One of the most important steps to start selling after opening your Etsy shop is to properly prepare your product listings. Product photos, titles, descriptions, categories, tags, variations, and shipping information can directly influence a customer's purchasing decision.
In stores that operate on a Print-on-Demand model, the product listing process must be handled with even greater care. This is because while the seller is responsible for design and store management, the printing, preparation, and shipping of the product may be handled by a production partner.
In this guide, Podbul We will examine the steps for listing a product on Etsy, along with points that Print on Demand sellers should pay attention to.
What is an Etsy Listing?
An Etsy listing is the product page you create for an item you're selling in your shop.
A typical Etsy product listing includes the following information:
- Product photos and videos
- Product category
- Title
- Description
- Product Features
- Variations
- Customization Area
- Price and Inventory
- Tags
- Processing time
- Shipping Profile
- Return policy
- Production Partner Information
An incomplete or poorly prepared listing can make it difficult for customers to get enough information about the product. Additionally, category, title, description, attributes, and tags help Etsy match your product with relevant searches.
How to Open a New Product Listing on Etsy?
To create a new Etsy listing from your computer, follow these steps:
Shop Manager → Listings → Add a Listing
In the Etsy Seller app, go to the "Listings" section + You can use the icon.
You can either create a new product page from scratch or, if you have a similar product, proceed by copying an existing listing. However, you must ensure that the title, description, image, price, variations, and shipping information from the copied product are appropriate for the new product.
According to Etsy's official statement, a newly published listing may take up to 48 hours to appear in Etsy search results and categories in some cases.
1. Add Product Photos and Videos
Since customers can't physically inspect products on Etsy, photos are one of the most important parts of the product page.
Etsy allows you to add up to 20 photos to a listing. Product videos can help the customer better understand the product's appearance, size, texture, or how to use it.
You can prepare images for Print on Demand products in the following order:
- Main mockup clearly displaying the product and design
- Close-up view of the design
- Different views of the product
- Color options
- Size Chart
- Product dimensions
- Fabric or material information
- The product's appearance in use
- Example of personalization
- Care and washing instructions
When it comes to a main product photo, what should be paid attention to?
The main image should make it easy for the customer to see which product they are purchasing.
For example, if you're selling a sweatshirt, in the main image:
- Sweatshirt model
- Print design
- The product's primary color
- The overall fit of the product
It should be clearly visible.
Adding too much text, icons, or decorative elements to an image can make it difficult to understand the product. Deceptive mockups, especially those that show the design larger than the actual print area, should be avoided.
There should be as much consistency as possible between the mockup and the actual product sent to the customer in terms of color, print position, and design size.
2. Select the Correct Product Category
Category helps Etsy understand your product and display it in the correct sections.
For example, if you're selling sweatshirts, it's more appropriate to choose the “”sweatshirt'' subcategory that most accurately describes the product, rather than a general "Clothing" category.
Correct category selection is important because Etsy may show different product attributes and variation options depending on the category.
When choosing a category, consider the following questions:
- What exactly is the product?
- Who is it prepared for?
- What material is it made of?
- What is it used for?
- Physical product or digital product?
Etsy can offer automatic category suggestions based on uploaded photos. However, the seller needs to check if the suggested category truly describes the product accurately.
3. Prepare the Etsy Product Title
The product title is important for both the customer's understanding of the product and for Etsy SEO efforts.
Clearly state what the product is in the title. Then add important details such as design theme, target audience, intended use, or customization features.
The basic heading formula you can use is as follows:
Product type + design or theme + target audience + intended use
Example:
Personalized Teacher Sweatshirt, Custom Teacher Name Shirt, Back to School Gift
This title clearly indicates the product type, customization feature, target audience, and gift purpose.
What to Avoid When Writing a Title
- Using the same word repeatedly
- Adding popular words unrelated to the product
- Write in all caps
- Using difficult-to-understand symbols
- Only write general expressions like “very good,” “the best,” or “perfect.”
- Filling the title with technical terms a customer wouldn't use
Etsy product titles can be up to 140 characters long. However, Etsy recommends using clear and easy-to-read titles and including the product’s key features at the beginning of the title.
