Episode Summary: Ep 169 | How this Artist Built a Thriving Etsy Business Selling Her Original Artwork—with Melissa Mary Jenkins

Release Date: February 20, 2025
Host: Lizzie Smiley

1. Introduction

In Episode 169 of "How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy," host Lizzie Smiley welcomes listeners to an insightful discussion with Melissa Mary Jenkins, a successful Etsy seller known for her original artwork. Lizzie emphasizes the podcast's mission to help entrepreneurs launch, grow, pivot, or scale their Etsy shops while balancing personal life.

2. Guest Introduction: Melissa Mary Jenkins

Melissa Mary Jenkins hails from rural Ontario, Canada. Formerly a high school teacher, Melissa transitioned to full-time entrepreneurship 17 years ago after the birth of her twin daughters. She launched her current Etsy shop in 2013, focusing on original landscape and still life paintings crafted with natural inks. Her unique style, blending vintage aesthetics with modern elements, has resonated well with Etsy shoppers.

3. Melissa's Etsy Journey and Success

Melissa shares her Etsy journey, highlighting significant milestones and challenges:

• Initial Struggles: Melissa admits that her early Etsy efforts were sporadic, with little consistent sales.

• Breakthrough Moment:
  "I had one print that skyrocketed after an influencer posted about it on Instagram. My shop exploded for a couple of days, leading to my best month in April 2024 and an all-time high in January 2025."
  (04:36)

• Consistent Growth: Following her breakthrough, Melissa's shop saw steady improvement, attributing success to effective SEO and strategic marketing.

4. Secrets to Selling Original Artwork on Etsy

Melissa discusses essential strategies for selling original artwork on Etsy:

• Quality Presentation:
  "You can't just put your beautiful artwork up and think that it'll sell. It’s about the marketing behind it—beautiful photos, storytelling, and a cohesive brand."
  (04:36)

• Behind-the-Scenes Efforts: Emphasizes the importance of comprehensive Etsy listings, including high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and relevant keywords.

5. Importance of SEO and Keywords

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Etsy SEO and keyword optimization:

• SEO Workshop Promotion: Lizzie promotes her upcoming SEO Live workshop on February 27th, aiming to teach her entire SEO strategy, including finding product opportunities, writing effective SEO, and understanding the Etsy algorithm.

• Keyword Strategy Insights:
  "If your keywords aren't matching what people are searching for, your listings won't be seen."
  (09:24)

• Avoiding Misleading Keywords:
  "Don’t use 'vintage' in tags unless your item is genuinely vintage (20+ years). Instead, use terms like 'retro' or 'antique-inspired'."
  (15:07)

• Etsy Algorithm Understanding: Melissa acknowledges the challenge of mastering Etsy’s algorithm but stresses its importance in driving visibility and sales.

6. Matching Art with Trends

Melissa highlights the significance of aligning artwork with current Etsy trends:

• Vintage and Transitional Decor:
  "Combining traditional vintage elements with modern furniture is my passion, and it's currently trending on Etsy."
  (14:01)

• Seasonal Adaptation:
  "For Mother's Day and Easter, light-colored spring floral paintings are in demand."
  (31:46)

• Trend Integration without Compromise: Melissa creates art she loves that also resonates with market trends, ensuring authenticity while meeting customer demand.

7. Seasonal Strategies and Product Offerings

The conversation delves into how different seasons impact artwork sales:

• January Success:
  "January was my best month ever with 9,421 visits and 60 orders."
  (20:52)

• Summer Slowdown: Lizzie notes that May through August can be slow for wall art, advising artists to prepare for seasonal fluctuations by planning and creating ahead of time.

• Innovative Products: Melissa discusses her miniature art pieces and their popularity, emphasizing diversification to maintain steady sales throughout the year.

8. Sustainability and Artistic Process

Melissa shares her commitment to sustainability in her artistic practices:

• Natural Inks:
  "I make my own inks from avocados, walnuts, and invasive plants from our farm, ensuring a sustainable approach to my art."
  (38:37)

• Unique Techniques:
  "Combining acrylics with handcrafted walnut ink gives my paintings an old-world aesthetic that sets them apart."
  (39:59)

• Eco-friendly Packaging: Emphasizes the importance of sustainable packaging practices, aligning with her brand’s values.

9. Overcoming Challenges and Encouragement

Melissa and Lizzie discuss overcoming common hurdles faced by Etsy sellers:

• Maintaining Motivation:
  "Even when sales are slow, use that time to create more art instead of doubting yourself."
  (28:45)

• Resilience: Melissa shares her personal struggles, including dealing with Lyme disease, and how perseverance played a crucial role in her eventual success.

• Community Support: The importance of connecting with other Etsy sellers and seeking mentorship, as Melissa found encouragement through Lizzie’s shop audits.

10. Resources and Workshops

Lizzie promotes various resources to aid Etsy sellers in their journey:

• Six Figure Secrets Course: A beginner-friendly course offering insights into finding demand, leveraging trends, and mastering SEO.
  Use code SAVE50 for $50 off.

• Upcoming Workshops:

  • SEO Live Workshop: February 27th, 7-8:30 PM Central Time.
  • AI Coloring Pages Workshop: March 27th, 7-8:30 PM Central Time.

• Shop Audits: Occasionally available through Lizzie’s Instagram and email list, providing personalized feedback to Etsy sellers.

11. Final Insights and Encouragement

The episode wraps up with heartfelt encouragement for artists:

• Authentic Expression:
  "The true way to 'sell out' is by not sharing your art with the world."
  (53:23)

• Strategic Marketing: Lizzie emphasizes that artists should focus on both their creative passions and strategic marketing to achieve sustainable success on Etsy.

• Community Building: Melissa commends Lizzie’s supportive approach, highlighting the value of a nurturing community for Etsy entrepreneurs.

Notable Quotes

• Melissa Jenkins:
  "It's amazing to see my shop's growth through understanding and implementing effective SEO strategies."
  (05:57)

• Lizzie Smiley:
  "Etsy is a search engine marketplace. If your listing isn't optimized for what people are searching for, you'll remain unseen."
  (47:15)

• Melissa Jenkins:
  "Creating art I love while aligning with market trends is the key to my Etsy success."
  (35:24)

Connect with Melissa Mary Jenkins

• Instagram: @melissamaryjenkinsart
• Website: melissamaryjenkinsart.com

Conclusion

Episode 169 offers a comprehensive look into Melissa Mary Jenkins' successful Etsy journey, providing valuable insights into effective SEO strategies, aligning with market trends, and maintaining sustainability in artistic practices. Lizzie Smiley’s supportive hosting and actionable advice make this episode a must-listen for any artist looking to thrive on Etsy.

Resources Mentioned:

• Six Figure Secrets Course: howtosellyourstuff.com
• SEO Live Workshop: February 27th, 7-8:30 PM Central Time
• AI Coloring Pages Workshop: March 27th, 7-8:30 PM Central Time

Special Offers:

• Six Figure Secrets Course: Use code SAVE50 for $50 off.
• Profit Tree Tool: Use code TREE10 for 10% off membership. Profit Tree

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