One of the most important things you can do to grow your Etsy business is take great photos! This is an area that I think most of us struggle with on a regular basis. Captivating photos don't just stop at Etsy and creative photos can really make a difference on your social media sites.
Most of us have spent more hours than we care to admit trying to get perfect pictures of our products for our Etsy shops. Unfortunately, Etsy limits us to the number of pictures we can use and the shape of those photos. As a jewelry designer, I know that having the ability to post longer vertical images would greatly help me in displaying my long necklaces (that's just one example). Square images just don't cut it. While we may be limited on the Etsy site itself, we do have the ability to showcase our handmade goods in a variety of ways on other on-line platforms. However, how many of us really take advantage of this?
If you are going to expand your business, it becomes just as important to also expand your photography skills and creativity. While you may have the basic Etsy product shots down to a tee, why not mix it up a bit with some creative shots to show on the social media sites. Since a well photographed photo is key to selling on-line, it makes sense to create visually stimulating photos that are unique.
Social media sites that are perfect for creative photos include:
Do's and Don'ts:
- Don't post the same photo to all of your sites at the same time. While it is tempting to reuse a photo in as many places as possible, try to take different angles or versions of the same product.
- Do consider your audience. A picture that is appropriate for one venue may not be appropriate for another.
- Don't post images that may be controversial, unless your shop is specifically designed to be edgy or controversial.
- Do try something new and completely different than what you have done in the past (as long as it is tasteful). Part of the fun is to gauge the response. You may be surprised.
- Do choose just one or two themes at first. Maybe show your product at various vacation spots or set next to a similar item. You don't need to stick to one theme, but some consistency is good and helps to brand your photos. As you take more photos, add more themes.
- Do consider your brand when taking creative photos. If you sell beach-themed jewelry, photos of your jewelry at a rodeo may not make sense.
- Do take it slowly. There's no need to overwhelm yourself by taking creative photos of every product you sell. I'm actually planning on only 1 to 2 creative photos per week. By adding this new task to my already busy schedule, I will slowly build up my gallery of photos and it won't get in the way of all the other things I'm doing to grow my business.
