How To Level Up Your Etsy Shop – Tips You Need to Know

How To Level Up Your Etsy Shop – Tips You Need to Know

Etsy is an online marketplace where independent sellers and makers from around the world are selling their products. For many of them selling their products on Etsy started as a creative outlet or perhaps even a side hustle during COVID. It’s a booming marketplace with nearly 7.5 million sellers competing for the attention of over 97 million buyers. Selling on Etsy has become a serious business for many individuals now. If you are a seller on Etsy, it’s important to ensure that you stand out from the crowds if you want to be successful. Don’t worry, this guide is packed with tips for how to level up your Etsy shop. Read on to find out more.

12 Top Tips for Etsy Sellers

Standing out from the crowd is easier said than done with such a saturated market of sellers, especially one that’s likely to grow even more in the future. There are things that you can do to help you reach new customers though.

These days, social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram are an important part of most businesses’ marking strategies, but it’s important not to forget about good, old-fashioned print marketing.

It is likely that digital marketing is probably going to be your “bread and butter” for most of your sales, but there are still a few purists out there who appreciate being able to keep hold of a physical leaflet, flick through booklets, and browse catalogues.

With a well-structured printed booklet, you could attract new groups of customers and show off other great things about your brand to lead to even more sales. For sole traders, small businesses and other start-ups, great print marketing can help your brand stand out from others and turn potential customers into loyal ones.

Now, let’s get into some tips for you to help you get started in designing your very own printed catalogues. These are perfect if you want to show off your hand-made jewellery, clothing or any other products you’re selling on Etsy.

1. Know Your Audience and Speak Their Language

Before you do anything else, you need to take a moment to think about exactly who you are creating the catalogue for. Identify your ideal customer by answering the following questions: What do they care about? What’s going to resonate with them?

For instance, if your target audience is young adults, your designs should be bold and modern. For an older, sophisticated audience, you may want to lean more towards a more elegant and classic style. Make sure to customise both your design and messaging to make sure you’re going to speak the “lingo” of your target audience.

2. Set a Clear Purpose for Your Catalogue

Ask yourself what you want your catalogue to achieve. Are you making it to promote a new product line, to offer a time-limited discount offer, or simply to introduce your brand to a new audience. Identifying your goal will help you shape the content and the layout. Additionally, it will help decide how you can best approach the whole project. Going into the design with a clear purpose is the best possible start. Everything onwards needs to point back to your objective, your goal – whether this is to increase your sales or boosting traffic to your Etsy shop.

3. Write attention-grabbing content

Compelling titles and snappy descriptions are key to grabbing people’s attention. Think about the title of this very article; you’re reading it because the title caught your eye, right?

When you’re writing content, focus on your own unique selling points and use strong, direct language to guide readers toward action. The action can be visiting your shop, following you on social media, or making a purchase, for example. Less is more when it comes to text, so make every word count by choosing your words wisely.

As a side note, while it’s important to include “call to action” statements like “buy now” or “sign up to my newsletter”, it’s important not to appear too pushy. Read through your content and think about how you’d feel being presented with it as a potential customer. If it feels too strong, soften up your tone.

4. Use high-quality photos

When it comes to selling products, the visuals you use are extremely important. Aside from the fact that people need to be able to clearly see your products, this is your opportunity to really shine and show off your talent for crafting! Great photos are such an important part of any images for your business that you use online or in print.

Use high-quality photos taken by professionals if possible that really show off your stock in the best way possible. Lighting and composition are important too – don’t settle for hasty shots taken on your iPhone! If you do have to use a smartphone for your photos, learn about iPhone photography first to ensure you get the best shots possible.

Also make sure the photos you choose match the style and spirit of your business. A picture is worth a thousand words, but in any printed media especially it’s often worth a lot more than that.

5. Pick a colour scheme that goes well with everything

The colours you pick for your brochure could have a big effect on how people feel about it as a whole. You want to ensure that your colour scheme is attractive to a wide audience. Colour psychology is an interesting thing. For example, blue is used in over 75% of credit card brand logos, and 20% of fast-food brand logos. Generally speaking, blue is a colour that encourages trust. Red, meanwhile, is found in over 60% of retail brands, and tends to encourage excitement.

Take a moment to consider the people you want to reach and the reasons you want to reach them. The look at how the colours you pick for your promotional materials will help you do that. A more sophisticated customer might be more attracted to neutral colours and muted tones, while a younger audience might like brighter colours. For a professional look, make sure you decide on a “theme” or palette of colours used throughout all your branding.

6. Typography Matters Too

Typography is a very important part of any design too. Choosing your fonts is more than just a design element. The way your text is presented sets the tone of both your catalogue and your overall brand.

Make sure you choose fonts that reflect your brand’s personality. A modern, sleek brand might opt for sans-serif fonts, while a more traditional brand could use serif fonts, for example. Make sure the text is easy to read and highlights key information. Additionally, use your typography to make a visual order that will guide the reader’s eye as they read your brochure. Use different styles, sizes and weights to help you draw attention to important points but always keep the text clear and easy to read. 

7. Balance Layout and Space

A well-structured layout is essential for readability and visual flow for any catalogue. Use headers, subheadings, and plenty of white space to guide the reader through the catalogue without overwhelming them. You can use grid layouts to keep everything neat, and experiment with different fold styles (like tri-fold or bi-fold) for added flair. There are lots of templates online that you can use for guidance too.

8. Don’t Forget the Essentials

When designing a catalogue, you need to be creative, but don’t forget about the basics. In your brochure, don’t forget to put essential information such as your business phone number, email, any social media handles you have, your website URL and, if you have a physical store or business address, include that too. To get people to engage, this information should be put in a place that is easy to find, like on the last page of a catalogue.

9. Add Interactive Elements

Make your catalogue more dynamic and fun by incorporating QR codes, which can link to your website, social media, or even a behind-the-scenes video of your product creation process. This adds an interactive layer to your print marketing, bridging the gap between the physical world and the digital world.

10. Test, Refine, and Improve

Before you print a lot of brochures, print a few and show them to some people to make sure that a small group of people likes them. Ask them for feedback. Encourage them to tell you what’s good and what could be better. Do they think that the catalogue captures your brand? Is it easy to navigate? Does it read well and make sense? Then use this feedback to refine your design and content until it’s perfect, before printing a larger amount to present to your potential customers. The goal is to make a brochure that looks great and works well to spread the word of your brand and get people to take action.

11. Choose the right way to print and distribute

Quality matters. Choose a printing process that fits your budget but also reflects the professionalism of your brand. For larger print runs, offset printing is more cost-effective, while digital printing is perfect for smaller quantities.

Consider the type of paper, finish, and binding to ensure it aligns with your brand’s aesthetic. Additionally, you also need a plan for how to get your print materials to the right people. Options include giving them out at events, mailing them, or even packing them in customer orders, for example.

12. Be yourself while staying true to your brand

We’ve already addressed the fact that Etsy is a very saturated marketplace. Because of that, it’s extra important to find new ways to say things that are true to your brand if you want to stand out. For example, designs should be original and unique, but they should also be easy to recognise as being from your company. By perfecting this mix, your business will be able to stand out from the rest without giving up its own style.

By having a well-designed print catalogue, you can offer your Etsy shop a unique edge in today’s competitive market. When combining thoughtful design, clear messaging, and strategic distribution, you can captivate your audience to drive real results for your business to take your Etsy shop and your business to the next level.

Collaboration.