Do You Need Experience To Start Your First Etsy Store?

The world is changing, and it is changing really fast. Many people are choosing different paths to cope with this economic, technological, and overall evolution. If you want to do something different, start an entrepreneurial journey, or not be a part of the slave culture then you have all the tools available at your fingertips. For people who want to synthesize creativity and business, Etsy is the perfect platform for them.

Now, there must be a nagging negative self-talk going on inside your overthinking brain: Will I be able to do it? Don’t I need a lot of experience to start an Etsy shop? How am I going to compete with the veteran Etsy sellers without any prior experience at all?

If you need a short answer then our answer is no. You do not need any experience to start an Etsy sound. But we also know that negative whispering and self-doubt are not going to be satisfied or shut up with this small answer. So how about you read this blog to be self-assured?

Understand Etsy with an Open Mind

First of all, Etsy is a global online marketplace full of different types of sellers. Creative entrepreneurs sell vintage goods, art pieces, decor, and handmade. The platform was founded in 2005 and now it can boast of having over 90 million active buyers (2022). There are no special criteria or rules for new sellers. Be it a side hustle, a small business, or the first step of building a global brand, Etsy is for everyone.

Do you know the average conversion rate on Etsy is around 3-5%? To put it simply, for every 100 visitors to your store, 3-5 will likely make a purchase.

Why Should You Choose Etsy?

Low Overhead Cost

The upfront cost is so minimal that even a creative high schooler can start an Etsy store right away. The platform has a product listing fee, i.e., $0.20. The transaction fee per sale is 5%.

Global Reach

You are actually getting the built-in audience of Etsy the moment you go live with your brand new Etsy shop. Etsy has a large customer base who trusts Etsy. They know what they need to buy on the platform so you do need to do anything extra to promote your products.

Why do You Need Passion and Creativity?

The only things that will keep you motivated and help you grow on Etsy are your creativity and passion. If you truly love what you make or draw or create, then you can overcome a common challenge.

No Experience? Absolutely Fine

If you do not have any prior experience in retail or e-commerce business per se you do not need to worry. Many Etsy sellers started their journey with zero experience. You only need creativity, passion, and the burning desire to keep learning and growing.

Keep Learning

If you need a platform that gives you scope to learn and grow then congratulations. You have Etsy.

Etsy has a wide range of guides, resources like a seller guidebook, supportive community support and forums to help every seller. You can learn all the necessary ins and outs of running an Etsy store.

Key Areas To Learn and Focus

The Product Visual

If you want to grab the attention of your potential clients you need stunning product photographs. If you are selling something customized then upload the best possible visual representation of the finished product. You do not need to make it too complex to handle. Make sure you have great lighting and a creative yet minimalist composition to display your product perfectly.

Etsy SEO

No matter how great your product or product photography is, without SEO nobody will know about it to start with. Understand how keywords work and include those product-related keywords in your product title, description and tags. Your product will appear on Etsy and search engine results if you implement the basic SEO rules.

How To Build a Brand on Etsy Without Experience?

Another factor that can greatly influence your success but doesn't require any previous experience is creating a recognizable brand. Your brand covers every aspect of customer experience, not just your logo or store name.

Major Aspect of Etsy Brand

Shop Name and Logo: Choose an easy-to-remember name and a simple yet stunning logo

Consistent Quality: Create your product standard and maintain that.

Consistent Visual: Create a unique style if you want, a specific color pallet, and font and go for a cohesive look.

Unique Selling Proposition or USP: How your store and products are different and unique? Find out and promote that.

Common Challenges You Should Know About

We are never claiming that your journey will be all bliss without challenges. As an entrepreneur, you will face challenges, but you must know the ways to overcome them too.

The Time Management

If your Etsy shop is your side hustle then you might feel overwhelmed sometimes to manage time. Even if it is your sole source of income, it can be daunting to manage everything on your own.

The Solution

You need to be disciplined and implement a schedule that works for you. Allocate time for each of the tasks and slap that procrastinating self that keeps you behind. Use tools like Notion, Asana or Trello to organize and streamline everything.

Pricing The Product

Since you are creating something unique that not only needs a few raw materials but also some intangible factors like your creativity, skill, thought and time, pricing creative products can be tricky.

The Solution

There is a fantastic tool called Craftybase, you can give it a try. Apart from that Esty’s open pricing calculator is also a great option to solve these issues.

Being Different and Standing Out

Well, if you are selling vintage dresses, then you are not the only one. There are probably thousands of Etsy vintage dress sellers. Now the real challenge is standing out and getting attention.

The Solution

Use high-quality photographs, emphasize your USP, and communicate with your audience regularly via Etsy's message system and social media. Do something that very few people are doing to enhance the customer experience.

Why Should You Start Today?

Let’s not be on the fence anymore and take a leap of faith this time. It is never too late to start your Etsy journey. The market is booming and more and more buyers are choosing Etsy to get something unique and artistic. So why not leverage this increasing demand?

A strategic approach, passion to learn and grow, and innate creativity-all these are more important than experience if you want to start an Etsy journey. Yes, with experience you will learn a few more different ways to utilize Etsy features or market your product, but initially, you need the get-go mindset. So why are you still waiting? Start a new venture and stun the world.