Selling art on Etsy - thoughts from a full-time artist
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- Are you thinking about opening a shop on Etsy? In this video I share my advice on what it's like to sell on this popular platform.
✨UPDATE: Since I created this video, Etsy has changed their algorithms in order to better pair customers with items they are searching for. Therefore, my example regarding Etsy Search at 2:34 is no longer accurate in 2019. All other content will still provide useful information ☺️
For those who've asked, here is a list of the studio equipment I use to prepare and ship my prints to customers (affiliate links):
✨Printer for art prints: amzn.to/2ULaTWV
✨Carl Paper Cutter: amzn.to/2PCgzS2
✨ Canon All in One Printer for scanning your work: amzn.to/2Y15nl7
✨Rollo Thermalprinter: amzn.to/2vCvLpj
✨ rigid mailers for 8x10 prints: amzn.to/2PTOcin
✨ rigid mailers for 11x14 prints: amzn.to/2VHzLn5
See works in progress on FB at:
/ ellenbrennemanstudio
Find my prints and original work on Etsy here:
www.etsy.com/s...
All of the opinions I share in this video are based on my personal experience which may not be the same as yours. Please contribute to the conversation but let's all be respectful of one another.
☑️ Write to me here:
Ellen Brenneman
PO Box 8251
South Bend, IN 46660
*_Artists: no matter what people say, do what you're led to do and do it in faith. You never know who's going to see your work and where._*
This is beautiful, thanks for sharing 😊
ZiggyLu 2022 you have made the strongest and most inspiring point and I thank you for sharing that with others here. It's so true!
I love this saying; thank you for sharing it with everyone!
Very true. You are the first audience. Everyone else comes second.
This is such a good advice! The only way to create unique art is to be yourself.
LOL I
I found that people you know on facebook all want the artwork for free. Like because you know them they assume you will just give it to them.
That is certainly a problem, I agree. I attribute that simply to a lack of knowledge and understanding that what we do is a real business and not a hobby. Many people don't realize that while we love our job, we still have to pay our bills! lol.
Gypsy EX-JW A Million Miles Amen
I find just being up front about not working for free is effective. I usually respond to artwork requests with something like "tell me what you're looking to have created and we'll talk pricing". Most people don't want to sound cheap after that. I now get a lot of work through friends, some of which have commissioned me multiple times.
Jeff that is GREAT advice thank you for sharing this - I'm so glad it's working for you (will try that myself!) 👌🏼
I do sewing and machine embroidery, and I found the same problem when I had a business. People just want you to do it for them for free. I do things for family for free, but others should pay. I am considering an Etsy shop, but I am just not sure i could keep up; it sounds like a lot of work.
Very useful to hear some of your comments, I've been selling on Etsy for a while, it was slow selling in the beginning, then things take off after a few years as you paint more and have lots more items in your shop, more choice for prospective buyers. It also made me paint in many more different styles than I would have dared to before, so many positives to be had.
Thank you for your perspective!
The orb appears passing by right when she says spirit animal!! How wonderful is the Universe!
Ohhh man yeh your right the orb appears right on the word spirit.. amen to the universe and yes the universe gives us these little signs from time to time but most people ignore or never notice or are just so grounded in this material world...
@@duncankent1330 Probably a reflection from a passing car going past the window.
Amazing! The minute you mentioned spirit animals, a strange light anomaly floated in front of you!
Thanks for sharing, I just opened my first Etsy shop I hope I could bring joy to people who love art ♥
Hello, Claudia - and congratulations on opening your new Etsy shop! best of luck to you!! 💕
These are all really good tips. I´ve been selling on etsy for years. I also sell on other pages but etsy is still one of my favorite places to sell.
It's always nice to hear from a fellow Etsy seller - thanks for watching! Aside from a few tweaks I wish they'd make when it comes to editing, I really like it there as well :)
Thank you so much for making this how-to-sell art on Etsy. It is very helpful, inspiring and much appreciated. I love you artwork! Owls are some of my fav spirit animals!
Thank you for your kind words - and I'm so glad you found it helpful!
Things could turn out deferent for you and might even one day be something in life but I do like what she says but still do what you love and everything will come even your dreams as well.
