450 Sales In The First 3 Months Of Business On Etsy. HERE’S HOW
22. Apr, 2012 
53 Comments
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Read about how Lisa’s Etsy shop got suspended: Etsy Shop Suspended! What You Need to Know
Lisa from the energyshop says:
I’ve kept close watch of what works and what doesn’t since I started. Here’s are some etsy tips I know for sure work:
♥ Give Stuff Away.
If you check out my shop, it will come as no surprise to you that I’m a real believer in karma. Share your product. If anyone I know personally shows interest in my product, they get a bracelet. I appreciate support in all forms. Before I started selling anything, I gave packets of bracelets to many of my friends. Their feedback was essential to my beginning, and it proved that I had a lovely little gift in each creation.
This reminds me of something written by Wayne Dyer, “When you say, ‘How may I share?’ the Universe responds, How may I share with you?” Let me be clear in that I don’t share for what I’ll get in return. I’m often thinking of someone when a new stone comes across my desk, and I love making a new bracelet with loving thoughts of someone I know. Having clarified that you don’t want to give just to get, here’s my point: Anytime I put an unexpected gift package in the mail, I see a huge increase in sales that week. How can you share?
♥ But, Don’t Do Give-Aways.
Early on, I ran a sweepstakes on my own blog site for a free bracelet. I was just starting out and I had a lot of time to play with my blog and try to push my website on the free advertising forums (read Help Your Customers Find You below). By the time of my sweepstakes drawing, my business had increased and I had become quite busy. I made the sweepstakes bracelet and sent it to the winner, who had an issue with the bracelet on arrival. Her story was slightly suspicious. I was sorry to disappoint the winner, but I did not have the time or personal energy to perform customer service for a non-paying customer.
I’ve learned to work around this by offering gift certificates for sweepstakes, and I only do this for other bloggers to go along with their reviews. In order to redeem my gift certificate, the customer will need to log into their Paypal account and fill out all of the information on Etsy as well. That person is then a customer with a gift certificate, rather than a sweepstakes winner, which means we’re “in business” and following all of the regular policies.
♥ Celebrate Your Sales.
When I hit 100 sales in my first month of business, I was beyond ecstatic. To me, it meant: I really have something here! I saw a full-time job and a second income in my near future. I needed to CELEBRATE! and I wanted to do it with the people who got me there.
At 100 sales, I created a “Customer Appreciation Special.” I ordered Chrysanthemum stone for the first time, and this sale is how it was debuted in my shop. I made a stock of 10 bracelets and priced them so that I didn’t lose, but my customer clearly won.
Once I reach a goal, I make a new one and plan the next sale accordingly (including bigger stock for higher landmarks).
♥ Help Your Customers Find You.
This means to have a Facebook fan page, a Twitter account, Pinterest , a blog (if you like to write), a website, and a public email address. Encourage other bloggers to review you. These forms of spreading the word are a slow-moving, but steady progress. You are building a brand. Every spot where you leave your mark is leading people to your shop. Also, my Facebook fan page is, BY FAR, my best form of free advertisement. I post something once or twice a week and those posts often lead to multiple sales.
♥ Be Wary When One Customer Finds You Too Much.
I do well enough wasting time. I don’t need other people to do it for me.
When I first opened shop, I earned a huge fan. Man, she loved me. She followed me on Twitter and tweeted to me often, she found me on Facebook and commented all over the page, and she wrote me direct messages through whatever forum was available to her in the moment. She had a boatload of requests. My site had all of the things she loved; she’d just like me to alter them slightly: a different size, another stone, etc. For two months, I worked for her, ordered for her, researched for her, and just as I was about to jump through 3 hula hoops on fire, I looked her up in my records. She had made one sale, with no promise to make anymore. It seemed one of her hobbies was managing my business, and I was allowing it! I stopped doing anything just to please her, and we grew apart gracefully.
I love my customers so much. 99.8% of them are not anything like the person I mentioned above. Moreover, when I’m dealing with that .2% of customers who are all-demand and no check-out, I don’t have time to appreciate my valued buyers. When the convos are coming daily, but there hasn’t been a sale in weeks, you might want to determine who’s really interested in your products from who’s just bored at home. ♥
♥ Buy Advertisements.
Etsians talk about renewing listings every day. This means you refresh your listing by checking it and clicking “renew,” which then re-charges the $.20/item listing fee. I’ve done this a few times, especially when I have anything wedding-related listed. A lot of Etsians rely on the traffic that comes through the Etsy home page or site search. I’m in the jewelry business on Etsy, so I absolutely have to fish a bigger pond. I spend an average of $.20 per click on Facebook advertising, bringing the outside world into Etsy.
