Sell Digital Papers in a Saturated Market?

Sell Digital Papers in a Saturated Market?

 

Digital paper patterns are hugely popular on Etsy and the selection available is massive... 2.4 million in scope massive. And that's just Etsy, every other digital resource marketplace will have a large collection of offerings as well.

So what if you want to get started today selling digital papers? Can you still be successful, is there room for more, and how hard will it be to stand out in such a crowed category?

Let's take a look...

 

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

When joining an already crowded market, and this applies to any product or service, in order to be seen and chosen your best option is to stand out in some way from all your competitors. There is a variety of ways to do this with papers, from chosen topics to style and aesthetic to pricing or format.

You need to ask the question "what else can I offer"?

 

KNOW WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS WANT/NEED 

If you are starting to design digital papers and have no experience using them or have knowledge on what customers are looking for and needing; you are going to be at a critical disadvantage. 

You need to understand your product niche and your target customer base well enough to anticipate what they will benefit from, what they are looking for and the value they place on different features.

Don't just copy what other sellers are offering, do the research to understand the product inside out so that you can provide something better or unique that customers will actually want.

RESEARCH BEFORE YOU DESIGN

Before you even begin designing your paper patterns to sell on Etsy you'd be wise to do some thorough research. Not only will this aid you in achieving the above two points but you'll also be able to uncover less competitive niches within the category.

This is also a good time to be thinking about possible keywords. Most sellers tend to keyword their products after they've made it and are uploading it to sell. But by thinking about keywords from the outset you can create products to fit gaps in the market and to specifically take advantage of lower competition keywords.

WHERE IS THE SATURATION?

Yes, there are a lot of digital paper listings in total on Etsy. But does that mean everything is super saturated already, or is there room for more?

While some of the really popular categories have a huge number of choices, floral papers for example, there are still many specialist themes that have significantly less variety and would be much much easier to rank well for. Even within the floral theme.

You might ask, but can you sell enough from lesser searched for themes to do well in sales? Probably not. But the objective should be to balance your product offerings for a range of really popular or classic designs alongside more unique themes in order to bring in a broader base of buyers and to have less competition for at least some of your inventory.

I've compiled a list of themes, starting with some basic searches and really popular categories to give you a feel for just how many listings show up in these very busy niches. And then I worked through the numbers for ideas that have a lot less going on at the moment.

Just a quick note: Where you see just a number, this is the total number of listings Etsy delivered for that exact search term. Where it says "under x" I have approximated how many listings actually match the search term exactly because Etsy is now including a lot of related/unrelated listings into the mix that ultimately pollutes the true result. I've tried to exclude those listings that aren't directly on point for the intended search.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

Digital paper = 2,400,642
Digital seamless paper = 95,519
Digital scrapbook paper = 1,180,291

polka dot digital paper = 17,625
Christmas digital paper = 206,846
unicorn digital paper = 18,486
Floral digital paper = 174,640
Boho digital paper = 85,227
Halloween digital paper = 118,488
Vintage digital paper = 28,372
Valentine digital paper = 83,396

Guinea pigs digital paper =  under 200
Platypus digital paper = under 100
Stingray digital paper = under 100
Robin digital paper = under 1,000
Dragonfly digital paper = under 3,000
Insect digital paper = under 5,000
Jellyfish digital paper = under 600
Chameleon digital paper = under 500

Tulip digital paper = under 3,000
Pansy digital paper = under 1,200
Bluebell digital paper = under 200
Oak leaf digital paper = under 500
Petunia digital paper = under 50
Bird of paradise digital paper = under 400
Bromeliad digital paper = 0

Mango digital paper = under 300
Dragonfruit digital paper = under 50
Sushi digital paper = under 700
Vegetable digital paper = under 3,000
Jelly bean digital paper = under 250
Pickles digital paper = under 300
Peanut butter digital paper = under 200

