It would be hard to argue against Amazon being the go-to online marketplace today.
But that doesn’t mean other options don’t exist.
Amid the plethora of competitors is Etsy, a global marketplace that brings together buyers and sellers of vintage goods and handmade items.
With 46.3 million active users, the platform is a great alternative for artisans to ply their trade on.
But how does it work? And how can sellers establish a strong presence on the platform?
One way to maximize sales is by creating an attractive Etsy banner.
It’s the first thing that most shoppers will see when they enter your virtual storefront and first impressions do matter.
In this post, we’ll provide a step-by-step walkthrough of how to create and upload a banner on Etsy and the best-practices you need to know to convert shoppers into paying customers.
Table of Contents
What Is An Etsy Banner?
Before sharing with you important details such as the correct Etsy banner size to use, how to make them appealing, and how to upload these images on your store, there is another important question to answer.
What the heck is an Etsy banner?
Simply, it’s a hero image that appears above your product listings on your store’s homepage.
Here’s an example of an Etsy banner:
Etsy banners are not unique to the platform either. You’ll notice these types of images being used on other sites such as Patreon and Soundcloud.
However, there is no one universal law on how to use them.
You’ll notice different best practices being used for images depending on the platform.
What’s The Ideal Etsy Banner Size?
According to Etsy itself, the ideal banner size lies between a maximum of 3360 pixels by 840 pixels and a minimum of 1200 pixels by 300 pixels.
However, there is more to creating banners than just getting the dimensions right.
An important point to note is that Etsy gives you three choices when creating a banner; a small banner, a cover photo, and no banner at all.
Make sure you choose cover photo option instead of small banner.
Why?
Besides being larger and more visually appealing, a cover photo will show up on both mobile and desktop whereas a small banner shows only if a user is on desktop.
Considering that over half of all Americans shop online on mobile, picking the correct option here is critical.
Also, since a cover photo gives you more space to communicate, you will want to go with this option.
Why Even Bother Creating An Etsy Banner?
Indeed, most people will not read or pay close attention to a store’s cover photo.
So why create one in the first place?
Since it will be the first thing, potential customers notice when they arrive at your store, what you decide to show them can influence shopping behavior.
Therefore, creating a banner is a good practice in branding and marketing visuals.
By exposing people to strong visuals, a banner lets you communicate who you are as a brand, show off your products, or provide social proof to inspire buyer confidence.
And once you’ve gained recognition, you can use cover photos for a variety of other reasons such as to promote a sale or share a seasonal or holiday product launch.
Last but not least, cover photos can often double as a brand logo and ‘complete’ your brand.
You want to use this opportunity to build loyalty and drive repeat business.
How To Create An Etsy Banner In Four Easy Steps
Now that you know the correct Etsy banner size to use and why you need these images, it’s time to create your very own banner finally.
Not sure if you’re up to the task?
There are plenty of platforms out there that allow you to create an Etsy banner in just a matter of few clicks. If you’re not sure which tool to use, Pixelied is a safe bet.
The platform is powerful and lets you create pro-level masterpieces in no time without much skill.
Here’s how to create a memorable cover using Pixelied:
Step #1: Head Over to the Editor (It’s Free)
To get started, simply go to our free Pixelied editor.
You’ll be able to create eye-catching banners by choosing from hundreds of ready-made Etsy banner templates.
Step #2: Select An Etsy Banner Template
Pick a template from the left sidebar that best fits your needs.
You can use the search functionality to look for a specific template or category. Once a template has been clicked on, it’ll load on to the canvas and you can customize it to your heart’s desire.
Step #3: Add Your Assets To The Design
Some macro-level customization options include the ability to add your own images, modifying and styling text, options to add illustrations and icons, and changing the color scheme.
But if that’s not enough, there are additional options as well that let you control the fine details.
This includes touching up shadows, controlling image opacity, and adding/removing borders.
Step #4: Download Your Amazing Design
When you’re done designing, simply hit download at the top right to export your design.
You will be given a choice to choose between the .jpg and .png format. Pick whichever format works best for you.
With your banner ready, the next logical step is to upload it on Etsy.
How To Publish And Upload A Banner On Etsy
If you don’t have an Etsy account, first create a profile.
When you arrive on the website, click sign-in and instead of filling in your login details, select register.
After you’ve completed the registration process, you’re ready to begin.
Log in to your account and click on Shop Manager on the top right of the dashboard. This will take you to a new page where you will see a range of options.
