As the end of the year approaches, now is a great time to take a step back and analyze your success (and failures) from this past year. That’s because when it comes to running your own business – yes, you’re going to make some mistakes. But you can’t let these little failures stop you from learning, adapting, and working smarter than the average Etsy shop. Now, let’s take a look at some common Etsy seller mistakes that everyone makes, and what you should do to fix them.
There is no success without failure and losses.
John C. Maxwell
In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the most common mistakes we’ve seen Etsy sellers make this year. Don’t worry – if you’ve made any of these mistakes in your Etsy shop, it’s not the end of the world! And by no means are you a failure. You’re on your own path to success, and we hope this article can help you get there!
Etsy Seller Mistakes: Failing to research your keywords
The saying “to sell ice to Eskimos” is funny because Eskimos don’t really need ice. They’re not looking for it because they’ve already got it in abundance!
How does this relate to your Etsy shop? Well, you can’t sell something that nobody is looking for.
That’s right. You’re not going to sell a lot of anything if there’s just no demand for it. Sure, you might get an occasional sale or two, but it won’t get you any closer to becoming a full-time Etsy seller (if that’s what you want).
So, how do you know what people are looking for on Etsy? Keywords, that’s how.
Keywords are a fantastic indicator of what people are searching for on Etsy. And at Marmalead, we’re privy to a lot of data around the most popular keywords. While these keywords aren’t definitive guides on what you should sell, they can help influence what you plan to sell or what you’re already selling. That way, you won’t need to sell ice to Eskimos because you’ll be their only source of handmade scarves and gloves!
Fix it: Here are the Most Popular Keywords on Etsy in 2021 (so far)
Etsy Seller Mistakes: Ignoring market reasearch for your product
An idea that’s fueled by passion. That’s the first step in any good business venture. However, if that passion outweighs common sense, your venture is bound to be short-lived.
Before you let your head fill up with wonderful ideas of what might be, it pays to sit down, crunch some numbers and take a look at what’s out there. After some research, you might find that your idea is perfect the way it is, that it’s a terrible idea, or that it just might need a little tweaking.
Fix it: Here’s How to Do Etsy Market Research for Your Products
Etsy Seller Mistakes: Working harder, not smarter
The “hustle” is over-glorified. Society seems to make many entrepreneurs feel that the only way to succeed in business is to work 63 hours a day.
And that’s not only unhealthy, but it’s also just plain stupid.
Yes, owning your own business (even an Etsy shop) is a lot of hard work, especially if it’s a side hustle on top of your day job. That’s why it pays to work smarter. You can do this by setting smaller, short-term goals and calculated, long-term goals.
And the first step to working smarter, not (just) harder, is to reach for the low-hanging fruit.
Fix it: You Too, Can Get More Sales on Etsy With These Quick Fixes
Etsy Seller Mistakes: Only selling on Etsy
Etsy is the go-to marketplace for one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts, and goods. But it’s not the only marketplace to sell your products. Sure, it’s not likely that Etsy will ever compete with Amazon, Walmart, and eBay, when it comes to selling everything under the sun. But that’s because those places don’t specialize in craft products like Etsy does.
So if you’re a handmade seller (and if you’re reading this, you probably are), limiting yourself to selling on a single marketplace creates limitations – even when that marketplace is the biggest craft marketplace on the internet.
So who knows, if you open yourself up to more handmade marketplaces, you might just find that your opportunity for success grows just a little bit wider.
Fix it: If you’ve ever thought about opening your own Amazon Handmade shop, then here are some signs that you’re ready!
Or do this: If you want to stay closer to home while experiencing the perks of your own website, you may want to consider giving Pattern by Etsy a chance!
Etsy Seller Mistakes: Ignoring every holiday as a new opportunity
Etsy is the go-to solution for many people who want to give genuine, well-thought-out gifts to their friends and loved ones. That’s because a lot of what’s for sale on Etsy is handmade and made with love.
But shoppers looking for gifts are only going to find your products if they’re marketed as gifts. Birthdays, anniversaries, and so on happen all year round, but what about seasonal holidays, like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween?
With each new season, you can put a little effort into marketing your Etsy products for the upcoming holiday, increasing your chances of being found for that holiday!
Fix it: Learn how to market your Etsy products as holiday gifts
Etsy Seller Mistakes: Discounting your products too much and losing money
Shoppers love a bargain. Why spend more money when you can spend less? And when it comes to Etsy, it’s no different – shoppers love discounts and coupons. But whether you’re an Etsy shop, a mom-and-pop, or a global corporation, discounting too much can hurt your bottom line.
It’s easy to put your Etsy products on sale and STILL make a profit. You just need to know what you’re doing before you start.
Fix it: If your promos are costing you money, use this one trick to turn it all around
Etsy Seller Mistakes: Launching your Etsy shop without knowing your brand
Your brand is your legacy. It’s the hood ornament of your Etsy shop and makes your products (and shop) stand out from Etsy themselves. You don’t want your buyers telling their friends that they “bought this on Etsy.” You want them to know your shop by its name.
When selling on a third-party marketplace, this can be a challenge. Etsy’s branding, in a way, becomes your branding. That’s why it’s critical to establish a brand that distinguishes you from the Etsy marketplace.
However, many Etsy sellers (even established ones) overlook branding time and time again. No logo, no planned color palette, no consistency in tone of voice – these are all opportunities to make an impression on your customer.
Fix it: Common branding mistakes to avoid and how to establish your own brand
Fix it all in 2022
Are you guilty of any of these Etsy seller mistakes? If you’re guilty of one, two, or even all of them, it’s not the end of the world. You can fix it all in 2022, as long as you make this your takeaway:
Knowing your mistakes is half the battle. And the other half is knowing how to fix them (and actually doing it).
After correcting these simple Etsy seller mistakes, you’ll improve the longevity of your shop, the appeal of your products, and increase the amount of quality traffic coming to your business.
Did you make any mistakes this year in your Etsy shop? What did you do to fix it? Let us know in the comments below!
