Want to use AI for Etsy shop to boost sales? Learn how I did it.
Feeling like your Etsy shop growth is stagnant? I will be sharing 6 clever hacks you can try today to help improve your situation. As an Etsy seller who sells digital products, AI has been my best helper ever since I started my Etsy shop in 2023.
You will learn all about how to do SEO keyword research, using AI for Etsy listing, generate Etsy product description, how to use AI to make social media posts, and more.
This post is all about using AI for Etsy shop the clever way.
My Go-To AI Tools for My Etsy Shop
The two AI tools that I frequently use are Midjourney and ChatGPT. I use the free version of ChatGPT and the paid version of Midjourney.
For Midjourney, I am on the Standard Plan, which costs $24 per month with an annual billing period. You can also opt for monthly payments, which total $30 per month for the standard plan. Additionally, there is a Basic Plan available at $10 per month.
I chose the standard plan because my Etsy Shop specialises in digital products, and I needed the “Unlimited Relaxed Generations” feature. This ensures that if I exceed my monthly job limit, I can continue generating images at a slower pace. This investment is worth it to me because I prioritise the visual appeal of my shop. Knowing that I am committed to Etsy for at least 1 to 3 years, paying annually makes more sense.
Another significant reason I opted to pay for Midjourney is ownership of all the assets I create. Even if I choose to downgrade or cancel my membership, I retain ownership of the assets. Non-paid members do not own the assets they create. This feature helps alleviate potential inconveniences related to copyrights. You can read the full terms of service here.
Here are some quick start links for you:
Hack 1: How to do SEO keyword research
The first hack I leveraged AI for is SEO keyword research.
Personally, SEO plays a crucial role across various aspects of my shop, including product titles, descriptions, and tags on Etsy. It is also equally significant for social media, influencing elements like hashtags, captions, pin descriptions, pin titles, and more.
Typically, I start by conducting keyword research directly on the platforms (Etsy, Instagram, Pinterest) before turning to ChatGPT for additional short-tail and long-tail keywords. This allows me to input the keywords I have already researched, enabling ChatGPT to better understand my needs and cater more effectively to them.
Here’s an example of my process for a new Etsy product listing:
Step 1: Identify the product you are listing
Taking “Famous Landmarks Flashcards” as an example
Step 2: Perform keyword research on Etsy
(1) Search Bar
Type in a word related to the product and explore suggestions from the dropdown. Choose the most relevant or suitable option.
(2) PDP Page (ie product listing)
After entering the search term, scroll through similar products or those likely to have the same target audience. Click into the products, scroll down to find “Explore related searches” and “Explore more related searches” for additional keyword ideas.
Step 3: Do keyword research on Pinterest
(1) Search bar
Repeat the process used on Etsy, finding relevant keywords from the dropdown.
(2) Related Searches
After hitting enter, scroll through Pinterest searches until you find “related searches” to discover more keyword ideas.
Step 4: Consult ChatGPT for more ideas
Use a prompt like:
“
Based on the keywords below, could you give me 20 short-tail and 20 long-tail keywords?
Keywords:
<insert all of your keywords>
Requirements:
<insert your requirements>
“
This approach ensures comprehensive utilisation of the SEO opportunities provided by Etsy, preventing any characters or tags from going to waste.
Hack 2: Utilising AI to write Etsy Product Descriptions
The next hack is to utilise AI to assist with Etsy product descriptions. Another key aspect of SEO is ensuring that our keywords are present in the product description.
Here is an example of how I do it:
Step 1: Identify the product you are listing
Using the same product as the previous hack as an example
Step 2: Go to ChatGPT
Enter this prompt.
“
Using all the keywords below, could you help me write a product description for my Etsy product listing? It should be 2-3 sentences.
Keywords:
<1st keyword>
<the rest of the keywords>
Requirements:
Do not use any flowery language
<insert your requirements>
“
After much trial and error, this is the best prompt so far that can generate the result I desire.
One small tip is to put the product as the 1st keyword if you want the first sentence to include what the product is. For instance, putting “Famous Landmarks Flashcards” as the first keyword will be better than putting “Preschool Montessori Card”. The results will be much better. Try it out yourself.
Step 3: Edit and Use
Not gonna lie, but sometimes the results may be too elongated or complex, and we will need to edit just a tiny bit so that it is comfortable to read and understand.
Using this hack, you can spend less time drafting an Etsy product description that is SEO keyword-rich. I always prefer working on something that is drafted instead of starting on a blank canvas because writing has not always been my best suit.
Hack 3: Using AI-Generated Mockups for Etsy Thumbnails
The third hack is to generate mockups in Midjourney. I typically use this for my Etsy thumbnails and visuals on any social media platform.