I love! love! love! my Facebook advertising. Where my stuff is trending is where I need to advertise. I pick very select groups to sell to, which keeps my cost per click rates on Facebook very low.
I’m not going to give away my entire strategy here, so let’s say I made boutique-y children’s clothing (I don’t). I used to subscribe to US Weekly,* and man oh man, did I think that I needed to outfit all of my children (there are four) in upscale, boutique-y, one-of-a-kind outfits. If I were selling this line, I would take out an advertisement on Facebook for married women aged 26-38 who “like” the US Weekly Fan Page. I would put a child that looked simple and neat, a life-like Suri Cruise, in one of my cutest outfits and create a fabulous headline.
*If I were a boutique-y children’s clothing store, I would also subscribe to US Weekly to keep up with Hollywood baby trends and change my item tags to match what other US Weekly subscribers might be searching each week.
In start-up, Facebook Ads have been everything I need. Facebook recently started accepting Paypal, which is just one more convenience. Google Ads are another very user-friendly advertising resource. However, I find the cost per click to be insanely over-priced. Books that teach the CPC strategy, like The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris, have increased the popularity of search engine advertising. I recently cashed a coupon for $75 in free Google advertisements (magazines, like Inc., will offer great deals and coupons for small business owners) and I was paying more than $1 for every click (two years ago, each click would have cost $.10). In my opinion, $1 is simply not worth it.
However, you may have a product that would do very well on Google Ads and every $1 spent could potentially bring in great profit. Obviously, your marketing strategy depends on your market. So, ask yourself:Who are your customers? How old are they? Are they predominantly male or female? Do they have a family or are they single? Are they conventional or quirky? What do they read? What movies/TV do they watch? Where do they take vacation? Are they laid-back or adventurous? What are their hobbies? Build a typical customer on paper, and then you’ll start getting ideas on exactly how to find them.
♥ Follow Your Customers Lead.
For me, this means always carrying 3-packs. My 3-packs are 3 bracelets made of smaller gemstones, listed at inexpensive prices. The 3-pack is not my favorite listing, they take up a lot of my precious time and they are always at a reduced price, but the customers ♥ it.
I’ve spent these last few weeks trying to cut 3-packs out, but when I do, sales drop.
The 3-pack is especially important when I think of new customers. I imagine them coming to my site, seeing all of the different gemstones with all of the different meanings, and feeling completely overwhelmed . . . “This one means this; that one means that. I need a little of the moonstone, and a little of the jasper in my life . . .” I imagine them doing this until they just leave my website and we part ways . . . forevermore.
If a customer comes looking for a great place to start, there it is: the 3-pack. For this reason, I try to always carry a starter 3-pack because even if I’m not gaining profit, I am gaining a new customer—which is so much more valuable than that of a single sale. The point is to follow the customers’ lead, and give them a simple place to start. They’ll thank you for it, and you’ll thank them for all the future business to come.
♥ Think Outside the Box.
The Energy Shop has taught me that I have an entrepreneurial spirit. This does not feel like work to me. It feels like Cake Mania or Wedding Day or Spa Tycoon, or any other virtual business games that I have become obsessed with in the past. Every seed you plant is important. Even though it doesn’t take root and sprout immediately, you’re putting yourself, and your brand, out there.
♥ Finally, Realize That I Am Not Your Competition.
I am always your friend. We have neighboring shops and we help each other, whether you realize it or not. My Facebook advertising brings hundreds of people to Etsy each day (FYI, I usually spend $20 per day). I guarantee that some of them have shopped around and spent elsewhere. I’m glad, I want them to! Because I love you, Etsians. I really, really do! I care for you and your well-being. So good luck! ♥ and all the best.
About The Author
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Thank you for sharing these tips. I do a lot of these things but you’ve got some great refinement techniques that are worth looking in to for certain
This is one of the best articles on thissubject I have seen!
What a great post, filled with fantastic tips! Sometimes I wonder what I’m doing wrong! I’ve only had 9 sales in 9 months, in my store http://www.etsy.com/shop/RockRibbons
I do giveaways, promote on FB, flicker and twitter. Tried re-listing but just incurred fees rather than sales.
I love your idea of doing a gift voucher and will give that a try next month. I think it’s because I’m in a saturated market, jewelry! There are alot of us out there, but I hope that my style will take off one day!
Thanks for sharing! I love that you point out that others shops aren’t competition – I’m happy to have someone be inspired by something they find in my shop!
I agree with Heather: definitely one of the best articles on this topic ever!
What great advice about giving away a gift certificate instead of an actual product. Thank you for a terrific article!!
