I've had my own ecommerce craft shop, not on Etsy. If you don't have a lot of different types of items but have multiple colors and styles, have ALL of them up. A lack of a big inventory doesn't need to look like you have bare shelves.

I started my Etsy shop in August 2016 and was a complete newb. By the end of 2017, I had made multiple six figures. My best advice is to do the following:

1. Product photography is one of the most important things you can invest in. Good photos get sales. Mediocre photos get ignored.
2. Learn Etsy SEO. There are a number of resources online that can teach you about this, and invest in Marmalead's keyword software.
3. Encourage customers to write you reviews. It will help your rankings & establish trust.
4. Take advantage of Etsy's holiday sales (i.e., Etsy promoted stores that were offering discounts during the holidays)
5. Establish other revenue streams. Expand beyond Etsy. Set up an eCommerce website and also sign up for Amazon Handmade. (P.S. We make much more on Amazon Handmade as compared to Etsy)
6. Pitch your product to be included in subscription boxes. This is a unique and cost-effective way to get in front of new customers.

I have so many other tips and suggestions but these are the most important/actionable for now. Feel free to give me a follow up call if you want more details on any of this. Thanks!

I'm a veteran eCommerce seller who's sold on eBay, Amazon, Amazon FBA, Etsy, as well as Woo Commerce and Shopify stores.

Launching a new store or new business is always a challenge. Not only do you have to rise in Etsy's search algorithm, you also need to start getting some reviews for some social proof and trust from buyers.

I think the absolute best way to get your first few intiial sales is to use Ety's PPC advertising which can be found in the marketing section of your Etsy backend. It's incredibly helpful at getting a few sales. As you get sales your listings and items will naturally begin to rise in Etsy's search ranking and if people are happy with what your selling they'll leave reviews which will further raise your Etsy SEO and also offer some social proof making other buyers more comfortable to buy from you.

Outside of that in terms of getting your Etsy listings seen write detailed descriptions. Write headers or titles which catch attention and use keywords potential buyers may be searching for. Provide as many pictures as possible.

You can also start sharing or promoting your items on social media platforms like Pinterst, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.