Your videos have helped me greatly, my abstract art finally has an online market place. keep up the good work. Thank you!
So great to hear! Congratulations!
I love how you talk about Art🎨 I adore Art.Yor videos are so helpful.Thank you 🙏
thank you for your kind comment; I'm glad you're enjoying my videos! :)
Thank you for your video! I love listening to other artist talking about their experiences. Thank you for not adding a lot of ads and banners! So many artist with "how to videos" are adding ads and banners to make more money. I refuse to watch them. Love your work!
Thank you for watching! I have a difficult time watching videos that break every few minutes for another ad :/ While I am always looking for ways to further support myself, my main objective is to give back to this overlooked community so it's nice to know my attempts are proving to be helpful. :)
I have just opened my Etsy shop with my artwork and this knowledge you shared is much appreciated, thank you.
Suzi, you are most welcome - and good luck with your new shop! :)
Ellen Brenneman Studio Thank you 😊
Suzi Spooks What is your shop called? Mine is ArtbymeGB
Suzi Spooks good luck Suzi 👍
Suzi Spooks Good luck too
Thank you for sharing your tips, am currently working on opening an etsy shop and it seems a bit overwhelming right now, but your advice really helped!
I'm so glad it helped, Susan - and I wish you much success on your opening!
Thank you Ellen! I just started my Etsy store and I am so frustrated that my art is not turning up in search at all. I will try a few things like you mentioned. Thank you for sharing!
You are so welcome! GOOD LUCK with your new Etsy shop!! :)
I wanted to let you know that I am working on a video to help with that! I should have it up in a few days! :)
Priceless advice. Thank you. Your channel is absolutely brilliant! 👍 😘
M. 2018 so glad you’re finding it helpful! 😊
Ellen-that was lovely,and thanks for your generosity in sharing your experience!
David, you are most welcome - so glad you found it helpful! :)
Thanks Ellen. I appreciate your taking time to share your ideas and comments. Thanks again.
Charles, you are most welcome; I hope it proves to be helpful :)
You are my new favorite be youtube channel. I'm just beginning to sell my art and your videos are super informative!
I just came across your TH-cam videos and they are so informative and helpful about the very art topics (ie selling online, having my own website, how to best use my Facebook page & Etsy and how to troubleshoot problems) I need to research a lot more and find out what works and what doesn't! I'm an extreme introvert (also autistic with OCD) and terrible with any social stuff let alone promoting myself effectively.
I'm a wildlife artist primarily in watercolor, gouache, pen & ink, and colored pencil. Yet, it's more fantasy-based with the main theme being "animal odd couples" (different species interacting from all over the world that would never be together in real life!). Been drawing and then painting all my life and is my biggest passion! (however it never got past the hobby stage).
I'm very low income and this is a big reason I just started a Shop with Etsy and a separate Facebook page for my artwork, but then didn't do anything with them much, even though they are both inexpensive options. I'm not computer saavy at all, and therefore turned solely to sell art in person and locally, but not much there, either, as Montana (where I live), seems a very limited audience for the kind of work I do. (ie subjects such as a binturong hanging out with a tiger, playing bagpipes. Not just native Montana wildlife).
I tried to "boost' my facebook page created for my shop to get more people to see and find a good target audience. Yet I saw you have to pay with the lowest price option of "paying a dollar a day for 10 days." I feel really stuck and so much time wasted with all this online stuff! Truth is , I sense it's mainly online where I'll find my true target audiences!
Love your site, artwork, and your videos! Thank you so much for what you do!!
I love drawing and feel I've improved a lot watching TH-cam tutorials. Never really got the hang of using Etsy or other art selling websites.
I have a full time job but it would be nice to make money on the side selling my art. I do mostly portraits I take from the Internet. I had a weekend job but quit that to get my weekends back. But the extra income, even £100 a month from selling art would be awesome!
Ellen your advice has been so helpful. I have Etsy but have never considered selling on thta platform. I will definately do some serious research on this.
Thanks Ellen - very helpful, friendly and clear communication about selling art.
Avicennite GH thank you for your comment; so glad you found it helpful! 😊
I saw your art work on Etsy, they are really beautiful!
