Etsy.com: The Ultimate Site for Handmade Crafts

If you love handmade accessories or are a talented crafter yourself, then Etsy.com is a site you need to explore.

Devoted to the art of handmade crafts, Etsy.com offers everything from lip balm to quilts to photos, to necklaces, and so much more. This well designed site offers several search options for the novice to shop around for anything you could possibly want. Have a thing for dragons? Just type that into "tags" and you'll be rewarded with dragoon pendants, silk screened shirts, and more. Just enjoy the color orange? Put that into the color search option and have fun digging through the hundreds of orange colored items you'll be presented with.

As a buyer, you can be assured that any product you purchase off the site will be crafted with care and incredible pride in the craftsperson's work. The sellers are friendly and responsive, and always willing to answer any questions you may have regarding their materials or creative processes. Many sellers will even include fun little "extras" with your purchase, as well as wrapping or packaging the item with a true creative flair. This makes these items a great gift option.

If you're a crafter yourself, this is a great place to sell your own unique wares. Unlike auction sites such as eBay, your carefully crafted items will not be lost among the shuffle of pre-made junk. Instead, you can showcase your work in a place where it is valued, and where shoppers go specifically for handmade items.

At only 20 cents per item listing, selling on Etsy is highly affordable. Setting up your shop on the site is free and easy; with tons of great options that allow you to list your products in the best light possible.

If you are going to list your items on Etsy, be sure you have great photos of your items. This is the biggest selling point on the site. Buyers look for clear images of items, preferably with shots from several angles. Also, be sure that your description includes all of the materials used to make the item, and special features you can think of. Fun and creative descriptions are also well received. If you can tell a little story about your item, then go for it.

One of the best features on the site is the forum. Here, buyers and sellers alike can chat and give feedback and receive help and support. Veteran sellers are always willing to give advice to newcomers; they'll even take a look at your shop and your items and tell you how to improve your sales. Sellers also share what they look for in particular items, and what you can do to, in their opinion, to boost you salability.

With helpful Etsy members, product guilds, street teams and more, Etsy offers a wide variety of options to help sell your products, and network with other crafters, both in your area and across the country. If you make handmade crafts, this is a site you must check out.

Whether you're a seller or buyer, Etsy.com offers beautiful products, friendly crafters and a great social network for the creatively inclined.

(And please feel free to explore this writer's Etsy shop at www.ravenworks.etsy.com)