THEN comes the actual listing process. Often I copy an old listing and change the details for the new item, but if I have to start from scratch I have to fill in a page worth of stuff telling who made it, when, and what it is, then come up with an original title (not so easy when you have 4 or 5 brown bonsai pots to list, all different!) and upload the photos. The main body of the listing is always challenging, a basic description including size, shape, color, and any special details, then something on the process of making it and what it can be used for. A link to other similar items, a bit of info on shipping and finally the identifier code for the piece. Sometimes I add a bit more, sometimes less, but each item really needs its own unique description to go with its own unique title, so it will register with the search engines as a unique item, not a duplicate of something else. Down the page, I have to add 'tags' to help with the search engines finding the piece and they have to match phrases in title and description. Oh joy.
FINALLY, its time to figure out shipping. Here I take the weight for the item, add the weight for what size box I figure it will ship in, then estimate (using the USPS shipping calculator) how much it'll cost. I add in a bit for packaging - hey, a new box costs between $1 and $4, bubble wrap is $.20 or so a sheet, and peanuts... don't get me going on them! Free-recycled is wonderful, but if I have to buy them, peanuts run about $5 per square foot. So a 12 inch by 12 inch by 8 inch box has $2.50 worth of peanuts and that's all buying in bulk from U-line! So, $2 box, plus $1 in bubbles, and $2.00 in peanuts, thats still $5 before the box hits the post office. The bit I add to my shipping charges is usually only $1 to $2, because I DO recycle. Anyway, I plug in the box size and weight and different destinations and develop an estimate for shipping and plug THAT into the listing.
THEN I double check it all, click 'publish' and the listing shows up on Etsy!