I hear your frustration – your cute products are all ready, your Etsy shop is finally open, but getting orders isn’t as easy as you hoped. You are in the right place! As a full-time Etsy seller, I’ve been through all the ups and downs of selling on Etsy and today, I am going to share with you seven tips on how to speed up your process of getting consistent orders in your Etsy shop. Pull out your notepad, and let’s get right into it! 

1. NAIL DOWN YOUR COMPETITION RESEARCH

Chances are that there are already established shops selling a similar product to yours, which makes it more difficult to get orders if you are a newer shop on the market. The good news is that even established sellers lack something.

Pull out your notepad and spend the afternoon studying your competitors. Read their reviews and learn from their success & failures – what their customers love and what they are complaining about. How can you make that better? Perhaps you can offer more variations, better quality or presentation of your product. Options are endless!

2. MAKE YOUR PRODUCT STAND OUT 

Does your product photo stand out from the crowd when it shows in Etsy search results with your competitor’s products? Or does it blend in? Spending time strategically choosing your on-brand photography background different from other sellers in your niche will make your product stand out from the pool of similar products.

3. MAKE YOUR SHOP LOOK PROFESSIONAL

Remember that Etsy shoppers are likely comparing your product & shop to your competitor’s when choosing which product they are going to buy. Putting effort into making your shop look professional can make a difference in whether the customer will buy from you or someone else. 

But how do you make your shop look professional? Great question! Start by looking at your competitor stores and write your notes down: Do they have a shop banner? How many listings do they have in their shop? What do they say in their shop announcement? How are their listings organized? What does their product photography look like? Then focus on improving one thing at a time. The point here is not to copy your competitor’s store, but to understand what successful shops look like and what you need to improve in your shop to be able to compete with them.

4. SHORTEN YOUR DISPATCH TIMES WHEN YOU CAN

Etsy shoppers love quick dispatch and turnaround time. When you don’t have many orders yet, shortening your dispatch time (if your production process allows) can put you at in advantage over other shops with many orders and longer dispatch times!

5. PRACTICE YOUR PHOTO SKILLS 

Over 90% of Etsy shoppers (Etsy’s customer research) said that quality product photos are more important in their purchasing decisions than reviews and the product price! Think about it, when your product shows up in Etsy search, photos are what your potential customer sees at first. If your product photo captures their attention & they will click on your product.  If it won’t, they will scroll right past your product, no matter how adorable your product is. 

The better your photos are, the higher are chances that your customer will click on your product compared to someone else’s. Make sure your images are clear, bright, and uncluttered, and make your products stand out when it shows in a search (hint – don’t try to use the same photos as your competitors, because eventually, your product will blend it).

I know this is easier said than done, but when it comes to product photography, follow the golden rule of observing successful shops & turn on your creativity and keep practicing.

6. BE ACTIVE IN YOUR ETSY SHOP

Etsy wants to support active sellers who care about their shop and customers. They are also very clear about the fact, that adding new listings to your shop can help to boost your product listings in Etsy search. When you don’t have many orders yet, focus on adding new listings to your shop and editing and improving your shop as much as you can. Fill out your shop announcement, shop story, upload your shop updates, your FAQ & shop policies. It will pay off in the long term! 

7. ECOURAGE YOUR CURRENT CUSTOMERS TO LEAVE REVIEWS

Positive reviews build trust and can help turn your shop visitors into buyers. It can also boost your shop’s ranking in Etsy search, often leading to more traffic (customers) coming to your shop. Even if you only have a few customers right now, be extra attentive, communicate with them often and after they receive a product send them a message on Etsy asking if they like it. When you give them a memorable shopping experience, the higher the chances they will leave you athoughtful review. Include thank you card with your order, where you ask them kindly to leave a review on your Etsy shop if they loved your product.

Need more help? Download my Free “5 Steps to Etsy Success” cheat sheet and start improving your Etsy shop today. Oh, and if you found this blog post helpful, make sure to follow along on my Instagram at @smallbizbabescommunity for daily tips and small business motivation.

Xo and talk soon,

Michaela