I wanted to share a few tips I’ve been using in my business to simplify my listing process. We all know that listing items is a pain point for most resellers. It takes up a lot of time in our business, is repetitive and not the most “exciting” part of our jobs.

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I’ve been utilizing draft listing templates to address many of these concerns. Personally, I sell on Etsy and I will be using this platform in my example. By using drafts, you can limit the amount of time spent on individual listings, eliminate repetitive data entry and feel motivated to process items quickly. Below are a few tips I use and recommend:

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1. Review your current inventory. Look for trends, similar categories or repeat items.

By isolating these similar items you can create draft listing templates. These listings are created one time, filled out with repeated data and are ready to be copied saving you precious time and energy.

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I keep these templates in my drafts and update as needed. The Etsy platform will require certain “mandatory” information to be entered so I recommend starting with this and adjusting based on your business needs.

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Once you’ve put together a list of similar items you carry, you’re ready to create a draft listing template.

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2. Create a new listing and enter the required information (this will be the repeated data).

On Etsy there is information that is always required. It is as follows:
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• Photo
• Title
• Description
• Who made the item? (I did, member of my shop, another company/person)
• What is it (finished product or supply/tool)?
• When was it made? (Date range)
• Category
• Renewal Options (Auto or Manual)
• Type (Physical or Digital)
• Price
• Shipping Profile
• Return Policy

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To get started, let’s think about an example together. Let’s use “Brass Candle Holders.”

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Photo – I always use my company logo. This reminds me this is a draft listing and not to be used for posting. This is a just a placeholder.

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Title – I use “TEMPLATE – term/word of listing” In this example I would use “TEMPLATE – Brass Candle Holders.”

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Description – I add information that goes on every listing. I use a “short and sweet” method on my descriptions, so I have “Has minor wear” and “Measures approximately” with space to fill out information.

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Some sellers choose to include backstories, social media details, or other company details in this section. Setting up a template that leaves space for this information is helpful to keep your listings looking consistent!

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Who made the item? – If selling vintage items, this is always “another company or person”.

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What is it (finished product or supply/tool)? – This will vary based on what you sell. In this example brass candle holders will be a finished product. If you sell vintage buttons or fabric for example, you could select a supply/tool.

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When was it made? – I always select Vintage – Before 2004. You can adjust this per item in the future.

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Category – In this example, I would select “Candleholders”. You can later define them in a more specific category as need (candlestick holders, sconces or candelabras are common categories I use). To see a complete list of categories on Etsy you can visit the handbook.

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Renewal Options – I always mark as manual. This gives you time to address listings and not automatically re-list them!

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Type (Physical or Digital) – Most cases, this is a physical item.

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Price – Pick a price. Using something like $1,000 will insure you don’t accidently list an item for a low price if you forget to change this. You could also pick a price that you always offer the item at (for example if you are posting five listings for single brass candle stick holders, you can change to $18, copy five times, and the price is already set for each listing!)

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Shipping – Set the profile you’d like to use for this listing (I have LOTS of tips for this, but that is another topic for another time!).

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One thing I will note is the platform will ask you for a weight and measurement of the box. You can choose to enter what you normally use or if you are unsure, I personally type 1kg and 50cm x 50cm x 50cm as a placeholder. Again, using a larger number can be helpful if you accidentally post the item without changing this information!

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Return Policy – Set the policy you’ll use for this listing.

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By filling out these details, you have the basis for a draft listing template. Depending on what you choose to use this listing for, will depend on what additional information you can pre-fill. I use the following optional fields:

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Section – I choose the “NEW THIS MONTH” folder I created, this will depend on how you sort your shop.

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Tags – This is your SEO information, you can use 13. In the example we’re focusing on, some tags could be “brass candle holder,” “vintage brass,” and “brass wedding decor.” One of my favourite tips is to use your shop name as a tag. On every single listing I use the tags “Lemon’s Loot” and “LemonsLoot”. I’d love to hear if you know why this could be important!

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Material – In this example, “brass,” “vintage brass,” “metal” are great options.

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3. Save the listing as a “Draft” to copy when needed.

After creation, these templates will be in the draft section of your listing manager. There is a gear icon that will drop down options for you to select. Use “Copy.” You now have a copy of the pre-filled template that you can make minor adjustments to.

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(Bonus tip: You can copy listings that have sold in the past as well. This is helpful if you have the same item again in your shop and makes listing the new item, with updated photos, a breeze!)

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You can delete the image placeholder to add photos of your item and add need-to-know details in the description. You’ll also need to fill out sizing and shipping information for the item. Instead of selecting and filling out all the other information, each time you want to post a new item — you now only need to adjust a few sections.

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4. Tackle your listings in stages.

Is the light good? Take all your photos. Have an extra moment at your processing desk? Note all your measurements/weights of the items you have to list. Sitting down on the couch with your dog drinking a coffee? Copy your draft listing templates and work on the text portions of your listing. Have an item you’re still researching? Make the listing now.

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Having the listing in your drafts will remind you to focus on it when you have more information. No matter what your schedule looks like, tackling your listings in stages can help reduce the workload you feel while running your business.

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In terms of cross-posting, there is no easy solution right now for Etsy users in Canada (some cross-listing apps exist in the U.S.). Etsy does offer an option to print a CSV document of all items listed in your shop. It can be found Settings > Options > Download Data > Currently for Sale Listings > Download CSV. This could be helpful to copy and paste information to another platform.

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Where to post your listings

One of the most common concerns I’ve heard from new or experienced sellers is where you can list items for sale. There are so many options to list and share your curated pieces. I’ve put together a list of some popular options below.

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Personal Websites: Shopify, Squarespace, GoDaddy and Wix all have different platform options including landing pages and e-commerce. They have a range of pricing and fees.

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Domain Name: Namecheap, Google Domains, Webnames all allow you to reserve a url to link to any platform. They have a range of pricing.

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Linktree: Option for one-page landing page to direct customers to multiple platforms. They have a range of paid pricing and a free option.

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Instagram: Feeds, stories and group profiles are all free to use with options for paid ads.

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Facebook: Groups, pages, marketplace and profiles are all free to use with options for paid ads.

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Pinterest: Custom boards are free to use with paid ads.

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TikTok: Videos are free to use with monetization options with a larger following.

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Twitter: Text, photo and video posts are free to use with paid subscriptions for verified profiles.

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Etsy: Shop, forums and teams are free to use with upgraded account options and paid ads. There are seller fees

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Poshmark: Closet, posh parties, posh shows (apply only) are free to use, with seller fees

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EBay: Shop is free to use up to 250 listings with paid options for more

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Depop: Shop and social feed are free to use, with seller fees depending on region

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Whatnot: Marketplace and live streams (apply only to sell) are free to use, with seller fees

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Kijiji: Free listings with options for a business account (apply only) and paid ad options

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Amazon: Shop has paid monthly subscription with seller fees

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While this list is not inclusive to all the options available, I do hope it inspires you to diversify where you list items for sale.

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I would love to know what other tips you have regarding listing — do you use another platform that has a similar feature, or have you found another way to streamline your listing process? Let us know in the comments below!

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Check out part two of this series, Get SEO & Photography Advice from Lemon’s Loot.

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Ashlee Mueller is a vintage seller, founder of Lemon’s Loot and a member of The Vintage Seeker.

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