Handmade & Beyond Podcast LL Divens Etsy Entrepreneur Success Coach & Seller

Welcome to "My Etsy Listing Formula," where I share my step-by-step approach to creating successful Etsy listings.
First, I start with my idea of what I want to create. I jot down three variations of the idea in the form of keywords, which can be either specific or broad. For example, I might consider "woods lake painting," "mountain lake painting," or "field lake painting." A pro tip: if a keyword isn't performing well, I might need to alter the format or specific words to see better results. For instance, "field lake painting" might not do as well as "prairie lake painting," even though they're similar types of paintings.
Next, I do product demand research using Alura. I check how much search volume each keyword gets and, more importantly, how many overall sales there are. For instance, "woods lake painting" might have a search volume of 5,000 and sales of 15,000, while "mountain lake painting" has a search volume of 4,000 and sales of 10,000. I don't focus on finding keywords with low competition but high traffic and sales. Instead, I look for enough traffic to get my piece of the pie. It's like setting up a yard sale on a busy street versus a backroad – the busy street will always bring more success.
Based on this research, I pick the winner, which in this case is "woods lake painting."
Then, I create the product. Once the product is ready, I do additional keyword research to find high-value keywords to further enhance my listing. I look for similar keywords with a lot of traffic and sales. For example, "nature painting" might have 90,000 searches and 358,000 sales, or "rustic lake decor" might have 15,000 sales. I use a mix of highly specific and broad high-value keywords to target my audience and fill out the keywords in my listing.
I take all my researched keywords and add them to my title and tags. I do the title first, then copy them to my tags. Not all will fit, so I edit them to fit, breaking them up as needed. A pro tip: if I use commas between keywords, I can copy and paste them, and whatever fits will be input into the tags.
Next, I fill out the rest of my listing with the important information: pictures (including alt text), attributes, a keyword-rich description (AI can help here), and pricing (using Alura to research average prices).
Finally, I list the item and let it sit for 3-6 months before considering any changes. Then, I rinse and repeat for future listings.
Don't forget to get your free trial of Alura here: Alura Free Trial. Join me as I navigate the world of Etsy listings and share my insights with you!

In the latest episode of my podcast, I tackled a question many Etsy sellers ponder: "How do I niche down and list more when my niche seems too specific?" This is a great question because as I dive into the world of niches, the paths can seem limited, but they really aren't.
I started by unpacking why niching down is so powerful. It's about connecting directly and intimately with your target audience. Think about the difference between shouting in a packed stadium versus having a conversation in a quiet room. Niching effectively puts you in that quiet room with your ideal customer.
Many sellers start too broadly, trying to cater to everyone and thus, speaking directly to no one. For instance, selling "shirts" or "jewelry" without a focus is too vague. The trick is to home in on your interests and market demand. For example, I began by targeting men and women interested in CrossFit with my shirt designs, which allowed me to establish a foothold and expand from there.
But what happens when you feel you've niched down as far as you can go? That's where the fun begins! You can always:
Expand Within Your Niche: For example, if you're doing funny shirts for moms, think about new sayings, designs, or even shirt types that cater to evolving trends and humor. Niche Down Further: Maybe start designing shirts that combine mom-related humor with specific hobbies like wine or coffee, or experiment with different styles of artwork or shirt cuts. Diversify Product Offerings: Why limit to shirts? Put those popular sayings on mugs, wine glasses, or keychains, considering what your target demographic would appreciate. This episode not only addresses these strategies but also emphasizes the limitless potential in any niche when you think creatively and multidimensionally. Don't miss this episode if you're ready to explore new depths in your niche and broaden your product offerings!
And remember, for more tips on maximizing your Etsy store through effective SEO and other strategies, grab your free Etsy SEO Success Guide. It’s packed with insights to help you increase traffic and sales on Etsy!  www.handmadeandbeyond.com/etsyseosuccess

In today's podcast episode, I'm excited to share some top time-saving hacks that have revolutionized how I manage my Etsy business. Managing time efficiently is crucial, and with these strategies, you can streamline your operations too. Here are the hacks I covered:
Duplicate Similar Listings: Why start from scratch when you can use existing listings as templates? Bulk Edit Listings: Take advantage of Etsy's bulk editing tools to update multiple listings simultaneously. Leverage AI for Descriptions: AI tools can dramatically reduce the time it takes to write product descriptions. Prepaid Etsy Labels: Skip the post office by printing prepaid shipping labels directly from Etsy. Batch Social Media and Emails: Prepare and schedule these in advance to save daily time. Organize Weekly Workflows: Planning your tasks weekly helps maintain focus and efficiency. Don't miss out on additional resources to boost your Etsy shop's success! Grab your free Etsy SEO success guide at www.handmadeandbeyond.com/etsyseosuccess for insider tips and strategies on increasing traffic and sales.