Skateboard digital paper = under 1,000
bmx digital paper = under 10
Karaoke digital paper = under 50
Hip hop digital papers - under 100
Saturn digital paper - under 500
Computer geek digital paper - under 200

Chinoiserie digital paper = under 1,600
Agate digital paper = under 2,400
Honey comb digital papers = under 900
Terrazzo digital paper = under 1,200
Shibori digital paper = under 900
Paisley digital paper = under 2,200
Ikat digital paper = under 200
Granite digital paper - under 700
Jade digital paper - under 400

Vampire digital paper = under 3,000
Zombie digital paper = under 2,000
Dracula digital paper = under 1,000
Werewolf digital paper = under 200
Frankenstein digital paper = under 1,000
Poison digital paper = under 1,000

I hope you found this list useful. Perhaps it inspired you to explore hidden or under-developed themes. Let me know in the comments how you've fared in this category.

Read More

Overwhelmed? How to Get Unstuck

Overwhelmed? How to Get Unstuck

 

 

Are you overwhelmed with too much work, not enough time and too little energy to get anything done? 

That’s the feeling we all get from time to time, no matter how organized or productive we are. When this happens to you, it is usually because you are overstressed, overworked and understimulated. 

This post will help you figure out what is keeping you stuck and give you five tips for getting yourself out of the rut so that your productivity isn’t just back on track. 

Read on for more :)

 

Why do we feel overwhelmed?

Being overwhelmed is a feeling of having too much work and too little time to get it all done. It happens when you are trying to do too much, when you don’t prioritize effectively and maybe don’t have the energy to do what you want to do. 

This kind of situation can be caused by a number of different things, including:

1. looking only at the bigger picture instead of focusing on smaller goals
2. trying to do too many things at once
3. under-estimating the time you need to spend on certain tasks
4. being constantly distracted by other activities or projects
5. not knowing where to start
6. not giving yourself room to breathe

Use the following 5 tips to help you overcome the overwhelm and get yourself unstuck.

 

1. Don’t try to do too much at once

The most common reason for feeling overwhelmed is that you are probably trying to do too much at once. What do we mean by “too much”? If you have more than one or two major projects on the go at the same time, you are probably overdoing it. 

If you are managing a project at work, an extra-curricular activity with your kids and cleaning up your house, you probably have too many things on your plate at once. 

If you have even one or two major projects or goals that you are trying to achieve or you are responsible for other people’s work, you probably have a few tasks on your plate that you don’t have enough time to do properly. 

That’s why it’s important to prioritize what you are doing and to set realistic goals. Make a list of the tasks you have to do, and then prioritize the ones that are most important.

 

2. Take a short break

If you feel overwhelmed, it might help to take a short break from your work. 

A break doesn’t have to be a month-long vacation. It can be as simple as taking a few minutes to do something for yourself. This can be anything from a quick breathing exercise to a walk outside, from a few minutes reading a novel to watching an episode of your favourite TV show. 

Try to find something that will not only distract you for a few minutes, but that will also give you a bit of a break from whatever is stressing you out. Even a few minutes spent doing something nice for yourself can be helpful in regaining a sense of balance.

 

3. Make a Small Change

Sometimes, when you are feeling overwhelmed, the best thing you can do is to make a small change in your daily routine. This can be something as simple as changing the order in which you do things or swapping out an item on your daily to-do list. 

If you are feeling too busy and overworked, you probably need to schedule downtime. This can be as simple as setting a “date night” with your significant other or taking a little bit of time each day to read a book. 

The idea here is to give your brain something new to focus on. To shake out any cobwebs and to get off of autopilot. A fun distraction can also lift your mood or lead to new inspiration.

Making small changes can make a big difference when you are feeling overwhelmed. If you are trying to do too much and feeling like you don’t have enough time, a small change in your daily routine could be all you need to eventually get back on track.

 

4. Make a plan

If you are overwhelmed with work, you might need to make a plan. This doesn’t mean you need to write a novel. It can be as simple as writing down a list of the things that need to be done. 

