Starting an Etsy shop is an exciting adventure, but if I’m being honest, I made a lot of mistakes when I first started. Looking back, I wish someone had sat me down and shared a few tips that could have saved me time, stress, and maybe a few gray hairs. So, I’m here to do just that for you!
If you’re thinking about launching your own Etsy shop or you’re in those nerve-wracking early days, this post is for you. These are the top 5 lessons I wish I knew before starting my Etsy shop, and I’m hoping they’ll help you avoid some of the pitfalls I fell into.
1. It Takes Time to Get Traction, and That’s Okay
I went into Etsy thinking, “I’ll just list a few products, and the sales will start rolling in.” Spoiler alert: It doesn’t work like that! The truth is, it takes time to get noticed on Etsy, especially when you’re just starting out. SEO (Search Engine Optimization), product photos, and getting those first few reviews all play a huge part in growing your shop’s visibility. But don’t get discouraged if things are slow in the beginning—that’s normal.
What I wish I knew: Success doesn’t happen overnight, but if you stay consistent, the results will come. Keep tweaking your shop, adding new products, and learning about Etsy’s search algorithm.
Pro tip: Check out tools like Marmalead (one of the best SEO tools for Etsy sellers) to help you find the right keywords and improve your product listings.
2. Good Product Photos Make All the Difference
You don’t need a fancy camera or a studio to take great product photos, but they have to be clear, bright, and appealing. I learned this the hard way when my early listings had photos that didn’t quite capture how good my products were. Shoppers can’t touch or feel your products, so your photos are your biggest selling point.
What I wish I knew: Invest time in taking quality photos or learning how to edit them to make them pop. Canva is an amazing tool for creating polished listing images and even adding text or graphics that highlight key features of your products.
Bonus tip: Etsy allows up to 10 photos per listing—use them all to show your product from every angle and include lifestyle shots to help buyers imagine using it.
3. SEO Isn’t Optional—It’s Essential
When I first started, I thought SEO was something only big businesses had to worry about. Nope! SEO is everything when it comes to getting your products seen on Etsy. If your titles, descriptions, and tags aren’t optimized, your products will be floating in Etsy’s sea of listings, never to be found.
What I wish I knew: Learn the basics of Etsy SEO right from the start. Use tools like Marmalead or EtsyRank to find relevant keywords that real shoppers are searching for. This will help boost your products in Etsy’s search results.
4. Not Every Product Will Be a Best-Seller—and That’s Okay
One of the biggest surprises for me was realizing that some products just don’t sell as well as others. I spent so much time creating items that I thought would fly off the shelves, only to find that my audience wasn’t interested. And you know what? That’s totally fine!
What I wish I knew: You don’t need every product to be a best-seller. Focus on the ones that do well, and don’t be afraid to let go of products that aren’t gaining traction. Sometimes it’s about trial and error to figure out what your customers love.
Pro tip: Use Etsy’s analytics to see which products are performing well and where your traffic is coming from. This will help you double down on what’s working.
5. You Don’t Have to Do It Alone—Get Help from the Pros
Running an Etsy shop can feel like a one-person show, but it doesn’t have to be. I wish I’d invested in learning from others much sooner. There are so many great resources out there to help you learn how to create digital products, market your shop, and grow your business.
What I wish I knew: Don’t hesitate to invest in yourself and your shop! Joining a community like the Passive Income Society can give you the tools, training, and support you need to grow your Etsy business faster. I wasted a lot of time trying to figure things out on my own, but when I finally started learning from the experts, everything got easier.
The Passive Income Society gives you access to step-by-step training, helping you create digital products that sell and build a shop that attracts customers. Plus, you get to be part of a community of Etsy sellers just like you!
Final Thoughts
Starting an Etsy shop is a fun and rewarding journey, but there’s a learning curve. If I could go back and give myself some advice, it would be this: don’t stress if things don’t go perfectly from day one. Focus on learning, experimenting, and growing your shop step by step.
And remember, you’re not in this alone. Tools like Canva, Marmalead, and communities like the Passive Income Society can help you fast-track your success. So take a deep breath, keep going, and watch your shop thrive.
You’ve got this! 🌟
