How to Start a Side Hustle on Etsy- Beginners Guide

Etsy is an online shop that allows people to sell anything through a safe and secure marketplace, and if you have something that you want to share with the world, then Etsy is the place to do it.

Starting a side hustle on Etsy is very easy to do. First, you need to have a product that you should want to sell. This could include artwork, jewelry, clothing, toys, and personalized gifts or crafts. You must also set up an account and a storefront on Etsy, which requires an email address and a bank account. After your account is registered and approved, you’re ready to go.

If you are starting an Etsy side hustle, this article is the beginner’s guide that will help you get your storefront off the ground and into the stratosphere to bring in some good money. So whether you want to start an ePrintables business on Etsy or create your own product, this is a good place to start.

What Is Etsy?

Etsy is a global marketplace that allows creatives to showcase their creative goods through a good marketplace.

You can see various items that showcase personal treasures from the people who made them.

Etsy doesn’t have many commercial items you can buy from other places. Instead, these are people and people’s treasures that they are sharing with you.

Many small businesses, including independent retailers, get their start on Etsy.

Hobbyists share their work and build their portfolio on Etsy too, and it is amazing to see what people can create when they feel like it.

If you want unique items that will be treasured purchases for your home, then Etsy is the place to go.

Make sure you understand that before you start building your storefront.

Is Etsy A Good Side Hustle?

If you sell handmade products that people won’t be able to purchase anywhere else, then Etsy is a perfect place to start your side hustle.

Some people have even made 5 to 6 figures from their Etsy accounts and show no signs of stopping.

If you have a good product and even better value for your work, then there’s no reason you can’t succeed on Etsy.

Value is the most important thing, and everything you give to your clients should be handcrafted and made with care.

If you turn out cookie-cutter items and focus on how much money you can make, you should go to Amazon or another storefront. Etsy will only work for you if you provide a unique value to your customers.

After all, if something is uniquely done for one person, others will want unique things done for them too. This is how you create a profitable Etsy store where people keep returning.

If you can make your customers happy and connect them with high-quality products, they will return to see your work.

They’ll also keep buying from you! One of the adages of business is that you need ‘1,000 dedicated fans,’ and that’s it.

Those 1,000 fans will buy everything you put out because they know the value, and that’s what makes up most of your income.

It might not seem like a lot, but once you get those 1,000 dedicated fans, you will also be swimming in orders and money.

They’ll purchase everything you put out with smiles on their faces, and that’s the best part.

What Can You Sell on Etsy?

Below is a list of things you can sell on Etsy. However, in these broad categories are tons of sub-niches in which you could carve your space out.

• Arts and Crafts
• Jewelry
• ePrintables
• Clothing
• Furniture
• Vintage items
• Decor
• Toys
• Personalized Gifts

Launch Your Etsy Shop in 3 Steps

Step 1: Create Your Account

There are three steps to launch your Etsy shop, with the first step being to create an account.

All you need to do is

• sign up using an email address,
• bank account,
• and a strong password.

The process is no different than signing up for anything else, and once the account is approved, you can start picking your niche.

Step 2: Decide what you want to sell

Picking what you want to sell is the biggest thing you must consider for your business. While you might want to go wide and start selling everything, recognize that you will create most of these items per order.

If you want them personalized, you don’t want to start making personalized cups for one customer, an oil painting for another, and weaving a blanket for a third.

You will quickly burn out your creativity, and none of your customers will be happy with you.

Once you decide what you want to sell, stick to it for a while and then see if you want to start moving forward into a different niche.

Step 3: Setup Your Store

Finally, the last step is to set up your store. Your storefront page shouldn’t just display what you are working on and the little touches that make you.

Maybe you always sign your items and should have a picture of yourself making a signature.

Maybe you always listen to the same song while working, which could be something you discuss on the ‘about me’ page.

People aren’t buying your products because they look cool. They are buying them because of the value that you provide.

Marketing Your Etsy Store

Here are some beginner tips to help you maximize your Etsy side hustle.

If you follow them, you will stand a better chance of succeeding on the storefront.

Tip 1: Product Uniqueness

If you want to grab and command attention on Etsy, you should be focused on having unique products that will make users stop and say ‘wow’ If you are truly passionate about your craft, then that should be enough to make sure that your unique energy shines through.

Make sure to share the process as well as the product.

Tip 2: Take Advantage of Etsy Ads

Most new business owners hesitate to use Etsy Ads because it costs them 15% of their sales if the product is bought through the ads.

However, the monetary loss that most people balk at should be small fry compared to the exposure being on Etsy Ads gives you.

The ads are seen by thousands of users every single day, and if even a fraction of those users click on your product and make a sale, you will be earning more than enough to replace the 15% loss.

It might not seem like a good tradeoff at the beginning of your Etsy career, but it will grow in its usefulness.

Tip 3: Encourage Reviews

Reviews are one of the lifeblood pumps that keep Etsy Storefront alive.

While some people will only give you five stars and a one-sentence review, others will give longer sentences focusing on your business’s great qualities.

Ask for reviews, and don’t hesitate to follow up with people who have promised them.

Every good review is another marketing tool that can convert another customer from ‘on the fence’ to ‘ready to purchase the product.’

Grab as many as possible, and keep the ending review in mind when focusing on a customer.

Tip 4: Use SEO

SEO, or search engine optimization, is a tool businesses use to build their brand and ensure they are seen on Google and other search engines.

You must find keywords related to your product to build a good Etsy side hustle. The right keywords can be found through specialized websites and Google.

If you type your keyword in Google and then explore related searches and categories, you can find keywords and topics that match your niche.

Place those in your product title, description, and other place to ensure your webpage is properly optimized.

Tip 5: Run Sales

How often have you bought something you usually wouldn’t buy because of a sale?

Well, your customers have done the same thing, and they will keep doing the same thing if your work is put on sale.

Even something as simple as 10% off can bring eyes to your products and get people opening their wallets.

You can have sales on holidays and other typical times, but also shake things up and surprise your customers.

Have flash sales, sales on one product, or 24-hour sales to keep everyone on their toes.

How To Make Money With Etsy

Getting big on Etsy isn’t easy and will always come down to your product.

You could spend time perfecting your store page, have top-ranking SEO, and push everything through Etsy ads… but if your product doesn’t provide value, you can say goodbye to your dream of an Etsy store.

Don’t flip the script. Create the perfect product, and then you’ll be at the perfect starting point to ensure your Etsy store starts to thrive.