Chapter 18

Community Building: Joining the Etsy Community

IN THIS CHAPTER

Reaching out on Etsy Forums

Exploring Etsy Teams

Minding your manners in the Etsy Community

Anyone who has spent more than 30 seconds on Etsy knows it’s a bang-up place to buy and sell gorgeous handmade, vintage, and otherwise interesting items. But Etsy is more than just an amazing online marketplace; it’s also a vibrant community of fascinating, creative people. On Etsy, connections are created, friendships are formed, love matches are made, and lives are enriched. In this chapter, you discover how you can participate in this lively Etsy Community.

Any Etsy member can view Etsy Forums and teams. However, only Etsy sellers can actively participate in them.

Free Forum: Using Etsy Forums

A forum is a place where the public comes together to have a discussion, as in ancient Roman cities across that great empire. Similarly, Etsy Forums serve as meeting places for Etsy members. In essence, Etsy Forums are public message boards where members can discuss all manner of topics.

BACK TO SCHOOL: “ENROLLING” IN ETSY U

Etsy’s community tools, including its forums and teams, are invaluable learning resources. But they’re not the only ones. Etsy offers yet another learning tool, called Etsy U. Etsy U hosts regular online classes to help shop owners grow their business and connect with other creative types on the site. For more on Etsy U, go to https://etsyu.etsy.com/.

Etsy offers several forums — currently a dozen in all. These include forums to share Etsy shop announcements (Announcements) and general forums for Etsy sellers (Getting Started on Etsy and Etsy Success). There are also more focused forums for sellers, like the Creative Process, Managing Your Shop, Photography Tips, All Things Finance, Marketing Your Business, Providing Great Customer Service, All About Shipping, and Shop Critiques forums. Finally, there’s a Technical Issues forum, which you can use to research or discuss any bugs or glitches you experience on Etsy.

Etsy Forums are not meant to serve as complaint desks. If you want to air a grievance, you need to do it somewhere else.

Accessing Etsy Forums

To access an Etsy Forum, follow these steps:

1. Scroll down to the footer on any Etsy Marketplace page and click Forums in the Sell category of links.
2. In the Etsy Forums page, open the Etsy Forums menu and choose the forum you want to visit. (See Figure 18-1.)

Source: Etsy.com

FIGURE 18-1: The Etsy Forums.

If you want to dip your toe in the water but you’re not sure what forum you want to explore, try clicking one of the forum discussions featured on the main Etsy Forums page.

Viewing, sharing, and replying to Etsy Forum posts

The posts in each Etsy Forum are divided into discussions. (Figure 18-2 shows discussions in the Photography Tips forum.) You can read, share, and reply to any discussion you want. Here’s how:

Source: Etsy.com

FIGURE 18-2: An Etsy Forum.

1. Click a discussion that interests you.

   A page opens, showing the post that started the discussion, along with any responses to that post (see Figure 18-3).

2. To share a discussion, click the Share button, choose where you want to share it (for example, on Twitter or Facebook, via email, and so on), and follow the prompts.

   

   Source: Etsy.com

   FIGURE 18-3: An Etsy discussion.

3. To reply to a post in the discussion, do one of the following (see Figure 18-4):
   • If the post to which you want to reply is the one that started the discussion, click its Reply button or scroll to the bottom of the page.
   • If the post to which you want to reply is not the original post, click its Reply button.

4. Type your response in the Reply box.

   You can apply text formatting to your reply text, add a link, and more. (To access additional options, click the More button next to the Insert/Edit Link button.)

5. Click Reply.

   If you replied to the first post in the discussion, your reply will appear at the bottom of the discussion. If you replied to a post within the discussion, your reply will appear below that post.

Source: Etsy.com

FIGURE 18-4: Reply to a post.

Before you reply to a discussion in an Etsy Forum or start a new discussion of your own (see the next section), be sure your post doesn’t violate Etsy etiquette (discussed in “Miss Manners: Respecting Community,” later in this chapter).

If you participate in an existing Etsy Forum discussion or you create a new one, you can revisit it later. Simply click the Your Account button in the upper-right corner of any Etsy Community page and choose My Profile. Then, in your Etsy Community profile page, check the Latest Activity section for more recent posts or click View All to see earlier ones.

Starting a new discussion

In addition to replying to posts in forum discussions that others have started, you can start your own new discussion. Here’s the drill:

1. Open the Etsy Forum in which you want to start a new discussion.
2. Click the Start a Discussion button.

3. In the Subject box in the New Discussion page (see Figure 18-5), type a clear, concise, and descriptive title for your discussion.