Oh, this is so helpful! Thanks so much for taking the time to share these tips. Getting views is such a stumbling block for me and you’ve given me some specific direction for increasing them. Thanks again!
http://howlingdogsstudio.etsy.com
http://littleyellowyarrow.etsy.com
I’m curious about sending gift packages. Do you ask people for their addresses or are you sending them to people you know? I love the idea of sending things to people who show interest, but I am not sure how to go about it.
Thanks for all the great info!
Thank you, Handmadeology! ♥ I just found your Energy Shop reference through Google Analytics and I’m honored!! I appreciate the kind things you’ve all said about my article and I hope to add on to it at 1,000 sales!
Martha, I’m sending my products to people I know. For instance, my daugher (4th grade) is my best saleswoman and she couldn’t just HAD to mention the Energy Shop at our back-to-school meet the teacher. The teacher was genuinely interested, asked about my site, and wanted more information about my products.
In that case, I would prepare an order for her, just as if she were a paying customer, with wishes for a good school year.
I also send Energy Shop items to my family and friends on a regular basis.
Thanks again, all! ♥
Thanks for the great tips!
Thanks for the great tips!
I will read again
)
Cheers
Feyza
What an energetic positive article ! Thank you !
I have been one click away from advertising. I do relist often during the day (with results) but felt like I needed to get out there more as in advertising. Thanks for the push.
Very helpful ideas – thanks for sharing!
BTW, Lisa has great customer service AND a great product – I happen to be one of her very happy customers!
This is great info. on what you did and how you did it and it has surely paid off.
Thanks again for sharing
Thank you many times over for such great advice. Some products on some shops just do not draw as many customers. My kusudama flowers and paper art are a small niche in this world, but i love Asian arts and most importantly love what i do.
Great article!
Since I’m mainly a service-based business I offer 10% off to a new customer.
Some great tips! I know I make great stuff, so many people have told me, but I really need to get it OUT there! I’ve wondered about the facebook ads. Looks like it’s something I need to try!
Thanks for the great tips – very much appreciated! I also believe in karma in helping others! I’ve had many people stingy in their assistance & I believe it will come back to them – just as good mojo comes back to those who are helpful & kind hearted! Continued good things to you!!
Great post! Lots of super-useful ideas.
Thanks for sharing,
Mike
Nice article. How do you find the target market in facebook. I sell leaf art of birds especially parrots. How do you find the person who collects art work of birds. I am the only one who make leaf art of birds in USA. Unique collectible original leaf art. Help me.
Loving the gift certificate instead of free goods — also increases chances of the winner going overboard a little bit and getting more items!
This was just fabulous advice!
Thanks so much for your insights.
This is very good information. Thanks for sharing.
Great post. best advertising for etsy i have read
Super helpful, thanks!
Thank you for the encouraging words!
I am definitely going to apply some of your great tips. Thanks for being so generous and sharing with the handmade community. It’s nice to be in a mutually supportive environment like Etsy.
Wow very helpfull
thank you for sharing this great article, Lisa. I’ve been hesitating about advertising on facebook but with your information i’ll give it a try and research deeper for my market.
Oh my goodness! As I’m nearing my two-year anniversary, I am loving on this quote:
“When I hit 100 sales in my first month of business, I was beyond ecstatic. To me, it meant: I really have something here! I saw a full-time job and a second income in my near future. I needed to CELEBRATE! and I wanted to do it with the people who got me there.”
And here I am: full-time job, second income, and still celebrating! Love that Handmadeology is renewing this today; it comes as I’m working on my biggest post yet, after two years of business! Thanks and all the best!
Awesome Lisa… keep it up!!
Fantastic! thanks for sharing..
So pleased to read this article. I’m amazed how current it feels considering it’s almost two years old., and lovely to see your comment today too! I’m ready to kick my crfty stuff into a business so it’s a big Thank You to handmadeology for putting this out again. There have been facebook changes since you wrote but i’m off this moning to see what they can offer this little business that up cycles used plastics….. a smaller ppnd to fish I I think!
Sorry bout bad typing, me and new tablet still establishing a relationship here!
This is lovely! Great suggestions!
Carol Joy
Thanks for sharing so many useful tips
Great tips, Lisa! Thanks so much for sharing. I can’t wait to start using them in my Etsy shop endeavors. Enjoy your day!
