This shipping thing is profoundly annoying. Not every product or business model is friendly to free shipping. Why should anyone be penalized for that? I prefer transparency for my customers to see exactly what they’re paying for. It feels deceitful to me to hide shipping in the product price. No judgement for people that do. I get it. It’s just my personal feeling about me doing it. And I’m more than a little po’d that Etsy punishes me for it.
I totally get that! Lots of different opinions on this. The good thing is that listings that use calculated shipping aren’t included so if free/less shipping isn’t an option, you can always use the calculated and not be hurt by the new change.
@@KateHayes Unfortunately (for me) I use a third party because I get better rates in most cases. I’m absolutely for people charging in the way that gives them the most advantage. We’re all in business to make a profit, after all. Things like free shipping under $35 is backward for me. What I ship isn’t light or small, so for me it’s the other way around. I could offer free shipping on sales over a certain number because then I could afford to subsidize it. If I did it Etsy’s way I would eventually end up out of business on their platform. Why they can’t manage to create a solution for this, or possibly even recognize it as a problem, is disappointing.
I 100% understand where you're coming from. However, I don't see including shipping in the price as deceitful, I see it as helping the customer see exactly their cost (minus taxes). It could be seen as dishonest to advertise a shirt for $7, but then charge $10 shipping. Even if you are 100% transparent, there's always that unexpected shock of having to pay another $5-$10 to ship the product, which ends up causing customers to dump their orders. Whereas if you were to tell them upfront, the Shirt will cost $22 with no additional cost for shipping, they'd be happier. But I wonder what they'll do for those heavy products that could cost upwards of $20 or more to ship. Sellers shouldn't be penalized. Hopefully, they can adjust this to compromise. In the end, Etsy is doing what they can to encourage sales, and FREE shipping or low-cost shipping is VERY attractive to customers trained on Amazon shopping.
I noticed after downloading many successful stores sales data in a Google spreadsheet that most of them do charge for shipping and are doing just fine with big profits and happy customers who don't mind paying up to $7 for shipping on a t-shirt. Stay encouraged and keep trucking along.
This is seriously the most important video I’ve watched all year! I was completely freaking out about the Etsy algorithm changes, and your explanation made it so much easier to digest. I really appreciate your clear and concise explanation, and your tips are invaluable. Thank you for helping me navigate this stressful situation!
Hi from South Africa. Not realy found my niche yet .been on a year but put shop on vacation during winter to collect food etc for homeless people. Sry so long ..Rodger
I am new in this adventure since only few weeks and I have to admit that it's not so easy. Etsy is very complex. I specially have hard time with shipping settings. Well, I am lucky I already made 2 sales of 3 items so I consider that I am lucky and one thing I focus on is to give more than expected. In fact I give a bonus with many of my items for sale because if I was the buyer, I would really appreciate that. Another thing is to ship with nice wrapping vintage style (because I sell antique papers) and cute business card. I really think it's important to be generous and you know what, I love to be generous. It fills me with joy and satifaction. My first goal is not about money but is to share my passion of old papers with others. I really hope I will have success. Thank you for this update. It was useful 😉
Thank you for this! I am still confused about mockup restrictions on templates or digital products. Can we or can we not use mockups to show end products for templates? Thank you so much! 😊
Hi Kate, thank you for always sharing such helpful content. In one of your videos, you talked about personalizing items, you mentioned a company that personalizes, that also integrates with Etsy. I cannot for the life of me find that video and I cannot remember the name of the company!
How should I interpret the new picture rules for printables. Do I need to start printing everything myself take pictures, are mock-ups not advised to use for printables (not POD) anymore as the first picture? A bit confused about this
Hi Kate, I love your videos. I just have a genuine question, please don’t feel offended as that is not my intention at all. May I know approximately how much revenue you make from your own Etsy digital products shop per month? I may have missed any screenshots you shared regarding this so just thought of asking you as I am also seriously considering buying your course. Thanks!
Hey Kate! Thanks for the update! What is the policy around using stock photos for digital prints? I'm talking putting quotes on photos from Unsplash. --Gloria
Should sellers who sell only digital products add a return policy? I don’t do print on demand. All my products are things like digital templates, and Etsy has their own no return policy for those. Just wondering if I should just restate their policy? Or would that just be redundant? Thanks!
Yes typically there are no returns for digital products. You’ll still want to make sure anywhere you can complete a return policy (even if it’s just choosing “I don’t accept returns”), you have it completed! Typically both in each individual listing and in your overall shop policy settings.
I'm just starting out selling digital products in the event niche, and I'm confused about using stock photos to display my digital designs. Are we allowed to use them?
I have over 140 listings in my new Etsy shop that opened two months ago. I know it’s quite the niche but I wanna own the UFO/UAP alien apparel market. I’m catering to activists for the subject as well as casual lovers of UFO and spiritual related design designs. For now, so that I can encourage sales and reviews. I’m running 25% off and as per Etsy’s algorithm all my wears shipped for under six dollars.
