How to Get More Sales on Etsy: 18 Proven Strategies

Every Etsy seller wants to learn one thing — how to get more sales on Etsy.

If you’re looking to grow your revenue on your Etsy shop massively, then you’re in the right place.

In this article, you’ll learn a bunch of tips and strategies to promote your Etsy store and increase sales on Etsy.

These Etsy tips will be a mixture of new ideas and foolproof ones I’ve found while studying the platform. I’ll teach you how to sell more on Etsy with organic methods, paid traffic, and more.

Let’s begin.

How To Get Sales on Etsy: 18 Proven Strategies

I compiled some of the top Etsy selling tips to help Etsy store owners and sellers boost Etsy sales.

Here are 18 effective methods on how to increase sales on Etsy:

1. Perform SEO on your listings.
2. Write a compelling listing title and description.
3. Upload high-quality photos and a video.
4. Offer free or low shipping fees.
5. Pay attention to your branding.
6. Enhance packaging and presentation.
7. Send small gifts and tokens.
8. Add a scarcity effect.
9. Launch sales and discounts.
10. Build an email list.
11. Promote your Etsy shop on social media.
12. Create a website.
13. Maintain a blog for content marketing.
14. Leverage Etsy ads for a boost in visibility.
15. Launch ad campaigns on other platforms.
16. Utilize social proof.
17. Keep offering new products.
18. Monitor your performance and adapt.

1. Perform SEO on Your Listings.

When learning how to sell more on Etsy, search engine optimization should be at the top of your list. Etsy SEO allows you to improve your visibility and enhance your listings.

Etsy is a search engine that uses an advanced algorithm to match the most relevant listings to the user’s search. The higher you rank high on the search results, the higher your chances of reaching your customers.

Your goal is to find the words or phrases relevant to your products that users search for. Then, you’ll optimize your listings by using these keywords.

Some ways you can find keywords are the following:

• Think like your customers, and create a list of terms they might use to search for your products.
• Use the Etsy search bar for suggestions.
• Use Etsy SEO tools, like EverBee and EtsyHunt.

When you use the right keywords, you increase your chances of ranking high on search engines.

Where Do You Use Keywords?

Once you find relevant keywords, incorporate them into the following:

• Title
• Description
• Image file name
• Alt text
• Etsy Tags
• Ads

You must use the keywords as-is, but remember to use them naturally. Don’t try to force them and sprinkle them randomly.

An awkward-sounding copy might work on Etsy’s algorithm (although it usually doesn’t), but it will only confuse potential buyers.

2. Write a Compelling Listing Title and Description.

Copywriting is one of the foundations of marketing.

You can’t learn how to boost sales on Etsy without fixing your copies, especially your titles and product descriptions.

Product Title

When coming up with your title, ensure it accurately depicts your product. Use the most relevant keywords near the beginning, as this is the part that will show on the search results page.

Etsy allows up to 140 characters in the title, so make it count.

Product Description

The description is what will make your visitors convert. It should have the following elements:

• Complete Details

The description should have all the details a customer needs to make a decision, such as the size, material, format, brand, year released, etc.

Incomplete details might make visitors look for an alternative instead.

• Clarity

Go straight to the point, unlike those recipe blogs that take you back to the author’s childhood before giving the actual recipe.

A bit of storytelling is good for helping potential customers visualize your product. However, too much can disengage the readers as they’re not getting the information they want.

• Benefits

Don’t just talk about the features and descriptions of your product. Share what problems it solves and how customers can use it to their benefit.

• Unique Selling Point

Talk about the things that set it apart – what makes it truly unique and special. Highlight it in your description to immediately let your audience know they’re in for a treat.

When crafting the description, ensure the important bits go first. Not all customers read the entire thing, so you must capture their attention in the first parts.

3. Upload High-Quality Photos and a Video.

Product photos are some of the most essential parts of your listing. They help your audience visualize your product’s appearance in real life, getting more information beyond what your description provides.