Etsy is known for its continual evolution, always tweaking and testing to enhance the marketplace experience. Recently, they've begun experimenting with altering seller titles—a move that has sparked a mixed reaction within the community. In this podcast episode, we delve into the pros and cons of Etsy's latest strategy and discuss potential solutions for sellers.
Pros of Etsy Testing Titles:
Improvement of Poor Listings: By adjusting less effective titles, Etsy aims to help these listings perform better, potentially increasing visibility and sales. Leveling the Playing Field: This change could standardize opportunities for success among sellers, making competition more about product quality rather than just optimization skills. Cons of Etsy's Approach:
Risk to Successful Listings: There's a concern that these changes could disrupt listings that are already performing well, possibly affecting established sales trajectories. Reduced Incentive for Learning: With Etsy handling title optimizations, sellers might become less inclined to learn SEO best practices, potentially stunting their growth and adaptability. Concerns Over Control: This move suggests a significant increase in control over individual shops, which could lead to frustrations among more experienced sellers. A Constructive Suggestion: To address these issues, why not adopt a strategy similar to Facebook's ad system? Sellers could be given the option to test up to five different titles themselves, tracking which performs best over a designated period. This hands-on approach would allow sellers to stay engaged with SEO practices and better understand what works for their products.
For those looking to dive deeper into mastering Etsy SEO, don't miss out on grabbing your free Etsy SEO Success Guide. This resource is packed with essential tips and strategies to boost your shop's visibility and sales. Check it out at Handmade and Beyond.
In conclusion, while Etsy's title testing initiative aims to help sellers enhance their listings, it's crucial to find a balance that empowers sellers and maintains marketplace integrity. By potentially allowing sellers to conduct their own title tests, Etsy could foster a more knowledgeable and competitive community, aligned with both seller interests and platform goals.
Reference article:  https://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/abblog/blog.pl?/pl/2024/4/1712932218.html

In this episode, I dive into the wild world of customer interactions on platforms like Etsy, where things can get pretty intense! I'll be covering everything from whether you should offer returns and exchanges to who should foot the bill for shipping, and how to tackle refunds effectively. We'll also explore the best ways to correct mistakes and handle scams, including those tricky situations involving QR codes and external links. Plus, I’ll share some personal strategies for dealing with negative reviews that could save your shop’s reputation. Don’t miss out on the actionable insights from our free Etsy SEO Success Guide, packed with tips to boost your traffic and sales. Grab your copy at www.handmadeandbeyond.com/etsyseosuccess and take your Etsy business to the next level!

 


In today's episode, I want to address a concern many Etsy shop owners face: the fear of failure. I'm here to remind you that you are not a failure. Entrepreneurship is challenging, and it's normal not to see immediate growth or sales. But this doesn't mean you're failing; it means there's more work to be done and more ground to cover on your journey to freedom and success. The time it takes to reach your goals varies for everyone, but the key is to never give up.
Facing no sales can be frustrating, but it's a common issue that can be addressed by examining and adjusting your approach. How much time are you dedicating to your Etsy business? Are you strategic with your efforts? Do you have enough listings, and are they optimized for visibility and appeal? Perhaps your shop suffers from a lack of demand, poor listing setup, no defined niche, or you're spreading yourself too thin across too many objectives.
Today, I'm sharing insights on these common hurdles and how to overcome them, with the ultimate aim of reducing your frustration and channeling your energy into positive, impactful actions. By focusing on what's within your control, you can significantly improve your shop's performance.
And for those looking to enhance their Etsy SEO, don't miss out on grabbing your free Etsy SEO success guide. It's packed with essential tips and strategies to increase your shop's traffic and sales. Visit www.handmadeandbeyond.com/etsyseosuccess for your copy and start making meaningful progress in your Etsy journey.