4. Write a detailed product description
Product descriptions should not be just keyword stuffing for SEO purposes. They should present information clearly and organized in a way that the customer may need before purchasing.
In the first paragraph of the description, state what the product is and who it is suitable for.
Example:
This personalized teacher sweatshirt is designed for teachers looking for a comfortable and meaningful back-to-school outfit. Add a name or short text to create a custom design.
You can then divide the explanation into sections.
Product Details
- Product model
- Material information
- Mold type
- Printing method
- Color options
- Brain interval
How to Order
- Select the product color.
- Make your bed selection.
- Write personalization information.
- Please check your spelling before ordering.
Production and Shipping
- The product is made to order.
- Explain the estimated production time.
- Please note that shipping time is separate from production time.
- The durations may vary during peak periods.
Care Instructions
- Wash the product inside out.
- Specify the appropriate washing temperature.
- The print should not be ironed directly.
- Add the appropriate drying instructions for the product.
Important Notes
- Please note that colors may vary slightly due to screen settings.
- Please ask the customer to check the size chart.
- Clearly explain the return policy for personalized products.
Etsy lists title, description, images, and videos among the important SEO elements of listing pages. Words related to the product should be used naturally in the description, but the same keyword should not be unnecessarily repeated.
5. Fill in Product Features
Product specifications can also be seen as “attributes” on Etsy.
Depending on the category you choose, Etsy may ask you for the following information:
- Main color
- Secondary color
- Material
- Coil type
- T-shirt
- Style
- Purpose of use
- Special occasion
- Target audience
Fill in the features related to your product as completely as possible. However, do not select features unrelated to the product just to appear in more searches.
For example, marking a t-shirt that is only sold in black and white as red or blue could lead customers to the wrong product page.
It's not enough to just focus on tags, as category and attribute fields help Etsy understand your product more accurately.
6. Set Up Etsy Variations Correctly
Variations allow the customer to choose from different options of the product.
The most frequently used variations in Print on Demand products are:
- Size
- Color
- Model
- Style
- Package quantity
- Design option
For example, for a t-shirt, the first variation can be set to “Color” and the second variation to “Size”.
Etsy allows for different pricing, stock quantities, and SKU information based on variations. The available options for sellers can vary depending on the product category.
Key point for Podbul users
The options you offer in your Etsy listings must be compatible with the options that can be produced by Podbul.
For example, leaving a color or size on Etsy that is not available for the Podbul product can cause production issues when an order is received.
Before publishing the listing, check the following:
- Do the color names on Etsy match the product options?
- Are all bodies suitable for production?
- Is the correct price being used for each variation?
- Have options that are out of stock or out of production been closed?
- Are the products and variations matched with the correct SKU information?
7. Add Personalization Options
If you offer options for name, date, short message, font, color, or custom graphics for customers Custom OptionsYou can use its area.
You can add a maximum of 5 personalization fields to a listing on Etsy. The types of fields available are:
- Text box: To get a name, date, or short message
- List of options: To offer font, color, or design options
- File upload: To receive photos, logos, or files from a customer
Each field should ask for only one piece of information and clearly instruct the customer on what to write or select.
For example, only “Personalization” You can create a field like this instead of typing:
Field title: Name
Instructions: Please type the name you want to appear on the product, paying attention to capitalization. Example: Emma
You can set a character limit for text boxes to match your design and choose whether a field is required or optional. On Etsy, the character limit can be set between 1 and 1,024 characters.
When preparing personalization fields, clearly state the following information:
- What information should the customer enter?
- In which section of the product will the information be located?
- Will uppercase and lowercase letters be reflected in the design?
- What is the character limit?
- Is the course mandatory or optional?
- If necessary, how should the font or color be selected?
Using separate and explicit personalization fields can reduce the need to contact the customer again due to missing information.
8. Prepare Your Etsy Labels
A maximum of 13 tags can be used for a product on Etsy. Each tag is another opportunity for the product to match a customer's search.
When preparing tags, focus on short search phrases that customers can use, rather than just single words.
