Handy Item Listing Checklist for Sellers

daniellexo

Story by daniellexo

Published on May 30, 2008

Photo by boygirlparty

daniellexo

Dear Sellers,

Want to make sure your getting the most views for your items?  Here’s a handy checklist for you to go through before your press that big orange “finish” button on your item listing.

Step 1: Title & Description 

  • Make sure your title describes your item in both the gallery and list views!  Here’s an example of some Etsy felt moustaches.  In the first gallery view you can see that the title clearly describes the item, in the second the title is just too long, with the important info hidden!

  • Does your description tell the buyer the exact dimensions and/or size of your piece?
  • Does your description tell the buyer a bit about how you made the item and the materials you’ve used to create this item? (Hint: write in the active voice and a bit of personality — “I made this moustache by carefully observing the cutest moustaches around town and painstakingly cutting these out of felt with the sharpest scissors I have!”… instead of “These moustaches were cut out of black felt.”)
  • Are there any key pieces of information missing? Have a friend go through your descriptions from a buyer’s point of view and see what questions they have.
  • Is your listing free of spelling or grammatical errors? Spellcheck!

Step 2: Tagging Your Items

  • Use keywords (and short word phrases) that your buyers would use in Etsy’s search.  More tips on this in Putting Your Shop on Top: Etsy’s Most Relevant Search.
  • Have you used all your tags?  The more tags you use, the more likely your item will be found in a search, so use them up! Here’s an article that can help you brainstorm tags if you are stuck and another article about Guidelines & Tips that gives you specific ideas for types of tags to use.
  • Have you listed all the materials used in the Material tags area?

Step 3: Price, Quantity and Shipping 

  • Does the price you’ve set for your item cover your time and material cost?  This Art of Pricing series can help you make sure you are making money!
  • Make sure you have the correct quantity listed, remember you get charged $0.20 for each item!
  • Make sure your shipping fees cover the actual shipping cost (check with your country’s postal service website, they can usually help you figure out shipping rates). A shipping article that might help can be found here.

Step 4: Images

  • Are your photos at least 570 pixels wide?  Uploading photos up to 1000px across is a good idea — that way, when a potential buyer clicks on your photo,  they can see an enlarged version.
  • Have you used all 5 photos?
  • Do your photos show your item from all sides?
  • Do you show the item in its natural environment? (i.e a painting hung on the wall, a t-shirt on a model, etc)
  •  Is your most “clickable” photo the first one listed?

Step 5: The final look-over

  • Does this listing fit in with and/or compliment the others in your shop (think about price, color, style, branding, etc)?
  • Is it clear and does the listing represent your item as accurately as possible?
  • Does it follow Etsy’s TOU and Do’s & Don’ts?
  • Lastly, after you list the item, if you have sections inside your shop, have your filed this item in its proper section?

Hope this checklist helps get your items the attention they deserve!

If you’re a seasoned seller and have any more tips that should be included just leave them in the comments below!

Discuss: 54 comments

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54 comments

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  • Justpickedvintage

    Justpickedvintage says:

    Great article. I feel the critiques forums will soon be filled with, "Go check out this Storque article..."

    4 years ago

  • bubbletime

    bubbletime says:

    Thanks for the tips! I'm going to go over my shop with this list!

    4 years ago

  • FrucciDesign

    FrucciDesign says:

    great article Danielle!!

    4 years ago

  • BululuStudio

    BululuStudio says:

    excellent advice Danielle Thanks

    4 years ago

  • MetalheartDesign

    MetalheartDesign says:

    Great checklist! I hope this gets lots of views.

    4 years ago

  • RaeGun

    RaeGun says:

    great checklist thanks

    4 years ago

  • SafetyThird

    SafetyThird says:

    great tips! Caveat, tho -- I'll add that maybe as many as 15% of Etsy buyers DON'T like seeing their article of clothing on a live model...it's very personal with them. Many threads on that subect. So the seller might want to say "sample". Of course, with OOAK designs that's not possible. And it's "complement". Compliment was my first sentence.

    4 years ago

  • NestaHome

    NestaHome says:

    Great Tips! Thanks Danielle!

