Great info GRQ, Tnx.
So, I can not create designs using Naruto or other anime character and put them on t-shirts, mugs etc? I want to start a tshirt/cup designs based on anime characters - will it be under any copyright?Hey guys,
Recently been trying to be more active on Blackhat since I'm liking this community - both for the intellect and the motive behind doing things. Nonetheless, I decided to post a method that's been working for me for the past 2 months with, in my opinion, pretty good results. It ain't nothing new, but I have a few tips that may help any newcomers. The method isn't really too milked either, so you can still jump into it yourself, I'm just moving on to other things (got bored lol).
Nonetheless, the method is - dropshipping on Etsy.
Ain't nothing new, as I mentioned before, but there's a specific way to do things since Etsy isn't very fond of people dropshipping on their website.
For starters, you'll need to pick a niche. I'd reccommend women's clothing, anime and TV shows(be careful with copyright infringement) and jewelry. If you want more detailed statistics of your own website or simply the trends, you can purchase a subscription on erank.com - $5.99/mo
You first step is probably the most crucial one. This is an issue I ran into multiple times. When you first create a store and upload your first products, it'll take about a week or so for you to be verified. Now, there isn't any DIRECT indication of verification, but I know it exists. Etsy moderators review your store. If they see you dropshipping products from aliexpress, they'll ban you. Simple as that. There is, however, one way around it. Integrate Printful into your store. Act as if you're going to sell POD shirts or whatever. This is *semi* allowed, so be careful about the niches you pick. Nonetheless, these shirts most likely won't generate a sale for you, since there's literally thousands of POD stores on Etsy. Nonetheless, a very crucial step to not get yourself banned instantly. Once the supposed verification process passes, you can add the aliexpress products.
Next, once you've made your store, you have your products, here are some little tips to optimise everything for as many sales as possible:
1) Make 25% discounts on everything. Advertise a 25% storewide sale. This means, take the price you want to sell something at ($19.99), divide it by 3 and multiply it by 4. That way you get the price you need to set your product at before the sale. Under marketing, sales and coupons, make the sale and apply it to all your products.
2) Keep your stock low. You have the ability to change the quantity of your items. If you keep it at 3-5, it'll say in red letters under the listing: "Only X left and Y people have it in their carts". Just a good lil motivator for people to buy the product. Make sure you edit the quantity every once in a while so your listing doesnt end, otherwise you need to pay to renew it.
3) Fake accounts and reviews. This is an important one. A friend of mine got banned in this way. Let the verification process pass (around a week or so) and then create 2 fake accounts and buy the items from yourself. This way you can write reviews for yourself and also increase the number of sales you have - alot easier to convince people to buy something from you if you have 2 sales rather than 0. Also, from these fake accounts, add all your items in to the fake account carts. Why? Well, inside the shopping carts, it says the same "Only X left and Y people have it in their carts", essentially just motivating people to buy your item before it supposedly goes out of stock. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS, IF YOUR FAKE ACCOUNT SOMEHOW LINKS BACK TO YOU, YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE PERMANENTLY BANNED.
4) Set your processing time to 3-5 days and your shipping time to 7-21 days. Say that it ships from China.
5) Not everything can be sold. Many things will get you sent a copyright infringement letter. Get 3 of those, and you're out. Research on Etsy, pretty easy to see what can and can't be sold. Just Etsy search it. If you can sell it, there'll be basically 1 on 1 copies of pictures from the niche. If there's drawings, look alike things, etc. - probably cant be sold. As an example - Naruto - can't be sold.
I'm personally in the anime and TV show niche and it's doing alright. Etsy have VERY simple advertising, which is great. It's a decent bit of work, but it'll be worth it. Also Etsy have a great app on your phone for sellers, so you can always stay up to date with whats happening to your store.
Lastly, I've attached my stats from the last week. I have to point out that this was a GOOD week, better than usual, so don't get too hyped. I've only been on Etsy for 2 months, god knows what'll happen in the 3rd. Truth be told, there is one incredibly good part of this - once your items rank in the top listings for a specific niche, they'll keep selling without any advertising. Last week, I didn't advertise at all, which is why it's so special. Of the $937 total revenue, $678 was profit, after fee's rounding to around 580eur or $600. My countries minimum wage is 450eur or around $470, so I'd say this is more than enough for this stream of income.
If you have any questions, be sure to message me on here or leave it in the comments of the thread. I'd love to integrate myself into the community more and become active. Good luck and work hard
I just put a bunch of zeroes. Had no problems
Definately about shipping days and customer relation.
Hey guys,
Recently been trying to be more active on Blackhat since I'm liking this community - both for the intellect and the motive behind doing things. Nonetheless, I decided to post a method that's been working for me for the past 2 months with, in my opinion, pretty good results. It ain't nothing new, but I have a few tips that may help any newcomers. The method isn't really too milked either, so you can still jump into it yourself, I'm just moving on to other things (got bored lol).
