Finishing your API

Chad Dickerson, CTO

Etsy, http://www.etsy.com/

Business of APIs Conference

November 16, 2009

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What is Etsy?

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Etsy is social, both on Etsy. . . . .

3 http://www.etsy.com/virtual_labs.php

. . . and off Etsy

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http://www.twitter.com/etsy

Etsy numbers (as of November 15, 2009)

-! 3.4 million registered members (over 250,000 sellers)

-! 4.8 million active items in the marketplace

-! 640 million page views in last 30 days

-! $17.7 million in goods sold in October ’09

-! Over 1 million items sold in October ‘09

-! Over 1,075,000 Twitter followers for @Etsy

-! Over 1 million forum posts per month on Etsy.com

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Why an API?

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So…..why an API for Etsy?

The “unofficial” API

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http://www.etsy.com/color.php

. . . and we enticed developers with this

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Craftcult

9 http://www.craftcult.com/

The ecosystem was already forming

•! The “Etsy Underground”

•! Real 3rd party apps on the platform that our users liked and were good for everyone

•! 3rd party code libraries available

•! Defined set of services with built-in community

When you’re being scraped, it’s a clear

suggestion that you need to release an API

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Getting the API up quickly: partnering with Mashery

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http://developer.etsy.com/

Results from v1 of our API

Today

•! Over 9 million API calls per month, 100+ active devs

•! 17 featured applications, including 5 Etsy-themed iPhone apps:http://developer.etsy.com/applications

•! Craftcult continues to a substantial traffic driver

•! Simple BD deals enabled

•! 2 developers hired!

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Solid start. . . .

This is a solid start, but to truly realize our investment, we need to do more. . . .

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Finishing your API

•! Deliver read/write API. The web is bi-directional. The best apps put data into the system, too.

•! Access to private data. The most interesting apps will be personalized for our members.

•! More ways for developers to make money. The richer the API, the more opportunities.

•! Make Etsy even more social with the API. Recognize unique strengths and build upon them with our API.

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Final notes

•! A good API is never finished

•! It is organic and continues to grow as your business grows.

•! If you think your API is ever “done,” you’re thinking too short-term

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Questions?

Thank you!

Questions?

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Five Etsy 3rd Party iPhone apps

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