Starting an Etsy Business For Dummies. Gatski Kate

       Notice in Figure 1-3 that there’s no header bar on the Shop Manager page. That means there’s no easy access to the various links on the header bar. To access those links, you have to switch from Shop Manager to the Etsy Marketplace. To do so, click the Shop Manager link in the upper-left corner of the Shop Manager page. Then choose Etsy Marketplace from the list that appears.

       To help you find a specific item, Etsy offers a robust Search tool. You can also use the Search tool to locate a particular shop. If you’re just browsing, you’ll appreciate Etsy’s many browsing-related features. (Exactly which features are available depends on whether you’re logged in to the site.) You access these tools from Etsy’s home page. For additional help, turn to Chapter 5.

       No doubt about it, one of the highlights of Etsy is its thriving community of interesting, arty folk. But you may still find an occasional bad apple in the Etsy bunch. Take a few key steps to ensure your safety:

      ❯❯ To make sure that no one accesses your account without your authorization, choose a strong password. Select one that meets all the following criteria:

      For an added layer of protection, change your password every so often – say, every 30 to 60 days.

      ❯❯ Be on the lookout for scams. These often involve the use of money orders or cashier’s checks, along with an offer to pay significantly more than is necessary to expedite shipping or to cover some other weird request. If you do get taken on Etsy, contact your financial institution immediately. Then report the situation to Etsy. You may also opt to alert your local law enforcement.

      ❯❯ Before you jump into a forum or team discussion, monitor it for a while. See whether the folks engaged in the discussion are people you really want to interact with. If a discussion goes south, simply disengage.

      ❯❯ Play it close to the vest. Don’t share your digits or other personal details, such as where you live or work, on Etsy’s forums or other public spaces. Oh, and if you decide to meet up with someone you’ve met on Etsy in person, pick a neutral, public place, let a friend or family member know about your plans, and be sure to bring your phone with you in case you need to call for help.

      ❯❯ Uploading a cover photo and a shop icon

      ❯❯ Including a shop title and shop announcement to describe your shop

      ❯❯ Using sections to organize your goods

      ❯❯ Populating your Etsy profile and your shop’s About section, and choosing a profile picture

       As you set up your storefront, keep in mind that a major reason people shop on Etsy is to feel connected to the artists who make what they buy. If you want people to buy from you, make sure your Etsy shop reflects your personality! For example, do you have a serious bent? Then your shop should, too. Ditto if you’re whimsical, modern, traditional, edgy, or frilly. Let your personality shine through in your choice of cover photo, shop icon, and other visual elements as well as in your bio and other text-based elements. Not only will this increase your sales, but it may just help you make some friends along the way. (For more on setting up your Etsy shop, check out Chapter 8.)

       Maybe you want to do more than buy on Etsy. Maybe you want to sell. Putting up an item for sale on Etsy is a simple process:

      2. Photograph your piece.

      You can include as many as five pictures of each piece in your Etsy shop. The photos you provide should convey the shape, size, color, and texture of your