Easy Etsy to Shopify Transition
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Why Move from Etsy to Your Own Site?
- Choosing the Right eCommerce Platform
- Picking the Right Theme for Your Shopify Store
- Uploading Your Products to Your Shopify Store
- Importing Your Etsy Reviews to Your Shopify Store
- Getting a Custom Branded Domain Email Address
- Redirecting Traffic from Your Etsy Shop to Your New Site
- Sending Traffic to Your New Website
- Conclusion
Why Move from Etsy to Your Own Site?
If you're a maker, artist, or designer who sells handmade products online, you may have started out on Etsy. While Etsy can be a great platform to get started on, it's not always the best long-term solution. In this article, we'll explore why you should consider moving from Etsy to your own site, and we'll provide you with a step-by-step guide to make the transition as easy and smooth as possible.
Choosing the Right eCommerce Platform
The first step in moving from Etsy to your own site is choosing the right eCommerce platform. While there are many options out there, we recommend Shopify. Shopify is the leading eCommerce platform by far, and for good reason. They have all the integrations and they're always first to get cool new features like being able to tag your products and your Instagram posts or doing Bible pins on Pinterest.
Picking the Right Theme for Your Shopify Store
Once you've chosen Shopify as your eCommerce platform, the next step is to pick the right theme for your store. We recommend going with something simple and proven. You can find themes directly on Shopify. Some are free, some are paid. If you do have the budget to spare and you want something fancier, there are third-party sites you can Google for it. Just be careful where you spend your money, as not all themes are created equal.
Uploading Your Products to Your Shopify Store
The next step is to upload your products to your Shopify store. If you've been selling on Etsy, you can export your product listings from there and import them into your Shopify store. You can do this manually by copying and pasting everything over, or you can hire someone to do it for you on Upwork. Alternatively, there are now apps you can use to import your Etsy products.
Importing Your Etsy Reviews to Your Shopify Store
If you've been on Etsy for a while and you've made sales and gotten reviews and ratings, it's important to import your product reviews from Etsy over to your own site. This is because there are many subconscious purchasing triggers that cause people to buy one thing but not the other, and having positive customer feedback on your site can help give your customers confidence and trust that they can buy from you.
Getting a Custom Branded Domain Email Address
If you don't already have a custom branded domain email address, then you should definitely get one. This is because having a business email address is an easy way to communicate that you're legit and professional. It's also the most common way to communicate with customers or potential customers via email.
Redirecting Traffic from Your Etsy Shop to Your New Site
Once your new site is ready for the public, it's time to start redirecting your traffic from your Etsy shop to your new site. This means changing any links on your social media bios pointing to your Etsy shop to send people to your new shop instead. You'll also want to think about all the places you might have listed your Etsy shop, like on your business cards or packaging or on your craft show booth banner, and update those links as well.
Sending Traffic to Your New Website
Now that your new site is up and running, it's time to start sending traffic to it. This means creating a system for outreach, like pitching your products to magazines, blogs, influencers, TV shows, and so on. It also means setting up your email autoresponders and signup forms on your website, keeping up your social media posting, and making sure your site is search engine optimized and conversion rate optimized.
Conclusion
Moving from Etsy to your own site can be a daunting task, but it's worth it in the long run. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can make the transition as easy and smooth as possible. Remember to choose the right eCommerce platform, pick the right theme for your store, upload your products, import your Etsy reviews, get a custom branded domain email address, redirect traffic from your Etsy shop to your new site, and send traffic to your new website. Good luck!
Highlights
- Moving from Etsy to your own site can be a great long-term solution for makers, artists, and designers who sell handmade products online.
- Shopify is the leading eCommerce platform and the best choice for most people.
- Picking the right theme for your Shopify store is important, and we recommend going with something simple and proven.
- Importing your product reviews from Etsy to your own site can help give your customers confidence and trust that they can buy from you.
- Getting a custom branded domain email address is an easy way to communicate that you're legit and professional.
- Redirecting traffic from your Etsy shop to your new site and sending traffic to your new website are important steps in making the transition.
FAQ
Q: Is it necessary to close down my Etsy shop when moving to my own site?
A: No, it's not necessary to close down your Etsy shop. You can keep it running in the background and redirect traffic to your new site.
Q: How long does it take to make the transition from Etsy to my own site?
A: It can take a week or so to set up your new site and make the transition, but there will be a learning curve, so be patient with yourself and the process.
Q: Do I need to change all my old social media posts to point to my new website?
A: No, it's not worth the time to go through editing all your old posts to point to your new website because it's also likely no one is seeing those old posts anymore.
Q: How can I get more traffic to my new website?
A: There are many ways to get more traffic to your new website, including creating a system for outreach, setting up your email autoresponders and signup forms, keeping up your social media posting, and making sure your site is search engine optimized and conversion rate optimized. You can also invest in Facebook ads if you have the budget for it.
