Listing Art On Etsy: A Guide For Painters

If you're looking to sell a painting on Etsy, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, Etsy charges a listing fee of $0.20 per item, a transaction fee of 6.5% on the sale price, and a payment processing fee that varies by country. You'll need to decide on a shop name and set up payment and billing methods. When listing your painting, use keywords and tags to help buyers discover your product, and provide detailed descriptions to answer any questions customers may have. To stand out, build a strong brand and promote your shop on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Research your competitors and tailor your offerings to a specific target audience to fill a gap in the market. Finally, consider using Etsy Ads to boost your listings, but be mindful of the associated costs.

Choosing a shop name and setting up payment methods

Choosing a name for your Etsy shop is an important step in building your brand. A good shop name should be easy for people to understand and memorable. It can be beneficial to choose a name that gives customers an idea of what you are selling and the style of your shop. For example, if you sell bulbs, you could call your shop "Just Bulbs". This is practical and can also benefit you from an SEO perspective.

On the other hand, some people prefer to choose abstract names for their shops, which can be great for originality and SEO. However, this can make it harder for customers to understand what you do. An example of an abstract name is "TataSol", an Etsy shop that sells embroidery kits.

You can find inspiration for your shop name by looking at other businesses, both on Etsy and elsewhere, and identifying what you like and don't like about their names. You can also look at words in other languages, or combine two words to create a new word. It's important to make sure that your chosen name is not too similar to existing businesses, especially if you plan on having a website, as registering a domain for an unoriginal business name can be challenging.

Once you have chosen a name, you can set up your payment methods. Etsy Payments is the platform's payment method, and you can manage your shop finances in the Payment account in Shop Manager. You can update your bank details in your Payment settings, and you may need to verify your bank account before you can receive any funds from your sales. If you are located outside the US, your bank account details must be added within 30 days of your first sale, and you must verify your bank details within 60 days or your shop will be suspended. You can also update the credit or debit card you have on file by going to Shop Manager, then Finances, then Payment settings, and selecting Billing.

If you are a new seller, your funds will generally be available for deposit 14-20 days after a sale, although this may take longer depending on the specific standing of your shop. There may also be a 5-day security hold for adding or updating your bank details, and a Payment account reserve may be placed on a portion of sellers' accounts, meaning a percentage of funds from sales is set aside on a rolling basis for up to 45 days.

Understanding Etsy fees

Etsy charges sellers for using some of its services. These fees are outlined in Etsy's Fees & Payments Policy, which is part of its Terms of Use. Here is a breakdown of the fees you may encounter when listing a painting for sale on Etsy:

Set-up Fee

When opening an Etsy shop, you may be required to pay a one-time set-up fee. This fee is typically $15 USD or its equivalent in your local currency. It is non-refundable and may be adjusted or changed at Etsy's discretion. In certain circumstances or promotional periods, Etsy may waive this fee.

Listing Fee

Etsy charges a listing fee of $0.20 USD for each item you list for sale on its platform. This fee applies whether you list on Etsy.com or its mobile apps. For items already listed on your Etsy shop, there are no additional listing fees to list them on your Pattern site. Listings that are only available on your Pattern site do not incur a listing fee. You will be charged a listing fee for creating or renewing a listing, but there is no fee for editing a listing. The listing fee is charged whether or not the item sells, unless it is a private listing, in which case, the fee is only charged when the item is sold. Etsy listings expire after four months, but Pattern-only listings do not expire.

Transaction Fee

When you make a sale through Etsy.com, you will be charged a transaction fee of 6.5% of the price displayed for each listing, including shipping costs and gift wrapping. This fee is Etsy's commission on your sales.

Payment Processing Fee

This fee varies by country. In the US, it is typically 3% plus $0.25 of the total transaction amount. It is calculated based on the total amount paid by the buyer, including any taxes.

Offsite Ads Fee

If you choose to use offsite ads to promote your listings, you will be charged a fee of 12-15% for each sale made through these ads. This fee is based on your store's annual sales.

It is important to note that all service fees, including prepaid fees, are non-refundable. These fees will be automatically deducted from your sales proceeds, and you can view the breakdown of these fees in your Payment account.

Using SEO and Etsy Ads to increase visibility

Etsy SEO is a set of techniques to improve your store and product ranking on the Etsy platform and external search engines. Etsy has an excellent PageRank on Google and other search engines, which means you can intercept even more users.

