When’s the best time to list on Etsy?

I wanted to discuss the optimal timing for listing your products on Etsy.

Listing Fee

Now, it’s important to note that when you list a product on Etsy, it remains active for a duration of 4 months. After that, you’ll need to renew it.

So, if you choose to list your products within a month of the specific holiday you’re targeting, you’re essentially missing out on 3 months of visibility and potential sales. Given that seasonal products are quite popular on Etsy, it makes sense to maximize the value of your listing fee!

SEO Boost

Another aspect to consider is that new products receive a slight boost in search engine optimization (SEO) when it comes to search results on Etsy. When you list a new product, it tends to have higher visibility in Etsy’s search algorithm as it determines the best placement for it.

This increased visibility extends not only to your individual listings but also to your shop as a whole. It seems that the Etsy algorithm rewards active shops, and having new listings serves as a positive signal of ongoing activity.

Therefore, it’s recommended to gradually introduce new products over a period of time rather than uploading them all at once. By doing so, you can ensure that your products receive sustained attention and exposure.

Shoppers Demand

In terms of timing, shoppers typically start looking for digital products, particularly themed party items, around one month before the actual holiday. You want your products to be discovered early so that potential customers can begin purchasing or save them in their shopping carts.

Sellers have reported that Christmas and Halloween products are popular throughout the year! If you want to avoid paying listing fees all year round, try leaving them up starting in July, as customers begin searching for them early.

For other seasonal or holiday products, it’s good to list them around 4 months in advance, but aim to have them listed at least 1 month before the actual holiday.

1. This will give the Etsy algorithm enough time to find and feature your products.
2. It also allows you to take advantage of the increasing demand leading up to the holiday, rather than entering the market when it’s already saturated.
3. Another benefit is that you’ll have access to data. If after 2 weeks you realize that your product isn’t appearing on page 1, you still have an opportunity to improve your listing and promote it through other channels.

Wrap Up

I try to offer my PLR products at least 2 months before the demand peaks, but I have noticed many sellers offering, say, Halloween PLR on Oct 15th. This gives you barely enough time to download and edit the product, let alone create a listing in time to sell for Halloween. 

So, keeping that in mind, you can start listing products that will sell in August & September now, in May.  

As a seller, it’s important to put yourself in your customer’s shoes!

Some links in this post might be affiliate links which means I receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you.