I’m revealing everything that helped me take my Etsy print on demand shop from zero to my first $100K in revenue. Here’s what I’ll be covering:

• How I increased my traffic by 4x
• How I doubled my conversion rate to keep customers buying more.
• Improving profit margins: From $1 per sale (and sometimes negative profit) to a lot more.
• And the biggest factor that 20x’d my revenue

The Traffic Problem: Why Most Etsy Sellers Struggle

Low traffic is the #1 challenge for new sellers, as it was for me. The average Etsy seller makes around $2000/year in revenue.

Etsy is competitive. There are 7 million+ sellers, and new listings often get buried on page 10 where nobody will ever find them.

So how did I 4x my traffic? Let’s rewind to 2022.

How I Got Started (and What Didn’t Work)

My first few Etsy sales came from designs I had previously sold on Redbubble and Teepublic, two other print on demand platforms. But beyond that, I was just throwing out random ideas and hoping something would stick.

My early shop looked like many beginner stores:

• Around 30 designs, slapped onto every product imaginable (phone cases, mugs, t shirts, hats, etc.).
• Basic plain white background mockups.
• 300-400 listings, but most never sold.

Unsurprisingly, my shop barely got any visits, my conversion rate was awful, and my profit per sale was tiny. I didn’t set shipping settings correctly while selling worldwide either, so lost over $10 on some sales.

By August 2022, I got busy with school and wanted something more passive, so I deactivated almost all my listings and essentially quit POD. I started a digital products store instead.

But at that point, I just hadn’t figured out how to make Etsy work.

How I 4x My Traffic

Six months later, I decided to give print on demand another shot. But this time, I had a plan.

Step 1: Reactivating Proven Listings

I reactivated about 50 listings that had sold before. I left the rest deactivated because they had never performed well.

Step 2: Intentional Product Uploads

I started uploading new listings again, but with a key difference. This time, every upload was backed by research.

The 3 Types of Research I Used

1. Past Sales Data – I analyzed which of my previous listings had sold well and focused on similar styles and trends.
2. Keyword Research – I used tools to find what customers were actually searching for and optimized my listings accordingly.
3. Product Research – Instead of randomly uploading designs, I studied what was selling well in my niche and created products based on demand.

I prioritized them in this order, and I’ll expand on these later step by step.

This research based approach made a huge difference. Instead of throwing spaghetti at the wall, I was creating listings that had a real chance of selling. I still use this approach to this day.

Researching Your Own Bestsellers

• Review your own bestsellers through analytics to identify patterns. If something has sold well before, similar products are likely to perform well again.
• Etsy Analytics and Google Analytics are great tools to track keywords and product performance. Google Analytics offers more accurate data than Etsy’s dashboard, which can sometimes glitch.
• Focus on the products and keywords that are already driving sales, then create more listings around them.

Keyword Research: Boost Your Search Visibility

• Keyword research is essential, especially for new sellers or those looking to diversify. Etsy is a search engine, so using popular search terms in titles and tags can increase visibility.
• Traffic on Etsy largely comes from search, so optimizing for relevant keywords is key.
• Methods for finding keywords:
  • Etsy Search Bar: Typing letters or short phrases shows trending search terms.
  • Google Trends & Google Ads Keyword Planner: Use these for external search insights.
  • Pinterest Keyword Tools: Focused on commerce driven searches.
  • Bubble Trends: A Redbubble specific tool with broader applicability to Etsy.
  • Sale Samurai: A tool for Etsy specific keyword analysis. It shows related search terms, estimated searches, and competition. 
  • Most recent addition 2025: Marketplace insights which may available in your Etsy dashboard with Etsy Plus (slow rollout, some sellers have it but not others).

Building a Keyword List

• Combine various tools to create a comprehensive list of high demand keywords.
• I store these keywords in a spreadsheet for easy access and ongoing tracking. Over time, I’ve built a valuable collection of keywords from different sources.

Product Research: Find Winning Designs

• Once you have a keyword, search for bestsellers linked to that term. Focus on products “in a lot of carts” which you should be able to see on the mobile app version of Etsy, or ones that consistently perform well.
• Expand your research to other platforms like Redbubble, Amazon, and eBay. Track the most popular products and analyze trends.
• Paid tools like eHunt and EverBee can help, by filtering out products that aren’t performing, saving you time. But don’t expect them to be 100% accurate. Just use the results for general information and comparison, and take them with a grain of salt. Don’t start doing calculations with them (like I made the mistake of doing)!

Brainstorming and Design Creation

• Use trending keywords to inspire new designs. I often explore Etsy and other platforms for bestselling products, then create similar designs based on what’s already selling.
• Simple designs, even just one word, can be powerful when paired with the right keywords and audience.
• I use Canva and Kittl for design creation, but even simple text based designs can be effective if targeted correctly.

Starting with Product Research

• You can begin by researching bestselling products. Use tools like eHunt and search engines (Etsy, Amazon, Google, Redbubble, social media etc.) to identify bestsellers.
• Create a spreadsheet of popular products like this, but avoid copying designs outright to stay original. Focus on identifying design styles, niches, and keywords, not just replicating others.
• I personally prefer starting with keyword research to ensure the products are also aligned with search demand.