If you are busy with more than one project, try to prioritize them. If you are responsible for other people’s work, try to get organized so you know what tasks you need to check off every day. This doesn’t work for everybody, but it can help if you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t know what you need to do. 

You might feel like you have too much work and not enough time to do it, but you aren’t sure what needs to be prioritized and what doesn’t. If you don’t know where to start, making a plan can help you get organized and get your productivity back on track.

This helps to narrow your focus from the bigger picture and hone in on smaller tasks that are less overwhelming overall.

 

5. Be Kind to Yourself

Finally, if you are feeling overwhelmed, you need to be kind to yourself. There is no use in beating yourself up for being too busy or for having too much on your plate. 

When you are feeling overwhelmed, you need to stop and give yourself a break. Spend some time doing nice things for yourself, like drinking a hot cup of tea, reading a book or watching your favourite TV show. 

Most importantly, don’t feel pressured to get everything done. If you can’t finish a project or get all of your tasks done in a day, that’s normal. Being too busy and having too much on your plate are sometimes unavoidable parts of life. 

However, you can learn to cope with them and even use them to motivate you to be more productive and organized. Sometimes we think something is important, and has to get done, when really it can wait. Prioritize urgent tasks first and give yourself a break on things that won't stop the earth from spinning.

 

Conclusion:

If you are feeling overwhelmed to the point of being paralysed by it, the best thing you can do is get yourself back on track by following these five tips for getting yourself into a healthy positive mindset.

 

 

Read More

How to Find Helpful Tutorials

How to Find Helpful Tutorials

 

There's a method to seeking out the right tutorials. And once you know this research trick you'll be able to find anything and learn anything online.

The beautiful thing about the internet is that there is so much information readily available from people who have been generous enough to share their knowledge.

Customers often contact me struggling to figure out a new software program or how to create a specific project with one of my templates.

The questions asked are usually vague or broad in scope and almost never hone in on the very first obstacle at hand. Instead the customer is focused on the end result they want instead of breaking the project down into logical and sequential steps. And that's really the basis for what I'll be talking about here.

 

 

THINK SMALL

The first issue most beginners have is thinking about their project in it's final form and then asking questions based on the end result they're looking for.

It kind makes sense right? If you're trying to design planner stickers for example, you might naturally try searching for tutorials on 'how to design planner stickers'.

This approach though likely won't bring up an abundance of results, and the ones you do get aren't as likely to address your specific needs.

Instead of thinking about the project as a whole, you need to break it up into a series of processes. And then search for tutorials for each specific process.

There will be an abundance of tutorials showing you how to do each step as a general process, rather than a project specific tutorial.

 

GETTING SPECIFIC

Using the example of planner stickers and my own templates, you might be starting with the question, which program am I going to use?

Once you answer that question you can move through each step as you need answers. Perhaps you want to change the color of the stickers in my template but don't know how. You would then search for "how to change shape colors in photoshop" for example. And so on.

By focusing on each task that needs to be performed within a project you can seek out mini tutorials for each step along the way as needed.

And you will find way more information at the task level than you will at the finished project end. That's because tasks are going to be the same regardless of the project.

As in the color change example above, that process will be the same regardless of what the shape is, so that step can be applied to any similar file for any type of project.

 

KNOWING WHAT TO SEARCH

A big dilemma in searching out design tutorials is knowing what words to use to describe the thing you're trying to do. This can be a real stumbling block.

My approach has always been to start with something, anything, in a google search. Even if I know I'm calling it the wrong thing, and to keep trying different combinations until I get back results that make sense. I usually end up finding the correct terminology along the way to refine my searches until I get exactly what I'm after.

It's a trial and error process that can sometimes take a bit more time. If I'm really struggling I might post the question in one of the many forum groups I'm in and I'll usually get help pretty quickly.

I highly recommend peer groups for any hobby or craft you're involved with as it's usually a great place to get feedback and learn!

