How to Start an Etsy Shop
This how-to guide is for all my fellow side hustlers, entrepreneurs, and creatives. It will guide you through starting and setting up your Etsy shop.
And, just in case you’re wondering if you should start an Etsy shop or if Etsy is the appropriate e-commerce platform for your product, I’ve got you covered. I’ve already done the research and provided it to you here.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s get your Etsy shop started!
1. Pick an Etsy Shop Name
The name shows up at the top of your Etsy shop page and in your shop's URL. So it’s HIGHLY visible. This is why it needs to be a good one.
✓ It cannot contain punctuation marks, nor exceed 20 characters.
✓ Use a name consistent with your brand and how it's named on other platforms. For example, I have a website and Instagram page for my business. My website is my name and the Instagram page is my name + what I do. I want customers to be able to find me. So I made my Etsy shop the same as my Instagram name. Try using an identical or related form of a name you are already using on other platforms.
✓ There can only be one of each name. So yours has to be unique. If you find, like me, that your name is common and/or taken, you can add something to the beginning or end to make it unique. For example, on my website, I added the word "its" to my name to help it stand out. For my Instagram page, I added "Co" because there is a shocking amount of Lauren Marie Designs out there. For Etsy, I added the word "a" at the beginning of LaurenMarieDesignCo. These slight variations are so minimal, that I'm still able to maintain brand cohesion.
✓ Pick a name that's broad so you don't limit yourself. When I first started, I was just creating wall prints. Then I created Christmas cards, planners, and business printables. If I had named the shop, "Lauren Marie Wall Prints," I'd have limited myself and it'd have seemed "off-brand" if I added the other products. Instead, giving myself the broad name of "Design Co" means the customer can expect anything relating to design at the shop. Keep it broad so you can expand over the years without needing to constantly rebrand.
2. Write Your Etsy Bio
Your Etsy bio is different from your Shop's "About" Section. Your bio is just about you. Your profile photo will lead people to your bio and personal Etsy profile. And your bio will also go in the Shop Member section.
Next, it’s important for you to have a bio separate from your shop's "About" section because customers want to connect with you, to know that you're human. And connection makes for loyal and happy customers.
Now, for writing the bio! You want it to include:
✎ Your first name (no need for last names, privacy and all)
✎ Your background
✎ A quick glimpse of what your shop offers
✎ Your passions and/or inspirations
✎ A warm and friendly tone
That's it! Think of it the same way you think of your social media bios. You want the reader to know who you are and what they'll find in your shop.
3. Write Your Shop Story
Your Etsy Shop Story is your Shop's About section. It is different from your Shop Member Bio. Your bio is all about you. Your Etsy Shop Story is all about your shop.
Here's what it should include:
☞ A headline: an elevator pitch for your shop/business
☞ Origin story: how and why your business started
☞ Ideal client: who you created your product for
☞ Benefit: how your customer benefits from your product
☞ Unique selling point: what makes your shop different
☞ Credentials: any relevant education or training you have
☞ Call to action: what do you want them to do
☞ Tone: warm and friendly
4. Set Your Shop Policies and Preferences
Etsy Shop PREFERENCES: these are the basic settings for your shop. They include:
✺ Language - the one you speak and that your listings will be in
✺ Home Country - your home country
✺ Currency - the currency your listings will be in
✺ Seller Status - full time, part-time, or other (Don't stress too much about this one; it’s for Etsy, not for customers)
✺ Payment Preferences - how you'd like to accept payments
✺ Billing - placing a card on file for seller fees
Etsy Shop POLICIES: these are more involved than preferences. They apply to many of the interactions you'll have with your customers. They include:
✺ Manufacturing
✺ Processings
✺ Shipping
✺ Returns and Exchanges
✺ Privacy
Your preferences will be requested before opening your shop. Your policies can be added afterward. Your preferences tend to be pretty solid and steady. But you can always adjust your policies as you see fit.
5. Create Your Listings
Creating your Etsy listings is the biggest and most important part. But once you do it correctly the first time, the rest will be a breeze.
📷 PHOTOS -- you can upload up to ten photos with measurements 2700 x 2025. Include at least one photo of the product in action, one photo of everything the product includes (for digitals or printables) or the varieties (for tangible products), and one photo of how to access it (for digitals or printables) or use it (for tangible products). If you have a video, even better!
✍🏽 Listing TITLE -- this is arguably the most important piece because of its SEO qualities. It doesn't have to be short or even a coherent sentence. Pack the title with any variation of the product's name, its user, its qualities. Separate phrases with punctuation. This is how Etsy will find your listing and include it in a user's search results.
🖊 Listing DESCRIPTION -- this is where you describe what the product is, how it’s made, what it includes, and how to order. Don't be afraid to show a little personality here.
🏷 TAGS -- it will say this is optional. Include them anyway. Use the phrases in your title as a starting point. Include any descriptors for your business and the product.
There are a few other options on the listings page including materials used, categories, price, digital files, shipping, etc. Those will all depend on your product. And most of those fields are dropdowns. So don't stress about having to completely make them up!
And that’s it! Don’t try to tackle all of this in one day. Take it days or weeks at a time. It took me about two weeks to set up my shop. And even now, I’m always tinkering with it.
And if you feel completely overwhelmed by all of this, I’d be more than happy to help out!
