What can be done with an API is limited only by imagination. However, what should be done using your API may have a more definable answer. Whether you are planning to leverage your API to extend your business model into new channels or to capture new revenue, it is The Business of APIs.

1. Finishing your API
Chad Dickerson, CTO
Etsy, http://www.etsy.com/
Business of APIs Conference
November 16, 2009
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2. What is Etsy?
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3. Etsy is social, both on Etsy. . . . .
http://www.etsy.com/virtual_labs.php
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4. . . . and off Etsy
http://www.twitter.com/etsy
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5. 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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6. Why an API?
So…..why an API for Etsy?
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7. The “unofficial” API
http://www.etsy.com/color.php
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8. . . . and we enticed developers with this
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9. Craftcult
http://www.craftcult.com/ 9

10. 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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11. Getting the API up quickly: partnering with Mashery
http://developer.etsy.com/
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12. 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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13. Solid start. . . .
This is a solid start, but to truly realize our
investment, we need to do more. . . .
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14. 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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15. 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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16. Questions?
Thank you!
Questions?
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17. Five Etsy 3rd Party iPhone apps
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