I set up my Etsy store Mode Studio Designs to sell my graphic prints around 6 months ago and have learnt so much along the way. I have listed my six main tips I wish I had known when I first set up my store. I hope this helps anyone considering Etsy!

1. Make sure your products are profitable

It is so important run the numbers on every product that you plan to offer BEFORE you buy the supplies, put time and effort into it, and post it. I have a spreadsheet that I enter all my figures into when I am thinking of offering a new product. Your calculations should include:

• Etsy fees (listing fee, transaction fee, processing fee, potential ad fee)
• Supplies for the product
• Packaging
• Postage and mailer costs

The general rule of thumb is to have 50% profit for your items.

2. Research supplies

This ties into making sure that your products are profitable. When you’re starting out it can be hard to know how much to spend on supplies which is why it’s important to have that spreadsheet. It may not seem important when you are looking at supplies costing under a dollar per item but every cent counts towards your profit. I recommend trying to find wholesalers or using eBay (for items like mailers) depending on what you are looking for.

3. Have a consistent upload schedule

Etsy loves consistent uploads and you always get a little boost in visits and views when you post new items. I have found uploading a few items at the same time on the same day once a week has really helped engagement with my store.

4. Use mock-ups

The quality of your photography and listing photos are one of the most important things to focus on. If your listing doesn’t catch the customer’s eye, you won’t get views or sales. If you don’t have a particularly aesthetic house or background – use mock-ups! Mock-ups are essentially backgrounds that you insert your product into. A quick Google search will show you heaps of free mock-up designs that you can use for your store.

5. Refine your keywords and SEO

Keywords and SEO (search engine optimisation) are your key to being found on Etsy. Make sure that you use all 13 tags available and avoid one word tags. It’s important to fill out all suggested boxes when you’re creating a new listing as Etsy favours this. To work on your SEO, make sure that the phrases in your title are also used in your tags. I have found that erank is really helpful to find relevant keywords and phrases for tags.

6. Offering free postage

It is also important to keep in mind that free postage is encouraged by Etsy so to be competitive, it is recommended that you also offer free postage. This needs to be factored into your profit as postage is generally the most expensive cost. If you are in Australia, I recommend signing up for MyPost Business with Australia Post. It gives you discounts based on how many parcels you send per week and you can sign up even if you are just starting your business.

Do you have an Etsy store and have any other tips? Comment below!