Etsy, things I've learned (so far)
I went into Etsy thinking, ok, how much different can this be from Ebay, or any other online sales website? Take a picture, give a description, watch things sell.
Etsy is curious; where Ebay tends towards succinct descriptions- often laden with typos, Etsy embraces an item's story. In fact I almost cringe at the word 'item', it isn't just an item, it's this specific thing that has either been crafted by hand or carefully picked and always adored by the seller.
While trying to learn what works and why some things in my shop sell and others languish, I'm seeing a pattern. When writing descriptions I initially feared I was saying entirely too much that didn't pertain to the thing I was describing, but sure enough, it was those very things that were selling best. Why someone would be more drawn to a particular object because of its story becomes more apparent when considering the Etsy community.
They are people who are first and foremost passionate about supporting an individual rather than a large business. Knowing this one key unlocks a lot of other elements that are intrinsically tied into the traits of such a person. If you're into supporting an individual vs a corporation, you're generally willing to pay a little more- you know where it is coming from, who made it it, how it was made, and why. And if we're speaking vintage items, rather than handmade, I feel there is a strong appeal towards a pre-loved item. When reading a thorough description, a buyer gets to see a seller's love and passion for what they do. Done well, buyers will get a personal sense of who you are as a person, your beliefs, and your way of living. It's in making these human connections that seems to drive a sale. It's the difference between a green vintage apron, and a green apron your Grandmother wore when she was young and first learning to bake zucchini bread- which to this day is still your favorite zucchini bread.
Give them those little details, let them peak into your life and feel they can relate to you.
