Take a few moments to do your homework

before dazzling the world with your new

Etsy store.
The great thing about Etsy's Global Marketplace is that your store will be
visible to Australian and international customers.
Start by browsing other Etsy stores for tips and advice on how
different seller's market, photograph, and review their products.

You can also dig deeper and find additional inspiration by targeting local
markets.

Some of Australia's most experienced Etsy sellers have shared

their top tips here to help you get off to a good start.
Ever wanted to start your own Etsy store in Australia?

Etsy is an excellent marketplace for people selling handmade

goods, craft supplies, vintage items, and quirky designs.

While you don't get the same control as starting your website, the setup
process is more straightforward.

Plus, you expose yourself to millions of active Etsy users.

In today's article, we'll take a look at what you need to know to start
selling products on Etsy.

In particular, we'll look at Etsy's setup, optimization, and shipping

processes.

In addition, we will discuss some important legal aspects for those who live
in Australia, such as the legal structure and taxes.

Have you decided to turn your hobby of knitting beautiful winter sweaters
for your friends' dogs into a profitable business?

Whatever items you plan to sell, careful planning and research are
essential in determining whether an Etsy store is worth operating.

This means figuring out how to price your items, calculate shipping
costs, and factor in Etsy's selling rates.

This guide has all the essential information you need to know
about selling on Etsy Australia to get you started.

1. Seasonal fluctuations.
The different seasons and time zones don't have to be a challenge
for Australian Etsy sellers.

Rather than serving only Australian seasons, make sure your store caters
to international shoppers by carrying winter products through summer
and vice versa.
Technology is your ally in managing jet lag.

Most smartphones come with world time apps, or you can download your
own, including World Time Buddy.

Use technologies like the Hootsuite social media platform and the
Boomerang email planner to communicate with your consumers even
when you're sleeping.

It's also a good idea to post a note of in-store policies to let customers
know that you live in Australia and that you won't always be able to
respond to their conversations.

2. Choose a catchy Etsy store name.

Finding the right store name is a simple step that sellers often find the
most difficult.

“Coming up with a reputation was really important and that I probably

played around with it for every week ,” says Victoria-based Hope Of All
Hearts Lacey Yeomans.

Brainstorm first, then put your pen on the paper.

Write the words that you think best sum up you, your products and your
store.

Ensure that another Etsy store does not use the name or is not very
similar to another store's name.

Originality is that the thanks to go, says Lacey.

3. Try to Experiment different shipping methods.

The good news is that there are more and more shipping options available
to Australia.

Officeworks now offers interstate parcel delivery through

its Mailman service.
Sendle offers a carbon-neutral national door-to-door delivery service
(Etsy has partnered with Sendle to offer Australian sellers a free
Premium account with Sendle valued at $ 120.

There also are many international couriers to settle on from DHL,

TranscoCargo and Pack and Send.

Shipping and courier comparison sites like ShipGooder and Cheap Courier
Comparison can help you find the most affordable delivery methods.

If shipping to some destinations is too expensive, you can select which

countries you want to ship to.

Australia Post also has a web postage calculator for overseas and
interstate parcels.

Communicate all costs to customers in your store policies and listing

descriptions.

Regarding pricing, two crucial points to consider are how much is needed
to profit and what you would pay if you were the customer.

You may have to experiment with different price points to find the right
one.

Just make sure you have a variety of prices to suit clients with different
budgets.

4. Take high-quality photos and graphics.

Photos and graphics are essential to the success of your Etsy store.

Usually, this will grab the buyer's attention and help show the features of
your ad.

If you are selling a physical item, be sure to take some great photos.

Ask for help if you need it, or at least a second opinion.

Experiment with different highlights and backgrounds to see what works

best.
You will also need to consider graphics, such as logos or images for digital
products.

Even though they may not seem important, they do play an essential role in
your branding.

Minor considerations like fonts, colors, and consistency make a big

difference.

Make sure your graphics reflect the tone of your brand.

Again, get professional help or contact a second opinion.

A glance at any Etsy store will reveal how much sellers trust high-quality
photos.

"Photos are vital, that's the most important thing," party's Juliet Carr tells
Victoria.

Clean and tidy photos will allow your products to speak for themselves.

Your customers will want to view the items from different angles
to appreciate their potential purchases better.

If possible, try to include one in the situation so that your product is in the
context of how who will use it.

It can be as simple as photographing food in bowls or clothes on a model.

5. Make a marketing strategy.

Every business, regardless of size, needs a marketing strategy.

After all, if you want customers to know your store is available, you need to
find a way to attract them.

First off, you'll need to know a bit more about your target
customers: what forms of social media are they likely to use, what their
preferred style is, what their desired product is.
These are the early days, so you might not know the answers to these
questions.

So do them!

Try completing this Ideal Customer Worksheet to define your customer's

needs and wants.

6. Master your keywords on Etsy.

Keywords are the words that are used to describe your articles best.

These are the words buyers will use to narrow their searches and find the
exact product they are looking for.

Imagine you are a customer and make a list of the keywords to find your
products.

Once you've created your favourites, use them on your product labels, item
titles, and at the start of your item descriptions.

“Whenever I receive a new product, even when I create it, I always think
about the labels,” says Ginny Reynders, a New South Wales salesperson
for GinnyReynders.

“I ask myself, 'What is the actual product?

Remember that you are selling to customers worldwide, so use the right
words to communicate with them.

For example, in the United States, these are "pillows" instead of "cushions",
"duvet" instead of "doona" and "tie" instead of "tie".

In the UK, these are “wellies” rather than “wellies” and “anoraks or macs”
rather than “raincoats”.