How to Go From Idea to Sale (Faster)
Let’s simplify things and make templates and checklists
We want to chunk down and really view this in the most simple way possible.
Idea to Sale Checklist (feel free to copy and paste to use yourself!)
✓ COME UP WITH IDEA
✓ MAKE MOCK UPS*
✓ TAKE PICTURES
✓ EDIT PICTURES*
✓ FILL OUT LISTING DESCRIPTION*
✓ COPY LISTING/PRODUCT
✓ PUBLISH
✓ PROMOTE
*these are the things that I would create templates for. When we have templates and checklists, there’s less decisions which will make it easier to take action on.
Let’s start with pictures and mock ups
''Taking pictures takes so long'' ...So does getting orders without pictures 💀
Two things to do: 🔑 focus on the end result and create templates + create a checklist
focus on the end result:
if you offer a digital version, what is the FINAL version someone will get? If it's a DIGITAL planner, for example, but the end result is they print it themselves, you should print one and take pictures of it so people can see what it will be like for them.
GOAL: Help people see themselves using your product.
If it's a product that is used to make another product, show how it can be used (like the planner example). Another example is if you sell clipart, how can they use it? Maybe on invitations? Or a sign? Show it in use.
create templates + create a checklist
✓checklist for photos (pssst, I give you my exact photo checklist in the Etsy Toolkit for just $19!)
✓canva/design templates and cover photos
✓editing templates (filters/presets)
Taking Photos and Videos
With the end result in mind, here are what photos DO and DON’T sell products.
Photos that DO sell Products:
1. Close-ups
2. the back
3. color options
4. scale (📏)
5. the product in use (how is it used?)
6. other options (do you have variations or similar listings?)
7. and infographics (tell them what they need to know)
Photos that DON’T sell Products:
❌ TOO FEW PICTURES
❌ INACCURATE PICTURES
❌ NO VARIETY
❌ NO SCALE
❌ NO END RESULT
And while I think ten pics is the goal, five strategically chosen pictures that illustrate to the customer what they're getting and how they can use it is going to sell more than if you had ten pictures just for the sake of having ten pictures.
Wouldn’t you like to see MORE pictures when making a purchase?
Other tips for good photos:
Use a consistent background
Use consistent filters/presets
Anticipate needs
Video ideas: Procreate Timelapse, using the product, holding in hand, or screen share editing, using, etc.
Editing Photos and Videos
I use Adobe Lightroom to Edit my photos, and I like insult for editing videos! If you want to learn how to make a preset in Lightroom for consistent photo edits, watch the video above!
Listing Descriptions
All of your listing descriptions should have (again feel free to copy!)
A SECTION OF SPECIFICATIONS…
✓ DELIVERABLE (FILE TYPE, SIZE)
✓ WHAT'S INCLUDED
✓ COLORS/OPTIONS
✓ HOW TO USE
✓ ETC.OF COURSE, ONLY CHOOSE WHAT APPLYS
We want to make sure ALL their questions are answered, like: How are they going to get it? What is the file type? What is the size? What are things that they want to know? What is included? How many .pngs? Is it something they edit themselves? Is it something you edit? Are they even allowed to edit? What are the colors? Of course, only choose what applies here. But anything that you've ever been asked to asked should really be in the description.
This is going to help eliminate back and forth for you and help you get the sale more quickly.
(pssst…this is a SUPER important piece to your listings, but only one section that should be included. Inside the Etsy Toolkit you get my Etsy Description Template so you never have to guess what should be included again!)
We want to get these listings set up right the FIRST time, because sending people to a half-assed listing or poorly set up site will not equal sales.
simply…
➕High-Quality Products (which I KNOW you have)
➕High-Quality Listings (what we’re doing here)
🟰 Sales
Poorly set up listings CAN sell, especially to friends and family, but if we want to be selling to strangers, we have to nail the set up!
Copying Listings
I know that I am going against a lot of Etsy experts here, but doing this is exactly how I have made almost $675,000 on Etsy to date. I think there are two main reasons that this isn't recommended: If the listing isn't working well or set up poorly, then copying it is not the best move. I agree with this, but we're setting your listings up well! And second, its suuuuper easy to mess up and not update tags, SEO, etc., so here is my solution!
Update the description, photos, and other details.
