How To Avoid Getting Banned On Etsy 😱 (Especially For New Sellers)
TLDRIn this video, Drew discusses strategies to prevent being banned on Etsy, particularly for new sellers. He outlines six practical tips, including avoiding intellectual property infringement, ensuring listings are clear and honest, updating personal information regularly, adding new listings to maintain activity, participating in Etsy's community, and providing excellent customer support. Drew also addresses the challenges faced by sellers outside the US, emphasizing the importance of understanding local selling laws and Etsy's policies. In case of a ban or suspension, he advises on the appeal process and suggests alternatives like Amazon or setting up an independent website. The video is a comprehensive guide for Etsy sellers to safeguard their shops and continue their creative endeavors.
Takeaways
- 🚫 Avoid intellectual property infringement: Ensure all listings are unique and you have rights to sell them.
- 📝 Be extremely clear and honest in your listings: Provide accurate descriptions and disclose production methods.
- 📆 Update your personal information regularly: Keep all backend data accurate and up-to-date to avoid suspension.
- 🛍️ Add new listings consistently: Inactivity can trigger flags from Etsy’s algorithm.
- 🤝 Engage in Etsy’s community: Participate in forums to show you are a legitimate seller.
- 💬 Provide excellent and fast customer support: Respond quickly to messages and reviews to maintain a good seller rating.
- 🌐 For non-US sellers, check if your country is allowed to sell on Etsy and understand local selling laws.
- 🔍 Regularly review Etsy’s terms and policies: Understand what is allowed to avoid account deactivation.
- ✉️ If banned or suspended, use the appeal process: Provide documentation and be persistent in contacting support.
- 🛒 Consider alternatives to Etsy: If banned, explore platforms like Amazon or setting up your own online store.
- 📈 Build your own audience: Use social media and direct sales to gain more control and avoid reliance on a single platform.
Q & A
What are the six practical steps to avoid getting banned on Etsy?
-The six practical steps are: 1) Avoid intellectual property infringement, 2) Ensure listings are extremely clear and honest, 3) Update personal information monthly, 4) Regularly add listings to your shop, 5) Participate in Etsy's community, and 6) Provide excellent and fast customer support.
Why is it important to avoid using trademarked names, logos, slogans, and images in your Etsy listings?
-Using trademarked material without permission can lead to your listings being flagged, which may result in your account being banned. It's crucial to use only your unique designs or materials for which you have the rights and licenses to sell.
How can using mockups in your Etsy listings potentially cause issues?
-Using mockups that do not accurately represent the product can mislead customers, leading to bad reviews or flags on your shop. It's essential that mockups accurately depict the brand, style, color, and design of the actual product being sold.
What should you do if you are a non-US seller facing issues with your Etsy account?
-First, check if your country is allowed to sign up for Etsy and ensure that you comply with local state or national selling laws, including obtaining a sales tax permit or business license if required. Also, make sure your payment methods align with Etsy's preferred payment methods.
What should you do if your Etsy account gets temporarily banned?
-You should receive a notice via email and a popup in your dashboard explaining the issue. Address the problem as indicated and reach out to Etsy support for further questions or assistance. Once the issue is resolved, your shop should be reinstated.
What are some alternatives to selling on Etsy if you have been permanently banned?
-Alternatives include selling through Amazon, which has its own merch on demand option and allows for the integration of print on demand suppliers. Another option is to create your own website using platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix, and leveraging social media shops to drive traffic to your personal store.
Why is it recommended to disclose the print on demand process in your Etsy listings?
-Disclosing the print on demand process helps maintain transparency with customers, preventing confusion and potential issues that could arise from customers not understanding the production process of their purchase.
How can engaging in Etsy's community forums benefit your shop?
-Engaging in community forums shows Etsy that you are an active and serious seller. It also allows you to stay updated, informed, ask questions, and get support about common issues, which can contribute to a healthier Etsy account.
What is the significance of updating your personal information on Etsy regularly?
-Regularly updating your personal information ensures that Etsy can verify your identity and that you are a real person. This is particularly important for non-US sellers and can prevent account suspensions due to outdated or incorrect information.
