How long did it take you to grow to a "full-time buisness"

[Former_Member]

I'm new to etsy, and working my butt off to get to where I can have this as my full-time job. I got married a month ago and got let go from my job the day we returned from the honeymoon. I have been looking for a new job, but no luck so far. So I'm wondering how long it took you all to be able to make a living off of etsy. What are some tips and advice to speed up the process and make my shop better? Anything helps! Thanks!! :)

[Former_Member]

Very few people make their living from Etsy, but some do. Some supplement their spouse's income with their Etsy income.

[Former_Member]

I'm still trying. I'll get there soon!

[Former_Member]

Welcome aboard! Great paintings!

I'm new here too (joined back in February) and am having a lot of fun, however, I think it will probably take me and my shop at least about 1-2 years to be able to get to the point where I can live off of it. I started selling here after being laid off too and wish I had done it much earlier.

There's a learning curve in everything you do and I'm still learning a lot but it's very encouraging because the more I learn and apply it, the more I sell, so it's very exciting.

Good luck to you and lots of sales!!!

ps: I like everything about your shop, the work, the photos, the banner. Use the words on the welcome section to advertise what you do. I just read on another team that they have a major role on how the Search Engines find your work. Join a couple of SEO and promotion teams to learn more too.

[InsideSandysShop]

I copied and pasted another comment from another team I am on - thought it might be helpful to you here. It sure helped some of us on the other team. My best to you in your marriage and getting your shop off the ground.

I have been here 7 months and have only made 6 sales. I think it will take a while to get established and get our names out there.

Blessings to you today - Sandy

MelissafromSpunkyMomEmporium says

Glad I found your group ! While I have been on Etsy for a couple of years, I had another website and found Etsy really is better. I decided to go full time with my boutique and left what I considered my " second home " of SEO, Marketing and Social Media for 10+ years. I thought maybe I could offer some help with some of the knowledge I have to help your shops advance ( since I am now going full time I am also implementing my knowledge and expertise ).

1. Be positive - If YOU Know your items are worth it, it is going to show. Be worthy of what you create, be grateful you have the opportunity to create them and KNOW that your items will show - it's mind over matter and it really does work

2. SEO is extremely important. Whatever your title is, repeat it in the first paragraph of your description. Use and repeat keywords frequently, like soy wax for example : title : Soy Wax Christmas Tree Tarts ( don't use comma's etc in titles ) repeat your keyword as often as possible in your description - like soy wax is all natural, soy wax promotes farmers etc. us the same tags. Make sure your keywords are in your profile, shop announcement especially, all within the first paragraph and then throughout the body. For extra SEO end with that keyword. Something like : " here's to soy wax ".

3. Push it out, Twitter is especially good. Use places like facebook, twitter, linkedIn, Tumblr, Digg, Pinterest, Google+ and Flickr. I have watched for years some of my clients catapult to the top of google search engines with photos alone through Flickr ( whew, I am so behind on doing mine ). When you add your photos, use your keywords in your title, description and tag and link it back to your shop ! It really works. I highly recommend Google+ because the SEO is amazing ! Your photos will show up like lightning in google. I recommend creating a blogger photo blog of your items - at the end of the post it has the sharing buttons, push it out especially to google + !! I have been watching google+ really take off. I started doing this with some of my Real Estate clients and they boosted above their competition rather quickly.

4. Utilize places like yardsellr, Copious.com etc. It's free to list, yardsellr and Style.li - has an etsy importer so they automatically feed in your listings, you just have to click list and freshen it up. This is a great way to add a link back to your blog and etsy shop ! AND it's free. WOO HOO

5. If you have a blog/website - build a " Specials " page - then add a coupon code from your Etsy shop. Offer a free shipping or 10% discount.

6. Use catch phrases like " last one " will not be duplicated " etc it makes the buyer think it's now or never. Frequently, like an item or join a team. It bumps you to the top of the etsy feed so you can get noticed.

Hope some of this is helpful. If you have any questions or concerns , please let me know. I know a ton of stuff about SEO , online marketing and advertising and will be glad to help :)

[Former_Member]

Really helpful Sandy,thanks!

