Etsy | Printful

The Etsy Printful Connection

This is probably one of the more successful POD integrations going.

Easy to configure and fulfill. (Sort Of)

The only thing here you worry about is customer service.  Etsy itself is not a POD, but an online marketplace.

Customers are educated, discerning, interested in a higher quality of goods.

 Coupled with Etsy if done properly you stand to build a pretty amazing business. There are other POD`s that you could use, but I find Printful to be easy and more than satisfactory.

Here we will discuss Etsy as its one heck of an e-com platform, that hasn't come of age even yet.

Etsy The Platform

What the heck Etsy is not a POD?

That's right but after you have learned ..or maybe you are a jump in type... Etsy is the Place to go. 

There are so many reasons for that it may be hard to list them all.

This is an e-commerce platform make no mistake, coined as an online marketplace for handmade goods. Which our designs are even if sourced, but we also mention, (it is in the settings) we use a production partner (Printful).

Etsy is made up of Sellers and Buyers both. Much like Amazon, but on a higher standard, don't let that scare you, its a bonus.

You may choose to sell using only organic methods or PPC with  Google Bing or Platform specific.

Set Up Your Store                     

Once you have signed up to Etsy, your Printiful is set already....right?

Set your store up, this is by no means just a let's do this whatever thing ..no no no.      

It's not easy you need to follow a ton of steps. I am going to insert a long video here from youtube its not mine but an FB group for MBA

Watch and follow this video, it really will help you it really matters how you look to buyers there to your success.

Nuts And Bolts

From Etsy to Printful you will need both accounts active.

Credit Card Information (Both Etsy/Printful)

To Sync your Etsy store and Printul you will be asked to create a listing. This simply confirms that you are you, and you can be billed (pay) for services rendered.

Delete this listing if its a false one after you are accepted and synced. This will still cost you 20 cents USD.

Hopefully, you have followed the video above, it is not perfect but really will help you get going, as you learn you will tweak things.

How Does It Work

Basically, we are working POD here so that's what we will discuss. As you can guess there are a great many ways to make Etsy work for whatever you are doing.

You list your products. Each listing will cost you 20 cents USD. That gives you six months, then you re`new the listing. 

It can be costly but again its all about multiples (sales) your strategy here is up to you. (remove/keep)

You design and upload to Printful then choose your item. After you have done that just push to store through Printful.

As mentioned in the video above make sure you finish the listing. I found it easier to use the auto fulfill, that's up to you, whatever works.

A Little SEO                  

I don't think any article that doesn't touch on SEO when it comes to platforms like Etsy and Shopify are incomplete.

Etsy allows you to use tags as keywords, thirteen in all, and you should use them all.

A research tool a lot of people use is Etsy Rank, this you can pay for or use free, most use free as it is adequate enough.

When writing your title out you will choose from the tags relevant keywords and structure them into a coherent sentence.

Etsy also has platform specific PPC, which you should learn to use and put into play.

 

Social Media

This is pretty much unspoken. I think most people that are in any type of e-com are on social media.

Facebook, groups, Pinterest. and Instagram seems to be the biggest of these.

Twitter is also a big player but runs super fast so you have to almost get pretty spammy.

I would be extremely careful when it comes toad spends on these platforms though.  Be educated people lose a lot of money on that.

Niche                                              

Again this is up to the person. A lot of people do well with general stores. But as many more have moved to the niche idea with several stores.

If you niche, remember, there are several products you can sell, Niche doesn't mean one product, just one area or interest.

There is a very good course written by a couple of very successful Etsy store owners, after many years of experience decided to share some knowledge.

I can't speak to the course, I haven't taken it, but what I have heard it is the definitive guide to setting up and becoming a successful Etsy e-com entrepreneur.

This is the course here ETSY COURSE, as usual, this IS NOT an affiliate link!

Enjoy and if you take the course maybe give your opinion below.

Customer Service                                          

This is of utmost importance on the Etsy platform, you should be checking messages and comments constantly. There are people that say that giving an answer to a question after one hour is to long.

I'm not sure if that's so true but you get the idea.

Reviews are as important as answering questions and can make or break you on this platform so pay attention.

And yes Etsy can and will ban you if you are an unsatisfactory vendor so take care in what you do and sell.

You are in no way allowed to ask outright for reviews, by the way, please read the TOS.

Protect yourself, by being clear in your shop policies.

This is by no means a definitive article but rather something to get you interested and show you a few possibilities.

There are a great many more than myself who can really say they understand and are successful as Etsy shop owners.

Youtube is a super source but be as usual picky on what you listen to or watch, a lot of people are self-proclaimed and not really so.

There is, in particular, this channel which does some pretty good shop critiques, you can learn a lot from this series.

As always there are no affiliate links and all is free info. Why because I have a bit of free time and decided to pass a bit of info on PIF (pay it forward.)

 I

f you have any questions or comments go ahead and leave them below, I will answer as I can, as I mentioned I am not always available.

All The Best and Success In your POD journey.

EJ