In other words, photos can make or break your potential customer’s buying decision.

You must post high-quality photos that show the best aspects of your products. Here are some tips for high-performing images that can help convert your visitors:

Good Lighting

The key to great photos is having great lighting that allows you to show the details and colors accurately.

Natural light is the best option as it creates a nice atmosphere while providing enough brightness to highlight your product.

If it’s not available, you can use an artificial source as long as it’s not too harsh and uneven. These may distort the appearance of your products, leading to low-converting listings.

High-Resolution

Consider hiring a professional photographer to take care of your photos. Alternatively, you can buy a high-level camera or use a flagship smartphone to capture high-resolution photos.

Not only will this make your images look high-quality and professional, it will also allow your visitors to zoom in and see the finer details.

Check Etsy’s image size requirements for their recommended ratio and resolution.

Multiple Photos (and a Video)

Etsy allows you to upload up to 10 images and one video per listing. Utilize them all.

Upload photos in varying angles and perspectives to provide a comprehensive view of your product. Include close-up shots, as well, to highlight interesting details, like the material quality, texture, or unique elements.

Ensure you add a video, as well. Etsy prioritizes listings with a video since it often leads to a high conversion.

Real-Life Application

Demonstrate how your product looks in real-life settings.

For example, you can show models wearing your product or create mock-ups of how your digital printable wall art will look in a room.

This helps your customers envision your product better in their life.

Clean and Simple Background

Use a neutral background, and keep the clutter away to minimize visual distractions. Your photos should maintain the customer’s attention to your product.

You can use other decorative objects to enhance the visual appeal, but ensure they don’t take the majority of the space and overshadow your product.

4. Offer Free or Low Shipping Fees.

Did you know a high shipping fee is the main cause of cart abandonment?

Around 48% of consumers cite high extra costs upon checkout as the main reason they abandon their carts.

One theory behind this reasoning is that online shoppers might feel cheated when the final price is higher than what they’re expecting to pay. Offering free shipping allows the upfront cost to stay the same from their cart to checkout.

Transparent pricing helps your customers manage their expectations without having to calculate separate shipping fees. It also simplifies your pricing structure.

This is also why Etsy’s algorithm prefers listings with free shipping. The platform wants to show results that it’s confident the users will like.

I understand it will be challenging to offer free shipping for small businesses, especially when you’re selling low-cost products. Here are some ways you can offer free or discounted shipping:

• Set a minimum order value for free shipping, increasing the order value and covering the shipping expenses.
• Incorporate the shipping cost into the product.
• Order shipping labels from Etsy for discounted rates.
• Subsidize a part of the shipping cost while maintaining profits.

It can be even more complicated when you consider the varying shipping prices, especially when you’re catering to online customers all over the country.

To get a good idea of your costs, use Etsy calculators to see how much you would have to charge to generate a profit from every sale.

5. Pay Attention to Your Branding.

Your brand is your business’s identity. It consists of various elements that collectively represent your shop and differentiate it from your competitors.

It’s one of the first aspects to consider before starting an Etsy shop as it will dictate every business decision you make going forward, such as in the following situations:

• Creating an Etsy banner, logo, and theme
• Choosing what products to sell in your shop
• Determining the tone of voice in your copies and customer communications
• Designing marketing materials
• Choosing partnership and collaboration opportunities

Your branding must be consistent across all your platforms and the whole customer experience. This allows you to increase brand recognition and build a community that resonates with your values.

Once you strengthen your brand positioning, you can rely on loyal customers and increased reach to get more Etsy sales.

6. Enhance Packaging and Presentation.

Many sellers underutilize the power of beautiful packaging. After all, they already made the sale at that point.

However, post-sales is also important in building your brand and growing your shop.

The packaging is your customer’s first physical interaction with your product and business. It creates an immediate impression on your brand, setting the tone for the rest of their experience.

You can use it to improve the overall customer experience in various ways.

