Start Your Own Etsy Business , livre ebook

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Entrepreneur Press, Publisher
Cover Design: Andrew Welyczko
Production and Composition: Eliot House Productions
2017 by Entrepreneur Media, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Reproduction or translation of any part of this work beyond that permitted by Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act without permission of the copyright owner is unlawful. Requests for permission or further information should be addressed to the Business Products Division, Entrepreneur Media Inc.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
The term Etsy is a registered trademark of Etsy, Inc. This publication has not been authorized, prepared or sponsored by Etsy, Inc.
ebook ISBN: 978-1-61308-367-3
Contents
Preface
What This Book Offers
Chapter 1
Discover What Etsy Has to Offer
What It Means to Be an Etsy Seller
Are You Prepared to Run Your Own Business?
Three Key Concepts You Need to Understand Right Away
Develop Realistic Expectations
Establish Your Business Correctly from Day One
Know Your Products and Your Niche Target Audience
Know the Importance of Ratings and Reviews
Who Is a Typical Etsy Seller?
Running a Business Requires Your Time
Every Successful Etsy Business Starts with a Great Idea and Planning
Dollars and Sense
The All-Important Business Plan
Figure out Which Product(s) You ll Be Selling
Start with a Passion
There are Other Places for Sellers to Sell
Chapter 2
The Many Responsibilities of Online Business Operators
Establishing Yourself as a Legal Business Entity
Figure Out What Skills You Still Need to Acquire
Basic Accounting and Bookkeeping
Customer Service
Inventory Management
Advertising Skills
Photography Skills
Social Media Skills
Writing Skills
Running a Business Takes Time
Acquiring the Equipment and Supplies You Will Need
Learn from Experienced Etsy Sellers
Meet Dorene Nowatzke, Proprietor of Columbia Fragrance Company
Advice for Defining Your Audience and Identity
Finding the Right Approach
Staying Visible Means Staying Relevant
Additional Thoughts
Chapter 3
Calculating Your Costs and Setting Your Prices
Define Your Product Offering
Define Your Audience
Determine What Equipment You Need
Choose the Right Materials and Supplies
Focus on Product Packaging
Figure Out Your Shipping Requirements
Calculate and Set Your Product s Retail Price
Start Building Your Inventory in Preparation for Opening Your Business
Consider Offering Product Bundles
Meet Kristen Berry, Proprietor of Miss Design Berry
Additional Thoughts
Chapter 4
Establishing Yourself as an Etsy Seller
Start Building Your Brand by Creating a Logo
Establish an Etsy Seller Account and Initially Create Your Shop
Getting Familiar with Etsy s Website
Understand Etsy s Fees
Setting Up Your Etsy Account: Required Information
Step 1: Set Your Shop Preferences Options
Step 2: Provide the Name of Your Shop
Step 3: Stock Your Shop
Step 4: How You ll Get Paid
Step 5: Set Up Billing
Your Etsy Shop Has a Unique Website Address
Adding Additional Information
Add Your Shop s About Section
Set Your Shop Policies
Explain Your Shipping Options and Policies
Link Your Social Media Account to Your Shop
Add Sections to Your Shop
Add Shop Updates on a Regular Basis
Create Your Personal Profile
Remember to Focus on Your Target Audience
Meet Joanne Simmons, Proprietor of SilverSculptor
Additional Thoughts
Chapter 5
Creating Your Product Listings and Product Photography
What You Say and How You Say It Are Equally Important
Create Attention-Getting Product Listings: A Step-by-Step Guide
Product Listing Step 1: Product Photography
Product Listing Step 2: Listing Details
Product Listing Step 3: Variations
Product Listing Step 4: Shipping Details
Product Listing Step 5: Add Search Terms
How to Take Professional-Quality Product Photos
12 Tips for Taking Great Product Photos
Meet Jane Katirgis, Co-Proprietor of Elegance Farm Homestead
Additional Thoughts
Chapter 6
Promoting and Marketing Your Etsy Shop
Your Marketing and Advertising Should Be Consistent with Your Brand
There s a Difference Between Marketing and Advertising
Reach Etsy s Community of Buyers
Popular Marketing Activities You Can Adopt for Your Etsy Business
Word-of-Mouth Works Best
Focus on Generating Repeat Business from Existing Customers
Rely on Your Positive Ratings and Reviews to Boost Your Credibility
Take Advantage of Etsy s Own SEO Tools
Become Active on Social Media
Establish a Company and Personal Facebook Page
Become Active on Twitter and/or Instagram
Pinterest as a Viable Tool for Etsy Sellers
Operating a YouTube Channel Allows You to Share Your Videos
Use Email to Your Advantage
Consider Starting a Website, Blog, and/or Newsletter
Plan and Execute a Public Relations Campaign
Take Part in Local and Regional Craft Fairs
Paid Advertising Typically Offers Faster Results, But at a Financial Cost
Use Etsy Advertising to Promote Your Etsy Shop
Determine If Advertising in Special Interest Publications Can Be Beneficial
Determine Your Advertising and Marketing Budget
Meet Jewelry Maker Luann Udell
Additional Thoughts
Chapter 7
Always Offer Top-Notch Customer Service
Ways to Handle Customer Service
Good Customer Service Requires More Than Just Saying Thank You
21 Strategies for Providing Top-Notch Customer Service
Meet Michelle Bold, Proprietor of Paintspiration
Additional Thoughts
Chapter 8
Growing Your Etsy Business
Always Keep Your Shop s Content Fresh
Seven Ways to Expand Your Business
Consider Expansion to Other Services
Meet Andrew Church, Proprietor of Bison Hill Stonecrafts
Final Thoughts
Appendix
Etsy Business Resources
Glossary
Index
Preface
I n just a few short years, Etsy has become the largest and most successful online community for artists, crafters, artisans, and other creative people who want to showcase and sell their work. With little or no previous business experience, and absolutely no programming or website design skills, just about anyone can create a customized Etsy shop, populate it with listings for their products, and then sell them to buyers throughout the world. Best of all, the startup costs for launching this type of business are extremely low.
Whether you re looking to earn some extra money from a hobby you already have a passion for or you have a specialized art/craft-related skill to create high-quality products others will want to buy, Etsy offers the opportunity to transform your passion, hobby, and/or unique skill into a moneymaking business venture.
While some people open an Etsy shop with the idea of making a little bit of extra money, others have discovered how to grow their Etsy -based business into a highly profitable, full-time career. Whatever your personal goals, Start Your Own Etsy Business will help you discover what it takes to become an Etsy seller and walk you through the process of creating, managing, marketing, and advertising your own Etsy shop. You ll also be provided with many proven strategies that will help you become successful and avoid common pitfalls.
Start Your Own Etsy Business is not endorsed or licensed by Etsy , Inc., so it s able to provide information from a variety of different sources, including a handful of independent, successful, and well-established Etsy sellers, who share their exclusive insight, tips, and advice throughout this book.
As you ll discover, Start Your Own Etsy Business is written for creative entrepreneurs who have an idea for products/items to sell on Etsy but who aren t necessarily tech-savvy. It s ideal for people first getting started as an Etsy seller, as well as for current Etsy shop operators who want to expand or grow their business to make it more successful and profitable.
What This Book Offers
Start Your Own Etsy Business is an easy-to-understand, nonte