No one was more surprised then I when my little shop littleputbooks.etsy.com took off like a rocket in December of 2006. I have run this struggling little craft business since 2002 with very little recognition and even less wage. I was and still am unprepared for the success I have found with Etsy. It has been an interesting ride, trying to be an artist and run a business all at once. I'm still stumbling along and learning a lot along the way.

I can’t explain my success or tell you the magic formula. There was luck involved. Imagination, creativity, a good camera, a strong sense of cute, good timing and a lot of trial and error played a big part, too. When I first started using Etsy, I was so enamored with the site that I set out to make and create new products just to impress the other sellers. Every little heart and every treasury star was encouragement that fueled my creativity and my desire for visibility. Each sale still feels like its own mini success. I list frequently, try new ideas often, post in the forums (Hi forums!), renew to stay visible and work hard on improving my photos. The more I work at it, the more I seem to be rewarded, which inspires me to work even more. All top sellers put in many, many hours. It isn't easy, but it's an amazing way to earn a living.

There are basic ideas that apply to anyone who wants to make a living as a craft artist and as an Etsy seller. I've made a lot of foolish items in the past five years, and I must say selling starts with a good product — and even better, a unique product. New and well-executed ideas stand out: they get you into treasuries, attract hearts and can even land you on the front page. If you are not sure about your talents, take classes of interest and really hone your skills. If you aren't sure about your products, hit the art markets in your area. Selling in the real world is a great way to test market your imagination and craft-abilities. After four years of selling paper in the rain at Portland's Saturday market, I can tell you what sells well and what I should never make again.

Because Etsy is an online venue, you need to take interesting, good quality photos of your work. Your photos should be the focus of your listings; your work should speak through them. Words are good for adding character, giving dimension, material and pertinent information. Long, wordy listings are not a good way make up for lack of pictures. It is hard to convince people to buy poorly photographed work, even if you write a lot.

Additionally, you need to find a good price for your item and a fair rate for shipping. Your price can make or break the sale. A lot of Etsy artists price their work too low, undervaluing their product: cheap does not equal quality. If your price is too high, your work will be coveted, but rarely owned. When I am thinking of price increases I poll the forums. Etsy users are honest, helpful and capable of giving experienced and unbiased opinions.

Lastly, make the right impression with your customers. If something breaks, gets lost or just isn’t right, do all you can to fix it. Even if the transaction is flawless, don’t forget to say thank you. Your customer is your biggest asset: the fact that they chose your work out of the billions of retail options is something to be recognized, respected and treated with gratitude.

Ultimately, Etsy is an art unto itself. This site's designers approached it as an artist making a piece. It is limitless and continually being re-invented for the better of all. Etsy's tools, workshops and search functions are an amazing source of inspiration and an incredible way to showcase your work. This site is built to reward the artist; if you have interesting, unique, colorful, playful or beautiful products, people will notice. They will share it with others and drive traffic to your shop. I cherish this about Etsy and find myself challenged to come up with new ideas all the time. I am incredibly thankful that Rob, Chris, Jared and Haim (and everyone else on the About Page) created this venue. Here, artists and crafters can put their imaginations to the test and be rewarded for it, and that is something worth mailing pie for :O)

I have a top ten list of selling tips on my blog www.littleput.blogspot.com, and to all those in or near New York on October 25th please come to my marketing workshop at the Etsy Labs or just stop by and say hi. If you’re in the Portland, Oregon area, please check the teams forum for weekly teas and skill shares. Come on by!

Ryan aka Littleput Books