Common mistakes Etsy sellers make (and how to avoid them)

mistakes-etsy-sellers

Joining any new selling platform can be overwhelming – especially when it’s a platform that has strict policies like Etsy.

Take your worries and throw them out of the window because you’ve come to the right place to help you avoid the most common mistakes Etsy sellers make.

Let’s dive right into it.

1. Getting your Etsy shop name wrong

It might seem awfully obvious but there’s a reason this is on the top of our list. 

Etsy only allows you to change your shop name once

Save that one chance for anything the future might bring and not lose it on something as small as a typo. 

2. Not collecting email addresses

You could make hundreds of sales on your first day selling on Etsy. 

This does not mean you can sit back and wait for new customers to magically appear every day. 

Collecting email addresses helps you promote your other products instantly. Something as simple as a thank-you email can work wonders!

3. Ignoring Etsy policies

It sure is exciting setting up your new Etsy shop and even tempting to go full throttle on listing and promoting your products.

That is one of the most common mistakes a lot of Etsy sellers make who end up regretting it. 

You do not have to know every single point of the policies but at least make an effort to research which policies apply to your business.

4. Using unclear product images

By unclear I mean pixel-wise as well as its purpose. 

Your product image alone should be able to explain exactly what your product is capable of.

You never get a second chance to create the first impression. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your product image.

  • Use professional images with a white background
  • AVOID using black-and-white pictures
  • Include only what the customer will receive; accessories that are not part of the product should not be shown

5. Writing poor titles 

Your title alone gives you a very short window to create an impression on your potential customers. 

  • Avoid writing something short and vague like ‘old vase’
  • Avoid writing something long like ‘great world war II lost and forgotten vintage vase on sale’

Here’s what you can do instead

  • Make sure the first 7 words include a good description of your product
  • Use numerals (3 instead of three)

6. Writing poor descriptions

A common mistake most Etsy sellers make is stuffing their product description with unnecessary keywords in hopes that it’ll help their SEO.

This will ironically make your listing’s rank worse. 

Here are some good pointers that you can follow to write a clear description of your product.

  • Describe the major product features and list product information including size, age and style
  • Keep it short, but include critical information.
  • Include accurate dimensions, care instructions and warranty information
  • Use correct grammar and complete sentences

Now that you know all about the common mistakes and how to avoid them, you might want to take a look at whether you want to sell on Shopify or Etsy (or both).

Run through any trouble with Etsy and having a hard time solving it? Feel free to contact our trusty support team!

Sync existing products already listed on Etsy with Shopify! – New Feature Release

sync existing products feature release

2021 is off to a wonderful start for all of us here at ExportFeed as we’re super excited to announce the launch of our groundbreaking newest feature – Sync existing products from Etsy to Shopify!

What does this feature do?

Simply put, this feature automatically fetches all of your existing from Etsy and syncs them with Shopify.

Once synced, you can manage your orders and inventory from ExportFeed’s centralized dashboard.

This is the most beneficial feature for those who already sell on Etsy and want to switch to ExportFeed’s superior order and inventory management system.

This also lets you switch to ExportFeed even if you have listed your products using a different third-party app.

Can everyone use this feature?

Our system uses your products’ SKUs as the sole basis for syncing your products across Etsy and Shopify.

If all of your products have unique SKUs, you’re all set!
However, if your products do not have unique SKUs, this feature will not work for you.

I already have a huge number of products on Etsy, will this feature let me migrate them to ExportFeed?

Of course! This is the main reason why we’ve worked so hard to make it available to you.

Depending on the volume of your products, it takes some time to migrate your entire store to ExportFeed’s Shopify app.

Will this feature let me migrate my listings from a third-party app to ExportFeed?

Definitely! After frequent requests from our valued customers who wanted to switch to ExportFeed from their existing feed-management tool, we decided to go all in and make this feature a reality.

Have any queries? Feel free to contact our support team about how this feature can add value to your business.

What is Etsy marketplace? Is it suitable for my business?

what is etsy

Etsy is the biggest marketplace for handmade items, vintage goods, and craft supplies with over 2,500 active sellers and 33.4 million buyers! 

What makes Etsy so attractive for DIY entrepreneurs is their community of makers, small-business owners, and shoppers who all share a passion for rare goods of all kinds. 

If those points resonate with you, you’ll definitely reach new heights for your business by joining Etsy. 

Do I need a business license to sell on Etsy?

As of 2021, Etsy doesn’t require their sellers to have a business license to sell on Etsy.

