Etsy - Your Complete Guide to Buying & Selling Handcrafted Gifts

Showcase your work

Etsy is a great forum for showcasing your work.8 points

Support Artists!

Vote with your dollar to support independent craft more...7 points

Vote with your dollar to support independent crafters and not mega corporations and their often questionable business practices.7 points

Cool ways to shop

Etsy is full of cool Flash ways to browse that are more...6 points

Etsy is full of cool Flash ways to browse that are animated and easy to use.6 points

It's like an on-line craft fair!

5 points

Friends!

A great way to meet like minded people5 points

Worldwide!

I can buy and sell worldwide4 points

Safe shopping

Etsy has great on-line security.4 points

Personal connections to the artists!

Get to know the story behind your item and a bit a more...3 points

Get to know the story behind your item and a bit about it's creator.3 points

A great place to find original pieces that only you will have!

I love this site - currently have about 5 items in more...3 points

I love this site - currently have about 5 items in my wardrobe from it.3 points

Many Talented Artisans & Crafters

Aside from the differences of the arts and crafts more...3 points

Aside from the differences of the arts and crafts available under one roof, the sellers have the same goals, to have someone love their item as much as they did making it. This is by far, an artisans best compliment and accomplishment. This is why Etsy sellers are friendly and helpful with each other instead of seeing each seller as a threat. Etsy is a supportive, tight-knit community.3 points

Tags

Always tags to your item when you are selling. The more...5 points

Always tags to your item when you are selling. These help your item to show up in customer searches.5 points

Add a seller or item to your Favourites

For easy links back the next time you log on.5 points

Visit Often

Items are uploaded all day long, so an individual more...4 points

Items are uploaded all day long, so an individual seller's shop, or Etsy as a whole will have plenty to offer you next time you come back.4 points

Search with a keyword

Using one word in the search bar will target lots more...3 points

Using one word in the search bar will target lots of interesting items. So try 'jewelry' today and see what you come up with.3 points

View a Seller's other products

Some sellers reduce postage if you buy more than o more...3 points

Some sellers reduce postage if you buy more than one item at a time.3 points

Have a question? Visit the forum.

Etsy have an easy to use forum where you can meet more...3 points

Etsy have an easy to use forum where you can meet sellers and customers to ask advice, or join in the fun.3 points

Feedback

Always be fair in feedback comments, as this ratin more...3 points

Always be fair in feedback comments, as this rating system works both ways. My best advice is to give a seller the chance to redeem positive feedback, if something has gone wrong. This will allow feedback to encompass the seller's service, as well as the product.3 points

View the Seller's profile

Your chance to get to know the seller before you b more...2 points

Your chance to get to know the seller before you buy2 points

Ask Questions

Etsy sellers are very helpful and are always happy more...2 points

Etsy sellers are very helpful and are always happy to answer questions about their products.2 points

Visit an Etsy Blog

Find out more about Etsy and what's happening and more...1 point

Find out more about Etsy and what's happening and feel part of the community.1 point

Currency Conversion??

There are pleanty of online currency calculators t more...1 point

There are pleanty of online currency calculators to help you work out your purchases.1 point

Combine Purchase

Often combining purchases means a reduced postage more...1 point

Often combining purchases means a reduced postage cost, but check with your seller before you buy as not everyone offers this service.1 point

Newsletters and Mailing Lists

If you like waht you see join a newsletter or mail more...0 points

If you like waht you see join a newsletter or mailing list. This is an easy way of keeping up to date with your favourite Seller.0 points

Websites

Check out a shop's website if they have one. This more...0 points

Check out a shop's website if they have one. This is a great way to get to know the seller and the products better.0 points

Finishing times

Always check how long an item is listed for, just more...0 points

Always check how long an item is listed for, just in case the item finishes before you get paid at the end of the month. Some sellers offer a reserve service too, so ask the question.0 points

post a new item or two everyday

Spread them out throughout the day don't post them more...8 points

Spread them out throughout the day don't post them all at once...that way your items will be at the top of the list when people search for a specific item.8 points

Alternative advertising sites

advertise on bluejay.com, craigslist, or other sit more...7 points

advertise on bluejay.com, craigslist, or other sites.7 points

Photos

Pictures are the only way buyers can see your piec more...5 points

Pictures are the only way buyers can see your pieces, so make them bright and in focus. Use all the spaces provided to show as much detail as possible.5 points

Get some free advertising!

Click on the Target Craft ads at the bottom of the more...4 points

Click on the Target Craft ads at the bottom of the page for banner exchange or affiliate programmes.4 points

Detailed Item Descriptions

Be as clear and concise about what you are selling more...4 points

Be as clear and concise about what you are selling, giving measurements where necessary. This gives the buyer an idea of what it is they are buying and if they need to be at home to receive it!4 points

Terms of Sale and Refund Policies

If you have them, state them clearly. This gives t more...4 points

If you have them, state them clearly. This gives the buyer confidence that they know exactly how the transaction will work.4 points

Keep some business cards on you at all times!

It doesn't matter where you are, if you have them more...3 points

It doesn't matter where you are, if you have them with you, you can use them to promote what you do.3 points

Free website

Try Fuseiveweb - see my other lenses. They offer e more...3 points

Try Fuseiveweb - see my other lenses. They offer easy to use templates for web designer novices. There are also plenty of other porviders, so try Google and see what you come up with.3 points

post in the etsy forum constantly

...keep your name in there!2 points

Email friends and family

send an email out to friends and family about your more...2 points

send an email out to friends and family about your etsy site and tell them to spread your name around...2 points

Ask other etsy members for advice

2 points

Join Forums

A great way to get noticed and build contacts.2 points

Wear or use what you sell

Free promotion and generates interest, especially more...2 points

Free promotion and generates interest, especially when peolpe ask about your product.2 points

Etsy Labs - check it out!

Get advice and ideas, meet fellow artists, join th more...1 point

Get advice and ideas, meet fellow artists, join the community. Find them at http://www.etsy.com/labs/index.html1 point

Photos of item worn / in use

1 point

Give Sizes

And not just in your local units! Use both English more...1 point

And not just in your local units! Use both English and Metric. Do not use currency for size comparison as it only confuses international buyers.1 point

Write a blog!

This is an easy alternative to a full website and more...1 point

This is an easy alternative to a full website and is a great way to showcase your work and products.1 point

show one of your products in your avatar picture

CherryBlossomsDesigns is of her baby with one of h more...0 points

CherryBlossomsDesigns is of her baby with one of her headbands that she sells (for infants and children) on her head...its great advertising!0 points

make a myspace page advertising your etsy site.

0 points

buy some cheap business cards

(vistaprint.com is great for that!)0 points