I thought I knew Etsy, but Dylan Jahraus introduces me to the untapped opportunity of selling services on Etsy. Whether you’re looking to diversify your income, build your brand, or create passive revenue streams, by productising your knowledge, you can create a successful Etsy store that complements your existing services. Who knew!?
YOU THINK YOU KNOW ETSY? 
It’s the friendly online marketplace for crafty, DIY, handmade products, right? Eco-friendly and sustainable? Etsy is your go-to.
That was my exact thinking too.
Until Dylan Jahraus reached out and re-educated me.
To be fair, how we traditionally see Etsy is not wrong. It’s just that there’s more to it than that.
Because you didn’t think of Etsy as an opportunity for selling services, did you? 
But before we dive into all the reasons Etsy is a lucrative platform for service business owners, let me introduce you to Dylan. 
How Dylan Became An Etsy Expert
Like so many of us business owners, Etsy found Dylan, rather than the other way around.
Faced with the frequent relocations due to her husband's military career, a traditional corporate job just wasn't a fit for Dylan. She was eager to figure out what would be next for her. So she tried a few things, dabbled in some side hustles. One of those was selling handmade fake flower arrangements she made for her own wedding on … Etsy. 
Lo-and-behold, within a few months, Dylan was doing $10,000 in sales. 
Her corporate experience in eCommerce came in more than handy, turning her into the Etsy coach she is today.
Dylan now heads a $1,000,000 company with 31 employees. 
3,000 Etsy sellers benefit from her knowledge and expertise, which includes Etsy SEO, product selection, pricing strategy, and outsourcing advice.
Her own little Etsy product shop is still happily humming away in the background.
But what on earth has Etsy got to do with your service business?
Can you sell services on Etsy? And if so, how do you start Etsy for services?
5 Reasons You Should Consider Selling Service Products On Etsy
Dylan explains Etsy offers several key advantages that we, as service business owners, shouldn’t overlook.
1. Etsy = Access To A Built-In Customer Base 
In essence, Etsy is both a marketplace platform and a search engine. One of the biggest challenges for new businesses is building a customer base from scratch. Etsy solves this problem by providing access to millions of active buyers. It’s like opening a shop in a busy mall—there’s already foot traffic. 
You don’t have to fight for attention like you would with a new website or in alternative options such as Fiverr or Upwork.
2. Etsy = Low Entry Barrier 
Unlike alternatives such as Amazon, Etsy makes it incredibly easy and inexpensive to start selling. This makes it a low-risk option for service providers who want to dip their toes into productising their expertise (more on that later). You can get started without a huge investment, which makes it a no-brainer as a testing ground for new ideas.
3. Etsy = Opportunity For A Low-Involvement Income Stream 
Many service businesses trade time for money, which limits income potential. Etsy provides an opportunity to diversify by turning your knowledge into digital products. Think templates, guides, or worksheets. These products create low-involvement income streams, helping you earn money while freeing up time. Yes to scalability!
4. Etsy = Rapid Brand Building 
One of the biggest draw cards the Etsy platform provides is that it helps sellers build their brands quickly. With the right SEO and product strategy, your listings can get in front of potential customers quicker than you can say “sold.” For service businesses looking to establish an online presence, Etsy offers a shortcut to brand recognition.
5. Etsy = Ideal For Selling Service Products
Service businesses often have valuable expertise that can be turned into digital products. This can be anything from consulting templates to educational guides or planners. Things you are already using in your business, but could be sold to a wider audience. This type of product is a natural fit for Etsy’s marketplace. It’s an excellent way to reach a wider audience (with potential for upselling) while creating recurring revenue.
Dylan’s Key Recommendations for Selling Services on Etsy
I take it you’re intrigued.
But how do you leverage Etsy as an opportunity for selling services? Dylan shared her expert advice for service business owners looking to explore the platform.
1. Productise Your Expertise
Think about the services you offer and how you can turn your expertise into a product. This could be in the form of digital downloads, like templates, guides, or worksheets. These products have lasting value and can be sold repeatedly with no extra work once created.
2. Focus on Utility Over Trends
Etsy is not about trends, so don’t try to chase them. Instead, focus on creating products with high utility that align with your expertise. If your product solves a problem or helps someone achieve a goal, it will have consistent demand, regardless of fleeting trends.
3. Start Small
You don’t need to overwhelm yourself with dozens of listings. Even starting with 10 well-optimized digital products can yield significant results. Quality and strategic listing are more important than quantity.
4. Apply All The Usual Ecommerce Principles
With a career in eCommerce under her belt, Dylan quickly recognized that selling services on Etsy was no different from any other eCommerce situation. All the usual principles and strategies around your product, packaging, pricing, and conversions apply (Etsy SEO is different, though). Once you know what levers to pull, results become predictable.
5. Master Etsy SEO
Etsy is a search engine, so learning how to optimize your listings is critical. Important to know: It’s different from Google SEO, so it pays to educate yourself to ensure your products are discoverable by potential buyers.
6. Monitor and Adjust
Pay attention to your listing stats and analyse the data. Every few weeks, review what’s working and where you can improve. Adjust your SEO and marketing strategy as needed, but don’t overdo it. Frequent changes can disrupt your momentum.
7. Bundle Products with Services
Consider bundling your digital products with a service upsell. For example, sell website templates with a full installation add-on. This gives customers added value and opens up opportunities for larger sales.
Selling Service Products On Etsy Vs. Amazon Or Shopify?
Dylan isn’t just an Etsy expert—she also uses Amazon and Shopify to grow her business, but her reasons differ from why she is selling service products on Etsy.
- Use Amazon (With Caution) For Exposure
Aside from Etsy, Amazon is the obvious choice for maximizing exposure and reaching new audiences. It would be crazy to ignore this, but Dylan advises to only list a smaller, core selection of best-selling products on Amazon. That’s because Amazon can be challenging because of fees and return policies. By focusing on the Amazon Handmade category and not offering a return option, she was able to keep more control over her products. - Transition To Shopify As Your Business Grows
According to Dylan, when you reach around $80,000 to $100,000 in annual revenue on Etsy, the balance tips. You now have an established customer or client base and it becomes more cost-effective to establish your own Shopify website. Shopify also gives you more control over your brand and allows you to expand beyond the limits of Etsy’s marketplace. And obviously, owning a website is important to establishing credibility as you grow.
Dylan's Final Tip for Service Business Owners
As Dylan became an expert in selling services on Etsy, she came to the same conclusion so many of us service-based business owners do: the need to generate revenue without requiring her to trade time for money. 
Whether it’s an online course, digital templates, or some other type of product, selling on Etsy can help you create passive income, making your business scalable. 
Do You Want Some Help With That?
Ready to dive into Etsy and start exploring new income streams?
If you're thinking, "Hey, maybe I should give Etsy a try," then you're in luck! 
Dylan has so much free content to get you started. Head over to her Instagram for tons of tips and advice.
Plus, check out her YouTube channel and podcast,
, where you'll find even more gold nuggets on how to turn your expertise into a passive income stream.
Why not give it a go? You might already have something in your arsenal—templates, guides, or other digital products—that could earn you extra cash on Etsy. You never know until you try! 
Check below for all the links and get started today! 
Website: dylanjahraus.com
Instagram: instagram.com/dylanjahraus
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@dylanjahraus
Podcast: Etsy Seller Success