For example, the following types of labels can be used for a teacher sweatshirt:
- teacher sweatshirt
- Teacher's gift
- Custom teacher shirt
- personalized teacher
- back to school gift
- gift for educator
- teacher team shirt
- Back-to-school gift for staff
- custom name shirt
- Teacher appreciation
- elementary school teacher
- Floral teacher shirt
- gift for her
Target different search intents on labels
Instead of repeating the same phrase with minor variations across all labels, target different customer searches.
You can categorize the tags into these groups:
- Product Type
- Target audience
- Gift purpose
- Special occasion
- Design theme
- Personalization
- Profession or interest
Tags should be directly related to the product. It is not appropriate to use a word that is irrelevant to the product just because it is popular.
Enter Price, Stock, and SKU Information
The selling price of a product should not be determined solely by production cost.
Consider the following expenses in Print on Demand product pricing:
- Production cost
- Printing cost
- Shipping cost
- Etsy's current listing and transaction fees
- Payment processing fees
- Advertising expenses
- Discounts
- Return or remake risk
- Target profit
Keep in mind that the costs of different sizes or product variations may change when pricing. For example, the production cost of plus-size items or different models may not be the same.
The SKU field does not need to be shown to the customer but can facilitate in-store product tracking. An organized SKU system can be beneficial, especially for stores managing many products, colors, and sizes.
Sample SKU:
TS-TEACHER-BLK-M
This SKU can be read as:
- T-shirt
- TEACHER: Design group
- BLACK
- M: Medium
10. Select Processing Time and Shipping Profile
Print on Demand products are usually produced after the customer places an order. Therefore, the product's processing time and shipping time should be considered separately.
Processing time, This is the time required for the order to be put into production, printed, quality checked, packaged, and handed over to the shipping company.
Shipping time The estimated time from when a package is handed over to a shipping company until it reaches the customer.
When creating a listing, please ensure the following information is accurate:
- Is the product made to order?
- Is the processing time realistic?
- Is the country of origin of the shipment correct?
- Is the shipping zip code correct?
- Was the appropriate shipping profile selected?
- Is the estimated delivery information realistic?
- Are the international shipping options correct?
If the product is being shipped from a manufacturing facility in the US, the actual shipping location of the product must be used in the shipping profile. The country where the store owner lives may not be the same as the country the product is shipped from.
For more information on how to set up cargo settings, see Podbul's How to Set Up Etsy Print on Demand Shipping Settings? 2026 Shipping Profile Guide You can review the content. Further information on processing time, delivery estimates, and shipping profiles for POD products is provided on Podbul's blog.
11. Add Production Partner Information
One of the most important areas Etsy sellers using a Print on Demand service need to pay attention to is the production partner information.
Etsy defines a production partner as a person or company that helps with the physical production of an item, following the seller's original design, but is not part of the seller's shop team.
Print on Demand services can also be considered within the scope of production partners.
According to Etsy's official policy, it is possible to work with production partners and utilize Print on Demand services. However, the product sold must be based on the seller's original design or a customer's personalization request.
Podbul can be described as a production partner.
An Etsy shop working with Podbul can transparently explain that the design belongs to them, and Podbul helps with printing, preparing, and shipping the product.
Example English explanation:
Podbul helps us print, prepare, and ship the original designs created by our shop.
This explanation states that the design responsibility belongs to the store, and Podbul is supported during the production and shipping process.
When adding a production partner:
- Enter the name of the manufacturing partner.
- Please specify the production location correctly.
- Explain why a business partnership is necessary.
- Specify which part of the product you prepared.
- Explain what stages the manufacturing partner is responsible for.
- Match the relevant listings with the production partner.
You should explain the business model accurately and transparently, rather than hiding the manufacturing partner information or making it seem like you physically produce the product yourself.
12. Check Listing Settings One Last Time
Review the listing settings before publishing the product.
Key areas to check:
- Shopping section
- Renewal option
- Return policy
- Shipping Profile
- Production partner
- Personalization
- Variations
- Price
- Stock
- SKU
- Product Features
Adding the product to the correct section in your shop can help customers browse similar items more easily. On Etsy, shop sections can be managed from the Listings area within Shop Manager.
