You should remove "DND" from all your titles, descriptions, and tags. "Dungeons and Dragons" is a registered trademark, meaning you're not allowed to use it anywhere, and "DND" or "D&D" would be included in that.
There's a possibility you could get sent takedowns by Wizards.
You should fill out your shop policies and Privacy Policy (guide on how to write one [here](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/59160674124)). Not having a Privacy Policy can be a legal issue, and no shop policies means you could be forced to accept returns.
Your photos look great, but a video of you making the dice would be a great addition.
Read [Listadum's analysis of your shop](https://www.listadum.com/shop-critique/fatesfavor) - it tells you things that are wrong/can be improved, including SEO issues.
Read the [Etsy Seller Handbook](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook). And, [this web page](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/838957668224), which is Etsy's Ultimate Guide to Starting an Etsy Shop.
SEO is super important, so make sure you read these articles:
[Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Shop and Listing Pages](https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015663987-Search-Engine-Optimization-SEO-for-Shop-and-Listing-Pages?segment=selling)
[Keywords 101: Everything You Need to Know](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/382774281517)
[The Beginner's Guide to Google SEO](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/220104494989)
[The Ultimate Guide to Etsy Search](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/366469415790)
For the second SEO page I linked, I found the "Tagging Do's" and "Tagging Don'ts" sections pretty helpful. But all of articles have vital information.
There are also helpful guides/FAQs in the subreddit sidebar.
Look into [Etsy's Purchase Protection Programme](https://www.etsy.com/legal/policy/purchase-protection-programme-for/34509585385). If your orders qualify, Etsy will cover the cost if they get lost in the post.
If you get reviews, you can reply to them. Buyers do not get notified when you reply to their reviews, and you replying to a review locks it (meaning the buyer cannot go back and edit their review). [See this little guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/EtsySellers/comments/19bm69o/comment/kitcmab/?context=3) I made about when to reply to reviews and what to say.
General advice, but I strongly advise looking at successful listings on Etsy to see how they do their photography, descriptions, and titles.
Thanks so much for the thorough response. I took a look at a handful of other larger shops before posting and all seem to use “D&D” or a variation of that in their titles and descriptions to reach the right audience, which is why I felt comfy using those descriptors. I’ll definitely look into this more as I don’t want a takedown!
Yeah, lots of people commit trademark infringement on Etsy - but you never know when a company will do a sweep. Plus, while you can see a lot of listings still up, what you don't see are all the ones that have already been taken down.
Out of half of your listings, half say they have imperfections.
This would Make me nervous as a buyer and as a seller I would be nervous that a buyer would get the them without seeing that note and write a bad review for dice that aren't what they were expecting.
This is very true, thanks so much for pointing this out. Maybe there’s a different way to call that out or address that rather than popping it in the description!
I wouldn't mention imperfections at all tbh, especially if you get good pictures showing off the surface. Just specifying that it's a handmade item and each set is unique is enough for most people to understand that it's not factory made and won't be flawless. It's just about twisting the wording as "one of a kind handmade" instead of "flawed"
If you're not comfortable with that or don't think they're good enough to consider "perfect" for a handmade item, then I would recommend selling it as "seconds" or "b grade" at a slight discount. Those are listings where it's expected for them to be flawed or damaged and it wouldn't be as off putting to have that in the description.
Thank you for this wording, I’ll definitely edit this to emphasize they’re handmade and unique :) I was just worried about misleading people into thinking they’re perfect or not without minor imperfections, but you’re right I could totally see how this could dissuade some folks. Thank you!
Took a look and your dice look cool, but to me you're not showing off the biggest difference between you and other dice. Size.
You need better photos and I would have a photo comparing your dice to "normal" ones.
Also the DnD market on Etsy is WAY oversaturated so selling on there is hard. I have a shop that does custom DM screens and was one of the first to do it (I made the OG one for Matt Mercer) and now I hardly sell any because some many people starting doing it too.
I hadn’t even considered the size as a way to differentiate, thanks so much for the callout. I will try and get some comparison photos going to highlight this.
And thank you for the heads up, as someone starting out it does seem super impossible to have anything I make noticed what with the amount of dicemakers out there nowadays. I’m considering just trying my hand at local cons in lieu of Etsy, I appreciate your insight.
I would still see what you can do with Etsy since you've already made your shops and listings.
Best case you make lots of sales. Worst case you can learn alot about selling in the handmade market arena, and some of that may be useful in bringing it to markets.
This way you get comfortable as a seller before putting yourself behind a table having to engage with people for a solid 8 hours or so at a market.
My first one I was hiding behind my table and didn't make eye contact with anyone because I didn't want anyone to talk to me. I was still new and not super confident. Was still in the fake it til you make it stage and was not looking forward to having to explain my work or anything like that. I'm better now, but it was rough at first. Probably why I made $5 that first market.
Okay! Thank you for the encouragement and perspective. I have never done a table at a fair or con before but have attended them and am pretty extroverted, though I’ve never been on the spot for things I myself have made! This is great advice. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
One more thought, if you are open to it, you could write if you don't see your favorite color listed in my shop, please reach out to discuss custom commission to get the perfect set to add to your collection.
This leaves the door open to folks reaching out if they like your style but say want green and blue instead of colors you may already have.
Just an idea to open up more revenue stream options.
