Ever wondered whether there's money to be made in that little hobby of yours? Dreamed about quitting the day job and earning a living doing something imaginative, something you really enjoy? Do your friends queue up for your homemade knick-knacks? And is this starting to sound like a late-night infomercial?

Yes? Then Etsy is the site for you!

So what is Etsy?

Well, Etsy is an online marketplace where people around the world can connect to buy and sell unique goods. Everything on Etsy must be either handmade, vintage, or a craft supply, and the site has strict guidelines to help keep them trading in a way that benefits all stakeholders (it's a Certified B Corporation™).

It has over 1 million active shops, over 60 million unique monthly visitors, and operates in 200 countries across the world – in other words, it's the perfect platform for conscientious crafters who want to get involved in an inspirational community where they can share and discuss ideas with like-minded others, while building a successful independent business.

There are no membership fees, but it costs $0.20 USD to list an item (for four months, or until it sells), and Etsy then charges a 3.5% transaction fee when you sell your unique product.

Etsy, in a nutshell, can help you turn your passion into a business. So, if you're game for a challenge, roll up your sleeves and follow this step-by-step guide to setting up your very own Etsy store.

1. Get set up

Setting up an Etsy account is easy, just click 'Register' on their homepage and fill in the form.

However, before you rush into anything, take a second to think about your store name. It's one of the most important elements of your new business. You want it to be immediately recognizable and memorable, and for it to immediately call to mind all of the characteristics you want associated with your shop.

In other words, it's all about branding. Are you elegant or simple? Eco-conscious or extravagant? Be original, and spell it properly!

Once you've set up your account, you need to create your public profile. This is yet another opportunity to further your brand.

Tell people who you are, what you're about, why yours are the best organic homemade soaps ever to grace the face of the earth. While you're at it, tell them why the heck you spend so much of your time making soap anyway. People love a story, it makes you human, and it makes you relatable.

Once you've got your content sorted, take a moment to think about your banner (the pretty bit at the top of your store). This is another great way to personalize your page, so find a free one online or create your own.

2. Pay attention to your products

You've got your store, now you need to fill it! When buying online, all your customers can see are your beautiful photographs and enticing descriptions, so you need them to do your products justice. Each of your carefully made items needs to be photographed in a way that captures its unique qualities, making it irresistible to click-happy customers.

Expert tips include:

• Using a good quality camera 
• Taking advantage of natural light 
• Being aware of your product’s background 
• Experimenting with different angles

Remember, the more professional the look of your photographs, the more confidence buyers will have in you and your shop.

Product descriptions are also extremely important – they're how buyers find your items from the search bar. So, to write fantastic descriptions, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is it? 
• What type is it specifically? 
• Who's it for? 
• What's the main material? 
• What's the main color? 
• How did you make it? 
• Where could you use it? 
• What size is it? 
• What style is it?

Each question won't apply to every item you sell, so be discerning and emphasize what you think is special about your product. Brainstorm keywords and phrases related to your object and remember synonyms, including these will prevent your needle getting lost in the Etsy haystack.

Once you're happy with your photos and descriptions, you can add them to your store, and hey presto. You're almost ready to start selling.

3. Get down to business

When setting out on such an exciting creative venture, it's easy to forget that what you're actually doing by setting up an Etsy store is starting your very own business. Don't panic! Before you make your first sale, take the time to consider and write your store's policies.

Think about things like:

• Payment Methods 
• Shipping 
• Refunds and exchanges 
• Frequently asked questions (this list will grow as your shop does!).

Clear and consistent policies will shape your customers' expectations, and set both you and them up for a happy shopping experience. Good customer service is (dare I say it?) as important as the product you're selling, so to foster repeat business, keep your customers happy.

As well as policies, before you declare yourself open for business, there's the tiny matter of price to consider.

Pricing your items can be tricky. Perhaps before now you've been giving away your little creations, or just charging for materials, after all, you enjoy doing it...

Stop right there. If you really want to give up the day job, then it really is necessary to be business minded.

A basic formula for pricing your items is:

Materials + Labor + Overheads + Profit = Final Retail Price

Accurate pricing is a key element in the success of your business, so assessing a true value for each of the above factors is essential. For further information on how to accurately price handmade goods, check out Gussy Sew's fantastic blog post.

The business side of things doesn't have to be scary, and remember, the great thing about Etsy is that, as well as a marketplace, it's a community, and there are hundreds of excellent resources available for your perusal to help you out if you get a little confused.

So that's it, you're ready! Open your doors and wait with baited breath until you make your first sale... Done it? Excellent! Open a bottle of champagne (or elderflower presse, whatever takes your fancy) but don't let that prevent you from shipping your item, obviously.

4. Don't stop there!

Once you've made a few sales, don't rest on your laurels. Think of your Etsy store, well, like a living, breathing thing that you can tend and grow.

Think marketing, promotions, perfecting your store with seller feedback, and who's to say you should stop at Etsy?

Once you've cut your teeth, why not go it alone? A platform such as Amazon Webstore gives you even more control over your business, and with plenty of webinars and demos to guide you on your way, setting up shop on your own will be a doddle.

Come on, what's stopping you?

Authors Bio 
Rob Toledo is a Seattleite who matches the usual stereotypes. Loves coffee, the rain, and prefers dogs to cats. When not rambling about marketing and web design, he can be found in the mountains either climbing or hiking.