7 Ways to think like a buyer and learn how to boost your Etsy shop

As an LHS member, if you’re wondering how to boost your Etsy shop, you should think like a buyer. To answer the question, “How can I make my Etsy shop grow faster?” consider what frustrates or confuses buyers and what buys like. Then, take action and update your Etsy shop accordingly.

In this post, I share various ways to improve your Etsy business by leveraging buyer questions and feedback. These simple adjustments can make a big difference in your Etsy shop’s success. They can help you drive more sales and traffic and increase your revenue.

Take a look at the tips I share below and learn how to improve your Etsy shop.

Update your Etsy listings based on customer feedback

Using customer feedback to update your Etsy listings improves your shop’s performance and enhances customer satisfaction. It helps improve the customer experience. It boosts your shop’s reputation. Plus, it can lead to increased sales and customer loyalty. If you want to learn how to boost your Etsy listing, paying attention to customer feedback is a great strategy.

Feedback can highlight areas where your product listings or photos may be lacking. Updating these reduces misunderstandings. Plus, it ensures customers know exactly what they’re buying. When you meet customers’ expectations, customers are more likely to leave positive reviews and buy more in the future.

For example, in one of my Etsy shops, I have gotten multiple questions about what the backside of my mugs look like. Customers want to know if the design is printed on both sides or not.

A quick update based on this feedback would be to add another image to my mug listings showing the backside. That way, customers can see upfront what the backside looks like. Then, they don’t have to send a message and I don’t have to create a reply. This saves us both time and energy. Plus, it removes a point of friction that could prevent customers from buying.

Rewrite your product descriptions based on common customer misunderstandings

Sometimes, you may think your product descriptions are crystal clear and make perfect sense. However, customers may view your descriptions differently. Some things may confuse them. Plus, you should be aware that many customers don’t have a lot of time and may not read everything you write. Therefore, you should also pay attention to how you structure the information in your descriptions.

In my Etsy printables shop, customers would often misunderstand that the printables are not editable; one of my assistants handles the customization. So I would frequently get messages from customers asking why they can’t edit the printables themselves even though I specified the process in my descriptions.

To cut down on this confusion, I revamped my printables product descriptions. I stated at the very top (where customers were most likely to see it) that the printables were not editable. Then, I detailed the process in a bulleted, step-by-step format. I made the directions as clear and easy-to-read as possible.

Here’s a snippet:

Some customers still get confused. But rewriting my descriptions helped a lot to cut down on the amount of misunderstandings.

So to help you create descriptions that are as clear as possible, I recommend the following:

• Put the most important information at the top of your listing’s description.
• Write with bullet points whenever appropriate.
• Use simple language (e.g. no jargon or overly fancy words – write at a 5th grade level).
• Have someone else proofread your descriptions to see if they can easily understand what you mean.

Get design inspiration from customers’ custom product requests

Using custom product requests for design inspiration is a smart way to keep your offerings fresh and aligned with what your market wants. Here are some tips:

• Collect information from custom orders and special requests.
• Look for recurring themes or specific features that customers ask for.
• Pay attention to requests tied to particular events, holidays, or seasons.
• Integrate popular custom features into your regular product line.
• Create entirely new products inspired by custom requests that can appeal to a broader audience.

Add informational images to your product listings 

Adding informational images to your listings enhances your customers’ shopping experience. Informational images provide additional details about your products in an appealing and digestible format.

There are several types of informational images that you could add, including…

• Visual measurements. Include images with clear measurements for each of your product’s dimensions.
• Scale reference. Show the product next to common items (e.g. a ruler or a person). That way, you give customers a better sense of the item’s size. Here’s an example showing the size difference between my large and small teddy bears:

• Close-up shots. Provide high-quality close-up images of the materials used.
• Labels and tags. Include images of any labels, tags, or certifications that highlight the materials’ quality.
• Highlight features. Use images with text or icons to point out key features and benefits.
• Variations display. Show all available variations (e.g. colors, sizes, patterns) in a single image.
• Personalization examples. Provide examples of customized products to inspire customers.

