Is Paying for Etsy Ads a Good Idea? A Seller’s Honest Thoughts

Running an Etsy shop can feel like steering a boat in rough waters. Some days, the sales flow in like a strong tide.

Other days, it feels like you’re stuck in a quiet harbor, waiting for something to happen.

These calm days without sales make you wonder if Etsy ads might be the answer.

I had never used Etsy ads before a certain time. But in the last weeks, I changed my opinion on them.

Let me tell you about my newest journey with them.

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THE CHALLENGE
Getting More Visitors to Your Shop

When I started selling on Etsy, I thought the hardest part would be creating my products.

Huge mistake.

The real challenge is getting people to find and buy them.

Etsy is a massive marketplace, full of talented sellers.

Standing out feels like shouting in a noisy room. You know your products are great, but how do you get others to notice?

Ads seemed like a good solution. Etsy offers a way to promote your listings, showing them to more people searching for related items.

But is it worth spending your money on this?

That’s what I set out to learn.

PAID GROWTH
Your Time and Money Are Precious

Running an Etsy shop isn’t just about creating. It’s also about managing your time, energy, and budget.

Every dollar you spend on advertising is a dollar you could use elsewhere. So it’s important to know whether ads can truly help you.

I’ve heard mixed stories.

Some sellers say ads boosted their sales and grew their businesses. Others say they wasted money without seeing much of a return.

My goal was to find out the truth for myself.

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PROBLEM
Common Problems with Etsy Ads

Before I will talk about my experience, let’s talk about what can go wrong.

These are the problems many sellers face with Etsy ads:

• Low returns on investment: Some sellers spend money on ads but don’t see enough sales to make it worthwhile.

• High costs for clicks: You pay each time someone clicks your ad, even if they don’t buy anything.

• Guessing which items to promote: If you choose the wrong products, your ads might not perform well.

I went into this experiment knowing I could face these problems, but I wanted to test if I could make it work.

TURNING ON ADS
Testing Etsy Ads in My Shop

First, let me tell you that I treat my Etsy shop like a business.

This way, I want to spend money on things that can give me more exposure, more traffic, and more sales.

Etsy ads can do that.

Here’s what I am doing with my shop which is full of digital products.

Step 1: Promoting All My Listings

This is my start.

I chose a $5 per day budget for two days, then increased it to $10 per day.

And I am advertising all my active listings.

I think this can give me the best chance to see what worked.

Etsy’s ad system is smart. It learns from how shoppers interact with your ads.

So, I want to run the ads for all of the listings for 30 days, and then I optimize them.

Step 2: Focusing on My Best Sellers

This is the optimization phase.

A shift in my strategy.

I will look at my shop stats and choose to advertise my top-performing items. These should be products that already have plenty of views and sales. The idea is to double down on what was already working.

This approach can make a big difference.

The idea is to get more clicks turning into purchases. By focusing on fewer items, I should stretch my budget further.

If you’re thinking about trying Etsy ads, start with your best sellers. They’re your safest bet.

Step 3: Testing New Products

I also want to turn ads to promote new items in my shop.

When I launch something new, it can take time to get noticed in Etsy’s search results. Ads give those products a little boost.

They can help me see which ones shoppers like the most.

STRATEGY
Ads Can Be Useful (With the Right Strategy)

Here’s my honest opinion: Etsy ads can help, but only if you use them with a strategy.

They won’t magically make every product sell. But they can give your shop a boost if you’re thoughtful about how you spend your budget.

My Best Tips for Using Etsy Ads

1. Start Small: Set a daily budget you’re comfortable with. You can always increase it later.

2. Choose Your Best Products: Focus on items that already perform well or represent your shop’s style.

3. Give It Time: Ads need time to gather data. Run your campaign for at least 30 days to see meaningful results.

4. Keep an Eye on Costs: Track how much you’re spending and what you’re earning. If an ad isn’t paying off, stop it and try something else.

Should You Pay for Etsy Ads?

The answer depends on your goals.

If you’re looking to grow your shop and are willing to invest some money to test things out, ads can be a good tool.

Think of them as one part of a bigger strategy to build your business.

For me, the key is experimenting and learning as I go.

Not every ad is working, but the ones that do, can bring in more sales and new customers.

If you’re curious, I’d say give it a try. Start with a smaller budget, stay flexible, and don’t be afraid to stop if it’s not working.

Ads can help, but they’re just one piece of the puzzle.

The most important thing is to know your shop and your customers.

What do they love? What do they need? Use that knowledge to guide your advertising decisions.

If you’re willing to test, learn, and adjust, Etsy ads might be the push your shop needs to stand out.

Have a wonderful day,

Miroslav from The Design Nexus

TOOLS YOU SHOULD TRY

Even if you sell products other than mugs or t-shirts, it doesn't mean it will cost you more.

There are tools that can help you with the tasks, and most of them have free versions.

• Research: Alura

• Graphic Designs: Creative Fabrica

• Design Editing: Canva, Kittl

• Vectorizing: Vectorizer AI

• POD Fulfillment: Printful, Printify

Disclaimer: Within the article, you will find affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through these links, I want to sincerely assure you that I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you.