Star Cat thank you so much! 😊
I just looked at your Etsy shop and, WOW, your art is so beautiful! I especially love Frankenstein and his bride!! I am considering an Etsy shop myself, so I appreciate your video.
petmom ful thank you so much for your comment and for taking the time to visit my shop 😊 If you’re just starting out the only thing you need is time and enough money to get your listings in order. There are loads of articles you can search for on Google about how to set up shop. Maybe start there and get a feel if it’s worth it for you. Good luck!!
Thank you very much. I am seriously considering it, and doing a lot of research.
I have an idea for a unique art/craft that I think I know who my target market will be. I’m not going to say what this is for obvious reasons. I am now in the process of designing and constructing a jig/template from which this craft will be made. The only thing is each piece will probably take me some time to construct after I determine what I want to use for a design theme. Thanks for the information.
Thanks Ellen, I will take this to heart ❤️
I just wanted to say that your hair is SO PRETTY! (and thank you for the helpful video!!)
Wow, thank you so much! xo
Thank you for this no-nonsense video! I know this video is older, but I would love an update on your shop!
Kelsie Marie you are welcome, and thanks for watching! I’m still on Etsy and always comparing stats. As long as I have more sales than I did the previous year, I stay put. So far so good!
Ellen Brenneman Studio that’s awesome, I’m glad it’s going well for you! I just started my Etsy shop so it’s nice to hear from an artist with a successful shop!
I find etsy has total and complete control over who actually views what you have posted. I usually get only 1 or 2 views a day. On the few days that I got multiple views I made a few sales. I make pottery, my shop is called crownpointpottery on etsy. The other issue is etsy has multiple fees and they aren't specific as to what they are charging you for.
How much do they charge you? Approximately?
Nicole Rusk
That’s the point, it says fees, taxes and transaction fee.
There isn’t a specific percentage or an actual breakdown.
It’s possible for Etsy to specifically state every fee on your financial page for each sale yet they don’t do it, how isn’t that intentional deception.
i don't usually comment about this, but you have had two orbs go past you.. good info great points
Thank you for your comment and lol, you're not the only one to have mentioned this so no worries :) I never even noticed it until someone pointed it out to me; now it's all I see when I watch this video! 😂
@@EllenBrennemanStudio do you paint creepy pictures? That could be attracting dark stuff!! Beware
AMAZING AMAZING ADVICE! Especially the key word searches, I just never thought about that. thank you!
Iodine Kaida you are most welcome! So glad this is proving useful! And good luck!
YOU - are the first' selling art on Etsy' that I have watched and you've been very helpful and articulate and pretty too as a bonus! I've had a 10+ year account on FAA: Eric Dee, but at my age, just turned 68 yesterday, I need to get more proactive. Thank You so much! I'm subscribing. Going to watch your How to sell art on Facebook now! Brilliant and helpful young lady indeed!
Happy belated Birthday, Aaron - and thank you for your kind words; I hope that you find my videos useful!
Just getting into etsy. Thank you so much!
i subbed
Best of luck to you on your new Etsy shop! 😃
Thank you so much dear Ellen! You give great tips and advice, I agree with you totally. Also, I've visit your Etsy shop and you have beautiful paintings and prints and those two with the lion spirit animal have really caught my eye.
You are very kind, thank you so much for taking the time to comment here. And many thanks for visiting my shop - yes, that lion has captured my heart as well! 💕
Excellent presentation. Clear and concise. Your tips are relevant to other arts or internet endeavours. Thank You Ellen. Cheers.
You're very welcome!
Thank you for this great video. It is overwhelming information, but it is a start! Thank you!!!!
cool owl in the background!
thank you! One of my favorites, too! :)
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and generous video! It was truly a gift!
Great advice! This answers a question I asked on previous post.. I think I will give it a go in building my store and launch it near Xmas and see where it goes... I'm deffo taking on board what your saying about finding your unique buying appeal.. Like you, my work is very specific with a tribal bold design influence .. So I just have to ensure my descriptions stand out! Thanks for your time Ellen 👍
Kate you are most welcome!! You're so smart to give yourself the time you need and I think opening near the holidays is a great idea! 😊
Thank you so much I appreciate you making time to help us.