• Good packaging materials to protect your product from damage during transit, ensuring your customers receive their purchases in excellent condition.
• If you’re a sustainable brand, using eco-friendly packaging materials can help establish your business values further.
• You can add personal notes or some freebies to build a relationship with your customer and foster brand loyalty.
• It’s an opportunity to streamline the customer experience by providing additional instructions, warnings, or guides on how to use and maintain your product.
• Well-designed packaging increases your product’s perceived value.
• Unique and visually-appealing packaging can differentiate your brand and create a memorable experience.
• Attractive packaging can make your product more suitable for gifting.

All these encourage repeat purchases, positive reviews, and more word-of-mouth referrals.

7. Send Small Gifts and Tokens.

Even the smallest token can go a long way, especially when it’s unexpected. The pure delight of receiving something filled with your gratitude helps create a lasting positive impression on your brand and foster loyalty.

You don’t have to go all out when including a freebie. It can be as simple as a sample of another product, a coupon code for future purchases, some branded stickers, or another item that complements their purchase.

If you’re not yet in the position to give free products, consider adding a handwritten note with their name and specific details about their purchase. For example, if they mention it’s for their birthday, greet them and thank them for allowing you to celebrate the occasion with them.

The personal touch creates a strong emotional connection, which can then increase word-of-mouth referrals and encourage repeat purchases.

8. Add a Scarcity Effect.

The rarer an item is, the more appealing it is to consumers.

How can you apply this effect into your products?

Simple – limit the quantity of items you produce. Many brands also use strategy, creating limited-edition designs or offering season-exclusive lines.

You can also do this by listing a few quantities per listing.

When a potential customer sees there’s only one or two left, they’re more likely to complete the transaction right away than letting it sit on their cart for a few days before they finally decide.

This strategy taps into the consumer psychology to increase your product’s desirability. The fear of missing out can push a customer further into the sales funnel more quickly, and the sense of exclusivity can bring immense satisfaction.

However, ensure you don’t use this strategy too often. Like discounts, creating false scarcity can undermine trust and negatively affect your brand reputation.

9. Launch Sales and Discounts.

Sales are a proven marketing tactic to attract new customers. After all, almost everyone is susceptible to a good deal.

Let’s be more specific and detail in what ways offering discounted prices can help boost your sales:

• Allows you to target those who are on the fence about buying your product
• Helps you generate revenue from unpopular products
• Creates a sense of urgency from fear of missing out on lowered prices
• Encourages repeat purchases

An Etsy sale campaign also has long-term benefits.

Let’s say you successfully converts a buyer who would otherwise ignore your product if not for the sale. If they find value in their experience, they can return as a full-paying customer, leading to long-term customer relationships and ongoing revenue.

Limitations

However, ensure you don’t overuse this strategy. Frequently offering discounted prices will negatively affect your business in these ways:

• Frequent sales can diminish the perceived value of your products, which will make the regular value seem too expensive.
• Customers would rather wait for the sale than buy your products in full price.
• Reducing prices can eat into your profit margins and make it challenging to sustain your business.
• Some sellers inflate the regular price so the “discounted price” won’t eat into their profits. However, this would lead to loss of customer trust.
• The more sales you offer, the less they become effective. It would lessen the sense of urgency and exclusivity that would drive more customers to buy during the sale period.

10. Build an Email List.

Launching an Etsy email marketing campaign helps you go straight to the customer’s inbox.

It’s a coveted spot, but you must first earn the right to be there and prove yourself to stay there.

