Handmade & Beyond Podcast

Like any e-commerce platform, Etsy restricts what you can and cannot sell.  It's important to know what these restrictions are so you don't get your listings taken down or even worse your shop suspended/closed.   Some of what is restricted may be obvious such as trademarked items or guns.  But I really wanted to do this episode to talk about the things that are less obvious.  These are the items t...

It's an all-new Etsy seller news packed full of all the updates you need to know!  Here's what's covered in this episode: -Are bad reviews being displayed in a way that hurts your Etsy shop?   -Don't forget to verify your bank account with Plaid to keep getting paid -Etsy rolls out 24/7 live chat support... but there's a catch -Etsy buyers can now post video reviews... get all the deets  Don't mis...

This subject may be controversial, especially in the social media age. But I also know that many new Etsy sellers put a lot of their time and energy into social media when they should be spending it on their business.  Social media can be a distraction and prevent you from moving your business forward.   In today's episode, I want to discuss if it's the right time for social media in your business...

This is the burning question that many Etsy sellers want to know.   The truth may surprise you.  You CAN make Etsy your full-time job, but few sellers will.  In today's episode I dive into what prevents Etsy sellers from going full-time, the process I went through to take my Etsy business full-time 4 years ago, and the pros/cons of going full-time with your business. This is a can't-miss episode!...

Welcome to an all-new episode of Etsy Seller News! Here's what's covered in this episode:    USPS holiday price increases Oct 5th through the week after Christmas and then back up in the middle of January.    The cost depends on weight and distance. Also, they're getting rid of 15K jobs but they'll still be able to handle shipping with no delays…   Etsy updates feed:   Etsy released a statement la...

I bet that title got your attention!  Of course, you want to make sure you're not doing anything that could hurt your shop performance.  It's hard enough as it is to get sales.    Well, I am here to save the day with this new episode so you know what not to do in your shop.  I talk about the #1 thing you should avoid as well as some other common mistakes sellers make.   Sit back, grab a coffee and...

It's a new seller news episode to keep you up to date on the most important news for Etsy sellers! In this episode, I talk about the Etsy seller app notes release, Etsy purchase protection, an in-depth holiday calendar, and everyone's favorite "Killin' It" segment! You don't want to miss this one!

Shipping internationally can lead to bigger sales but it can also open a can of worms for your business.  Is it worth it? This is what I dive into in today's episode. I'll talk about the pros such as reaching a bigger audience, targeting your niche, more recognition, and more... I'll also cover the biggest cons such as shipping, returns, country rules, and more... Don't forget to snag my free Etsy...

Here's what's in this week's episode of Etsy Seller News: -USPS delays due to flooding -USPS removes offered service -Etsy messenger changes See more about these changes here: https://www.eseller365.com/etsy-new-messaging-system-tweaks-faq/   -Etsy 2022 Design Awards See all the award winners here: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story And.... A NEW, fan favorite Freaky Friday Segment! Here's...

Today's episode is an epic battle to see which Etsy tool is the BEST. There are a lot of tools out there to help you with your Etsy shop, but in my opinion, there are only two top contenders. That is Alura and erank.    However, there are some significant differences between each. I am going to cover the similarities and differences so you can decide what's the best tool for you to use.    Get you...

I'm back with a fresh episode of Etsy Seller News! In today's episode I go over the new Etsy Seller App and the main features, talk about some confusion with USPS reseller shipping discount program ending, and touch on a story about a missing body in a Fedex package!   I also roll out a new segment, "Tool of the Week!"  No not tool as in jerk of a person, but tool as in a cool and helpful resource...

It's a special Christmas in July episode! I know probably the last thing many of you want to think about right now is the holidays.  It seems so far out... Well for sellers it's right around the corner.  And to help ensure you have a successful sales season during the holidays, you must start preparing your Etsy shop now!  This is so you can avoid overwhelm and stress during the holiday season whe...

