The Ups and Downs of Building Sales and Traffic on Etsy
Momwithahook on Etsy
2007 – I joined the Etsy Handmade Marketplace as a buyer because all my friends were doing it. They were selling their handmade stuff and had raving reviews about this new ‘auction’ site that was like eBay but for handmade. A couple of months after I became a buyer I signed up as a seller. A couple months later I posted my first item for sale.
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2008 – I updated my shop with new inventory when I made it. I used to check the alchemy boards (I think that is what they were called) for jobs that I can do. I found a couple of crochet design jobs and started writing patterns. I sold my first design for “crazy cheap” – $5.00.
As the year progressed I started selling less tangible products and more digital products. My first big design was the beard mustache hat request I got from a customer. I made a whole $60 from that – designing the crochet version of the hat after the original by a Swedish Company. Pretty cool huh. Later that year I entered that hat in a contest and won 2nd prize on Instructables.
2009 to 2010 – still selling bits and pieces here and there but my main sales were of patterns. My husband was laid off from his job at the end of 2008 and at the beginning of 2010. (2 jobs) I closed up shop and haven’t sold crochet patterns or items since.
2012 – I’m back. This time I’m using the Etsy marketplace to sell a short eBook about crochet business. I also dabble in graphic design but since I only do basic stuff my prices are super cheap. I closed up shop and sell on my blog and Amazon now.
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Why Tell You All This?
All this to let you know that I remember the days of checking Etsy daily for sales, chatting to ‘score’ a sale or ‘attention’, and spending time in forums.
Back then I was told that participating in chats and forums would bring traffic to my store. What I wasn’t told or didn’t figure out until later was that my target market wasn’t in the chats or the forums. (for some this may or may not be true)
My scale for success back then was if I made a sale or not. No real business goals just ‘Wow, someone bought my stuff‘!”
Did You Solve Your Etsy Sales & Traffic Dilemma? Are you like me and don’t feel you’re utilizing Etsy to its’ potential? Leave a comment or question below OR share your thoughts on the Facebook page.
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