I'll tell you The Absolute BEST Time to List on Etsy

Don't think for one minute that there is not a specific time that is best to list on Etsy. If you've heard that it doesn't matter, guess what- that was a lie! Internet traffic is constantly being monitored and analyzed by the super computers that make the Web possible, and research has proven that there are prime times for Internet sales.

Wednesday during the 4:00pm work hour 
AKA "Goof-off Hour"
According to a study by the price comparison website InvisibleHand, Wednesday is rush-hour for online retail sales. If you want to reach the US coast-to-coast with this technique, you will need to re-familiarize yourself with time zones. That means list or re-list 6 times to hit each time zone at exactly 4pm their local time. This will cost you $1.20. Money well spent!

Why does it matter when you list your item on Etsy?

  • Etsy is built on a controversial system that gives the highest search rankings to the items most recently listed, charging 20 cents to do so. 
  • You are spending that money anyway, so you should learn how to make the most of it.
  • When you list during Goof-Off-Hour, you are listing at a time when people are ready to make an impulse buy. They want to shop fast before someone comes by their desk. They want it quick, and they want it now. It's simply an easier time to make a sale.
How many items should you re-list at that time?
Just one per time zone at 4pm. Why? Otherwise, you are just wasting money. Re-listing more than one of your items at the same time competes with yourself. So choose just one item at a time. 

How to know which item to list:
  • It has a great picture that is a good representation of your skill level and the type of items for sale in your shop. 
  • It stands out. Because many people already know about the Goof Off Hour, you need to be able to stand out from the other listings.
  • It is relevant to the current holiday or season. Now would not be a good time to list something that is out-of-season. 
Overall, Etsy.com's daily visitors has fallen to pre-2010 levels. This means you need to work harder to reach a customer! Make sure to pay attention to internet trends to make your time and money pull double-duty for you.

Other considerations:

The LEAST POPULAR, worst time to list is Saturday. So wait till Sunday when you'll have a 27% better shot at making a sale. (info from InvisibleHand) After Wednesday, Sunday is the second best day to list.

Are you allowing shipping outside the US? If not, 11pm would be a very dumb time to list. By the time everyone wakes up, you are at the bottom of the list.

Afternoon is ALWAYS better. Internet retail sales increase by 52% in the afternoon. The reason? More people are awake and browsing.

Read my most popular blog posts:


Good luck, I hope this was helpful! Please follow my blog, more great info to come. Oh yes! I want to let you in on my giveaway, check that out here!

~Laura
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18 comments :

  1. Bear StitchesMay 21, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    Great information !!! Thank you.

    Love you blog set up !

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  2. Bear StitchesMay 21, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    Great information. I have been wondering about when it best to re-list. Thank you.

    Love you blog set up

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  3. Laura GabrieleMay 21, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    Thanks for reading, Bear Stitches! I hope it was helpful. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wanda GigglesMay 21, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    That is FABULOUS advice!!! Thank you!

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  5. Jennifer SpicerMay 21, 2011 at 5:28 PM

    Very helpful! Love your blog and tips!

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  6. Earnest EffortsMay 21, 2011 at 5:44 PM

    Great advice. I've tracked on my own, but never seen stats. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Earnest EffortsMay 21, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    Really appreciate your advice! I've tracked on my own, but never seen stats.

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  8. LisaMay 21, 2011 at 6:35 PM

    Great Info. I just started selling on Etsy.Thanks!

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  9. UnknownMay 21, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    Thanks for sharing !!!!

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  10. Laura GabrieleMay 21, 2011 at 7:04 PM

    Thank you, Earnest Efforts- I'm now following your blog- what beautiful wooden boxes! Wow!

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  11. lorenabrMay 22, 2011 at 1:12 AM

    Great to know! :)

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  12. Nikki\Chris\DavidMay 22, 2011 at 1:54 AM

    Thanks for the awesome info! I'm definately going to list more things in the afternoon. Well, I'll have to relist because I'm at work at 4 PM, but I can still do that. I could probably make the 4 PM PST time if I list something new.

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  13. YooLaMay 22, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    Great info ! Thanks :)
    www.yoola.etsy.com

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  14. Jami aka DaMamaShippMay 25, 2011 at 8:21 PM

    Awesome info! Thanks for sharing, it's amazing what we can do in the true spirit of networking.

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  15. Garden Gate BotanicalsMay 26, 2011 at 10:51 AM

    Thank you! Much appreciated info.

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  16. Plastique RecreationsAugust 2, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Excellent article, just curious where your stats come from

    Thanks, Teresa

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  17. fruitycocoislandSeptember 5, 2011 at 2:07 PM

    Thank you! I wonder if it's still important after etsy switched to relevancy as the default search

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  18. maureen sharibJuly 8, 2012 at 6:09 AM

    I'm wondering what fruity above was wondering.
    If it's not what's your advice on listing for relevancy??

    ReplyDelete

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