How can providing excellent and fast customer support influence your seller status on Etsy?
-Quick and efficient customer support can lead to better ratings and a healthier Etsy account. It also contributes to the potential of becoming a star seller, which can happen faster if all the required boxes, including support, are checked.
What should you do if you receive a permanent ban from Etsy and wish to appeal?
-You should follow the appeal process provided by Etsy, which may include addressing the reasons for the ban, providing any necessary documentation or screenshots, and being persistent in contacting support for updates.
Outlines
🚫 Avoiding Bans on Etsy: Practical Tips
The video discusses strategies to avoid getting banned on Etsy, particularly for those using Knockout Design (KD) for their products. Drew, the host, emphasizes the importance of avoiding intellectual property infringement by ensuring all listings are unique and legally licensed. He also advises on the clarity and honesty of listings, including accurate product descriptions and disclosure of print-on-demand processes. The video promises further guidance for international sellers and those facing bans or seeking alternatives to Etsy.
🌐 Etsy Banning Concerns for International Sellers
This paragraph focuses on the challenges faced by Etsy sellers outside the US, where bans seem more prevalent. Drew talks about the necessity of updating personal information regularly and ensuring banking and tax details are correctly filled in Etsy's backend to maintain account authenticity. He also stresses the importance of continuous activity, such as adding new listings, to avoid being flagged as inactive. Community engagement and providing excellent customer support are highlighted as key to a healthy Etsy account, with tips on how to appeal a ban and what to do if a permanent ban occurs.
📚 Navigating International Laws and Etsy Policies
The third paragraph delves into the complexities international sellers may face, including regional selling laws and the importance of understanding and complying with them. Drew mentions the need for a sales tax permit or business license in certain locales and suggests that creating a business entity and obtaining an EIN might help in such cases. He also recommends sellers to thoroughly review Etsy's terms and policies, especially regarding VAT and seller fees, to avoid future deactivations.
🛑 Responding to Bans and Exploring Alternatives
The final paragraph addresses what happens when an Etsy seller faces a temporary or permanent ban. Drew outlines the appeal process for lifting suspensions and suggests providing documentation to support the appeal. He acknowledges the difficulty of dealing with Etsy's decisions and the potential role of automated systems in banning accounts. If a seller cannot regain access to Etsy, Drew suggests looking into alternatives such as Amazon or setting up a personal website with platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix, which can provide more control and help build a direct audience.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Etsy
💡Intellectual Property Infringement
💡Print on Demand (POD)
💡Mockups
💡Customer Support
💡Community Forums
💡Inactivity
💡Personal Information
💡Appeal Process
💡Alternatives to Etsy
💡VAT Sellers Fees
Highlights
Avoiding intellectual property infringement is crucial; ensure all listings are unique and you have the rights to sell them.
Trademarked names, logos, slogans, and copyrighted material should not be used without permission.
Using photographs? Make sure they are your own or you have the rights to use them.
Customize templates to create a unique design and avoid using the same template as others to prevent flagged listings.
Listings should be extremely clear and honest to avoid confusion and potential issues with customers.
Disclose the print on demand process in the listing description and backend data.
Avoid using mockups that inaccurately represent the product to prevent negative reviews and flags on your shop.
Do not use irrelevant keywords or tags in your listings that do not pertain to the product you are selling.
Update your personal information monthly to maintain account verification and avoid suspension.
Adding new listings regularly can prevent your shop from being flagged for inactivity.
Participating in Etsy's community forums shows commitment and can help avoid account issues.
Providing excellent and fast customer support is key to maintaining a healthy Etsy account.
For non-US sellers, ensure your country is on the list of those allowed to sign up for Etsy and understand local selling laws.
If you've been banned or suspended, there's an appeal process that can potentially lift the suspension.
In the case of a permanent ban, consider alternatives like Amazon or setting up your own online store.
Amazon offers its own merch on demand and the ability to integrate your own print on demand suppliers.
Having your own website allows for building an audience, email list, and more control over promotions and offerings.
Engaging with the Etsy community and following its terms and policies can help prevent account deactivation.