After a listing is published, changes can be made to the title, description, photos, price, and other fields. Etsy states that it does not charge an additional listing fee to edit an existing listing.
Etsy Listing Publishing Checklist
You can use the following list before publishing your product:
- The product has been added to the correct category.
- The main visual clearly shows the product.
- The design looks realistic on the mockup.
- Bedtime chart added.
- Color options were displayed.
- The title clearly describes the product.
- The main keyword was used near the beginning of the title.
- The first paragraph of the explanation introduced the product.
- Materials and care information added.
- Product features are complete.
- 13 label fields were evaluated.
- Variations match producible options.
- Personalization instructions are clear.
- All basic costs were considered in pricing.
- Processing time is realistic.
- The cargo departure location is correct.
- The appropriate shipping profile has been selected.
- Production partner information has been added.
- The return policy has been checked.
- The listing preview was reviewed.
Common Mistakes When Creating Etsy Listings
Using a very general title
“Phrases like ”Cute Shirt“ or ”Best Gift" don't sufficiently describe what the product is.
Continuously repeating the same keyword
Filling the title and description with the same words reduces readability. Keywords should be used within natural sentences.
Do not attach a table of contents
Especially for clothing items, a size chart appropriate to the product model should be displayed so that the customer can choose the correct size.
Leave unproducible variations open
It should be checked that each color and size available for sale on Etsy matches the production system.
Confusing processing and shipping times
Production time and shipping time are not the same. Both pieces of information must be realistic for the estimated delivery date shown to the customer to be calculated accurately.
Do not include production partner information
If a Print on Demand service assists with the physical production of a product, this collaboration must be disclosed in the relevant Etsy fields.
Show the mockup as different from the real product
The size of the design, print position, and product color should be as close as possible to the product sent to the customer.
For current steps and possible screen changes Etsy’You can follow the official help page of.
Manage Your Etsy Print on Demand Product Listing Process Correctly with Podbul
Listing a product on Etsy doesn't just involve uploading photos and setting a sale price. An Etsy product page that is SEO-friendly and trustworthy must clearly explain the product's features to the customer, include the correct keywords, and help Etsy match the product with relevant searches.
When listing Print on Demand products on Etsy, pay special attention to the following areas:
- Using high-quality and realistic mockup images that accurately represent the product
- Match color and model variations with producible options
- Specify production time and shipping time separately and realistically
- Include production partner information on Etsy in compliance with Etsy's rules and transparently
- Providing clear instructions to the customer for customizable products
- Create a compatible title, description, category, attributes, and Etsy tags
Podbul supports entrepreneurs selling Print on Demand products on Etsy with product preparation, printing, production, and shipping processes. You can apply your original designs to suitable products on Podbul and manage the production process of the products you will sell in your Etsy store.
Before publishing your Etsy listing, it's important to ensure that the size, color, and style variations you offer on Etsy perfectly match the product options in Podbul. This way, you can avoid issues like unavailable variations after an order is placed, incorrect product selections, and customer dissatisfaction.
When working with Podub, preparing your Etsy product listings with accurate product information, realistic mockups, appropriate variations, and transparent manufacturing partner details can help your store appear more professional and trustworthy.
To learn more about opening an Etsy shop, product listing, SEO, shipping settings, and the Print on Demand process, get Podbul's free Etsy POD training you can examine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can print on demand be sold on Etsy?
Yes. Etsy allows products to be made by a production partner or a print-on-demand service based on the seller's original design or the customer's personalization request. Production partner information must be disclosed accurately and transparently in the relevant product listings.
Should Podbul be added as a production partner on Etsy?
If Podbul assists in the process of printing, preparing, or shipping a product, it should be added as a production partner to the relevant Etsy product listings. It should be clearly stated that the design was prepared by your shop, and Podbul supports the physical production and shipping processes.
How many tags can be used on Etsy?
A maximum of 13 tags can be used for her Etsy product listing. Tags should include phrases directly related to the product, such as product type, target audience, intended use, design theme, and gift-search intent. Instead of repeating the same word, different and relevant search phrases should be targeted.
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