Starting an Etsy Business For Dummies, 4th Edition

Starting an Etsy Business For Dummies, 4th Edition

by Kate Shoup, Kate Gatski
Released May 2023
Publisher(s): For Dummies
ISBN: 9781394168705

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Book description

Build your own successful online business—the Dummies way

Etsy is the premiere online marketplace for distinctive handmade and vintage crafts and goods. Starting an Etsy Business For Dummies, Fourth Edition provides you with the information and tools you need to start selling successfully on Etsy. This comprehensive resource and guide will show you how easy it is to set up shop and start generating income. There are millions of people out there looking to purchase unique products, and more and more shoppers are opting for one-of-a-kind sources over big-box stores. There’s never been a better time to open your own Etsy shop, and there’s never been an easier way than with this book. This updated edition covers all the latest changes to the site, plus shows you how to take captivating photos and short-form videos of your products, write appealing descriptions, and set up your Etsy shop in a way that motivates buyers to click that “add to cart" button. With helpful information, tips, tools, and tricks, this book is your ultimate guide to building your own Etsy shop.

  • Learn the ins and outs of running a successful Etsy shop
  • Get tips and advice for marketing and pricing your products competitively
  • Break through the new shop barrier and start showing up in search results
  • Improve your sales on Etsy with expert info on finding your customers