OMG thank you so much for this! it’s so helpful! I may just invest in some FB ads after I have made my shop all beautiful again hehe. That last bit you wrote made me all warm inside lol. I feel that way to! If I can help a fellow artisan get a sale then I do it. I love to support others and in turn others support me. I love the handmade community
~Chloe
Great advice. I’m so glad experienced, successful Etesians are willing to share their success and enthusiasm with others like me who are just starting out. Thank you! =D
Glad they reposted
Thanks for sharing your insights! glad you are up & running after the brief hiatus. your items are just as lovely as you are. congrats on your success, loving what you do!
Thanks for sharing! I love Wayne Dyer. Trying to stay positive and focused! 100 sales in a month is pretty impressive. I feel like I have a great site and product and I have gotten 10 sales a months since I opened four months ago. Any advice!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/GoldenPlumeJewelry
Thank you for all the great advice! I really found this post helpful, as well as inspiring.
nice thank you
Very good post, thanks for taking the time to give all this information. I am also looking to increase sales. I currently have a gift certificate paypal button on my tumblr page, and I am thinking about giving away one for my facebook fans.
If you have any comments or tips for me, please do not hesitate!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/VarlopeShop
Thank you for the great advice! I am new to Etsy and have been floundering so far, but this is a step in the right direction!
Thank you so much for the great article! I have done a few giveaways through FB and Twitter and only one person even bothered to say thank you. I had to pay for the promotional listing, the cost of the artwork, and shipping. I didn’t receive any sales and the “likes” i received were from “fake” profiles that people created just to win sweepstakes. I am going to try doing the gift certificate giveaway soon though. Maybe for Valentine’s Day!
I’ve been paying for the Etsy Ads at $7 a week and it has only generated more “favorites” but no sales. I’m wondering if I should even bother with the Etsy Ads?
Back in 2007, I used to sell a lot in my other Etsy Shop. All different price ranges and didn’t do much advertising, didn’t have an FB or Twitter back then. Maybe it was before Etsy was so popular and saturated with similar work.
I’m having a hard time with pricing my work. My original (larger) artwork locally sells for $800 – $1600 dollars. I’m offering much smaller pieces on Etsy, but work from $25 – $200 isn’t moving. And its the same type of work that sells for much more in Minneapolis. I can’t go any lower with my prices. I wonder if it’s hard to sell decently priced art when so many sellers are pricing their work ridiculously low.
I sell high quality professional printed archival giclee prints and have had to lower my prices because of so many sellers, selling average quality prints on photo paper from their printer. I don’t think buyers are paying attention to the difference. So they could get a $10 print (low quality photo paper) or a high quality $30 giclee print….. I wonder if they care about the quality difference or it’s just about price (let’s just assume the artwork from the sellers is similar and equal quality in terms of craftsmanship, technical ability, creativity, etc)
I’m trying out some different themes and styles right now. I’m even going to add handpainted jewelry this weekend. I’m not sure how to price them though. I feel like the pendants with silver necklaces should be $40. But a considering pricing at $28 to begin with until I can increase sales.
I have two etsy shops right now. One for my personal portfolio with higher end art, larger scale.. work that i exhibit in galleries locally and nationally and affordable prints of this work.
My second shop is Sweet Murmur and is focused on creating affordable, colorful artwork for the home.
Now, with creating handpainted jewelry. I’m wondering if I should just include it in the Sweet Murmur shop or open a brand new shop to feature that. I don’t want things to look jumbled but wondering if it will be harder to sell and (more expensive!) to have three shops going. (the first shop i don’t update that often so not much cost there. I mostly direct my local buyers to it for in case they miss my exhibitions).
Sorry this is really long..but I’m just trying to figure out the best way to organize things, pricing, selling, advertising, and how many shops to have. I work full time on my art so I have all day and night to create different products.
Any advice is appreciated. I’ve been reading articles online but personal advice from other etsy sellers is always helpful. I also love that you are supportive of other sellers. There’s some amazing artwork out there and it’s great to have a platform for us to sell and share with each other. A virtual artist community.
Sweet Murmur – Art for the Home
http://sweetmurmur.etsy.com
J. M. Culver – Fine Art & Prints
http://jmculver.etsy.com
wow great articles ! though I started etsy for years now, I never really had much time for it as I was teaching in school, itsonly this month that i started working and listing, but I wonder if there’s any improvement i can make, I only got 2 sales for the moment.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dawnaparis?ref=si_shop
thanks a lot !
How sweet you are! You are a great motivator!
I totally agree, I just started a blog,www.happybyrds.com for my etsy website. I don’t have much sale for the moment, it’s okey, I have to admit it’s only these days i that I had given attention on my shops because of daytime job. If you guys can see my shop on etsy or my blog, i’ll appreciate the advice, merci ! more power!
Great tips! Thank you for sharing.
This was exactly what my husband and I were looking for. Thank you very much!