You’ve set up your Etsy shop, created your products, optimized your listings, and maybe even ran some ads. But, for some reason, the sales just aren’t rolling in like you expected. First off—don’t panic! Every Etsy seller goes through periods where things are slower than they’d like. It’s normal to feel frustrated, but the key is not to give up.
In this post, I’ll walk you through what to do when your Etsy shop isn’t making sales, and how to tweak and improve things to start attracting more buyers. I’ll also share some of the lessons I learned when I hit slow patches in my own Etsy journey.
1. Review Your Etsy SEO
If your products aren’t getting found in Etsy search results, your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) might need some tweaking. SEO plays a huge role in how your shop performs, and it’s often the first place to look when sales are slow.
Here’s a checklist to make sure your SEO is on point:
- Are you using the right keywords? Review your product titles, descriptions, and tags. Are they focused on what your target audience is searching for? If you’re not sure, type your main keyword into Etsy’s search bar and check out what comes up. You can also use tools like eRank or Marmalead to get insights into popular keywords.
- Are your keywords specific enough? If your keywords are too broad, your products might get buried in search results. For example, instead of just using “planner,” try more specific terms like “undated weekly planner” or “meal planner printable.”
- Are your titles optimized? Your main keywords should be at the beginning of your product title, as Etsy weighs those keywords more heavily. For example, “Printable Weekly Meal Planner | Digital Meal Prep Template” is better than “Digital Template | Printable Weekly Planner.”
I remember having to revisit my SEO after a few weeks of no sales. Once I refined my keywords and made sure my titles were more specific, I saw an increase in traffic. It’s an ongoing process, so don’t hesitate to update your listings as trends and search habits change.
2. Improve Your Product Photos
Your product photos are the first thing shoppers see, and if they aren’t eye-catching, people are likely to scroll right past your listings. Poor-quality or unclear images can hurt your chances of making a sale, even if your product is amazing.
Here’s how to upgrade your product photos:
- Use mockups: If you’re selling printables, planners, or journals, showing how they look in use can make a big difference. Use mockups that display your product in a styled setting, like on a desk or with office supplies. This helps buyers visualize how they’d use it.
- Show multiple angles: Etsy allows you to upload up to 10 photos for each product. Use this space to show different aspects of your product, such as close-ups of key features, various pages of your planner, or different color options.
- Use natural lighting: If you’re photographing physical products, always use natural light and avoid harsh shadows or dark, grainy images.
- Highlight features: If your product has unique features (like extra note pages or customizable sections in a planner), make sure to show them off in your photos.
Pro Tip: Check out Etsy shops that are similar to yours and take note of their photos. What stands out to you? Use that inspiration to improve your own images.
3. Rethink Your Pricing Strategy
Sometimes, slow sales can be due to your pricing. If your prices are too high compared to competitors, you might be driving away potential customers. On the flip side, if your prices are too low, shoppers might question the quality of your product.
Here’s how to review and adjust your pricing:
- Compare with competitors: Look at similar products in your niche and compare prices. If your product is more expensive, does it offer something extra that justifies the price? If it’s lower, are you underpricing yourself?
- Experiment with discounts: Offering a limited-time discount or running a sale can attract more buyers. You could offer 10% off for a week or create a bundle deal to encourage people to purchase multiple items.
- Create bundles: Selling multiple products together for a slightly discounted price can be a great way to increase the value of a sale. For example, if you sell printable planners, you could offer a pack of three for a reduced price. I tried this strategy, and it really helped me boost my sales, especially for repeat customers.
4. Boost Your Product Descriptions
Your product description is like your personal sales pitch. It needs to clearly explain what the buyer is getting, why it’s valuable, and how it can solve their problem. If your descriptions are too vague or don’t fully highlight your product’s features, you might lose potential customers.
Here’s how to improve your descriptions:
- Be clear and detailed: Describe exactly what the customer will receive, including file formats (if it’s a digital product), dimensions, and any special features.
- Solve their problem: Think about why someone would buy your product. How will it improve their life? For example, if you’re selling a planner, highlight how it will help them stay organized, manage their time better, or reach their goals.
- Use bullet points: Break up your description into bullet points to make it easy for buyers to skim and quickly see what your product includes.
Example:
“This digital meal planner includes:
- A weekly meal planning template
- Grocery list sections
- Space for notes and recipe ideas
- Printable in PDF format (US Letter size)”
Adding this level of detail makes your product look more professional and helps potential buyers understand exactly what they’re getting.
5. Analyze Your Shop Stats
One of the best ways to figure out what’s going wrong is by looking at your Etsy shop stats. Etsy provides insights into your traffic sources, keyword performance, and customer behavior. Here’s how you can use this data:
- Check your traffic sources: Are most people finding your shop through Etsy search, social media, or other sources? If you’re getting a lot of traffic from social media but no sales, maybe your product photos or descriptions need improvement. If you’re not getting much traffic at all, you might need to revisit your SEO.
- Look at your conversion rate: A low conversion rate means people are visiting your shop but not making purchases. If this is the case, take a closer look at your pricing, product photos, and descriptions to see if something is turning buyers away.
Pro Tip: Focus on your best-performing listings and analyze what’s working. You can replicate that success in your other listings.
6. Stay Active and Engage with Your Audience
Sometimes, the reason you’re not getting sales is simply that your shop isn’t getting enough attention. Staying active on Etsy and engaging with your audience is key to driving traffic and keeping your shop relevant.
Here are a few ways to stay active:
- List new products regularly: Even if you only add one or two products at a time, regular updates keep your shop fresh and show customers that you’re active.
- Promote your products on social media: Use Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook to showcase your products, share behind-the-scenes content, or offer tips that relate to your product niche.
- Engage with customers: Respond to reviews, answer customer questions, and be proactive with your customer service. Etsy shoppers value shops that feel personal and responsive.
When I started actively posting on Pinterest and Instagram, I noticed a direct increase in traffic to my Etsy shop. Social media can be a great way to build awareness, and it’s free!
Don’t Get Discouraged
It’s easy to feel down when your Etsy shop isn’t making sales, but remember that building a successful side hustle takes time. The key is to stay consistent, keep learning, and make small improvements along the way.
In my next post, we’ll dive into strategies for scaling your Etsy business once you’ve made those first few sales. We’ll talk about expanding your product line, streamlining your workflow, and reinvesting in your shop for long-term growth.
Stay tuned for Post 7, and keep going! You’re closer to your Etsy success story than you think.