Journal logo

So You Want to Sell on Etsy? Here’s How to Get Started

Etsy is an online e-commerce marketplace where individuals can set up shop to sell handmade items, vintage goods and craft supplies

By FiguradamPublished 3 years ago 3 min read

Etsy is an online e-commerce marketplace where individuals can set up shop to sell handmade items, vintage goods and craft supplies. Many customers flock to Etsy because they enjoy the unique, handcrafted flair of these types of products over mass-produced items. If you’ve been considering selling your own handmade creations on Etsy, you may be wondering how much work it takes to get started and how much money you can make as an Etsy seller.

Research your product

If you’re looking for a way to sell your products online, Etsy is an excellent option. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve created this quick guide that will walk you through the process of getting set up on Etsy.

Read Etsy’s guidelines: The first thing you’ll want to do is familiarize yourself with Etsy’s guidelines. They outline everything from prohibited items to avoiding scams. It’s also important to be aware of what other sellers are doing- if they’re using copyrighted images or listing items they don’t have in stock, it could affect your shop as well. To protect against any issues arising from intellectual property rights violations and theft, check out the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If you plan on selling handcrafted goods, this Creative Commons licensing resource can help to make sure your designs are used legally.

Set up your shop

Setting up your shop can be daunting and it will take some time, but here are a few tips that’ll make the process go a little more smoothly.

1. Set up your About section: Include information about yourself and your business in the About section of your Etsy profile. This includes things like what type of materials you use, why you started your business, where you’re based, and any other details you want potential customers to know about you.

2. Take high-quality pictures: While listing text is important for telling shoppers about your products, nothing does a better job of convincing someone to buy from you than an awesome photo!

>>Click here to start your Etsy business<<

Create great listings

When listing your products, you should make sure that your title and description are enticing. The more detailed you are in the title and description, the better chance your product will be found by potential customers. Plus, it’s a good idea to include a variety of photos that show off the product from different angles.

Choose the right keywords

It is important to choose your keywords wisely, so you can be found in the search engines and by buyers. This way, when people are looking for products like yours, they will find you! There are some quick tips below that will help you start out with a good foundation of keywords:

1. Choose three words that best describe your product or service.

2. Search for those three words in the Etsy search bar and see what other words pop up (these are likely related keywords).

3. Add these words to your keyword list and then repeat the process until you have at least 10 different keywords.

4. After selecting ten different keywords, go back through each one of them again and add synonyms if needed. For example, if candy is one of your keywords, then candies, chocolate, sugar, etc., would also make sense as part of your list too.

5. Write down all of the keywords you’ve come up with. Next to each keyword, write down why it might be relevant to someone searching for something like your product/service on Etsy.

>>Click here to start your Etsy business<<

Promote your shop

Etsy is a great place for artists, crafters, and other creative types to sell their creations. The site has become a go-to marketplace for vintage or handmade goods, often at more affordable prices than you might find elsewhere. If you want to join the ranks of sellers on the site and give your creative skills a little side income, this post will walk you through how to get started.

Understand the fees

Etsy charges listing fees and final value fees. Listing fees are $0.20 per item sold, while final value fees are a percentage of your sale price. For example, if you sell an item for $30, then you would owe 10% in final value fee ($3). The good news is that there are ways to reduce these costs.

Be patient

The most important thing to remember is that it takes a lot of time and effort. It can take months, even years, before you make a full-time living from your business. Keep at it for long enough and you’ll start seeing success!

>>Click here to start your Etsy business<<

how to

About the Creator

Figuradam

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.