    4 years ago

  • janicej

    janicej says:

    Very useful article. Thanks!

    4 years ago

  • XOHandworks

    XOHandworks says:

    some of the listings above don't follow the 1st suggestion about the title, but I bet people are clicking on them to find out what they are :)

    4 years ago

  • VanessaAdmin

    Vanessa says:

    that's true, but sometimes photos do show the whole item. I think it's more important to have the title be explanatory when your photos are cropped-in or don't show the whole form in an obvious way.

    4 years ago

  • Dianalyndesigns

    Dianalyndesigns says:

    Enjoyed this article. I will critic my shop using the guide. Thanks!!

    4 years ago

  • Xenotees

    Xenotees says:

    Helpful & thorough article, thanks!

    4 years ago

  • Thinkoutsidethebox

    Thinkoutsidethebox says:

    I think it extremely important for sellers, especially new ones making the transition from that other 'e' site, to realize and remember that their item's title should be brief and to the point. Because of how a search is done on that other site, sellers have become so accustomed to putting as many 'search' words into their titles. You will find a lot of crazy titles with insane descriptive words not even relevant to the item for sale. This can be a big turn off for some. Maybe in the future etsy will create a word limit for a seller's title? Just a thought...

    4 years ago

  • JJMFinance

    JJMFinance says:

    Nice list! I had never thought about the title being read in both list and gallery view.

    4 years ago

  • beta

    beta says:

    Great info, just downloaded the PDF, thanks. I'm taking Etsy more seriously this year and really appreciate the time Etsians have taken to post and cover such articles.

    4 years ago

  • enhabiten

    enhabiten says:

    great article daniellexo! everything in a nutshell. i see some areas i need to improve so will use your article as i do. THANKS!!

    4 years ago

  • raggedycats

    raggedycats says:

    Thanks for the advice

    4 years ago

  • Medley123

    Medley123 says:

    Thanks for the info. Will definitely use the list. :)

    4 years ago

  • nanouke

    nanouke says:

    This is great info, thank you!

    4 years ago

  • quietlifedesign

    quietlifedesign says:

    thanks so much - i'm realizing that i have to treat this as i would my "real" business . . . sales don't just appear - it takes work and attention. it is a lot of fun, though!

    4 years ago

  • iysta

    iysta says:

    Thank you for the useful information. I am in the process of branding my shop...getting there...slowly but surely - this article was helpful.

    4 years ago

  • tiram13

    tiram13 says:

    as a new seller this information is great - i forget to do some of these things!

    4 years ago

  • irecycle

    irecycle says:

    I love how easy etsy is. And now you are making it even easier for a crafter to become a business woman ( or man). Thanks so much.

    4 years ago

  • thewindfarm

    thewindfarm says:

    One trick I try to remember is to count out the first 19 letter spaces in my title and make sure the ........ don't come in the middle of an awkward word. Like: butt......... er colored yarn; or something like that. Make sure your title will still make sense after it is cropped by the computer. Thanks for the checklist.

    4 years ago

  • Laughingdogstudio

    Laughingdogstudio says:

    Useful check list and guide, thank you!

    3 years ago

  • idreamicanfly

    idreamicanfly says:

    How about this one: Does your photo still look good and make sense visually when it's cropped to a rectangle in search and on your main shop page? I reactivate items I've de-listed (found under "Inactive listings") and use them as a test bed by changing them into my new listings. I call this a "soft launch". It allows me to set up my new listings, look at how they crop, and see how they fit into my shop before I add them as new items. This prevents that nasty moment when you realize that you have to edit a newly listed piece, and during that magic minute or two while your piece is on the front page, browsing customers are seeing a blank square and "Unknown item" header instead of a photo of your fabulous new piece...

    3 years ago

  • pisceschar

    pisceschar says:

    idreamicanfly --Yikes! I had never thought about that before! I *always* find something to edit right after listing! Thanks for the tip!

    3 years ago

  • sarita1331

    sarita1331 says:

    Great tips thanks a lot

    3 years ago

  • AtelierRosemary

    AtelierRosemary says:

    This is great Danielle, it really heaps! Thank you!