That being said, you will still need to follow any regional laws that apply to you as an online business. 

We suggest that you consult a professional business lawyer before joining Etsy just to make sure your business idea is legal by all means. 

How much does it cost to sell on Etsy?

Listing fees: You will be charged a listing fee of $0.20 USD for each item that you list for sale on Etsy.com or Etsy’s mobile apps.

Transaction fees: You will be charged a transaction fee of 5% of the price you display for each listing plus the amount you charge for shipping and gift wrapping.

Etsy will automatically deduct all fees owed from your payment account.

What do I need to get started on Etsy? 

Getting started on Etsy is fairly straightforward. Here’s a basic list of everything you need.

  1. Create a new Etsy account
  2. Create a unique name for your Etsy shop
  3. Prepare the details for your product which include
    • Digital product photos (800 – 1000 pixels wide)
    • A list of words that best describe your product – use these for tags and titles
    • Know the appropriate selling price
    • Keep shipping costs into account
  4. Go live with your Etsy shop!
    • Creating an account is free of cost
    • You’ll need to to link a debit/credit card
    • Your checking account info (account and routing number)

Setting up your Etsy shop the right way

Banner and shop logo: Upload high-definition images that represent the style of your brand and make a strong first impression on your potential customers. 

Shop announcement: Share a brief welcome message with shoppers. 

About section: Let your customers know how your business came into existence, your vision for your brand and the story behind your products. 

Shop members: Introduce any other members of your team or people you collaborate with. 

Shop policies: Clearly state policies for shipping, returns, exchanges, payments, custom orders, or any other guidelines that are important for shoppers to know before they place an order.

If your business is based in the US, we suggest purchasing USPS Shipping Labels on Etsy. You can save up to 30% than the USPS retail rates you would pay at the post office or elsewhere online. Learn more about USPS here.

Listings your products to your Etsy shop

Once you fill in all the information required for your shop section, you’re ready to start adding products to your Etsy store. 

Displaying your products for sale is basically called a listing. 

Things to remember while listing your products

  • Optimize your Etsy shop for Etsy search. 
  • Add your location to make your store visible to local buyers
  • Link all of your social media accounts to benefit from Etsy’s exposure
  • Explore paid advertising for keywords related to your products
  • Promote offers to incentivize the value of your products
  • Join Etsy community and teams and network with your niche’s best sellers

At this point, you might be wondering whether it’s better to sell on Shopify or Etsy.

Take a look at this article where we dive deep into whether selling on Shopify or Etsy is better for your business!

Have  more questions about Etsy? Feel free to contact our support!

5 benefits of selling your products on CJ Affiliate

cj-affiliate-benefits

If you have an online store and are familiar with the world of affiliate marketing, you probably have heard/read about CJ Affiliate.

CJ Affiliate, formerly known as Commission Junction has been around since the ’90s and is one of the biggest affiliate networks in the world.

Let’s dive right into the benefits that CJ Affiliate can offer your business.

1. Generate revenue faster

CJ Affiliate has over 15 thousand websites as of today. This means the network maintains a healthy publisher-affiliate ratio that is keeping this relationship financially synergic.

2. Bigger network = higher leads

It is no surprise that the number of leads you’re likely to find in an affiliate network depends highly upon how big the community is.
Since CJ affiliate has been growing its customer base for 20 years, there’s plenty to choose from.

3. Paid placement marketplace

Publishers and advertisers have the ability to showcase their products or content with the help of paid advertising.
This offers a guarantee of exposure to your business to a highly targeted audience that’s hard to find elsewhere.

4. Real-time transaction monitoring

Unlike most outdated affiliate networks, CJ Affiliate offers real-time transaction monitoring. This helps publishers and advertisers accurately track their progress instantly and makes payouts a lot smoother.

5. Display dozens of products with a single ad code

One of the best things about CJ Affiliate is how you can display dozens of products using a single code. This is done dynamically through CJ’s own system. So minus the hassle and higher the output!
Finally, let’s move on to one of the most important questions.
What fees do I have to pay to join CJ Affiliate?

Here’s a breakdown of the total investment you’ll need to join CJ Affiliate.

One time fee of $3,000
Deposit of $3,000
Renewal fee of $500.
Cost per sale is about 30%.

However, if your monthly fees are less than $500, then you pay $500 less the actual fees due for that month.

Exclusive Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer for Shopify users!

black friday shopify

Earlier this week, we announced an exclusive offer for our WooCommerce customers.

