How to Sell Art on Etsy: 6 Easy Steps to Success

Are you one of those people who constantly create works of art and wonder where you can sell them? Then the answer is Etsy. It is an online wonderland where you can showcase and sell your works here. This platform is well-known for this type of product and already has many active art lovers. They keep searching for something unique to add to their collections.

So, if you’re ready to turn your passion into a passive income, let’s dive into how to sell art on Etsy. Trust me, it’s easier than you think! It required a mix of strategy and patience. Before going into more detail, it’s essential to understand the platform, including its benefits, challenges, and best practices from the successful pioneer sellers.

Is it worth selling Art on Etsy?

Yes, selling art on Etsy can be worth it, especially for emerging artists.

What are the reasons that prove it is worth selling art on Etsy?

• • Wide reach and established market: In 2023, Etsy has more than 90 million active buyers worldwide, providing a large audience for your art. The platform now has become a top-of-mind website when buying artistic products or custom items.

• • Easy to set up and maintain: The platform is beginner-friendly and doesn’t require strong technical knowledge in order to set up a shop. Plus, there are now many online resources guiding How to sell on Etsy for Beginners on the internet that make your journey easier.
  • Opportunities for growth: Successful Etsy sellers can make around $43,000 to $46,000 a year on average, with top sellers bringing in over $65,000 per month. The best part? You don’t have to spend all day managing your store – it can be a source of passive income.
  • Affordable pricing & fee: When compared with other platforms for artwork sellers, Etsy offers a quite good initial and operation fee.

Overall, if you are looking for a fruitful platform to open or expand your art-selling business, Etsy is a fantastic choice. It has a longstanding presence in the market and a steady flow of visits from your potential customers. So, let’s move on to the next part and explore step-by-step how to sell art on Etsy.

How to Sell Art on Etsy: 6 no-sweat steps

1. Understand what are the rules for selling art on Etsy

You sell on Etsy, so you must follow the platform’s rules! There is a lot to know, but as you just start, pay close attention to these Etsy guidelines for selling:

• • Everything listed for sale on Etsy must either be made, designed, handpicked, or sourced by you.
  • Etsy allows the selling of AI creations that are made with the original prompts and AI tools.
  • Do not violate Etsy’s Intellectual Property Policy, you must ensure that you have the right to sell the art you list. Avoid using copyrighted or trademarked materials without permission. Familiarize yourself with Etsy’s policies to ensure your shop complies with their rules.
  • Be honest and provide accurate information about your products, including how they were made and by whom. If you work with a production partner, you must disclose this in your listings.
  • Use your own high-quality images that accurately reflect the item a buyer will receive. Stock photos or artistic renderings are not allowed
  • Maintain good communication with buyers and adhere to Etsy’s policies regarding shipping and returns.

These are the latest updated Seller Policy from Etsy that will take effect on September 15, 2024. Familiarizing yourself with these rules is essential to avoid potential issues with your shop.

2. Research the art market on Etsy

Before launching your shop, it’s crucial to understand the current art market on Etsy. So the question is, what to research?

• • Market demand: Search on Etsy, to find out which types of art are in the top favorites of buyers. Browse different art categories, and analyze the pricing of similar artworks. This research will help you position your art effectively and set competitive prices. Look for trends in art styles, pricing, etc. with tools like Google Trends, Pinterest Trends, and Etsy Community.
  • Competitors: List down the successful shops in your niche, and analyze them to identify what works and what doesn’t. If you find it overwhelming and don’t know where to start with the competitor’s research, start with a SWOT analysis.
  • Keyword research: To get your product found, it is important to put a focus on optimizing the SEO on both Etsy and Google. Use tools like Keywordtool.io, Alura Etsy, and eRank, or search on the Etsy search bar for more keyword suggestions.
  • Pricing: See how much others value their products and consider a competitive price for your art.

3. Define your target audience

Your target audience simply refers to the group of consumers who are most likely to want to buy your art. Knowing who your buyers might be will help you tailor your products and marketing efforts. Your target audience should be consistent with the type of art you create.

For example, if you are an abstract artist, then the target audience could be young working professionals looking to give their homes a modern look. If one does traditional art, then the target audience is going to be family folks looking to hang some classics up in their living rooms.

Now, create a buyer persona: a demonstration of the person who is likely to be your ideal customer. Include, if applicable, age, sex, occupation, income bracket, interests, and all other applicable factors. On Etsy, take some time to research the search bar using keywords that potential customers might input when looking for art like yours.

4. Prepare your artwork for sale

Before launching into the process and photographing your work, let’s take a moment to talk about what art products you’ll be selling on Etsy. Original paintings and sculptures, of course, are some of the most popular items in an online market, but many other profitable options exist. Here are some of the best-selling art types on Etsy:

• • Prints: Reproductions of your original artwork in various sizes and materials, such as canvas, paper, and metal.
  • Digital downloads: Sell digital files of your artwork that customers can download and print themselves.
  • Wall art: Make special wall hangings, tapestries, and other decorative items out of your artwork.
  • Abstract art: It is an art type that uses shapes, colors, forms, and marks to demonstrate ideas.
  • Home decor: Design and sell decorative items for the home, such as throw pillows, mugs, coasters, and wall clocks.
  • Stationery: Sell greeting cards, notepads, and other paper goods printed with your art.