Create quick replies for frequently received customer questions

Setting up quick replies for frequent questions on Etsy can improve your shop’s efficiency and customer service quality.

Quick replies save time by letting respond to common queries swiftly. This reduces the amount of time you spend on repetitive tasks. Quick replies also ensure consistency in the information you provide to customers. They can reduce errors or miscommunication.

Additionally, when you use quick replies for common questions, you have more time to address more complex or unique customer issues.

To set up quick replies on Etsy, follow these steps: 

• Review your message history to identify common queries (e.g. shipping times, custom orders, return policies).
• Write clear, concise, and friendly responses for each identified FAQ.
• Go to your Etsy Shop Manager.
• Navigate to the “Messages” section.
• Open a message and click the quick replies button in the chat box.
• Click “Add new” then create and save your quick replies for easy access during conversations.

To see some of the customer service scrips I’ve created and shared over the years, click the links below:

Customer service scripts: Use these to handle any problems smoothly
Here are 10 script templates for tricky customer service scenarios
Etsy snippets, Gmail automation, customer service templates
How to handle all your customer service in 10 minutes a day

Make an auto reply for days you don’t work

Creating an auto reply for the days you don’t work ensures customers are informed about your availability. An auto-reply lets customers know when to expect a response. That way, they aren’t left waiting in the dark.

We live in a world in which people expect instant results, especially with their communication. It may seem understandable to you not to work weekends or holidays. However, some shoppers won’t see it that way. They will still expect a response right away even if they message you on a Saturday, Sunday, or major holiday.

I’ve had several customers express annoyance at getting what they thought was a slow response, even though they sent their initial message to me on a Saturday morning. Setting up an Etsy auto reply keeps your customers happy and prevents this situation from happening to you.

Here’s an example of a professional and friendly auto-reply on Etsy:

Subject: Thank You for Your Message! We’ll Get Back to You Soon.

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to [Your Shop Name]!

Please note that our shop is currently closed and we do not work on [Specify Days, e.g., weekends or specific weekdays like Mondays]. We will respond to your message as soon as we are back on [Next Working Day, e.g., Tuesday].

In the meantime, you might find answers to some common questions in our shop policies or FAQs section [Include Link to FAQs/Policies if available].

Thank you for your understanding and patience. We look forward to assisting you soon!

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Shop Name]

How to boost your Etsy shop by setting up an auto reply: 

• Log in to your Etsy account and navigate to your Shop Manager.
• Click on the “Messages” tab.
• Click the “Auto reply” button (temporary or weekly).
• Follow the prompts and type in your auto reply’s message then hit save.

Check customer reviews for ideas on how to boost your Etsy shop

Checking customer reviews is a valuable strategy for gaining insights about how to improve your Etsy shop. Here are some tips:

Look for recurring positive comments. Identify what customers love about your products or services, such as quality, design, packaging, or shipping speed.

Pay attention to frequent complaints or suggestions for improvement. These could relate to product quality, customer service, delivery times, or item descriptions.

For example, if customers appreciate personalized items, consider expanding your customization options. Allow customers to choose colors and sizes, or add custom messages.

Also, when appropriate, politely ask customers to leave detailed reviews. The more specific the feedback, the better you can understand their experiences and make improvements. You can send a follow-up message after a purchase. In the message, you can thank customers for their business and invite them to share their thoughts.

As another strategy for how to grow your Etsy shop, check the reviews of similar shops and products. Identify what competitors are doing well and where they fall short. Use this information to benchmark your shop’s performance and identify areas for improvement.

By systematically analyzing customer reviews, you can make targeted improvements that…

• Boost customer satisfaction
• Enhance your shop’s reputation
• Drive more sales

I hope you find this post about how to improve your Etsy shop useful. If you have any other tips or insights you’d like to share about this topic or Etsy SEO, leave a comment below. And if you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and followers. It can help them learn how to increase Etsy sales fast. 

…Want to see how fast you can take your product listings to the next level? Take advantage of my 14-day free trial of the Easy POD Mastermind! It’s the perfect way to test drive our accountability and action-based strategies. Here’s the link: www.EasyPODTrial.com.