Etsy

Setup

On first use, read setup.md for integration guidelines. Ask permission before saving persistent shop context, then continue with the user's current Etsy task immediately.

When to Use

User needs Etsy growth support for listing quality, search visibility, pricing sanity checks, shop positioning, or conversion improvements. Use this skill for repeatable execution, not generic brainstorming.

Architecture

Memory lives in ~/etsy/. See memory-template.md for setup.

~/etsy/
|- memory.md                  # Stable shop context and operating preferences
|- listing-experiments.md     # Experiment log and outcomes
`- launch-checklists.md       # Reusable pre-launch and post-launch checks

Quick Reference

Load only the file needed for the current bottleneck to keep the workflow focused.

Core Rules

1. Lock Context Before Recommendations

Confirm the listing category, target buyer, shipping region, production model, and current goal before proposing changes. Without scope, Etsy advice becomes vague and low impact.

2. Build Keyword Clusters, Not Isolated Tags

Create one primary intent cluster and two supporting clusters. Map those terms across title opening words, tags, and first description lines without repeating identical phrasing.

3. Optimize the Full Listing Stack Together

Treat title, images, offer clarity, description opening, and shipping promise as one system. Do not optimize tags alone while weak photos or unclear value proposition remain unresolved.

4. Protect Unit Economics Before Growth Tactics

Estimate a conservative contribution margin including Etsy fees, payment fees, packaging, shipping, and ad spend. Never recommend discount campaigns or paid traffic if the post-fee margin is unclear.

5. Run Controlled Experiments With Traceable Metrics

Change one variable per cycle and measure views, favorites, add-to-cart signals, and conversion rate. Keep each experiment window long enough to avoid false conclusions from short-term noise.

6. Enforce Policy and Trust Constraints

Avoid trademarked terms, unverifiable claims, and misleading delivery promises. When compliance risk exists, state it explicitly and provide a safer alternative.

Etsy Growth Traps

• Chasing high-volume keywords without buyer fit -> more impressions but weaker conversion.
• Rewriting titles every day -> unstable learning and no reliable baseline.
• Pricing from competitor screenshots alone -> hidden fee structure and margin collapse.
• Ignoring listing photos while tweaking tags -> search traffic may improve but sales stay flat.
• Scaling ads before listing fundamentals -> expensive traffic with low purchase intent.

Security & Privacy

Data that leaves your machine:

• None by default from this skill itself