Have you been looking for a way to sell your handmade goods online? Do you currently have a business website but long for more traffic and a larger customer base? If so, Etsy may be the answer. Etsy is an online marketplace dedicated to handmade products.

Opened in June, 2005, Etsy now represents more than 100,000 artisans from around the world ? each artisan selling their handmade goods, crafting supplies, or vintage items with their own Etsy store.

Why Sell on Etsy?

-Etsy store owners receive their own customizable store, a URL to link to and drive visitors to, and an abundance of marketing tools and resources to build awareness and of course profits.

-Etsy is easy for both buyers and sellers to utilize. Store owners can customize their shops without the need for programming skills or knowledge. PayPal is the payment processor of choice so payment and fulfillment are easy for both customer and buyer. Etsy also offers sellers several pages including policies, profile, favorites, feedback and a custom request form so you can set your store apart from the others.

-Getting started is free! Much like eBay, Etsy makes money by charging a small listing fee and a 3.5% sales fee.

Your First Step to Selling on Etsy

Step one for selling on Etsy is to register for a seller account. This requires you to provide the typical information which will include your name, address and such but will also include adding a credit card to your account. There is no charge to sign up however your credit card will be used to pay for your listing and transaction fees and is therefore a requirement to signing up as a seller.

Make sure when registering your username that it accurately represents you. Your username will be your URL. For example, yourusername.etsy.com. If your username is difficult to remember, type, or doesn’t relate to you or your business, it will be more difficult for customers to find you.

Making the Most of your Etsy Store

There are simple strategies and tips to follow to make your Etsy store as successful as possible. These tips and strategies include:

- Generate positive feedback. Like the feedback system on eBay, Etsy provides buyers the opportunity to leave positive, or negative, feedback. The better your feedback rating, the more confident customers will be to do business with you.

- Do your research. Spend some time finding out what other sellers, especially your competition, are doing on Etsy. How much are they charging? What payment options and procedures do they utilize? What can you do better to both attract and keep customers?

- A picture is worth a thousand words. Would you buy a sweater, candle or piece of jewelry without knowing what it looks like? Probably not and your customers won’t either. Take good pictures of your items, from all angles, and show your customer how wonderful your products are.

- Describe your products accurately. A detailed product description will help sell it and if you happen to have a knack for creative and entertaining catalog copy then by all means use it. Share your item’s story, engage your customer, and make them want to share the experience by buying your products.

- Categorize and tag your products. Etsy offers tagging features and categories. Utilize these features to make finding you and your products as easy as possible for your potential customers.

Whether you’re selling vintage clothing, crafting supplies, or one of a kind homemade items Etsy is the place to sell them. Their continued growth rate, ease of use, and highly targeted audience make it an ideal place to sell your wares and grow your business.

Author Bio: Set yourself apart from other sellers with your own Etsy logo design. Angie Sandy is the lead designer and owner of Auction Add Ons, your source for making the most of your online selling.