There are multiple e-commerce platforms cropping up every year in India. As an e-commerce seller looking to taste success online, it can be hard to choose a platform to sell on. Indian e-commerce giants such as Amazon and Flipkart act as huge crowd pullers, but they come with their own pros and cons.
Higher commission rates, higher storage fees, etc… can be the cons while huge traffic, popularity, and existing customer base can be a boon for new sellers.
At the same time, overcrowding and too many options can lead to a problem of plenty. Did you know that 70 percent of Amazon customers never click past the first page of search results? If that comes as a surprise, 81 percent of clicks are on brands that are on the first page of search results.
This is where relatively newer e-commerce platforms come in. They can help any good product loved by their customers. Even though the traffic may not be as high as Flipkart and Amazon, these websites may eventually get there one day.
One of the relatively new entrants in the Indian e-commerce space is Etsy. As they describe themselves, “Etsy is a global online marketplace, where people come together to make, sell, buy and collect unique items. We’re also a community pushing for positive change for small businesses, people, and the planet”
How to sell on Etsy?
Now, how Etsy works?
Etsy is primarily used for selling vintage items, handmade goods arts, crafts, among other things.
Joining and opening your own shop on Etsy is absolutely free, but there are three basic selling fees involved.
- A listing fee
- A transaction fee
- A payment processing fee
In general, it costs $0.20 to publish a listing in the Etsy marketplace. It is important to note that a listing lasts in Etsy for four months or until the item is sold.
Once the item sells on Etsy, there is a 5% transaction fee on the sale price which will include the postage price set by the seller. In case, the payments are accepted by PayPal, there will be a payment processing fee based on PayPal’s fee structure.
What can be sold on Etsy?
Esty’s policy clearly states that any item that is listed and sold on the platform must be handmade, vintage or a craft supply. All of these three categories have their own set of compliance requirements.
Handmade products need actual photographs, vintage products should at least be 20 years old so on and so forth.
You can know more about selling on Etsy on their own website.
How to be successful in Etsy?
The success formula for e-commerce is similar in most cases. Yes, it varies from marketplace to marketplace, but still, the basics still remain the same. Being successful in Etsy also requires a seller to gets the basics right.
1. High-quality original photographs
Since Etsy is a platform for creative products out there, they need to be displayed perfectly to your customers. In some cases like handmade products, Etsy strictly prefers only original photographs. High quality, original and creative photographs can convey your brand or product’s story visually.
2. The perfect SEO
The digital world runs because of SEO and Etsy is not an exception. You need a foolproof SEO strategy to capture the attention of your target audience. Once you get this right, it is almost half the battle won.
3. Use social media as a store too
Though Etsy is an amazing platform altogether you still pay a lot of fees if you want to sell your product using that platform. Etsy can be your primary sales channel while social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc…. Can be your parallel channel where you never pay any commission for the sales you make.
4. Be as creative as possible
Etsy is a platform where you sell creative and exclusive products. If you have to beat your competition and get ahead, your brand has to ooze with creativity. Right from packaging to the choice of words, everything has to be unique and creative.
That is the only way to stand out from the crowd on platforms such as Etsy.
Well, now that you know everything about Etsy, you may want to jump on board and start selling there immediately.
But, is it easy? Definitely not.
Can it be made easy? Of course, yes.
Who can make it easy for me? NautOne.
We at NautOne specialize in providing marketing, sales and account management services to multiple unique e-commerce businesses. We use the Blitzkrieg strategy to capture the attention of your audience while using multiple channels.
Now is the right time to partner with NautOne to increase your sales and revenue. Get in touch with us by mailing us at hello@nautone.com or giving us a buzz at +91 8072696474.