What's the key to so many sales?

[Former_Member]

I have seen so many Etsy sellers who have only been here for a few months and already have more than a hundred sales and other sellers who have been here for less than a year and already have over a thousand sales. So I'm asking the question that so many other people are also probably wondering.....

How do you get so many sales?

........If you say you do a lot of custom orders, then how do you get so many custom orders?

[RelatingThroughArt]

I'm curious too!

[HausofAriella]

I think most people will agree that it mostly comes down to hard work with a little bit of luck thrown in. I've spent SO much time working on my shop - promoting, tweaking titles and tags, adding new items, trying to get better photos, etc. Making sure the right people see your items is important (SEO), but you also have to make sure that you entice them to buy by presenting the items in the best manner possible. I think that having a larger selection of items helps a lot too.

[Former_Member]

Well, I'm not one of those people with hundreds of sales. But I do feel like I've done quite well in the last month since I have reopened my shop. It's all about dedication of your time. Spend time updating your descriptions and listings in general, spend time talking on the forums, spend time creating new items to list, spend time on taking perfect pictures. I know that it's hard if this isn't the only thing that you do, but it really is something that leads to success!

[TheSalvagedEdge]

I would say if you want thousands of sales, sell supplies!

[Babiease]

Yes, some have hundreds of sales and within a short months! Honestly, I watch a few shops with great amount of sales and tried to learn from them. The shops are similar to mine; I see what the difference the shop is to mine and it's helped. Don't give up! Keep trying! With any business it takes work!

[Former_Member]

Well, I don't have hundreds or thousands of sales yet, but I just opened shop a few months ago and my next sale will be my hundredth! I read these blogs and external websites pertaining to Etsy promotion for almost a year before I opened up a shop. I, too, tried to model my shop after those who I thought were successful and had similar items to mine. I also think that by simply participating in the Etsy community (blog posts, treasuries, likes, etc.) you can gain a ton of exposure. Just a thought...good luck!

[Former_Member]

Do some research, go to http://www.craftcount.com and look at the top selling shops in the category that you're in. That's going to be as good as you can get selling those items.

See how those shops operate, how many items they have, what their pictures look like, do they have a blog, facebook etc.

The top selling category is supplies, there are a lot of buyers for supplies.

The top sellers in other categories have hundreds of listings each, and the pictures are high quality.

You have to have a large, high quality catalog in a category that sells well.

Best regards,

Gary

[Former_Member]

Congrats to those doing so well.

[Former_Member]

Wow, thank you all for all the wonderful help!

[FabulousWire]

My 2¢.

Unique and Different!
Unique design, unique style... If you can't make something unique, at least something different from all the other sellers sell the similar stuff. Otherwise, with all the same thing all over, why I go buy from you? or how can I find you from the handsands of thousands same stuff?

[Babiease]

Good point, Freeman. Look at where items are lacking in your craft. For me, I found that cute items for baby boys were lacking, hence my shop!

[Former_Member]

I see you just opened, welcome to etsy! I am not one of those with thousands of sales, but I did notice a big difference in the amount and regularity of my sales once I had more than 125 items. Having a large selection is vital. Also, be active in the forums, join teams and make lots of treasuries! I wish you much success!

[ArtifactsEtCetera]

Just something to keep in mind:
Having lots of sales is great, but the bottom line is even more important. On Etsy, most sellers seem to be better off making fewer sales at a higher profit margin than selling oodles of things, busting their butts to keep up, and hardly making any profit.

[Former_Member]

I stumbled upon a niche market and talk about it in a blurb in the Etsy Blog post - Your Product: Sell What You Love!

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/your-product-sell-what-you-love/

I also work hard on SEO, titles, and tags, therefore I'm found a lot through searches.

[ParadiseChicJewelry]

I don't have a lot of sales yet, but I have noticed a slow increase from last year. I am not a great picture taker, but I have improved and I think that has made a difference. Also I keep working on tags, if I get a better tag I will change it and other things. I think it is just a lot of hard work and persistance. And even then it seems to be a science. :)

[Former_Member]

I have been wondering how they do it too. Thanks for everyone's input.

[Former_Member]

This is a really great thread.. super helpful!

[Nbeads]

I sell supplies but don't do very well.
Learn from those top sellers(tags,pictures,titles etc.) and add something special of your own to your stuff.

Try to find A REASON why customers would like to purchase from you!

[Former_Member]

A lot is selling supplies, edibles, soaps and similar or inexpensive jewelry. Some people bring outside traffic, almost all have professional magazine quality photos, some have great SEO but not all, some belong to treasury teams and thus end up in the FP often.

To me, though, it's not sales that matter but net and gross margins. Some of those super sellers have very thin margins and personally I'd rather sell less often for more profit.
of course I just end up selling less LOL :)

[Former_Member]

But if I were a talented cook,that's wake I'd sell edibles. Even though my pictures are ok, I would hire a high end food photographer and do some serious SEO and sell food.

For one your margin can be higher than soaps or supplies, because your items ate consumables good to great service and a tasty item and you are set.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/69419229/matcha-green-tea-berlingots-4-oz

So I bought some candy from this seller. Got it loved it and found out they can make custom candy for you, I ordered 12oz of custom candy for $35+ and the thing is, if it's good I'll be back for me because I won't be able to get my candy from anywhere else.

[BaloolahB]

I'm on the verge of hiring a photographer, good images go viral on wanelo, pinterest and stumbleupon, so having a photo that makes people think.....hmmm I'm pinning that, can lead to much more promotion.
My son took my photos, back in feb, march when I started, they are ok but have been featured on 14 or 15 blogs all around the world and also in a magazine. The cream photo that has been featured has accounted for about 90% of my sales. My white bunting, just as lovely and the same price, has a much less successful photo, not seen that anywhere and have had few sales.
When you are on etsy it is tempting to treat the process of marketing like you are a craft fair, but when you find your products in wanelo, along side professional photos of products from global companies, you realise that if you get the basics ( good product and great photos) you will be competing in a global marketplace. I find it astounding!!!

[Former_Member]

I would also say it's important to offer a completely unique product/brand that that no one else has. That's key, and the great pictures and promoting comes in second. For example I saw one etsy seller who made really cute tissue box holders out of animal shapes and that's all she did and she had thousands of sales and I personally bought a super cute teddy bear brooch from a girl who specializes in them and has stories about her characters. It's all about your product/brand and what it has to offer to make it stand out :)

[Former_Member]

The key to sales:

1. Great product

2. Great photos

3. Great marketing

4. Great Photos

Did you see the photo of those candies? AMAZING!!!

[Former_Member]

Thanks for all the input! I need it all. :D