I'm back with a new, July 14th edition of Etsy seller news! Here's what's covered in today's episode: Etsy removes 100 promotional listings New Pinterest updates: product tagging on pins  video in product catalogs shop tab on business profiles  New Etsy scam  New NFT launch from SI exclusively on eBay.  Will NFTs ever be allowed on Etsy? Freaky Friday Segment: Baby arm headband - 10 sales = $200 b...

Need more help with Etsy Ads? Snag this FREE Etsy ads cheatsheet: https://www.handmadeandbeyond.com/etsyads Etsy ads are always a hot topic. Some say they work great, many more say they don't work, and some sellers are just afraid to try them. Ads aren't suitable for every seller, business, or niche. But they can work and give you a nice income boost for your business if you run them the RIGHT way...

Etsy seller news is back! Today's episode is all about the USPS shipping rate increase starting July 10th, Etsy's new one-click buy options, returns and I feature one Etsy shop with over 8 million in sales!!!  You don't want to miss this! Get the absolute BEST Etsy keyword & performance tool on the market. Click the link for a free trial: https://www.alura.io/?via=LLETSY  Check out today's Killin'...

Money, money, money....  I can hear the old song by the O'Jays playing in my head...lol.   Starting an Etsy business can be very exciting and fulfilling.  It may be something that has been a goal for a long time.  But more often than not the next struggle after opening is getting sales.  It can be tough to deal with.  It's all part of the journey everyone goes through. I want to help you move alon...

I'm back with an all new Friday episode for you! Etsy Seller News will bring you everything you need to know with recent updates, changes, and relevant information for sellers.  Oh, and of course, I'm going to have a little fun with some special segments included in the episode as well.  Check out the all new Seller News episode now!

Everyone has advice, especially when it comes to Etsy.  But that doesn't mean it's "good" advice.   If you're following the wrong advice, that can lean to big mistakes in your business that will hinder your progress and slow you down.  I know you don't want that, right? That's why in this episode I am going to give you 5 of the WORST things I've heard when it comes to Etsy advice so you don't make...

I know you want to hear the cha-chings, but what happens when it's crickets instead? This will inevitably happen, even for shops that traditionally perform well. Does it mean the world is ending?    NO!  It just means that you have to dig your heels in and put in a little work to get a boost in your shop.   I have a strategy just for you that you can follow when sales seem to be drying up and want...

More Etsy changes are here! ALL online platforms are constantly changing and will always be changing.  It's important to keep this in mind when selling because if you don't like change, you won't like selling online!   I'm a glass half full kinda guy and I like to give Etsy the benefit of the doubt with changes.  I do believe that they try to do what's best for buyers and sellers, not because they...

I get asked a bunch if POD shops can actually make money on Etsy... My answer is yes and no.  Just like any business, there is no guarantee.  Some shops make a lot of money and some make no money.  Much of a POD shop's success comes down to the owner.  There are a lot of variables that helps to promote success or failure.   Today I want to break down some pros and cons of starting a POD business s...

I get a lot of questions about sellers wanting to start their own domain outside of Etsy.   Now, with so many options this is fairly easy to do, but how do you know which option is best for you?    Two of the most common options with Etsy sellers are Pattern and Shopify.  I have personally used both and figured it'd be good to break them both down for you and give you the pros and cons of each. Th...

Etsy search has changed to include listing descriptions.  This is an important SEO change.   Here's what's covered in this podcast: Do's and Don'ts: -DO try to incorporate relevant keywords in the first few sentences of your listings. -DON'T copy your title verbatim into your description. -DON'T just list keywords you want to rank for. -DO write sentences talking about your product that naturally...

So I am moving…. Into an RV!  And no I haven't gone crazy, at least I don't think so lol.   Today I want to talk about how I am going to manage my Etsy business from an RV & give you the 5 strategies to help me do it.   What's cool is that these tips can be applied to everyone who's running a business.  That's why I want to share them with you.   Do you need help determining if Etsy ads are right...

Have you ever looked at your shop from a buyer's perspective and tried to understand their journey & why they buy?    A lot of sellers decide to buy or not buy based on what they see in your shop.    And some of what they see is nothing more than visual marketing which has the sole purpose of getting more buyers.    Today's episode is all about taking advantage of Etsy's visual marketing features...