This is how email marketing on Etsy typically looks like:

What types of content should you create for your email marketing strategy? Here are some ideas:

• A welcome email
• New product launches
• Announcements on upcoming sales and promotions
• Coupon codes for triggered events, like a birthday, a purchase, etc.
• Tips and tricks for your products
• Additional instructions and guides
• Valuable and enriching content
• Behind-the-scenes

Benefits of Email Marketing

• Segmentation according to demographics, buying behavior, etc.
• Personalized marketing
• Direct line to customers
• Customer retention and repeat sales
• Increased sales and conversions
• Improved brand awareness

Dealing with Customer Information

Keep in mind that you should follow Etsy’s guidelines about using your customer’s information. I’ve summarized the key points below:

1. You can’t add a customer’s email address to your list without their explicit consent.
2. Ensure you’re transparent about what your customer can expect when signing up for your list.
3. You should not use the email address you obtain for other purposes (i.e. sending promotional content after the customer provides their email for receiving a digital download).
4. The content must always relate to Etsy when you obtain the email through Etsy.
5. You can’t share or disclose any customer information with other parties.

11. Promote Your Etsy Shop on Social Media.

Etsy brings in a million visitors per month. However, you shouldn’t rely solely on the platform’s user base.

You should reach out to your audience beyond the ecommerce platform. Meaning, you must create a presence where they usually hang out.

The most popular social media platforms today are:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Pinterest
• LinkedIn
• And more

The right choice for you depends on which sites your target customer uses.

Creating a social media profile allows you to engage with your audience in ways Etsy doesn’t provide. You can post updates, ask your followers questions, and make public or private conversations.

Your focus should be on building your brand identity and fostering customer loyalty. Then, direct them to your Etsy shop to make sales.

12. Create a Website.

Etsy isn’t the end of your ecommerce journey. If you want to grow your business, you can explore other options outside the platform while keeping it as one of your sales channels.

One of the best ecommerce sites I would recommend is Shopify, although you can try other platforms like WooCommerce and something.

Why should you create a dedicated online store?

I can easily think of these reasons:

• Access to more marketing materials
• More customization options
• More freedom for branding
• Increased credibility and professionalism
• Greater control over your business and strategies

With websites like Shopify, you can sync your Etsy listings to manage your inventory easily. You can also offer more products that Etsy doesn’t typically allow.

13. Maintain a Blog for Organic Growth.

Creating your own blog allows you to launch a content marketing strategy, which targets the audience coming from Google.

With content marketing, you can create valuable blog articles optimized with keywords to build credibility and establish yourself as an authority in your niche.

Once organic traffic starts coming in from Google, you can direct it to your Etsy shop using clear call-to-actions.

Moreover, a blog is an effective way to engage with your customers and build your brand. You can tell your brand’s story, write informative posts, and deliver more value to your audience.

Remember, your blog must be within your niche, so that the visitors coming in are a part of your target customers.

14. Leverage Etsy Ads for a Boost in Visibility.

If you want to learn how to get more traffic on Etsy, check out the platform’s advertising service. This built-in feature helps you enhance your visibility and reach a broader audience.

How Etsy Ads Work

• Ad Placement

The ads appear on top of the Etsy search results and before the non-promoted listings. They may also appear on relevant product listing pages.

• Keyword

You must choose relevant keywords to target, but keep in mind you’re going to compete for those keywords. If you have a high competition, your promoted listings might appear less.

• CPC Model

Etsy ads has a cost-per-click model wherein you only pay when a user clicks on the ad. The actual amount varies depending on your bid and the level of competition for the keyword.

• Budgeting

You can set a daily budget ad, which is the maximum amount you want to spend on a specific promoted Etsy listing. Once you reach this limit, Etsy won’t show your ads until the next day.

• Optimization

Monitor your ad performance through the Shop Manager to see if your ads are getting impressions, clicks, and conversions. Adjust the keywords, bids, and budget as necessary.

Once you understand these elements, you can use Etsy ads to grow more quickly.

Etsy Offsite Ads

Etsy also has a program that advertises listings on external platforms, such as:

• Social media sites
• Google Display Network
• Partner websites

You don’t actually have to do anything to qualify. Etsy automatically enrolls all sellers, but shop owners who made less than $10,000 USD in the past 365 days can choose to opt out.

Etsy handles all aspects of the advertising process, including any initial fees charged by their partners.