You are most welcome, Shannon! :)
Thanks so much for sharing the information and your experiences, I really appreciate your input. This gives me some things to think about. I'm still on the fence about Etsy, but my reluctance is due more to personal/health reasons than anything else. The Art Facebook page maybe the best option for starting out and will not take as much energy and time away from creating as I'm driven to create as much as I can while I can. Blessings and Thank you, Kristine
Yes, Kristine - I completely agree with you. Facebook is an excellent way to begin and I highly recommend starting there if you aren't quite ready to jump into Etsy, for all the reasons you mentioned. I know some artists who sell soley on Facebook and do quite well, actually! Best of luck to you! :)
HI Ellen, thank you for your wonderful video, your art is beautiful and your success story is very inspiring. How do you sell original art on Facebook, do your customers just message you to say they want it?
I created a video on this very subject based on your question! Just uploaded, you can find it here (and I hope it answers your question) :) th-cam.com/video/jfd-gn4ZagU/w-d-xo.html
RedBubble works if you join the variety of art groups. We are entering a digital age. It helps to make products with your art and this can be much more profitable once you get it going. I sell items with my photography-- mostly.
Many thanks for contributing to this conversation and for sharing your experience with RedBubble. You are so right - this digital age proves to be the perfect time to sell for artists. I'm so glad to see you're doing well using that platform! :)
I love your glasses. Thanks for your info. I enjoy watching your videos. I like the way you get to the point.
Lily, thank you for your comment on my glasses! I think you're the first person that's had anything good to say about them! LOL I really like them, too! And thank you for your feedback on my videos. It's so hard to keep on point sometimes; I'm guilty of getting off track sometimes but I try to make every video better than the last :)
great information... Thank you for helping others!
Informative video. Checked out your shop and especially love the bright colored animals like the cow and koala! 😊👍💝
Thank you, KC! :)
Great information, I'm thinking of opening an Etsy shop, so this helped me. Thanks.
You're welcome, Lisa! 👍🏼
You give a lot of really good information that I can use. Thank you.
This was such a great video I put a link of it into my newsletter today :)
That's very kind of you, thank you! :)
This is very informational and super helpful! Thank you!!
You are MOST welcome - so glad you found it useful! :)
Thanks for the great advice. I like your spirit animals in the background.
Nancy, thank you so much for your comment and for watching! :)
Thank you, Ellen! You are awesome!
This was very helpful - thank you so much Ellen!
I'm so glad you found it helpful! :) thanks so much for your comment.
Thank you. Such kind and generous advice.
You are most welcome - so glad you found it helpful!
really insightful, the market is saturated, thanks for the help:)
You're very welcome. It is a saturated market for sure. And overwhelming for those just getting started. But there is a place for everyone, I really believe that. Good luck!
Good, helpful content. Not sure what a spirit animal is supposed to be though!
Great info! Cool work! I love the idea of spirit animals! Liked and subbed! :)
Hey, thanks for watching - and likewise!! :)
Informative video. Well done 🤙
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for the advice I don't think Etsy is for me I like the gallery environment and interaction and I make very large paintings. Also I'm a professional and I make my income in a very different way so that sets me free to do whatever art I feel like. Thanks for your advice.
New Moon Awakening knowing where we don’t want to be is half the battle! Best of luck to you in working with the galleries! 😊
New Moon Awakening can I ask, how do you promote and sell your large paintings?
Toblerusse . It's a lot of work I go around downtown and around all the small galleries I show them my profolio. I am not looking for money at this time just want to meet people on the art environment. So I have no expectations. If I sell that's great but if I don't that's fine. I hope that answer your question:)
@@mitutoyo34 Another option in Etsy is selling digital downloads, if you photographed your work you could sell the image and the customer pays and downloads, just an option if you ever did need a few quid.
Thank you for your video and sharing your experience!
thank you for taking the time to comment! So glad you found it helpful :)
Thanks much for the information. Love your work!
You are most welcome, Lucinda! I greatly appreciate your watching and hope it was helpful :)
Always!
This was really helpful. Thank you. Just subscribed!
