up and establish, so concentrate on one at a time until it is running well and then move on to the next one.

• Avoid any bad photos, they can backfire and shop owners can lose sales.

• Never plagiarize any content on the shop site. It is amazing what some people will do for a sale. First of all, plagiarism is illegal and stealing. Secondly, it makes the shop look cheap, as in ‘desperate cheap’. Do not lower yourself to those standards no matter how challenging writing may seem. If need be, hire someone to write an ad or to write out a description. It is well worth the effort.

• Now that all of the details are laid out on how to make money selling products on Etsy, it is time to get started. Go to the site and read up on how to get it up and running. It is quick and easy and a lot of fun, and the instructions are all in this eBook.

• Always make sure to take time to read through the various sections and apply what is learned in each section to the best benefit of the site. Do not be afraid of making mistakes; everyone makes a few and it is always something that can be easily fixed.

Many great businesses have started on Etsy and gone on to make their shop owners a small fortune. It takes determination and will power but it can be done.

It is important to have fun and enjoy it while not stressing out over the little details. It can be a challenge in the beginning to run an online business and a home but it is very doable Take the time to create a blog, spread the word via social networks and create a shop site that anyone would love to visit and in no time at all it will be off and running.

Remember that it is not going to happen overnight, but with diligence it will happen. Do not get discouraged. Many people stay on the computer all day long and do not get anything else done. That is no way to live. Treat it like a regular job. Set regular hours and take regular breaks, including lunch and dinner breaks. It is fine to work into the night when working on a project, but balance it out with some play time and some personal time. It will really help to keep a shop owner refreshed when regular breaks are taken.