Etsy, a top-selling platform, has become a go-to destination for shoppers seeking one-of-a-kind items. Among the many sellers on this platform, there exists a prestigious designation known as the Star Seller on Etsy – an awarded to sellers who consistently provide exceptional products and outstanding customer service. This article explores how to become an Etsy Star Seller, including:
- #1. Improve message response rate
- #2. Set realistic shipping times and avoid delivery delays
- #3. Encourage customer reviews
- #4. Ensure a great customer experience
Let’s dive right in to uncover the secrets to their success in this best marketplace for selling products.
Etsy Star Seller: An Overview
If you just start selling on Etsy, you may be concerned about competing with other sellers in this marketplace. To provide each seller with an opportunity to distinguish themselves on the platform, Etsy has introduced the Star Seller program. To learn more about what this program entails and how you can achieve this coveted status, continue reading for further details.
What is a star seller on Etsy?
The Etsy Star Seller program honors sellers consistently, providing outstanding products, service, and customer satisfaction. It signifies their dedication to quality and establishes them as trustworthy sources of unique handmade items.
What does Star Seller mean on Etsy? Star Sellers on Etsy have to demonstrate a history of excellence and meet Etsy’s specific criteria. Etsy evaluates sellers based on messages, shipping, ratings, orders, and sales over three months. By considering these elements, Etsy identifies deserving sellers who have excelled in delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Etsy uses the Star Seller badge as a visible symbol for Star Sellers’ achievements and highlights their commitment to maintaining high standards. In contrast to the Etsy Best Seller badge, which is assigned to individual products based on their performance, the Star Seller applies to the entire shop and appears under the store’s name.
As an Etsy seller, you might also want to read: How To Get High-Quality Etsy Backlinks For Your Shop?
How does Etsy evaluate sellers for star seller badges?
When determining Star Seller status on Etsy, the platform calculates various factors such as messages, shipping, ratings, orders, and sales. To be evaluated, sellers must have been on Etsy’s platform for 90 days since their first sale and comply with Etsy’s applicable policies, including the Seller Policy and the Terms of Use.
Etsy evaluates shops for Star Seller eligibility on the 1st of every month. The Star Seller badge may take up to 24 hours to appear on the shop and the Star Seller dashboard. During the evaluation process, Etsy looks at the data from the last three months prior to the review date to assess shops for Star Seller recognition.
Having Etsy badges for Star Sellers does not directly impact a shop’s search ranking. Even without earning the badge, sellers can improve their performance in Etsy searches by following best practices for Etsy marketing strategies.
To track progress toward becoming a Star Seller Etsy, sellers can access the Star Seller dashboard on the website:
- Signing in to Etsy.com and going to Shop Manager
- Select the Star Seller tab.
- The dashboard provides two tabs: Current review period and Last review period. The current review period reflects the performance toward Star Seller status in the current month. The last review period determines if the Star Seller badge is currently held.
Within the dashboard, sellers can monitor their progress across five areas related to delivering an excellent customer experience.
How to Become a Star Seller on Etsy?
Becoming a Star Seller on Etsy requires implementing specific strategies that focus on different aspects of your seller’s performance. Learning how to gain a Star seller badge is like learning how to get best seller on Etsy. Let’s explore these strategies and how they contribute to your journey of achieving Star Seller status:
#1. Improve message response rate
To boost your message response rate, utilize the Etsy mobile application for convenient communication on the go. This allows you to respond to buyer messages promptly. Additionally, setting up an Auto-Reply feature and using Saved Reply options allow you to streamline your responses and handle inquiries efficiently. Moreover, marking spam or non-shop messages as spam ensures they are not considered in calculating your response rate.
#2. Set realistic shipping times and avoid delivery delays
Setting realistic processing times is crucial to meet buyer expectations and avoid delays. You can adjust your processing times accordingly by considering unexpected events that may occasionally occur, such as a sudden surge in orders or running out of raw materials. This helps you manage customer expectations and reduces the chances of disappointing buyers due to delayed deliveries.
Furthermore, if you foresee that you won’t be able to meet the buyer’s requirements, it’s better to cancel the order rather than risk negative feedback. Canceled orders are not considered in the evaluation for the Star Seller badge.
#3. Encourage customer reviews
Encouraging customers to leave reviews can positively impact your overall rating and increase your chances of meeting the criteria for the Star Seller badge. Consider including a thank you card, a small gift, or promotional materials in their package. By providing these extras, you can incentivize buyers to leave positive 5-star reviews.
Adding discount coupons to packages can also create a sense of satisfaction and encourage buyers to leave favorable reviews. The more positive reviews you receive, especially with 5-star ratings, the higher your chances of meeting the required criteria.
#4. Ensure a great customer experience
Creating an exceptional customer experience involves combining all the mentioned criteria. Pay attention to efficient shipping processes, respond promptly to customer inquiries, and demonstrate a willingness to address any issues that may arise. In cases where a customer leaves a rating lower than 5 stars, engaging with them quickly and indicating your commitment to resolving the matter may lead the customer to reconsider or update their review.
By implementing these strategies consistently and continuously improving your shop’s performance, you can increase your chances of becoming a Star Seller on Etsy.
