How to Sell Your Crafts on Etsy

As one of the Internet's largest marketplaces for handmade goods, Etsy.com claims more than 12 million active users and receives more than 25 million unique daily visitors as of 2012. Although the process of selling on Etsy is straightforward -- you list the item, someone buys and pays for it, and then you ship it -- being successful in this highly competitive marketplace requires ingenuity and perseverance. Just remember: Even the largest sellers started out with just a few handcrafted items.

Instructions

• Log in to your Etsy account.
• Click the "Sell" link in the top-left corner of the webpage.
• Read the "What Items Can I sell on Etsy?" section (link in Resources). As of March 2012, the site allows listings for handmade and vintage items and supplies.
• Read the "How Does It Work?" section (link in Resources) to learn specifics about the selling process on Etsy.
• Click the blue "Sell on Etsy" button at the right.
• Enter your personal information and click the "Next" button.
• Enter your billing information and click the "Validate Card" button to allow Etsy to verify your identity. You must have a valid credit card with an available balance of at least $1.01.
• Click "Finish" to complete the process of converting your Etsy account into a seller account.
• Click the "Your Shop" link at the top, and select "Shop Appearance" to customize your storefront.
• Type a name in the "Shop Name" section; it should clearly represent your business and you can only change it once.
• Enter a short description of your shop in the "Shop Title" section, telling potential buyers everything about your shop in a clear, concise and professional manner.
• Upload a banner in the "Banner" section; it will appear at the top of your shop page and represent your products by type, style or some other characteristic. Change it as often as you wish to reflect seasons, holidays or other themes.
• Type a shop announcement in the "Shop Announcement" section to share vital information -- such as special promotions or an upcoming vacation -- on your shop page.
• Type a message in the "Message to Buyers" section, such as a thank you and/or text emphasizing the quality of your crafts.
• Click "Save Changes" when you finish setting up your shop.
• Select "Payment and Currency" to set up your payment options.
• Select "PayPal" if you have a PayPal account and enter your PayPal email address in the Email field. Receiving money via PayPal is usually the easiest and fastest choice, but you can also select "Money Order" or "Personal Check" payment types.
• Click "Save Changes" to save the changes.
• Click "Your Shop" at the top and then "Add New Item" to add the first product to your Etsy shop.
• Tell your buyers about the item for sale in the "About This Item" section by selecting the appropriate options from the "Who Made It," "What Is It" and "When Was It Made" drop-down boxes. Select a category for your item in the "Categories" section.
• Add images with a width of at least 570 pixels in the "Photos" section. Click the blue "Add image" icon and select the image from your hard drive. Include as many clear, high-resolution images as possible, from all angles, to let the buyer to analyze the product.
• Type a title for your item in the "Item Title" text box. The title must be less than 140 characters and include keywords your buyers might use to find it.
• Describe your item in the "Description" text box, including detailed information about its size, construction and unique features. Identify any flaws the item may have.
• Add up to 13 tags in the "Tags" text box, separated by commas. Tags are keywords your buyers might use, and effective tags will place your item higher on Etsy's search results page. Click the "Add" button to save the tags.
• Add up to 13 materials in the "Materials" text box, separated by commas, with which you created the item. Click the "Add" button to save the materials.
• Enter the price of your item, before shipping, in the "Price" box. Consider the price of materials, the availability of the item from a competitor, the time spent creating it and your expected profit.
• Enter the number of items you are selling in the "Quantity" box, if you have more than one item. Etsy charges 20 cents per item as of March 2012.
• Select the country from which you are sending the item in the "Where Does It Ship From" drop-down box.
• Select a location in the "Ships To" section, type the shipping cost in the "Cost" box and shipping cost if the buyer purchases the item with other items in the "With Another Item" box, and click "Add location." Price the shipping fairly, as inflated rates will turn off buyers.
• Click "Preview Listing" to preview your listing. Proofread the listing and make sure everything is in order and all details are correct.
• Click "Publish" to list your item immediately.