What is Etsy? A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

There are a lot of online shopping platforms where people are selling different goods. However, platforms that only focus on handmade goods are rare. Etsy is one of these platforms. Here, different artists and crafters sell their products. People who are into buying things made with a personal touch can find their required products here.

If you have just started using this site and want to know more about it, welcome to our blog. Here, we’re going to discuss what is Etsy. We will analyze this store comprehensively. Let’s start.

Etsy is an online store dedicated to selling handmade products. They are mainly handbags, toys, collectibles, etc. Indie artists mainly use this platform. That is because handmade products are its only priority.

Etsy has been helping such artists for almost two decades now. No doubt, most of the things are made with machines these days. Still, there are people who love using goods made by hand. That is what this platform offers.

It’s a complete hub where buyers and sellers of such products do business with each other.

Millions of people buy goods from Etsy almost every day. That is because it has made purchasing required products a lot easier.

Finding the product:

Just like any other e-commerce site, this store has divided its products into categories. This helps users narrow down what they want to purchase. You can find them on Etsy office site (https://www.etsy.com/). Take a look at the image below.

Categories like gifts for Dad, gifts for her, etc. are listed here. They include all the relevant products that are available on the site.

A certain category section also has some sub-categories. For example, “Anniversary gifts” include “gift by year,” “jewelry,” “and “accessories” as well.

You can also use the filter feature to find goods.

Understanding the product:

Select any product you want to purchase. You will see every little detail about it on its page. For example, you get to see more pictures and videos of the product.

If you scroll down a little, you can see comprehensive details about the nature of the product. This description helps you understand it before buying.

You will also find details about the personalization of the product.

Reading Reviews:

You should read the customer reviews of a product before buying it. It isn’t about verifying the product’s validity. It’s about knowing the experience of people who have already purchased it.

It can help you know you’re not spending on something you won’t like. These reviews are available for every product.

Placing order:

When you are satisfied with the product, place your order. To do so, click on the “Add to basket” button. Make sure to fill in the required information, such as product color, before ordering.

Now, give your payment information. After that, the product would be delivered in a certain time period.

Leave a review after using the product. This will help other people know about it.

General users can also open their online store and start selling things on this site. It requires following some specific steps.

Signing up:

First, sign up for an account on this platform.

Now, click on your profile icon and select “Sell on Etsy”.

Selecting Preferences:

Now, you get to select your preferences. This includes selecting you:

• Shop language
• Shop country
• Shop currency

Click on “Save and Continue” after inputting this information.

Shop name:

Now, enter your shop name. Don’t think too hard about it. Just enter a catchy and memorable name.

Stock your shop:

In this section, you will have to stock your shop. The site will ask for different types of data about it. Input it and continue.

Payment methods:

Now, tell the website how you would like to get paid. It offers a bunch of different options for that.

Additional Steps:

Once it’s all done, follow some additional steps. They include:

• Selecting a shipping option.
• Setting up billing for your customers.
• Connecting your website with the store.
• Customizing the store.

Now that we have discussed what is Etsy, there are some things you should keep in mind about it.

These things are discussed below:

For buyers:

• The products on this website are more expensive than usual. That is because they are made handmade.
• The shipping time varies from seller to seller. There’s a specific reason for that. Each of these sellers is an independent business owner. They live in different locations. That’s why the shipping time may be different for each product.
• Make sure to read the product descriptions of vintage items carefully. That is because most of these items are old. Their conditions may not be good. Descriptions will help you know about it.
• The same case is with the reviews. Make sure to read and keep them in mind. They are helpful when it comes to knowing the actual experience of having that product.

For sellers:

• You may need to optimize your store. That is because competition is high in this marketplace. Optimization will help you show in the search results more often.
• Only demand a fair price. Overpricing your products may not get you more customers.
• You can market your store on different e-commerce social media groups.
• Running a business on Etsy demands time. So, make sure you are consistent when it comes to selling on it.

To conclude it all, knowing what is Etsy is useful if you love handmade products. It is an online store where you can sell and buy such goods. What makes it special is its dedication to only listing handmade products.

The selling and purchasing method on this site is very easy. You can do it by following some straightforward instructions. We have described them comprehensively in the information given above.