 

Read More

Sell Printable Planners in a Saturated Market?

Sell Printable Planners in a Saturated Market?

 

The answer to this is both yes and no. For simplicity sake, if you are only just now jumping into making planners and your designs are very general generic planner printables then yeah, you'll likely to struggle for sales. But let's take a closer look at what you can do to be successful in this seemingly saturated niche.

 

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

When joining an   already crowded market, and this applies to any product or service, in order to be seen and chosen your best option is to stand out in some way from all your competitors. There is a variety of ways to do this with planners, from style and aesthetic to pricing, selection and detail or some other format that isn't being offered. 

You need to ask the question "what can I do differently"?

 

KNOW WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS WANT/NEED 

If you are starting to design digital planners and have no experience using them or have knowledge on what customers are looking for and needing; you are going to be at a critical disadvantage. 

You need to understand your product niche and your target customer base well enough to anticipate what they will benefit from, what they are looking for and the value they place on different features.

Don't just copy what other sellers are offering, do the research to understand the product inside out so that you can provide something better or unique that customers will actually want.

RESEARCH BEFORE YOU DESIGN

Before you even begin designing your planner printables to sell on Etsy you'd be wise to do some thorough research. Not only will this aid you in achieving the above two points but you'll also be able to uncover less competitive niches within the category.

This is also a good time to be thinking about possible keywords. Most sellers tend to keyword their products after they've made it and are uploading it to sell. But by thinking about keywords from the outset you can create products to fit gaps in the market and to specifically take advantage of lower competition keywords.

IS THE SATURATION REAL?

I'm hearing a lot of people talk about saturation with planner printables and that only established shops can do well anymore. Newcomers to the category are often experiencing difficulty making sales but not all stories are of failure to succeed. There are still new sellers starting their journey into this category today who are finding a way to make it work.

Ultimately, a category is only saturated if there aren't enough buyers to support the number of products being sold. Because so many planner printable shops are actually doing very well, the buyers are definitely there.

So let's take a closer look at different niches within the planner printable category and see what the product numbers actually look like. I've created a list of as many planner types as I could think of, it's not comprehensive I'm sure, but it will give you some ideas on how to niche down and perhaps where best to focus your efforts.

I also wanted to show just how far down you can niche and that there are still plenty of ideas that haven't been fully explored. Often, people don't know they need a product until that product exists, so thinking creatively about how and why people need these types of printables may lead to new ideas.

THE PLANNER LIST

planner printables = 476,049
planner templates = 271,030

wedding planner printable = 13,461
wedding planner template = 15,708
digital wedding planner bundle = 1,927
destination wedding planner printables = 1,063
bridal shower planner printables = 2,195
honeymoon planner printables = 499

vacation planner printables = 6,584
cruise ship planner printables = 491
camping planner printables = 2,094
disneyland planner printables = 1,249
travel planner printables = 9,801
road trip planner printables = 1,887

party planner printables = 404,335
event planner printables = 4,998
birthday party planner printables = 15,285
reunion planner printables = 1,177
retreat planner printables = 147

parenting planner printables = 2,131
family planner printables = 17,685
mom planner printables = 12,454
chores planner printables = 13,445
meal planner printables = 29,060
grocery shopping planner printables = 6817
pantry planner printables = 1,187
cleaning planner printables = 10,090

school planner printables = 60,589
homework planner printables = 3,349
student planner printables = 25,400
college planner printables = 17,669
kids planner printables = 84,918

bucket list planner printables = 3,281
mindfulness planner printables = 4,637
meditation planner printables = 1,481
pcs military palnner printables = 232

fitness planner printables = 15,788
exercise planner printables =5,210
diet planner printables = 5,676
habit tracker printables = 26,475
yoga planner printables = 1,482
wellness planner printables = 11,936
health planner printables = 19,671
self care planner printables = 16,369

finance planner printables = 16,594
budget planner printables = 46,042
savings planner printables = 21,822
investment planner printables = 435
spending tracker printables = 6,662

