I spent the last year stressing so hard as our Etsy income kept falling and falling. I did all the things, opened all the taps wide, set all the dials to 11, nothing worked to bring the numbers back up again. I hit a wall where I was all out of ideas on how to fix it. When I ran the sales data at the end of the year, all the other platforms we sell on were up 10-15%, Etsy was down 27%. It wasn't the economy, my products, or anything I was doing wrong or could fix. It was Etsy. I am not leaving Etsy, this isn't a flounce. Etsy is just one of many sources of income and I'm not going to remove it entirely just becasue it isn't working like it used to. But I have de-prioritized it, Etsy is no longer our "anchor store." That position now goes to Amazon which is currently generating more sales than Etsy for us. It was honestly a huge relief to be able to let go of "fixing" our Etsy shop. I can focus my energy on making improvements where I know they will have an impact.

With regard to the ads on KZfaq, as a viewer they are very annoying and I’ve noticed most channels we watch the ads are more frequent and longer in time. However since the start of the year I have been inundated with ads to take up the monthly fee with KZfaq to go ad free!! I think this is why we are seeing more and longer ads on videos to entice viewers to take up their monthly subscription. I just go put the kettle on while the ads run!!! lol!

Thank you! Etsy has slowed down for me a lot in 2024. I have a website and am selling on a couple other places too. And this Saturday, I wil do my first craft show in over 20 years! Hoping for a great day!

Since this channel I'm watching you on is my new one for my new handmade business I don't have Premium on it and I like that for two reasons. One, I can monitor what types of ads get pushed to me and how relevant they are. I can say that most of them are not of interest to me but a few of the software ones, like Canva, are of interest and I go and look at what's available. Secondly, I want to experience what my potential viewers will experience with ads. I can usually skip something that is not of interest to me within five seconds and as someone who grew up with old-fashioned TV that is an easy fix. But, the car ads don't allow you to skip. If you don't hit the skip button soon enough it will launch right into another ad, sometimes relevant sometimes not. Overall I don't mind the ads. I'm waiting for your cups to come back in stock.

Very well said. Exactly what I needed to hear to confirm my decision to opening up a Shopify account. I opened up a Shopify account last weekend on the Starter Plan, for just $5 a month! and someday when I’m ready to upgrade, the transition will be fairly easy because all my data will be in the system and I won’t lose anything. I do plan to leave Etsy soon though. Thanks again for this video.

I think you're awesome , your personality is addicting

I just started an Etsy shop, and I’m finding your videos super helpful. I started a website just to ensure I could “park” the domain I wanted when I was ready to do more website work, but now I’m convinced I need to get it up and running quickly. Thank you for all your advice!

Mailing list, mailing list, mailing list! I don't know why I have such a mental block about starting this as I know it's so important? I already have a large list but I am just paralyzed about what service to use and where to begin! I too suffer from "Don't let perfect be the enemy of done" syndrome and I know I'm using this as a reason not to get going on my mailing list. I told myself I would get on this at the beginning of this year and here we are nearly into March and...😑

There are free websites out there for e-commerce it’s just more limited on how many listings you can do and also some of the free ones are not built for e-commerce but you can still sell physical products

Thank you so much! this is a great value video! i got scammed in etsy on my first week and i am looking out for alternatives and you have being at utmost help! thank you 🙏

So, I am catching up this evening with your podcasts. Funny thing, I'm watching this one twice. I love ❤️ ❤❤❤❤ each cup design, and your quotes are just amazing.

Thank you Kim. Love ya 🌷

Thank you Kim for your honesty!! I opened an Etsy shop and I’ve had no sales and not many views. I came across this video and it spoke to me!! I’m an artist (painter) and I have put my images on tshirts, bags, mugs, etc. I have been considering creating my own website and open a shop on Shopify!! You have confirmed my decision!! Thank you!!❤

I have a small list of email subscribers as well. I don't give any coupons or freebies if they sign up but they get special coupons only for them throughout the year. So I feel the customers who really like my products are the ones that sign up. I plan on getting my own website but saving up funds for that.

Patience and baby steps are the key, for sure. Great words of wisdom. It may make the whole idea of starting a handmade business seem like an unattainable goal, but if you're trying to start a handmade business because you need money now, you'll be wasting valuable time.

Thank you, Kim! Another wonderful, thoughtful video full of good ideas 😁

Thank you, thank you, thank you. This was the reminder i needed right now.

