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15 discussions · Real sellers helping real sellers
How do I know if my keywords are actually working?
I've been optimizing my listings for about 3 months now — changed all my titles to include more specific phrases, filled all 13 tags, and rewrote my descriptions. But my views are still pretty flat. Is there any way to actually tell which keywords are bringing people in, or is it basically a guessing game? I feel like I'm just making changes without knowing if they help.
My competitors charge way less — should I lower my prices?
I make hand-poured soy candles and I price them at $18–$24. I keep finding shops selling what looks like the same thing for $9–$12. My materials alone cost me $6 per candle. I know I shouldn't race to the bottom but I'm not getting many sales either. How do you compete with this without tanking your margins?
Best background colors for product photos on a budget?
I've been using a white foam board as my backdrop but some of my products (mostly dark ceramics and navy blue items) just disappear against it. I can't afford a full photography setup. What cheap backdrop options are working for people? Specifically for items that don't pop against white.
Does renewing listings every day actually boost views?
I've read conflicting things about this. Some people swear renewing gives you a visibility bump, others say it's a waste of 20 cents and does nothing meaningful. I have about 40 active listings. If I started renewing 5 a day would it help, or am I better off spending that money on Etsy ads?
Has anyone actually driven real traffic from Pinterest to their Etsy shop?
I keep reading that Pinterest is great for Etsy sellers but I've been pinning consistently for 4 months and my Etsy stats show almost no traffic from it. I'm pinning my listings, lifestyle photos, and some "tips" content. Am I missing something, or is Pinterest just overhyped for Etsy at this point?
How long did it realistically take you to get your first sale?
I opened my shop 6 weeks ago selling handmade resin bookmarks and earrings. I have 18 listings, decent photos (I think), and I've filled out all the tags and descriptions. Zero sales so far. I'm trying not to panic but it's hard. When did your first sale come in and what do you think finally triggered it?
Free shipping vs separate shipping cost — which actually converts better?
I've seen a lot of advice saying to offer free shipping because Etsy favors it in search. But when I rolled free shipping into my prices, my items looked expensive compared to competitors. Has anyone actually tested both and seen a clear difference in conversion? And does Etsy really rank you higher for offering free shipping?
Should I use all 13 tags or just the most relevant ones?
I've always heard "fill all 13 tags" but lately I've been wondering if that advice is actually sound. If I'm stretching to fill tags 11–13 with loosely related phrases, could those weak tags actually hurt my relevancy? Or does Etsy just ignore irrelevant tags and there's no downside to filling them all?
Window light vs ring light for jewelry photos — which is better?
I sell silver and gemstone jewelry. I've been using a ring light and my photos look sharp but the silver looks a bit flat and cold. A friend told me to try a north-facing window instead. But natural light changes throughout the day and I need consistency. What do you use and what results have you gotten?
Does cross-posting on Instagram actually drive Etsy visits?
I've been posting my products on Instagram 3–4 times a week for 5 months. I have about 800 followers and get decent engagement but my Etsy shop referral traffic from Instagram is almost nothing — like 2–3 visits a week. Is Instagram just not a sales driver for Etsy shops, or am I doing something wrong?
How do you handle an unfair 1-star review without sounding defensive?
I got my first 1-star review last week. The buyer said the item "looked different from the photo" but my photos are accurate and I have 47 five-star reviews. I want to respond but everything I draft sounds either defensive or sycophantic. What's the right way to handle this? Does responding even matter for future buyers?
How do you price international shipping without losing money?
I'm based in the UK and keep getting orders from the US, Canada and Australia. Every time I ship internationally I end up undercharging because I guessed the weight wrong or forgot to account for packaging. I'm losing £3–6 per international order. How do you accurately calculate international shipping upfront without just guessing?
Is adding a video to your listing actually worth the effort?
I keep seeing advice that listing videos boost rankings. But filming, editing, and uploading 40+ videos sounds like a massive time investment for something I can't measure. Has anyone actually seen a noticeable difference in views or sales after adding videos? And how much time does it realistically take per listing?
What single thing got you your first 100 sales?
I'm at 23 sales after 4 months and feeling stuck. I've done keyword research, improved my photos, and tried running small Etsy ads ($1/day). Nothing seems to break the plateau. For those of you who've made it past 100 sales — what was the thing that finally moved the needle? I'll try almost anything at this point.
Second Etsy shop or just expand my current one?
I sell minimalist prints and digital planners. I'm now thinking about adding handmade candles, but they're a totally different vibe and customer. Should I keep everything under one shop (it's established, has 200+ sales and good reviews) or open a second shop for the candles? I know managing two shops is more work but I'm worried about diluting my brand.