Etsy Star Seller Criteria
Every September, Etsy will initiate a reward system by granting sellers the esteemed Star Seller badge. So, be assured that there is ample time for you to qualify as a Star Seller before the badges become visible to buyers, particularly in anticipation of the bustling holiday shopping season. Below are Etsy Star Seller requirements that you will need take into account:
#1. Message response rate
You are expected to respond to 95% or more of the initial messages from buyers within a 24-hour timeframe promptly. It is important to note that only the first message sent by buyers during the review time will be considered. There are certain messages that are excluded, including:
- Messages initiated by you
- Messages other than the first ones in each conversation
- Messages from Etsy
- Messages that are not received during the review period
#2. On-time shipping & tracking
To meet the shipping criteria for Star Seller, a minimum of 95% of your orders must be dispatched within the processing time specified in your listing and include proper tracking. Alternatively, if you have availed a shipping label on Etsy, it will also fulfill the shipping requirement. However, digital orders do not necessitate tracking information.
For sellers in the United States or those utilizing the USD currency, tracking becomes an integral part of the shipping criteria. If you operate outside the United States or employ a different shop currency, please refer to Etsy’s guidelines to gain insight into how shipping data is determined for your specific country.
#3. Excellent store rating
In order to be eligible for the Star Seller badge, it is crucial for you to have 95% or more of your customer reviews rating your products with 5 stars. Plus, your average rating should be 4.8 or higher. These criteria reflect the outstanding quality and consistent satisfaction that you provide to your customers.
When calculating the percentage of 5-star ratings, Etsy divides the number of reviews with 5 stars in relation to the total number of reviews received during the review period. Ratings such as 4 stars or lower are not factored into this calculation. This means that Etsy does not calculate the overall average of all your feedback but instead focuses on the proportion of reviews with 5 stars.
#4. Minimum order threshold
In order to qualify for the Star Seller badge, you must have a minimum of 5 orders, with this requirement being updated from July 2022.
#5. Sales Threshold
During the three-month review period, you need to achieve a total sales volume of $300 or more. The shipping costs and any additional taxes are not taken into account when determining eligibility for the best seller badge on your Etsy store. If you want to learn the ways to have more sales during the review time, read our article about how to get more sales on Etsy.
It is noteworthy that the data used for evaluation is updated on a daily basis and exclusively relies on factors that are within your control as a seller. Certain circumstances, such as carrier or post office delays, canceled orders, or messages marked as spam, will not negatively impact your chances of attaining the Star Seller badge.
Benefits of Becoming an Etsy Star Seller
Becoming an Etsy Star Seller offers significant benefits for sellers on this platform. Let’s have a look to see what top rated seller benefits are as you are a Star Seller on Etsy:
- Stand out from the crowd
The Star Seller badge helps your shop stand out among the vast number of sellers on Etsy. Customers who see the Star Seller badge perceive your shop as more reputable and credible, capturing their attention and making them more likely to explore your products.
- Build trust with customers
Trust is crucial in online shopping. The Star Seller badge signals to customers that you have consistently provided high-quality products and exceptional service. This instills confidence in potential buyers, reducing their concerns about purchasing from an unknown seller and increasing their trust in your brand.
- Increase sales
Customers prefer buying from trusted sellers. The Star Seller badge enhances your shop’s reputation and credibility, increasing sales. Customers are more likely to choose your products with eligible badges over competitors, knowing they can rely on your shop for a positive shopping experience.
- Be featured by Etsy more often
Etsy actively promotes Star Sellers by featuring them more frequently on their platform. This increased visibility attracts more potential customers to your shop, increasing your chances of making sales. Being featured by Etsy enhances your brand exposure and brings in new customers who may have yet to discover your shop.
Etsy Star Sellers FAQs
- Are star sellers on Etsy legit?
Star sellers on Etsy are considered legitimate. The Star Seller badge is awarded by Etsy to sellers who consistently meet certain criteria, such as providing high-quality products and excellent customer service. It serves as a trust indicator for buyers, highlighting reputable and trustworthy sellers.
- Is Etsy Star seller permanent?
No, the Etsy Star Seller status is not permanent. It is evaluated on a rolling 12-month basis, meaning sellers must consistently maintain the required criteria to retain their Star Seller status. If a seller’s performance drops below the necessary standards, they may lose their Star Seller badge.
- Is 4 stars good on Etsy?
In general, a 4-star rating on Etsy is considered good. Etsy uses a five-star rating system, and a 4-star rating indicates a positive customer experience. However, sellers often strive for higher ratings to maintain a strong reputation and attract more customers.
Conclusion
To conclude, becoming an Etsy Star Seller is a significant milestone for sellers on the platform. By striving for excellence and meeting customer expectations, sellers can unlock new opportunities and experience growth in their Etsy businesses. With the guidance provided in this article, sellers can navigate the journey to achieving the coveted Star Seller status and thriving on the Etsy platform.
If you want to expand your knowledge on Etsy to other aspects, don’t hesitate to reach out to LitCommerce. For additional guidance on how to thrive in the world of eCommerce, let’s check our blog or participate in our community.