[BallardHandmade]

Sandy thanks for sharing!

[Former_Member]

Thanks sandy very helpful!

[Former_Member]

I have been here 2 years now and am finally getting found more and having sales - I am working on a five year plan and yet that will be used to supplement my husband's income and not be self supporting.

[TheSSSeamstress]

You really get out what you put into your shop (with a little luck mixed in, of course). I'm definitely not up to total self-sufficiency status from my shop yet, but I have made way more from Etsy this month that I have with my job (let's hope it's not a fluke!) My shop is almost exactly six months old. The first three months were uneventful to say the least, but once people started favoriting me more and more, my views, hearts, and sales started growing exponentially. Since I've been adding an item once at least every few days, I've been making sales about as often. Of course adding so many items isn't cheap, so most of my "profit" goes right back into materials for the time being. This is a time that a lot of people go through, I think -- you're putting as much time into your shop as you might for a full-time job, but the money from it is still lagging behind. It can be exhausting, but a lot of people have been able to catch up after a year or two of this. Fingers crossed for all of us!

[Former_Member]

Thanks Sandy! great info, and I agree with Dana and have learned first hand "you reap what you sow"

[MorganRalstonArt]

Step 1. Get into circles. I just added you to mine.

Artists helping artists ;) it's a tough business to get into!

[mjjrosebuds]

Hang in there. We all feel it.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTQ1NjEwMHwyNzIzMDk2MTU0/july-anguish-on-etsy

[Former_Member]

Sandy - thanks for sharing that post!
Morgan - good idea about circles :)

[Former_Member]

My shop is not where it needs to be to give me a flu time job income, but I am getting there way faster than I thought I would.

I hardly get featured in a treasury and never made it to the front page. I got where I am without them, so I think they are a bit overrated.
What I think it really helped me was to read the Etsy Seller's Handbook and watch some of the online labs (and put everything into practice). The Merchandising Desk was also really helpful. It helped me focus my shop into what was current and trending.

With art you have to tell your customer why they need it. On your case it could help to have art pieces for nursery (things for babies and expectant mothers tend to sell well). I also often hear people saying the 2D artists should make prints because they don't take long to make and it lowers the price for your customer. This will also help you save time on your photography and description because you'll only need to do it once!

Good luck!

[mjjrosebuds]

Amanda, your work is vibrant and alive. Just make lots more of it. Having lots of items is somehow proportionately related to sales. I don't know why, just that I keep hearing it from etsy veterans.

I love that you sell both your art and the cards. Gives everyone a chance to own your images.

Just stay positive. Keep making treasuries and adding to your circle. Check your activity feed often. Pick a couple of teams you really like and get REALLY active with them.

The best thing about stsy is the people. They will get you through times without sales better than sales will get you thorough times without people.

Good luck and hang in there.

Namaste.

[watermediaworks]

Hey Amanda -
Congrats on getting married and your new life ahead!!
It takes a really long time to get an art business off the ground here on etsy. I don't mean to sound discouraging, because i really love your work (especially path in the woods!!) It's just the harsh reality of lots of artists and a rather tough economic environment. I've been at it for two years and enjoying increasing levels of success...but still not enough to quit my day job.
I have a "five year plan" to do this -- maybe I'm being overly conservative. But, I want to reach a certain level of success with my shop before I quit my day job. In the meantime, I'm putting in long days and nights. I guess it all depends on whether you can comfortably live on one income and whether you new hubby is comfortable with that arrangement (even if technically you can make it work).

Best of luck with everything and I hope your dreams come true!!!!
Marcia

[Former_Member]

Great Advice...Making etsy your full time job is no easy task. It takes time,lots of patience and discipline. My advice..listen...read... and ask questions. Good luck your work is beautiful:)

[MorganRalstonArt]

That whole 'More Items = More Sales' is because your items/tag words have x-# more chances to show up in search queries or throughout the open listings.

Works better once your shop is syndicated. That opens it up to Google searches as well.

[UniqueSewingBoutique]

Thank you for the info Sandy.

I signed up for Copious, but was unable to find where a URL for my web site

could be placed, do you just advertise an item individually. If anyone has

more info about that site, please let me know,

Thank you so much