How To Be A Handmade Boss

Steph Cole-Lewis
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Whether you’re a complete beginner on Etsy, or want to scale your handmade business to multi-6 figures, the “How To Be A Handmade Boss” podcast gives you actionable advice and workshop style full length episodes to grow your handmade business on Etsy and beyond.We get it. Starting or growing a handmade business can be really overwhelming, and sometimes you feel like you have an expensive hobby rather than a profitable business. If you have questions like “How can I make sales in my business?” “How do I start a handmade shop?” “How can I make this passion my full-time gig?” or “How do I sell my crafts online” then you’re in the right place boss!I’m Steph, a multi 6-figure handmade business owner (in the top 0.1% of all shops on Etsy), bestselling author of “How to be a handmade boss”, visionary and coach behind Handmade Bosses. However, It wasn’t always rainbows and unicorns though. Today, my business(es) are bustling, but way back in 2014 when I started, it was HARD. Favourites but no sales, slow sales and low profits seemed in the beginning, like the trajectory of my business. Luckily following the system I’ve now curated, All of that changed and I went full-time in my handmade business in 2016.Let’s focus on turning your passion into profit, because the world really does need these special creations that you only bring to life.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    #113 - Etsy Shop Not Getting Sales? The Real Reasons Your Shop Feels Quiet

    🙊 If your Etsy shop feels weirdly quiet, this episode is for you. 👻 We’re digging into the real reasons your shop can feel like a ghost town, even when you’re trying hard, tweaking things constantly, and doing “all the right stuff.” We cover the difference between a traffic problem and a conversion problem, how robotic SEO can quietly kill clicks, why cluttered product photos put buyers off, and what a confusing storefront does to trust. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: 💡 how to tell whether your Etsy problem is visibility or conversion 💡 why keyword-stuffed titles can make buyers scroll straight past 💡 what your first listing photo actually needs to do 💡 how muddled branding creates hesitation 💡 what buyers are thinking when they land on your product pages 💡 what to check in your Etsy stats before you start changing everything 💡 how to make your shop feel clearer, stronger, and easier to buy from This is a proper Etsy shop audit-style episode for beginner handmade sellers who want more than generic advice. 🛍️ If your listings are getting views but not sales, grab the freebie Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It. It’ll help you spot what’s putting buyers off and what to fix first without the overwhelm. 🔗 https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales The bigger Handmade Bosses growth system behind this kind of diagnosis is rooted in getting clear on what’s keeping sellers stuck and building a business with clarity, confidence, and direction, rather than chasing random tactics. Insta CTA If your Etsy listings are getting views but not sales, I’ve made something for you 👀 It’s my free Why Isn’t Your Listing Selling? guide, and it walks you through the sneaky little shop blocks that could be stopping people from buying 🛒 Think: photos, titles, pricing, descriptions, trust, all the bits that make a customer go “yes please” instead of quietly vanishing into the internet abyss 🫠 It’s completely free, super practical, and you can grab it using the link in the show notes ✨ Grab you freebie here - https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales

    14 min

  2. 29 APR

    #112 The Best Daily Etsy To-Do List for Beginners (Without the Overwhelm)

    Feeling overwhelmed by Etsy? 😵‍💫 Not sure what to do first in your handmade shop, or constantly bouncing between 47 half-finished tasks? This episode is your reset. In this beginner-friendly Etsy episode, I’m walking you through a simple one Etsy task a day plan to help you grow your shop without the chaos. We’re covering what actually counts as a needle-moving Etsy task, what’s just busywork, and how to build a weekly rhythm that helps you improve traffic, trust, and conversion one small step at a time. If you’ve been avoiding your shop because everything feels too much, this will help you figure out what to focus on first, what to stop wasting time on, and how to keep momentum going even if you’ve only got 10 minutes. Inside this episode: 🧡 how to decide what Etsy task matters most today 🧡 the difference between real progress and busywork 🧡 a simple weekly Etsy routine for beginners 🧡 daily tasks for traffic, listing quality, trust, content, and review 🧡 what to check in Etsy stats so you know what to fix next 🧡 how to keep growing your handmade business without overwhelm This is mainly for new Etsy sellers, but the advice will help on any platform where you’re selling handmade products. 🛍️ ✅ And if you want help figuring out why your listings aren’t converting yet, grab the freebie: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It. It’ll help you spot what buyers are hesitating over and what to fix first. 🔗 https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales Insta CTA If your Etsy listings are getting views but not sales, I’ve made something for you 👀 It’s my free Why Isn’t Your Listing Selling? guide, and it walks you through the sneaky little shop blocks that could be stopping people from buying 🛒 Think: photos, titles, pricing, descriptions, trust, all the bits that make a customer go “yes please” instead of quietly vanishing into the internet abyss 🫠 It’s completely free, super practical, and you can grab it using the link in the show notes ✨ Grab you freebie here - https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales

    12 min

  3. 22 APR

    #111 Are Your Etsy Prices Too Low? A Simple Handmade Pricing Method for Beginners

