Moving from Etsy to your own website is a natural step for growing a brand, gaining more control, and increasing long-term revenue. Still, many sellers worry about losing sales and traffic in the process.
This article explains how to transition from Etsy to a standalone domain without losing traffic, while keeping your Etsy shop active and building a stronger, more independent business.
Key takeaways
- Even the thought of moving away from Etsy can feel risky, but following simple steps makes it possible to grow an online store without losing sales or traffic.
- Keeping your Etsy shop active while building your own website allows you to stay visible, keep revenue flowing, and set up a path to long-term success.
- A strong standalone site does not need to be complex. Remaining basic at first helps you launch faster, test what works, and improve over time.
- Features like a clear contact page, easy ways to sign up for emails, and visible contact details help build trust with customers on your new site.
- Whether you sell physical items or digital products, owning your website gives you more control, flexibility, and room to grow beyond marketplace limits.
Why sellers move from Etsy to their own website
At a certain point, many Etsy sellers start thinking about independence. Etsy is powerful, but it comes with limitations that can slow growth.
Etsy fees and rising costs
Etsy charges transaction fees, listing fees, payment processing fees, and Ads costs that reduce your profit margins. Running your own website gives you more room to scale and reduces the number of services eating into revenue.
A competitive layout that distracts shoppers
On Etsy, customers always see other shops on product pages. Your brand competes directly with similar listings, recommended items, and Etsy promotions.
Brand building and customer ownership
Your own website gives you complete control over design, product presentation, customer onboarding, and messaging. You can build trust more effectively with consistent branding, stronger product descriptions, and a user-friendly site that reflects your style.
With a standalone website, you also own your email marketing and your customer relationships. You can start a simple email marketing system, send updates, promote new products, and drive repeat sales without any risk of violating Etsy rules.
Reducing dependency on a single platform
If all your traffic comes from Etsy search, you are vulnerable to algorithm changes, fee increases, or unexpected policy shifts. A standalone site helps you build your own traffic and diversify marketing, so you have long-term stability.
Myth busting
Many sellers believe that leaving Etsy kills their sales. In reality, sellers who follow a slow and steady way, keep listings active, and build traffic strategically, see higher earnings over time.
See examples of best-selling print-on-demand products on our blog.
Step-by-step guide to transitioning without losing traffic
This section gives you a clear and practical roadmap for how to transition from Etsy to a standalone domain without losing traffic.
Step 1: Decide whether you are expanding or fully transitioning
The first step is deciding whether you plan to keep your Etsy shop running or eventually migrate fully to your own website.
Why you should not close your Etsy shop immediately
Etsy still brings visitors and consistent traffic while your new website is building authority. A new domain takes time for Google Search to index. Closing your Etsy shop too early can result in sudden drops in sales and customers.
Pros of running Etsy plus your own site:
- You maintain your Etsy rankings.
- You continue attracting Etsy customers while creating your own traffic channels.
- You test new ideas without losing income.
- You reduce risk while building your standalone website audience.
Cons:
- Maintaining two storefronts is sometimes time-consuming.
- You must keep product listings consistent across both stores.
Common timelines sellers follow
- First 1 to 3 months: Build the new website quietly while Etsy continues driving traffic.
- Months 4 to 6: Add links, start email marketing, introduce social media promotions, and guide customers to your site.
Month 6 onward: Evaluate revenue. Many sellers continue operating both stores permanently.
Step 2: Choose the right platform for your own website
Choosing your new website platform is one of the most important decisions in the process. Your platform affects flexibility, integrations, payment processor options, and the ability to scale your business.
Here are common choices.
A popular choice for Etsy sellers launching an eCommerce website. It has powerful apps, easy integrations with Printify, a user-friendly editor, and strong SEO tools.
Ideal if you want full customization. It is a WordPress plugin that allows deep control over design, page titles, product listings, and blog content. It is excellent for SEO but may require more setup work.
A minimal, quick-start option for print-on-demand (POD) sellers. It offers the fastest path to market directly through Printify but lacks the full customization and advanced SEO features of dedicated platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce.
A beginner-friendly website builder with drag-and-drop design tools. Wix works well for sellers who want quick setup, visual flexibility, and a simple way to launch an online store without technical work.
Known for clean templates and strong visual presentation. Squarespace is a good option for brand-focused sellers who want a polished site, built-in tools, and straightforward eCommerce features.
An open-source eCommerce platform designed for sellers who want more control and customization. PrestaShop suits growing businesses that need advanced features and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup.
A lightweight platform built for artists and small sellers. Big Cartel works best for shops with a limited number of products that want to stay remaining basic while testing a standalone site.
A scalable eCommerce website solution with strong built-in tools and fewer third-party apps needed.
Standalone domain
Some sellers want a standalone site with fully custom layouts and navigation. This allows advanced branding and complete control over how pages load, how product categories display, and how customers experience the shop.
What to consider when choosing a platform
- Integration with Printify and other platforms.
- Ability to scale product listings easily.
- SEO capabilities.
- Payment processor options.
- Template quality and site customization.
- Support for marketing and analytics services.
Check out all Printify Integrations
Step 3: Create a migration-ready brand foundation
Before moving listings, prepare the core elements of your business.
Your domain name
Make sure your domain is easy to remember and matches your brand. Consistency helps build trust and improves search results over time.