Whatever type of art product you choose to sell, ensure your artwork meets Etsy’s standards. This includes:

• • Quality: Selling art online needs great images. Take the time to shoot clear, well-lit shots of your art from a variety of angles. Use natural light to eliminate harsh shadows. Consider using a neutral background that will not compete with the work.
  • Avoid products that can’t be sold: Try to avoid selling products that are not sellable; that is prohibited pretty clearly in the products to sell on Etsy. In art, you wouldn’t want to sell anything on hate, nudity, sexual stuff, or something violent.

5. Set up your Etsy art shop

The next step is to create an Etsy shop to start selling your art. Considering the ease of use of Etsy, it is quite simple to get this step done, by doing these bullet points one by one:

• • Create an Etsy account: Head over to Etsy.com and sign up.
  • Click “Sell on Etsy” to start: Once you’re logged in, you can start setting up your shop by clicking on the avatar icon on the top bar and then clicking on the “Sell on Etsy” option, this turns your account from a buyer to an art seller.
  • Enter your shop preference: Choose your Etsy art shop language, country, and currency (Important note: the language can only be chosen once and can’t be changed later).
  • Choosing your Shop name: Your shop name is your brand’s first impression. Choose a name that reflects your art style and is easy to remember, and consider incorporating relevant keywords. Take a look at the list of 200+ impressive Etsy shop name ideas to find yours.
  • Add listings for your first product:

    • • Photos: Upload the high-quality photos you prepared for your art in the previous step.
      • Title and description: Write it smartly with a strategy to optimize for Etsy SEO, and insert keywords related to your art products smoothly while maintaining the important information.
      • Price: Give your art product an attractive price. Keep in mind that this price must cover the Etsy fees.
      • Shipping details: Enter the information needed for the shipping policy.

  • Set up payment and billing info: Decide how you’ll get paid on Etsy, and how you will pay the Etsy fees to run your art store.
  • Last step: Click Open your shop to start the journey. Once you have your Etsy shop ready, you will need to upload more products to your store.

6. Promote your Etsy art store

Promotion is key to driving traffic to your shop. Consider these strategies:

• • Social Media: Leverage visually-oriented social networking sites, such as Instagram and Pinterest, where you can display your art and connect links to your Etsy shop.
  • Etsy Ads: Etsy includes an integrated advertising system that promotes your listings both on and off Etsy. You have to consider Etsy’s options for improving the visibility of your listings.
  • Participate in Etsy communities: Discuss, give your views, and help other artists. It is possible that more networking within the Etsy community will lead to more views and sales.
  • Open a YouTube channel: Vlog the process of creating your art to sell, or product wrapping ASMR, etc.

During this process, don’t forget to use Etsy’s analytics tools to track your shop’s performance. Pay attention to traffic sources, popular listings, and customer engagement. This data can help you make informed decisions about your inventory and marketing strategies.

How to sell art on Etsy successfully: 5 Proven Tips

A cheat sheet to successful art selling on Etsy is to learn useful tips and tricks. Don’t waste your time stepping on the mistakes that the existing art sellers make. Follow these 5 tips:

• • High-quality images:

Invest in good photography of your art, the better it looks, the more attractive it is. Take a look at the top sellers in the art field below. Their cover images are either well-designed or captured in high quality. As a result, it attracts customers and becomes one of those top-reviewed products.

• • Build your brand:

Remember when you buy shampoo in the supermarket, you do not have any specific requirements so just find a random one. Which brand do you prefer? Dove or an unfamiliar brand? 7 in 10 customers will buy from a brand they trust. Therefore, make the customer trust you by building your brand name. Keep the message consistent for them to remember your character.

• • Optimize your listing for SEO:

It means that the relevant keywords should be included in your titles and descriptions for better visibility. Most Etsy buyers start by searching for the products they want to buy. So make sure your product appears on the top results every time they search. However, it is important to be mindful when inserting keywords. This is because excessive use might counter the effects.

• • Regular updates:

Keep your shop fresh with the addition of new listings and updates on the existing ones. Optimizing the product images, and titles, slash some sales, etc. Don’t ever make your customer bored.

• • Customer service:

Respond in due time to all queries for reviews that would help in gaining some credibility. Be professional and patient with the requests. Every customer review on your Etsy products is very important. And you definitely don’t want to create a bad image for your brand on the first meeting with new buyers.

How to Sell Art on Etsy: The Final Thoughts

Selling your art on Etsy can be like opening a door to a world of art lovers who are excited to discover your creations! Sure, there’s some competition and initial fees, but the chance to showcase your talent and earn money makes it totally worth it. Just follow the steps we talked about, comply with  Etsy’s rules, and keep trying new things to attract buyers.

Starting an Etsy shop takes time and effort, but don’t give up! With a little patience and a whole lot of passion, you can turn your love for art into a successful online business.

Want more tips and tricks for selling on Etsy? Follow Masstic for the latest updates and insider knowledge!

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