Excellent advice. Thank you Ellen.
You are quite welcome, Mary Lou! Thank you for your kind comment 😊
I saw the orb too at the 3:33 mark :)
It is the strangest thing, Valerie! I never even noticed it until others began pointing it out to me. I find it pretty magical, really :)
Proof that Daemons do exist ! BTW, your work is just amazing
I noticed that orb right away, when she was first talking about spirit animals... how awesome!!
i love your vidéo and i like it and i like your work im also artiste but im not yet pro i wanna start selling my work online ❤️
awesome advice, thank you very much.
Israel Geddes you are so welcome!
Thank you!! Will be following you!
I saw that orb so cool. and I love ur work. I do jewelry and photography
Thank you so much, Karen! 😊
Many thanks ! Will now watch your Facebook advice .
Thanks. A needed tutorial.Would you please make a tutorial(s) about how to find your online and inperson target market? We might imagine our target market incorrectly based on assumptions. I would like a link to such tutorial if possible.
I'm glad you found this helpful and thanks for your comment :) I have one short video about finding your target market and you can find it by following this link: th-cam.com/video/SpnnJFrITg4/w-d-xo.html
Thanks very much for generously sharing information. Does this TH-cam operation produce you some income? I have to wonder why so many people have channels.
Ellen :) Thanks for your video it was really helpful!
You are MOST welcome - so glad you found it helpful! :)
Thank you so much for sharing! It's inspiring!
Thank you for your comment! ☺️
Hello. So I am getting familiar with Etsy. Looking at the policies and all the fees etc. I found the area where I can choose digital when I list my products. I guess when I put the photo up and choose digital that is all I need to do so when my product is seen it will be ready for the customer to print off? Thank you for all of your videos and advice! Very helpful!
From my understanding, you'll upload a file and when the customer purchases it he/she will gain immediate access to the file for download. Nothing for you to mail. The one thing you might want to prepare yourself for is those who've never done it before; be available for customer assistance (or put clear directions on how to download in your listing description). Also, I'd use every opportunity to make it clear that they will not be receiving a physical product; many people simply don't read and may assume you're sending something in the mail (you likely already know these things but these are the two major issues I see digital sellers having) 😊
Thank you! I love your videos!
I have Harley Davidson paintings i cant even sell very well Detailed 18 by 24 on canvas. People want you to paint them something but when you give them a price they look at you like your Nuts lol.
I am planning on selling my paintings so thanks for this video
You're very welcome!
I liked the tips in the video. I was going to start an Etsy page but think I'll just go with what you recommended, Facebook. What camera do you use to take photos of your paintings? I have an iPhone 13 pro but wondering if I should invest in a nice DLSR like Cannon or Nikon. I do have nice studio lighting but outside lighting seems to be great too. Lastly, for prints, do you do on demand printing? Drop ship printing? Or do you just use a local print shop? Thanks so much for the video.
I have several videos where I break down my printing process; I'll include links here to two of them that I hope you find useful!
th-cam.com/video/8DIVpbZH_Kw/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/WJ-giZgVb00/w-d-xo.html
@@EllenBrennemanStudio thanks
Hi, I am currently in school as an amateur artist and I am trying to start in the level of making artwork to sell out to the market. I'm into oil painting, mixed media, sculpture, digital media, and some amount of graphic design and architecture. At the same time, I realized just recently that I am facing student debt before I could graduate. Is there any advice you can give to art students and any other artists in particular that are experiencing the same issue as I have now? Thanks.
Thanks for the honest advice.
Very good video and so honest. Thanks
You are most welcome! :)
Question for you, Ellen.
You've got some original work listed on Etsy, and I'm assuming you have that SAME work listed elsewhere? If so, have you nailed down a good process to keep track of things? So that if an original piece sells on Etsy, you remember to take it off sites X, Y & Z? Thanks!
Facebook is mainly friends but if you want new people and people to buy your art then Instagram will bring in non friends. So do you pay for your website? Can you get a free website? Can you get canvases for free? Can you get paint for free?
Artists don’t get it, you cannot control revenues but you can control expenses. So decrease expenses allows you to price your art competitively.
