Etsy is a platform where you can promote your photos and make some side income or even turning it into a full-time job. It’s a great way to start selling your work online and gain exposure for your work.

Through an Etsy photography shop, you can sell your images in physical and digital prints and set your rules for each of them. It’s easy to start and gives you an excellent opportunity to promote yourself as a professional photographer.

Starting your photography shop Etsy

Creating an account on Etsy is the first step to have your photography shop on the platform. It’s an easy process that only needs an email address to register yourself on the site. Then go to “sell on Etsy” and start the shop creation process.

Etsy listing and transaction fees

After setting your photography shop, it’s time to list your work for sale. Etsy charges $0.20 per listed item on your shop and 5% of the price you sell them for.

Choosing your shop name

It’s Important to choose your shop name wisely and professionally. Your shop name is the first communication you make with your customer. It can be your real first and surname or can be anything else. Just make sure to reflect the passion of your work through it.

Etsy gives you only one instant change to your shop name in case you were not sure about it when you named it for the first time. After that, you’ll need to get approval for any further changes.

Distinguish your shop

You will need to distinguish yourself from others in order to start gaining enough exposure to make sales. You can do that by customizing your shop to highlight your brand between other brands on Etsy. Use the shop icons on your home page to put your logo. Choose a distinctive piece of your work and use it as a cover photo. Use banners as another option to promote your shop.

Setting your policies

Shop policy is an important element you have to consider to avoid potential conflict with your customers. In case you are selling physical prints, you have to state whether you accept exchange or returns after selling or not. You may also set your shipping methods, times, and charges.

It is important to be clear about these points with your customers before moving forward with them with any sale. It also shows how professional and trustworthy you are as a seller.

Listing your items for sale

After setting your policies and customizing your shop the way you prefer, you are ready to move to the next step and list your items for sale. You can sell copyrights for digital photos, posters, canvas prints, etc.. When you list your items, Etsy will charge you $0.20 per item, and your listing will stay active for four months or until sold. If you didn’t make any sales within the four months, you’d need to renew your listing for $0.20 to reactivate it.

Consider a delivery method

In order to let your work reach your customers, you need to consider a delivery method. You have two ways to do that:

1- To print and ship your work yourself. (considering shipping costs, time, and methods).

2- To drop ship your work through a dropshipping service and save yourself the time and effort to focus only on creating.

Promoting your shop

Now that your shop is prepared, and your items are listed, you cannot stay still waiting for customers to come and shop your shop without promoting it. Use social media accounts to gain more exposure and reach more people. Use relevant keywords on your listings to make them easy to reach. Be kind to your customers, and they will recommend you to their friends and family.

Quick tips for a successful selling experience on Etsy

Running your own online shop is not an easy job to do, yet, it’s not impossible.

• Customer service is a key factor in managing a successful selling process.
• Be sure to handle your product professionally, do not leave smudges or scratches on it, and pay extra attention to packaging suitability for your product and that it keeps the product safe until it reaches your customer safely.
• Thank your customers for having business with them to leave them with a friendly customer service experience at the end.

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