How to Sell Your Handmade Items and Crafts Online

Handmade jewelry is just one of many items you can sell on Etsy.

Handmade crafts and other items make excellent gifts, whether given to yourself or a friend. If you make your own handmade items, it is important to learn how to sell them. Selling online can open you up to a wider market. Opening your own website and private store also is an option, but is time consuming and best if you are turning your hobby into a full-time business. The easiest (and profitable) way to sell your handmade items is to use Etsy, an online marketplace designed specifically for handmade products.

Things You'll Need

• Email
• Etsy account
• Pictures
• Credit card

Instructions

1. Create an Etsy seller's account. You will need a valid email address to create the account. To sell items, you must have your address and a valid credit card. The credit card verifies your identity and is used to pay seller fees.

2. Take pictures of each item individually. The pictures should be clear and large enough for shoppers to see the item clearly. Use white or black backgrounds to help the item stand out.

3. Write a description of the item. In the case of handmade items, pictures aren't worth a thousand words. Tell shoppers what the product is made of, what it can be used for (if applicable) and any other relevant details.

4. Price the item. The item should be priced based on the cost and labor. Look at other Etsy stores to find other similar items and compare prices.

5. Post the item on your Etsy store. You'll be able to include pictures, descriptions and prices when posting. You can also select accepted payment methods. PayPal allows shoppers to use a credit card but guarantees you are paid instantly. Money orders take longer to process and can be unreliable.

6. Add more items and wait for them to sell. Promote your shop through social networks, by talking to other Etsy members and handing out business cards with your Etsy shop's URL. Once the item sells, you ship the product to the buyer.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have variations of the same item, such as a Scrabble tile necklace for every letter of the alphabet with the same backing detail, take a picture of one necklace and note in the description that the purchaser can choose which letter she wants when she places an order.

• Consider offering free gifts. You don't have to advertise these, but many successful Etsy store owners include a small item for free when a product is shipped. Etsy stores thrive on feedback and promotion from other shoppers and sellers. Small tokens are an excellent way to increase traffic.

• Keep track of Etsy seller fees. Each item listed costs 20 cents and you pay a 3.5 percent sales fee for each transaction. For example, an item priced at $20 will cost you 90 cents to sell after listing and sales fees.

References

• "The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and On-Line"; Kari Chapin; 2010
• "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Selling Your Crafts"; Chris Franchetti Michaels; 2010
• "How to Make Money Using Etsy: A Guide to the Online Marketplace for Crafts and Handmade Products"; Tim Adam; 2011
• "Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business"; Meg Mateo Ilasco; 2007