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February 2015 Moms
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NBR: Etsy Mommas

hollydentonhollydenton member
in February 2015 Moms
Yesterday's spam got me thinking about all of you that may be running your own Etsy shop.

DH and I started a shop almost a year ago. I plan on making this my "full-time" job while I stay at home with our LO. I'm a little overwhelmed with where to start and how to really grow our business. Any and all advice would be appreciated.

Any advice out there from moms already doing this? How long have you had your shop and what kind of products do you sell? Do you go to craft fairs and trade show to sell your products?
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Re: NBR: Etsy Mommas

  • michelle142michelle142 member
    I sell almost all digital art files and printables, as well as custom invitations and t-shirt designs. Been in it for about 2 years. It's not big time or anything, but it's a nice side thing from my generally boring day job.

    To grow your business you need advertising. Pay for Sponsored Etsy ads, Google ads, run promotions on your Facebook page, Twitter or blog. Basically, be prepared to invest in increased traffic to your shop and be vigilant about your ROI. Be consistent and offer good deals on a great product. Excellent customer service goes a long way.

    If you know a big time blogger, look for spots to run a blog giveaway or sponsored coupon code.

    I don't do craft fairs anymore, but I did several years ago. They're fun, but they're a lot of work and there's a lot of competition. I prefer the digital side of things.
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  • mrsclark731mrsclark731 member
    ^^ I agree with everything PP said. To grow your business you must pay for Etsy advertising and be comitted to offering great product at good prices. It is hard work to get the ball rolling, but obviously worth it in the end. I've been mentioned in a few wedding blogs and I have a Pinterest 'pin' that has been repinned 4,000 times. 

    I'm fortunate to have an awesome husband that sells IT. I have a professional printer and a slew of great apple products and other industrial grade equipment that make my shop possible. Most of the money I make is from the printing side of things.

    I found a need for a product when I had my destination wedding, so I filled the void. I listened to my customers and took on every order, big or small. I expanded from there. I don't sell digital files. I offer custom wedding stationary (NOT invitations, there is too much competition there). Everything I do is based via-Etsy. 

    Good luck! ;)
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  • misshart00misshart00 member
    Agree with PPs. I also sell digital items, invitations and announcements. It takes a lot of effort to stand out on etsy.

    I do like how simple their fee structure is though.
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  • hollydentonhollydenton member
    Thanks for the advice ladies. We sell custom barnwood products like picture frames, shelves, etc. DH is also thinking about starting some furniture as well, which is why we would do trade shows because shipping would be a nightmare for something that size.

    We've definitely been able to tell a difference in traffic and sales in the past months when we have had more time to invest in the advertising.
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  • digwriterdigwriter member
    I also sell printable invitations and party packs; although I don't take the paid advertising route. I work in SEO and digital marketing as my day job, so I rely heavily on employing content marketing and SEO tactics to stand out outside of Etsy on search engines and blogs. 

    Employing a good SEO strategy is essential to grabbing a larger piece of the digital marketspace. I'm going on year two now and have pulled back on my marketing efforts due to a heavier day job workload and the difference is huge. Sooo, I'm hoping to get back at it while on mat leave. 
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  • MrsTucker2011MrsTucker2011 member
    I make jewelry (tough competition), home decor, and sell vintage.
    Yesterday was my 1 year anniversary for opening my shop! Woohoo!

    Social media is definitely the cheapest and easiest way to reach people. My sales and views really went up once I hit the 100 listings mark.
    SEO is very important for getting views from random people doing searches. Great photos catch their eye in the middle of searching.

    I've done a couple craft fairs this year too. Some were worth it, some were pretty dead. It depends on where they are, and what kind of venue. I'm not close to a pro at them, but let me know if you have any questions I might be able to answer.
    Anniversary 

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