To get anything on the shelves of your new Etsy shop, you first have to have an Etsy seller account all worked out. It sounds complicated, though it really isn’t! Knowing the basics and what to anticipate will help any new Etsy-ian more readily navigate the Etsy seller universe!
What an Etsy Seller Account Actually Includes
Setting up an Etsy account where you can shop also gives you access to Etsy’s Shop Manager, where you’ll deal with sales and listings. An Etsy account for shoppers is one thing, and that of sellers is another, though you may use the same login when operating either one.
Once you have created your seller account, you will be able to:
- Manage product listings
- Name your shop and create policies
- Manage orders
- Check out Shop Stats
- Communicate with buyers using Etsy Messages
What You Need Before Setting One Up
Before you sign up, it would be helpful if you had the following in place:
- A good understanding of what you will be selling and your shop’s overall concept.
- A unique name for your shop.
- One product available to sell, with pictures and descriptions in place.
- Your banking information to receive payments from Etsy Payments.
- A knowledge of Etsy’s fee system so that you can plan accordingly when setting prices.
Choosing Between Individual and Business Accounts
In your country -and depending on how you plan to function, especially as you scale in sales- you may even want to consider registering your shop as an official business in addition to operating under your own name once you exceed a certain sales revenue. This will impact the taxes you pay, and it pays to be familiar with those regulations early.
Setting Up Payment Methods
Get paid with Etsy Payments. Since money from a sale goes into your Etsy seller account, you need to set up a method to get it there. Most people use Etsy Payments, an integrated process that allows buyers to use other options like cards or sometimes PayPal in some areas. Make sure your account is set up with a payment account before you begin, to make sure you aren’t delaying your first payout.
Shop Policies and Branding
After getting your account activated, make sure you take time to create the following:
- Shop Announcement – an explanation of what you are selling and what makes your shop unique
- Shipping Policies – processing times and shipping destinations
- Return and Exchange Policies – build buyers’ confidence before buying
- A shop banner and shop logo – gives your storefront a professional look
Common Mistakes New Sellers Make
- Hastily listing products before establishing the appropriate store policy and branding
- Underpricing products without considering the listing and transaction fees of Etsy
- Utilizing low-quality photos that do not accurately showcase the product
- Not considering basic search engine optimization in listing products early on
Keeping Your Account Healthy Long-Term
After the initial build, make sure your Etsy seller account remains healthy, answer customer messages promptly, always deliver your product on schedule, and, in addition, track the reviews you receive from customers along with other general Etsy seller stats, as these also determine your ranking for sales.
Getting Help With Setup and Growth
Get it right from the start, saving headaches later. If you do things at the outset with a little bit of know-how, it saves a lot of tinkering around in the long run. So, that’s why at Caasto we’ll give our sellers a helping hand right through the lifecycle of getting set up with an Etsy USA account, all through our Etsy USA account management service and beyond that so that you kick off with and manage a best-in-class, optimized store right through.
Etsy’s Seller Handbook is an indispensable resource for information on best practices when setting up accounts and official requirements directly from Etsy themselves.
Final Thoughts
A properly set up Etsy account sets the table for your listings to stand out, as do your Branding and your long-term growth. Taking your time to do it right before you create and list your first product is likely to prevent a host of common etsy mistakes and give your shop a far better starting jump point.