To improve your SEO, you should:

• Include multiple product images that showcase variations and different uses. Etsy recommends images with 72PPI resolution and 2000px on the shortest side.
• Provide descriptive alt text for each image. This helps Google better understand your image content and boosts visibility in image-based searches.
• Add a video to your listing. Videos are more accurate than still images and show customers you care about transparency.
• Complete the About section of your store. This helps to build trust with customers and improves your SEO.
• Have clear shop policies. This impacts your ranking and increases customer trust.
• Use keywords in your product titles and descriptions. Think about what your ideal customer would search for and use the Etsy search bar to research popular terms.
• Use punctuation or special characters to separate phrases or keywords in your title. Keep it concise and informative, with a maximum length of 140 characters.
• Add up to 13 tags for each listing, using popular and descriptive keywords.

You can also use Etsy Ads to boost your listings within search results, market pages, and product categories. You can set a budget and choose which listings to promote. Onsite ads are charged per click, while offsite ads are charged per purchase at a rate of 12-15% depending on your store's annual sales.

Finally, you can increase traffic and engagement by promoting your Etsy store on social media platforms and linking back to your Etsy store from your social media profiles.

Creating effective listings with keywords and tags

When creating listings for your paintings on Etsy, there are a few key things to keep in mind to make sure they are effective and reach the right audience. Firstly, it is important to familiarise yourself with Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This will help your paintings appear in potential customers' search results.

When creating your listings, you should incorporate keywords and tags. You can add up to 13 tags for each listing, so make sure to use descriptive and popular keywords that your target audience is likely to search for. For example, if your painting is a watercolour landscape, you could use tags such as "panoramic landscape", "watercolour wall art", and "large watercolour painting". It is also beneficial to vary your keywords to hint at the painting's material, size, technique, subject, and use, such as "rustic interior" or "dark green painting".

To generate a list of effective keywords, put yourself in the shoes of your potential customers and think about what they would type into the search bar to find your painting. You can also use Etsy's search bar to research popular terms that shoppers are searching for on the site. Write down the relevant terms that appear in the auto-suggested list and add them to your listings. Additionally, make sure to use Etsy's suggested tags, as these are common items that people look for on the site. For instance, if you are selling a kitchen towel with a painting on it, use the tag "towel" instead of creating your own tag such as "kitchen towel".

It is also important to differentiate your offerings and bring new work to the table. Research your competitors and adjust your listings to ensure you are competitively priced. If you believe your paintings are superior, explain the difference in your product descriptions.

Finally, don't forget to fine-tune the thumbnail photos for each of your listings. Photographs of your paintings should be clear and readable even when reduced to a small size.

Promoting your store on social media

Promoting your Etsy store on social media is a powerful way to market your shop and attract more shoppers. You can use social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to generate interest in your brand, build a loyal customer base, and increase sales. Here are some tips to help you promote your store on social media:

Choose the right platforms:

Select the social media platforms that align with your target audience and brand. For example, Instagram and Pinterest are visually-focused platforms perfect for showcasing your paintings. Facebook and Twitter are excellent for sharing updates, product announcements, and interacting with customers.

Create engaging content:

Share visually appealing and engaging content that showcases your paintings and reflects your brand. Post behind-the-scenes content, work-in-progress photos, and creative processes to give followers an insight into your artistic journey. You can also create shareable content with broad appeal, such as DIY tutorials or art tips, to attract a wider audience.

Use hashtags and keywords:

Utilize hashtags and keywords relevant to your paintings and art niche. For example, you can use hashtags like #painting, #art, or specific ones like #watercolor or #abstractart. These will help your content become more discoverable and reach a wider audience.

Share updates and promotions:

Keep your followers informed about the latest listings, promotions, and milestones. You can offer coupon codes or discounts to encourage purchases and retain customer loyalty. Use call-to-action phrases like "Shop now" or "Save 10% with code ART10."

Be consistent and strategic:

Consistency is key when it comes to social media. Create a content calendar and post regularly to keep your followers engaged. Use scheduling tools to plan and publish content in advance, saving you time and effort. Strategize by researching your competitors and learning from their successful campaigns.

Engage with your audience:

Respond to comments and messages from your followers to build relationships and foster a community. Social media platforms allow for instant conversations, so take advantage of this to provide excellent customer service and increase customer satisfaction.

Collaborate and cross-promote:

Collaborate with complementary brands or artists to cross-promote each other's work. You can also share user-generated content by inviting customers to share photos of their purchases, using a specific hashtag you create. This will help expand your reach and build a stronger online presence.

Remember to include links to your social media channels on your Etsy shop, business cards, and other marketing materials to make it easy for customers to find and follow you.

Frequently asked questions