Nonetheless, the method is - dropshipping on Etsy.
Ain't nothing new, as I mentioned before, but there's a specific way to do things since Etsy isn't very fond of people dropshipping on their website.
For starters, you'll need to pick a niche. I'd reccommend women's clothing, anime and TV shows(be careful with copyright infringement) and jewelry. If you want more detailed statistics of your own website or simply the trends, you can purchase a subscription on erank.com - $5.99/mo
You first step is probably the most crucial one. This is an issue I ran into multiple times. When you first create a store and upload your first products, it'll take about a week or so for you to be verified. Now, there isn't any DIRECT indication of verification, but I know it exists. Etsy moderators review your store. If they see you dropshipping products from aliexpress, they'll ban you. Simple as that. There is, however, one way around it. Integrate Printful into your store. Act as if you're going to sell POD shirts or whatever. This is *semi* allowed, so be careful about the niches you pick. Nonetheless, these shirts most likely won't generate a sale for you, since there's literally thousands of POD stores on Etsy. Nonetheless, a very crucial step to not get yourself banned instantly. Once the supposed verification process passes, you can add the aliexpress products.
Next, once you've made your store, you have your products, here are some little tips to optimise everything for as many sales as possible:
1) Make 25% discounts on everything. Advertise a 25% storewide sale. This means, take the price you want to sell something at ($19.99), divide it by 3 and multiply it by 4. That way you get the price you need to set your product at before the sale. Under marketing, sales and coupons, make the sale and apply it to all your products.
2) Keep your stock low. You have the ability to change the quantity of your items. If you keep it at 3-5, it'll say in red letters under the listing: "Only X left and Y people have it in their carts". Just a good lil motivator for people to buy the product. Make sure you edit the quantity every once in a while so your listing doesnt end, otherwise you need to pay to renew it.
3) Fake accounts and reviews. This is an important one. A friend of mine got banned in this way. Let the verification process pass (around a week or so) and then create 2 fake accounts and buy the items from yourself. This way you can write reviews for yourself and also increase the number of sales you have - alot easier to convince people to buy something from you if you have 2 sales rather than 0. Also, from these fake accounts, add all your items in to the fake account carts. Why? Well, inside the shopping carts, it says the same "Only X left and Y people have it in their carts", essentially just motivating people to buy your item before it supposedly goes out of stock. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS, IF YOUR FAKE ACCOUNT SOMEHOW LINKS BACK TO YOU, YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE PERMANENTLY BANNED.
4) Set your processing time to 3-5 days and your shipping time to 7-21 days. Say that it ships from China.
5) Not everything can be sold. Many things will get you sent a copyright infringement letter. Get 3 of those, and you're out. Research on Etsy, pretty easy to see what can and can't be sold. Just Etsy search it. If you can sell it, there'll be basically 1 on 1 copies of pictures from the niche. If there's drawings, look alike things, etc. - probably cant be sold. As an example - Naruto - can't be sold.
I'm personally in the anime and TV show niche and it's doing alright. Etsy have VERY simple advertising, which is great. It's a decent bit of work, but it'll be worth it. Also Etsy have a great app on your phone for sellers, so you can always stay up to date with whats happening to your store.
Lastly, I've attached my stats from the last week. I have to point out that this was a GOOD week, better than usual, so don't get too hyped. I've only been on Etsy for 2 months, god knows what'll happen in the 3rd. Truth be told, there is one incredibly good part of this - once your items rank in the top listings for a specific niche, they'll keep selling without any advertising. Last week, I didn't advertise at all, which is why it's so special. Of the $937 total revenue, $678 was profit, after fee's rounding to around 580eur or $600. My countries minimum wage is 450eur or around $470, so I'd say this is more than enough for this stream of income.
If you have any questions, be sure to message me on here or leave it in the comments of the thread. I'd love to integrate myself into the community more and become active. Good luck and work hard
Selling something that isn't already sold on Etsy is a big part of it, BUT, another really important thing is that you gotta find that wow factor. You may have cool plushes of cats, that convert ("wow") 1 of every 10 of people that see it, since they're used to seenig plushes. However, if you get an LED glow-in-the-dark-cat plush that wows and makes 5 of every 10 people stop and look, you've found a winning product. Surely, the example shouldn't be taken directly, but you get the point.
That's a great question, OP can you answer this? All I see on Etsy is people selling trademarked stuff and doing huge numbers, and they don't even get banned, it's like Etsy is encouraging it.
Exactly, There are many sellers on Etsy who do this!
That's right Caped Baldy! Even OP said it "I'd reccommend women's clothing, anime and TV shows(be careful with copyright infringement) and jewelry."