Update the SEO (This might be keywords that you're using, meta tags on your website, title, tags if you're on Etsy)
🛑 PAUSE 🛑
Review
Publish
Let’s discuss the 🛑. You're going to close your laptop, go have a cup of coffee, come back to it tomorrow. Take a moment, a solid like step away from the computer moment, and then review it later.
This is where I think people go wrong and why I think experts recommend starting from scratch every single time, because we're more likely to make errors when we're copying. BUT! If what you have is WORKING, you’re not starting at zero every time and this is a way to do what you know works AND save a ton of time. A win-win in my book.
Copying listings helps you get your products into the world faster with less decision-making. Once you have the description template, it's an easy plug-and-play process for your listings!
Next step, you're going to hit publish! Let's get this product out into the world!
build better listings with the Etsy Toolkit
Pair the mini-course with my photoshoot checklist + description template
for listings that sell to more strangers.
SPECIAL LAUNCH PRICE: $19
Promote/Market
Tell people about your product on places like…
Pinterest
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
Blog
Pinterest is my favorite, here’s why…
Long shelf life
If you post a reel on Instagram, for example, that might have a 24-hour, 48-hour week kind of self shelf life, right? (maybe longer but…) You're going to get the views that you're going to get pretty quickly, Pinterest is not that way. I have a post from my blog from 2019 that still brings me hundreds and hundreds of people to my website every month. I have product listings that still get clicked on years later. Things last for a long time on Pinterest which means more results for your time.
More than 90% of people use Pinterest to plan their purchases
Pinterest is something they come back to later. They save it they'll go and look and see where they can go buy that thing that they liked when they have time.
It’s easier to go viral & it is low energy
Things can take off and go viral years after you post something, so you never know what’s going to blow up next! You don't have to show your face or be on all the time, which makes it much less stressful than other content creation.
You don’t have to “create content”
All those listing pictures and videos you mastered above? Use those! Yes of course, you can make content, but you also already have soooo much that you can reuse from your other platforms. I don’t always “make pins,” I just pin photos and videos that I take when photographing the product for listings, and this brings me a ton of traffic. This year on the Tipsy Business Podcast I have been breaking down my monthly Pinterest views and stats in the “monthly recap” episodes! I’m also sharing how much $$$ I make each month. If you do want to create content, here’s something I love…
Tailwind (Automation + Creation)
I freaking LOVE Tailwind, which allows me to create listings MONTHS in advance. I can truly set up my Tailwind to schedule pins for a year, which means it’s working and I don’t have to. Tailwind is free to use (which of course we love!), but there’s a paid version that I used and reccomend. I never link to products and serviced I don’t genuinely love, so know that while this is an affiliate link and I may get a small commission at no cost to you, I hope you use Tailwind even without my link! It’s that good and makes Pinterest and marketing a f*ckin breeze.
Tailwind Create will let you make pins at the click of a button, and the AI Ghostwriter lets you drop in pin descriptions in a fraction of the time.
Tailwind Communities lets you share your products with others and encourages engagement so your listings take off quicker and reach a border but still niche audience!
If you want to try Tailwind, i’d love if you used my affiliate link here ⬇️
But most importantly I just want you to use it and save a ton of time. Trust me, you will not regret it. And it’s FREE to use!
Your Homework
➡️ Start making templates and put them somewhere you can easily access. I love to use my notes app on my iphone so when I’m ready to take action, I have it handy on all my devices so nothing gets missed!
➡️ Make a checklist for getting things live (like the one above!)
➡️ If you’re selling on Etsy, download the Free Etsy ebook! ⬇️
Want to learn more about Etsy pictures, listings, and everything in-between for FREE?!
I have a huge ebook You’ll get instant access to…
49 STRATEGICALLY CHOSEN LESSONS ON SETTING UP YOUR ETSY, SERVING CUSTOMERS, MARKETING YOUR PRODUCTS, AND SCALING YOUR ETSY SHOP + BUSINESS.
SPECIFICALLY, YOU'LL GET ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS LIKE:
What exactly do I need to show up in Etsy Search?
What am I supposed to include in the pictures?
How and why should I link your Etsy on my website?
How do I set up an announcement?
How can samples help my Etsy shop?
What's Etsy Plus, and is it right for you?
What should I avoid as I start and grow my Etsy shop?
...and that's just from the FIRST SECTION!
And get some of my most saved Instagram posts, easy for you to refer to like:
Five types of content for your product-based business
BTS of my Etsy Ad Strategy
How Samples Help Grow Your Etsy Shop