Selling on Etsy takes a lot of techniques to be taken care of to get the full reward out of it. Unknowingly many make a lot of mistakes while setting up an Etsy shop. This guide on 30 Etsy Seller Mistakes to Avoid and How to Fix Them will cover each and share all the solutions to get out of it.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Etsy seller, avoiding these common mistakes can help you optimize your shop, improve sales, and build a successful Etsy business.
1. Not Using the Right Etsy Keywords
This is the first mistake many people make while listing on Etsy. They are not using the right keywords in the first place. Keywords are the ones that make sure that you are discoverable on Etsy search. Many sellers ignore SEO and fail to use the right keywords in their titles, descriptions, and tags.
Fix: Research high-ranking Etsy keywords using tools like Etsy Search Bar, eRank, or Marmalead. Use long-tail keywords in your titles, descriptions, and tags to increase visibility.
Read: How Etsy Keyword Research Can Bring Thousands of Customers To Your Etsy Store
2. Using Generic or Vague Product Titles
Titles like “Beautiful Handmade Necklace” are too vague and won’t rank well. Don’t use generic titles for your products. Try to use something that is unique and aligns with the customer’s needs. This will make sure your product ranks higher and stands out from the rest.
Fix: Use descriptive, keyword-rich titles like “Gold Boho Layered Necklace – Minimalist Jewelry Gift for Her”.
3. Poor Product Descriptions
This is another mistake that will hit your Etsy rankings. A lack of details confuses customers, leading to fewer sales and more returns. The description should build confidence for the customer regarding the product and should convince him of the sale
Fix: Include size, material, color, how to use, and benefits in your description. Make it scannable with bullet points.
4. Ignoring Etsy Tags
Etsy provides 13 opportunities to fill up the tags and you have to ensure that you are filling up with the right keywords. Make sure you are not filling those with generic terms or irrelevant keywords
Fix: Use all 13 tags with relevant keywords to improve searchability.
Read: How Etsy Tags Can Help Increase Traffic to Your Etsy Store
5. Low-Quality Product Photos
Next, you should avoid an Etsy shop mistake that you are uploading Low-quality product images. This will surely put your product on the wrong foot and will lower the conversions. Blurry, dark, or cluttered images turn buyers away.
Fix: Use natural light, neutral backgrounds, and multiple angles. Follow Etsy’s recommended 2000px x 2000px image size for clarity.
6. Not Using All 10 Photo Slots
Buyers want to see multiple angles, close-ups, and lifestyle images. So ensure that you are uploading good quality images with all angles and describe your product.
Fix: Use all 10 image slots to showcase your product properly.
7. Pricing Too High or Too Low
The next part is the wrong pricing of your product. Now there is no direct formula that I can suggest to you to make sure you have the right pricing. You have to do the market research and competitor analysis and after that only you will be able to put a good price on your product which your user is also willing to pay. Remember Underpricing makes your product look cheap, while overpricing drives buyers away.
Fix: Research competitor pricing and factor in materials, labor, fees, and profit margins.
8. Ignoring Free Shipping Offers
One major point that you should not avoid is Etsy prioritizes listings with free shipping in search results. So try putting free shipping with your listings, this will also convince users to buy your products more.
Fix: Offer free shipping and adjust product prices accordingly.
9. Slow Response to Customer Messages
After-sales or replying to all customer queries is very important and to the quick front. When you delay your response you are losing your sales to someone who has responded quickly.
Fix: Set up quick replies for FAQs and respond within 24 hours.
10. Ignoring Etsy SEO for Digital Products
Many digital sellers fail to optimize their listings with SEO-friendly keywords. Ensure you are using all SEO practices that have been suggested below to get the most out of your Etsy shop.
Fix: Use search-driven keywords like “printable wall art” or “editable wedding invitations”.
Learn: 10 Etsy SEO Tips to Boost Your Etsy Sale
11. Not Using Videos in Listings
Videos increase buyer confidence but many sellers don’t use them. Create a good quality video capturing all angles and describe all possible use cases of your product. This will convince your users to buy that product.
Fix: Upload a 5–15-second video showing the product’s details, texture, or use case.
Read: 15 Tips on How To Add Video To Etsy Listing (2025)
12. Not Optimizing Your Etsy Shop Name & Branding
Next your Esty shop name and branding. A generic shop name like “Crafts123” doesn’t stand out. Create a unique name that describes your product as well and is easy to remember as well.
Fix: Choose a unique, memorable name and create a strong brand identity with a professional logo and banner.
Read :
10 Essential Tips For Naming An Etsy Shop In 2025
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Change Your Etsy Shop Name (2025)
13. Inconsistent Shop Policies
Maintain shop policies crystal clear for the user. Missing or unclear policies lead to disputes.