You only have to pay when you make a sale through an Offsite Ad. Etsy takes a 12 to 15% cut from the total amount, but its commission will never go beyond $100.

It might seem like a lot, but I think it’s a great opportunity to grow your business without any upfront investment.

15. Launch Ad Campaigns on Other Platforms.

Expand your advertising reach by launching ads outside of Etsy, allowing you to tap into new audiences and drive more traffic to your shop.

It will be more complicated than an Etsy ad, but I’ll give you an overview of creating an ad campaign:

1. Choose a platform, such as social media sites and Google.
2. Create a compelling ad creative tailored to the platform you chose.
3. Define your ad objective. It could be to increase brand awareness, promote a new product, or retarget your previous visitors who didn’t convert into buyers.
4. Use the A/B testing method to gain more insight into what works for your audience.

Launching campaigns iterates the importance of knowing your audience and researching the market. You must learn how to reach them and what will make them click on your ad to maximize your budget.

16. Utilize Social Proof.

Social proof is one of the building blocks of a buyer’s decision-making process.

When buying online, consumers want to make sure they’re making the right decision by checking what others say about the product.

What are these proofs?

Testimonials from Satisfied Customers

Reviews on your Etsy shop can boost buyer confidence and increase the likelihood of conversion. However, they’re optional, so you must find a way to encourage customers to give their feedback.

One strategy you can try is to provide an incentive for leaving a review. For example, offer a discount on their next purchase as a token of your appreciation.

Aside from Etsy reviews, you can also use feedback from other sources, like blogs, social media posts, personal message, and more. After getting permission to use them, you can share them on:

• Your product listings
• Social media posts
• Email newsletter
• Your blog

User-Generated Content (UGC)

If you have a social media account, you can leverage user-generated content about your brand. Create a branded hashtag or run contests to encourage your audience to share their experiences with your products.

UGCs are an effective social proof, as real people are behind the content. They demonstrate people genuinely use and enjoy your products.

Recommendations from Influencers

Partnering with influencers is a powerful social proof, especially when they align with your brand and have a good reputation.

The right influencer will have a community of loyal social media followers who trust them. By recommending your product, they essentially give their following the go signal to buy from you, as well.

Aside from gaining a highly-influential social proof, influencer marketing can also help you reach new audiences and increase brand visibility.

Keep Offering New Products.

Keep your audience engaged by adding new listings frequently. Even if your shop is performing well, you might see a decline if you don’t have something new to offer.

Here are some ways you can get ideas for your next bestseller:

Competitors

What do your competitors have that you’re not offering yet? See if you can find product ideas that are performing well on other Etsy stores.

However, ensure you won’t offer just another copy that others might see as a knockoff. Look for ways to offer it better and add more value.

Bestsellers

Review your bestsellers in your Etsy shop, and create new iterations or variations.

For example, if you sell digital downloads and your bestseller is a printable planner template, create new designs to give your audience more choices.

You can also create an entirely new product that can complement your bestselling ones. In this case, you can offer a journal template, stickers for their planners, or a habit tracker.

Market Trends

Monitor the current trends in the market, and find a way to incorporate them into your offerings.

Trends can easily distract you, though, so be careful that you don’t compromise your brand identity just to get on the bandwagon quickly.

Customer Feedback

Look for trends in what you’re customers are saying, such as specific requests for new products and variations. If you can fulfill their requests, they will also feel valued having their voices heard.

New Audiences

Explore new audiences and niches you haven’t captured yet. See if there are customer segments that are interested in your products, then tailor your current offerings to cater to their preferences.

18. Monitor Your Performance and Adapt.

How do you know if your strategies are working?

Keep a close eye on your shop’s data. Etsy’s built-in analytics tool can provide valuable insights into your performance, such as:

• Sales and Revenue

See how much views, traffic, and orders you’re getting. Adjust the dates to see the progress before and after a new strategy.

