Etsy Isn’t the Only Option: 3 Amazing Alternatives for Handmade Sellers
So I’ve convinced you that Etsy sucks (Why I No Longer Use Etsy) and now you want to move platforms. The question is where? Today i’ll list the pros and cons of a few website/platforms alternatives.
Shopify
Shopify is great if you’re looking to build your own website. You’re able to have your own domain and customize your website to your heart’s content. It also allows you to have digital and physical products as well as wholesale or drop shipping.
The downside to Shopify is the price. They have price plans ranging from $39-$399. For a business that’s just starting, $39 is a lot for a website especially when you’re not making any sales…yet.
Another downside to Shopify is there is no email marketing system, which can be a huge plus for a small business because those customers choose to hear what you have to say.
BigCartel
The first thing I noticed about Big Cartel is that there are no fees. The second thing I noticed is that it’s free with the first 5 products. They have price plans ranging from $9.99 to $19.99.
As someone who is in the process of moving from BigCartel to Ko-Fi I do personally think BigCartel is great. The only reason I even started looking for a different hosting website was because I wasn’t willing to pay an extra $10 to put digital items on my website.
The downside to BigCartel is their add-ons/plug-ins. Many of their extra features required a separate paid plan, so yes BigCartel is only $9.99, but if you want things like reviews, digital products, mailing campaigns it will cost you extra.
Social Media
Social Media! If you’re already a business owner chances are you’re already on social media. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. all cater to a specific audience. One of the cons to selling on any social media is finding an audience. It can take some time to find an audience on a specific social media site to begin with and say for instance you have a lot of followers on Twitter but your site is on Facebook it is now your job to move your audience from Twitter to Facebook. Facebook, TikTok and Instagram all made my job easier. They all charge a 5% commission fee per sale.
Sorry I really have no positives to selling on social media…at least for now. It’s still fairly new which means room for a ton of improvement.
The Conclusion
I have moved websites over and over again. I’m proud to say I’ve found my home at Ko-Fi but it’s taken me 9 months to do so. Do what’s best for you and if it doesn’t feel right change it! I hope my blog post has helped at least a little bit in deciding where you’ll host your small business website.
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