Selling on Etsy has been a popular go-to for artisans and creators for years. Etsy is a marketplace for do-it-yourself and handmade goods, as well as vintage items and craft supplies. However, in the past few years, Etsy has increased its fees for sellers, leaving many to wonder if using the platform is still worth their investment. So is Etsy the right place for you to sell?
While Etsy has the benefit of being a marketplace and a one-stop-shop for people looking for certain products, it’s not the only option to sell online. And its popularity comes with challenges too. Etsy has become saturated with handmade goods over the years, so you’re less likely to show up in searches on the platform than you once were. Plus, there are copycats who will take your design and sometimes sell it for less. You also don’t get strong analytics with Etsy, nor can you create your own look for your storefront.
If you are ready to grow your business, consider ditching the marketplace and creating your own website through Zibster. Managing your own ecommerce website, through a platform like Zibster, gives you better control over your design, marketing, SEO, and much more. You can create a professional website on your own or with the help of our team of experts and start selling online in no time. And as an added bonus, Zibster never takes commission from your sales. So once you make a sale, the profit is yours. Zibster’s top priority is our customers and helping you succeed; Etsy’s top priority is earning money for Etsy. Additionally, Etsy doesn’t leave you room to scale your business beyond handmade items. They require items to be handmade, so if you eventually wanted to manufacture your creations, you would have to go somewhere else to sell them anyway.
For example, with your own ecommerce website, you’re in control of your SEO and analytics. You can set up Google Analytics, your keywords, and metadata however you choose. With Etsy, you're limited to what's available with the platform, and it’s hard to get items to rank on Google.
Here are some more reasons you might want to consider saying goodbye to Etsy.
- Low price points – You need to keep your price points low in order to stay competitive with similar products on Etsy. If you raise your prices, buyers will likely choose a similar item from a different seller.
- It’s a lot of labor – You can only sell handmade items on Etsy. If you want to scale your production, you can’t sell there. That means you’ll be spending a lot of time crafting your goods (which you may enjoy). If you move to a manufacturing scenario, you can no longer sell on Etsy.
- Etsy stores limit your sales – Only Etsy customers will be able to buy your products. If someone doesn’t shop on Etsy, they don’t have a real way to find your business.
- You can’t build a marketing list – Etsy does not allow sellers to collect email addresses. So you can’t email your customers about upcoming sales, new products, or anything else you want them to know.
- Your branding is limited – When a shopper searches for a product on Etsy, they only see the product and a headline. They do not see your brand identity, such as your shop’s name or logo. This prevents users from going directly to your store for something. Yes, someone can search for your store on Etsy, but that isn’t as likely as searching for the product they want or need. As users search they are most likely to choose the option that provides them the best value for their money, regardless of the seller’s identity.
- Etsy limits your control – Having your own ecommerce website, like one built on the Zibster platform, allows you to play by your own rules in terms of design, calls to action, and store policies. Etsy requires sellers to abide by the platform’s rules and limits how you can customize the way your products display. With your own ecommerce site, you set the policies, the design, and more — you are in control. With your own site, you can also choose which payment options you are willing to accept, which merchant you use, and therefore what the cost is to you per transaction.
- No competitor ads – If customers are browsing your website, they won’t get distracted by competitors’ listings and ads like they might on Etsy. Your site gets their full attention.
- Post as many products as you’d like – With your own website, you can list as many products as you want, without additional fees.
By selling your products on your own website, you gain flexibility and control, and save money. Let Zibster help you get started today.
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