This raised a couple of questions regarding whether we’d announce a separate offer for our new Shopify customers.

The time is finally right and we’re super excited to announce yet another Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer exclusive to Shopify.

Pay for Basic Seller package and get the features of Advanced Seller package!

basic upgrade

GRAB THE DEAL!

That’s a whopping $30 value that you get for free for one month!

Not only do you get a 20x upgrade in SKU limit but also a 4x upgrade to the Etsy order limit along with a better and prompt support team.

Please note that this offer is limited to all new purchases of Basic Seller package between the 27th Nov 2020 – 30th Nov 2020.

All you have to do is simply contact our support once you make the purchase and we’ll upgrade your Basic Seller package in no time.

Happy Black Friday & Cyber Monday!

Exciting New Updates to ExportFeed’s Shopify app

shopify app update

Starting from June of 2020, ExportFeed introduced a lot of new features among which the real-time orders & inventory sync for Etsy is probably the one that has a lot of our customers are looking forward to.

We’d like to take this opportunity to formally introduce these features and answer any burning questions you may have regarding them. 

At ExportFeed, we let our customers be at the forefront of our decision making by closely listening to what they want from our solution.

Let’s dive right into the questions that might be of interest to you.

What exactly are the new features offered by ExportFeed’s Shopify app?

Basic Seller 1
monthly
$29.99
Enjoy unlimited product feeds, automatically sync to over 40 merchants, free upgrades, and live chat plus email support!
Upto 5,000 SKUs
1 Free Feed Setup
Scheduled Feed Syncs – Real-Time
Email Support
Upgradable to Other plans

Buy Now

Intermediate Seller
monthly
$39.99
Enjoy unlimited product feeds, automatically sync to over 40 merchants, free upgrades, and live chat plus email support!
Upto 20,000 SKUs
1 Free Feed Setup
Scheduled Feed Syncs – Real-Time
Email and Phone Support
Personalized Demo
No Limitation on feature uses

Buy Now

Super Seller
monthly
$89.99
Enjoy unlimited product feeds, automatically sync to over 40 merchants, free upgrades, and live chat plus email support!
Upto 100,000 SKUs
10 Free Feed Setup
Scheduled Feed Syncs – Real-Time
Email and Phone Support
Personalized Demo
No Limitation on feature uses

Buy Now

Platinum Seller
monthly
$129.99
Enjoy unlimited product feeds, automatically sync to over 40 merchants, free upgrades, and live chat plus email support!
More than 100,000
10 Free Feed Setup
Scheduled Feed Syncs – Real-Time
Email and Phone Support
Personalized Demo
No Limitation on feature uses

Buy Now

The biggest benefit of switching to the new pricing plans is that all of our packages come with real-time order/inventory update by default.

We’re super excited to offer the real-time sync feature at an affordable $10 bump to the existing Basic subscription package. 

If you subscribe to any other packages, they’ll come ready out-of-the-box without any extra fee!

Since a majority of our customers were having trouble with the delay in order/inventory sync, we decided to make this feature readily available if you use ExportFeed, regardless of the subscription type.

The great news is that you have the opportunity to perform live assortment, stock and order/inventory syncs between Shopify and Etsy as well as other major platforms.

Another update includes the meta-field sync feature being available starting from the Advance Seller package, which was limited to Super Seller and above previously.

Is real-time order & inventory sync available on free trials?

Of course.

Along with every other feature that any of the paid subscriptions provide. 

Do customers subscribed to the older pricing plans need to upgrade? 

You can keep using our app as you wish with the current features accompanied by your existing plan or you can subscribe to the live order/inventory sync feature for a relatively small extra fee of $10

The Basic package now starts at $29.99, which is still a bang for your buck.

We would strongly recommend you upgrade to the new plans since they offer a lot more value for your money.

Are the old pricing plans still available for new customers?

No, we’re completely abandoning the older plans since they are obsolete compared to the new pricing plans. 

If you have any queries regarding the change in pricing, please feel free to contact our support team.

5 Easy Steps to Optimize your Google Shopping Product Feed in 2020

optimizing google shopping feed

85% of product searches start on Google. Is that enough to convince you to start selling your products on this platform that is getting bigger by the day? 

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic, online shopping has reached new heights. In fact, a lot of E-commerce businesses have managed to take full advantage of the limitations set by the physical world and switched to all digital platforms to make themselves discoverable. 

Google Shopping ads drive 76% of retail search ads spend and generate over 80% of all clicks on Google Ads.

