Did you know I had an alter-ego? There are little hints hidden around the site, which reveal more about my other ‘secret' activities. The observant among you might have already noticed that I don't just sew. I also run Summer ScentSations – making bath and body products. And if I suspend modesty for just a minute…I'm pretty damn good at it.
My Etsy shop does very well, and I also have a lot of offline sales, local retail sales, features on daily deals sites and wholesale accounts – both locally and international. You might say that I am an Etsy success story. So much so, that I no longer have a ‘proper' job, I work at home, part-time hours and make my living selling my handmade products. And I have fun doing it.
But it wasn't always like that – I've had 5 Etsy shops, and have made plenty of mistakes along the way before I became successful. I learned a lot along the way – what to do, and most importantly – what NOT to do to drive visitors away before they have the chance to become customers.
I've developed a small range of Make It Yourself Tutorials, and some Make It Yourself Kits which have been enormously successful. Feedback tells me that there are a lot of people out there who have an interest in selling on Etsy and other online shops like Artfire and IndieMade. And I get quite a few follow up questions from these tutorials about selling, how to promote, packaging questions and how I get my customers.
So I wrote a book to help Etsy sellers – although it applies equally to other online stores too. If you are thinking of selling anything on Etsy or Artfire, or already have a shop that struggles to attract sales, then this book IS FOR YOU !
There are also valuable bonuses included which can open up other income streams for you, and learn about the affiliate program which you can join to start earning right away.
READ MORE AT SUMMER SCENTSATIONS BLOG ABOUT
20 TIPS FOR ETSY SUCCESS –
Avoid Costly Mistakes and Boost Your Sales
To help promote the new book, I'm offering one for free in a Giveaway. Or if you buy the book and win, you'll receive your money back. Enter below – good luck.
Open Worldwide. Entries only accepted on the Rafflecopter and all entries will be verified.
Authored by: Deby at So Sew Easy
My biggest challenge is getting started. I want to learn to sew more.
Pictures. Taking quality pictures eludes me. Also item descriptions are sometimes not as well done as I’d like.
Hi Brandy – there is a really good product photography course you can take online with Craftsy – called Shoot It:Product Photography Course – you can find more here – http://www.so-sew-easy.com/ShootIt. It completely changed the way I take my product photos and I think across the shop as a whole you can probably tell the newer ones which are so much better than the older ones and this has helped my sales a LOT.
the fees
my challenge is making sales!
Sorry to hear that Ashley! I hope the book will give you all the tips you need to turn that around. Feel free to add a link to your shop – someone might drop by and take a look.
My biggest selling challenge is dealing with all of the fees and still making a profit.
My biggest challenge is managing all of the bits of info necessary and to get them on a schedule.
Congratulations on your hard won success! Thanks for putting your tips in book form to share your knowledge. I have had a Storenvy shop (currently updating), an ArtFire shop (closed), but not an Etsy shop. Still dithering on that one. Your book sounds like it would be very helpful.
I’m a fairly new blogger for 6 months and don’t even know what to sell. I use affiliate links but not good. Still trying to figure this out. Thanks for your offer.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/honduras-missions-making-things-last
This is an interesting topic. I have had an Etsy shop for 6 months, and haven’t sold one item. I had come to the conclusion it’s a total waste of time. I don’t understand what people are buying or why. I would love to read this book, thanks for the give away opportunity!
Hi Jessica – sorry it’s not been working out. Why not post a link to your Etsy shop here and you might get a few people over to take a look. Good luck with the Giveaway.
I don’t know where to start. Thanks for the giveaway.
Pinned the contest – http://pinterest.com/pin/269653096410917133/
My biggest online selling challenge is completing all orders in time.
Thanks for the lovely Giveaway.
My Email Id : bidishabanerjee@live.com
Just getting started this year, so I will buy your book if I don’t win it!
Figuring out how to start!
Sounds like you’ve got the winning secret! I look forward to browsing your sites for extra tips to grow my Etsy shop.
Oh, and to answer your question… My biggest online selling challenge is balancing time between marketing (to get new business), and creating (custom orders sitting in my queue).
working with ebay !