    3 years ago

  • NewHopeBeads

    NewHopeBeads says:

    Wonderful tips, especially for a new commer, comer, coumer...now, where is spellcheck? (really, I've not found it when writting my descriptons.

    3 years ago

  • savoystudio

    savoystudio says:

    Thanks for the great article! Having a copy of the list to double check my future listings will be very helpful.

    3 years ago

  • theBeadAerie

    theBeadAerie says:

    Such an informative article, Danielle! I might add that I've read threads by international buyers requesting that dimensions be listed in metric as well. Now I always convert inches to centimeters (and list both) so that the rest of the world can visualize the item.

    3 years ago

  • knittingmette

    knittingmette says:

    great to see all tips in a list! in a checking-list! ;-)) thx Sanielle!

    3 years ago

  • lovenatalie

    lovenatalie says:

    Awesome checklist. Question??? I sell some handbags in my store. When you said photograph them in a natural environment, should I be photographing them on a model? I have them in more scenic shots because I live away from friends who could be my models. What do you think?

    3 years ago

  • infraredstudio

    infraredstudio says:

    Not only are tags important for your etsy shop, it's also helpful when people are search google for items. The more you use tags the more optimized & globably prepared your are within the virtual web world.

    3 years ago

  • SupernovaDesigns

    SupernovaDesigns says:

    i really dislike the suggestion to use up all 14 tags. sometimes you don't need 14 and grasping at straws to use them all often leads to inaccurate or irrelevant tags.

    3 years ago

  • bluestarbutterflies

    bluestarbutterflies says:

    I love etsy!

    3 years ago

  • bluestarbutterflies

    bluestarbutterflies says:

    LOL at the double post. I guess I REALLY love Etsy! : P

    3 years ago

  • foxette

    foxette says:

    Great checklist and instruction to know before setting up shop, which we are in the process of. Danielle, thanks so much.

    3 years ago

  • bugbitesplayfood

    bugbitesplayfood says:

    This is a great article! Very helpful & a good reminder! It will be used often.

    3 years ago

  • MerCurios

    MerCurios says:

    Awesome article. I now need to rethink my process of tagging and with that drive traffic to my shoppe.

    3 years ago

  • karmajewelry

    karmajewelry says:

    This is incredibly useful for a newbie!!

    3 years ago

  • pmpekar

    pmpekar says:

    Very helpful thank you so much!

    3 years ago

  • PurpleBears

    PurpleBears says:

    Thanks for the printable checklist - it's just perfect. I'm about to take my first pictures for my first listings. Also thanks to others who added their tips/thoughts.

    3 years ago

  • magicmuse

    magicmuse says:

    Thank you! Especially loved that we could print out the list. I just took my first set of photos of my pieces that I want to start my seller's shop with and am now trying to focus on the write-up for each...how to be creative and informative AND make it as functional and accessible at the same time?! I can keep my printout next to me so I don't forget any of the key criteria for each piece. Very Helpful!

    3 years ago

  • ShabbyNChic

    ShabbyNChic says:

    A great checklist! I especially like the idea about checking your title wording. Thanks!

    3 years ago

  • SarikArt

    SarikArt says:

    I got the impression I was getting it all right, but at the end of the day, a checklist like the one you have done is great! Im gonna keep it in my Etsy Info Book. Thank you danielle!

    3 years ago

  • visualcreatures

    visualcreatures says:

    Great tips!

    2 years ago

  • LavenderField

    LavenderField says:

    Very useful and precise tips. Thank you Danielle!

    2 years ago

  • GemdropsoftheFalls

    GemdropsoftheFalls says:

    Thank you so much for the checklist! We are going through our shop again to make descriptions more specific so the buyer feels like he or she is holding the item. We're competing against shopping in person so we're stepping it up in our shop. :)

    2 years ago

  • sevenpoppies

    sevenpoppies says:

    thank you so much for the helpful tips. I'll be scanning through my shop to do a bit of touching up with these in mind!

    2 years ago

  • tinycloud

    tinycloud says:

    Great tips. I have a lot of fine tuning to do. Thank you!

    2 years ago

  • Susanscraftcorner

    Susanscraftcorner says:

    I really got alot from this article. Thanks so much!

    1 year ago