Master Etsy Listing Videos: Step-by-Step Guide

Master Etsy Listing Videos: Step-by-Step Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Joining the Prototype Team
3. Uploading Videos to Your Listings
4. Viewing Other Sellers' Videos
5. Benefits of Listing Videos
6. Communicating Product Features and Benefits
7. Types of Product Videos
8. Creating a Video Strategy
9. Examples of Listing Videos
10. Technical Requirements and Best Practices
11. Editing and Uploading Your Video

Introduction

Etsy has recently rolled out a beta testing phase for a new feature - listing videos. This feature allows sellers to upload videos into their product listings, providing shoppers with additional information about the product that may be difficult to convey through photos and descriptions alone. In this article, we will explore the process of joining the prototype team, how to upload videos to your listings, the benefits of listing videos, and best practices for creating compelling and informative videos. We will also provide examples of successful listing videos and offer technical tips for editing and uploading your videos. Read on to unlock the potential of listing videos and boost your shop sales.

Joining the Prototype Team

To gain access to the new listing video feature, sellers must join the prototype team. This team allows sellers to test out new features before they are made available to the public. In the video description, you will find a link to join the team provided by the seller. It's important to note that this feature is currently only accessible on desktop and mobile web when logged into your seller account. The seller app does not yet support listing videos. If you are watching this video after Etsy has made the listing video feature public, disregard the beta testing information and instead check the video description for potential updates.

Uploading Videos to Your Listings

Once you have joined the prototype team, you will be able to upload videos into your listings. This feature provides an additional means of communication with shoppers, allowing you to showcase the features and benefits of your products in a dynamic and engaging way. To upload a video to your listing, navigate to your shop manager dashboard from a desktop computer or mobile web browser. From there, select the listing you wish to add a video to and click on "Add video" in the new video section. Your video will appear as a thumbnail image within your listing, providing shoppers with a visual preview of your product.

Viewing Other Sellers' Videos

As a member of the prototype team, you will also have the ability to view videos uploaded by other sellers who are participating in the beta testing phase. This allows you to gather inspiration and ideas for your own listing videos, as well as see how other sellers are leveraging this new feature to enhance their product presentations. By immersing yourself in the community of beta testers, you can gain valuable insights and learn from the successes and innovations of your peers.

Benefits of Listing Videos

Listing videos offer a unique opportunity to communicate the features and benefits of your products to potential shoppers. While product photos and descriptions provide valuable information, videos allow you to go one step further in creating a rich and immersive shopping experience. By visually demonstrating how your product works, showcasing its size, texture, and design details, and highlighting various color or size options, you can provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of your product. Additionally, videos can evoke emotions and tell a story, allowing shoppers to envision how your product will enhance their lives.

Communicating Product Features and Benefits

When creating a listing video, it's important to consider both the features and benefits of your product. Features are the factual details about your product, such as its color, size, material, or functionality. However, benefits are the emotional outcomes and experiences that shoppers can expect from using your product. By tapping into the deeper desires and needs of your target audience, you can effectively communicate the value and relevance of your product. For example, a shopper may not just want a mini fawn-colored crochet hug, but a new plushy friend for their child. By highlighting the emotional benefits of your product, you can create a stronger connection with potential buyers.

Types of Product Videos

There are various types of listing videos you can create, depending on the nature of your product and the messaging you want to convey. Here are some ideas to consider:

1. Multiple Angles: Showcase your product from different perspectives to give shoppers a comprehensive view.
2. Styling and Props: Present your product in a relevant setting with props that enhance its appeal and context.
3. Size Demonstration: Use scale to show the size of your product, giving shoppers a better understanding of its dimensions.
4. Close-Up Details: Highlight small details, such as textures or intricate designs, that may be difficult to capture in photos.
5. Variations and Options: If you offer different colors, sizes, or materials, demonstrate the range of choices available.
6. Product in Use: Show your product being used in a real-life scenario, allowing shoppers to visualize its practical application.
7. Grouping Products: Create videos that showcase multiple products together to encourage cross-selling opportunities.
8. Imperfections and Scratch/Dent Sales: If you sell vintage or imperfect items, be transparent about any imperfections in a video.
9. Assembly Instructions: If your product requires assembly, provide a video tutorial to guide customers through the process.
10. Digital Products: Explain how to download or use digital products, ensuring customers understand the process.
11. Promotions and Discounts: Create promotional videos to highlight special offers or discounts, enticing shoppers to make a purchase.
12. Testimonials: Feature customer testimonials in videos to build trust and address common concerns or objections.

