Digital Products

Step-by-Step Guide to Selling on Etsy from India in 2025

Etsy is buzzing in India, offering a fantastic opportunity to sell products globally, especially to markets in the US and UK. This guide breaks down the essential steps—from understanding what Etsy is to setting up your shop and mastering key features.

Part 1: Understanding Etsy and Seller Accounts

1. What is Etsy?

Etsy is an e-commerce platform where you can sell a wide variety of products —from physical goods (clothing, jewelry, crafts) to digital products and even services. It is a global platform that serves all countries.

2. Etsy US vs. Etsy India: Clarified

Forget the confusion! Etsy is a single global platform.

  • You must create your seller account on Etsy India.
  • Your single seller account will allow you to sell products in the US, UK, and globally.
  • Your prices, set in Indian Rupees (₹), will automatically convert to the local currency (dollars, pounds, etc.) for international buyers. There is no need for a separate “Etsy US” account.

Part 2: Registering and Setting Up Your Shop

3. Essential Requirements BEFORE Registration

Before starting your registration, have these essentials ready:

  • PAN Card: This is mandatory for account creation.
  • Bank Account & UPI ID.
  • PayPal Business Account: Crucial! Create a PayPal Business Account (not a personal one) and activate it before registering on Etsy. Your payment processing depends on this.
  • Your Product: Have your first product, its pictures, and all listing details ready to go.

4. The Registration Process (Start Your Shop)

  1. Go to Etsy.com and click ‘Get Started’.
  2. Choose to ‘Continue with Google’ or use an email ID.
  3. Click ‘Let’s do this’.
  4. Onboarding Questions: Answer the questions (e.g., ‘I am just starting to sell’) or ‘Skip This Question’.
  5. Click ‘Start Your Shop’.
  6. Shop Preferences: Select English as the language, India as the country, and Indian Currency (₹) as the shop currency. Save and continue.
  7. Shop Name: Enter your desired shop name and click ‘Save and Continue’.

5. Creating Your First Listing (The Mandatory Step)

Your first listing is required to proceed with shop setup.

  1. Add Photos/Video: Upload high-quality photos and, optionally, a video of your product.
  2. Product Details:
    • Title and Description: These are vital for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and product ranking.
    • Categories: Select the appropriate category.
    • Renewal Options: Choose Manual renewal. You pay $0.20 (approx ₹17) per listing, and it is valid for 4 months. The suggestion is to keep this manual to manage ranking, even though Etsy suggests automatic.
    • Product Type: Select ‘Digital’ if you are selling digital goods, or leave it as default for a physical product.
    • Tags: Add all 13 available tags! This is must for SEO.
    • Price and Quantity: Set your price. For digital products, quantity is often unlimited. For physical goods, set the exact quantity.
    • Upload File (Digital Product): Add the actual digital file the customer will download after purchase.
  3. Click ‘Do This Later’ to save the listing.

6. Payment Setup and Verification

  1. Country: Select India.
  2. Individual or Business: Choose ‘Individual’ unless you have a GST number/established business.
  3. Address & ID: Fill in your address and personal details.
  4. PAN Card: Upload your PAN card document. (Voter ID or Passport are also options).
  5. PayPal: Add your PayPal Business Account email ID and verify it. This is how you receive international payments.
  6. UPI ID: Add your UPI ID for receiving local payments/withdrawals.
  7. GST Number: This is optional for selling on Etsy, unlike other platforms. A PAN card is sufficient.
  8. 2-Factor Authentication: Set this up (recommended) and save your backup codes.
  9. Click ‘Open Your Shop’.

Note: Your account may initially show as “Suspended” for 3-7 days. This is common for new accounts. If it remains suspended after this period, you can appeal using the Contact Etsy Support option under Selling on Etsy $\rightarrow$ Appeal a Suspended Account.

Part 3: Key Etsy Features and Growth Tips

FeatureDescriptionAction/Tip
Profile SetupSet up your ‘About Your Shop’ page (bio, owner photos, roles, shop story, creation photos/videos).COMPULSORY! This is part of SEO and builds trust.
MessagesCommunicate with buyers (product queries, delivery, pricing).INSTANT REPLY! Your response rate needs to be 95% or higher to qualify for the Star Seller badge.
Star SellerA badge for high-performing, trusted sellers.Aim for 95%+ message response rate, 4.8+ rating, 5+ orders, and $300+ in sales in the last 90 days.
Marketing (Sales & Discounts)Run sales and create coupon/promo codes.Update/use this feature often (e.g., every 24 hours) for conversion.
Marketing (Etsy Ads)Run paid ads within Etsy.Experts can use this feature to boost visibility and sales (will be covered in Part 2/3 of the course).
Offsite AdsEtsy runs your product ads on Google, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.Recommended to keep ON. It’s free upfront; Etsy takes a higher commission (15%-17%) ONLY when a sale happens through the ad.
Social MediaConnect Instagram, YouTube, etc.Create special offers for your social media followers to attract them to your shop.
IntegrationConnect your shop with third-party tools.MUST CONNECT: eRank (for advanced SEO/keyword research) and Pinterest (great for fast sales).
StatisticsView data on visits, orders, revenue, conversion rate, and traffic sources (search, social media, ads).Check often to track performance and see where your buyers are coming from.
Etsy Seller AppA dedicated mobile application.Install it! Get instant notifications for buyer messages to maintain the 95% response rate and manage your shop on the go.

List of Tools and Accounts Discussed

  1. PAN Card (Mandatory Document)
  2. Bank Account
  3. UPI ID
  4. PayPal Business Account (Mandatory Payment Processor)
  5. eRank (Third-party SEO tool – highly recommended)
  6. Pinterest (Social media platform – highly recommended for sales)
  7. Etsy Seller App (Mobile app – highly recommended for fast customer service/Star Seller)
  8. Facebook Shop/Business Manager (Recommended for connecting and fast sales)

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