The Handmade Shop: Etsy Business Strategy for Makers with Physical and Digital Products

Want to set a 2026 goal that actually fits your life? Let’s do it today! It’s the end of the year, and if you’re feeling the pressure to pick a “big” Etsy goal but you’re also completely over it…you are not alone. In this episode, I’m walking you through how to set your 2026 Etsy goals in a way that’s clear, sustainable, and actually useful without the usual overthinking or hustle energy. We’re di...

If you’re wrapping up the year and feeling unsure what actually worked (or didn’t) in your shop, this episode is for you. Today, we’re doing your Etsy Data Debrief. A simple, non-overwhelming look back at 2025 so you can walk into 2026 with strategy. This is one of my favorite December rituals, and it’s something most Etsy sellers skip. But when you take just 30 minutes to review your traffic, top...

We’re deep into December, and while you’re probably still shipping orders and checking your stats, this is actually the perfect time to look back at the listings that didn’t do well this year. I know it’s not the most glamorous part of running a shop. But reflecting on your low performers might be one of the smartest things you do before 2026 kicks off. Because those listings are handing you data,...

Planning your year on Etsy and not sure what to keep, cut, or create for your shop in 2026? Let’s fix that. We’re in that weird Etsy season right now because orders might still be rolling in, but your brain is already jumping ahead to next year. And one of the most common questions I get this time of year is how to know what to focus on and what to get rid of. In this episode, I’m walking you thro...

If you’re listening during a big sales weekend (or gearing up for one), your shop might be buzzing…and maybe it’s exciting, or maybe it’s starting to feel a little chaotic. Either way, you can get through the rush without burning out. In this episode, I’m walking you through six simple strategies to help you manage an order rush calmly, confidently, and without losing your sanity. These systems ar...

Welcome back! If you missed last week’s episode in the series (“Fix It Before January”), go listen first! It sets the stage for today’s episode. Today we dig deeper into a subtle but powerful issue that sneaks up on many sellers: invisible keywords. You might have done everything “right” with great products, solid photos, and well‑written listings, but still see your traffic fading. That’s because...

If your sales tank every January, I want you to hear this: ✨ It’s not because people stop shopping.✨ It’s not the algorithm being mean.✨ It’s (probably) not your product. It’s your translation. In today’s episode, I’m kicking off a new series called Fix It Before January and we’re starting with a hard truth most Etsy sellers have never heard which that you’re not just a maker. You’re a translat...

Etsy isn’t impressed by last‑minute hustle. It’s moved by consistency. The little actions, the regular work, the shop showing up over time. That’s what builds momentum and momentum is Etsy’s love language. If you’ve ever thought you could wait until November or December to push hard, or that a big sale will solve everything, this episode is for you. Because by then, it’s often too late to build th...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the things on Etsy but still not seeing daily sales, this one’s for you. Today I break down the three foundational strategies that every successful Etsy seller is using. Even if they don’t always realize it. These are the building blocks of consistency. AKA what you need to show up in front of buyers regularly, turn clicks into sales, and stop the feast-or...

Let’s talk about something no one tells you when you’re not getting traffic on Etsy…none of the things you think will fix it actually will. If you’ve been rewriting your descriptions, updating mockups, rebranding your shop, posting on Instagram, pinning your heart out, or running sale after sale and you’re still not getting views? You might be stuck in one of the most common Etsy traffic traps. Th...

Let’s talk about something that keeps a lot of Etsy sellers stuck…reacting instead of refining. If you’ve ever found yourself rewriting your listings at midnight, opening a Pinterest account because you “heard it works,” or launching 5 new products after one slow weekend, you’re not alone. You might just be stuck in what I call strategy fatigue and shiny object syndrome. This episode is here to he...

If you’ve been asking yourself, “What should I sell on Etsy?” this episode flips that question on its head. We’re talking about a super common trap Etsy sellers fall into: trying to reverse engineer a shop that looks successful…instead of building one that actually feels aligned. And yes, we’re busting the “you need to niche down to be successful” myth while we’re at it. Because here’s the truth…y...