I love using Midjourney for this because it helps me:
- Ensure a consistent branding colour palette in my visuals.
- Create mockups that are similar but unique.
- Develop mockups that are unique to my brand.
This is generally the prompt format that I use:
/imagine <image description>, <image style>, <colour palette>, 16k, hd –ar <size>
For instance, for this picture, the prompt I used is
/imagine poster with wooden frame, poster mockup, golden hour shine in, minimalist background, montessori colour palette, 16k, hd –ar 4:3
Using AI-generated mockups in this way allows me to have consistent and visually appealing thumbnails for my Etsy shop and social media platforms.
Hack 4: Writing Captions for Social Media using AI
The fourth hack is to write captions for my social media posts, specifically for both my main platforms, Pinterest and Instagram. Typically, I prefer batch work for my social media efforts, creating and scheduling all posts together. This hack saves me a lot of time by generating various caption variations and descriptions.
Here’s my typical process:
Step 1: Complete keyword research and content planning
You should have completed keyword research and content planning for each social media platform.
Step 2: Enter ChatGPT prompt
When drafting captions or product descriptions, I use the following prompt:
“
Acting as a Fortune 500 Marketing Specialist, could you help me draft <insert number> captions/product description for my <social media platform>?
My goal for these posts/pins is to <insert marketing strategy goal>.
Here are the requirements:
- <insert content>
- <insert keywords you want to be include>
- <insert length>
- <insert CTA if you need>
- <insert other requirements you have”
“
You can also add this prompt if you have written a draft:
“
This is the draft that I have written.
<insert draft>
Using this concept, please help me to write <insert number> captions/product description for my <social media platform>?
“
Step 3: Minor edit and publish
With the output, I usually mix and match and edit the phrasing a bit during my scheduling.
As my current social media strategy involves 3 pins every weekday on Pinterest and 1 static post every weekday on Instagram, this hack saves me tons of time, especially during batch work. Having a variety of caption variations for similar products and content ideas helps keep the content fresh.
Hack 5: Planning Fresh Social Media Content Ideas for Engagement
The fifth hack is to plan fresh social media content ideas. Just like me, I am sure many of you have creative blocks or writing blocks sometimes. This is when I go to ChatGPT to kickstart my creative juices for generating content on Pinterest and Instagram.
Below is my typical process.
Step 1: Identify goals and social media strategies
You should plan out your goals and strategies for your social media platforms.
Step 2: Enter ChatGPT Prompt
When looking to kickstart my creative juices to think of new content ideas, this is my go-to prompt.
“
Acting as a Fortune 500 marketing and social media expert, could you come up with <insert number> of fresh content ideas for my <insert social media platform>?
My goal is <insert goals>.
Requirements:
- <insert strategy>
- <insert target audience>
- <insert content ideas you already have, if needed>
- <insert products you want to promote, if needed>
“
Step 3: Align content with shop goals
After that, I go through the suggested content ideas and pick the ones I find will align with my shop goals. Note that I do not pick and pluck here; I still do further research in that topic just to ensure credibility and alignment with my shop branding and strategies. My goal is always to provide valuable content for my audience.
As much as AI can help generate many ideas, please do not solely use ChatGPT for content research. Conduct your own content research and market research properly after having some ideas.
Hack 6: Brainstorming New Etsy Product Ideas using AI
The last hack is to brainstorm new Etsy product ideas. Similar to the previous hack, I use this when I have a creative block and run out of ideas after conducting research. This is a good way to kickstart our creativity because it is super normal to have an “I don’t know what I don’t know” moment. With ideas, we can then deep-dive and research more about it.
This is the prompt that I personally use:
“
Acting as an expert in product development, could you help me think of <insert number> of new product ideas for my Etsy shop?
Here are some information about my shop:
- My Etsy Shop offers <insert products you sell>.
- My shop <insert branding and positioning>.
- My target audience is <insert target audience>.
- <insert other helpful information you can think of>
Please ask me questions so you can better brainstorm new product ideas that are suitable and relevant.
“
I love to include the last sentence just to make sure that I do not miss out on anything and ChatGPT can clarify the contents by asking me questions.
There you have it — 6 Clever Hacks to streamline your Etsy Shop, designed to save you time, enhance efficiency, and propel your Etsy growth. While these are effective strategies, remember, they are just a glimpse of the limitless power of AI. Bear in mind that ‘AI is only as powerful as its prompter.‘ To unlock its full potential, provide valuable and personalised information about your shop.
This post highlights 6 hacks to use AI for Etsy Shop.
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