Moms have been getting in touch with their creative sides in the last year. Plenty of us have picked up a hobby we found a new appreciation for, from cross-stitching to resin-casting. They're therapeutic and satisfying ways to pass the time that get us out of our heads for a bit.
Depending on what your hobby is, it has the potential to do more than just relax you. You can turn that hobby into a little side business and make some extra cash. It may seem stressful to some, but for moms looking for a way to make money from home on a flexible schedule, it could be a great fit.
Etsy has made it easy to sell your creations to eager buyers who appreciate craftsmanship. Who among us hasn't spent hours scrolling the site and finding all kinds of wonderful things like funny mugs, wall art, and other awesome homemade gifts? You could be among those sellers making money doing what they love. Here's how you get started.
Starting an Etsy shop is simple.
Before you open an Etsy shop, you'll want to get familiar with Etsy's different policies, as they apply to buyers and sellers. Once you're sure this is what you want to do, make sure you're on a desktop computer to sign up. Click on "Open your Etsy shop."
You will be asked to input your language, the country you're selling from, and the currency you'll use.
Have fun naming your shop.
Your shop name can be up to 20 characters long, with no spaces or punctuation. You can change your shop name as many times as you want before you open it. Once your shop is open, you can change your name up to five times before you have to start making change requests to Etsy support.
Etsy wants you to follow small business laws in your area.
It's important to get familiar with your local small business laws, especially involving selling online. Etsy doesn't require any kind of licensing to start a shop, but some localities require certain licensing or permits.
Set up your shop.
Your shop is going to need a few basic graphic elements, like a logo and a header. They're the first things a customer will see, so you want to make sure it draws people in. You can also welcome shoppers with a message at the top of your store.
Tell your story in the "About" section. You can be honest about why you love making what you're selling. You can get into your shop's policies in the spaces provided, which allow you to state rules and considerations for customers.
Don't forget the work you have to do off Etsy.
There's a good amount of planning you'll need to do as you get the on-site aspects of your shop up and running. You have to figure out how much it costs to produce your products, how you'll price them, what your easiest shipping method is, and other details that will see your products from creation through delivery.
List your products.
Each listing costs $0.20. The listing fee is added to your product's specified price. Listings take up to 24 hours to go public after you've published them to the site.
Get to marketing the fruits of your labor.
Marketing can make or break an Etsy shop, so you want to get on your A-game. It can be tough, so also accept help from others, whether it's a shout-out, a repost, or help with running social media accounts. Etsy has a lot of helpful resources to get your marketing going.
Don't be afraid to experiment.
There are a lot of different ways to grow your Etsy shop. Whether it's experimenting with new marketing or experimenting with new products, you'll find what works best for you as you get your shop off the ground. The best part is that you're in control of how and when things amp up, meaning the sky's the limit.
