There is nothing like the feeling of a successful sale. When people click the purchase button, they are not just buying your art; but recognizing your hard work. Etsy is a great place where you can sell your art. You do not just get a platform to showcase your talent; you get a community of people like you; who love arts and are passionate about them. So, it is a great place to invest your time and energy.
To sell art successfully online, you must follow the best practices. Because, unlike physical markets, people have endless options on Etsy. Whether you are selling your painting, drawing, or printable art, you have to stand out. People should be able to spot you in a crowd. In this article, I will show how to sell art on Etsy.
How to Sell Art on Etsy: A Step-by-Step Process
I have divided the step-by-step process into three categories. Upon completing everything, you will find yourself as a successful art seller. I will discuss them in detail here.
Part-1: Select the Right Artwork for Etsy
In this part, I will show how to choose the proper artworks for your Etsy shop.
At first, research your competitors. See what people are selling on Etsy. Spend some time there and see what successful sellers are doing. This way, you will find your niche.
- Then, select a target audience and create unique artworks for them. Your work should appeal to your target audience.
- Next, you have to maintain Etsy standards. If you want to become a successful Etsy seller, you must follow its standards.
- Create your artworks for different price points. So that you can reach different types of buyers. Remember, items that are under $50 are the most popular ones.
Part-2: Set up Your Store
Now that you know what items you will sell, it is time for you to set up your store. Follow these simple steps:
- The first step is to select a name. Pick up a name that is short and easy to remember. Your name should represent your work. You can add your location in the name to attract your local customers.
- Now, create a logo and a professional banner for your store. Use free software that is available to make these. Your banner should be compatible with Etsy.
- Next, fill out the details of your shop. Put your shop name, location, policies, return & refund strategies, shipping details, FAQs, etc. The more detailed your shop, the more attracted customers will be.
- Once you fill out your shop details, it is time for writing a detailed description of your products. Write a title, product dimensions, form of the art, display process, how you will ship it, FAQs, etc. Do not leave any details.
- You have to use a high-quality photo of your artwork. Take pictures in the natural light. Keep it as original as possible.
Part-3: Promote Your Store
Now that your sop is ready and running, it is time for promotion.
- Use tags and keywords when you write product descriptions. It’s a great way to attract customers who search for similar products on the internet.
- Share your artworks on social media. Let people know what you are doing. By sharing them on social media- you will give them a bigger audience.
Here are Some Topics You Might Find Useful
Is it Worth Selling Art on Etsy?
Etsy is a well-known platform for selling your artwork. It has millions of customers. If you list your artwork on Etsy, there is a possibility hundreds of thousands of people will watch it. It is a dedicated platform only for selling artwork. Everybody is there to purchase art. With its brand value, people from all over the world know about it. So, damn right, this is worth your time and energy.
How Much Does it Cost to Sell Art on Etsy?
You can sign up on Etsy free of cost. You do not need any money to start selling your art there. However, Etsy has two types of subscriptions. One is a ‘Standard subscription.’ It is free. You can sell your art for free under this subscription. The other one is Etsy Plus. It has some extra features and benefits that standard one misses. You have to pay a monthly payment of $10 to get this subscription. Etsy is a multi-million seller platform. The needs of each seller are different. It tries to accommodate all of them.
How Do I Price my Art?
Pricing your art is not that hard. There are some easy ways you can do it. Firstly, multiply your art’s width by its length to calculate the total size. You have to measure it in square inches. Then set a dollar amount that you think is right in terms of the work you have put in there. Now multiply the size of your art by the dollar amount. After that, calculate your canvas and framing cost and multiply it by 2. Finally, add this amount with the previous amount, and you will have the price of your art. Moreover, you can add the shipping cost with the product price. Now, it will be your final art price.
What Kind of Art Sells the Most on Etsy?
You can sell any artwork on Etsy as long as they have demands among customers. Most demanding artworks sell the best. So, to know which arts sell the most on Etsy, you have to see what people are looking for there. Paintings and art prints are among the most selling items. Watercolor, acrylic color, and digital art sell the most. Unique and original print arts are also very famous. Decorative arts are another popular category. Jewelry and crafts are popular on Etsy too.
How Do Beginners Ship on Etsy?
Shipping is a part of your sales. Once a customer purchases your art, you have to be preparing for its shipping. First, you have to calculate the shipping cost. Etsy has an option called Calculated Shipping where it will automatically calculate the shipping charge based on your location, destination, package size, and weight. It also tells you the size of the shipping box. Now you have to fix the processing time. It is not the shipping time. Processing time is how many days you will need to prepare the product. Flat rate shipping is another way beginners can ship in the US.
How Long Does Shipping Take Etsy?
Etsy shipping depends on locations and item types. If the seller and the buyer are from the same country, shipment takes less time. But if you purchase from another country, it will take longer days. Etsy generally takes 3 to 7 days to ship domestic orders. But for international orders, it might take more than 10-days. Again, if you order customized items, the seller will need more processing time to prepare your order. In that case, shipment duration will naturally increase.
