What is Esty? Esty Review

1. Six major functions

1. Forum: Forum has become a standard feature of almost all community websites today, which allows users to discuss online around specific topics. For DIY websites such as Etsy, forums are an excellent way to provide customer support, market research and promotion. Unlike ordinary mass online forums , Etsy has assigned special staff to manage all the content of the forum. The forum of the Etsy website adopts a very open attitude, and both positive and negative user feedback will receive an official reply from Etsy. But on the other hand, Etsy will strictly control such behaviors as spamming, junk advertising and repeated posting to ensure the quality of forum information and the reading environment. This is the most basic of the six magic weapons of the Etsy online community, but also the most indispensable one.

2. Laboratory: The virtual laboratory is an online classroom set up by Etsy for users. It is also a new way of learning and socializing. In the United States and around the world, Etsy enthusiasts have established many offline handmade interest groups with different themes. The virtual laboratory brings this offline learning and exchange activity online to allow more Etsy users to participate. In the virtual laboratory, online users can watch the online explanations of handmade trainers, ask questions, and even communicate directly with other users participating in the course. Almost all the interactions that can be carried out in offline classrooms have been moved online by Etsy. Various learning activities broadcast online through the virtual laboratory make the connection between Etsy network community members closer.

3. Chat room: Although most C2C websites provide chat tools between buyers and sellers, public chat rooms are rare. Etsy not only has multiple public chat rooms on its website, but also allows users to build their own chat rooms and set password protection. The purpose of doing so is still to encourage communication between Etsy users and increase the degree of coupling within the online handmade community. Etsy believes that handmade product enthusiasts are like bottles of chemical reagents . Putting them together and stirring them thoroughly will inevitably cause a violent chemical reaction, which will not only stimulate new creativity, but also increase the stickiness and attractiveness of the entire community.

4. Groups: Long before websites like Etsy appeared, groups were already a common way for handmade product enthusiasts to discuss and communicate. Etsy attaches great importance to completely replicating this offline relationship between users online and helping them further expand the size and influence of each group. Etsy's online group function provides a high degree of freedom, allowing initiators to set their own topics and provide necessary resource support for group promotion. There are already hundreds of groups with different themes on Etsy. They occasionally post event notices online, organize offline gatherings, or hold online communication activities through Etsy chat rooms or virtual laboratories.

5. Widgets: Widgets have become a standard feature of viral marketing in online communities today, and Etsy is no exception. Handicraft enthusiasts are happy to announce that they are part of the Etsy community. Offline, they wear T-shirts and baseball caps with the Etsy logo , and online, they also need similar gadgets to show their identity and taste. Etsy certainly won't miss such a promotional opportunity. They provide users with a large number of iconic buttons, pictures and other material resources, and even provide tools that can automatically generate online store display pictures. When users insert various Etsy widgets into their Facebook, Twitter or blog pages, Etsy will have countless voluntary spokespersons, and the promotion effect is far better than traditional advertising.

6. Blog: Finally, the website component that has contributed the most to the development of Etsy is Etsy's blog The Storque. The Storque is different from the official blog of a general company. It is not a mouthpiece for Etsy's internal views, but more like a handicraft magazine for the Etsy community. The focus of this magazine is on the introduction of handmade artists, beginners' guides, and various theme event notifications. The Storque page is beautifully made, comparable to an electronic version of The New Yorker. The articles on it are jointly completed by Etsy's full-time editors, special authors and ordinary Etsy users, and are updated several times a day. Every month, millions of handmade enthusiasts come to the Etsy website to browse the latest content of The Storque and participate in discussions. Converting these blog readers into buyers is the second step of Etsy's two-step strategy to attract buyers.

2. Main Users

Etsy data survey shows that about half of the website's traffic comes from outside the United States, mainly from the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, Australia, etc. The survey sample involved 67 countries, and 97% of the respondents were women.

The largest number of people speak English, followed by French, German, and Spanish. Almost everyone chooses to trade via PayPal.

The most interesting questions in the survey were two: How did you hear about Etsy? And how did you market your store outside of Etsy? Most people answered "word of mouth" to the first question, with blogs ranking second, ahead of search engines and advertising.

People's answer to the second question is: mainly promote their online stores through blogs, followed by Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.

3. Seller Protection

Etsy's Seller Protection program offers shops with eligible transactions. With Seller Protection, buyers who report problematic transactions will be guaranteed that your account status will not be affected. For transactions paid through direct checkout, Etsy Protection insures the funds associated with the transaction. Sellers must adhere to the restrictions listed below. In order for a transaction to qualify for Seller Protection, the following requirements must be met:

1. Follow Etsy’s site-wide policies for returns, exchanges, and custom orders on your store’s policies page.

2. Communicate with the buyer through dialogue.

3. Accurate items, including color, size, material, condition, customizable options, etc. Custom order details such as photos and description, confirm details with buyer through conversation.

4. Provide an estimated arrival date (also known as handling time).

5. The shipping address is the address listed on the Etsy receipt, or agreed upon by the buyer through conversation.

6. Mark the goods as “shipped” promptly and accurately after delivery.

7. Provide proof of transportation, such as logistics tracking number, and also provide proof of delivery of goods.

8. For goods priced over US$250, use a shipping method that can be tracked upon signing for and provide signature confirmation.

9. In case of dispute and buyer's communication within the scope of the case within 7 working days.

10. In the case of Etsy disputes, respond within 7 calendar days.