Etsy Insights: Tips for creating listing videos

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Hello! I’m Christine, the Yarn Goddess behind TreasureGoddess! I started my Etsy shop 12 years ago with 3 skeins of yarn just to see what happened. Working with Etsy I’ve grown my business into a full-time job and I’m excited to share my hand-dyed yarn with customers around the world. Etsy makes the business side of my shop easy so I can focus more on the creative side of things, which is what I love!

One thing that’s REALLY expanded my sales is using listing videos. Videos can show scale, answer questions and even show items in use. Creating listing videos is also WAY easier than you would think! Here are my top three tips for taking listing videos:

Decide what features you want to show in your video. Think about capturing size, scale, and texture, and purpose. How can you show your item in use? Is it something that can be worn? Can you hold it in your hand to rotate it to show each side?

Set up your filming spot. Pick an area with indirect natural light, near a window but not in harsh sunlight. I like to use my phone and a tripod to hold the phone steady. Make sure to wipe the camera lens to avoid blurry shots. The background should be simple. Let your product be the focus of the video! You can use a wood table, white foam board, painted wall, etc.

Batch your videos. If you’ve got similar products, film your videos one after another to get a bunch done at once. Remember videos must be 15 seconds or less. I usually bring a basket of 15-20 skeins of yarn to video and I’m done in no time. Later that evening I go edit each listing and upload videos right from my phone.

You can get more tips and examples for listing videos in this video that I worked on with Etsy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdidpqUwHEs

I usually film my listing videos in a vertical orientation. That way I’ve done the work once, but can share those videos across multiple social media platforms by just adding some text, hashtags and captions. Those videos make amazing Instagram Reels or TikTok posts and they really seem to capture people’s attention. Adding video posts to social media gets more engagement so it’s a great way to send more customers to your Etsy shop!

I’m always looking for more ideas for making listing videos. Share your favorite tips, ideas, or videos below!

TreasureGoddess

Owner

Posted 5 years ago · Edited 5 years ago·Last reply 2 years ago

33 comments

EveryDayDabble

·2 years ago

I sell magnets which I design and get printed at another company. I have about 15 designs but don't have samples of every single design, as I wait to see if they are popular before ordering them. I have made listing videos for the designs which I have samples for. I was thinking of making a general "magnet" listing video which can show lots of different designs and that way I would have a video for each listing, even if I don't have the exact sample. ALl the magnets feature similar designs and are made the same way, same size and similar colors.

Do you think this is okay?

EveryDayDabble

·2 years ago

Do you think this is okay?

FabioMcMustache

·2 years ago

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RustyCrustyRepurpose

·4 years ago

I would really like to add videos to some of my listings but it takes so long right now to just get the pics to load. Hopefully down the road things will work out.

VintageMaineia

·4 years ago

@RustyCrustyRepurpose interestingly, although photos load slowly, I find that videos load more reliably, and often faster -!

FabCoutureStore

·4 years ago

Thanking everyone for the suggestion. I am now making a habit to upload videos of each listings. Hope this will help client in deciding the purchase in better way. Any App to edit videos apart from inshot which I am currently using.

Please pour in suggestion.

Thanks

lovelynlonnell2

·5 years ago

Thank you for your tips

WhimsyWreathDesignCo

·5 years ago

This is great! I love the listing videos but I hadn't thought of some of these ideas for listing videos. I'm already brainstorming new ways to use the video to show something different than what is in the listing info. Thank you!

McKeoneSoapWorks

·5 years ago

Thank you for sharing your tips. It's very helpful. I uploaded a short clip to one of my listings (a copy of a very basic instagram story). I was pleasantly surprised that it worked! It gave me the confidence to try out more videos with the rest of my listings. I'm learning as I go along. I really like your site. My daughter knits and crochets. I'll let her know about your yarns. https://www.etsy.com/listing/969712224/set-of-2-lotion-sticks-eco-lotion-bar

NaturalPlanners

·5 years ago

Thanks for posting. Does anyone know an easy video / animation editing software? Perhaps an app for mac/ipad/iphone? I create digital stickers to use on planners and would love to make some videos of the stickers slowly appearing on the screen. Very basic animation, but just wondering if anyones found an app / cheap software to do something like this?

