Episode Overview

Episode: Ep 205 | Biggest Etsy Seller Beginner Mistakes - REPLAY
Host: Lizzie Smiley
Date: October 30, 2025

This replay episode of How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy focuses on the most common mistakes beginners make when starting their Etsy shops. Drawing from her personal experience as an Etsy seller and coach, Lizzie Smiley offers actionable advice to help new sellers avoid costly errors, save time, and increase their chances of success. The episode is energetic, candid, and supportive—designed to empower listeners with the practical mindset and skills needed for Etsy entrepreneurship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Update & Episode Context

• [00:58–10:47] Lizzie shares a personal story explaining why this week’s episode is a replay: a canceled family trip to Italy, a last-minute cruise, and a bout of norovirus left her unable to prepare new content.

  • Memorable quote:
    “All of this to say, the return trip was horrible and my daughter and I were stranded in Chicago for four days… So that is why we are doing a replay today.” (06:09)

• She also introduces her new Template Drop membership for Etsy sellers, providing ready-to-use templates to help streamline product creation and boost shop success.

2. The 11 Biggest Etsy Seller Beginner Mistakes

Lizzie jumps right into her well-honed list of mistakes she sees over and over in new Etsy shops, breaking each down with practical advice and real-world context.

Mistake #1: Breaking the Law — Selling Items You Don't Have Rights To

• [10:47–14:07]
  • Summary: The #1 mistake is selling items featuring copyrighted or trademarked content (like Disney, Taylor Swift, sports teams).
  • Guidance: If someone would recognize a design from another brand, don’t use it unless you have purchased a (usually expensive) license.
  • Notable quote:
    “If someone would buy it from you because they would recognize it from someone else...then it’s not okay to sell. It’s under someone else’s intellectual property coverage.” (12:16)
  • Resources: Lizzie refers listeners to episodes with attorney Paige Holst for in-depth legal info.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Demand & SEO — Selling Without Validating What Sells

• [14:08–17:02]
  • Summary: Many sellers list products based purely on personal passion without checking if there's demand.
  • Key insight: Etsy’s strength is its search-driven traffic. Your product needs to match what shoppers are actively searching for.
  • Notable quote:
    “If they are not actively searching for what you are making, there is no demand for it.” (15:39)

Mistake #3: Not Leading With Research — Making Emotional Rather Than Data-Led Decisions

• [17:03–22:34]
  • Summary: Instead of researching bestsellers and trends, new sellers often list anything they like.
  • Best practices:
    • Use Etsy search, bestseller tags, and trend-spotting resources to validate product opportunities.
    • Incorporate trends, micro-niches, or “trend combining” to stand out in crowded categories (e.g., blending the “mama” niche with the “coquette” bow trend).
  • Lizzie’s practical tip: “Let the platform and the audience and the shoppers tell you by what’s already selling very well what will perform well.” (22:22)

Mistake #4: The Designs Aren't Good Enough… Yet

• [22:35–25:47]
  • Summary: Most shop owners won’t have outstanding design skills when they start. Like any skill, design quality improves with practice.
  • Lizzie’s encouragement: Don’t expect immediate success. Continuous practice and honest self-assessment are crucial.
  • Notable quote:
    “We need to practice. The designs aren't good enough. I hate telling people that. But I also know that it’s the most loving thing I can do because that’s just what your big sister does.” (23:25)
  • Tips: Practice by recreating popular designs for skill-building, but never sell direct copies (respect intellectual property).

Mistake #5: Lack of Attention to Detail

• [25:48–30:13]
  • Summary: Success on Etsy depends on small details: the right fonts, perfect placement, color selection, photo composition, and more.
  • Lizzie highlights: Details “add up to the emotional connection when the customer sees the listing. They have to add it to cart because it is so on point.” (28:48)
  • Actionable advice: Train your “brain cache” (or “mental archive”) by studying bestsellers, identifying trends, and sharpening your eye for design elements.

Mistake #6: Poor Mockups or Product Photography

• [30:14 onwards]
  • Summary: The perceived quality of your product is heavily influenced by your images. Well-chosen, high-quality mockups can make all the difference.
  • Lizzie’s suggestion: Invest in good mockups, even if it means starting with fewer listings. She links her favorite mockup shops for listeners (not included in the transcript).
  • Notable quote:
    “Your product picture, the setting of it, the lifestyle setting of it, is a large part of whether or not that design converts.” (30:25)

Note: The transcript cuts off during the start of the mockups/products photography section, so only the points covered are summarized.

Notable Quotes

• On mindset and patience:
  “Why are we being so hard on ourselves, expecting we should be making $100,000 the first year?... We need to practice.” (23:07)

• On legal pitfalls:
  “Just don’t do it. Number one biggest mistake is using someone else’s intellectual property to make money. Looks like you can get away with it. You really can’t.” (14:06)

• On the importance of data:
  “Too many sellers don’t do their research first.… Make sure, establish that something is in demand, that it’s selling… let the platform and the audience and the shoppers tell you.” (17:03–22:22)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:58–10:47] – Lizzie’s personal travel saga & announcement of Template Drop
• [10:47–14:07] – Mistake #1: Breaking the Law/Intellectual Property
• [14:08–17:02] – Mistake #2: Ignoring demand & SEO
• [17:03–22:34] – Mistake #3: Not leading with research; trend combining explained
• [22:35–25:47] – Mistake #4: The designs aren’t good yet (and that’s okay)
• [25:48–30:13] – Mistake #5: Lack of attention to detail; “brain cache” method
• [30:14–] – Mistake #6: Mockups and product photography

Recap & Tone

Lizzie’s tone throughout the episode is warm, encouraging, and practical. She emphasizes that every seller’s journey involves trial, error, and growth. By avoiding these common mistakes—especially regarding legality, research, design quality, attention to detail, and strong imagery—new Etsy entrepreneurs can maximize their chances of success and build a sustainable business.

“I am just rooting for you guys… I always say don’t use Etsy as like an emergency situation because it needs to be something you build over time with energy and creativity. But I do think it’s a worthy investment of your time to help as you go forward… I’m here for you guys, and I love you so much.” (09:28)

For new Etsy sellers, this replay serves as both a warning and a pep-talk: mistakes are part of the journey, but smart, informed adjustments can make all the difference on the road to success.