Selling Your Handmade Items on Etsy
If you've turned your passion for crafting into a small home business and are selling your creations at craft fairs and fests it might be time to make a change.
Consider selling your handmade items online. An online craft store will give you the opportunity to market your product to millions of people and hopefully build your business.Fortunately you do not have to be computer wizard to open your own craft store on the Internet.
Etsy is large site where crafters can open their own store, sell their products, and earn money without even knowing how to build a website. Etsy has easy to use modules to help you set up your own store which will they will manage for you. It is a no lose situation for many home crafters.
Before opening an Etsy store it is important to decide what you will sell. You can sell one item or many items. It is advisable to not have a large inventory so what you do sell will be of a high quality. It is possible to make money using Etsy with just one fabulous product. Once you find your niche, determine what you are going to sell and then you can begin to build your store.
Building your store will require you to have a store name. It is always a good idea to make your name catchy and describe either you or your product. If you sell handmade crafts with an apple motif you could name your store Amanda’s Apples, assuming your name is Amanda. Be creative and think about using words in your title that people will “google” when searching for what you are selling.
To make your shop unique and eye-catching you will be asked to create a banner and an avatar. Your banner will top your storefront and should look professional and reflect your work. Etsy has a “bannerator” you can use to help you build your banner. Your avatar is a photo or symbol that people will associate with you and your product. It is your identity on Etsy. A small photo of your product or photo of yourself are good avatar choices. Make sure your photograph is sharp and colorful.
You will also be required to write a profile. This is a great opportunity to tell your story and introduce yourself to potential clients. In getting to know you customers will develop a relationship with you and possibly become loyal customers.
Once you have built your store it will be time to sell your first item. Etsy has an easy to use module that walks you through listing your first item. You will need a short concise description of your item, a crisp and clear photo, and a price for your product. Keep in mind when setting your price you will need to account for your time, supplies, and the small fee Etsy charges for each sale in order to make a profit.
As you become more familiar with using Etsy you will find it is a fast and simple way to sell your product. There are loads of helpful modules to help you along the way. There is also a great and supportive Etsy community with whom you can communicate for advice and support.
Before building your store you can spend some time looking around at existing stores and read some of the Etsy member success stories.
Visit Etsy.com for more information.
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