EP 5. Do I Need Social Media to Succeed on Etsy? | Etsy Tips for Beginners

WYW 1: In this episode I'm answering the Etsy question "Do I Need Social Media to Sell on Etsy?" If you've been putting off starting your shop because you don't want to be on social media — or you're already selling and wondering if you're missing out — this one is for you. Have a question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? Submit it at melissacarroll.co/question

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Transcript

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Hey there and welcome to the Modern Etsy Seller Podcast and What You're Wondering, the segment where I answer one specific question in under five minutes. I'm Melissa, a busy working mom with two profitable Etsy shops, and I'm here to help you build yours. Let's get to today's question. Our question today is do I need to post to social media to succeed on Etsy? The simple answer here is no. You do not need to post on social media. And I can say that confidently because to this day I have never posted anything related to my shops on social media. And here's why. Etsy is a marketplace, meaning it's designed to connect buyers and sellers. Think about a farmer's market. People show up on Saturday morning because they want to buy something. They're already in shopping mood. They're walking the aisles, looking for something that catches their eye. You don't have to convince them to come, they show up ready. Etsy works the same way. People go to Etsy looking for something to buy. They type what they're looking for into that search bar because they are actively shopping. They have intent. They're ready. Your job isn't to go find them, they're already there. Your job is to show up in front of them with the right product and the right listing. It's very different from running your own website where you have to drive the traffic yourself. In that case, social media is often a big part of the strategy because without traffic, nothing happens. But Etsy already has the traffic. So early on, social media is not required. Now, that doesn't mean social media can't help, because it can. And down the line, it can be a great growth tool, especially once you have proof of concept and you know people are already buying what you're selling. But most of us do not have a ton of extra time. And how you spend the time you do have matters. Early on, your time is better spent creating products, systemizing your listing process, and becoming proficient in Etsy SEO. Those are the skills that actually move you towards sales when you're just starting out. You need to master Etsy and your shop first. Then later, and only if you want to, you can add the social media layer. So, no, you do not need social media to succeed on Etsy, but you do need great products and optimized listings. So start there. If you have a question you'd like me to answer on a future episode of What You're Wondering, I would love to hear it. Head on over to melissacarroll.co slash question or click the link in the show notes to submit. I'll catch you next week.