Have you discovered Etsy? It was launched in 2005 as an online store for unique, handmade, and vintage items, of which jewelry has by far their biggest e-commerce presence. The number of items of jewelry available on Etsy at any given time as of spring 2012 was estimated at 2.7 million.
How to Etsy for sellers There are some key pointers for anyone wanting to sell on Etsy.com. Quality and quantity both play into the mix. Sell good, authentic items with excellent photos. Frankly, nothing is more important than the photo quality. Beyond that, sellers should tag liberally using strong keywords to describe their items in the allotted space so these items will appear in a buyer’s search. For example, the words gold-plated, 18 karat, 18k, hammered, cuff, bracelet, semi-precious, smoky quartz, gem, faceted stones, are all among keywords and phrases that would be good choices for this bracelet. Add Mother’s Day as keywords in the springtime!
More tips for sellers
Describe your items. Be interesting. Get help with the writing if need be. Explain the materials used, how you made the item, what your inspiration was, what the size and the weight are, what occasions it may be worn for, what fashions will be complemented by its design. Think from the point of view of the person wanting to wear your jewelry. Watch your spelling and complete your profile page in full. Create a message to buyers. Consider weight and set reasonable shipping fees. Use Pinterest, such as seen with this handmade LuLu Frost statement necklace, creating greater optimization via backlinks to your items.
Help with photos A great video for beginners from a successful Etsy seller who takes her own photos is found online from the Etsy seller handbook. Your gorgeous photos will stand out, details will shine, buyers will ask questions, bloggers will notice, and sales will follow. You could be featured by Etsy. Remember the golden rule: Thou shalt never sell ugly junk that is slowly gathering dust underneath thy kitchen sink.
How to Etsy for buyers
As an eBay buyer and seller for 12 years, I know that a two-way street is the key to satisfaction. Be as specific as possible when describing items in your search. For example, gold bracelet will bring up 95,000 results. Gold hammered cuff delivers a far more reasonable result at 462. Add in the word stones, and you’ll have only 28 items representing a very good match. Further advice is to ask the seller your questions, check shipping charges and return policy, pay promptly, leave feedback, shop for gifts and support handmade.
Choose your sellers
If you are concerned about sellers, focus on those with lots of excellent feedback. Check into sellers’ websites. Another good tip is to buy from sellers with a retail location so you can be confident about their reputation and years of good standing as an employer in a bricks and mortar community. Then, enjoy owning something special from Etsy!
