Multi-Account on Etsy: How and What for?

Do you love crafting and thinking of monetizing your talent by selling your creations on Etsy? You're in the right place! I’ll share my personal experience and explain how having multiple accounts can take your income to the next level. Yes, managing multiple accounts can be quite tricky, but when it can positively impact your success, it's worth giving it a try.

What is Etsy?

For those who don't know, Etsy is a platform for selling handmade items, vintage goods, and craft supplies. It’s a marketplace for creative people who want to earn from their skills. But sometimes, having just one shop account on the site may not bring the success you desire.

I started with just one store, selling my handmade ceramic products. I created unique hand-painted vases and cups. Sales were decent at first, and I even gained some loyal customers. But as competition on the platform grew, my products began to get lost among countless other listings.

When sales started to drop, I realized I had to make some changes. I tried updating my inventory, improving photos, and refining descriptions, but the results weren’t significant. That’s when I considered creating multiple accounts. By setting up additional shops under different brands and styles, I was able to reach a wider audience and showcase my products in different categories. This greatly improved the visibility of my items and renewed customer interest.

Multi-Account: What Is It and Why Do You Need It?

A multi-account strategy involves managing multiple Etsy shops as one owner from different accounts. It sounds complicated—and to some extent, it can be so but I'll share tips from my personal experience to make it easier for you.

You may wonder: Why even bother with multiple shops if you can sell everything in one? Well, let’s break down why it’s worth the effort below.

Why Do People Create Multiple Accounts?

Different Niches and Products

Imagine you not only make vegan candles but also create handmade wool items. These items attract completely different audiences. Selling them in one shop makes it difficult to target marketing efforts and attract the right customers. Splitting into two shops allows you to focus more precisely on each niche audience, boosting your chances of success.

Testing Marketing Strategies

Marketing isn’t just listing items and waiting for sales. It involves experiments, such as which photos work best, which descriptions attract more attention, and which ad campaigns yield the best results for different audiences. With multiple accounts, you can conduct these tests more efficiently. For instance, in one store, I focused on close-up photos of my items, while in the other, I used a bright background and different angles.

Increasing Product Visibility

By having multiple shops, you capture more search queries on Etsy. Even if you only have two shops, your items appear twice as often in search results. This gives you a real advantage in a competitive market. I set up one shop with ceramics optimized for keywords related to tableware, while the other shop appears for searches related to home decor. This trick allows me to reach different segments of customers.

Boosting Income

More shops mean more opportunities to earn. If one shop temporarily isn’t generating revenue, another might make up for the losses. This is especially crucial if you sell seasonal items. For example, you could have one shop selling Christmas decorations and another with items that are popular year-round.

Possible Challenges and Risks

For sure, everything I wrote above sounds amazing, but multi-accounting has its pitfalls. Yes, you can significantly increase your income, but there's also a risk of losing everything.

Violating Etsy’s Rules

Etsy allows only one account per person, and breaking this rule could result in all your shops being suspended. Etsy uses a tracking system to detect connections between accounts: identical IP addresses, matching owner information, or even the same product photos can raise red flags. That’s why I use the Undetectable anti-detect browser, which helps make each of my profiles look like different real users with unique devices and IP addresses, making it easier to bypass the platform’s security system.

Increased Workload

Managing multiple shops is a lot of work. You need to keep track of orders, respond to customers, and update product listings. If you’re working alone without any help, this can become a huge burden.

There was a moment when I almost missed a major order because of confusion between my shops. One client was looking for ceramics as gifts for their employees. They found ceramic mugs they loved in one of my shops and sent a request for 100 personalized pieces.

The problem was that I was only checking messages in my main shop and missed their request. It was only by chance that I discovered the unread message days later. Realizing I might lose the client, I quickly reached out, apologized for the delay, and offered a small discount.

Fortunately, the client agreed to proceed with the order. I completed it on time, and they were satisfied. This experience taught me to regularly check all accounts to avoid similar situations.

Time and Financial Costs

Running multiple shops takes more time and money than you might think. I spent hours writing descriptions, editing photos, and supporting customers until I delegated some tasks to others, which cost money. And don't forget advertising costs. For example, an ad campaign in one shop can be expensive. In the end, all these expenses add up to significant costs.

Maintaining Uniqueness

To avoid issues, each shop must be unique. This means not just having original products but also different photography styles, descriptions, and even branding. Otherwise, the platform may suspect something and block your shop.

Logistics Challenges

Having multiple shops complicates logistics. Products may be stored in different locations, requiring extra attention to shipping. I’ve had situations where the wrong item was sent to a client due to warehouse confusion, which was unpleasant for both me and the customer.

How to Manage Multiple Etsy Accounts

Now let’s talk about the technical side of things. I believe my ideas for creating multiple shops succeeded because of the quality tools that helped me throughout the process.

• Anti-Detect Browser: I use Undetectable, which helps create profiles that look like real users with their own unique characteristics, essential for Etsy multi-accounting.
• Proxies: I connect residential proxies to each browser profile. They help change the IP address and location, making my shops appear unconnected and preventing the site from blocking them.
• Order Management Services: I use tools like ZOHO. This software helps me track orders, monitor delivery, manage inventory, and avoid mistakes.
• Automation Tools: For greater efficiency, you can use various social media schedulers or email marketing services. They not only save time but also keep your audience engaged.

Tips for Promoting on Etsy

Here are some tips to help you promote and grow your business on the platform.

Constantly Optimize Your Listings

Make sure you have high-quality photos, well-written product descriptions, and accurate tags. I always add images from multiple angles so customers can see every detail. I also write detailed descriptions to minimize any questions about the product.

Regular Updates

Etsy favors “active” shops. The more frequently you update your listings, the higher your chances of appearing in search results. But don’t overdo it; it’s better to update less often but with higher quality, rather than spamming updates and ruining your shop's credibility.

Social Media Presence

Don’t forget about potential clients on social networks. You can create Pinterest or TikTok accounts, or use any other platform to share your creation process, encouraging people to make purchases and follow your pages. This is a great way to show that you’re a real person, not just a seller.

Participate in Sales

Sales are a great way to attract new clients, especially if you sell seasonal items. Discounts help draw in new buyers and increase your shop’s visibility, boosting your ranking on the platform.

Be Active in the Community

Seller forums and groups are a great place to showcase your work. You can also learn new things and get feedback on your products. Plus, you can find like-minded people and make connections.

Continuously Improve Your Service

Quick responses to questions, respectful communication, and collecting positive reviews will significantly increase your chances of success. Everyone likes feeling special, even when making a simple purchase.

As a Summary

Creating multiple Etsy accounts is a fantastic way to expand your business and test different marketing strategies. It can significantly increase product visibility and, as a result, boost profits. However, multi-accounting comes with certain risks. Keep in mind that violating Etsy’s rules regarding multiple accounts could result in all your shops being blocked, and remember the additional time and financial investments needed to manage multiple sales channels.

To minimize these risks, it’s important to use reliable tools like the Undetectable anti-detect browser, which helps create profiles with unique characteristics, and residential proxies that ensure your accounts’ security and anonymity. These tools will help you avoid bans and keep all your shops running smoothly.