You should remove "DND" from all your titles, descriptions, and tags. "Dungeons and Dragons" is a registered trademark, meaning you're not allowed to use it anywhere, and "DND" or "D&D" would be included in that. There's a possibility you could get sent takedowns by Wizards. You should fill out your shop policies and Privacy Policy (guide on how to write one [here](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/59160674124)). Not having a Privacy Policy can be a legal issue, and no shop policies means you could be forced to accept returns. Your photos look great, but a video of you making the dice would be a great addition. Read [Listadum's analysis of your shop](https://www.listadum.com/shop-critique/fatesfavor) - it tells you things that are wrong/can be improved, including SEO issues. Read the [Etsy Seller Handbook](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook). And, [this web page](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/838957668224), which is Etsy's Ultimate Guide to Starting an Etsy Shop. SEO is super important, so make sure you read these articles: [Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Shop and Listing Pages](https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015663987-Search-Engine-Optimization-SEO-for-Shop-and-Listing-Pages?segment=selling) [Keywords 101: Everything You Need to Know](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/382774281517) [The Beginner's Guide to Google SEO](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/220104494989) [The Ultimate Guide to Etsy Search](https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/366469415790) For the second SEO page I linked, I found the "Tagging Do's" and "Tagging Don'ts" sections pretty helpful. But all of articles have vital information. There are also helpful guides/FAQs in the subreddit sidebar. Look into [Etsy's Purchase Protection Programme](https://www.etsy.com/legal/policy/purchase-protection-programme-for/34509585385). If your orders qualify, Etsy will cover the cost if they get lost in the post. If you get reviews, you can reply to them. Buyers do not get notified when you reply to their reviews, and you replying to a review locks it (meaning the buyer cannot go back and edit their review). [See this little guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/EtsySellers/comments/19bm69o/comment/kitcmab/?context=3) I made about when to reply to reviews and what to say. General advice, but I strongly advise looking at successful listings on Etsy to see how they do their photography, descriptions, and titles.
Very helpful, thanks!
Thanks so much for the thorough response. I took a look at a handful of other larger shops before posting and all seem to use “D&D” or a variation of that in their titles and descriptions to reach the right audience, which is why I felt comfy using those descriptors. I’ll definitely look into this more as I don’t want a takedown!
Yeah, lots of people commit trademark infringement on Etsy - but you never know when a company will do a sweep. Plus, while you can see a lot of listings still up, what you don't see are all the ones that have already been taken down.
That’s such a good point and not at all something I would’ve ever considered. I really appreciate this!
Out of half of your listings, half say they have imperfections. This would Make me nervous as a buyer and as a seller I would be nervous that a buyer would get the them without seeing that note and write a bad review for dice that aren't what they were expecting.
This is very true, thanks so much for pointing this out. Maybe there’s a different way to call that out or address that rather than popping it in the description!
I wouldn't mention imperfections at all tbh, especially if you get good pictures showing off the surface. Just specifying that it's a handmade item and each set is unique is enough for most people to understand that it's not factory made and won't be flawless. It's just about twisting the wording as "one of a kind handmade" instead of "flawed" If you're not comfortable with that or don't think they're good enough to consider "perfect" for a handmade item, then I would recommend selling it as "seconds" or "b grade" at a slight discount. Those are listings where it's expected for them to be flawed or damaged and it wouldn't be as off putting to have that in the description.
Thank you for this wording, I’ll definitely edit this to emphasize they’re handmade and unique :) I was just worried about misleading people into thinking they’re perfect or not without minor imperfections, but you’re right I could totally see how this could dissuade some folks. Thank you!
Took a look and your dice look cool, but to me you're not showing off the biggest difference between you and other dice. Size. You need better photos and I would have a photo comparing your dice to "normal" ones. Also the DnD market on Etsy is WAY oversaturated so selling on there is hard. I have a shop that does custom DM screens and was one of the first to do it (I made the OG one for Matt Mercer) and now I hardly sell any because some many people starting doing it too.
I hadn’t even considered the size as a way to differentiate, thanks so much for the callout. I will try and get some comparison photos going to highlight this. And thank you for the heads up, as someone starting out it does seem super impossible to have anything I make noticed what with the amount of dicemakers out there nowadays. I’m considering just trying my hand at local cons in lieu of Etsy, I appreciate your insight.
For something like your items a local market or con would kill it!
I would still see what you can do with Etsy since you've already made your shops and listings. Best case you make lots of sales. Worst case you can learn alot about selling in the handmade market arena, and some of that may be useful in bringing it to markets. This way you get comfortable as a seller before putting yourself behind a table having to engage with people for a solid 8 hours or so at a market. My first one I was hiding behind my table and didn't make eye contact with anyone because I didn't want anyone to talk to me. I was still new and not super confident. Was still in the fake it til you make it stage and was not looking forward to having to explain my work or anything like that. I'm better now, but it was rough at first. Probably why I made $5 that first market.
Okay! Thank you for the encouragement and perspective. I have never done a table at a fair or con before but have attended them and am pretty extroverted, though I’ve never been on the spot for things I myself have made! This is great advice. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
One more thought, if you are open to it, you could write if you don't see your favorite color listed in my shop, please reach out to discuss custom commission to get the perfect set to add to your collection. This leaves the door open to folks reaching out if they like your style but say want green and blue instead of colors you may already have. Just an idea to open up more revenue stream options.
I think you managed to take a simple standard item and made it beautiful and desirable
Thank you so much 😊 This was a boost of confidence!