SEO: Simplified Strategy

• SEO is easier than it seems. Prioritize placing main keywords in your titles and tags. Etsy pulls from your description too, but it’s less important.
• Use the Everbee extension to scrape tags from listings, or tweak tags from previous listings. Alternatively, Printify’s AI SEO generator predicts high traffic keywords based on trends.

Trademark Check

• Always Google the keyword and check Trademarkia for trademarks before designing, especially for text based designs. Many popular phrases are tied to trademarks (e.g., song lyrics), so ensure you’re not infringing on other peoples intellectual property.

Ads Strategy: Organic vs Paid Traffic

• I experimented with ads and now spend only $1 per day, which yields a better return than larger budgets. Ads account for about 3% of my total traffic.
• Organic traffic is the real key. Focus on keyword and product research, then upload consistently. Ads can support organic growth, but shouldn’t be relied on solely for profit on Etsy.

Driving Traffic: Consistency is Key

• Research keywords, design products, and optimize your SEO with high traffic keywords. The more relevant listings you have, the more traffic you attract.
• I started seeing a noticeable traffic spike around 500 research backed intentional listings.
• It’s not just about uploading a lot of products, but uploading researched, high demand designs. The market is competitive, so expect trial and error as part of the process. The goal is to test what works and replicate that success.

Boosting Profit Margins & Conversion Rates on Etsy

When I first started selling on Etsy, I was shocked at how little profit I was making. Sometimes just a dollar per sale after all the fees. Refunds wiped out multiple sales’ worth of profit. That’s why I initially “quit” POD.

When I returned, I had to find ways to make selling sustainable. I did this two main levers: cutting costs or raising prices.

Cutting Costs

The simplest way to reduce costs is by switching to a cheaper provider.

1. Comparing Providers:

• I switched from Printful to Printify for most products because they were cheaper.
• I ordered samples to ensure quality and signed up for Printify’s Premium plan, which reduced costs further.
• Since Printify has multiple providers, I select the cheapest option based on the customer’s location. This speeds up delivery and lowers costs.
• For certain regions (e.g., Australia & NZ), Printful is actually cheaper, so I still use them when needed.

2. Claiming Refunds

• Early on, I refunded customers out of pocket when orders arrived damaged. Big mistake.
• Printful and Printify both refund lost or damaged items if you provide proof, so always claim your refunds by contacting customer service.

3. Encouraging Multi Item Orders

• Shipping is the biggest expense in POD. However, shipping costs drop significantly when customers buy multiple items.
• I’ve had orders of 10+ items where my profit margin was 48%, simply due to reduced shipping costs.
• How to get bigger orders? Specialize. Stores with consistent product types (apparel, drinkware, stationery) get more bundled purchases. That being said, I still sell many different product types in my store, however I have over 100 uploads per product type.

Raising Prices Without Losing Customers

You’ve probably heard, “Don’t compete on price. Position yourself as a premium brand.”

That’s true, but when I tried raising prices early on, sales tanked. Over time, I found strategies that let me charge more without scaring off buyers.

1. Social Proof (Reviews & Photos)

• More reviews (especially photo reviews) make customers trust the product, making them less price sensitive.
• I encourage reviews by following up after delivery and offering empathetic customer service.

2. Product Images & Branding

• POD is competitive. Most sellers list the same products. Your mockups & branding must stand out.
• I made all my listing images match a color scheme & aesthetic, which instantly built trust.
• Bonus: A consistent look makes it easier for returning customers to recognize your brand in search results.

3. Smart Shipping Strategies

• Free U.S. shipping boosts search rankings & conversions.
• For international buyers, I charge shipping ($5-$8). Surprisingly, they still purchase because few shops offer worldwide shipping.
• Tip: Using local POD providers for international orders helps cut costs further.

4. Selling Custom Items

• Personalization lets you charge more since buyers perceive it as unique.
• However, custom items don’t necessarily sell better than non custom ones, but they do command higher prices.

5. Offering Higher-Priced Products as Variations

• If you sell T shirts, add sweatshirts & hoodies.
• If you sell mugs, add tumblers or gift sets.
• At first, none of my higher-priced items sold, until I added them as variations on existing bestsellers.
• This works because the cheaper item ranks well in search, drawing clicks. Then, some customers who can afford it will upgrade to the premium option, boosting overall profits.

The Strategy That Blew Up My Shop

Etsy’s ranking system heavily favors listings with a strong sales history. But when you’re just starting out, getting that first traction can be tough. That’s where Q4 (October-December) changed everything for me.

• During Q4, Etsy traffic spikes, especially for print on demand products.
• Even slow selling listings started getting sales, creating a snowball effect that improved rankings across my shop.
• If you’ve set up good product research, SEO, and customer service, your shop should gain momentum after its first pass through Q4.

The Future - Moving Beyond Etsy

Etsy is great for cash flow, but it’s not a long term asset. Many sellers, including myself, have faced suspensions, high fees, and platform risks. Since Etsy owns the marketplace, they control your traffic and customer base.

That’s why I’m built my own website with Shopify. Owning your business means:

• You keep more of your profits.
• You control customer relationships and email marketing.
• It’s much easier to sell your business in the future.

Final Thoughts

Success on Etsy isn’t about luck, it’s about product research, smart SEO, and optimizing your pricing and profit margins.

Once you gain momentum, it compounds, especially during high traffic periods like Q4. But for long term success, consider building an independent brand to secure your business’s future.

I’ll be using the strategy I’ve outlined in this article to keep growing my business.