job search planner printables = 238
career planner printables = 1,058
retirement planner printables = 1,446
moving planner printables = 2,542

business planner printables = 19,417
sales planner printables = 2,396
blog planner printables = 2,633
side hustle planner printables = 799
wardrobe planner printables = 434

social media planner printables = 5,427
facebook planner printables = 1,450
instagram planner printables = 2,312
twitter planner printables = 347
youtube planner printables = 1,588
pinterest planner printables = 1,699

garden planner printables = 3.290
plant care planner printables = 779
renovation planner printables = 442
project planner printables = 9,144
house maintenance planner = 590
car maintenance planner = 659

emergency planner printables = 4,109
end of life planner printables - 842
care giver planner printables = 475
pet care planner printables = 1,958

christmas planner printables = 18,890
halloween planner printables = 11,856
holiday planner printables = 11,789

reading planner printables = 7,811
writing planner printables = 7,020
craft planner printables = 69,450
sewing planner printables = 2,257

bible planner printables = 7,299
christian planner printables = 5,521
spiritual planner printables = 2,790
manifestation planner printables = 9,586
law of attraction planner printables = 1,951
goal setting planner printables = 7,639

disclaimer: numbers are 'as of publication'. these numbers also include ads and 'related' products that etsy now includes into searches where keywords don't match exactly, as well as products where sellers have used the keyword for a similar product that maybe isn't quite on target for the search.

 

CONCLUSION

So what to make of these numbers? These serve as a guideline for what categories are the most popular and the most populated. If you want to sell in one of these bigger categories you're going to have work hard to stand out from the competition and build fabulous products.

On the other side, there are many categories that haven't got as much competition. Making products for these keywords can help get a little bit of traffic into your shop. They may not be the biggest sellers but they may be easier to compete with for those few customers who need something highly specialized.

Having a broad base of keywords in your shop is instrumental in being able to put your products in front of buyers. While you may not immediately get to page 1 of a search for wedding planners it might be easier to hit the top of the list with something like a renovation planner.

I hope you found this useful. Let me know in the comments if you want to add anything to the list or if you've recently started a printables shop let me know how it's going!

 

 

 

Read More

Free Vintage Door Knob Collage Sheet

Free Vintage Door Knob Collage Sheet

 

These lovely vintage graphics have been made into 1.75" circle rounds perfect for a wide variety of craft projects from stickers to scrapbooking elements. Print them on aged looking craft paper for added effect!

This is an 8.5x11" PDF sheet saved for print resolution.

Use these freely in any personal or commercial project, all graphics are public domain.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Happy Crafting
Shawnna

PIN ME

 

Read More

How to Stay Motivated When You Don't want to Work

How to Stay Motivated When You Don't want to Work

You know that feeling when you just don’t want to work? It’s almost like your soul is disconnected from your body and you feel like someone else is controlling your life instead of you. It’s a weird phenomenon that we all go through. Even the most successful people in the world have had their moments where they just can’t seem to bring themselves to do anything productive. 

If you are reading this article then chances are, you’re going through one of those moments right now. 

In this article, we explore ways to stay motivated when you don't want to work. Read on to find out more.

 

Take a break

When you are feeling unmotivated to work, you might think that you have to push through it. You might feel as though if you stop, you’ll never get started again. But, taking a break from work can actually help you get back into the swing of things. 

It can allow you time to rest and de-stress from whatever you have been working on and it can allow you time to reflect on the things you have been doing and help you to see what is working for you and what isn’t. 

When you are feeling unmotivated, you may not be able to recognize that you need to take a break. You may be too caught up in that negative cycle of not feeling like you are making any progress. Taking a break can help you to re-evaluate your situation. 

Recognize that your feelings of being unmotivated are nothing more than a fleeting condition that can be overcome with a bit of rest and relaxation.

