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I am Dylan, a multi-six figure Etsy & Shopify seller. My Etsy shop ranks in the 0.1% of Etsy shops worldwide and we reached $1M+ in sales in just 5 years.
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Launching an Etsy shop can be an exciting journey, filled with endless possibilities for creative entrepreneurs like me. However, there are some common pitfalls that many new Etsy sellers fall into when starting their shops. I’ve learned a lot in my 6 years on Etsy. Learn from my experience and insights on how to successfully launch an Etsy shop, while also highlighting six mistakes to avoid along the way.
One common mistake I’ve noticed is the tendency to copy best-selling listings on platforms like Everbee. While it’s essential to research and identify common threads in successful listings, I strongly discourage copying and merely tweaking a listing. To stand out in the competitive Etsy marketplace, you need to offer a better design and an overall superior value proposition compared to the market leaders. Relying solely on a copy-and-tweak strategy can lead to constantly chasing sales and trying to replicate best-sellers without true innovation. Come up with your own products, ideas, and posts.
Some sellers believe they should wait until they have a substantial inventory of around 20 listings before putting in the effort to launch and drive traffic. My approach differs—I recommend getting your listings up as soon as possible and beginning marketing efforts within the first 24 hours to one week, primarily through platforms like Facebook and Pinterest. Don’t delay; start generating interest and sales from the get-go. You can adjust things like prices, descriptions, and more later, but you will never make a sale if you never open your shop!
Having all your listing photos or mockups look the same can limit your shop’s potential. It’s crucial to remember that you’re in a testing phase when starting out. You may not yet know what style of photos or mockups will resonate best with your target customers. So, experiment! Test different photo styles and mockup designs to discover what converts best. A simple test could reveal a style on one listing increases your conversion rate by 50% without even leveraging Etsy ads.
Many Etsy shop owners are concerned about undervaluing their work and aim to create a certain perception of quality by pricing their products high from the beginning. However, if you’re just starting and have no reviews or sales, worrying about your shop’s perception can be counterproductive. Your first 20 sales are not the time to focus on creating a specific perception. Instead, consider competitive pricing that attracts customers and generates those initial sales. A higher cost is the first thing that will turn a customer away, especially if you don’t have any reviews giving you credibility yet.
Naming your Etsy shop is a critical decision that can impact your shop’s growth and adaptability. Avoid overly niche names like “The Christmas Corner” or personal names like “Sarah’s Design Corner.” Think of your shop name as a flexible asset that should accommodate growth, scaling, and pivoting if necessary. Don’t spend weeks agonizing over the perfect name; you can always change it later. The key is to get your shop up and running, with the intention of refining the name when the time is right. This is your business!
The choice of fonts in your shop can significantly impact its overall appeal and professionalism. Using mismatched or unprofessional fonts in banners, logos, on POD (Print on Demand) items, printables, or listing overlays can make it evident that you lack a design background. I recommend searching font duos like “Canva Font Duo” or “Blogger Font Duo” to get professional opinions on which fonts work well together. Launching your shop with cohesive font choices will help you grow faster, especially if you’re selling digital products where font quality is paramount. You can also take these suggestions into account when you think about your shop marketing and website.
In conclusion, launching an Etsy shop is an exciting endeavor, but it comes with its share of challenges. By avoiding these six common mistakes, you can set your shop up for success and ensure a smoother journey toward becoming a thriving Etsy seller. Remember, every mistake is an opportunity to learn and improve, so embrace the process and keep moving forward in your Etsy business journey.
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© 2024 Dylan Jahraus. all rights reserved.
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Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. My results and student testimonials can’t be taken in any way as a guarantee of the results you will receive. This is not a get-rich-quick solution. Results came from hard work, sacrifice, and consistency. Business results are not typical. Your success will vary based upon the effort and education implemented and market forces beyond anyone’s control.
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