   

   Source: Etsy.com

   FIGURE 18-5: Create a new discussion in an Etsy Forum.

   As you type, Etsy will suggest existing forum discussions that may relate to your topic. If one of these suggested discussions covers the same ground as yours, select it and add your post to that discussion instead of starting a new one. Alternatively, use the search box at the top of the forum page to search for existing discussions ahead of time.

4. Type your post in the Body box.

   Again, you can apply text formatting to your text, add a link, and more.

5. Optionally, select the Email Me When Someone Replies check box.

6. Click Post.

   Etsy creates a new discussion, with your post at the top. If you click the forum’s link at the top of the page, you’ll see your discussion listed in the forum.

When you start a new discussion, be sure to do it in the correct forum. For example, don’t start a discussion asking for photography advice in the All Things Finance forum.

Keeping track of Etsy Forum discussions

If you find an Etsy Forum post that’s particularly interesting, you can bookmark it. Doing so enables you to locate that post again later. To bookmark a post, click the down-arrow button in the upper-right corner of the post and choose Bookmark from the menu that appears.

In addition to bookmarking posts, you can subscribe to discussions. You can then set up Etsy to alert you anytime someone adds to it. (More on this in a second.) To subscribe to a discussion, open the Options menu next to the top post in the discussion and choose Subscribe. (Note: You can subscribe to a forum, too. In this case, you open the Options menu at the top of the forum and choose Subscribe.)

To view discussions and forums you’ve subscribed to as well as posts you’ve bookmarked, click the Your Account button in the top-right corner of any Etsy Community page and choose My Subscriptions. Then click the My Subscriptions or My Bookmarks link. (See Figure 18-6.)

Source: Etsy.com

FIGURE 18-6: View your forum subscriptions and bookmarks.

As promised, you set up Etsy to notify you of new developments in any discussions or forums you subscribe to by clicking the Notification Settings tab and scrolling down to the Email Notifications settings. Among these settings are various options for forum-related notifications.

Etsy has some great help resources to help you get the most out of its forums. Here’s a good place to start: https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015570367-How-to-Use-the-Etsy-Forums?segment=selling.

Go, Team! Exploring Etsy Teams

Etsy Teams act a lot like Etsy Forums. People start discussions and others add their two cents. But they’re different in that Etsy Teams pertain to a specific theme, such as a particular craft or skill, a certain geographical location, a specific business practice like marketing or accounting. A team may also cater to a specific group of members. Also, you must join an Etsy Team to fully participate in its discussions. In other words, although nonmembers may be able to view certain team discussions (if they’re “public” discussions rather than “private” ones), they will not be able to reply to posts in those discussions or start new discussions of their own.

Each Etsy Team has a captain (usually the person who started the team), who can appoint other members as “leaders.” The team captain and team leaders are responsible for administering the team — approving membership applications (some teams are open to any and all Etsy members; others require that you apply), moderating the team’s discussion forum, and so on.

The following sections show you how to search for and join an Etsy Team.

Searching for an Etsy Team

There are literally thousands of Etsy Teams, so chances are there’s one for you. For example, you could join a team based on the type of items you sell, your particular interests, or your geographic location. To find a team, follow these steps:

1. Scroll down to the footer on any Etsy Marketplace page and click Teams in the Sell category of links.

   Alternatively, if you’re in Shop Manager, click the Community & Help link on the left side of the page and choose Teams from the menu that appears.

2. In the Etsy Teams page, under Active Teams, type a keyword in the search box, optionally choose a location or category, and click Apply.

   Etsy searches teams for the keyword that you entered and displays a list of matches. (See Figure 18-7.) You can use the Sort drop-down menu to sort your matches by Recent Activity, Newest Teams, or alphabetically (A–Z or Z–A).

3. Click a team in the list of matches to learn more about it.

   The team’s page opens. If the team is open to anyone, you see recent team activity as well as information about the team and who’s eligible to join, along with a sampling of team members. (See Figure 18-8.) If it’s a “closed” team, you see a page with team information and a Send Request to Join button.

Source: Etsy.com

FIGURE 18-7: Search for a team.

Source: Etsy.com

FIGURE 18-8: An Etsy Teams page.

Joining an Etsy Team

Some teams are open to any and all Etsy members. Others are closed, meaning they limit their membership based on certain criteria. Still others are hidden. They don’t appear in the Teams directory or in search results. You can’t join a hidden team unless you’re invited.

To join a team that’s open to all, simply click the Join Team button that appears in the top-left corner of the team’s page. A welcome message appears at the top of the team page and your profile picture appears in the list of team members. The team that you joined also appears near the top of your main Teams page.

