Etsy Offsite Ads Explained Simply

Are you a new Etsy seller?

If your answer is YES, then you probably looking for ways to get more eyes on your products.

So, stop what you are doing, and listen up, because I’ve got a detailed look at Etsy’s Offsite Ads!

And the main thing you need to know? Offsite Ads can help get your Etsy listings shown to tons of potential customers all over the internet.

And it’s essentially free advertising for your Etsy shop!

Still with me?

Good, because I’m going to break down the ins and outs of this Etsy advertising feature.

What Are Etsy Offsite Ads?

Etsy Offsite Ads are a way for Etsy to promote your products on other websites and platforms outside of Etsy. 

Okay, let me explain to you this way.

You sell handmade stickers on Etsy.

Normally, your listings are just on Etsy, waiting for buyers to find them.

But with Offsite Ads, that sticker could pop up as advertisements all over the web!

We’re talking ads on huge sites like Google, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or BuzzFeed.

Anywhere people are searching for or looking at stickers and other accessories, Etsy can place ads showing off your products.

Basically, Etsy takes the info and pictures from your listings and says “Hey Google, Facebook, etc., show these to anyone who might want to buy them!”

And they use some AI algorithms to target the ads to just the right people.

Why Should You Care About Offsite Ads?

Here’s the deal.

More eyes on your Etsy listings means more chances for sales.

These ads can introduce your shop to a huge new audience of potential customers browsing the internet.

And you don’t have to lift a finger to make these ads happen.

Etsy does all the behind the scenes work to get them out there for you.

Plus, you only pay Etsy a small fee if the ads actually lead to a sale in your shop within 30 days.

We’re talking like 12-15% of that order, maxed at $100.

Oh, and you don’t have to pay anything upfront for the ads.

So it’s like free advertising that could bring you more Etsy sales.

What’s not to love?

How Do Offsite Ads Work?

Okay, let’s break this down step-by-step:

• Etsy takes all the details about your listings – titles, descriptions, photos, etc.
• They send that info to advertising partners like Google Ads and social media ad networks.
• Those partners show ads for your listings to people who might want to buy based on their interests and online activity.
• If someone clicks an ad for your listing and buys from your Etsy shop within 30 days, you pay Etsy a small fee for that order.
• If no one clicks the ad or it doesn’t lead to a sale for you, you don’t pay a thing!

Etsy has this all automated, so you really don’t have to do anything except keep your Etsy listings looking sharp.

Are There Any Downsides?

Now, I need to be honest with you.

Offsite Ads won’t work for every Etsy seller out there.

Some types of products just can’t be advertised everywhere due to policies on different sites. For example, you probably won’t see ads for adult toys or illegal items shown on Facebook.

Etsy is upfront about which categories are excluded from the ads on certain platforms. So if you sell anything too risky, Offsite Ads may not be for you.

There’s also one key thing.

• Once your Etsy shop hits $10,000 in sales for the year, you’ll automatically be enrolled in Offsite Ads.
• At that point, you can’t opt out anymore.

But in my opinion, if your Etsy business is doing that well, why wouldn’t you want ads promoting your listings to more buyers?

How Do I Get Started?

Okay, so you’re sold on giving Offsite Ads a try? Awesome!

Here’s what you need to do:

For most new Etsy sellers, Offsite Ads are already automatically enabled for your shop.

So you’re good to go – no action needed!

However, if your Etsy revenue was under $10,000 last year, you may need to opt-in to the program through your Etsy settings.

1. On Etsy.com, choose Shop Manager.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select Offsite Ads.
4. Choose Stop promoting my products.
5. Confirm that you want Etsy to Stop promoting my products.
6. Confirm Stop promoting my products.

Of course, you can always opt back out later if the ads don’t seem to be working well for your shop.

My Two Cents

In my opinion, Etsy’s Offsite Ads are an opportunity for small sellers and new Etsy shops.

It gives you a risk-free way to expose your products to way more buyers online.

Sure, it’s not a guaranteed sale machine.

But why not give it a shot when the potential upside is more eyes on your Etsy shop?

You literally have nothing to lose by giving it a try.

The way I see it, anything that could help grow my little Etsy business is worth exploring. Plus, who doesn’t love some effortless bonus advertising?

So if Offsite Ads are available to you, I’d say go for it!

Let Etsy’s ads be enabled while you focus on creating stuff for your shop.

Worst case, you opt back out later.

But you just might find your next sale thanks to one of those ads targeting a new customer.