Latest / The Modern Etsy Seller Podcast / EP 24. Should I Use Etsy Ads When I'm Starting Out? | Etsy Tips For Beginners

Transcript

EP 24. Should I Use Etsy Ads When I'm Starting Out? | Etsy Tips For Beginners · The Modern Etsy Seller Podcast

• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: Hey there, welcome to the Modern Etsy Seller Podcast and What You're Wondering, the segment where I answer one specific Etsy question in under five minutes.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Melissa, a busyworking mom with two profitable Etsy shops, and I help other busy women make money with Etsy and print on demand.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get to it.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Today's question is should I use Etsy ads when I'm starting out?
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: And my answer here is no.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm really focusing on the just starting out part because I am not against running ads in general.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: In fact, I use Etsy ads in my own shops.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: I just don't think that they're the best use of your resources when you're first getting started.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: One thing that's important to understand is that Etsy ads don't create demand.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: They amplify demand that is already there.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: When you're brand new, you don't really know what's working yet.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: You don't know which products people want.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: You don't know what's going to get you clicks.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: You don't know which listings buyers are going to respond to.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: And until you know these things, I think your time and your money are better spent building your shop, researching SEO, creating designs, and getting more listings up.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: Give Etsy a chance to show your products to buyers organically first and pay attention to what happens.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: Once you have listings that are getting clicks, favorites, and sales on their own, then Etsy ads start to make a lot more sense.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: At that point, you have data, you know which listings buyers are responding to, and those are the listings that I'd first consider putting ad dollars behind.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: Ads are much more effective when they're supporting a good listing that has some proven success than when they're trying to save a bad one.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're just starting out, focus on learning what buyers want first.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: The ads can come later.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: Alrighty, one quick thing before I go.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: If you're not on my email list yet, come join us.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: I have just started a weekly newsletter that I'm already in love with.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: It's not a recap of the podcast or long-winded Etsy advice.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: Instead, each week I'll be sharing stories from my business and my life to give you a peek inside what it really looks like to build a business without putting the rest of life on pause and still maintain your sanity.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: Because let's face it, that's the real challenge.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: If you think that's a newsletter you might want to read, you can sign up using the link in the show notes or go to melissacarroll.co slash newsletter.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for listening today.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: I'll see you next week.