Creating a Successful Etsy Shop

Each seller has a different kind of objective for having an Etsy shop.

- Some people have an Etsy shop simply to share their craft with the world.
- Some people do it for some extra money, perhaps enough to pay the bills, or for a yearly holiday.
- Some people are bound to stay at home, due to a condition for example, and do it to get out of boredom, while having some motivation and satisfaction.
- Other people do it with the objective of it becoming a successful business; one that provides you with the same amount of money as a full time job, and more!

Today I want to share with you some tips on how to start achieving this last objective.

1. It takes time! A lot of time! Don't expect it to be an overnight success. Even if you have a product that sells like hotcakes, you still need time to execute, get organized, source supplies, become flexible, create the actual items, deal with customers, record payments, prepare postage, etc etc...

2. Prepare for failure. Yes, you need to prepare for failure when you are aiming for success. Because it is inevitable.  Its not how many times you fall that count, but how many times you get up on your feet again! Don't let failure discourage you, on the other hand, let it be a reminder that every time you fail, you are one step closer to your ultimate goal!

3. Monitor Etsy updates regularly. Make sure you are receiving the most important emails from Etsy so that you can implement any changes that they make. This is vital because sometimes Etsy releases new updates, and if you don't conform to them by a certain date, they will close your shop.

4. Keep the reins. You may delegate some aspects of the work load, but nobody can run the shop on your behalf. You need to be in control all the time. There are certain things that only you can do. And when you delegate, make sure you trust the right people. Friends or family members may have good intentions, but they may not have the same motivation and/or talent that you have.

5. Share your story. It is important for buyers and potential customers to know who they are buying from. Make sure you have a nice smiling picture of yourself and an inspiring profile. Talk about your beginnings, your hopes and dreams, your family, your pets, your work space, your holidays - and talk about them in a friendly casual way. When people can picture you as a fellow human being, they are more likely to like you and to buy from you.

6. Never think that your shop is ready! There will always be room for improvement. Change your photos / titles / tags / attributes / pricing to reflect current trends and demands. Search for new markets and opportunities. Work on social media - daily. Keep track of your own stats and work with those analysis. Keep a financial balance sheet. Revamp your branding if its old or outdated.

7. Expand! When you understand who your target customer is, you can search for other items that are in demand by the same customer, that perhaps are feasible with your craft. Example, if you make personalized t-shirts, consider printing your top selling designs also on mugs, cushions, towels, etc. Or start selling wholesale.

8. Reward your most loyal customers. This will have a multi-fold benefit; you will have return customers; your shop will be looked upon with more respect and admiration; you will gain more customers through word of mouth; you will attract the attention of Etsy Management, bloggers, and other people and organizations who might propose highly beneficial partnerships.

9. Advertising and Marketing. If you really want to be successful, you need to dedicate a budget for this. Plan a strategy or hire a professional to make sure you get the most of our your campaign. Always look out for new customers.

10. Don't copy. Yes, of course, you may take inspiration from what is currently trending, or grab a few ideas from very successful shops, but always create something new and original. Something that you will be completely satisfied with. Copy cats are always caught anyway and you don't want your reputation to be demolished for being a copy cat!

There are, of course, many other factors to be successful, that are applicable in general, not just on ETSY. And these are worth mentioning too!

For this part I will refer to one of the books that influenced me the most in my path to success.
"Think and Grow Rich" - by Napoleon Hill.

Hill describes in detail several attributes that one must have or obtain in order to gain financial success. Some of these are:

* Desire
* Faith, Belief in yourself and in the attainment of your desire
* Self Motivation, Influencing your subconscious mind
* Talent, Specialized Knowledge
* Imagination
* Organized Planning
* Quick decision-making (avoiding procrastination)
* Persistence (in the face of adversity)

On the other hand, he also mentions several attributes that one must NOT have:

* Lack of a well defined purpose in life
* Lack of ambition
* Lack of self-discipline
* Negative personality
* Over caution
* Lack of concentration and effort
* Lack of enthusiasm
* Dishonesty
* Fear of failure

If you have not read this book, I urge you to read it, study it and re-read it.
It was written in 1937, and it is one of the most influential best sellers of all time.