However, simply listing your products on Google Shopping does not guarantee immediate sales.

Here are some tips that can help you optimize your Google Shopping product feed listing in 2020.

1. Search-friendly product titles

A general rule-of-thumb while creating compelling product titles is placing the keyword as close to the start as possible. 

Avoid stuffing keywords in hopes that they will boost your listing – in fact it’ll do the opposite.

Make sure you include the brand, color, size, dimensions, gender and any relevant aspects of your listing so that a customer can figure out exactly what you’re selling without having to read the description.

2. Refine product categories

The better you select your product category, the more chance of it showing up on your potential customer’s search results.

For instance, here’s an example of a store that might sell colorful thermoses: 

Home & Garden -> Kitchen & Dining -> Food & Beverage Carriers -> Thermoses

You might be surprised by the level of filtering that comes with Google Shopping’s categories. It might seem arduous but it’s well worth your time.

3. Use clean but compelling product images

The combination of a great title with an equally great product image can work wonders for your Google Shopping listing.

You do not have to have a fancy set up to get great pictures.

Simply use a clean, plain, preferably white background and make sure your products are centrally aligned to the frame. 

Avoid using watermarks, logos, or any text on your images.

4. Make full use of product description

No one’s interested in reading the history of your thermos and the wonders it does to keep the family together during winter. 

Google prioritizes the keywords used in your product description. 

Just like the title, avoid stuffing keywords here as well. 

What you can do instead, is include a secondary keyword that compliments the primary keyword. 

Use short sentences that describe the basic usability/functionality of your product. 

5. Spice up listings with merchant promotions

Merchant Promotions is a free feature that allows you to distribute online promotions with Shopping ads on Google.com. 

When you add promotions to products that you sell on Google, shoppers see a “special offer” link (e.g. 15% off, free shipping, etc.). This link can increase the appeal of your Shopping ads and encourage shoppers to buy. 

Here are the types of promotions that Google lets you use: 

Discounts: Percent off, cashback, buy one get one free, or buy one get 2nd percent off

Free gifts: Free item or free gift card for a specified value

Shipping: Free or discounted shipping 

Automate your Google Shopping listings

Creating Google Shopping product feed can take anywhere from a few minutes to hours depending on the number of products you have.

You can use a feed management solution like ExportFeed to make sure your listings are free of errors and more importantly, sync seamlessly with your online store without having to manually update them every so often.

Dropshipping on Etsy in 2021: Pros and Cons

etsy-dropshipping-2020

The popularity of dropshipping over the years has led almost every new and aspiring entrepreneur to consider this business model at least once in their lifetime – especially with Etsy.

The main question is, however, not if other people are dropshipping on Etsy – its whether it is legal.

Let’s get right into it.

Is dropshipping on Etsy allowed?

Etsy’s policies do not directly mention anything related to banning ‘dropshipping’ on their entire website.

What they do admit is that they allow reselling in some cases.

“‘Reselling’ is selling an item that you, the seller, did not make or design.”

Technically, this is all dropshippers need as a loop-hole to the anti-dropship policies.

Another crucial point to remember is that Etsy only allows reselling in vintage and craft supplies categories.

If you’re thinking about reselling from a third-party supplier to Etsy, then it is outright illegal and you’ll end up behind bars.

Why is dropshipping on Etsy so popular?

As of 2019, close to 45.7 million buyers had purchased goods through the Etsy ecosystem.

Biggest targeted audience: This audience is specifically shopping for hand-crafted, artisanal or vintage items.

Reputation: Etsy has a special place in every artist-turned-entrepreneurs’ hearts. They are strict with not letting any corporations take over their marketplace and promote originality.

Supportive community: Etsy has a huge community of active sellers who help each other out that makes it feel like a family rather than an E-commerce website.

However, its not all sunshine and rainbows. Let’s look at some downsides of dropshipping on Etsy.

Cons of dropshipping on Etsy

Hefty fees: Etsy charges a $0.2 listing fee along with a 5% transaction fee. Combine that with the shipping charge and wrapping costs and you have the actual number.

If you’re thinking about redirecting your Etsy visitors to your dropship store, don’t even think about it because it is strictly prohibited.

Termination of Wholesale program: On July 31st, 2018 Etsy terminated the closest thing to dropshipping program that existed making it almost impossible to safely dropship on the platform.

Listings expiry: Your listings expire after four months. This means doing the whole listing process all over again if you do not have too many customers dying to buy from you.

