Transitioning from Etsy to Shopify: Step-by-Step Guide + Essential Checklist
- Cheri Tracy
- Oct 21, 2024
- 4 min read
How to Launch Your Own Website Without the Overwhelm
Moving from Etsy to Shopify can be a game-changer for your handmade business. It’s a powerful step toward gaining more control over your brand and building long-term customer relationships. But where do you start? I know this process can feel intimidating—I’ve been there!
Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide and checklist to help you through the transition from Etsy to Shopify, with tips I’ve learned along the way.
Etsy to Shopify Migration
Checklist: Step-by-Step Breakdown
1. Choose a Theme
Your Shopify theme is the foundation of your online store’s design. It’s crucial to pick a theme early, as this will help you visualize how your store will look and function. Shopify has both free and paid themes—choose one that reflects your brand and has the features you need.
Want to know what theme another store is using? Here’s a handy trick: Use Shopify Theme Detector tools to find out what theme a specific Shopify store is using.
2. Categorization and Navigation
Once you have a theme in place, it’s time to define product categories and set up navigation menus. Spend some time mapping out how you want to organize your products so customers can easily find what they need.
Real-World Tip: I used post-it notes and stuck them to my wall until I found a navigation flow that worked. Physically seeing it helped me organize better.
3. Organizing Products with Tags
Next, decide how you’ll organize products into categories—manually or using tags. You can categorize by color, size, type, or any attribute that fits your products.
Pro Tip: Add the necessary tags before importing your products to Shopify. It’s much faster to cut and paste in an Excel sheet before the import, saving you time and hassle.
Step-by-Step: Migrating Your Etsy Store to Shopify
Step 2: Export your listings data from Etsy.
Step 3: Edit your Listings CSV file for any necessary changes before importing to Shopify.
Step 4: Import your Etsy listings to Shopify using Shopify’s import tool.
Step 5: Verify your products and categorize them within Shopify for easy navigation.
Step 6 (Optional): Import your customers and orders from Etsy.
Step 7 (Optional): Import your reviews from Etsy using a review import app.
Step 8 (Optional): Keep your Etsy and Shopify stores synced if needed (use apps like QuickSync).
Final Setup Steps
Step 9: Customize your website’s design and make sure it looks polished.
Step 10: Set up your shipping rates and options.
Step 11: Configure your taxes for each region.
Step 12: Choose and set up your payment provider (Shopify Payments, PayPal, etc.).
Step 13: Place a few test orders to ensure everything works properly.
Step 14: Add any necessary staff to your store for help managing orders or customer support.
Step 15: Set up your domain (a custom URL looks more professional and branded).
Step 16 (Optional): Optimize your store’s SEO to help customers find you more easily. Check out Shopify’s SEO Guide for details.
Don’t Strive for Perfection: Launch It Ugly
You’ve heard me say this before, but here it is again: don’t worry if your website isn’t perfect right away. You can tweak, adjust, and improve over time. The goal is to get it live so you can start driving traffic and making sales. If you wait for perfection, you’ll never launch.
Shopify Apps for an Easier Transition
Here are some apps that make transitioning from Etsy to Shopify smoother:
Shuttle: Transfer your listings, reviews, and more.
QuickSync Etsy: Sync your Etsy store with Shopify.
MigrationPro: Helps move large inventories and data efficiently.
Get Vela: My personal favorite—super easy to copy Etsy listings to Shopify.
My Experience: Pushing Boundaries
When I made the leap from Etsy to Shopify, I was terrified. It felt like a huge mountain to climb, and I had no idea where to start. But guess what? Once I broke it down into small, manageable steps and used the right tools, I realized it was entirely possible—and absolutely worth it.
Yes, it pushed me out of my comfort zone, but that’s where the growth happened. Today, my website gives me more freedom, better customer relationships, and the business of my dreams.
You can do this too—just take it one step at a time.
Final Tips & Tricks
Take it Slow: Don’t try to do everything at once. Break it into daily or weekly tasks.
Map it Out: Use a process map (even if it’s just post-it notes on the wall) to visualize your progress.
Get Support: There are plenty of resources, communities, and apps to help you along the way.
Stay Patient: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your website. Give yourself grace and celebrate small wins.
Conclusion: You’ll Thank Yourself Later
A year from now, you’ll be so glad you made this leap. By moving your business from Etsy to Shopify, you’re taking control of your future and building a business on your terms. I know the journey can feel overwhelming, but I promise it’s worth it. Feeling Stuck? I’ve Got You!
Download our free checklist to get started on making progress today. If you need a little more hands-on help, don’t worry—I’ve got your back!
Book a One-on-One Session with me, and together we’ll work through whatever has you stuck. Whether you have specific questions, need a fresh perspective, or just need a motivational push, I’ll be your number one cheerleader and accountability partner.
Let’s do this together! Trust me, we’ll get you moving forward in no time.
Comments