I’m sure many of you, like me, find yourselves perplexed when starting something new, as you get directed in different directions. When I began, it was an easy decision to pick Etsy because it was a whole new space for me, and Etsy provides a lot of bells and whistles right out of the box. Until I started thinking about creating a brand, my own website didn’t even cross my mind. I had Shopify listed somewhere at the bottom of my to-do list because my focus was on achieving enough sales on Etsy and establishing myself before branching out.
Initially, my ideas were still forming, and my approach was quite experimental. As I evolved, I realized that branding was crucial for connecting with my audience. I wanted people to understand the story behind doodling_nyc and engage with our brand on a deeper level. This realization was the deciding factor for me to branch out early on because I simply could not stand out on Etsy. You might ask why? Etsy, while excellent for exposure, has limitations when it comes to customization. It provides basic branding tools like banners and logos, but these are often insufficient for creating a unique brand identity.
The second factor was trying to stand out in the POD (print on demand) space. POD is a means to an end for me because I am still learning what customers like before I invest in keeping a stock of products. I did my research on what POD merchandise people were selling on Etsy before launching my store. However, within a few months, many print-on-demand stores emerged selling NYC-themed products. I was using generic mockups for cover photos like many others, and at a glance and in the short attention span of scrolling, they could easily be mistaken for another POD store. This prompted me to invest in professional photography and seek help. You might think, "They are just cover photos." But first impressions do matter; with so many products available, the cover photo is the deciding factor that draws the buyer in to learn more. Another part of running an online store is SEO, which needs attention regardless of whether it's an Etsy store or your own website. Yes, I did invest in SEO for my Etsy store as well.
All of the above were great enhancements to my Etsy store, but it still wasn’t enough to showcase the brand fully. Etsy is great and has a built-in customer base, which is fantastic when you are starting out and trying to dip your toes in the water. I still have an Etsy store and will continue to leverage that marketplace.
It’s just been a little over a month since my Shopify website was launched, and while I am still learning the ropes, I feel great about us having our own website where we can share our story. All the things I mentioned about cover photos and SEO still hold true even with your own website. Additionally, there are other overheads like collecting taxes, upkeep, app fees, etc., which I did not pay attention to when I took this on as I did not have to worry about these on Etsy. Every day, I learn something new since launching the website and will keep sharing with you all.
If you came across this blog and have any questions or comments, you can DM me or reach out to us on Instagram at doodling_nyc.