Joining a closed team, which is one that restricts membership, is a bit more involved. Instead of simply clicking a button, you must apply for membership. To do so, simply click the Send Request to Join button. If you meet the membership criteria, as determined by the team captain and laid out in the team charter, you’ll likely be accepted — although the team leadership may deny membership at its discretion. Either way, after the team makes a decision, it’ll notify you via email.

When you become a member of a team, you can view and reply to posts in existing discussions and create new discussions in the same way you do on Etsy Forums.

You can also subscribe to the team’s digest emails, which contain a summary of the team’s most recent discussion activity. That way, you can keep track of the team’s goings-on without having to log in to Etsy first. To subscribe to a team’s digest email, click the Options menu in the upper-right corner of the team’s main page and choose Subscribe.

If you change your mind about subscribing, click the Options menu and choose Unsubscribe.

Etsy Teams aren’t like the Hotel California. In other words, you can leave them anytime. To do so, click the Options menu on the team’s main page and choose Leave Team.

Miss Manners: Respecting Community Etiquette

When it comes to interacting with the Etsy Community — for example, in Etsy Forums or within an Etsy Team — some important ground rules apply. Etsy’s Community Policy, found in its House Rules, spells out these rules in detail (see www.etsy.com/legal/community). If you violate any of these rules, Etsy may take action, ranging from removing your post or closing your discussion to revoking your privileges.

Here’s the main rule: For Pete’s sake, be nice. It should go without saying that you need to treat all Etsy members with respect, but we’re saying it anyway, just so there’s no confusion. Also, never knowingly harass, insult, abuse, or otherwise dis another site user. Finally, don’t “call out” an Etsy member, shop, or item — that is, don’t discuss them in a negative manner.

Beyond that rule, here are a few other points to keep in mind as you mingle in the Etsy Community (for a complete list, check out the aforementioned Community Policy):

• Don’t post while angry. Yes, discussions in Etsy Community spaces sometimes get testy. After all, the Etsy Community consists of millions of passionate, creative types. But if you find yourself getting your dander up, step away from the keyboard. In the history of the world, no good ever came from firing off a message in anger! Besides, if you do, you’ll likely violate the aforementioned “Be nice” rule.
• Stay on topic. Sure, tangents happen. But if the tangent intensifies to such a degree that it threatens to smother the main discussion, others interested in the “real” topic can’t find the info they need. If you find yourself part of a discussion that’s gone off the rails, consider starting a new discussion to handle that tangential issue.
• Protect your privacy. Don’t share private information of any type, like your (or someone else’s) email address, phone number, address, or what have you, on Etsy’s public spaces. Also, put the kibosh on public discussions about specific transactions or feedback that you’ve received.
• Posts are permanent. They say nothing lasts forever … but your Etsy posts do. There’s no way to take down an Etsy Community post.
• Don’t solicit. Even if you’re raising money for the best, most important charity on the planet, Etsy members are prohibited from trolling for donations or engaging in other types of fundraising on Etsy Forums and Etsy Teams. Similarly, spamming Etsy Forums and Etsy Teams — that is, posting unsolicited advertisements — is a no-no.
• Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. By “bite,” we mean speak negatively of or encourage rule-breaking; and by “the hand that feeds you,” we mean Etsy. In other words, don’t use Etsy’s community tools to dis Etsy.

To maintain order, Etsy relies on moderators. They’re a little bit like hall monitors. They keep an eye on the Etsy Community to make sure no one breaks the rules — and take action if someone does. Be aware that if a moderator takes action against you, it’s final. What they say goes.

BADGE ROMANCE: EARNING ETSY COMMUNITY RANKS AND BADGES

Etsy rewards members who actively participate in the Etsy Community with special ranks and badges. These ranks and badges are displayed on your Etsy Community profile page and wherever you post content in the Etsy Community.

The easiest badge to earn is probably the Reader badge. Etsy confers this badge on any member who reads a few discussions. Other badges include the Avid Reader badge (which you earn by reading even more discussions), Community Navigator (for members who read and share lots of forum posts), Inspiration Seeker (for members who post in a forum for the first time), Post Crafter (for members who post a few times), and more.

You can assist Etsy moderators by flagging posts in Etsy Forum discussions that run afoul of Etsy’s Community Policy. To do so, click the down arrow on the right side of the post and choose Report Inappropriate Content. Then, in the Report Abuse Page, explain why you’re reporting the post and click Save. (Note: If the offending post is in an Etsy Team discussion, notify the team captain instead.)