This book is great for small business owners, artists, and entrepreneurs looking to build an online craft business on the Etsy platform.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. Foolish Assumptions
    3. Icons Used in This Book
    4. Beyond the Book
    5. Where to Go from Here
  5. Part 1: Getting Started with Etsy
    1. Chapter 1: Handmade for Each Other: Falling in Love with Etsy
      1. Creative Crusade: Understanding Etsy’s Purpose and Business Model
      2. Introducing the World of Etsy
      3. Storefront and Center: Setting Up Your Shop
      4. Sell’s Angels: Surveying the Etsy Selling Process
      5. Takin’ Care of Business: Handling Business Matters
      6. Community Collage: Engaging in the Etsy Community
      7. Appy Dance: Introducing the Etsy Apps
    2. Chapter 2: Basic Training: Etsy Account Basics
      1. Avoiding Trouble: Reviewing Etsy’s House Rules and Terms of Use
      2. Sign Me Up! Becoming a Registered User
      3. It’s a Sign: Signing In to Etsy
      4. Home Sweet Home: Navigating Etsy’s Home Page
      5. It’s All You: Exploring the Your Account Menu
      6. Account Trackula: Managing Your Etsy Account
      7. High Profile: Setting Up Your Public Profile
    3. Chapter 3: Buy, Buy, Buy: Finding and Buying Items on Etsy
      1. Gimme One Reason: Why to Buy on Etsy
      2. What’s Up? Confirming That a Seller Is on the Up-and-Up
      3. Transaction Oriented: Delving into Transaction Details
      4. Mobile Order: Shopping in the Etsy App
      5. Under Review: Leaving a Review After You Buy
      6. First Aid: Getting Help from the Seller
      7. Case in Point: Opening a Case Using Etsy’s Purchase Protection Program
    4. Chapter 4: Safety First: Maintaining Your Privacy and Safety on Etsy
      1. Oh, Behave! Adhering to Etsy’s House Rules
      2. Private Party: Guarding Your Privacy on Etsy
      3. Safe Passage: Keeping Yourself Safe on Etsy
  6. Part 2: If You Build It, They Will Come: Setting Up Your Etsy Shop
    1. Chapter 5: Sell Yes: Understanding What You Can and Can’t Sell on Etsy
      1. Yes, We Can! Figuring Out What You Can Sell on Etsy
      2. Just Say No! Understanding What’s Not Allowed on Etsy
      3. Offense Taken: Reporting Prohibited Items
      4. Off with Their Heads! Knowing What Happens If You Break a Rule
    2. Chapter 6: Setting Up Shop: Creating Your Etsy Storefront
      1. Shop to It: Creating Your Etsy Shop
      2. Banner Day: Adding a Banner and Shop Icon to Your Shop
      3. Title Wave: Adding a Shop Title and Announcement
      4. All About Me: Adding an About Section
      5. Let’s See It! Viewing Your Etsy Shop
    3. Chapter 7: Upper Management: Using Shop Manager to Run Your Etsy Store
      1. I Want to See the Manager: Navigating the Shop Manager
      2. What a Tool: Exploring Shop Manager Tools
      3. It’s a Setup! Accessing Shop Settings
      4. Change the Channel: Setting Up Sales Channels
    4. Chapter 8: Policy Academy: Setting Your Shop’s Policies
      1. Fair Play: General Policy Tips
      2. Policy Wonk: Using Etsy’s Policy Settings
      3. Hey, EU! Adding Seller Details for EU Compliance
      4. That’s a FAQ, Jack! Fielding Frequently Asked Questions
    5. Chapter 9: The Price Is Right! Pricing Your Pieces
      1. Formula One: Pricing Formulas
      2. Price-a-Roni: Evaluating Your Prices
      3. Something Old: Pricing Vintage Items
      4. How Low Can You Go? Pricing for Sales
  7. Part 3: Sell Coverage: Understanding the Etsy Selling Process
    1. Chapter 10: Say Cheese! Capturing Product Images
      1. Choosing a Digital Camera
      2. Style Guide: Styling Your Shoot
      3. Lighting Bug: Lighting Your Shot
      4. Compose Yourself: Composing Your Shot
      5. Motion Picture: Capturing Video of Your Item
      6. Clean-Up on Image Five: Editing Images and Videos
    2. Chapter 11: Use Your Words: Composing Engaging Titles and Descriptions
      1. SEO Speedwagon: Using Search Engine Optimization to Drive Traffic
      2. Headline Muse: Penning Persuasive Listing Titles
      3. Story Time: Telling a Story with Your Listing Description
      4. Proofread, Please! Proofreading Your Listing
    3. Chapter 12: For Your Listing Pleasure: Adding and Managing Item Listings
      1. New Attitude: Listing a New Item
      2. Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Editing a Listing
      3. Copycat: Copying a Listing
      4. Renewable Resources: Renewing a Listing
      5. Pull the Plug: Deactivating a Listing
      6. Rearrange Your Face: Rearranging the Listings in Your Etsy Shop
      7. Feature Comforts: Featuring a Listing in Your Etsy Shop
      8. Shop Mobile: Managing Listings with the Etsy Seller App
    4. Chapter 13: Order Up! Processing and Shipping Orders
      1. You’ve Got Sale: Finding Out You Have a Sale
      2. Baby Got Track: Keeping Track of Orders
      3. Show Me the Money: Receiving Payment
      4. Thanksgiving: Thanking the Buyer
      5. Handle Me with Care: Packaging Items for Shipment
      6. Ship Happens: Choosing a Shipping Carrier
      7. Willing and Label: Using Etsy Shipping Labels
      8. Deliverance: Sending Your Package on Its Merry Way
      9. Profile Pick: Saving and Selecting a Shipping Profile
      10. Crafters without Borders: Shipping Internationally
      11. Mobile Carrier: Managing Orders on the Etsy Seller App
  8. Part 4: All Up in Your Business: Handling Business Matters
    1. Chapter 14: Super Market: Marketing Your Etsy Business
      1. Brandy, You’re a Fine Girl: Building Your Brand
      2. Poetry in Promotion: Advertising on Etsy
      3. Discount of Monte Cristo: Offering Discounts
      4. Managing Your Discount Offers
      5. Social Studies: Promoting Your Etsy Shop and Listings on Social Media
      6. Camera Ready: Sharing Videos with Explore
    2. Chapter 15: You’ve Been Served: Providing Exceptional Customer Service
      1. Sliding into your DMs: Accessing Etsy Messages
      2. Bungle Fever: Handling a Botched Transaction and Other Tough Issues
    3. Chapter 16: Business as Usual: Managing Your Etsy Shop
      1. Room and Dashboard: Exploring the Shop Manager Dashboard
      2. One Track Mind: Tracking and Analyzing Shop Stats
      3. High Finance: Viewing Your Etsy Financials
      4. It’s Payday! Changing Your Deposit Schedule
      5. Recording Artist: Keeping Accurate Records
      6. Income-ing! Paying Taxes on Shop Income
      7. Structured Settlement: Choosing a Business Structure
      8. The Artist Is Out: Switching to Vacation Mode
      9. Hanging It Up: Closing Your Etsy Shop
    4. Chapter 17: Growing Your Etsy Business
      1. Howdy, Partner: Disclosing Shop Members and Production Partners
      2. Plus One: Leveling Up with Etsy Plus
      3. Pattern-Cake, Pattern-Cake: Building a Custom Shop with Pattern
      4. Going Global: Translating Your Shop for a Global Market
      5. (Art) Fair and Square: Using Square for In-Person Sales
  9. Part 5: Community Services: Exploring the Etsy Community
    1. Chapter 18: Community Building: Joining the Etsy Community
      1. Free Forum: Using Etsy Forums
      2. Go, Team! Exploring Etsy Teams
      3. Miss Manners: Respecting Community Etiquette
    2. Chapter 19: News Attitude: Keeping Up with Etsy News
      1. Dear Diary: Exploring the Etsy Journal
      2. Mail Bonding: Signing Up for Etsy Email Newsletters
      3. Social Skills: Staying in Touch Using Social Media
      4. Proto Tip: Joining Etsy Prototypes
    3. Chapter 20: Help Me! Getting Help on Etsy
      1. Search and Rescue: Finding Help on Etsy
      2. Help Us, Etsy-Wan Kenobi: Contacting Etsy Support
      3. Forum Letter: Finding Answers in the Etsy Forums
      4. Handy Dandy: Studying the Seller Handbook
  10. Part 6: The Part of Tens
    1. Chapter 21: Ten Terrific Tips for Etsy Sellers
      1. Have a Place for Everything
      2. Stock Up to Save Time
      3. Organize Your Paperwork
      4. Use What You Discover from Other Shops
      5. Offer Service with a Smile
      6. Connect, Connect, Connect
      7. Test and Experiment
      8. Learn to Say No
      9. Never Give In
      10. Have Fun!
    2. Chapter 22: Ten Strategies for Marketing Your Etsy Shop
      1. Offer Tiered Pricing
      2. Give to Get
      3. Provide a Guarantee
      4. Consider a Loyalty Program
      5. Impose a Deadline
      6. Send an Email Newsletter
      7. Wear Your Items in the Real World …
      8. … and on Social Media, Too
      9. Do More than Pose
      10. Help Your Community
  11. Index
  12. About the Authors
  13. Connect with Dummies
  14. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Starting an Etsy Business For Dummies, 4th Edition
  • Author(s): Kate Shoup, Kate Gatski
  • Release date: May 2023
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781394168705