Hi Kim! 😊 You are very smart!! Your explanation about the mailing list was super helpful ... thank you!!! 👍🥰❤️

Thank you for this, I am just starting out and it’s a mine field! I need as much advice as I can get. You have a new subscriber 😊

Lovely video with lots of great nuggets of wisdom. Totally understand the need to add in ads- and worth it, even it was amped up by the platform

I don’t buy from Etsy very much. Amazon has always been my first choice, but sadly I can’t find everything I want through Amazon. Wish more designers would sell on Amazon. Thanks for the interesting information.

Yet again you ht the nail on the head.

Your website is great I just mad3 a purchase easy!

Thank you for another great video Kim. The thing I like about Etsy is they deal with all the financial transactions, I have nothing to do with buyers credit cards etc or sales tax/VAT if anything goes wrong Etsy deals with it. Is this the same on Shopify? Or are you totally responsible if something goes wrong with financial transactions, I’m thinking a buyers card is compromised while shopping with me or something financial security related?

Hi Kim. I'm really angry with Etsy. I made a £20 sale, and I received £15.27. They took very nearly 25 per cent from my sale. By the time I take everything out , I made £6.50 for all my hard work. I now have enough backup money to start my own website. So wish me luck. And done is better than perfect.😂 Claire

I have and etsy store and i started my own Shopify website the beginning of January. Can you do a video on how to market your website? I already use KZfaq but im not sure what other non expensive marketing options there are.

Two likes and one was my husband😂. I am painting and it is the best way while listening to you!

I know I need to begin my own shop. I have run my own website for over a decade and within my monthly payments for that I can start my own Woo Commerce shop for no extra cost and with no fees - the problem is I can't get my head around what I need to do. I had a look at Shopify and it looked so simple but if I went down that route I'd have to pay and that would mean paying twice, once for my website and once for Shopify which I can't afford and anyway doesn't make much sense. So it's back to the drawing board to try and figure out Woo Commerce...

Hey Kim, I haven't listened yet as I'm in the TAFE library waiting for my class to start so I've just been reading all the comments so get the gist of the vid. Have you any thoughts on KO-fi?

Thanks!

Not just Etsy.. With everything that’s happening in social media platforms, having your own corner online is really the only route..

Occasional ads are fine to help creators. This having to skip twice thing is the biggest barrier.

I really want to consider my own site eventually.

I have some questions this week! 1: is there a tool to use, or a calculator to check, to assist in determining what to price to set for an item on etsy to calculate for fees? or is it just a guess and round up to a clean number sort of thing? What's your rule of thumb? i feel like there is already a good deal of mental gymnastics to find a balance between a price that is fair for a customer, but also good for business growth, and what's a clean number, without having to rethink everything for fees. 2: Have you ever posted an item for sale on etsy and your website, had that item sell on both, then have to tell someone oops? I don't know why this is suddenly a fear of mine.

No, I can't guess! What will it say? I can't wait for the reveal. Remember when you asked if you feel pushed or pulled to do YT? I said "pushed" and it is exactly because I believe you when you say the folks who buy handmade buy because they connect with the person and the story behind the item. You see, I didn't mind being on YT 7 years ago, but now I'm older and not so pretty anymore and truly believe no one will want to look at my face for any length of time. I also don't have an "upbeat" personality (from decades of trauma & abuse), and like you said before, people can tell when it is insincere. So telling the stories as a background dialogue may be a way for me to approach things, but in that case do I just do a short form, say 3-5 minutes, or a reel type thing where it's only 30 seconds? As you can probably tell, I tend to be on the more "talky" side. Thoughts/opinions? I value your suggestions. Hugs (PS Thank you for mentioning me!)

Also on your own website Etsy isn’t saying as you put it in your basket , ‘ hey what about these similar items all cheaper then yours’ loool

were should i go for a website

Yes, all the drew barrymore stuff looks store bought

I wound up forking over $15 a month for KZfaq premium because I didn’t want to deal with ads that were gross. There used to be ones for deodorant for male …parts… and over explanation of birth control. I don’t think I’m Uber prudish, but I don’t need all the gory details. I say all that just to say, it’s been money well spent. Ads don’t bother me anymore 😂

only 1 sale a week on etsy i am making good money these days selling locally on facebook marketplace

I can get sales on etsy easy if i advertise but will struggle to get any with them off. Feels like etsy push you to advertise.

Can you tell me (if not, I understand) if you only get paid for videos where you allow ads? If you didn't agree to the ads, you wouldn't get anything? What if the viewer has, for example, AdBlock turned on?

I will say that I don't make 1/10th the amount of sales you do, Kim. I spend more every month in relisting fees than transaction fees.

etsy don't like earn money they just like suspended shop everyday

😁💯💚