 

Exercise

Exercising is one of the fastest and most effective ways to get out of a rut. It will get your blood flowing, get your mind working, and help you to break out of whatever negative cycle of thinking you might be trapped in. It has been proven to be a great way to re-charge your creativity and often allows your mind to wander to new ideas.

Depending on what type of exercise you do, it may also give you a chance to reflect on what is going on in your life and help you to come up with solutions to the problems that you are facing. 

Now, to be clear, we are NOT saying to go out and run a marathon or lift weights for hours on end. 

What we are saying is that even something as simple as taking a walk can be enough to help you get out of that negative cycle and clear your mind.

 

Set small goals

When you are feeling unmotivated, it can be easy to spiral out of control. You may find yourself thinking about all of the things you have left to do and how you’re never going to finish them. You might also find yourself thinking about all of the times you have let yourself down, and how you are never going to be successful if you keep going at the rate you are going. 

When you feel like this, you need to stop and focus on just one small thing. Set one small goal, and focus on accomplishing it. What matters is that you focus all of your energy on it and don’t put it off until later. 

Once you have accomplished that small goal, set another and then another. Keep setting goals and keeping yourself busy and you’ll find that you are able to break out of that negative cycle a lot faster than you might expect.

 

Don’t judge yourself for not feeling motivated

If you have ever gone through this before, then you might have started to judge yourself for feeling unmotivated. You might feel as though there is something wrong with you for not being able to just get over it and move on with your life. 

It's important to remember that everyone goes through this at one point or another in their lives. Everyone has periods of time where they don’t feel like working. 

What makes someone successful is not that they don’t go through these periods, but that they are able to move past them and continue on with their lives no matter how they feel in a singular period of time.

 

Do something you enjoy

When you are feeling unmotivated, you need something to get your mind off of the things that are bothering you or keeping you from tasks at hand. You need something to distract your mind in a different direction, perhaps something that you can enjoy in that moment. It may be that your mind just needs a break.

Do something that will make you happy. Or find a task that is less taxing on you.

Reading can be a great way to relax and get your mind off of things. Playing video games can help you to relax and not worry about anything else. Going out with friends and doing something you enjoy can help you to break out of the negative cycle of being unmotivated and help you to get back on track with your life and work.

 

Conclusion

Everybody goes through times when they don’t want to work. These periods are difficult for everyone, and you shouldn’t beat yourself up for them. 

When you are feeling unmotivated, the most important thing you can do is take the time to re-evaluate your situation. Look at what you have been doing and decide what you need to do in order to get yourself out of this negative cycle. 

Find something that you enjoy and do that. Find something that can help you relax and get your mind in a better place and you’ll find that you are able to get out of this a lot faster than you might expect. 

Now, keep in mind that this may not be a quick fix. It may take some time to get yourself out of the rut, but once you do, you’ll be able to come back stronger than ever before.

 

Read More

How to Take a Screenshot on PC Desktop

How to Take a Screenshot on PC Desktop

 

Sometimes you'll need to grab a screenshot from your computer screen, whether it's because of a tech issue you need help with or something you just need to share and if you've done that before it can feel a little frustrating to figure it out in the moment.

Luckily your PC comes with built in tools to assist and make this a super easy and super quick task.

There are two options depending on how much of your screen you want to share:

1. The entire screen

To create and save the screenshot, just tap the Windows key + Print Screen key at the same time.  The screenshot will be saved instantly to your Pictures > Screenshots folder.

And it's just as easy as that. Should you really not want to share the entire picture you just snapped, you can quickly crop out the parts you want to hide, or you can use the second method below.

Here's a keyboard pic showing where the Windows and Print Screen keys are:

2. A specific portion of your screen

To create and save just a portion of your computer screen you'll click on just the Print Screen button (as shown above). A plus sign with dotted lines will appear which you can move around with your mouse to position how you need. Just click and drag to create a box around the part of your screen you want to capture.

