Freelancing with an Etsy Store

Do you want to try something new? Are you getting sick of your day to day job? Do you think you’re a crafty soul with a creative streak? Starting your own Etsy shop might be the best route for you to get started as a freelancer. The freelance or “gig economy” is definitely the wave of the future and online sales of any kind are only going to grow over time.

What to Sell on Etsy?

If you have an interesting hobby of crocheting, you already have your first merchandise. At Etsy, you can sell products like handmade goods, craft supplies, and vintage items. If you’re good at making bracelets or sewing bags, you can make some great listings on Etsy.

You can make one type of thing, like knit hats, or you might make things around a theme, like wedding or baby products. Brainstorm with friends and think about different products you can create. Do they have a theme? Are they all leather, t-shirts, jewelry, knitting, or home goods? The theme will help you pick your name…

Choosing Your Etsy Name

Once you have some products in mind, the next thing you need to start is a name for your shop. See if you can come up with something to capture what your store will be about. Do a survey of your top ideas with your online network and see what ends up on top.

Once you have a name in mind, you can now sign up for Etsy to post listings. The first few weeks will be bumpy and you might not have enough sales to pay the rent. Sticking to your full-time job is advisable until you build a strong clientele, but somehow your job becomes just a little more bearable just knowing you have something else in the works.

Settle in for the Ride

Taking risks is important during this phase. Don’t spiral out of control over an irate customer or a returned product. This is all part of starting your business with Etsy. What matters is that you don’t stop selling until you find and maintain repeat customers. Millions of people around the world buy and sell stuff on Etsy, and you can certainly be one of them. The beginning is always the hardest. Just commit that you are going to actively work your business for at least 6 months and you’ll be amazed at how much progress you can make.

How to Grow Your Etsy Business

You can start selling on Etsy as a hobby or a side-business, but you can always grow it if you want. Through your smartphone, you can utilize promotional tools on the platform to increase your sales. You can use social media to expand your audience and even advertise to Facebook and Instagram users. You can find what are called “influencers” to use and showcase your products which will get others interested. Once you have the process of putting products on the site and selling, you can focus more on marketing and growing.

Can You Do This Long-Term?

Definitely! If you think that your current job isn’t rewarding anymore, you can slowly shift to freelancing as a seller. Etsy has already witnessed a lot of hobbies turn into profitable businesses. Just focus on creating products that are unique and cater to a hungry crowd that just has to have what you make. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!