Let’s bust one of the biggest Etsy myths out there: the idea that you have to pick a niche to grow. If you’ve ever delayed committing to your shop because you “haven’t figured out your niche yet,” or felt pressure to make your whole shop match a vibe, this episode is your permission slip to stop overthinking it. Because Etsy doesn’t care about your niche the way Instagram does. It’s a search engin...

If it feels like you’ve tried everything and still aren’t seeing results in your Etsy shop, this one’s for you. You’ve tested new keywords, changed your photos, launched more products, adjusted your pricing and yet your traffic is still all over the place. Sales are inconsistent. And you’re stuck wondering what else you’re “supposed” to do. This is strategy fatigue. And it’s more common than you t...

Episode 209: Why Etsy Isn’t Too Saturated for You “Etsy is too saturated.” If you’ve said this (or thought it), you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common beliefs I hear from handmade sellers, especially when they’re struggling to get visibility or comparing their shop to others. But I want to challenge that belief today. Because while Etsy is competitive, that’s not the same as saturated. And...

You’ve poured your heart into a product. The photos are solid. The price is fair. The listing feels ready. And still…no sales. Before you scrap it, I want to walk you through something I see all the time with handmade sellers: Your product isn’t the problem. It’s your visibility. In this episode, we’re breaking down the real reason good listings underperform and what to do before you start over (a...

Yet another side-eye glance at your endless to-do list, wondering if this Etsy hustle is worth your energy? You’re not alone and today, we’re talking about something that weighs on so many creative sellers: Can handmade truly be sustainable? Spoiler: Yes, it can…if you stop trying to grow it unsustainably. In this episode, we’re unpacking how you can build a sustainable handmade business around yo...

Ever feel like your Etsy shop is a little all over the place? You’ve got some mugs, a printable or two, a sticker pack, a t-shirt, maybe a wedding sign from last spring and one random Halloween file that’s been sitting there since last fall. You’re creative. You’re experimenting. You’re uploading what you’ve made. And it feels like you’re doing the right thing by keeping the shop active. But Etsy...

If you’ve been pulled in a hundred different directions with your marketing and you’re not seeing the growth you want, this episode is your permission slip to simplify. Because Etsy deserves to be your number one priority. Not Instagram. Not email. Not whatever new platform just launched. In this episode, I’ll walk you through: Why Etsy is more than a marketplace and how it actually works in your...

In today’s episode, I’m busting the myth that social media is the secret to Etsy success. And I’m showing you what actually matters, especially if you’d rather focus on your products than chase likes. We’ll cover: Why Etsy doesn’t care about your social media following What the algorithm does reward (and how to use that to your advantage) How sellers are scaling without an audience or a single ree...

You’re making sales and showing up and your Etsy shop is doing fine… But you’re not seeing that next level of consistent growth. If you’ve hit a plateau in your traffic or sales, and you're stuck in that “some sales, but not daily” phase, this episode is for you. In today’s episode, I’m walking you through three smart, strategic tweaks that can help you scale what’s already working so your sho...

You crushed it during the holidays, right? Your Etsy shop was busy, your orders were flowing, and it finally felt like everything was clicking… And then January hit. Crickets. If you’re tired of riding the seasonal rollercoaster, this episode is for you. I’m walking you through how to use that Q4 traction to actually grow your shop year-round, not just survive the slow season. We’re covering: Why...

You’ve done all the “right” things. Great products? Check. Keyword-optimized listings? Check. You’re showing up in search…at least you think you are… And yet? Crickets. Today’s episode is for the seller who feels like their shop is invisible. Because if your listings are getting seen but not converting, something deeper is going on and I want to help you fix it. We’re diving into: The real reason...

Let’s talk to the in-between seller. You’re showing up… kind of. Tweak a listing here. Swap a photo there. Check your stats once in a while. But deep down? You’re not sure this whole Etsy thing is actually working. If you’ve been in start-stop mode with your shop, today’s episode is for you. We’re talking about why your shop isn’t broken and how you might just be stuck in a cycle that’s keeping yo...

If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering, “What does Etsy even want from me?” this episode is your cheat sheet. Because Etsy’s algorithm isn’t some secret code you have to crack. It’s not about chasing trends or going viral. And it’s definitely not only rewarding giant shops with huge followings. So what is it looking for? Today, I’m walking you through the three things Etsy’s algorithm actually w...