There can be any number of reasons why your Etsy shop might be experiencing a sudden drop in visitors or sales. But for a small business owner, it can be a frustrating and worrying time. The good news is that there are things you can do to boost your Etsy sales.
Why have my Etsy sales dropped?
Increased competition
Etsy continues to be an extremely popular and active online marketplace. It grows on a daily basis – for both visitors and active sellers. If more sellers are joining the platform, you are going to face more competition. Increased competition can mean a drop in sales, especially if your items don’t have a unique selling point (USP).
It’s wise to do some competitor research and keep an eye on how they are performing in comparison to you. Think of ways to stay ahead of your competition – can you offer visitors something more creative?
Change of trends
It’s inevitable that trends will change over time. If your recent bestseller has been something on-trend or topical, you are bound to notice a sudden drop in sales once its time in the spotlight has passed.
Platform changes
Etsy makes changes to its platform quite regularly and expects its sellers to know about these updates. If you don’t keep informed about Etsy’s plans, you might find yourself lagging behind in sales compared to your competitors. You must pay attention to any updates, as even minor changes can negatively affect your sales figures.
Change in purchase behaviour
Shoppers have certain behaviours during different seasons and parts of the year. If you primarily sell Christmas-themed products, they are unlikely to sell well in March, for example. Compare your shop’s sales with the same time last year and you might notice that your sales haven’t actually dropped and are similar to last year’s figures.
Bad reviews
Bad reviews on Etsy can break your shop’s success. If you notice a sudden drop in sales, look at your recent reviews – are there any fewer than four stars? If so, that could be the reason that visitors are choosing not to spend with you.
6 practical things to try when your Etsy sales suddenly drop
1. Make sure your listings are 💯
We say this a lot in our Etsy advice articles but if your product listing pages aren’t perfect, you’re not going to get the most from your Etsy shop. If you want your products to be found in Etsy search (and you do!), the quality of each listing is very important.
If your listings need some improvement, consider:
- The listing description – Does it say exactly what you’re selling? And does it include all the relevant keywords? Learning about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is a vital part of running an Etsy shop, as you can track which keywords are generating the most traffic to your listings. Delete and replace any keywords that are not generating traffic.
- The listing images – High-quality photos are key to increasing your Etsy sales. For a shopper to click on your listings, you will need a photo that is inviting. Aim for bright images which showcase your products and experiment with different backgrounds to see which one makes your products ‘pop’.
- The listing tags – Are you making full use of the listing tags option available on Etsy? Make sure that the tags you are using are relevant to your product and reflect exactly what shoppers are searching for on Etsy.
2. Create and add new products for all seasons
To keep visitors coming to your store, you will need to offer them products that are relevant to the time of year. As their shopping behaviour changes (from autumn to winter, for example), offer them something that is useful for the here and now. Design and create new products ahead of the next season, to ensure you are ahead of the competition.
Once you have designed and created your new products, get them listed ASAP on your Etsy store!
3. Follow trends
Unless you have a USP, you may need to start following trends more closely in an effort to increase your sales. Review social media to see what people are talking about, such as what’s trending on Twitter and Instagram, for example. Once you know which trends have people’s attention, you can try creating a product that matches.
4. Run a sale or promotion
During slower periods, you can consider offering an extra incentive to shoppers to purchase your products. But only do this if your budget allows – you have worked hard to create your products and build your Etsy store, so only opt for a sale if it’s the right thing to do for your business.
If you’d like to go ahead with a sale, you can use Etsy’s Sales and Coupons tool to create a sale or create a coupon code. Set your sale for a limited time only and make sure it is enticing enough for new visitors – 15-20% off is a recommended discount percentage.
5. Run Etsy Ads
We know a lot of Etsy sellers wonder whether Etsy Ads are worth it – if you’ve done your research and have the budget to set ads, in our experience, they can be.
To set up your ads, simply click the ‘Marketing’ tab in Shop Manager and choose ‘Etsy Ads’. Ads can be a great way to build momentum for your business and increase your sales. In using Etsy Ads, your products will also be featured in Google Shopping Ads, which gives you a greater chance of growing your reach by appearing for shoppers browsing on Google.
6. Be active on social media and Etsy forums
Social media is a great way to promote your shop and engage with customers for free. If you’re new to Etsy and aren’t sure what you need to do to improve your shop, there are plenty of Etsy community forums to join, allowing you to ask your fellow sellers for advice.
The bottom line? Keep trying!
If your Etsy sales have slowed down or dropped suddenly, this selection of tips could help get you back on track. As a growing e-commerce business, you need to be willing to experiment and, most importantly, try new things, until you find the right approach for you and the direction of your business. Stay focused on what you’re hoping to achieve and your Etsy sales will be on the rise soon 📈