Your Etsy shop needs spring cleaning as much as your home does, whether you're a new seller with a few sales or an established business. Just as you would approach sprucing up your living space, tidy your shop by tackling small, manageable projects one at a time – for instance, you might update your product titles and tags one day and add some new About page photos the next. Get started by checking out the tips and activities below, and don't miss our upcoming Seller Seminar, Boost Your Shop’s Presence, for more in-depth advice about branding, social media and pitching your shop's story to the press.
1. Create Vibrant Visuals
Similar to throwing open the windows in springtime to let the fresh air in, shifting the tone and composition of your product photography can completely change your shop's atmosphere. Give your listing photos a new look with bright, natural light and clean, cohesive backgrounds. And be sure to use all five available photo slots for your product listings. Read more tips in How to Make Your Photos Publicity-Ready.
2. Help Your Brand Blossom
Take some time to consider what unique value you offer to customers, what you want a visit to your shop to evoke and how you can reflect those concepts with each branded element of your business. Get a jumpstart by reading 5 Branding Opportunities to Boost Your Sales, and don’t miss this handy worksheet for defining your own unique selling proposition.
3. Clean Up Your Copy
The written words in your shop can make it easier for shoppers and search engines to find your items. Emphasize the most important descriptor for each item in the beginning of its title, answer buyer’s questions about product specifics in descriptions and use all available item tags to make sure you’re casting a wide net for potential buyers. Brush up on the basics with How to Get Found in Search.
4. Tell Your Story
Your About page lets buyers and browsers alike know more about you and what makes your business special. Developing a robust About page featuring your shop's story, photos of your workspace or process and information about shop member not only engages customers, but also makes your shop more attractive to editors and bloggers. Explore the possibilities by reading Tips for Crafting a Killer About Page.
5. Go Social
It’s crucial to share your shop with the world if you’re hoping to attract new buyers and establish your brand presence. If you’re new to marketing on social media, start by sharing brand-relevant content with your personal network on Facebook or Twitter. Make the most of your spring cleaning momentum by establishing routines for posting content regularly. Challenge yourself to share at least one post a week on your favorite social media channel. Get started with our easy-to-use Facebook Campaign Template, and check out our tips for marketing your shop with other social media tools.
6. Perfect Your Pricing
Don’t be afraid to re-evaluate your pricing structure, especially as you revamp the rest of your shop to reflect your work’s innate value. Take a moment to consider your cost of doing business. Are your current prices covering the time, materials and labor that it takes to make your business viable? Check out How to Price Like a Pro for advice on getting started.
7. Branch Out With New Product Lines
One seemingly simple way to appeal to a wider audience is by expanding your product lines. Make it a goal to add more listings to your shop regularly, and think about ways to extend your original product concepts even further. Can you offer different sizes, colors, or customizations? Read 3 Ways to Refresh Your Product Line to learn more, and aim to have at least one full page of listings by the time summer arrives.
8. Spruce Up Your Shipping Strategies
If you're not already shipping internationally, there’s no time like the present to open your shop to customers across the globe. Update your Shipping Profiles to reach an ever-expanding audience, stock up on shipping supplies and establish a workflow for repetitive tasks. Start streamlining the process by creating a shipping station stocked with essential materials.
9. Mine Customer Feedback for Fresh Ideas
Make the most of customer reviews by using the feedback to inform your Shop Policies and product offerings. Check out 5 Strategies for Securing Great Reviews for more tips about encouraging positive feedback from customers and learning from your mistakes.
10. Nurture Growth With a DIY Shop Critique
Ready to do a complete review of your shop’s current offerings? Freshen up in a flash by printing out the Shop Critique Worksheet and looking at your shop with a critical eye. Once you’re done, try joining a shop critique team and spreading the love by pairing up with another seller who’s looking to grow.
What’s your top tip for sprucing up your Etsy shop? Share your expertise in the comments.
Ready to open an Etsy shop? Get started today.
Words by Katy Svehaug
Katy Svehaug is a Senior Content Strategist at Etsy.
