Running a business gives you freedom from the daily nine to five grind. You set your hours and create the things that make you happy. But is all the work worth it in the end?
Etsy shops pulled in a combined $230,000 in the first quarter of 2020. Shop owners who put in the hard work earned enough to live on without a second job.
Learning how to start an Etsy shop won’t take weeks or years. In one weekend, you can get your shop up and running.
Let’s start by going to your crafting room and writing out a business plan for the year. Once you have a solid plan, then it’s time to open your shop.
Create a Business Identity
Curious about how to start an Etsy shop for beginners? The first step is to sign up for an Etsy account.
Tip: Use an email address that’s set up just for your business. This way notifications from Etsy aren’t lost in all your other emails.
Another tip to keep your business organized is to use a separate credit card or bank account. It makes tracking your sales, and any possible sales taxes, much easier.
Now it’s time to brainstorm a business name. Etsy doesn’t allow duplicate shop names, so make a list of five ideas. The shop name should reflect your products or the shop’s aesthetics.
Draft a quick paragraph about the shop and what it offers. Have your friends read it and give feedback about the tone. When you’re customizing the shop later, use this paragraph in the bio section.
Make Sure Your Etsy Shop is Easy on the Eyes
Your business needs to look interesting and inviting at a glance. Shops that sell a little bit of everything have chaotic energy. It gives potential buyers the feeling that you might not take the business seriously.
When your shop first opens, focus on one or two product lines. For instance, someone selling necklaces can include earrings or bracelets. Adding something like handmade end tables to a jewelry shop doesn’t fit as well.
The real secret to creating an appealing shopfront lies in the product pictures. If the backgrounds for every item are different, there’s too much visual stimulation.
A few tips for your Etsy product photos:
- Use single-color sheets for your backdrops
- Drape the sheet over a plastic tote, leaving a few feet on the ground
- Use natural lighting or light bulbs with the same tone as the sun
- Watch out for shadows that conceal part of the product
- Take pictures showing every angle of the item
If you have the resources, create a business logo. Put the logo on a sticker and include it with each purchase. Little gifts encourage buyers to spread the word about your shop.
Learning How to Start an Etsy Shop is a Breeze
Once you understand how to start an Etsy shop, the process doesn’t take long. You do want to take your time pulling everything together, though. Don’t settle for bad photos and rushed product descriptions.
Etsy recommends starting with 10 listings. Write down everything you need to include in the listing before you start. This way you can copy and paste the information so setup doesn’t take long.
Looking for tips to run a successful business? Visit our Business and Marketing sections for more helpful articles.