Store layout and navigation
A user-friendly website improves customer experience and increases website sales. Plan your navigation by thinking like a shopper. Decide how many pages you need, where links should go, and how product categories will be organized.
Product categories
Your site should help potential customers discover items quickly. Group products logically and make sure categories appear clearly on the homepage.
Mobile first design
Most visitors shop on mobile. Your standalone site should load fast, look clean, and offer an effortless checkout flow.
Brand identity
Prepare your logo, color palette, fonts, and tone. A strong brand helps build trust and encourages customers to return.
Explore more tips on how to create custom products to match your branding on our blog.
Step 4: Prepare your Etsy shop for migration
Before moving products, prepare your Etsy store with a full audit.
Audit your listings
Identify which listings generate the most traffic and sales. These high performers should be moved first because they are essential for your shop’s success.
Identify top sellers
Highlight items that consistently attract customers. These help guide which product lines to prioritize on your new site.
Gather SEO data
Collect Etsy keywords, tags, titles, and product descriptions. Although Etsy SEO is different from Google SEO, this data becomes a foundation for creating optimized pages on your new website.
Export listing info
You can export Etsy listings manually or use tools that transfer them to platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce.
Prepare images
Reformat images, compress large files, and rename files using SEO friendly naming.
Step 5: Migrate or rebuild your product listings
You can migrate Etsy listings in two ways.
Automated Etsy to Shopify import tools
Useful if you want a quick transfer. These tools import titles, photos, and descriptions into your new website.
Manual rebuild for improved SEO
Recommended for most sellers because it allows you to optimize page titles, product descriptions, and search targeting specifically for Google.
Google SEO vs Etsy SEO differences
- Etsy ranking focuses on tags and engagement.
- Google ranking focuses on keywords, metadata, user behavior, and site authority.
- Your new website needs clearer headings, better descriptions, and links between pages.
Keep product naming consistent
Consistency signals professionalism and helps customers recognize your products as they move between your Etsy shop and your standalone site.
Step 6: Maintain traffic during the transition
Keeping traffic stable is the biggest concern Etsy sellers have. Use these strategies to protect and grow your visitor count.
Internal linking strategies
Create links between related products, categories, and blog posts. This helps Google understand your site’s structure and improves traffic flow.
Use SEO content
Start publishing helpful guides, FAQs, and tutorials that answer questions your customers search for. You can find keyword ideas using free tools like Google Keyword Planner or Answer the Public.
Build traffic through social media
Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram help bring new customers quickly. Share product examples, behind-the-scenes content, and customer photos to create social proof.
Use links to drive traffic to your own website and encourage newsletter signups.
How long does indexing take
A new domain can take up to four weeks to index. Start publishing content early so Google Search finds your site faster.
How to transfer Etsy customers to your website without violating Etsy rules
Etsy has rules that prevent redirecting shoppers directly. However, you can safely encourage customers to check out your standalone website using approved methods.
Etsy compliance safe strategies
Packaging inserts
Include a small card thanking customers for supporting your business. Add a QR code that leads to your standalone site.
Discount codes
Offer a coupon redeemable only on your website. This approach encourages website sales and does not violate Etsy guidance.
Loyalty programs
Reward returning customers. This gives Etsy customers a reason to visit your own website for future purchases.
Social links
Place your social media on packaging or digital downloads. Once customers connect with you, they naturally explore your standalone site.
Newsletter signup
Encourage signups by offering useful tips, exclusive drops, or other incentives. A simple email marketing system keeps you connected with new customers.
What you cannot do on Etsy
- You cannot send direct messages telling customers to shop on your website.
- You cannot put redirecting language inside Etsy listings.
- You cannot replace Etsy listing images with URLs or website logos.
Safe example language
- Thank you for supporting my small business.
- Want to see more collections and tutorials? Follow me on Instagram.
- Scan this QR code for special surprises for repeat customers.
Mistakes that cause sellers to lose traffic
Here are the most common issues that hurt traffic when transitioning to your own website.
Shutting down Etsy too early
Your Etsy shop is still a valuable traffic source while your standalone site builds authority.
Copy-pasting Etsy SEO
Etsy tags do not work on Google. Rewrite page titles, descriptions, and product listings for real search behavior.
Neglecting email marketing
Without email marketing or a simple email marketing system, you lose the ability to retarget potential customers.
Not building blog content
Blog pages help your site appear in search results and attract visitors consistently.
No Pinterest strategy
Pinterest can drive massive traffic for quality products. Ignoring it slows growth.
Sudden price mismatches
If your website prices differ too much from Etsy, customers lose trust. Keep prices consistent across platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Your reviews stay on Etsy. You cannot transfer them to your website, but you can display screenshots, embed social proof, or collect new website reviews.
Most sellers take two to eight weeks. The speed depends on how many product listings you have and how long it takes to build a user-friendly site.
Your Etsy SEO stays intact. Opening your own website does not hurt Etsy search unless you delete listings or violate policies.
Conclusion
Transitioning from Etsy to your own website can be a really good step that gives you complete control, more flexibility, and a stronger long-term business. When you follow a slow and steady way, maintain your Etsy shop during the transition, and build traffic through multiple places, you protect revenue while expanding your brand.
Use this guide to learn how to transition from Etsy to a standalone domain without losing traffic, keep customers engaged, and create a standalone site that grows your traffic, sales, and business for years.
