Selling on Etsy can be such a blessing + so much fun. It can also have moments of frustration or doubt. I have been selling with Etsy since 2015 and with that, I’ve faced my share of ups and downs including wanting to close up shop and walk away from it all. I’m sharing with you five of my many tips for new + experienced sellers on Etsy to help you get through the holiday season.
The holidays are my favorite time of year and I absolutely love soaking up every bit of them with my husband, family + friends. Etsy however, gets VERY busy. Depending on what you sell, it can become overwhelming fairy quick. Here are five tips to help ease the stress during the holidays.
1. CLEAR SHOP POLICIES.
In your Etsy shop manager, you have a space to make all of your shop policies. Take full advantage of these tools and decide how you will handle these things not only on a regular basis but especially during the holiday season. It’s okay to adjust YOUR shop policies to best suit YOU as a seller. Pro tip: Shorten your cancellation period to 24-48 hours during busy times. Mine is currently 24 hours with no cancellations excepted on my digital items. I also do not offer refunds or exchanges however, I do make exceptions as I feel necessary.
You can also add a snippet of your policies in your shop updates as well as product descriptions if you wish. That way, you can let customers requesting a cancellation, refund or exchange that the information is provided prior to an order being places.
Some shop owners also create an attribute on their listings that states “I have read and agree to this shops return/exchange policy” in which customers have to select “yes”. This also is a great way to make sure customers have read through and fully understand how you operate.
2. CREATE AN FAQ SECTION.
Most shops have common questions people reach out about. Now, creating an FAQ section does not guarantee you will never get questions, you will. Often times things are overlooked by shoppers so don’t think this will eliminate them all. But it’s a great way to help shoppers be informed + can eliminate bad reviews or wrong expectations from shoppers. Make a list of your most asked questions or even just things you want shoppers to know and create your FAQ!
3. UPDATE YOUR KEYWORDS.
Update your keywords and tags to reflect what shoppers would be looking for. Could your items be a gift? If so, for who? Who are you trying to attract for your shop? Can your items be used for holiday gatherings? Holiday decor? Think outside the box and add keywords to reflect what shoppers might be searching for. PRO TIP: Use Marmalead for trending keywords.
4. CONSIDER FREE SHIPPING.
Etsy for a while now has been boosting listings that do offer free shipping. This isn’t something every shop can make happen and thats ok. However, if you can, the holiday season may be a great time to take advantage of this. What you’ll need to do is make sure you find the middle cost of your shipping fees and add that into your listing cost. This is the best way to ensure you won’t end up upside down and paying more than what you’re making. Reevaluate your costs as needed throughout the season and adjust as necessary. It will give you a nice boost in search results for the holidays!
5. STICK TO YOUR POLICIES
Hey, guess what. You’re human. You are most likely running a small business. If you’re like me, you most times are a one person shop handling it all. Do not let internet bullies put you down. They exist everywhere and yes, that includes Etsy. Believe it or not, you can stick to your shop policies, shipping time frames + so on, while still being kind and respectful but you do not have to bow down to black mail or poor treatment from shoppers. If you do experience this, you can report it to Etsy and if necessary, cancel the sale as a “refusal” and note why. We live in an Amazon Prime world and this seems to be where most issues come from. Keep your policies clear and stand firm in what you’ve established. Most customers, respect that and want to support you for those exact reasons.
BONUS TIP:
Don’t over do it. Again, we are all only human. Etsy should not be your full source of happiness so do not allow it to take away from other high priority things in your life. Extend your processing times, refuse custom orders, do not feed into argumentative customers and have a sign-off time. Do not eat, breathe and sleep Etsy through the holidays. They go by quick enough. Take care of yourself + your family and remember to ENJOY every bit of it.
That’s all for now! I hope these little tips help ease the stress of holiday selling + allow you to fully enjoy the season!🎄
With Love,
MC
Marilyn Colwell 