Starting a new Etsy shop can feel overwhelming. There are so many decisions to make—what to sell, how to design it, how to price it, and whether or not anyone will actually buy it.
If you’ve ever thought, What if I open my shop and no one ever buys anything?—I get it.
Even though I’ve been selling printables on Etsy for years and have made over 120,000 sales through my original shop, there’s something about starting fresh that makes you second-guess everything.
But when I decided to create a brand new Etsy shop (from scratch) as part of my 3-day Etsy Printables Challenge, I followed the exact steps I teach inside the challenge. And in just 3 days, I made my first sale.
This wasn’t random luck. It wasn’t because I have a big audience or ran ads. I used a repeatable process that anyone can follow to start making sales on Etsy, even with a brand-new shop.
Today, I’m breaking down exactly what I did so you can do the same.
Why Making Your First Etsy Sale Matters
A lot of new Etsy sellers think their first sale will take weeks or even months. But the truth is, if you set up your shop the right way from the start, your first sale can happen much sooner than you think.
That first sale is powerful because it:
✔ Confirms that people want what you’re selling
✔ Builds your confidence as a new seller
✔ Signals to Etsy’s algorithm that your shop is active and worth showing in search results
If you haven’t opened your shop yet because you’re overthinking everything (What if I pick the wrong product? What if my shop name isn’t perfect?), keep reading. I’m about to show you how I did it—and how you can too.
The 3-Step Process I Followed to Make a Sale in 3 Days
When I opened this new Etsy shop, I didn’t do anything complicated. I didn’t run ads, post on social media, or email my list.
My first sale came from Etsy search, which means that if you set up your shop and listings correctly, you don’t have to spend hours promoting your shop to make sales.
Here’s exactly what I did.
Step 1: Shop Name & Branding
Before I even listed a product, I made a few important decisions:
✔ I picked a shop name that fit my brand and left room to grow
✔ I created a cohesive look for my shop, including a logo and banner
✔ I made sure my shop looked professional and put together, even with just one listing
A lot of new sellers overthink this part, but here’s the truth: Your branding doesn’t have to be perfect to start—it just needs to be clean and consistent.
Many people get stuck here for weeks, trying to pick the “perfect” shop name. But the reality is, you can always tweak things later. The most important thing is to start.
Step 2: Research & Validate
Once my shop was set up, I didn’t just list a random product and hope for the best.
I researched and validated my first product idea to make sure it had a strong chance of selling.
That means I:
✔ Looked at what’s already selling well
✔ Analyzed demand vs. competition to find an opportunity
✔ Made sure my product had a proven track record of success on Etsy
This step is what made my first sale happen so quickly. I didn’t create something I thought was cute and hope people would buy it. I created something based on what’s already selling and in demand.
If you’re wondering, But how do I know what will sell?—I teach my exact validation process inside the 3-day challenge so you can pick a product with confidence.
Step 3: Designing & Listing My First Printable
Once I had my product idea, I created my design and listed it on Etsy. But I didn’t just throw up a quick listing—I made sure my listing was optimized for search.
Here’s what I focused on:
✔ SEO-friendly title & tags (so my product would show up in search results)
✔ High-quality images & mockups (because good visuals make or break a sale)
✔ Competitive pricing (so my product was attractive to buyers)
This part is critical because even if you have the best product in the world, if no one can find it, they can’t buy it.
And that’s it.
I listed my first product, and 3 days later, I made my first sale.
But What About Driving Traffic?
You might be wondering—Did you do anything special to promote your listing?
Nope.
I didn’t run ads.
I didn’t post it all over social media.
I didn’t even tell my email list about it.
My first sale happened because I picked a validated product and created a search-optimized listing.
While driving traffic is important for long-term success, it wasn’t the reason for this sale. Etsy shoppers were already searching for products like mine—I just made sure mine was visible and appealing when they found it.
This is why so many people struggle to make sales—they skip the research, don’t use SEO, or create listings that aren’t optimized to convert.
Want to Follow This Same Strategy? Here’s How!
If you’re serious about starting an Etsy shop and want to skip the trial-and-error, I’ll walk you through the exact process I used inside my 3-Day Etsy Printables Challenge.
By the end of 3 days, you won’t just have an Etsy shop—you’ll have a shop that’s set up for sales.
✔ You’ll know exactly what to sell (no more second-guessing)
✔ You’ll create a beautiful, optimized listing that buyers can find
✔ You’ll launch your shop the right way and be ready to make sales
Your first sale could be just a few days away!
Join the 3-Day Etsy Printables Challenge HERE
Not sure what to sell yet? I shared the exact listing I created (and why it sold) in a quick Instagram tutorial.
Watch it HERE!
Your First Sale Is Closer Than You Think
If you’ve been waiting to start your Etsy shop because you’re afraid of getting it wrong—just start. You don’t need a perfect shop, a big following, or months of preparation. You just need to follow a proven process that helps you pick the right product and create a listing that sells. And if you’re ready to make it happen, I’ll show you exactly how inside the 3-Day Etsy Printables Challenge.
You may also want to read: The 3-Day Etsy Printables Challenge: What to Expect & How It Helps You Start Faster