Better to break up listings or use variation?

[Former_Member]

Is it better to keep one item per listing, so that you have more items in your store.

OR

Is it better to use the variation option and list several like items of the same price together, so that you save on listing costs?


This is a big question for me as I have been listing my banners in multiples with in a listing using the variation option, yet I have heard that the more items in your store the more sales you receive.

[Former_Member]

I think it depends on what you're selling. If it's the exact same shirt but you offer sizes, it should just be variations. If it's chocolate truffles, but you have different flavors, I'd DEFINITELY have separate listings, because people would be actively searching for those variations.

I guess it comes down to personal preference though.

Listings only cost 20 cents, so that doesn't really factor into my opinion.

[Former_Member]

It depends on personal preference and what you're selling.

I use variations for all the different sizes I have available, but I use separate listings for different colours.

[Former_Member]

I think it is better in general to list variations separately. People are not likely to click to see all variations for many items and may look elsewhere if they don't see the color, etc. they are looking for. However, if the variation is a clothing size, I wouldn't list each size separately. I asked this exact same question a month ago, and most people enthusiastically said to list it all.

[Former_Member]

I do separate listings for color. People want to be able to see if its the color thry had in mind. For sizes I'd do variations.

[sewbigkeepsake]

Variation options are great; however, I listed the size of my item in the variations only and was asked by someone: "What is the size"?

This option is great and works in some instances, but I mostly do complete listings for now.

[Former_Member]

Seems to me that variations works best for custom-made items and not ready-made. I would just do separate listings unless you have equal quantities of each variety. The variations tool automatically assumes that you have equal numbers of all the different types in stock.

For example, let's say you have 12 t-shirts with the same design, but in 4 different colors. And let's say you've made 5 red, 4 blue, 2 yellow, and 1 green. You'll enter a total quantity of 12 available, but because you have 4 choices, the system will assume you have 3 of each. It won't let you enter the actual quantities. So it'll let someone buy 2 or 3 green shirts when you only have 1. At the same time, if someone buys 3 of your 5 red shirts, it will count the red as being sold out, when you still have 2 more in stock. This can definitely cause some headaches.

It has a useful purpose, but it's not suitable in all situations.

[Former_Member]

I specifically am looking at the Etsy store banners. I am contemplating breaking them into individual listings instead of them being from 3 to 6 listed together using the variation bundle.

[Former_Member]

It depends, I have tried the variations bundle with my banner packages you are talking about and also the individual listings.

I haven't sold the variations but I have sold the individual ones. Taking a look at your shop, since they are related it makes sense to lump them in together.

I'm not sure what will work for you and what won't. I've seen some do well with both options. I would just wait and see what sells and go from there.

[Former_Member]

Oh, and there's no way of saving on listing fees. You'll still have to pay 20 cents for each item... just not all up front. When one item of the quantity sells, it'll automatically renew and charge you 20 cents.... and it repeats until the entire quantity sells out. So while you still have to pay the fee for however many you're listing, it's just delayed a little.

[Former_Member]

Diana,

Thank you. I may try some separate as well. For me at least, it did not make since to group banners together unless they were very similar, so that they could share tags and such.

[Former_Member]

This was helpful. I have similar bookmarks, but I think I'm going to list them separately instead of using variations. Thanks.

[EverythingMahjong]

I have a few listings that I use the variations for (veritcal vs. horizontal binding) . But other than that I use all separate ones.

[GabriellasTreasures]

Separately - agreed.

Make your titles, descriptions, tags a little different for each listing, change the wording around, don't "bulk" them, everyone thinks differently in a search (re. what I may type in vs what you would type in).

[LuAtKeswick]

I'm guessing that listing individual items would be be easier to be 'found' than variations.

I've been looking at SEO and I think I've read that once you have over 100 pages then Google likes you more. Of course Etsy has over 100 pages anyway, so having 101 items on Etsy may not be the same as having 101 pages on your own site but its got to be worth a go hasn't it?

When I restock for 2013, I'm going to try colours individually and sizes in the variations.
Lu