How Do I Mark it Shipped on Etsy?
You can only mark a product as shipped when that product reaches its buyer. You will find all your selling information in your account when you sell on Etsy. To spot a sale as Shipped, you must follow a few simple steps. First, go to Etsy.com and click on the ‘My Account’ option. Then click on Shop Manager; here, you will find an option called ‘Orders & Shipping’; click on it. Now you can mark an item as shipped.
How Much Does Etsy Tracking Cost?
By 2021, Etsy has incorporated new rules regarding shipping tracking. Now you have to give buyers all tracking information in the US if they purchase $10 or more items. You can use third-party services to track your art while they’re on the way to the buyer. You can use Etsy tracking as well by paying a fee. The price depends on what shipping platform you are using. Generally, a tracking number costs $0.90 per shipment on USPS.
How to Sell Art Without Etsy
You can sell your art without using Etsy. In that case, you have to either sell them on a physical store or other online platforms. For selling in shops, you have to set up a store first. You can sell to others’ stores as well. There are many online stores available on the internet. You can pick any of them. Just see if that platform has a robust customer base. Set up your account on these platforms and start posting.
Etsy or eBay for Selling Art
Etsy is a niche marketplace for small businesses. Here, people sell handmade crafts, paintings, printable prints, etc. On the other hand, eBay accommodates anything & everything and shows them to a larger audience. eBay has a large customer base. Etsy is small but has a loyal customer base. Comparing the two, you have to decide where you want to sell your artworks. I’m showing you a detailed comparison between Etsy and eBay to understand better.
Etsy
Etsy is a small platform. It generated 45.7 million buyers in the year 2019. Most of them are repeated customers, 81% in 2015 to be precise. It offers discounted postage labels to its sellers. As a result, shipping is cheaper with Etsy than most of the carriers in the US. Etsy charges a simple $10 per month for an Etsy Plus subscription. It only sells any art and craft items.
eBay
eBay was the second largest marketplace in the U.S. in 2018. So, you know, it is not a small platform. It generated 183 million customers in the same year. Shipping is costlier compared to Etsy. Sellers face a tremendous amount of pressure for free deliveries. eBay has 3 types of plans. Each plan will charge you differently. The basic plan starts from $19.25, and the Anchor plan starts from $299.95 per month. It sells everything you can think of, including arts and crafts.
FAQs
Is it Possible to Sell Art on Etsy?
Yes, you can sell art on Etsy. Millions of people around the world are doing so regularly. You can be one of them too. Have a good plan ahead and invest your time accordingly. You can become a successful art seller in no time. Make sure you are selling authentic art. Because customers always prefer unique artworks. Keep the art of different price levels in your store to get more customers.
Who Pays for Etsy Shipping?
Usually, buyers pay for the shipping charges. The product price includes the shipping charges too. But in most cases, Etsy shops charge a separate shipping charge to the customers. But in recent times, many shops are offering free shipping across the US. There is evidence that products over $35 that offer free shipping have reached more customers than others.
Is There a Monthly Fee for Etsy?
Etsy is free for all general sellers. You do not have to pay any additional monthly charges for its Standard package. But with millions of sellers, it is not a one-size-that-fits-all platform. It offers a premium package for its seller called Etsy Plus. You have to pay $10 per month to buy this subscription. It comes with some added features that are missing on Etsy Standard.
Does Etsy Require Tracking?
Etsy updated its shipment policy in August 2021. This policy has incorporated some new rules regarding shipment tracking. Under the new provision, every seller has to provide shipment tracking information to its customers in the US who buy products of $10 or more. It is a mandatory provision now; Etsy now requires shipment tracking. Lots of third-party agencies provide tracking services for Etsy sellers.
Is My Art Good Enough to Sell?
Every artist on earth goes through a time when they think their art is not sellable. It’s normal for you to contemplate like that. All successful artists have overcome this stage. You can do it too. If you are drawing daily, if at least one person admires your art, you are good enough if you love what you do. But remember, nothing sells itself. Plan your way through.
What Size Does Art Sell Best?
Size is a necessary factor for artworks. The bigger the size of your artwork, the more price customers are willing to pay. On the other hand, some fewer customers will buy big-size art. Small arts are easy to sell as they have small frames. They are also easy to transport. There are demands for both sizes, but customers for small art are large in number.
Where Can I Sell My Art Fast?
There are many online platforms where you can sell your art. These platforms have millions of views on their website. As a result, products there sell very fast. Etsy, Amazon, Shopify, FineArtAmerica, Saatchi Art are such platforms. It is wise to have your presence on all of these platforms.
Conclusion
Each and everyone loves their children. Similarly, your artworks are like your children too. You create them with great care. You always want the best for them. Etsy is a place for your artwork. It has a big community with millions of buyers and sellers everywhere. Etsy allows you to showcase your art to the world. How amazing is that! After reading this article on how to sell art on etsy, I hope now all your confusion has vanished. I am sure now you are ready to venture your ideas. Now it is your time to create mind-blowing artworks and show them to the world.