What to Do Before You Open an Etsy Shop
Get ready to open a successful Etsy shop with smart product ideas, branding, pricing, photos, SEO keywords, fees, policies, and launch marketing already planned.
I recently opened an Etsy shop selling handmade resin earrings as a side project, and I’m still learning how to present my listings in a more polished way.
I’m not sure how to write effective Etsy listing titles (what keywords to include and how long they should be), and I also feel like my photos make the earrings look less clean and detailed than they do in person. I’ve also heard there’s an “About” section for your shop, but I can’t find where to add it in the shop settings.
What are the best ways to improve my titles and photos for Etsy search, and where do I add the shop About section (plus any other general shop critiques I should prioritize early on)?
Hi! For a resin earring shop, the fastest “polish upgrade” is (1) cleaner, more scannable Etsy listing titles that lead with what the item is, and (2) brighter, sharper photos with a consistent look—then add your Shop About story + a short process video to build trust.
Etsy’s current direction is clear, descriptive titles (often under ~15 words) vs. long keyword-stuffed strings. Think: Product + key style/material + color + closure/style + who it’s for (only if it truly fits).
A good title structure:
[Main keyword] + [style/shape] + [color/pattern] + [material] + [earring type/closure]
Examples for resin earrings (swap in your specifics):
Keyword tips that actually help Etsy SEO:
Resin is tough to photograph because it shows dust, micro-scratches, glare, and color shifts. Here’s what usually makes the biggest difference fast:
Lighting + setup (most important)
Make the details read
Shoot a consistent set for every Etsy listing
A strong “starter pack” is:
Image specs to prevent Etsy from making them look worse
On Etsy.com (desktop is easiest):
If your shop is brand new, make sure it’s opened/published—the About editor can be hard to access if the shop isn’t live yet.
What to put in your About (keep it real + trust-building)
If you want, paste 1–2 of your current titles and describe your typical photo setup (phone model + lighting/background), and I’ll rewrite the titles and suggest a specific shot list for those exact earrings.
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