Using Etsy’s New Shop Updates Feature

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“Shop Updates” is a new way to share and promote your Etsy listings. This free tool allows you to pair an image with a link to an item in your online shop and then share it on Etsy and social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Let’s look at the ins-and-outs of this cool new feature!

While they are visible on the desktop version of your shop, Shop Updates must be created on your smartphone or tablet using the Etsy app. To open this feature click on the three lines at the top left corner of the app, then select “Shop Updates” from the drop down. Then follow these easy steps:

Pick Your Image

Start by uploading a photo from your phone or tablet. Just click the blue camera button at the bottom and either take a new picture or use an existing one from your device. The image you use for your Update should give viewers insight into your shop and products. Use it to explain what inspires your work, give shoppers a look into your creative process, or show off your studio space. There are so many possibilities with Shop Updates!

Connect with Your Item Listing

You can then attach an orange “tag” connected to one listing from your Etsy shop. This is an easy way to promote a new item, a seasonal product, or any other product you want to highlight. Most importantly, the listing should relate to your image for consistency. You have the ability to move the tag’s position around in the post at any time, but won’t be able to change which listing you’ve attached to the Shop Update.

Write a Caption

After selecting your item listing, the next step is to write a caption for the Shop Update. I’ve seen all kinds of blurbs- from coupon and sale announcements to fun stories about what inspires the artist. Just make sure it’s appealing to your audience and appropriately represents your products and Etsy shop. After you’ve written your caption, just click the button to share your Update to your Etsy store! They will also be visible to those who have favorited your shop, appearing in their personalized homepage when they are logged in.

Share on Social Media

Now for the fun part! Posting your Shop Updates to social media networks is really easy. Once you create your Update, a share page will pop up- allowing you to post to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also email, text, and copy to share it other places. The clickable link that posts to social media will open the listing page you’ve attached with a button to view the Update at the top. Another great aspect of this tool: you can share (as well as edit and delete) older Updates you’ve created in the past.

How have you used this new tool for your Etsy shop?

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Rebecca George

Designer at Purple and Lime, Inc.

A Cincinnati native, Rebecca studied Art History & Geology at the University of Michigan. From there, she earned a degree in Fashion Design and Marketing from the American Intercontinental University in London, England. Highlights of her career include having several pieces from her graduation collection featured in the international fashion magazine i-D (UK, Feb. 2007) and working on men’s leather pouches for the movie Elizabeth: The Golden Age (which won an Oscar for Best Costume). Her brand "Purple and Lime" is a line of super-fun womenswear, jewelry, and accessories based in Chicago. She has been successfully selling her line on Etsy and in shops for four years, and enjoys teaching others about online handmade selling!

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Latest posts by Rebecca George (see all)

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