    Pricing handmade products on Etsy can feel weirdly stressful, especially when you’re scared of charging too much, undercharging yourself, or getting it completely wrong. In this episode, I’m walking you through a simple beginner-friendly way to price handmade products for Etsy without using spreadsheets or overcomplicating it. We cover: 💸 the bare minimum numbers you actually need 💸 how to include your time in your prices 💸 why so many handmade sellers undercharge 💸 how buyer psychology affects what feels “worth it” 💸 when pricing is the real issue, and when it’s actually a listing or conversion problem 💸 what to check in your Etsy shop before lowering your prices This is mainly for beginner Etsy sellers, but the pricing advice applies on any platform if you sell handmade products. If you’ve been guessing your prices, copying competitors, or changing numbers every time you wobble, this will help you build a much more solid pricing method. And if you want help figuring out whether the issue is your price or your listing, grab my freebie: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It. https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales  It’ll help you spot what’s actually stopping buyers from converting so you can fix the right thing first. Insta CTA If your Etsy listings are getting views but not sales, I’ve made something for you 👀 It’s my free Why Isn’t Your Listing Selling? guide, and it walks you through the sneaky little shop blocks that could be stopping people from buying 🛒 Think: photos, titles, pricing, descriptions, trust, all the bits that make a customer go “yes please” instead of quietly vanishing into the internet abyss 🫠 It’s completely free, super practical, and you can grab it using the link in the show notes ✨ Grab you freebie here - https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales

    16 min

  4. 15 APR

    #110 Starting Etsy Without a Perfect Niche: What Beginners Should Do Instead

    Do you need a niche to start on Etsy? Yes… but not in the rigid, overcomplicated way the internet makes it sound. In this episode, I’m breaking down how beginner Etsy sellers can choose a niche without boxing themselves in too early. We’re talking about the difference between having a clear starting direction and being all over the shop, how to test product ideas properly, and how to use Etsy data like views, favourites, and search terms to refine your niche over time. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: 👉 how to choose an Etsy niche when you’re just starting 👉 why “perfect niche” advice causes paralysis 👉 the difference between intentional testing and random product chaos 👉 how buyers actually experience your shop when they land cold 👉 what your first listings can tell you about what’s working 👉 how to refine your Etsy niche based on clicks, favourites, and sales 👉 how this advice applies on Etsy and other handmade selling platforms too This is for handmade sellers who feel stuck because they think they need their whole brand figured out before they can start. You don’t. You need a smart starting lane, real buyer feedback, and a way to build from evidence instead of guesswork. And if your listings are getting views but not turning into sales, grab my freebie: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It ... https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales  It’ll help you spot what buyers might be hesitating over, so you can fix the bits that are quietly hurting your sales. This episode also lines up with the early-stage focus on narrowing your niche, choosing a direction, and learning from real market feedback instead of waiting for perfect clarity  Insta CTA If your Etsy listings are getting views but not sales, I’ve made something for you 👀 It’s my free Why Isn’t Your Listing Selling? guide, and it walks you through the sneaky little shop blocks that could be stopping people from buying 🛒 Think: photos, titles, pricing, descriptions, trust, all the bits that make a customer go “yes please” instead of quietly vanishing into the internet abyss 🫠 It’s completely free, super practical, and you can grab it using the link in the show notes ✨ Grab you freebie here - https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales

    22 min

  5. 8 APR

    #109 How to Write Etsy Listings Like a Human (That Actually Get Sales)

    If your Etsy listing sounds awkward, stiff, or like you panicked and copied bits from 12 other shops… this one’s for you. Because here’s the thing: your traffic probably isn’t the problem. Your listing just isn’t doing its job yet. In this episode, I’m showing new Etsy sellers how to write Etsy listings like a real human (without ditching SEO), so buyers actually understand what you’re selling and feel confident enough to click Add to basket. We cover: ✅T he simple Etsy listing structure that works for any handmade product ✅ How to write Etsy titles that sound normal but still include keywords ✅ The first 3 lines of your Etsy description that matter most (because people SCAN) ✅ What to write when you don’t know what buyers care about yet ✅ How to use bullet points + FAQs to reduce “Should I buy this?” hesitation ✅ Why keyword stuffing makes your listings worse (and what to do instead) Examples included for: ✅ handmade candles ✅ handmade jewellery ✅ crochet + knitted items 🧠 Plus: I teach the Buyer Brain Map (what people are actually looking for when they read a listing) and the Listing Anatomy you can copy/paste into every product description. 👍 If this helped, subscribe for more Etsy selling tips for handmade businesses. 🎧 And if you want to listen instead, search The Handmade Bosses Podcast. Insta CTA If your Etsy listings are getting views but not sales, I’ve made something for you 👀 It’s my free Why Isn’t Your Listing Selling? guide, and it walks you through the sneaky little shop blocks that could be stopping people from buying 🛒 Think: photos, titles, pricing, descriptions, trust, all the bits that make a customer go “yes please” instead of quietly vanishing into the internet abyss 🫠 It’s completely free, super practical, and you can grab it using the link in the show notes ✨ Grab you freebie here - https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales

    17 min

  6. 1 APR

    #108 - What to Do This Week If You’re New to Etsy (A Simple Plan)