Look for your shop name at the bottom of the page under Sales Channel.
Next, click on the “Settings” option.
Click on the pencil icon next to your store name, and you will be taken to yet another page.
Here, click on the change layout option.
Next, you will be asked to choose a banner type; either cover photo, mini, or none.
Remember to select the cover photo option.
Upload your newly minted banner photo created with Pixelied.
And that’s it!
Tip: While the free version of Etsy gives you three banner options, if you have a premium Etsy Plus account, you will have some additional design options.
- Carousel banner
This option lets you add four different images as your cover photo instead of just one.
By having more room to showcase your products or tell your brand story, the previously small space is now suddenly much larger.
Why is this important?
You have the opportunity to drive more engagement to your store.
But be careful.
If your images don’t relate to one another or share different messaging, you will end up only confusing your visitors.
- Collage banner
This option lets you add two, three, or four images into one single large banner.
This option is a great way to show off your most popular or newest listings.
By being able to show more of your products from the get-go, the collage banner is a great way to maximize sales.
Best Etsy Banner Examples And Practices
As you have seen now, creating cover photos is pretty straightforward.
But the real challenge lies in the design.
How can you communicate your brand ethos in such a small space? While difficult, it’s not impossible, especially if you follow these proven practices.
Aim For Consistency With Your Store
Being consistent is important when it comes to branding.
Consistency in this context means that your target audience is exposed to the same core message and experience while browsing or shopping in your store.
This includes everything from how your cover photo appears to how you provide customer service.
For example, one way you can help promote consistency is to make sure that the color scheme used for your product listings matches that of your cover photo.
For example, Dye For Yarn showcases a cover photo that resembles its product listings below.
Remember that a banner sets the tone of the core message you want to communicate with customers.
If you remain consistent, you’ll start to gain recognition from customers.
And in a competitive and saturated marketplace, being recognized means winning half the battle.
Choose Contrasting Colors To Stand Out
To grab a user’s attention, your banner needs to stand out.
One way to do this is by using color contrast to your advantage.
Since, the human eye is more sensitive to bright hues, so bright red, yellow, and orange will always perform better than green, blue, and purple shades.
But that doesn’t mean you always have to use bright colors to achieve this effect.
For example, Tram21 was able to draw attention to their products by placing them in the banner on a dark backdrop.
The result?
Products that look exceptional and more importantly, customers could immediately know what the brand is all about in a single glance.
Clear Use Of Text
While images alone can be effective, don’t underestimate the power of text.
Often an image alone might not be enough to convey your value proposition, so adding text to your banner is a great way to communicate what your brand is all about.
Remember to keep it short and concise, though.
For example, if your store specializes handmade bracelets that make great gifts, you might add: “A bracelet for all special occasions”.
Here’s an example of how Stampoutonline uses text in their banner image to cleverly to answer who they are and what they do.
Leverage Whitespace
Whitespace is integral to good design practice.
But what is it exactly?
It’s space that is intentionally left blank to minimize confusion. You don’t want too much happening in your banner and make readers guess what you are trying to say.
So, be careful not to add too much information in your banner image.
Instead, try to use white space to highlight design elements and highlight your key message.
Here’s an example
Make Use Of Social Proof
Ever been in a crowded marketplace, trying to figure out where to eat?
If you’re like most, you’ll end up going where other people are.
Why?
Humans are psychologically hard-wired to copy the behavior of strangers when it comes to making a decision.
Similarly, online shoppers are tired of marketing campaigns and will be influenced by the wisdom of the crowds when it comes to deciding whether a product or brand is worth buying.
Notice how Bloom Valley Market’s cover photo utilizes people to showcase how their products can be used in everyday situations.
Here are three ways how you can integrate social proof in your banner:
- Tell potential customers how many people like you
Since banners allow you to insert text, you can add a line such as “trusted by X number of shoppers” or even plug the name of a celebrity text that says 50k people like you.
- Someone important likes this / us.
Like in the previous tactic, you can use the image of a celebrity or even someone well-known in your industry.
- People like you like this
The last option is to use images of normal people so that buyers can easily relate.
Conclusion
While easy to overlook, Etsy banners are quite an important piece of branding asset.
Besides introducing your products or brand ethos to potential shoppers, they also provide a competitive advantage over your rivals.
Just remember that effective banners are memorable. By following good design practices and using tools like Pixelied to create banners, your store will see an increase in footfall in no time.
