How did you get your first sale?? :)

[Moxiestudiodesigns]

I am new at this and my shop is about 3 weeks since opening. Of course I have been working at it every single day trying new things to make it better. My question is please share what you think is the most important thing you did with your shop in the beginning which lead to your first sale? And also, was everyone blessed enough to have family and friends to make their first few sales? Thanks so much for any feedback and Happy Selling :0)!!

[RomaMiaTradingCo]

Someone found me on another website and that''s how I made my first sale.

[Former_Member]

I need advise on this also. I have been open since late august and have not made a sale yet. I have improved my SEO's . I started trying different products. I am a bit at a loss. I posted a new line of paintings . cute kids playing. In hopes this will attract attention. my reptile paintings have confusing stats. the bearded dragon attracts the most attention and the snake attracts the least. portrait stats are up and down every day. so can't tell about them. Embroidery kits and patterns are weak stats, so will not be developing them at the moment. but fairy pattern gets high attention. I would like to hear any advice. thanks
https://www.etsy.com/shop/HyJackArt?ref=hdr_shop_menu

[Cottonbags]

I got my first Sale through alchemy (Custom order)

[ManmadeKnitting]

I'm still waiting for my first sale, hoping it happens soon, it would be nice

[Former_Member]

My first sale came from the other end of the world literally, when i was on vacation 1000 miles away from home. I still don't understand how i made that sale because my pics and seo were rather shitty back then. I haven't had any sales from friends or family because most of them don't know about my business

[domoshar]

Wishing you the best of luck, Beverly!

I opened the shop and added products a few months later, so I though I missed the chance to be shown in undiscovered /it was a chance at this time/. I just added products and connected with people and shops .. and nothing happened. One day it was a fact - no special efforts and no fancy things tried to promote it...

Now I am reopening for the second time and it is much more difficult, I have more products, more interaction on and outside Etsy, and still waiting... So I am to do what I have planned and see how it goes. The multiple closings meant losing momentum for me... So I was not happy, but it will happen to everyone - getting sales and stable development of your business. Just go for it!

PS No friends and neighbors sales in my case too. So it takes more time.

[Former_Member]

A whole lot of etsy luck :) I think it was from the States, which was pretty wild when i'm down here in New Zealand!

[GreenMarthaBoutique]

Etsy luck ! I listed my first item, it sold within two hours. This hasn't been repeated since ;)

[Former_Member]

Hi Beverly! When I first opened my shop (I am still pretty new as well!), I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and wasn't even sure what I wanted to focus on! As many people do, I started *for real* the beginning of August. Yes, the first few sales were to people I knew, but I don't count those (is that bad?) My first sale to a *stranger* was on Sept 16, about 5-6 weeks after I "reopened". I was ecstatic!!! You may be as well! : )

I have no idea where they came from - how do I tell? I *think* I have had luck on Pinterest quite a bit, my business facebook page (maybe) and Instagram (not sure?). There is a category labeled "direct traffic" which doesn't say where they come from. Are you using Google Analytics? That gives so much more information.

As I have heard a million times, never compare yourself to anyone else's! : ) And business owners around me (not etsy shops though) tell me to give it a full year. That sounds right to me, even on etsy. I have noticed that slowly my visibility everywhere is increasing. Hope that relates to more sales!

Good luck!

[Former_Member]

My first sale was through Etsy search engine. At that time I was making tote bags before I switched over to what I am featuring now.

[Former_Member]

Opened my shop a few days ago. Alas, no sales yet. any advise would be appreciated.

[Former_Member]

I haven't made a sale yet (open ~a month), but am encouraged to hear that first sales can come from random buyers, rather than friends/family.

It seems like it's important to be visible multiple places (Facebook, pinterest, tumblr, Flkr, etc) so traffic can come from various sites. Of course, this means more computer time and less time creating items! Working on figuring out the balance so any advice is welcomed!

[Moxiestudiodesigns]

Thanks so much for everyone's input! I know it takes time and patience and work work work...did I say work? Anyway it's nice to know that it is really possible to get those first few sales from someone other than friends/family! I'm hoping the holidays brings more traffic and maybe my first sale :)