Do These 10 Things BEFORE Opening Your Etsy Shop (Pre-Launch Strategy)

Many people make the mistake of opening their Etsy shop as the first step. But, what you may not know is that Etsy “boosts” new shops right after opening. This is a feature you will definitely want to take advantage of - so make sure that your shop is optimized for success right from the start. I have 10 more important tips for you to keep in mind before opening your Etsy shop, so keep reading!

1 - Know Your Target Audience

It's important to have a clear understanding of who your target audience is and whether the products you want to sell align with the target audiences’ needs. For example, what is the age range that you are targeting? Are your products primarily for males or females, or both?

Knowing the demographic of your potential customers can give you a lot of insight into what problems your products need to solve and also which marketing strategies may be the most effective.

2 - Ensure Your Shop Name And Banner Represents Your Brand

When starting on Etsy, one of the first things people look to come up with is their shop name and banner. However, it’s important to take your time to think about what your brand represents first, before brainstorming potential names. This way, you can ensure that your branding is cohesive throughout your shop, while also being memorable and visually appealing.

💡 Make sure you do some research on your potential shop name ideas to ensure it's unique and not already in use by other Etsy sellers.

If you want to learn more about how to create shop banners that stand out, you can check this video out here.

3 - Research Competitors And Create A USP (Unique Selling Proposition)

What Is USP (Unique Selling Proposition)?

Having a USP or Unique Selling Proposition means that a feature of your product is clearly different compared to other competitors in the same niche who are selling similar products. This will help you stand out from the crowd and therefore be more appealing to potential consumers.

The best way to do this is to research what other sellers are doing within your niche and make notes of popular products and trends. Then, think about what else you can offer that will be useful to the buyer. You can also look at other niches for inspiration of what you can do differently, then apply it to make it relevant for your niche.

For example, the existing products within your niche might be single products sold on their own. Instead, you could start creating bundles of similar products and sell them together which will create a higher perceived value for your products compared to your competitors.

4 - Do Not Neglect SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

What Is Etsy SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and Etsy SEO refers to the process of improving the visibility of your Etsy shop and product listings in search results such as Google and Etsy search.

Etsy SEO is how people will find you, so it’s essential to understand how to use it to your advantage. This includes using relevant keywords within your shop name, titles, tags and descriptions so that you can rank higher in Etsy search results - as this is where most buyers begin their customer journey.

A few tools I like to use to ensure I’m maximizing my shop’s SEO are EverBee, eRank and Sale Samurai.

You can also learn more about SEO in my Ultimate Etsy SEO Guide here!

5 - Create A Cohesive Look

This means that all of your listings have a similar style and overall aesthetic and this can be achieved by:

• Using the same fonts
• Choosing a consistent color palette throughout your shop and listings
• Having a consistent theme and layout for your product images

By creating a cohesive look for your shop, it makes it more professional and visually appealing to potential buyers. This helps you stand out from your competitors and therefore get more clicks into your shop and products!

6 - Invest In High-Quality Product Photos

The online world doesn’t allow buyers to view the products in the same way as an in-person shop, so the way you present your listings is crucial in attracting customers. You should be putting in the same amount of time and effort into your product photos as you would when creating the products.

💡 Even if you have the best product in the world, it won’t sell if people don’t click on it in the first place!

Again, you can look your competitors to gain insight into how you can present your products, especially in the main image. 

💡 TOP TIP: Make sure your listing photos are mobile friendly as 65% of Etsy buyers shop from their mobile phones!

7 - Write Catchy And Informative Product Descriptions

It’s also important to make your product descriptions concise and easy to read for the buyer. Stay to the point, giving all the relevant important information that customers might need.

Good item descriptions should be able to answer these three questions:

1. What is the product?
2. How will it benefit the customer?
3. Why should the customer buy from you compared to other sellers?

8 - Have An Intentional Pricing Strategy

A lot of people make the mistake of thinking they need to charge less to compete with other sellers, but this is not necessarily true!

It might be useful to have a discount when you’ve just opened your shop to gain initial sales and reviews, but if you're selling a high-quality product, you can charge more. As long as you are providing that extra value and clearly present your USP, buyers will often be happy to pay more.

💡 Make sure you’re offering a fair price for the value of your product, while also ensuring you’re making a profit.

9 - Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Feedback

Receiving constructive feedback from friends and family is a great way to gain an outside perspective and learn how you can improve different elements of your shop. To ensure their feedback isn’t subjective, you can always ask them what they think of your shop alongside some of the top competitors within your niche, so they don’t know which one is yours!

10 - Trust The Process!

As a new Etsy seller, it does take a lot of hard work and dedication to be successful, but it's so worth it in the end! As you learn more and gain more feedback, you will continue to improve your skills and knowledge, which you can then apply to improve your shop.

All successful sellers once started without knowing anything, but with the right Etsy pre-launch strategy, you can trust that if they can find success, then so can you!

Learn More

If you’re interested in learning more about how to be successful on Etsy, you can check out my free masterclass here where I guide you through my 4 proven steps to creating passive income on Etsy without any prior business experience!

Or, you can also check out my full YouTube video, below, for a more in-depth explanation of the Etsy shop must haves, discussed above. Watch here!