• Conversion Rate

The Etsy conversion rate refers to how many of your visitors become buyers. High traffic means you have good visibility and you’re getting clicks.

However, a low conversion rate means the visitors aren’t deciding to buy your product. This might be due to various reasons, such as poor-quality photos or uninteresting descriptions.

• Traffic Sources

Where do your visitors come from? By knowing the sites that lead your customers to you, you can better plan a strategy to utilize that platform.

Aside from these Etsy metrics, you can also get useful data from these business aspects:

• Customer Feedback

You can identify what your customers like and which areas you can further improve by monitoring their feedback.

• Inventory

Your stock movement can tell you many things about which products are performing well and which ones must go.

• Advertising Performance

If you’re running ad campaigns, track their performance and return on investment (ROI). Monitor key metrics like click-through rates, conversion rates, and cost per acquisition.

Analyze your shop’s metrics regularly to see which of your strategies are working and which ones aren’t. Identify your strengths and pinpoint the areas for improvement.

Then, take cues from the successful tactics to improve the underperforming ones.

By closely monitoring your shop’s data and trends, you can adapt accordingly and stay ahead of the competitors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How To Get Sales on Etsy With No Reviews?

Building credibility is challenging when you don’t have reviews yet. Here are some ideas to instill customer trust:

• Focus on creating high-quality listings, professional photos, and attractive pricing and deals.
• Offer incentives to your first customers to encourage them to give you feedback.
• Consider reaching out to your friends and family to buy from your shop and leave reviews.

How To Get Sales on Etsy Without Ads?

If Etsy ads aren’t feasible right now, you must rely on organic traffic to drive sales. Here are some strategies to try without ads:

• Etsy SEO
• Optimized product listings
• Email marketing
• Social media
• Free shipping

Is It Hard To Make Sales on Etsy?

Etsy provides easy access to a large customer base, but your success depends on your effort and strategy. You must learn how to get your first sale on Etsy to create a well-rounded business plan.

Some successful Etsy sellers can make a sale within the first week, while others may take more time to get their Etsy business off the ground.

Is It Still Profitable To Sell on Etsy?

Yes. The platform is continuously growing, providing more opportunities to earn money. However, profitability depends on several factors, like competition, pricing, production costs, and more. Perform thorough market and product research to develop a well-rounded strategy that aligns with your profitability goals.

What Are the Average Etsy Sales in First Year?

The average Etsy sales varies widely depending on factors like:

• Your product offering
• Competition
• Pricing
• Marketing efforts
• Time you spend on your Etsy shop business

Many creatives who sell on Etsy full-time may earn $5,000 to $20,000 in their first year. Other Etsy sellers may earn less. There’s no guaranteed Etsy sales amount.

What Can I Sell on Etsy To Be a Successful Etsy Seller?

The online marketplace primarily focuses on three product categories:

• Handmade products
• Vintage items
• Craft supplies

To be a very successful Etsy seller, you must find the right product for you depending on varying factors. Do product research and brainstorm some profitable Etsy shop ideas.

How To Have a Successful Etsy Shop?

Here are the key elements of a successful Etsy shop:

• The right products
• Optimized listings
• Excellent customer service
• Established brand identity
• Effective marketing strategies

Study how to get orders on Etsy and increase Etsy sales to improve your chances for success.

How To Start Selling on Etsy?

Here’s a quick overview on how to start an Etsy shop:

1. Create an Etsy account.
2. Enter your shop details.
3. Provide your payment and billing details.
4. Create product listings.

Next, learn how to get daily sales on Etsy to kickstart your business.

The Bottom Line

So there you have 18 strategies to try, and I’m sure there are many other methods on how to improve sales on Etsy.

However, the key to boosting Etsy sales on your Etsy store isn’t how many strategies you know but how well you implement them.

Execution is key to grow your small business.

Now you’ve learned how to get Etsy sales, which of these strategies are you going to try?

Pick one or two at a time, allowing you to focus on crafting data-driven plans and monitoring your progress closely.