Once you release the mouse to create the box a dialog box will pop up with various ways to save the screen grab. You ca use whichever most suits your needs, but the first option 'Save as (displaying dialog)' is most likely the best choice. This option will bring up a save dialog box similar to that of other programs where you just name your file, choose a location to save to and click 'ok'.

And that's it, you now have an image of your screen that you can share however you want, right from your desktop in just a couple clicks.

 

Happy computing
Shawnna

 

 

 

Read More

My Favorite Font Bundle for 2022

My Favorite Font Bundle for 2022

 

I am not a font hoarder. I do have more fonts than I can use, but I'm not a true collector by any means. Some of my designer colleagues have fonts by the thousands. I've whittled mine down to a few hundred (i think, honestly it's so hard to keep track).

And that's the point. Once you get beyond a certain number of fonts it becomes difficult and overwhelming to manage. I not currently doing much design work requiring loads of fonts so I'm keeping my list to the absolute best / favorites. The go-to fonts that I love the most.

I recently picked up an incredible bundle deal that has quickly become just that. My go-to font collection when I need something with a little personality. See that feature font in the image above, that one is called Shiplap. On my tech support post images I'm using Farmer's Market.

They are part of a 100 font bundle I picked up in a sale event last year and it is one of the best groups of fonts I have. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of other individual fonts I love and use often, but as a collection this one is - well, just fun.

One of the best features of the bundle that I have appreciated the most (besides fantastic font designs) is a small under-utilized organizational feature - the font file name. Not the name OF the font, but the how the font FILE has been named. Hats off to the designer for this because I LOVE it. 

Every font file begins with the letters DTC then the font name. Which means when I go to use a font in the collection they are all lined up in order as a collection in my font manager. Such a small detail but it is so very helpful when trying to manage too many fonts!

Ok, so the fonts are really the important bit. See for yourself if this collection tickles your fancy. :)

Happy creating
Shawnna

 

 

please note :: I often recommend resources I love, some I receive an affiliate commission for at no additional cost to you, but all are resources that I personally use. I am not otherwise paid to promote.

Read More

How to pick products to sell in your Etsy shop

How to pick products to sell in your Etsy shop

At first glance, it would seem that there’s no end to the creativity you can bring to an Etsy shop. With so many categories to choose from and so many products within those categories, there must be endless ways to showcase your artisanal interests. 

But as much as we love all things handcrafted, not every business idea actually fits well within the world of Etsy. You need to think about the type of work you’re willing to spend time doing on a regular basis, the resources you have available for creating those products, and whether or not people are really going to connect with what you have to sell. Not to mention, whether or not it's profitable.

To help you get started in creating your own Etsy shop, here are some top tips for picking the best products to sell in your own eCommerce store. 

 

Research the market

Even before you decide which products to sell, you need to get an idea for the market you’re operating within. You don’t want to be just another seller in a niche that’s already saturated, but on the other hand, you don’t want to choose a product that no one’s buying. 

You can start off your research with some simple Google searches to learn more about the product industry you are interested in. Look at what's popular, how diverse the product range currently is, the popularity of certain products and how broad the customer base is. You want to get a feel for what is going on with the chosen industry and drill down into specific niches.

For example, if you are interested in making pottery, the industry is pretty massive with a high volume of sales, so there is good opportunity to build a strong customer base. Now get specific, what kind of pottery, for whom, what style? Looking at a particular niche, is there anything missing? Can you do something new or different? You want to identify something that is popular but then add your own spin to it.

You want to do this is in the wider market and not just on Etsy. But it's important to do the exact same research on Etsy as well. You want to look for a product type that you have a keen interest in, will enjoy making long term, has good potential to sell well and then you need to create your own special versions.

You might also look at Etsy’s top sellers in different niche's to research what’s selling, and try to figure out why. Looking at the top sellers should give you an idea of what is required to setup a store for success. Study and understand what their doing right and why they are selling so well. Can you come up with your own unique product offering and sell as successfully?