Sanctions policy: This policy allows third-party payment services like PayPal to have the authority to independently monitor purchases and block them if necessary.

Limits for scaling: Etsy, by nature, is not designed for people who want to mass-sell their products, which is the exact plan of most dropshippers. If you ever reach a state where you have so many orders, it’ll be time to leave the marketplace.

Uncertain future for dropshippers: Almost every dropshipper on Etsy is anxious about when they’ll implement a strong policy that strictly forbids any loophole that is allowing them to dropship. Most think it’s only a matter of time before a strict policy is in place.

What is the best option for dropshipping on Etsy?

We’d strongly suggest that you not stay entirely dependent on Etsy’s marketplace and operate your own dropshipping store at the same time.

Your standalone E-commerce store will also allow you to sell to other merchants such as Amazon, Google Shopping, eBay and more.

However, doing it manually will take loads of time and effort on your part.

This is where ExportFeed can help you shorten and automate the whole process.
Get started for free and jumpstart your dropshipping business today!

Bonus Tip: Not sure whether to sell on Shopify or Etsy? Click here to find your answer!

Face Masks & Coverings category added to Etsy plugin!

face mask category update

In 2020, the face mask industry size hit an all-time-record of USD 4581.9 million. 

It is logical to assume that the coronavirus outbreak plummeted the sales of face masks overnight.

If you’re planning to delve into this business but are still on the fence about its sustainability, here’s something even more shocking (positively) –  the worldwide face mask market size is expected to record a remuneration of USD 21,210 million by the end of 2026. 

Taking this massive opportunity for Etsy sellers into consideration, ExportFeed team is excited to announce the official launch of Face Masks & Coverings category to our plugin. 

This will help you generate feeds that fall under this category a breeze! 

Simply select Face Masks & Coverings category while creating a feed and we’ll do the rest on auto-pilot.

Don’t have the ExportFeed Etsy plugin yet? Get it here!

5 Most Profitable Amazon Product Categories in 2020

profitable amazon categories

Amazon has 310 million active users worldwide. That’s quite a number.

If there’s one promising virtual-land that offers such exposure for your products, it’s Amazon.

However, a lot of factors come into play when your biggest priority is profitability.

Higher profit is always backed by a huge demand for a specific product.

Keep in mind that there’s already hundreds of thousands of competitors that may have already established themselves as the go-to for a lot of loyal customers.

That being said, here are the top 5 profitable Amazon categories in 2020.

Electronics

Around 60% of Google searches were made using a smart device last year.

The rapid advancement in technology has resulted in companies releasing new tech products almost every month.

What makes the Electronics category even more profitable is Amazon only charges an 8% commission, compared to the standard 15%.

This category includes everything from accessories and cables to audio/video devices and even vehicle electronics.

Books

It’s almost ironic to follow the Electronics category with something as primitive as books.

Books were the reason Amazon was founded in the first place and they’re not going away any time soon..

A great way of making profit on Books is waiting for Books sales especially at libraries. Invest in a number of popular books and list them on Amazon for almost double the amount.

Toys and Games

Whether it’s educational toys or Disney/Marvel-franchised games, this category is busy all year.

You can time your listing perfectly with the release of a new or upcoming kids movie for some seasonal boosts on your revenue.

Spend some time researching what kids find cool because they’re your target audience.

Listen to advertisements on the radio, TV and even YouTube to know what’s trending.

Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry

According to a survey done by QZ, here are the most popular products that were sold last year under this category

  • Casual tops (68% of respondents purchased)
  • Shoes (48%)
  • Casual bottoms (38%)
  • Athletic wear (34%)
  • Accessories (26%)
  • Dresses (23%)
  • Underwear (24%)

Do not be demotivated by the pricey tags of huge brands. They’re not necessarily what your customers are looking for.

Amazon shoppers usually go for unique and low-costing products.

You can browse Amazon’s best selling section and see a clear view of what’s hot and what’s not.

Jewelry

This category can offer almost 50% profitability on your investment.

However, it is not as convenient as selling apparel.

While classic jewelry never really goes out of style, a lot of the top-selling jewelry are based on trends.

Make sure you’re up-to-date on the newest jewelry trends. Follow influencers on Instagram and filter out the products worth investing in.

If you want to sell fine-jewelry, however, you will need to switch to a Professional Selling Plan, and have an annual revenue of $50,000 within the Amazon platform.

Plus, you will have to pay a non-refundable deposit of $5,000.

Instead of targeting a huge audience, focus on a niche audience.