TLDR : No. Don’t.
A few of the causes that I’ve been in a position to consider why promoting on Etsy is a foul thought in your model and enterprise :
Algorithms
You, your store, your model and your livelihood is on the mercy of Etsy’s Algorithm. In the event that they determine to de-incentivize the class of merchandise beneath which you’re promoting, how are you going to battle that? You merely can not. It’s much like the grievance most of us have with the Instagram Algorithm : Natural Attain is at an all-time low and we are able to do completely nothing to alter it besides purchase Instagram advertisements. However Etsy makes you pay for an inventory even earlier than you may have expertise with their algorithm. So that you pay for the itemizing, you pay 5% of every sale and you continue to want to purchase promotional advert house on the Etsy platform? Fuck off.
Your Enterprise or Etsy’s Enterprise?
Are you attempting to develop your personal enterprise or are you attempting to contribute to Etsy’s shareholders? You’re the product that Etsy is promoting to it’s shareholder and YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY TO BE ON THE PLATFORM.
What are you promoting? Artwork / Commodity?
If it’s a commodity, you would even consider promoting it by way of Amazon. Why cease at Etsy? If, nonetheless, you are trying to construct a model ( which is a long-term course of ), why would you dilute your model’s worth by itemizing it on one other platform? You’re promoting Artwork, not ornamental gadgets. There’s a distinction.
Model Possession
Beginning your store on Etsy first signifies that that’s the place you ship all Web Search visitors. In case you do determine to close down your store a number of months / years down the road and launch a web-based store by yourself area, Web Search continues to be going to take individuals first to Etsy the place they’re certain to get distracted. Personal your model and area from the get-go.
Choice-making possession : what if Etsy shuts down?
What occurs to all of the work you set into Etsy if Etsy shuts down? Sure each platform faces that inevitability – heck, even your entire Web may shut down some day ( which might in all probability imply that the existence of this planet is likely to be in query! ). Are you going to make model choices primarily based on what Etsy goes via or are you going to make choices primarily based on what’s perfect in your personal model?
Quick-term vs. Lengthy-term
In case you educate your self the talents to run your personal store by yourself area and tie in all the weather of your provide chain, it is going to serve you higher in the long term. You’ll study extra and you’ll not must rely on anyone platform for the success and progress of your model.
The Monetary Angle
- $0.20 to make an inventory. ( You may make as many listings as you need, by yourself store. This cash that’s you’re paying Etsy is even earlier than you’ve made any cash promoting on their platform. In case you’re going to pay them prior to creating any cash your self, I’d recommend you a lot somewhat make investments that cash in creating Instagram / Fb advertisements that deliver curious guests to your personal store instantly. )
- 5% of every sale. ( For doing what precisely? Use Instamojo.com as a substitute : they cost 3% of every sale, are particular to India so you need to use Credit score Playing cards, NetBanking, UPI and so on. AND they may set you up with a wonderful delivery companion as effectively. )
Limitations on Pictures / Video
You are able to do actually no matter you want for the product itemizing web page by yourself retailer – you don’t have that possibility when itemizing with Etsy. Etsy’s platform has numerous restrictions, not simply restricted to the scale of photographs / movies.
Far too many purpose to not be on Etsy. I actually don’t see any purpose to be on the platform – no less than my very own KhaosPhilos Artwork Label won’t ever be seen on Etsy. There is just one place the place my artwork is available for purchase : on my on-line store.
promoting artwork on etsy : ought to i do it? #thenainaredhuexperience on youtube
promoting my artwork on etsy : ought to i do it? #thenainaredhuexperience podcast episode 107 on anchor / spotify / itunes