And finally, think about the products you already own and have in your home. What’s missing from the market? What do people not realize they need? Is there some value you can add to an existing product to make it better, or a new product that doesn't exist yet? These insights can help you recognize gaps in the market and pick a product that’s well-positioned to succeed.

 

Find your niche

If you’re new to running your own business, the concept of niche marketing might not be second nature to you. But it’s something every entrepreneur needs to take into account. In fact, not only does it help you decide which products to sell on your Etsy shop, it helps you decide how to run your business as a whole. 

When you pick a niche, you’re focusing your marketing efforts on a specific group of people. You might decide to cater to families, people who work from home, stay-at-home parents, or any number of other groups. 

You can find your niche by first looking at what you want from a business. You can ask yourself questions like: Who do I want to work with? What kind of lifestyle do I want to have? What are my goals? Who will my product be most useful to?

If this feels like a waste of time, remember that in order to actually sell your products you need to know who you are actually selling to. Otherwise you'll have the same results as standing on a street corner hustling to random passersby.

 

Ask yourself some important questions

Once you’ve got an idea of the type of business you want to run, it’s time to dig a little deeper into the products you can sell. When picking products to sell on your Etsy shop, you have to keep a few things in mind: 

How popular is the product? What’s the price range? How unique is the product? Are there patents or trademarks on the product? Is the product easy to source? Can you customize it? How big is the market for the products you want to sell? Are there enough people who want to buy what you have to offer? Are there already tons of people selling this product? Is the product something you can stand behind? Will customers understand the benefits you’re aiming to provide them?

That's a lot of questions! But it's important to have those answers otherwise your products and marketing are likely to fall flat and miss their target entirely. If you want to be successful with your Etsy shop venture you can't just randomly throw products out there and hope for the best, it takes a strategic and targeted approach to get the best results.

 

Decide on a product and its viability

Once you’ve narrowed down your product options, you then need to decide which one you should sell in your Etsy shop. You can’t sell everything, so you need to evaluate each product and decide if it suits the business you want to build. 

You'll need to look at the market and decide if there’s room for your product in it. You don't want your hard work to drown in a sea of sameness and being a copycat rarely brings true success. You should be looking to see if your product fulfills a need or gap that isn’t being met. 

You also need to take into account your own motivation to sell the product. Why do you want to sell this product? Does the product align with your values? Does the product have a strong aesthetic appeal? Does the product solve a problem for customers? Does the product have a clear and easy-to-understand branding? Is the product something you know enough about to communicate with customers? 

Taking these considerations into account will help you choose the best product for YOU to sell in your Etsy shop. And it makes the job of selling it so much easier!

 

Take into account your skills and resources

Once you’ve decided on a product, look at your own personal resources and skills. How much time do you have each week, will you be able to fulfill orders, and how many can you feasibly handle at once?

Think about your source of income and how much you have to invest in your business. Is this doable? 

And then, how much income do you need from your business to break even? 

You also need to consider your personal strengths and weaknesses. Are you good at communicating with customers? Are you a good problem-solver? Do you pick up new skills quickly? Are there other skills you’re lacking? You can’t be great at everything, but you can definitely be good at something.

Now is the time to identify any areas you are weak on or lacking in knowledge so you can spend some time improving or learning in order to make up for anything lacking.

 

Summing up

An Etsy shop can be a great way to earn some extra cash from a hobby you love. But before you dive into creating your storefront, you need to think about the type of product you want to sell and how viable the product is. The most important step that most Etsy sellers fail to do up front is the MATH.

The numbers are so important. If your dream is to quit your day job, the product you sell has to be able to scale up to the point where you can earn an income. Some products or methods or selling simply won't offer that and are destined to always be pocket change income.

When you’ve got your product line in mind, it’s time to pick a name and create a storefront that’s as engaging as possible. You have to convince customers to spend their hard-earned money on your products. You have to prove that what you are selling is worth investing in.

 

Happy creating
Shawnna

Read More