What is Etsy?

Just about everyone has heard of ebay…but there are many people who still do not know what Etsy is all about. I like to call Etsy the “hand-crafted version of ebay.”  However, Etsy is an online marketplace only. There are no auctions like there are on ebay. The price you give is what you get. You can sell handmade items, craft supplies and vintage items only (you can even sell baked goods!). If your stuff doesn’t fall into those 3 categories…then you need to sell on ebay instead. What’s wonderful about Etsy is that the fees are SO MUCH LESS than ebay! It only costs 20 cents to list an item and then you are charged only 3.5% of the sale price!

People do really well on Etsy once they find their niche.  You can also be a part of what they call “Alchemy.” This is where  customers can request a hand-made item and then the sellers bid for the opportunity to make the item.

If you are a crafter…then Etsy is the place for you to start making a good living from home!

Getting Started with Etsy

1. Set up your Etsy site. All the information you need and step-by-step instructions can be found here:http://www.etsy.com/how_selling_works.php

2. Consider participating in Alchemy. Find this information here: http://www.etsy.com/alchemy/

3. Explore Etsy and find out what is selling. Buy a few low priced items to see how things work and how other sellers ship their items. You need to start accumulating good feedback. Start by becoming a good customer and paying immediately with paypal.

4. Keep honing your own craft, get opinions from friends and neighbors, and work diligently until your craft is exceptional. Visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBuzz to find the #1 Selling Etsy success guide e-mailed to you for only $9.95!

5. Take pictures of your items and load them on your pc. Make sure you are taking High Quality photos. You could have the most amazing craft in the world, but people won’t give it a second glance if you have a lousy picture!

6. Open a PayPal account if you have not already done so. Find directions here: https://www.paypal.com/  

7. Open your Etsy shop. Find tips here: http://www.etsy.com/help_guide_shopsetup.php 

More Etsy Tips

~Write up a guarantee and a shipping form that you send out with all of your products so that you look professional. (a sample is given on our main site: http://www.reallyworkingfromhome.com/)

~On the back of our shipping letter, I print out the invoice from the etsy website.

~A great place to purchase inexpensive & quality shipping supplies is www.uline.com

~Selling on ebay and etsy really is a simple process that can earn you a great income!

~Spend a day or two on these sites and just search around.  You would be surprised at what people are selling! You can do this, too!

More Suggestions:

          1.  Have a Garage Sale

No, Im not kidding. Clean out your house and advertise your sale. This will earn you some quick money that you can use as start up for your new home business. Also, use this sale to demo your business. If you are considering selling a hand-made craft on ebay or etsy, make a few and see how they sell. Listen to what people are saying about them. Use their comments and suggestions to make your craft better.

         2.  Have an Online Garage Sale

Anything worthwhile that doesn’t sell at the garage sale, take pictures of it and sell it on ebay or etsy (if its a homemade craft item). This will give you a lot of practice before you start up anything full time.

For more information about starting your own business, visit our main site: www.reallyworkingfromhome.com