Things I Never Expected About Selling on Etsy

When I started selling on Etsy, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect:

✔️ Make cute things.
✔️ List them.
✔️ Watch the sales roll in.

Yeah… not quite. 😂  Etsy has been an amazing experience so far, but it’s also been full of surprises—some good, some… character-building. Here are a few things I definitely didn’t expect when I opened my shop.

1️⃣ People Will Favorite Your Stuff… But Never Buy It

At first, I thought a ton of favorites meant I was about to get a ton of sales.  NOPE. They favorite, they leave, and sometimes… they never come back.

📌 Me, seeing a new favorite: "Omg, they love it! They’re totally buying!"
📌 Me, two weeks later: "Hello?? Where did you go? COME BACK."

What I’ve learned: Favorites don’t equal sales. But they DO mean someone liked your product enough to save it—so there’s still hope!

2️⃣ You’ll Spend More Time on SEO Than You Ever Thought Possible

I used to think SEO (search engine optimization) was just for bloggers and big websites. Nope—turns out, it’s everything on Etsy.

✔️ What words do people search for?
✔️ What’s ranking in Etsy search?
✔️ Are my titles and tags actually working?

It’s a science and an art, and I’m still figuring it out. But I’ve realized that good SEO = more people actually finding my shop.  What I’ve learned: SEO isn’t optional—if people can’t find you, they can’t buy from you!

3️⃣ The Reality of Etsy Fees (And How They Add Up Fast)

Here’s something I definitely wasn’t prepared for—the way Etsy takes a little bite (ok, sometimes a BIG bite) out of every sale. At first, I was just excited to make a sale! Then I saw how much Etsy kept.

💸 Etsy’s Fee Breakdown (aka, where your money goes):
✔️ Listing fee – $0.20 per item
✔️ Transaction fee – 6.5% of the sale price
✔️ Payment processing fee – Varies by country (around 3-4%)
✔️ Ad fees (if you use Etsy ads)

So that $25 tumbler? Yeah… I’m not pocketing all of that.

📌 Me, after my first few sales: “Wait, why am I making less than I thought??”

What I’ve learned: Price for profit, not just to compete. I’ve had to factor in Etsy’s fees, packaging costs, and my time so that I’m actually making money—not just breaking even.

4️⃣ The Random Messages… Oh, the Random Messages

Nobody warned me about the messages I’d get from strangers. Some are sweet! Others? Straight-up weird.

🚩 “Can you make this design but change literally everything about it?”
🚩 “I saw this for cheaper at Walmart.” (…ok?)
🚩 “Do you offer this in a color you’ve never mentioned anywhere?”

What I’ve learned: Boundaries are a business owner’s best friend. Not every request is worth saying yes to!

5️⃣ Your Best-Selling Product Might Not Be the One You Expected

I thought I knew what would sell best. Turns out, my customers had a different idea.

The product I was most excited about? Meh. Crickets. 🦗
The one I almost didn’t list? Selling like crazy.

What I’ve learned: Let the customers decide. Keep an open mind and watch what’s actually selling—not just what you think is cool.

6️⃣ The First Bad Review Stings (Even If You Fix It)

I knew bad reviews were inevitable but knowing that didn’t make it any easier.  Even when I fixed the issue and made it right, the review stayed. Oof.

But after I let myself be bummed about it for a second, I realized:
✔️ One bad review doesn’t define my business.
✔️ Most people don’t expect perfection—they just want good service.
✔️ Future customers care more about how I respond than the actual mistake.

What I’ve learned: Take feedback seriously, but don’t take it personally. Mistakes happen—it’s how you handle them that matters.

7️⃣ The Joy of Seeing Your Work in Someone Else’s Hands

The BEST surprise of all? When someone actually loves what you made. When I see a happy customer post a photo, or when I get a message saying, “I love this so much!”—that feeling never gets old.

This is why I do it. Etsy isn’t just about selling—it’s about creating something that makes people happy.

Final Thoughts: Etsy is a Wild Ride, But I Love It

I never expected half the things that have happened in my first month on Etsy, but you know what? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

✔️ Some days are exciting.
✔️ Some days are slow.
✔️ Some moments are frustrating.
✔️ But every sale, every favorite, every happy customer makes it all worth it.

💬 If you’re selling on Etsy, what’s been the biggest surprise for you? Let’s share stories in the comments!

📌 Shop my designs here 🛒

Until next time,
Jecca