Handmade & Beyond Podcast

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...

Do you have unused Etsy real estate? Real estate market is hot!    It's the craziest it will probably ever be in our lifetime.    When it comes to selling online there is also IMPORTANT real estate to consider.    Taking advantage of the space Etsy gives you to win over customers is a key part of success on the platform. Today I am going to give you 5 Etsy real estate areas to focus on so you can...

Creativity is clearly very important as a handmade seller.  It's pretty much the DNA that holds everything together.  But it's common to find yourself in a creativity rut from time to time.  Sometimes it's hard to come up with new ideas or stay motivated to create new products.  That's normal and something we have to learn to push past.  In today's episode, I want to give you 5 tips that I've used...

I know you want to grow your Etsy business sooner than later.  Making more money in your business just makes things easier.  I get it.  I'm always working to grow and improve my business as well. Well, today I'm bringing you not 1, not 3, but 25 of my best tips to grow your business in 2022!  There's tons of gold nuggets in this episode that you don't want to miss!   Up your Etsy SEO game with my...

Believe it or not all products sold solve some type of problem although it may not be quite clear what the problem is.  Granted some problems are very small and others are very big.  Nonetheless, understanding what problems your products solve and the solutions it brings to the table allows you to market to your customers better.   Knowing the problems and solutions helps position your products be...

Reviews are super important to an Etsy shop's success.  They help build trust with future customers but also help with SEO.  The Etsy algorithm sends more traffic to shops that have a 5 star review average.  Why?  Well, 5 star review shops have highly satisfied customers which are good for that shop and good for Etsy.  The more buyers are pleased, the higher chance they'll return and buy from Etsy...