If I don’t offer free shipping over $35, but do offer calculated shipping on all of my listings, will that change my visibility? I have been offering free shipping over $35 since they made that change, but would love to remove that and not have my search visibility be effected. Many of my items are under $35 individually.
Both can be very profitable! Just depends on what type of business you want to have- physical can be higher priced but also comes with trading your time for dollars (active work, not passive). Digital may be a bit more difficult to break through and get discovered but if you do, it comes with potential for passive profit which I love!
I only sell in the US (I sell US products to US customers) and now put all my listings down as free shipping .. but I am based in the UK. Do I not get the same search priority preference as sellers based in the US???
I have over 140 listings in my new Etsy shop that opened two months ago. I know it’s quite the niche but I wanna own the UFO/UAP alien apparel market. I’m catering to activists for the subject as well as casual lovers of UFO and spiritual related design designs. The shop is UAPism.
I hear you! Definitely remind them in the confirmation message that gets sent and if you deliver an instructions file or something similar, you can add some wording in about leaving a review there too!
Tbh, im not impressed w etsy, i have done everything they have said to do, yet im getting 0 views, i sell both printable and pod an i have had no traffic, no sales ect...
@KateHayes yes on all 4 platforms, to the best of my ability. It could always be my products are not good enough, but I do not believe that to be true as I do compare them to others, I also have competitively priced items. Recently I did a 75% off store wide digital an received not 1 view. So yeah I'm not sure what is going on with it.
➡️ FREE ETSY QUICKSTART GUIDE: www.kate-hayes.com/etsy-success-guide
This shipping thing is profoundly annoying. Not every product or business model is friendly to free shipping. Why should anyone be penalized for that? I prefer transparency for my customers to see exactly what they’re paying for. It feels deceitful to me to hide shipping in the product price. No judgement for people that do. I get it. It’s just my personal feeling about me doing it. And I’m more than a little po’d that Etsy punishes me for it.
I totally get that! Lots of different opinions on this. The good thing is that listings that use calculated shipping aren’t included so if free/less shipping isn’t an option, you can always use the calculated and not be hurt by the new change.
@@KateHayes Unfortunately (for me) I use a third party because I get better rates in most cases. I’m absolutely for people charging in the way that gives them the most advantage. We’re all in business to make a profit, after all.
Things like free shipping under $35 is backward for me. What I ship isn’t light or small, so for me it’s the other way around. I could offer free shipping on sales over a certain number because then I could afford to subsidize it. If I did it Etsy’s way I would eventually end up out of business on their platform. Why they can’t manage to create a solution for this, or possibly even recognize it as a problem, is disappointing.
I 100% understand where you're coming from. However, I don't see including shipping in the price as deceitful, I see it as helping the customer see exactly their cost (minus taxes). It could be seen as dishonest to advertise a shirt for $7, but then charge $10 shipping. Even if you are 100% transparent, there's always that unexpected shock of having to pay another $5-$10 to ship the product, which ends up causing customers to dump their orders. Whereas if you were to tell them upfront, the Shirt will cost $22 with no additional cost for shipping, they'd be happier.
But I wonder what they'll do for those heavy products that could cost upwards of $20 or more to ship. Sellers shouldn't be penalized. Hopefully, they can adjust this to compromise. In the end, Etsy is doing what they can to encourage sales, and FREE shipping or low-cost shipping is VERY attractive to customers trained on Amazon shopping.
I'm looking to get started im in UK and want to sell in UK but will this penalise me as in etsy will.show my shop to people in the UK?
I noticed after downloading many successful stores sales data in a Google spreadsheet that most of them do charge for shipping and are doing just fine with big profits and happy customers who don't mind paying up to $7 for shipping on a t-shirt. Stay encouraged and keep trucking along.
This is seriously the most important video I’ve watched all year! I was completely freaking out about the Etsy algorithm changes, and your explanation made it so much easier to digest. I really appreciate your clear and concise explanation, and your tips are invaluable. Thank you for helping me navigate this stressful situation!
You’re welcome friend. Glad it help!
What do you sell on Etsy?? Let me know below! 👇🏼👇🏼
Hi from South Africa. Not realy found my niche yet .been on a year but put shop on vacation during winter to collect food etc for homeless people. Sry so long ..Rodger
My niche is in witchcraft supplies like tools, runes, divination, and cute altar needs and wants; the major focus being runes and divination.
