How To Run Etsy Ads For Digital Products

Introduction.

Running Etsy ads is one of the best ways to boost your digital product sales and increase visibility on this ever-growing platform.

If you’re selling digital products—like printable art, digital planners, or design templates—Etsy ads can help you reach more customers, increase your sales, and grow your business in ways that would be difficult with organic listings alone.

But how do you set up and run Etsy ads for digital products? The process might seem a little confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, it can become one of your most effective marketing tools.

In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Etsy ads for digital products, including setting up ads, understanding how the Etsy ad system works, tips to make the most out of your ad spend, and some common mistakes to avoid.

Why Running Etsy Ads is Crucial for Digital Products

When you sell digital products on Etsy, you’re competing with thousands of other sellers. So, how do you stand out?

The platform has millions of active buyers, but the competition is fierce. Running ads is one way to ensure that your products are noticed and seen by the right people.

Statistics show that about 46% of Etsy shoppers use the platform’s search function to find what they need, and this number is increasing as more people turn to Etsy for digital products.

Etsy ads give your digital products a higher chance of showing up in search results, which means more potential customers will see your work.

Additionally, Etsy’s ad platform allows you to promote your products to people who may not have discovered your shop otherwise.

Ads can help your digital products appear in the “sponsored” section of search results, as well as on other areas of the Etsy website. The visibility can make a huge difference in how quickly your products sell.

Getting Started with Etsy Ads

Before you dive into creating your ads, you need to understand how Etsy ads work. Etsy allows you to set a daily budget for your ads, and you only pay when someone clicks on your ad (this is called “cost-per-click” or CPC). Ads are shown to shoppers based on your product listings, keywords, and buyer behaviour.

To get started, here’s what you need to do:

1. Set Up Your Etsy Shop and Listings

Before running ads, make sure your Etsy shop is in top shape. Your shop needs to be fully set up with clear branding, a well-written “About” section, and professional-looking listings. For digital products, this is especially important.

Make sure your product images, descriptions, and titles are optimized for what your target customers are looking for.

2. Choose Your Budget

Once your shop is ready, head to the “Shop Manager” section on Etsy. You’ll find the “Advertising” option under “Marketing.”

Etsy lets you set a daily budget for your ads, and it will automatically adjust your bids to get the best value for your budget.

For digital products, I recommend starting with a modest budget, like $2–$5 per day, and adjusting from there based on your results.

3. Pick the Products You Want to Promote

For digital products, choose the ones that have the best chance of selling. These might be the products that are already getting some attention or the ones that you’re especially proud of.

Don’t try to promote every product in your shop at once. Pick a few that are likely to perform well and focus on them to start.

4. Choose Your Keywords Carefully

Etsy ads rely heavily on keywords. The right keywords will get your products in front of the right people.

For digital products, think about what words potential buyers might search for. Use Etsy’s “search bar” to see what’s trending or look at what other successful digital product sellers are doing.

You can also add keywords to your listings. Etsy automatically uses these keywords to display your ads to the right people.

It’s a good idea to pick keywords that are specific to your digital product, such as “editable calendar template” or “printable art for living room.”

5. Track Your Results

Once you’ve set up your ads, keep track of how they perform. Etsy gives you analytics that show how many clicks and views your ads are getting, along with how much money you’ve spent and earned.

If a particular ad isn’t performing well, try tweaking the keywords, images, or even the daily budget to see if it improves.

Tips to Make the Most of Your Etsy Ads for Digital Products

Here are some extra tips to help you maximize your ad performance:

1. Optimize Your Listings Before Running Ads

It’s tempting to just throw up an ad and hope for the best, but a little prep goes a long way. Make sure your product images are high-quality, your titles are clear, and your descriptions are detailed. For digital products, be specific about what’s included (for example, “Instant Download, 3 Sizes Included”).

2. Run Ads for a Longer Period

Etsy ads typically work best when they run for a longer time. Don’t expect to see instant results after just a few days.

Giving your ads time to gather data will help you make more informed decisions about what works and what doesn’t. A longer-running campaign also increases the chances of your product being seen by a wider audience.

3. Test Different Variations

Etsy allows you to run multiple ads at once, so test different versions of your listings. For example, try using different images, descriptions, or titles in your ads. You can then compare which versions perform better and adjust accordingly.

4. Be Ready to Scale Up

Once you start getting sales from your ads, it’s time to think about scaling. If you notice that your digital product is performing well with a specific budget, consider increasing your daily ad spend to drive even more traffic. Etsy will show you suggestions on how to improve your ads and reach more people.

5. Check Your Ad Budget Regularly

Setting a budget is important, but so is keeping an eye on how it’s being spent. Etsy will charge you daily, but if you don’t adjust your budget regularly, you could end up spending more than you’d like. Track your expenses and adjust the budget accordingly to avoid overspending.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even though Etsy ads can be a great tool, there are a few common mistakes that can hurt your performance:

1. Ignoring Your Analytics

Your Etsy analytics give you all the info you need to improve your ads. If you’re not looking at your results regularly, you might miss opportunities to optimize your ad campaigns. Make sure to track how your ads are doing, see what’s working, and adjust your strategy as needed.

2. Not Being Specific Enough with Keywords

It’s easy to use broad keywords, but this can hurt your chances of reaching the right buyers. For example, instead of using the word “printable,” try something more specific like “printable wedding invitation.” The more specific your keywords, the more likely your ad will appear to the right audience.

3. Overlooking the Importance of Product Photography

For digital products, your images should be clear, appealing, and easy to understand. If your images don’t represent what the customer is buying (for example, a printout of a design or a digital file), they’re not likely to convert into sales. High-quality images are key to standing out in search results.

FAQs

Q1: Do I need to run Etsy ads for every product I sell?

A1: Not necessarily. Focus on your best-performing products or the ones that you’re trying to push the most. Start small and scale up as needed.

Q2: How much should I spend on Etsy ads for digital products?

A2: Start with a daily budget of $2–$5 and adjust based on the performance of your ads. It’s best to monitor your results and gradually increase the budget if you’re seeing good sales.

Q3: Will running ads guarantee sales?

A3: Running ads increases visibility, but it doesn’t guarantee sales. Success depends on factors like the quality of your product, your pricing, and how well your ads target the right audience.