If you’re an Etsy seller, there are dozens of different tools that can help you manage your shop. However, finding just the right tools for your specific business needs can be like searching for a knitting needle in a haystack of yarn. In this article, I’ll share my top recommendations for tools you need to build a successful Etsy shop.
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Bookkeeping & Tax Tools for Etsy Sellers
Bookkeeping is an essential part of running a successful Etsy shop. As a fellow Etsy seller, here are my top recommendations for staying on top of your bookkeeping and tax needs.
QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is my top recommendation for small business bookkeeping. It’s simple, straightforward, and easy to navigate, even for the non-accountant. Another bonus is that most accountants and bookkeepers know how to use QuickBooks Online, so it’s easy to hand off your bookkeeping when your business grows! If you need help getting started, be sure to check out my Quick Start Guide to QuickBooks.
Sync with Etsy
If you use QuickBooks Online, there is an app called Sync with Etsy that can help you quickly and easily keep up with your monthly bookkeeping. In order to use Sync with Etsy, you need to connect your Etsy shop with QuickBooks Online.
Once you’ve connected your account, you can import your Etsy orders and other data into QuickBooks Online. If you want more details, be sure to check out this post.
(This app is currently available for US-based shops only, and you can’t connect your QuickBooks Online account to more than one shop.)
Tax Jar
Over the past few years, many states have changed their sales tax laws, which has made sales tax a lot more complicated. You may now be required to collect and remit sales tax to states other than your home state. Tax Jar is a tool that can help you figure out if you need to collect sales tax for more states, and then submit those payments.
Shipping Tools For Etsy Sellers
If you only sell digital products in your Etsy shop, you won’t have to worry about shipping supplies. However, if you’re selling a physical product, shipping is one of the most important things to keep in mind for your store. After years of owning an Etsy shop, there are a few shipping tools I can’t do without.
- Postage Scale: This is the best tool to use when you’re trying to figure out how much you should be charging for shipping. It’s very easy to use and will help you figure out how much you’re actually spending on shipping.
- Labels: You can print your labels directly through Etsy, but you would still need the label printer paper to make it easier.
- Boxes & Mailers: When it comes to boxes and mailers, you’ll want to keep plenty on hand. Nothing is more stressful than having an order but no shipping box. A great place to start is with the United States Postal Service website. You can order flat rate and priority mail boxes for free! I had known about free flat rate boxes years ago, but it took a while for me to realize that I could replace a shipping box I was paying for with a free priority mail version from USPS. When I do need to purchase boxes, I use Uline because they have a huge selection.
- Tissue paper, twine, stickers, industrial tape dispenser, and thank you notes: If you want to stand out and create an excellent experience for your customers, going to the effort of wrapping and including branded stickers and a thank you card helps you set yourself apart and show that you care.
Marketing Tools
While it’s true that Etsy is searchable, you can’t expect to rely solely on the Etsy platform to drive all your traffic and sales. This isn’t one of those situations where if you build it, they will come. Growing your shop takes time, effort, and strategy.
Alura
Alura is an app that helps Etsy shop owners grow their business. With this tool, you can research keywords, track inventory, promote products, get more reviews, and track important metrics. In addition to all of these useful features, Alura also has a helpful team that can offer personalized help through the app’s chat feature.
ConvertKit
One of the best ways to grow your Etsy business is by building your email list. But you can’t add people to your email list without their permission. Instead, you can use a tool like ConvertKit to create a simple landing page where you can collect email addresses. This allows you to reach out directly to people who have signed up for your list to share your products and how they can get the most out of their purchase. If you want to know more about starting an email list, be sure to check out my posts on how to build your list and how to get started with email marketing.
Tailwind for Pinterest and Instagram
Highly visual platforms like Pinterest and Instagram and great places to promote your products. The drawback to posting on social media is that it can be time-suck. That’s where a tool like Tailwind comes in handy. Tailwind is an app that makes it easy to optimize and schedule social media posts in advance. It works for both Pinterest and Instagram (and also recently added Facebook). If you’re curious how I use Pinterest, be sure to check out this post.
Photography Tools
Having top-notch product images is a must-have for Etsy sellers. Even if you don’t have an expensive camera, with the right lighting and photo editing tools, you can post amazing photos.
PicMonkey
PicMonkey is a great photo tool for Etsy sellers. It’s affordable, easy to use, and has a ton of great features. PicMonkey offers many different editing tools that are all designed to make your images stand out. Whether you’re looking for something speedy or need advanced color correction options, this app will have what you need.
Lightroom
Another popular editing tool is Lightroom. This program is part of the Adobe Suite and has tons of features that allow you to quickly make your images look perfect! If you use your phone for taking product photos, you can get the Lightroom app for free. Lightroom presets are a great way to quickly apply a consistent look to your images.
Lightboxes
Due to the rise of e-commerce, lightboxes aren’t just for professional photographers anymore. A lightbox can provide the perfect backdrop for your products, without any filters needed. Here is an affordable and portable recommendation for you.
