Last updated on 15th November 2023
In this article we’re going to go through everything you need to know about Etsy video as a seller, including specs, tips, and some great examples.
Etsy is an online platform for buying and selling unique, handmade, and vintage items that’s already super popular and set to become even more so.
According to Backlinko, Etsy processed over $10 billion in gross merchandise sales in 2020. An increase of 106.84% over the previous year.
If you’re selling on Etsy, or thinking about it, then adding videos to your shop can really boost your chance of success.
According to Etsy buyer research, adding a product video to an online listing can provide increased transparency that boosts buyer confidence and conveys valuable information that they can’t get from photos alone.
With that being said, let’s jump into this Etsy video guide!
Why you need an Etsy video
Buying online is always a leap of faith on the part of the customer. They don’t get to see the product in the flesh; they don’t get to touch it or test it.
The product listing is one of the only sources of information consumers can use to make a purchasing decision.
And when it comes to making a purchasing decision, shoppers prefer visual information. According to our State of Video Marketing 2022 survey, 73% of people prefer to watch a short video when learning about a product or service. And 88% have been convinced to purchase a product or service after watching a brand’s video.
Product videos can build trust that encourages people to purchase your products. They can also help your customers get the most out of their purchases by showing them how best to use their products – increasing customer satisfaction.
By creating a product video, you can highlight all of the little details that make your products amazing!
Need inspiration before getting started?
Check out this article: 20 of the Best Product Demo Videos of ALL TIME.
How to add a video to your Etsy listing
If you’ve already created a video and you’re ready to add it to Etsy then here are the steps you’ll need to follow.
First, head to the shop manager and click “Add a new listing” or edit an existing listing.
As you may already know, you can add photos and descriptions of your products to your listing, but there should also now be a video box:
Click “Add a video” and upload your video from your computer. For the purposes of this example store we’ve listed a state-of-the-art animatronic dog:
The final step is to crop your video after you upload it. Just click on the “Crop” button, select an aspect ration for your video, and drag the frame to reposition your video.
You can watch your video first to make sure it’s perfect. When you’re happy, click “Apply” and that’s honestly all there is to it!
Etsy video specifications
Etsy does have a few rules that need to be followed when uploading videos to your listing pages.
For starters, you can only upload one video per listing.
Videos must be between 5-15 seconds and have no audio.
Here are some more important Etsy video specs that you should know:
- Max. file size is 100MB
- Record in high resolution – 1080p or higher
- File types accepted: MP4, MOV, FLV, AAC, AVI, 3GP, and MPEG
Benefits of using video on Etsy
Now that you know just how easy it is to add videos to your Etsy listings, let’s take a look at some of the main reasons why you should…
1. Drive more sales
Product videos can increase sales. They allow potential customers to get a better understanding of what the product looks like and how it works, giving them more confidence to buy.
Here’s proof from Jeff Moriarty of the Etsy shop Moriarty’s Gem Art:
“We started selling our luxury jewelry on Etsy without videos, but started getting requests over time for videos. We would then send them links to our videos, which almost always resulted in the sale. Because of those results, we began adding videos to all our products. We noticed an almost immediate uptick in sales, especially from our advertising campaigns on Etsy. It definitely took more time to include/create, but this year our sales are up 300% over last year during this same time. Only difference is now we have videos.”
2. Build trust
Videos are the closest thing that online shoppers get to “try before you buy”. They can help to establish trust and also create a stronger connection between your shop and your customers.
According to Aviad Faruz of Faruzo:
“As all of us know, vision is our most dominant sense. So if pictures can boost engagement massively, imagine what moving pictures can do to your business.
I’m running a jewelry business, and it is my personal experience that whenever I post a video of my products, it gives me heavy traffic of customers and increases my sales.
The videos in which models represent jewelry can help the customers see how they will look wearing the jewelry products. Also, product video builds trust and it becomes an easy decision for the customer to buy that product. Video content is a valuable tool for helping potential buyers learn about a product. So better start crafting your exciting product videos now!”
3. Increase buyer understanding
A video can help to show your customers how your product works and how they can get the most out of it.
This not only increases their satisfaction with the product, it also reduces the number of questions asked about the product and can even reduce the number of returns you receive.
Here’s what Andrea Chapman from Nature and Bloom has to say:
“One of my strategies to improve my sales is utilizing videos wherein I show my customers how we actually make the crafts, a time lapse all about the processes, plus, and most importantly, to show them how we enjoy doing our job.
As an avid online buyer myself, I believe that videos increase credibility and reality of what we sell. Of course, buyers like me are looking for aesthetic product photos in Etsy, but what they also need and what they love is seeing how they are served, how their items are put to effort, thus, some videos are the solution.
Moreover, aside from the fact that this technique increases credibility, videos also minimize my customers’ frequently asked questions, like what are the materials I use, what equipment I own, what brand of items do I suggest for better quality, how are the processes done, and how much time and effort I consume in order to make the products.
As per our analysis, our buyers increased by 10% to 15% compared to last year, ever since they [customers] saw how we do our items.”
6 Top tips for Etsy videos
It’s one thing to upload Etsy videos, but how do you make those videos stand out and really work for your shop?
Here are 6 top tips to help you…
1. Use models
If you sell wearable items, like clothing or jewellery, use models in your videos to help potential customers to imagine what the product would look like on them or a loved one.
Similarly, if you sell a functional product then show it in use so your customers have a better understanding of how it works.
2. Crop your video
We have touched on this above but it’s worth mentioning again. It really is important to crop your video so that it fits Etsy’s dimensions.
Luckily, this is very easy to do. All you need to do is upload your video as-is and click “Crop” on the Etsy video page.
3. Consider the whole frame
When shooting any video – whether it’s a Hollywood blockbuster, a YouTube vlog, or a 15 second video for your Etsy store – it’s important to consider everything in the frame.
If viewers can see your kitchen or a messy workspace in the background then it’s not going to look very professional!
Think about the type of people your customers are and also the type of product you’re selling, including how it will be used, and decorate your background with all of that in mind.
4. Stabilise your camera
This one is pretty self-explanatory. A shaky camera = an unprofessional video. And it can even make your customers feel a bit sick!
Ideally, you shouldn’t hold your camera when taking your Etsy video (unless you’re confident that you have a really steady hand). It’s recommended that you either invest in a tripod or place your phone or camera on a solid, unmoving object, like a table.
5. Make sure you have great lighting
Another self-explanatory tip, but worth mentioning all the same! You don’t need to invest in expensive equipment, just make sure you’re shooting in a well-lit environment (e.g. by a window) so that your product can be seen properly.
6. Get creative!
As an Etsy seller, this probably comes easy to you!
You only have a maximum of 15 seconds to showcase your product – even less if you lose your viewers’ attention before that!
Try to inject some personality into your video. Think outside the box and create something that’s not just an average product video.
Final thoughts
Give your Etsy shop the competitive advantage it deserves with listing videos that highlight how amazing your products are!
Want to know more about product videos? Visit our page to discover benefits, examples, and more.