When deciding which type of video to create, think about your target audience and the potential objections they may have. By addressing their questions and concerns proactively, you can build confidence and alleviate any doubts they may have about purchasing your product.

Examples of Listing Videos

To provide you with inspiration and showcase the potential of listing videos, we have gathered a collection of amazing examples from sellers who have already embraced this new feature:

1. Annie with Magpie Mischief collaborated on a video that beautifully demonstrates the features and benefits of her product. The video captures the heartfelt moments between a mother and daughter, evoking emotions and inspiring shoppers to create similar experiences with their loved ones.
2. Laura from A Worthy Brand showcases the unity of her products by featuring multiple items in the same setting. This video encourages shoppers to consider purchasing more than one product to recreate the displayed setup.
3. Amis from La Loba Studio addresses common questions and confusion about her product variations in her video. By providing clarity, she helps shoppers feel more confident about their purchasing decision.
4. Amanda with A Weed Mark effectively showcases the holographic features of her stickers in a video, which can be challenging to capture in static photos.
5. Rachel from The Dorothea Days demonstrates all the features of her product, including size, to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of what they're purchasing.
6. WiseoXXO Pari creates a peaceful and calming atmosphere in her video, aligning with the style and mood her products inspire.
7. Bear Creek Felting clarifies the features and benefits of her product, catering to a specific audience and enhancing the understanding of her brand's message.
8. Paxton Jewelry presents their product from all angles in a 360-degree video, allowing shoppers to fully explore the item before making a purchase.
9. Pre-Adored by Vera captures the true beauty of their product in the video, providing a more accurate representation than photographs.
10. The videos from Sweet Prince Ink showcase their products in action while simultaneously offering instructions and product insights.

These examples demonstrate the versatility and creativity that can be achieved through listing videos. By leveraging this feature, sellers have the opportunity to captivate shoppers, enhance their brand image, and increase sales.

Technical Requirements and Best Practices

To ensure your listing videos meet Etsy's technical requirements and provide the best viewing experience for shoppers, it's essential to follow these guidelines:

1. You can only add one video to each listing.
2. Sound is not supported in listing videos. If your video has audio, it will be automatically removed by Etsy.
3. Keep your video length between 5 and 15 seconds. Any videos longer than 15 seconds will be clipped by Etsy.
4. The ideal aspect ratio is 16:9, but Square is also acceptable. Consider matching the orientation of your primary listing photo.
5. Ensure your video has a file size less than 100MB.
6. Etsy recommends a resolution of at least 720 pixels, but 1080 HD at 30 frames per second is the preferred option.
7. Be mindful of the file size when choosing the resolution and frames per second settings to avoid any technical issues.
8. Use a tripod or stabilization method to prevent camera shake, especially for time-lapse or motion videos.
9. Opt for landscape orientation unless your product specifically requires portrait orientation.
10. Edit your video to trim down unnecessary footage, adjust exposure or colors if needed, and add any relevant text.
11. When editing, focus on maintaining clarity, using proper lighting, and creating a cohesive visual story.
12. Avoid excessive use of filters, as they can alter the color accuracy of your product.
13. Prioritize even lighting and minimal distractions in your video's background.
14. Ensure your hands are clean, manicured, and free from distracting elements when featuring them in the video.
15. Remove any background noise or unwanted audio before uploading your video.

By adhering to these technical requirements and incorporating best practices into your video production, you can ensure that your listing videos resonate with potential buyers and effectively convey the unique qualities of your products.

