Podcast Summary:

How to Sell POD and Digital Products in the Same Etsy Shop

Podcast: How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy
Host: Lizzie Smiley
Guest: Laura Geissert
Episode: 195
Date: August 21, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively and deeply practical episode, Lizzie Smiley sits down with Laura Geissert—speech-language pathologist, private practice owner, and successful Etsy shop manager—to discuss the ins and outs of running an Etsy shop that offers both print-on-demand (POD) and digital products. They cover the logistics, challenges, customer service strategies, and the all-important mindsets for entrepreneurs looking to diversify their Etsy shops. This conversation demystifies the fears around mixing digital and physical offerings and is packed with actionable tips, candid anecdotes, and a hearty dose of entrepreneurial encouragement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How to Run a POD & Digital Product Shop (03:29–05:57)

• Laura’s Shop Structure: Began as a POD shop using Printify, selling mainly shirts and sweatshirts, then expanded to include digital downloads like printable poster sets for SLPs.
• Workflow Differences:
  • POD: Manually oversees orders and communicates with each customer (sending order updates, managing customizations).
  • Digital: Products are instant download—more passive, but still occasionally requires customer guidance.

Quote:
"I have these two parts of my business. One is now much more passive and one is a lot more active with the POD."
— Laura (05:57)

2. Preventing Customer Confusion: Digital vs. Physical (05:57–09:17)

• Common Issues: Customers sometimes confuse digital downloads (print-it-yourself) with physical items.
• Communication Solutions:
  • Laura adds clear graphics and text in listing photos stating “This is a digital download only.”
  • Recommends step-by-step download instructions and printing tips.
• Mindset Shift for Sellers: Be patient—not all customers are tech-savvy. Build up FAQs and use templated responses.

Quote:
"Be patient with your customers. Not everyone's as tech savvy as you, right? They might have some questions about things that you're surprised by."
— Laura (08:12)

3. Customer Service Tactics & Tools (09:17–15:41)

• Use of Quick Replies: Talks about using Etsy's snippets (now called “quick replies”) for templated customer messages. You can save up to 250 quick replies (11:39).
• Visual Aids: Suggests using graphics and screenshots over long text explanations, especially for repetitive customer questions.
• Communication Volume: Laura gets more questions from teachers and SLPs due to their inquisitive nature, compared to other niches.

Quote:
"Sometimes just sending a picture is easier than typing it, even with a snippet. I'm a big fan of graphics for as much as possible."
— Lizzie (09:48)

4. Shop Organization & Niche Strategy (10:52–15:28)

• Niche Importance: Keeping your shop within a single niche helps minimize confusion when selling both POD and digital products.
• Tidying Listings: Laura acknowledges she may need to better separate her digital and physical offerings in shop sections to further reduce confusion.
• Mindset: Don't overthink, just start. Adjust as you go.

Quote:
"Don't overthink anything. That's what I've learned, I think maybe from you."
— Laura (24:59)

5. Offering Both Digital and Physical: Lessons Learned (22:52–25:49)

• Transition Tips: No major overhaul needed to add digital products—Laura simply tested adding new listings and promoted them lightly via Instagram.
• Seasonal Trends: Digital product sales picked up during slower POD periods, dramatically boosting overall revenue.

6. Growth & Mindset (26:18–29:15)

• Side Hustle to Joyful Business: Laura keeps her clinical practice small to focus on Etsy, which now provides her the most joy.
• Listing Volume: Grown to 492 listings in two years, emphasizing persistence and continued listing creation.

7. Niche Market Analysis & Realism (28:39–31:13)

• Market Size Wisdom: Niche like SLP is great, but not big enough for full-time unless you branch into wider teacher/education topics or leverage social media.
• Diversification: Encourage using digital product offerings to enter broader education markets.

