handbags: Etsy Success: Call and Response

5.11.09

Etsy Success: Call and Response

If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view the online version

Share Your Success!

Subscribe to the Etsy Success RSS Feed

November 5, 2009

Hey Etsy Success Readers - did you find our Seller Deals email from a couple weeks back useful? If so, click here to subscribe to future Seller Deals emails. We'll be sending them out about four times a year.

I chat with dozens (and dozens!) of Etsy sellers, every day. Sometimes those interactions even inspire my next newsletter topic. Today I want to cover the most common questions I get asked, and share some of my favorite resources.

Q: I want to open a shop. Should I wait until I have a lot of stock?
I suggest new sellers soft-launch their new Etsy shops. List a few items to get a feel for the entire process. You'd be surprised by the way photographing, describing and seeing your item live on Etsy can influence your creative process. You'll also get immediate feedback on those few items in the way of views, hearts and even Convos from potential buyers. My #1 article for new sellers? It's a new one by HeyMichelle, and it's a gem! Read it here: Etsy Success for Beginner Sellers.

Q: How do I get more sales?
This is probably the one question I get asked the most. I love how Amy of littlealouette answered this question in a recent Virtual Labs chat: Passion! (Actually she was a little more cheeky with her answer. But I'll keep it clean for my readers.) Passion for your work, passion for sharing your work and evolving your online business — this is the one key element that all the successful sellers I've known have. They don't focus on "sales" per se, but instead are guided by positivity, patience and passion! More tips from littlealouette here.

Q: When's the best time and day of the week to list an item?
ALL the time. List new work often! Scatter your listings throughout the week (try not to list all of your work on one day if you can). If you do this, your work will be spread throughout your Category and search results, making you more likely to be seen. Think about a good time of day when you can reach multiple time zones. Alternatively, list your items when it makes the most sense for your products. Do you make leather sandals? You might want to target your listings for the time Australians will be up and shopping, since they're enjoying their spring now and are about to go into summer. Want to know what day and time your shop gets the most traffic? Set up your web analytics (find out how here) then check out this Forum post.