Editing and Uploading Your Video

Once you have shot and edited your video to perfection, it's time to upload it to your Etsy listing. Follow these steps to complete the process:

1. Go to your shop manager dashboard from a desktop computer or mobile web browser. Remember that this feature is not available on the Etsy Sellers app.
2. Navigate to your listing manager and select the listing you want to add a video to.
3. Click on "Add video" in the new video section.
4. Choose the video file you want to upload from your device.
5. Wait for the upload process to complete.
6. Your video will appear as a thumbnail image within your listing, giving shoppers a visual preview of your product.

Congratulations! You have successfully uploaded your listing video and taken a significant step in enhancing your product presentations on Etsy. Remember to monitor the performance of your videos and make adjustments as needed to maximize their impact on your shop sales.

Conclusion

Listing videos on Etsy offer sellers a powerful tool to communicate the features and benefits of their products in a dynamic and engaging manner. By incorporating videos into your listings, you can provide shoppers with a richer, more immersive shopping experience and increase their confidence in making a purchase. Through careful planning, creative execution, and adherence to technical guidelines, you can create compelling videos that effectively showcase your products and drive sales. Embrace this new feature, experiment with different types of videos, and continue to refine your visual storytelling skills. Your videos have the potential to leave a lasting impression on shoppers and propel your Etsy shop to new heights of success.

Highlights:

1. Etsy has rolled out a beta testing phase for a new feature called listing videos.
2. Listing videos allow sellers to upload videos into their listings, providing shoppers with additional information about the product.
3. Joining the prototype team is necessary to gain access to the listing video feature.
4. Listing videos can communicate the features and benefits of products more effectively than photos and descriptions alone.
5. There are various types of listing videos, including multiple angles, styling and props, size demonstration, close-up details, variations and options, product in use, grouping products, imperfections and scratch/dent sales, assembly instructions, digital products, promotions, and testimonials.
6. Examples of successful listing videos demonstrate the versatility and creativity that can be achieved through this feature.
7. Following Etsy's technical requirements and best practices is essential when creating and editing listing videos.
8. Editing software options include native editing on iPhone, the iMovie app, InShot app, and various editing software for Mac.
9. Uploading your video to Etsy involves navigating the shop manager dashboard and selecting the listing you want to add the video to.
10. Listing videos have the potential to enhance your product presentations, captivate shoppers, and increase sales on Etsy.

FAQ

Q: How do I join the prototype team for listing videos on Etsy? A: To join the prototype team, you can follow the link provided by the seller in the video description, which will guide you through the process of joining and gaining access to the listing video feature.

Q: Can I upload multiple videos to a single listing on Etsy? A: No, you can only upload one video to each listing on Etsy. The purpose of the video is to provide shoppers with additional information and a visual representation of the product.

Q: Are there any technical requirements for listing videos on Etsy? A: Yes, there are specific technical requirements to ensure your listing videos meet Etsy's standards. These include aspects like video length, file size, resolution, and aspect ratio. It is crucial to follow these requirements to ensure a smooth viewing experience for shoppers.

Q: Can I add sound to my listing videos on Etsy? A: No, sound is not supported in listing videos on Etsy. If your video contains audio, it will be automatically removed by Etsy. Therefore, it's important to focus on visual storytelling when creating your listing videos.

Q: How can I edit my listing videos before uploading them to Etsy? A: There are various editing software options available to edit your listing videos. Native editing options on your smartphone, such as the Photos or Camera app, can be used, or you can explore third-party apps like iMovie (for iOS) or InShot (for both iOS and Android) for more advanced editing features.

Q: How can listing videos benefit my Etsy shop sales? A: Listing videos provide an opportunity to showcase the features and benefits of your products in a dynamic and engaging way. By leveraging the power of visuals and storytelling, you can effectively communicate the value of your products to potential shoppers and increase their confidence in making a purchase.

Q: Can I add text to my listing videos on Etsy? A: While it's possible to add text to your listing videos, it's important to use it sparingly and with intention. Text can be distracting if not done properly. However, when used effectively, it can enhance the messaging and provide additional context to your videos.