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"Many startups use Etsy as a launching pad, but what if you\u2019re interested in doing it the other way around? As a small business owner, you might find an advantage in expanding your existing business onto Etsy.\nIn case you\u2019re unfamiliar, Etsy is an expansive ecommerce platform that hosts small business online storefronts. Etsy shop owners primarily sell handmade and vintage items, such as cross-stitch patterns and \u201870s biker jackets, but the site has plans to welcome wholesale operations, too.\nIts mission to support original and creative projects remains strong, however. \u201CLike you, we\u2019re bored by the artificiality and ugliness of most products out there,\u201D reads the Etsy blog. \u201CWe endeavor to inspire you with the imaginative, the durable, the forward-thinking, the lovely, the comforting, the provocative.\u201D\nIf your small business products fit the bill, read on to discover how an Etsy storefront can support and grow your brand. \n1. Handmade? Local? Creative? Why Not, Then?\nHere\u2019s one way to look at it: If you could sell your wares at a flea market, then Etsy is probably a great fit for your business. We\u2019ve seen everything on Etsy, from handmade jewelry to vintage video games and from silk-screened tees to homemade jam. As long as you make it, source it locally or can ensure it\u2019s one-of-a-kind, your product will fit nicely into the Etsy framework. If you outsource your product to a factory in Indonesia, then pass on the platform.\nEtsy offers a great feature to small businesses and customers dedicated to supporting their neighborhood economies. Etsy Local permits people to buy and sell to their neighbors \u2014 literally \u2014 which cuts shipping costs, reduces environmental impact and supports local mom-and-pop shops. \n2. Give Your Website a Break\n\n\nAs a small business, you may not have enjoyed the budget or the time to update your website in awhile. Perhaps it needs a fresh design or a better online payment tool? In that case, consider using Etsy as a temporary \u201Cpop-up shop\u201D while you take the time to rebuild your main ecommerce site. \nEtsy seller Courtney Prince first decided to launch her Etsy shop, Doloris Petunia, when she realized her main site needed a serious overhaul. \u201CWhen I discovered Etsy, my initial reaction was that it was a prettier eBay and a much better alternative to my malnourished website,\u201D she says. \u201CI soon discovered that it was much more than that because it allowed me to feature, promote and market my products better than any website or PR rep that I could have afforded at the time.\u201D\nPrince has since expanded her business, with huge help from the Etsy community of customers who adore her jewelry. She\u2019s now preparing to relaunch a main website, but is taking her time as she remains satisfied with the tools and presence Etsy offers. After all, \u201CIn this day and age, your website needs to be as well made and functional as your products,\u201D says Prince. \n3. Experiment With New Projects\nThink of Etsy as the quirky aunt of ecommerce: She\u2019s going to accept and nurture you, no matter how weird you are.  \nDon\u2019t be afraid to join in by adding your own wacky side project. Like Kickstarter, Etsy is a great way to gauge how receptive the world is to your ideas \u2014 with very little investment. Own a framing shop? Sell some of your own artwork on Etsy (with attached frames). Run a silk-screening business? Feature some pre-made unicorn t-shirts. \nPrince plans to run both a main website and her Etsy shop for different purposes. \u201CSince all of my work on Etsy is one-of-a-kind, handmade by me or a member of my tiny team and designed with the specific buyer in mind, we are planning to create a line of products which will enable our customers to buy ready-made pieces through our website (in order to further keep up with the demand).\u201D\n4. Tap a New Community\n\n\nEtsy isn\u2019t just a marketplace; it\u2019s a community, too. The site\u2019s social layer is robust \u2014 sellers \"favorite\" each other\u2019s shops, communicate with customers and keep updated profiles. And they expect a response \u2014 Etsy customers value that transparency and familiarity. \nAs a small business, you should be eager to tap valuable communities, especially those like Etsy that will help promote your brand. Just keep in mind, however, that it\u2019s important to reciprocate the love. Be communicative not only with customers, but with other sellers too \u2014 they\u2019ll appreciate the support and may even be able to share tips for small business success on the site. \n\u201CIf you have a great product, you can very quickly be elevated by the community of Etsy members, American Idol-style, and create buzz with no intentional effort,\u201D explains Price. \u201CThe Etsy website gives you a much larger platform to be discovered than just your own independent website (or card table) floating around in obscurity.\u201D\nAnd the Etsy sellers and customers are not the only ones who are rooting for you. The Etsy team does a great job featuring, advising and providing support to its members. Prince refers to the efforts as \u201Ccommunity-based, promotional aspects, like the features they run on their blog, and the way they support and highlight the members of their developing community.\u201D\nWhat experience do you have with Etsy? Do you think it's valuable for a small business to have a presence on the ecommerce site? Share your tips for Etsy sellers in the comments below. \nMore Small Business Resources From OPEN Forum:\n- What Every Small Business Needs to Know About Liability- 9 Steps for Getting Kickstarter Dollars- Why Social Learning Benefits Your Business\nImage courtesy of Flickr, Orbmiser"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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