Teach Soap

I started my business with just my own website; although I do have an Etsy account, I don't use it because I was deterred by the fees. But the website doesn't get very much traffic, because getting the word out is slow-going.

So my question is, do you who have experience with Etsy think it is worth the cost of the listings when I already have somewhere on the web to point people to? Does it generate much business on its own?

It is only 20 cents to list, so I think its worth it. Of course, if you do the re-list everything everyday deal that some people do, no, it's not worth it, imho. So I guess it just depends how you want to do your business. I know people that spend more in one day re-listing than they make in a month. You would think that they would learn after a month, maybe two, but they just keep plugging along, convinced it will change and suddenly be worth it all.
Without getting your name out there, whether for etsy or your own site, spontaneous business will be slow going. But with the traffic they have, you stand a far better chance than you do on your own.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Thanks LavenderLady! I think you're right, I'll try listing my bestsellers for just a month or so and see what happens. Worst case scenario, I just waste a few bucks.

I don't play the relist game on Etsy. Waste of money if you ask me.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

To boost traffic to your website, make sure you have it registered with google, yahoo, etc. The bots will find it eventually, but it's faster if you register it. Also, make sure you have all kinds of soap related keywords listed so you'll be more likely to get hits through web searches.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

It's funny I looked at your etsy shop and you have a circle of 192 shops and nothing listed so you seem to have traffic but no product yet. That seems pretty good to me!!

I seem to get random traffic and purchases, I relist one or two things every few days, I don't go bananas and maybe spend a dollar a week. I think it's worth it to give it and try and see how it works for you =)

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AubreyEApothecary.com
facebook.com/AubreyEApothecary

Thanks for the advice, everyone! Etsy definitely seems worth the small investment. I shouldn't have been so indecisive about investing just a few dollars to see how it goes.

@mella, geez, thanks for letting me know! I had no idea I had traffic already (still getting used to how Etsy works). I registed thepomegranateseed and thepomseed just to be sure no one would start another shop with a name too similar to mine. So I listed a few things under the one I'm actually going to use, thepomseed, today.