Quote:
"If you tried to just do SLP for people listening, let's say you're trying to do some kind of subniche ... It's not going to be full time ... Unless you blow your stuff up on social media."
— Lizzie (29:11)

8. To Sell PNGs or Not: Dealing with Copycats (31:13–36:34)

• Protecting Designs: Laura is hesitant to sell PNG files due to past experiences with copied work, even finding her designs on Temu.
• Lizzie's Perspective: Monetize every angle, but it's okay to protect what’s proprietary. If you play in digital, expect some copying.

Quote:
"The price of being in the game is being copied."
— Lizzie (34:44)

9. Early Stages, Niching Down, and Learning from Mistakes (40:00–45:13)

• Shop Evolution: Laura started with broad offerings (including dog ornaments!), then niched down after learning what worked.
• IP Risk Caution: Previously, she sold designs skirting trademark rules (e.g., football shirts). After several listing takedowns, she closed that risky shop and recommends avoiding gray areas entirely.

Quote:
"If you make a design and you feel uneasy about it... don't post it. That's what I learned."
— Laura (43:46)

10. Design Process & Tools (45:39–48:28)

• Learning Design: Laura is self-taught, using YouTube, Heather’s Design Lab, and platforms like Kittl and Canva—not a trained graphic designer.
• Encouragement: Design skills are learnable and figure-outable. Play, experiment, and leverage free resources.

11. Customer Service as a Key Differentiator (51:46–55:15)

• Personal Touch: Laura credits her repeat business to extra-friendly, conversational, and personal messages—especially valued in an AI-driven world.
• Going Above and Beyond: She rarely says "no" to custom requests, especially early on, and believes this sets her shop apart.

Quote:
"The way that you can make your store stand out is to provide that extra level of customer service and just never say no to people … I do go above and beyond."
— Laura (54:46)

12. Marketing: Using Her Podcast & Email List (55:52–57:18)

• Cross-Promotion: Laura now promotes her Etsy shop on her own SLP-focused podcast ("The SLP Book Club") and uses her book club’s Instagram account for connection.
• Interaction: Book club listeners convert to shop customers, and she values direct connection.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Don't overthink anything. Just do it. Just try stuff out. See what works ... In some stores it would be wild to add random digital products. For my store, it made sense.” — Laura (24:59)
• “Be patient with your customers. Not everyone's as tech savvy as you, right? They might have some questions about things that you're surprised by.” — Laura (08:12)
• "The price of being in the game is being copied… The things you're going to learn along the way if you don't give up on yourself when it seems like you're putting a lot in for nothing out, your growth is cumulative. You never start over, ever.” — Lizzie (34:44, 39:58)
• "The way that you can make your store stand out is to provide that extra level of customer service and just never say no to people." — Laura (54:46)
• "You want to know what to design next – that's your real value." — Lizzie (35:30)

Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 03:29–05:57| Managing both POD and digital listings | | 05:57–09:17| Preventing confusion between physical/digital | | 09:17–15:41| Messaging, quick replies, handling questions | | 24:52–25:49| Adding digital products & seeing results | | 26:18–29:15| Listing volume, side hustle vs. full-time | | 31:13–36:34| Copycats, PNGs, and design theft | | 40:00–45:13| Early days, niching down, IP lessons | | 45:39–48:28| Laura's design learning journey | | 51:46–55:15| Customer service tips and personal touches | | 55:52–57:18| Marketing through her podcast and Instagram |

Where to Find Laura

• Instagram: @slp_bookclub (run personally by Laura)
• Podcast: The SLP Book Club (available on all major platforms)

Overall Tone & Takeaway

This episode is casual, candid, and full of practical encouragement for Etsy sellers considering—or struggling with—running a shop that offers both print-on-demand and digital products. Laura’s story busts myths about needing multiple shops and emphasizes clarity, patience, and communication. Lizzie and Laura’s chemistry keeps the advice authentic and accessible, with lots of laughter and “real-life” moments sprinkled throughout.

For more resources and to connect, visit howtosellyourstuff.com