    If you’re new to Etsy and everything feels messy, overwhelming, or like you’re doing loads but getting nowhere… this video is your reset. In this episode, I walk you through a simple, calm weekly plan for Etsy beginners and early-stage sellers who feel stuck, scattered, or unsure what to focus on next. We cover: – What to actually work on this week (not everything) – The one thing to stop doing if you want momentum – How to build progress without burnout – Why doing less in the right order leads to more sales This is for you if: – You’re brand new to Etsy – You’ve made a few sales but it feels chaotic – You’re busy all the time but not confident it’s working – You keep tweaking everything and hoping something clicks No hype. No massive to-do list. Just a clear next step so you can move forward without frying your brain. ☕ If this helped, subscribe for weekly Etsy and handmade business advice that actually makes sense. 🔗 Fast-Action Sales Fixes (No Overwhelm). https://www.handmadebosses.com/offers/XfEMFfGM/checkout   Insta CTA If your Etsy listings are getting views but not sales, I’ve made something for you 👀 It’s my free Why Isn’t Your Listing Selling? guide, and it walks you through the sneaky little shop blocks that could be stopping people from buying 🛒 Think: photos, titles, pricing, descriptions, trust, all the bits that make a customer go “yes please” instead of quietly vanishing into the internet abyss 🫠 It’s completely free, super practical, and you can grab it using the link in the show notes ✨ Grab you freebie here - https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales

    12 min

  7. 25 MAR

    #107 - Etsy SEO for Beginners (Without the Algorithm Panic)

    Etsy SEO feels confusing on purpose. And if you’re brand new (or stuck with low sales), most of what you’ve been told is just adding panic, not progress. In this episode, I break down Etsy SEO for beginners in plain English. No algorithm fear. No trending keywords. No constant listing refreshing. We cover: ✨ How Etsy search actually works (without the jargon) ✨ What keywords are… and what they’re not ✨ Where keywords matter, and where they really don’t ✨ Why refreshing listings doesn’t magically fix low sales ✨ What to focus on instead if you want steady progress This is calm, grounded SEO that helps you understand what Etsy needs and what buyers need – especially if you’re early-stage and trying to make your first proper sales. If this helped, subscribe for more beginner-friendly Etsy and handmade business advice, and go listen to the episode on why favourites don’t automatically turn into sales next. Insta CTA If your Etsy listings are getting views but not sales, I’ve made something for you 👀 It’s my free Why Isn’t Your Listing Selling? guide, and it walks you through the sneaky little shop blocks that could be stopping people from buying 🛒 Think: photos, titles, pricing, descriptions, trust, all the bits that make a customer go “yes please” instead of quietly vanishing into the internet abyss 🫠 It’s completely free, super practical, and you can grab it using the link in the show notes ✨ Grab you freebie here - https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales

    14 min

  8. 18 MAR

    #106 - Your First Etsy Listings: What Actually Matters (Beginner Friendly)

    Struggling to make sense of your Etsy listings? In this episode, Steph breaks down what actually matters when creating Etsy listings that convert - without SEO overwhelm or overthinking. You’ll learn: • What makes someone click a listing • Photos vs titles vs descriptions (in the right order) • A simple listing structure you can follow • What NOT to obsess over yet Perfect for early-stage Etsy sellers who want clarity, not chaos. Subscribe for practical Etsy and handmade business advice that actually works. Insta CTA If your Etsy listings are getting views but not sales, I’ve made something for you 👀 It’s my free Why Isn’t Your Listing Selling? guide, and it walks you through the sneaky little shop blocks that could be stopping people from buying 🛒 Think: photos, titles, pricing, descriptions, trust, all the bits that make a customer go “yes please” instead of quietly vanishing into the internet abyss 🫠 It’s completely free, super practical, and you can grab it using the link in the show notes ✨ Grab you freebie here - https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales

    19 min
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Trailer

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About

Whether you’re a complete beginner on Etsy, or want to scale your handmade business to multi-6 figures, the “How To Be A Handmade Boss” podcast gives you actionable advice and workshop style full length episodes to grow your handmade business on Etsy and beyond.We get it. Starting or growing a handmade business can be really overwhelming, and sometimes you feel like you have an expensive hobby rather than a profitable business. If you have questions like “How can I make sales in my business?” “How do I start a handmade shop?” “How can I make this passion my full-time gig?” or “How do I sell my crafts online” then you’re in the right place boss!I’m Steph, a multi 6-figure handmade business owner (in the top 0.1% of all shops on Etsy), bestselling author of “How to be a handmade boss”, visionary and coach behind Handmade Bosses. However, It wasn’t always rainbows and unicorns though. Today, my business(es) are bustling, but way back in 2014 when I started, it was HARD. Favourites but no sales, slow sales and low profits seemed in the beginning, like the trajectory of my business. Luckily following the system I’ve now curated, All of that changed and I went full-time in my handmade business in 2016.Let’s focus on turning your passion into profit, because the world really does need these special creations that you only bring to life.

Information

  • Creator
    Steph Cole-Lewis
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    114
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 How To Be A Handmade Boss
  • Show Website
    How To Be A Handmade Boss

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