In the world of UK creatives, the decision of whether to sell your art, crafts, or handmade products on platforms like Etsy or eBay or have your own website is a significant one.
Each option has its advantages and drawbacks, and the choice depends on your goals, resources, and long-term vision. In this blog post, we'll compare Etsy and having your own website to help you make an informed decision.
The Pros and Cons of Etsy
Pros:
Built-In Audience: Etsy has millions of active buyers, providing access to a vast customer base.
Simplified Setup: It's relatively easy to set up an Etsy shop, and you don't need to worry about hosting or website design.
Community and Support: Etsy offers a supportive community and various resources to help sellers succeed.
Cons:
Fees: Etsy charges listing fees, transaction fees, and payment processing fees, which can add up.
Limited Branding: Your Etsy shop may not fully reflect your unique brand, as you're operating within their platform.
Competition: You'll be competing with numerous other sellers in your niche.
An Up-Hill Struggle: Not only are you competing with real people, you're fighting bots and coded add-ons that are built to undercut competitors and are constantly scanning and updating prices, SEO laden descriptions and titles to be the highest ranking item. There's big business in these bots.
The Advantages of Having Your Own Website
Pros:
Full Control: With your website, you have complete control over design, branding, and content.
Independence: You're not reliant on a third-party platform's rules or policies.
Branding: Your website is a powerful tool for building and showcasing your personal brand.
Reduced Fees: While there are costs associated with running a website, they can be more manageable than platform fees in the long run.
SEO Opportunities: You have greater flexibility in optimizing your website for search engines.
How to Decide
Consider your goals, resources, and long-term vision when deciding between Etsy and having your own website. Some UK creatives choose to start on Etsy to gain visibility and then expand to their own site as they grow. Others opt for their own site from the beginning to establish a strong brand presence.
I make no qualms that Etsy, eBay and Not On The High Street have their place and may complement your sales but if you're looking to up-level your brand, reclaim your profits with only paying a small 2.5% commission on sales and really, want your own website, you're in the right place.
I offer a number of Website Build Packages - the most popular being Website Build Package 1: Simple E-Commerce which continually serves makers, artists and creatives in scaling up their business, having more autonomy over sales and simply, making a higher profit margin.
Please get in touch if you'd like to sign-up to a Website Build.
El: el@elsand.co