How to Make an Effective Selling Profile on Etsy

Selling on Etsy involves two important factors: image and description. Without great images you can't wrangle in customers; without a great description customers click the back button. Before we even get to that, you need to focus on your selling profile. Your selling profile isn't complicated -- think of it as a cover to a book -- but preparing it involves careful marketing. It's not as simple as writing what you do and hoping for the best. You need to showcase your talents, individuality, customer service, and why you're the best on a small profile. Isn't that difficult, though? Not if you break it down into these three simple steps.

Step 1: Attract Customers with Passion
Before we even get to writing it, you need to know why you're starting your business. Is it because you're passionate about creating products? Do you enjoy making customers happy? Is it just because you like making stuff? Do you like fulfilling customer requests? Whatever it is, pin this down to one idea.

For example, let's say your name is Edmund and you like making felt turnips. You think this could blossom into a wonderful business. Making felt turnips is your passion; you spend many nights thinking of new turnip designs to sew. So you sit down with your pen and paper and need to narrow this down to one idea. Clearly you're passionate about it. You love Etsy because it promotes homemade products. Most importantly, making felt turnips for others gives you that funny feeling. Your passion keeps on coming up, so you know your idea: A huge passion to create felt turnips for customers. Simplify this down to "passion to make felt turnips". You've got your central idea! It states why you want to sell for Etsy and why you want to create.

Let's move on to step 2.

Step 2: Attract Customers by Fattening Up Your Etsy Profile
It's time to begin writing your selling profile! You'll need to list 3 things:

- Basic information about yourself
- Basic information about your business
- A short explanation of why you're selling

Shortly explain each point and combine it into one paragraph. Use active tone when writing (if you don't know what that is, look it up). Keep the paragraphs short, spunky, but snappy so that all customers understand what you're saying. Here is an example:

"Hello, I'm Edmund! I'm a former butler turned Etsy crafter, currently living in London. I run an extensive line of designer felt turnips called Turnips by Ed, run from my home office. I started sewing felt turnips as a hobby; now it's my passion. My collection has grown from 5 to 100, with each turnip personally hand made by me."

This does three things: it interests customers, effectively explains why you're a seller, and quickly explains what you're selling. This is key to getting new customers.

Time for step 3!

Step 3: List Customer Specials and Shipping Information
Being passionate is fine and all, but it won't mean much without customer specials and shipping information. Like Ebay, you need a concrete shipping policy on Etsy. This is up for you to decide, but you'll need to state your policy in an active tone. Keep the paragraph short, to the point, and simple. Here's an example:

"Shipping Policy: I ship only to U.S. and U.K. If you want shipping insurance, message me through Etsy and I will arrange it. If you want your turnip refunded, send it back within 7 days for a full refund."

Under that you should list any Etsy-specific specials. Emphasize this paragraph. Use bold font. Make the sentence short, snappy, and noticeable. Here's another example:

"***Valentine's Day Special! If you buy two turnips, you get an extra turnip free! Mention Turnips Etsy V-Day in the payment notes and I'll send you a free turnip!***"

Guess what? You've finished your Etsy selling profile! See how easy that was? Creating an effective selling profile isn't hard as long as you remember to spice up your profile, make the profile information-packed, and throughly explain your selling policies.