If you notice that your Etsy sales are down, there are several things that you can do to get them back up.
We’ll first take a closer look at the possible causes of the drop in Etsy sales, but more importantly, we’ll also go over a couple of solutions.
Let’s cut to the chase and begin with the causes.
1. High Competition
Etsy is a platform that’s still actively growing. We’re not only talking about the number of visitors, but we’re also referring to a steady increase in the number of active sellers. That’s one of the primary reasons why your sales may have dropped.
It’s necessary to stay vigilant and think of ways in which you can outperform your competition. If you believe that just because you’re on Etsy for years, you’re safe, you’re wrong.
The platform’s constantly changing, and the best thing to do is get more creative to stay ahead of everyone else.
2. Oscillating Trends
Remember that if you’re selling a trendy product, you’ll notice a sharp drop in sales at one point. We all remember the fidget spinner craze from a couple of years ago, but when have you last heard about them recently.
That’s why it’s also a good idea to follow your growth pace. If it’s rapid, it might be that your products are a part of the current trend.
Once you’re aware of that, you can prepare for the oncoming drop in sales.
3. Platform Changes
Being a part of a huge platform such as Etsy requires a high degree of involvement. It’s necessary to follow updates about the platform’s policies, news, and plans. That way, you can adapt to any new changes or feature implementations.
For example, after the free shipping availability change, trying it out was a great way to see how your store would perform.
But those who didn’t want to experiment were taking a bigger risk, as the platform preferred ranking listings that visitors were likelier to click, and those were the free shipping ones.
Therefore, pay close attention to any updates, primarily if related to crucial things such as Etsy search. Any minor changes might negatively affect your ranking positions.
4. Purchase Behavior Shifts
Besides the shopping trends, there’s more to consider. Specific behavior shifts are standard in the eCommerce industry. That primarily means that people have certain behaviors during different parts of the year.
For example, if you’re selling a product that’s more likely to sell in the wintertime, you can’t expect to have high sales during the summer. That’s what it’s always a good idea to take a look at your last year’s sales figures for the same period.
You can confirm a drop in sales only after you’ve compared your store’s sales with last year’s numbers.
5. Bad Reviews
While getting positive reviews can help you grow your store, negative ones will do the opposite. If you notice a drop in sales, check out your reviews. If you have a couple of bad ones, it’ll make the buyer think twice before ordering something from you.
Try to make improvements with your store, so all the future reviews are positive ones.
What Can You Do About It?
If you notice that your Etsy sales figures are dropping, worry not! You can take several steps to counter the drop and build up your sales figures again.
We have a couple of Etsy tips in mind:
1. Create Impeccable Listings
Take another look at your listings. Consider making some changes to improve their ranking. There are several essential things to consider:
- Listing description - Check whether your description is to the point. Does it include some keywords? You want it to portray the item the seller’s getting in great detail. On top of that, including the right keywords will help you rank your listing outside of Etsy.
- Listing images - Level up your photography game. It’s one of the top ways to get your conversion rates up. People prefer clicking high-quality product images.
- Listing tags - Pay attention to the tags you’re using. Make sure that they’re targeting the visitor’s search intent. You can use Alura to make sure that the correct tags are in your listing. Additionally, it’ll help you better optimize all your listings.
Ensuring that these three things are optimal will help you better rank your listings.
2. Start Following Trends
Remember that the eCommerce industry is like a live organism. Trends change all the time. That’s why you have to put more effort into following trends.
Use various platforms to see what people are talking about and what’s trending. If you’re selling clothes, you need to follow multiple fashion magazines to see what’s currently popular.
An excellent way to do this is to visit websites such as Pinterest and Instagram. Explore what everyone’s talking about and try adding a product that goes along with a current trend.
3. Get Up to Date with Platform Changes
As someone who relies on Etsy’s platform, it’s your responsibility to stay in touch with all the news about it. Luckily, all you have to do is regularly visit the Etsy News Blog. Alternatively, you can join our newsletter and get the most important announcements there.
On top of that, regularly following the news will also help you keep up with the latest trends on Etsy.
4. Pick up Your Advertising Game
Are you giving your best when it comes to your marketing efforts? Consider doing the following:
Taking this route will help you get your products in front of the eyes of a much higher number of people. With the right approach, you’ll notice an increase in sales.
5. Consult Other Sellers
You might get the best advice from your colleagues, other sellers. Pay a visit to our seller interview page and see stories of other successful sellers on the platform. You can always ask a question and see other peoples’ experiences with the same situation.
Kim has had an amazing journey on Etsy, building one of the most popular Home & Living stores on Etsy and generating more than 49.000 sales! Read the full interview here.
Use Alura to Get Back on Track
If you want to stay competitive and always list thoroughly optimized Etsy listings, Alura is the perfect tool to achieve that goal. If you need help exploring all the Etsy tool features, feel free to reach out to us.
We look forward to hearing from you!
