Makers on the Rise Maker and Photographer, Kristina Nicole

Welcome to the Makers on the Rise Podcast. I am maker and photographer Kristina Nicole. I started my handmade business in 2015 creating wood decor and gifts. When I started I knew nothing about running a business online, but I quickly discovered I had a drive and a thirst for understanding and knowledge. I learned everything I could and quickly became a top seller on Etsy, but in 2018 I decided to let go of my successful handmade business to focus on educating makers. With my 20 years of photography experience, I wanted to simplify the product photography process for makers and teach them how to attract more customers and make more sales for their shop with better product photos. I witnessed so many makers struggling to take their own product photos in the handmade community and I just knew how successful they could be if they just had the right information, so that became my mission. 

However, I quickly learned that like me, most makers start their shops without an understanding of what it actually means to run an online business. Etsy makes it so easy for anyone to start selling online. But, I knew that if makers wanted to build a brand and a profitable business beyond Etsy then they needed the whole picture! While I consider myself an expert in photography and I have an obsession for marketing and sales, I am not an expert in all things business. I often say I know a little about a lot. And Since I can’t be an expert in every aspect of growing a profitable, sustainable, and scalable business, I created Makers on the Rise, a collaborative podcast to bring experts in all areas of business and personal growth to one place so that you can have the greatest opportunity for success, whatever that looks like to you. 

Have questions about taking your own product photos? Join me inside of my private community at productphotographyhelp.com to get your questions answered! It’s free, at productphotographyhelp.com  

Welcome to the Thriving on Etsy Series. We are kicking off the Makers on the Rise Podcast talking about Etsy and how to thrive on Etsy when 78% of sellers have less than 100 sales for the lifetime of their shop. Is Etsy still a great place for makers to start? Is there an opportunity to be profitable on Etsy? Find out inside this introduction episode to the Thriving on Etsy Series! 

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Hello, Love!

Welcome to Episode 01 of the Thriving on Etsy Series. Today, I have Kaelynn Priest from the Etsy Seller Gold Mine joining me to talk to you about getting started on Etsy and why it is the best platform for makers to start on.

Kaelynn is the owner of Poppyseed Play, a modern wooden baby gym company that makes toys that are fun for babies and for parents to look at. In the process of growing her product business to multiple six figures in revenue, Kaelynn has recently discovered her true passion project, helping women step into their role as the CEO of their own businesses.

In today's episode, Kaelynn and I are talking about


Why Etsy is a great place to start and a great place to really hone in on your product and offer.
How to thrive on Etsy and grow your business while keeping the passion for the work you do.
Mom guilt and how to move past the fear of being a successful mom and business owner. 
Personal development and how you learn so much about yourself moving towards a growth mindset.

Follow Kaelynn over on Instagram @kaelynn.priest  or learn more about the programs she offers to help you thrive on Etsy at KP Creative Studios

Are you ready for more clicks and sales on your Etsy Listing? Attract more customers and make them feel confident in purchasing from your shop with Product Photos that look professional, connect, and communicate the most important information. Transform your Etsy Listing Product Photos with the Etsy Photo 5-day Challenge at Etsyphotochallenge.com

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Hello, Loves! Welcome to episode 2 of the Thriving on Etsy Series. Today I have Lis Bokt joining me to talk to you about the Reality of Selling on Etsy. 

Lis is the owner of Shop Intaglio, a printing, and engraving company.  She is a 6 figure maker selling on Etsy, Amazon, and her own website. She started selling on Etsy when Etsy first opened so she is a master OG! Lis also has a background in astrophysics, which is a lot of sifting through big numbers and big data to figure out what makes sense and what does not. So when it comes to Etsy and all its big changes my go-to person is Lis because she always provides a logically sound explanation for the changes Etsy makes. During this episode, Lis and I talk about the challenges makers face and the struggles Etsy sellers experience using the platform.

Topics covered in this episode include...


Star Seller Badge
Suppressing Thriving Shops in Search
Seasonal Sales on Etsy and a Drop in Sales 
Slow Selling Months
Tracking Numbers and Setting Goals
Etsy Changes (The Bigger Picture) 
Etsy Fees
Free Shipping
Etsy Ads
Etsy Off-site Ads
Negative Reviews
Etsy Scammers
Shipping Issues
Shops Getting Shut Down 
Breaking Etsy's Terms of Service
Resellers and Copyright Infringement
Stalking your Competition  
Etsy's Best Interest

Lis takes the time to explain the bigger picture when it comes to Etsy's continued challenges.  Before you freak out about the next change Etsy makes, check out this episode! 

Are you dreaming of making daily sales? Learn 3 steps that will help you attract more customers and make more sales for your handmade business at attractmoresellmore.com

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Hello, Loves! Welcome to episode 3 of the Thriving on Etsy Series. Today I have Janet LeBlanc from Paper and Spark joining me to talk to you about pricing your products for profit. 

Janet is a CPA and a maker herself. She started crafting jewelry back in 2011 and noticed a lot of her fellow makers had questions about the financial side of running their shops. She decided to put her accounting background to work and founded Paper + Spark in 2014. Paper + Spark provides resources & educational content to help creatives feel more confident about their biz finances.

Janet is my go-to coach for all things money-related! In this episode, Janet reveals the challenges makers face when it comes to pricing their products and actually making a profit selling on Etsy. She shares the biggest mistakes she sees sellers making that cut into their profits and provides multiple ideas on how to actually increase your profit margin to thrive on Etsy. 

Need help getting your books in order? Grab your free step by step checklist at Paper + Spark 

 

Have questions about taking your own product photos? Join me inside of my private community at productphotographyhelp.com to get your questions answered! It’s free, at productphotographyhelp.com  

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Hello, loves! Welcome to episode 4 of the thriving on Etsy Series. In today's episode, I am going to share how having exceptional customer service will increase your ranking in search on Etsy, increase your sales on Etsy, and increase your chances of establishing lifelong customers of your brand. 

I even share my personal Etsy Conversation Swipe Files I used to communicate with my Etsy customers to provide exceptional customer service, increase reviews, and increase return customers. Grab your copy of my Etsy Swipe Conversations before you head out! 

References: Etsy's official Ultimate Guide to Search 

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