I am new in this adventure since only few weeks and I have to admit that it's not so easy. Etsy is very complex. I specially have hard time with shipping settings. Well, I am lucky I already made 2 sales of 3 items so I consider that I am lucky and one thing I focus on is to give more than expected. In fact I give a bonus with many of my items for sale because if I was the buyer, I would really appreciate that. Another thing is to ship with nice wrapping vintage style (because I sell antique papers) and cute business card. I really think it's important to be generous and you know what, I love to be generous. It fills me with joy and satifaction. My first goal is not about money but is to share my passion of old papers with others. I really hope I will have success. Thank you for this update. It was useful 😉
I agree- generosity goes a LONG way! Good for you 👏🏼 Cheering you on, friend!
@@KateHayes happy to know I am on the right path. thanks 😊
Thank you for this! I am still confused about mockup restrictions on templates or digital products. Can we or can we not use mockups to show end products for templates?
Thank you so much! 😊
Hi Kate, thank you for always sharing such helpful content. In one of your videos, you talked about personalizing items, you mentioned a company that personalizes, that also integrates with Etsy. I cannot for the life of me find that video and I cannot remember the name of the company!
How should I interpret the new picture rules for printables. Do I need to start printing everything myself take pictures, are mock-ups not advised to use for printables (not POD) anymore as the first picture? A bit confused about this
Hi Kate, I love your videos. I just have a genuine question, please don’t feel offended as that is not my intention at all. May I know approximately how much revenue you make from your own Etsy digital products shop per month? I may have missed any screenshots you shared regarding this so just thought of asking you as I am also seriously considering buying your course. Thanks!
My search visibility dashboard says I'm doing well, but my visits, and views are down 40% compared to last year. 🤷 I hope things get better on Etsy.
I am facing the same issues. 😢
Me too, this is really depressing
Hey Kate! Thanks for the update! What is the policy around using stock photos for digital prints? I'm talking putting quotes on photos from Unsplash. --Gloria
Should sellers who sell only digital products add a return policy? I don’t do print on demand. All my products are things like digital templates, and Etsy has their own no return policy for those. Just wondering if I should just restate their policy? Or would that just be redundant? Thanks!
Yes typically there are no returns for digital products. You’ll still want to make sure anywhere you can complete a return policy (even if it’s just choosing “I don’t accept returns”), you have it completed! Typically both in each individual listing and in your overall shop policy settings.
Hello There!! I sell printables and also tried selling a bunch of physical stuff!!
Awesome!! Printables are my fav 🔥
I'm just starting out selling digital products in the event niche, and I'm confused about using stock photos to display my digital designs. Are we allowed to use them?
Thank you for always sharing quality info!!!
You’re welcome!
I have over 140 listings in my new Etsy shop that opened two months ago. I know it’s quite the niche but I wanna own the UFO/UAP alien apparel market. I’m catering to activists for the subject as well as casual lovers of UFO and spiritual related design designs. For now, so that I can encourage sales and reviews. I’m running 25% off and as per Etsy’s algorithm all my wears shipped for under six dollars.
If I don’t offer free shipping over $35, but do offer calculated shipping on all of my listings, will that change my visibility? I have been offering free shipping over $35 since they made that change, but would love to remove that and not have my search visibility be effected. Many of my items are under $35 individually.
Is it more advantageous to sell digital products or physical products on an Etsy seller account?
Both can be very profitable! Just depends on what type of business you want to have- physical can be higher priced but also comes with trading your time for dollars (active work, not passive). Digital may be a bit more difficult to break through and get discovered but if you do, it comes with potential for passive profit which I love!
Thank you, Kate 🙏
You're so welcome!
I only sell in the US (I sell US products to US customers) and now put all my listings down as free shipping .. but I am based in the UK. Do I not get the same search priority preference as sellers based in the US???
I have over 140 listings in my new Etsy shop that opened two months ago. I know it’s quite the niche but I wanna own the UFO/UAP alien apparel market. I’m catering to activists for the subject as well as casual lovers of UFO and spiritual related design designs. The shop is UAPism.
I am selling digital products. My issue is I have sales, but nobody is leaving reviews.
I hear you! Definitely remind them in the confirmation message that gets sent and if you deliver an instructions file or something similar, you can add some wording in about leaving a review there too!
What does "calculated shipping" mean? I am a POD shop and my shipping costs would seem to be calculated by Prinrify.
Calculated shipping calculates the shipping cost go the customer based on the weight of the item and how far the customer is away from you.
Tbh, im not impressed w etsy, i have done everything they have said to do, yet im getting 0 views, i sell both printable and pod an i have had no traffic, no sales ect...
I know that can be frustrating! Have you been driving traffic externally at all?
@KateHayes yes on all 4 platforms, to the best of my ability. It could always be my products are not good enough, but I do not believe that to be true as I do compare them to others, I also have competitively priced items. Recently I did a 75% off store wide digital an received not 1 view. So yeah I'm not sure what is going on with it.
Same
I only want to sell digital downloads od repeat patterns and greeting cards. Is there a market for this
Yes absolutely!!
Silverman is DIRTY.
❤
Thanks for watching!!