Handmeadbagbazar

·5 years ago

Hello

AyaandZaina

·5 years ago

Thank you so much for your tips

I will definitely work on that and take videos of my stain scrunchies and show how they will look like while wearing on hair or a wrist too

ayaandzaina.etsy.com

AishwaryGoleArts

·5 years ago

That's awesome

TraceyLeeCrofts

·5 years ago

Hi everyone, Speaking from a digital printable shop standpoint, I think listing videos are best for physical products. I sell digital products and find when I look at another digital shop that does have a video listing, it loads slow and I just want to flick through the images I am getting that I can print out. I get frustrated that I can not look at the images with ease while the video jumps and loads.

I trialled a few video listings like a slide show type of 8 sheets and there is no way the timeline of such things can be looked at in a detailed manner. I stopped attempting video listings as my products are very clear when potential buyers look through the images and are able to gaze upon them without a time limit.

Kind regards

Tracey-Lee

Pixelsinparadise

·5 years ago

I almost never look at the videos, because are too slow to start.

Homemadewithlov

·5 years ago

Hello Christine,

Thank you for the article, can i upload video from my Android phone, i find upload video option only on desktop

can you help me with this, can i do it from Sell on Etsy app?

ChesapeakeArtisan

·5 years ago

I upload videos from my android phone to the mobile browser. From etsy.com, you can open up "shop manager" which looks exactly like the version on your desktop. For some reason, the Sell On Etsy app doesn't seem to have all the features the website's Shop Manager has. I personally find the app more convenient to use, but I have to flip between the two to upload my listing and videos!

ConfettiParade

·5 years ago

I went throughout my house looking for the best lighting. I tried my dining table, kitchen counter, and outdoors in my backyard. It turns out to be my bathroom sink! Lol. I have a marble sink top and just enough lighting comes through the window. This will be my studio until I can afford a nice camera. Thanks for the tips!

VintageMaineia

·5 years ago

I use videos to show flaws in items, rhinestones, glass, and flipping through book pages to name a few.

Using them for every listing is a challenge for those of us with almost 750 different listings : ) I am approaching 10% though!

YongXingCN

·5 years ago

Uploading videos allows buyers to learn more about our products and they can also share their videos

InkstaticDesigns

·5 years ago

Thanks for the tips! I recently uploaded my first few videos last weekend! I plan to add videos to all of my listings over time. I’m particularly curious to see if traffic increases on the few listings I’ve added them to already.

CuriosAnCollectibles

·5 years ago

I have videos listed with some of my items, they're easy enough to take and upload but I just keep forgetting. I thinks it's probably a case of getting into the habit.

Lenanjewelry

·5 years ago

Thanks for sharing this. I am new on Etsy and just stated adding videos to my products. I have a light box which makes it super easy. I don't have a live model and can not afford one, so I am using a good quality mannequin for my video's. Any thoughts on using mannequin for the video?

Thanks

EarlyDawnBoutique

·5 years ago

Thanks for posting this! I had begun adding videos to my listings but found it difficult to think of ways to show my items beyond what I have in my photos.

TreasureGoddess

OP5 years ago

Owner

Your crocheted pieces are GORGEOUS! I love your video showing off reviews. Somethings to try.... maybe show how to style the shawl, or video a hat by moving your head slowly about side to side & then looking down to show off the top?

ScrummyScrunchies

·5 years ago

Any advice....

I have tried uploading videos, taken on my iPhone. Look great on the phone, as soon as they are uploaded to Etsy the colours look so washed out and it ruins the impact of the video! Upload the same video to Instagram reels and it looks as it should.

Any help with this issue would be much appreciated.

PrismanaCraftCo

·3 years ago

Did you ever find a solution to this? I'm having the same problem and haven't had luck finding a fix yet.

modestly

·5 years ago

I uploaded video to most of my listings but didn't notice any uplift at all - it would be great to see some !

AyaandZaina

·5 years ago

Thank you for your tips

OneEyeCatStudio

·5 years ago

"One thing that’s REALLY expanded my sales is using listing videos."

Could you expand on how you reached this conclusion?

Are buyers taking the time to tell you that they bought from you specifically because of your video?

AnnaleasFinest

·5 years ago

She probably noticed, like other sellers, that listings with videos sell better than before.

TreasureGoddess

OP5 years ago

Owner

I have had buyers tell me they liked being able to see the yarn being held in my hands and moved around to see how the colors looked throughout the skein. I also sell more of the items that have videos than those that I've not yet posted a video for.

RosemaryAbby

·5 years ago

We use listing videos on all of our items. We use "still" videos to show more close up details. Lighting seems to be the most important issue for these videos. So we use a round selfie light. Added sound would be really nice - so simple music could be in the background. But for now, the customer will have supply their own music!!