Thank you for sharing your experience and expertise. I love your paintings. I have a question about Etsy. I paint custom portraits, but it seems that etsy only allows you to post/sell existing art, ready for sale, not art Commissions that will be done. How do I do this? I couldn't find an answer on etsy. Thank you.
Elizabeth Hart hello, and thank you for your question! Yes, you certainly can post commissioned work for sale 😊 It will require a bit of creativity, however, since you are technically posting something that you haven't created yet. My suggestion is to list the item for sale as a commissioned portrait, and then for the photographs, share examples of work you have done in the past (maybe adding that little blurb on each photo). Then, in your description, give detailed information about your commission guidelines. There are other artists who do commissioned work on Etsy. You may want to do a search for 'custom pet portraits' to use as an example so you can see how other artists are creating their listings - it will give you some great ideas on how to create your own. I really hope this helps! Good luck!
Thank you Ellen!
Wow, I'm not the only one.
Elizabeth Hart how do I get Facebook followers to sell my paintings.
Enjoyed ur video, found some I teresting. Facts thank
Here is my problem with Etsy. There is no screening process for fine art. Everyone who believes they can paint can have an Etsy shop. There is no minimum of quality required---that's what causes the massive numbers every professional artist must 'compete' with. It makes a huge slog for art shoppers. Not to be mean, but some of the paintings, etc. are just not very good, yet they have the same visibility as everyone else. I say good luck to anyone who gives it a try.
excellent advice. Thank you.
Great advice thanks. However, Facebook in my experience was a total waste of time. The FB algorithm is rigged so unless you PAY for FB ads, NO ONE sees your FB business page. And friends and family on your personal page are not a proper customer base.
Exactly, it's too commercialized and out to suck ones blood out in $s
The algorithms are working against us. FB put me in posting jail for sharing my art and another time for sharing someone else's art.
Thank you for the 411 on selling art online..
You're most welcome, Kay! :)
Very helpful. Thank you.
Steve, thank you for your feedback, I'm glad to know you found this video useful! :)
Great advice! Thanks!
Thank you for your comment - so glad you found it helpful! :)
Great advice, thank you.
Also, I think you are a work of art, just saying!
Thank you for info
But Facebook just shows your work to a small group of family & people. Right? Plus they’re comercial posts can add up quickly and become expensive for little exposure
With the new algorithm it's really all about engagement now. If you set posts to public, everyone/anyone has a chance to see them/share them which builds your audience. And the more people that comment, the more FB shows that post to others. It can be tricky but like all of these social media platforms, if certain requirements are met, there is more reach 😊
This video is extremely helpful thank you. By chance who do you use to copy your original prints because that's where I'm stuck
Very helpful information! Two years later do you still find this to be true? Has anything changed in the market place? Thank you!
Thank you
I mostly paint abstract and forest is that popular on etsy
Those were very good tips. I have an Etsy store and haven’t had any real luck with it. I heard another artist say Etsy doesn’t protect your rights. That your images can be stolen and used elsewhere. What is your experience with this issue?
Thanks 🌺
Stephanie, hello! I will be doing another Etsy video soon as they've yet again changed their algorithm methods so there is new information that will require some further changes with listings. I hope to upload that video next week :). As for your question, I have had my artwork stolen more times than I can count (and have at least two videos on my channel if you're interested in watching them). Any time we as artists upload our images onto the Internet there is a risk of someone stealing it. It is our job therefore, to upload low resolution images so that if it DOES get stolen, the image will be so pixelated and fuzzy, it won't serve much good in the way of prints or merchandise. I hope this helps! :)
I recommend using watermarks all over your image! Like "shuttershock" or lower the opacity.
anywhere yr art is online, it can be stolen, none of the platforms really go to bat to protect it to an effective degree.
Thanks so much Ellen
Joe Pearson thank you for all you have had to offer. It’s so nice to see artists coming together and helping one another; your contributions are greatly appreciated here.
Extremely helpful 😃❤💚💜💛💙💖💕
Oh, I'm so glad you found this helpful! Thank you for letting me know! :)
Thank you for your advices. Krystyna
Krystyna Mroz you are most welcome! ☺️