Fix: Clearly define returns, refunds, processing times, and shipping policies.
14. Poorly Written Shop “About” Section
The About section is part of the Shop where you describe yourself your vision and your products. This is important for branding purposes. Customers want to know who they’re buying from, but many sellers skip this.
Fix: Share your story, passion, and behind-the-scenes process to build trust.
15. Relying Only on Etsy Traffic
Don’t just rely on Etsy Traffic, use other sources as well. Etsy is competitive—depending only on organic traffic limits your reach.
Fix: Promote your shop on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook to drive external traffic.
16. Ignoring Pinterest for Etsy Sales
Pinterest is the gold mine for the Etsy shop sellers. If utilised correctly you can bring millions of users to your store. Etsy products perform exceptionally well on Pinterest.
Fix: Create Pinterest pins and link them to your Etsy listings.
Read: 50 Proven Tips to Boost Your Etsy Sales
17. Not Running Etsy Ads Correctly
Starting with a small budget is what I recommend if you want to start on Etsy Ads. Spending money on ads without proper keyword targeting wastes your budget. Run A/B testing while performing these experiments and basis performance increase or decrease the budget.
Fix: Start with a small budget, track performance, and tweak based on results.
18. Overlooking Customer Reviews
Reviews play a major role in ensuring good sales on Etsy. You should try to capture as many as possible positive reviews. Negative reviews can harm sales, yet some sellers ignore them
Fix: Politely respond, resolve issues, and encourage happy customers to leave positive feedback.
19. Ignoring Email Marketing
Etsy doesn’t provide customer emails, so sellers don’t build an email list. But don’t just sit just due to that. Use social media platforms and run campaigns to collect emails which you can further use to ensure returning customers.
Fix: Offer a lead magnet (e.g., a discount code) via social media to grow your email list.
20. Not Offering Product Bundles
Customers love bundle deals, but many sellers miss out on extra sales.
Fix: Create value bundles for frequently bought-together items.
21. Not Analyzing Etsy Shop Stats
Use the Etsy analytics carefully. Without tracking traffic, conversion rates, and best-selling items, sellers miss growth opportunities.
Fix: Regularly check Etsy Shop Stats and adjust your strategy.
22. Ignoring Seasonal Trends
See the trends or occasions going on and plan accordingly. Failing to prepare for holidays or seasonal spikes leads to lost sales.
Fix: Plan for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc.
23. Poor Packaging & Presentation
The packaging is what your brand represents right? Even you whenever get a package from some company always jusgdhe them basis their packaging, Same way boring packaging reduces the chance of repeat customers.
Fix: Use branded packaging and include a thank-you note.
24. Not Encouraging Repeat Customers
Etsy fees can be high, so keeping return customers is crucial.
Fix: Offer discount codes for future purchases.
25. Copying Other Sellers’ Listings
There is no benefit to copying other seller’s listings. This is not how Etsy works. Your listing should be unique and described in your way but not just you take content and product from others and copy it. Duplicate content hurts your shop’s credibility.
Fix: Write unique descriptions and take original photos.
26. Not Having a Niche
Selling too many unrelated products confuses buyers. Choose a niche in which you want to focus and then introduce all the products in that niche only. This will help with credibility plus branding of your shop.
Fix: Focus on a specific niche and build an expert brand in that category.
27. Not Experimenting with New Product Ideas
You should always keep updating your listings. Sticking to only a few products limits growth.
Fix: Test new product ideas based on market trends.
28. Ignoring Customer Questions in Listings
As I have mentioned earlier you must answer all questions a customer has asked in your listings. Unanswered FAQs can result in lost sales.
Fix: Add FAQs in your listing descriptions.
29. Poor Social Media Strategy
Use social media to the full extent but with a good strategy. Use the same creatives and videos that you are using on Etsy to ensure good branding. Run campaigns offering good discounts and attract more customers to your Etsy shop. Only posting product photos with no engagement won’t drive traffic.
Fix: Create behind-the-scenes content, reels, and customer testimonials.
30. Giving Up Too Soon
The last thing that I would like to include in my list is giving up too soon. Many Etsy sellers expect instant results and quit too early. It’s a long-term commitment with lots of effort to make Etsy work for you. So keep going.
Fix: Be patient and consistent. Etsy success takes time and effort.
Avoiding these common 30 Etsy mistakes can make a significant difference in your shop’s success. Focus on SEO, high-quality images, strong branding, and customer engagement to increase sales and grow your Etsy business.
Which Etsy mistake have you made before? Let me know in the comments!