Thoughts on Etsy
I spend a lot of time thinking about Etsy. Getting overwhelmed by Etsy. Wondering if I need Etsy to be successful. Being heartbroken to see less and less creatives selling on Etsy, and more and more junk (please, be careful out there and only give your hard earned cash to the real artisans). But, for now, this is the platform I am on to find new art seekers in the digital world, so I must give it some thought, and I intend to be thoughtful…
One of my first thoughts is always about organization. With each illustration, I have several different products that I can offer. All these products have been a moment of joy to someone, which makes them all valuable (it’s also my favorite moment to witness when tabling). The question I always ask myself is if I should be sorting the listings efficiently by illustration (with different product options), or by products (with different illustration options). At the moment, I have chosen the largest and least efficient organization option; one illustration + one product = one listing. Part of the rationale is because Etsy markets its sellers based on engagement, which includes the number of listings and updates from the seller. The goal is to have over 100 listings, which would be hard if I organized efficiently by illustration or products. I worry that I have created a maze for anyone who wanders into my shop and at this time I only have 87 listings.
At this time, it would be too crazy to change, but I would like to try and simplify the search. Perhaps there is something I could do on my own website to help. That could get crazy with broken links, but it could be an idea.
In the meantime, it has been over a year since I have dedicated any amount of time to Etsy shop. Partially, this was because Etsy had placed my shop on vacation mode for over a year with no clear indicator on why they did it, how to restore it, and no one to talk to for help (they seriously do not have any customer service for sellers). The remainder of the blame falls securely on my mental health and a recent all-consuming battle with depression. Food, medication, water and sleep have been my main focus for many months, which has sadly left no room for creativity - or Etsy.
Importantly, the fire in me is growing and “Kristin Bergene Creative LLC” is where I would like to invest my heart and spirit. I think Etsy would be a simple place to start, as it has a solid foundation and a good amount of listings that need to be updated (see screenshot right >). As I update each of these listings over the next few weeks, Etsy should acknowledge that engagement and hopefully my shop will be seen in the searches again.
I’m calling it a win.
