From Feeling 'Defeated' To Making $10K A Week: The Simple Strategy That Helped This Etsy Seller Supercharge Sales

Austin Ziegler had trouble selling 3D-printed products online when he first started, but a simple strategy helped get his business booming. 

What To Know: According to a Business Insider report, Ziegler, a 27-year-old engineer, knew almost nothing about the Etsy Inc ETSY marketplace when he launched his 3D printing side hustle. 

"I'd heard that if you make stuff at home, Etsy is a good platform to sell on. And I was like, 'It's worth a shot if it's only a little side hustle,'" Ziegler said. 

He had an idea to start printing and selling cases to store batteries in. Thinking it was a winner, he printed hundreds of them, only to be quickly disappointed.

He didn't make one sale in the first four months on the platform and although he felt "a little defeated," he didn't give up. In order to get people to buy a product from you, they have to believe you are a reputable seller, he said. The most important part of any seller's journey is building strong reviews. 

See Also: 26-Year-Old Made $33,000 Last Year From A 'Very Easy' Side Hustle He Only Spent 3 Hours On

How He Did It: In order to get reviews and build credibility on Etsy, Ziegler shifted his approach and began selling keychains and magnets that he could make for about 75 cents. He listed them on the platform for 99 cents and sales started coming in — so did the reviews.

Although he wasn't making any profit, he was building his reputation via customer reviews and it wasn't long before the effects started to snowball. 

Buyers started leaving positive reviews and even started to explore his page and purchase some of the battery cases he couldn't sell for months. 

After he built his reputation in the marketplace, he started testing new product ideas and his Etsy seller business became much more than a "little side hustle." 

Two of Ziegler's products made the Etsy bestsellers list, including a travel soap box and a gas can ornament. According to screenshots reviewed by Insider, the ornament brought in $10,000 in revenue in just one week.

Read Next: Educational Side Hustle Turns Into Financial Boon For Oregon Teacher

This story is part of a new series of features on the subject of success, Benzinga Inspire.

Photo: ZMorph Fab 3D Printer from Pixabay.