Optimise Your Etsy Listings
31 July 2025 | Editor's Pick | Market Place | Tips and Guides
Author: Parcel2Go.com
How Do You Sell on Etsy?
You can sell on Etsy with simply a product, a camera (your phone will do!) and internet access to create your shop. Etsy is an easy to use platform, offering prompts for what to do on every listing. You, the seller, just need to take some pictures of your product, name it and upload it to your shop with a description! We’ve broken down some of the key tips and tricks for owning a successful Etsy shop, so you can feel happy and confident that your products are in safe hands.
Why Optimising Your Etsy Listings Matters
You might be wondering ‘how do I increase my sales on Etsy?’. We can help.
Etsy is a large marketplace, with users buying and selling all across the world, so it’s important to stand out. When you optimise your listings, you’re making yourself available to a wider, and more focussed customer-base, creating further opportunity for sales and more frequent success! Research your key words and spread them throughout your content, maintain your store’s reputation, and make purposeful choices about branding and listings!
4 Key Steps to Get Your Listing Higher On Etsy?
1. Titles & Tags
As an Etsy seller, titles and tags are very important – they direct your buyers to the products they’re looking for. Keeping your tags relevant, but still in-keeping with current trends (where possible), will draw people towards your shop!
We’ve got a few hints for top titles…
Short and sweet – the max length is only 140 characters
Keyword – include the focus in the title
Avoid repetition
…and tags:
Use all 13 – they’re there for your advantage!
Be specific
Match keywords in your title
Parcel2Go Top Tip: Updating the titles and tags of under-performing products with relevant keywords will help to boost their sales! It’s a great way to keep your shop fresh, and draw attention to some of your hidden gems.
2. Images
When a customer scrolls Etsy listings, the images are the first thing they’ll see. So, as an Etsy seller, you need to be putting your best photos forward!
First things first, your thumbnail image. This is the opening statement – the perfect picture to get people clicking! Make sure your thumbnail image captures the product’s purpose, and conveys the highlights of your shop.
There are a few photo styles that you can use to catch the eye of a potential customer:
Studio Shot This puts your product on a plain background with plenty of light. It’s a clear way to show what you’re selling – realistic, straight to the point and helps to focus attention on the product.
Scale Shot This style shows a buyer how big or small your product is, it’s a great tool to build trust and create a realistic shopping experience – customers prefer shops that show them exactly what they're getting!
Lifestyle Shot This shot shows off your product out in the world, helping your customers get an idea of what it will be like to have, wear, eat or whatever they might do with it! Think about the branding of your store and the kinds of backgrounds that will help to match you with your target audience. Pick colours that compliment the product, create a mood with your lighting and integrate props to help contextualise what you’re selling.
Process Shot This is an image of your product being made. A process shot can make your shop feel more personal, giving the customer a glimpse at what goes into making what they’re buying. It’s also a nice chance to show off your workmanship – a subtle nod towards your skills, if you will.
Packaging Shot This one might come as a surprise, but a shot of your product in its packaging is one of the best ways to show how your shop goes above and beyond. Try and add some flair, maybe a thank you card or a specially designed box. At Parcel2Go, we know packaging, so we’ve put together some great tips on making your packaging personal!
Parcel2Go Top Tip: Some customers won’t read through descriptions thoroughly, so you can add the most important (and sales-boosting) information straight onto your images! There are plenty of free apps, like Canva, that allow you to add text to photos. Simply upload the edited image along with the rest and voila! No potential buyers will be missing that key-info now.
Etsy Listing Photo Size
The Etsy listing photo size should have a width and height of at least 2000 pixels or more. You can find details on photo sizing and file requirements on the Etsy Help Centre.
3. Competitive Pricing & Shipping Prices
As I’m sure is no shock to any Etsy seller, price is a major factor in online sales. You want to be able to offer your customers the most reasonable price that you can, whilst still turning a profit that reflects your work and dedication! This can be a hard road to navigate. The first step is to research the market for similar products – see what other people are selling it and compare it to your own prices. You don’t want yours to be too much higher, as it can drive customers to another shop, but having an overly-low price point can damage trust in your business and the quality of your products!
Another way to manage costs is to choose affordable shipping options. You can check shipping prices with a range of couriers with our quick quote tool. Parcel2Go also offers Smart Send, a go-to service for so many online sellers that keeps shipping cheap, seamless and hassle-free.
Parcel2Go Top Tip: We know customers love “free shipping”, but as a seller, you still need to cover your costs. A smart way to strike the balance? Build the average shipping cost into your product price and offer free shipping at checkout. It’s a win-win: your listings appear more appealing, and your costs are still covered. Want to keep your Etsy shipping costs low? Save with Smart Send!
4. Product Descriptions
Your product description should tell the story of a seller that knows what they’re doing, and knows the ins and outs of what they’re selling. You can pepper your description with relevant keywords to make your product more visible to the algorithm, drawing in customers that want what you’re selling.
Pricing, Fees & Shipping: What Etsy UK Sellers Need to Know
There are a few Etsy seller fees*, which you can find on the Etsy Help Centre. Even if you’re using Etsy UK, the seller fees are displayed in USD. Though that’s a little bit of extra money to pay for your shop, Parcel2Go can help you keep costs down across other areas of selling.
*Please keep in mind that even if you’re using Etsy UK, the seller fees are displayed in USD.
Does Etsy Generate Shipping Labels?
Unfortunately Etsy does not generate shipping labels, but if you choose to ship through Parcel2Go we can help! With Smart Send you can bulk-print labels for easier management. Alternatively, plenty of our couriers post using QR codes and other printerless methods, making shipping easy whilst keeping it as green as possible.
How Long Does Shipping Take With Etsy?
Etsy shipping can range based on the services you select, but typically, your products can arrive in 3-7 working days within the UK.
When shipping through Parcel2Go there are a variety of options for speedier delivery. When booking through Smart Send you’ll be able choose from a range of couriers that are offering quick and affordable delivery!
How Smart Send Cuts Costs For Etsy Sellers
Smart Send is Parcel2Go’s free online shipping software. It allows sellers to manage shipping and sales all in one place, taking away some of the stress that comes with juggling multiple aspects of your business! Smart Send finds the most cost-effective option for your shipping, within seconds. With exclusive prices starting at just £1.99 exc VAT, Smart Send can save you time, and money.
Best Selling Items On Etsy
So you’re wondering which products in your shop might get the biggest boost? We’ve compiled a list of some of the best selling items on Etsy for you to browse!
Books - Etsy is a great place for personalised and antique books, the kind you won’t find in your local bookshop!
Mugs – it’s no secret that people love mugs. From collectors of cat mugs to personalised birthday gifts, there’s one for every occasion! You might be looking to sell a mug or two, but you’re worried about shipping something so fragile, so we’ve put together a few tips to guide you through it!
Paintings – a piece of unique art is something most people would like to have in their home, and Etsy is full of artists with new styles and flair!