Why did my new Etsy shop views drop after early sales, and how do I fix it?

Hi! Yes—what you’re describing is really common for new Etsy shops: Etsy often gives new listings/shop a short “test” period where they get more impressions, then traffic drops back until your listings prove they convert (clicks, favorites, add-to-carts, sales, good delivery experience). So it’s usually not that something is “wrong,” but you’ll want to tighten your Etsy SEO + conversion pieces and make international shipping feel low-risk for buyers.

Here’s what I’d fix first (highest impact):

1. Make sure Etsy can show accurate delivery dates (this affects trust + conversion)

• Double-check every Etsy shipping profile has: correct origin postal code, processing time, and a cross‑border shipping service selected (Etsy relies on these to show estimated delivery dates).
• If your delivery estimates look too long or too vague, buyers often won’t favorite/message—they just leave.

1. DDU from Türkiye can absolutely reduce conversions (especially EU/UK)
   DDU means the buyer may get contacted by customs/courier and asked to pay VAT/duties/handling fees before delivery. Even when buyers know this logically, it still creates “surprise cost” anxiety at checkout.

What to adjust:

• Be very clear in your listing (and shop FAQ/policies) with one simple line like: “Import taxes/duties may be collected on delivery and are the buyer’s responsibility.” (Keep it calm and short—don’t over-explain.)
• If most of your customers are in the EU and your items are typically low-value, also make sure your carrier is electronically transmitting the marketplace VAT info when required so buyers don’t get charged twice. If your shipping method can’t transmit that data reliably, switching carriers/services can improve delivery experience and reviews.

1. Improve search visibility by targeting “buyer language,” not maker language
   For embroidered aprons, Etsy search tends to reward very specific intent keywords. Your goal is to match searches like:

• “personalized embroidered apron”
• “custom name apron”
• “linen apron embroidered”
• “floral embroidered apron”
• “kitchen apron for women” / “barista apron” / “bistro apron”
  Use those phrases naturally across:
• Title (front-load the main phrase)
• Tags (each tag is a phrase; avoid repeating the same words over and over)
• Attributes (these act like extra tags—don’t skip them)
• First 1–2 lines of description (buyers + Etsy both look here)

A quick self-check: if your titles/tags are mostly “handmade apron, embroidered apron, apron,” you’ll get buried. If they’re “Personalized Embroidered Linen Apron, Custom Name Apron, Floral…” you’ll show up in narrower searches where you can actually win.

1. Fix conversion signals (because Etsy will throttle listings that get impressions but not clicks)
   A few fast wins:

• Photos: lead with a bright, close, lifestyle shot that instantly shows scale + embroidery detail. Add one tight macro photo of stitches, and one photo that shows ties/fit.
• Price/offer clarity: if personalization is available, make it obvious in photo #2/#3 and in the first lines of the description (and make personalization instructions frictionless).
• Variations: offer a couple of clear choices buyers expect (fabric color, thread color, pocket/no pocket, name placement). Too many options can hurt—keep it curated.
• Social proof: in month 1–2, even a handful of strong reviews (with photos) can change everything. Make sure your packaging and message encourage buyers to leave a review (without incentivizing it).

If you want, paste one of your listing titles + all tags + your main photo (screenshot is fine), and tell me your top buyer countries (US/EU/UK). I’ll suggest a tighter title/tag set and shipping wording that fits DDU without scaring buyers off.