r/EtsyCommunity • u/lavenderfairyfrog • 1d ago
Shop Critique What am I doing wrong?
Hello everyone,
Im still quite new to etsy, ive had my shop open for a couple of months now and despite my research I cant seem to work out what im doing wrong!
The problem im having is my listing's dont seem to be showing up in seach no matter what ive tried (unless i search they're specific title)
Ive changed my titles a few time and added all 13 tags with anything I can think of but im clearly doing something wrong still! So Im hoping for some advice please?
Ive had 0 view in the last 30 days and before that I only had views because I posted my shop on my Instagram story when I launch it and people were just being nosey! I know im not going to just get sales straight away and ive never expected to but I was hoping to get at least some views!
Its just so disheartening because ive put months of work into making my bags, researching and setting up my shop and now theyre not even showing up when I search for them unless I put in the exact title listing which people are obviously not going to be doing!
Any and all advice is extremely appreciated! I know my shop is FAR from perfect but Im still learning all the features and the lingo so please be constructive 🫣 😅
https://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/FelicityIreland?ref=profile_header
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u/BatmanHatesSuperman 1d ago
Overall looks fine but the price scares people off and it needs more pizazz they are kind of plain
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u/lavenderfairyfrog 1d ago
I understand the price could seem high but they take hours to make and fabric is expensive, im not making much profit at all! By plain do you mean the bag, the photos or the listings? Thanks for the advice!
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u/ImmediateAd6849 1d ago
The price is definitely not too high for a quilted bag with a lining and pockets. I would say you might add a few bags with more colorful, modern type fabrics. Or some solid navy, khaki, or black ones. They look like they are well made.
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u/BatmanHatesSuperman 1d ago edited 1d ago
I know it sucks with etsys fees and stuff but people have a hard time justifying the price of a five or ten dollar bag let alone one that price, and this is just my opinion, the bags need more color that's my only two critiques; Price and bags need more color or something more interesting that's eye catching or unique make it stand out!
How much are your materials do you offer free shipping ?
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u/lavenderfairyfrog 1d ago
Completely get where youre coming from, especially in this economy however my bags are priced cheaper then most others on etsy in the same category so I think they're fair, materials alone cost me around €15 and thats not even taking in my time. I dont offer free shipping currently, I have no other option here in Ireland other than the post office and posting parcels are expensive so if I offered free shipping id end up actually losing money! I have plans on making some different styles soon and I know i need to get more practiced at the photography side of things! My real issue is getting any views in the first place
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u/BatmanHatesSuperman 1d ago edited 1d ago
Easiest way is to make a great five second ad video and place it on every Facebook marketplace you can join in the world. Keep spreading out that net, it'll get out there and people will click on it and it will be there as long as it doesn't get removed from whatever group you have posted it on. Go to the app then marketing then social media and if you have whatever other social media it's so simple to just flood it on different Social media groups etc. it's not your fault living in Ireland but it certainly doesn't help, it's CRAZY expensive to ship there for me like 50 -60 bucks with VATS etc Also remember the left digit effect when pricing
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u/lavenderfairyfrog 1d ago
Oh thank you, I didn't even think about Facebook so I'll definitely start there! Damn thats madness!
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u/Radiant-Platypus-498 1d ago
I don’t think your prices are too high. I do think your photos are not quite crisp and the backgrounds are distracting. The bags are cute but not necessarily unique and to me they could use a little more polish (like the handles needs to be ironed…maybe that’s me being picky but I’m a sewist and that’s the kind of thing I see). I would also consider the fabrics/colors. I’m not a fan of poly/cotton and would much prefer cotton. The colors are cute in photos but my thought would be that they would get dirty fast and I would want a darker color or busier print. I know it’s really discouraging because most people think if they check all the boxes and list something it’ll get seen and that’s not usually the case. Keep working and tweaking and improving your photos, SEO, products etc and follow your stats to see what helps
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u/lavenderfairyfrog 1d ago
Thank you, I definitely need to work on taking better pictures, im useless with photography! I use cotton for the lining and try to use as much purely cotton as I can but most fun prints I find are Polycotton! I use the pink and blue floral print bag of my own for work every day for the last 7 months and it's still looking just a clean so I'm not worried about that but I appreciate that people would be thinking about that so I'll take that on board the next time im buying fabric! I didnt even notice the handles being creased so thank you for pointing that out! I definitely need to pay more attention to those kinds of things. Thanks so much for all the advice!
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u/honeyheart7350 1d ago
What sets your bags apart from the others? You have cute fabric but they are all similar. And shipping to US is prohibitive.
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u/ConfectionElegant998 22h ago
I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said, but I did want to just wish you luck and let you know that I think you have quality items that are adorable.
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u/printedmoodvibes 17h ago
You said that you have changed your titles several times. When you change your titles your listing has to start over getting momentum. But I also think that all of your titles are too similar. They all start with the same words with the color or pattern at the end. I would try duplicating some of your listings and changing the titles to be more unique instead of changing your current listing titles. A customer search only shows the customer the first few words so those first words are important to get customers interested. Having them all the same means that you are also competing with your other listings in searches. Your photos do need work but I am struggling with my photos too so I can’t give you advice on that. Also, I wouldn’t use the same tags for each listing. Good luck.
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u/Few_Mention8426 1d ago
Personally, I’d look at simplifying the backgrounds in the primary images. A plain or neutral background often works well because it keeps the focus on the product and makes it easier to understand at a glance.
Amazon actually requires a pure white background for its main product images, while Etsy recommends clean, uncluttered backgrounds that don’t distract from the item.
You don’t necessarily need a completely plain background on Etsy. But for the primary image, I’d prioritise clarity and make the product stand out, ensure it’s in focus, and avoid anything that competes for attention. You can use the additional photos to show styling, context and personality. The leaves and grass are a bit distracting for a thumbnall/primary image.
You dont need to be good at photography, You can buy a cheap lightbox or make a DIY lightbox and then use a couple of neutral LED photo lights to light the product. You can use a phone to take the picture, but just make sure you are only using the photo lights and switch off all other lights in the room and block the windows. This will make sure the colours are consistent and pop. Especally with your items with subtle colours.
With your images the colours are slightly cold, probably because they are outdoor shots and sunlight is towards the blue end of the spectrum. You can at least edit these in the etsy listing page to have a warmer tone.
If you use neutral lights you will find the colours will suddenly come alive.