10 Common Mistakes I See from Sellers on Etsy

I recently hit the Etsy milestone of 1,000 sales. For some reason, this feels like a huge accomplishment - mainly because I’ve been chipping away at Etsy for five years without seeing much growth. Oddly enough, more than half of my 1,000 sales happened this year and it was all because of some things I learned. I made a commitment to study the ins and outs of Etsy earlier this year, and it has made all the difference. Today, I’d like to share my favorite tips with you. These are all mistakes I made (so don’t feel bad) and I saw a huge improvement once I corrected them.

1. Repeating Words in Your Keywords: You only have so many keywords to use, so try not to repeat yourself too much. For example, it’s better to say “Flower Art Print” and “Floral Wall Hanging” than “Flower Art Print” and “Flowers Art.” Etsy reads plural versions of a word as the same word, so “Flower” and “Flowers” are essentially the same thing. For relevant keyword suggestions, I can’t recommend a keyword tool like Erank enough. Also, study what keywords successful people in your category are using. The best teachers are other Etsy sellers and their shops.

2. Not Using All the Space in Your Listing Title: The words in your title act like keywords. It’s a missed opportunity if you don’t use all the space you have. I like to separate the tags with lines so it’s easier for customers to digest. As with keywords, try not to repeat words too much. Here’s an example of a title I’d use that fills all the space: Christmas at Rockefeller Center Art Print | Ice Skating Poster | New York Skyline | NYC Wall Art | Watercolor | Gallery Wall Set | Giclee

3. Not Linking Other Products in Your Item Descriptions: People love purchasing multiple items from the same shop, especially if they go well together. Be sure to link items of a similar color palette or subject matter in your item descriptions. I also like showing a gallery wall in my listing photos, so people can visualize how multiple prints might look together.

4. Not Promoting Your Newsletter or Social Media: If people have purchased your work, they’re probably interested in what you’re currently working on. I promote my Instagram and newsletter in my message to buyers at checkout and also in my shop description. This is a great way to gain an authentic following, without being too salesy.

5. Not Learning from Customer Questions: All messages you receive are important feedback. For years, I was getting questions about larger print sizes. I finally did something about it. Once I started offering larger sizes, my shop really took off. If you get a question more than once, it’s something you need to look into. If you get a question constantly, it’s imperative that you look into it.

6. Not Making More of Your Bestselling Items: There are probably a few items in your shop that sell best. While it may be tempting to try something new, you’re far better off making something similar to what people are already buying. This is the best way to increase your sales, and grow your shop.

7. Not Having a Primary Listing Photo That Pops: Look at how your item displays on the page with similar items from other shops. Would you click on your item? If everyone is using wood frames and white backgrounds, maybe you need to do something different. Your listing photo should convey your brand vibes, and help people visualize what the item would look like in their space. Most people aren’t as visual as us artists, we need to lend some extra help with great photography.

8. Not Including a Hand-Written Thank You: I typically write a short thank you message on the outside of my envelopes. In an effort to save time, I recently bought thank you stickers and starting using those instead. Oddly enough, I noticed I wasn’t getting as many reviews when I used the stickers. People weren’t feeling that connection with my work. I know handwritten notes aren’t always feasible but if you’re growing your shop, it can really help. I now try to write them when I can, but sometimes fall short when I get an influx in sales.

9. Not Showing Enough of Yourself in Your Shop: People on Etsy aren’t just buying art. They are buying from makers. They want a story. If they didn’t care about these things, they’d be shopping at Target. I have many photos of myself on my shop, and I even include one in my listing images. I also tell my personal story in my shop info. I think it has really help customers feel a connection to my work.

10. Not Filling out All the Listing Fields: I know it can be tedious, but you should really fill in all the categories when you list a product, especially size, color, and style. This helps buyers on Etsy find you. I know I personally search by color all the time, especially when it comes to art. Take the time to fill out your listings correctly, and you will thank yourself later.

I hope these tips were helpful! What are your best Etsy tips? I’d love to hear, since I still have so much to learn!