Podcast Summary: How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy
Ep 213 | Etsy FAQs
Host: Lizzie Smiley
Date: December 25, 2025
Episode Overview
This special holiday FAQ episode features Lizzie Smiley answering the most pressing and popular questions from listeners and students about launching, growing, and scaling an Etsy shop. Lizzie, drawing from deep experience as an entrepreneur and seasoned Etsy seller, covers tools, mindset, strategies for both new and experienced sellers, and offers practical tips for building a profitable creative business. Her friendly, encouraging tone and honest advice provide both actionable steps and motivational support.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. New Features & Tools for Etsy Sellers
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Profit Tree Updates
- The "In Demand" badge is back and now includes listing tags for better keyword insights.
- One-time fee currently at $67 for lifetime access to main tools (great for sellers on a budget).
- Useful for non-numbers people: calculates profit, ad spend, net—“Shark Tank ready.”
- Quote:
“Sometimes what is in demand at a craft fair isn’t necessarily what people are searching for…demand is a huge deal. You have to make sure people are actually looking on Etsy for the thing.” (07:26)
-
Scaling Society for Serious Etsy Sellers (Launching 2026)
- New membership for those looking to work more closely with Lizzie.
- Includes access to trend spotting, template drops, AI prompts, coaching, a step-by-step student journey, and regular workshops.
- Purpose: To eliminate confusion on “where to start” and provide a proven path for every level, from shop launch to full-time income.
2. Listener FAQ Highlights
a. No Brainer Listings (24:40)
- Definition: A product offering that stands out for high value and low price—so good that a customer doesn’t have to think before purchasing.
- Typically a bundle or high-volume offer, priced under $10 (often under $5).
- Strategy: Volume over boutique pricing for digital products and print on demand.
- Quote:
“It’s so packed with value, the shopper’s eyes almost get big when they see it.” (26:56)
b. SEO Tools: Insight Factory vs. Everbee (32:55)
- Lizzie hasn’t used Insight Factory, but recommends Everbee for:
- User-friendly interface, rich data (sales estimates, tag analysis).
- Free plan available sufficient for solid keyword research.
- SEO Fundamentals: Everbee shows tag strength, search volume, and competition to up-level keyword strategy. Avoid “guessing” and always validate keywords with tools.
c. Building an Email List on Etsy (38:48)
- Best for shops past ~100 sales.
- Methods:
- QR code with discount in photo gallery or physical package (for print on demand).
- Bonus file included in digital products.
- Everbee Email or MailChimp for automation and collection.
- Email at least twice a month about shop news, promos, etc.
- Tip: “Put everything that matters for a customer to see in the photo gallery.” (41:50)
d. Profit Margins Explained (45:17)
- Digital Products: ~90% profit margin (“knock off maybe 10% in expenses”).
- Print on Demand: Margins much slimmer—estimate 50% or less due to base product costs and fees.
- Handmade: Margins and expenses vary; depends on supply costs and workflow.
e. Creating Listings Faster (49:30)
- Strategies:
- Duplicate similar listings instead of starting from scratch.
- Create “dummy listings” in Drafts as templates for each product type.
- Batch design in Canva to make bulk image editing and export easier.
- Batch creation—stick to one trend or theme and make multiple listings at once.
f. Pricing Strategies for Digital Products (56:44)
- Start low (as low as $0.70) to build traction and accumulate sales/reviews. Raise price after getting a bestseller badge or 100 sales.
- Adjust to $1.97 and higher as your shop grows.
- Quote:
“Especially in digital products…I start out low…because again, I have nothing to lose. Like who cares?” (57:23)
g. Shiny Object Syndrome vs. Niche Focus (01:00:50)
- Early on, it’s Ok to try a variety of products, as long as you don’t go overboard.
- Focus on building enough listings (50–100+) to discover what works best.
- Don’t judge a product type off just 1-2 listings—always get a larger data sample.
h. Diagnosing Low Etsy Search Traffic (01:08:09)
- Caution with ChatGPT or generalized advice—always verify with actual Etsy data.
- Low views typically signal an SEO or demand issue; most of the time, “just add more listings.”
- Keep improving design quality and volume.
i. Using Quotes and IP in Listings (01:15:10)
- Quotes from deceased figures (Poe, Wilde): Possible if they’re in the public domain, but always check copyright status.
- For recent or famous IP (Disney, sports teams): Licensing is required and extremely expensive.
- General rule: If not sure, don’t use it or consult a copyright attorney.
- Legal Resource: See show notes for relevant episodes and articles.
j. Expanding to Passive Income via Patterns (01:22:47)
- For textile artists & sewers: Pivoting to pattern creation is similar to embroidery/crochet patterns.
- Use AI tools for assistance in drafting/writing, but ensure sufficient originality for copyright.
- Leverage influencer partnerships/memberships for ongoing revenue.
k. Traffic & Patience: When to Push, When to Wait (01:29:22)
- Example listener: 80 listings, 12 sales in first months, ~150 views/week.
- Advice: SEO is working; focus next on increasing listing quality/quantity and improving mockups.
l. Etsy vs. Shopify: Platform Comparison (01:32:44)
- Etsy:
- Fees: ~10% total (listing, transaction, processing), pay as you earn.
- Huge built-in audience (90 million shoppers).
- Best for learning to sell and validate products fast.
- Shopify:
- Monthly fee ($29–$299), lower % fees, but “all marketing is on you”—no built-in audience.
- Better for established sellers wanting to scale or own their brand.
- Must invest in social media, ads, or influencer marketing for traffic.
- Lizzie’s recommendation: Start on Etsy, learn the ropes, then move parallel to Shopify once you have proof of concept and an audience.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the Entrepreneurial Journey:
"If you just don’t quit, you’re going to hit it." (01:44:23)
"Our job is to keep our spark. Our job is to find joy. Our job is to find hope and to keep going." (01:46:22)
-
On Learning:
“You’re not going to get good at it overnight. You’ve got to do the reps, you’ve got to get out there and fall.” (01:41:48)
-
On Pricing and Value:
“I’m not trying to be a high-end designer; I’m trying to personally move volume.” (59:48)
-
On Print-on-Demand Margins:
“With print on demand, I think at a minimum you’d want to assume half—50%—off in expenses. It’s probably more than that.” (45:54)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Profit Tree & Research Tools: 03:45–13:50
- Scaling Society Announcement: 14:30–22:45
- No Brainer Listings Explained: 24:40–29:09
- SEO Tools Q&A: 32:55–38:38
- Email List Building: 38:48–43:11
- Profit Margin Breakdown: 45:17–49:02
- Listing Creation Workflow: 49:30–54:19
- Digital Product Pricing: 56:44–01:00:00
- Product Niching/Shiny Object Syndrome: 01:00:50–01:07:15
- Understanding Low Etsy Search: 01:08:09–01:15:04
- Public Domain/IP on Etsy: 01:15:10–01:22:18
- Passive Pattern Income: 01:22:47–01:29:19
- Shop Traffic & Progress: 01:29:22–01:32:34
- Etsy vs. Shopify: 01:32:44–01:39:17
- Motivational Closing: 01:39:30–end
Tone and Style
- Warm, encouraging, relatable, and peppered with personal stories.
- Lizzie blends tough love with actionable steps and a “big sister” approach.
- Practical, direct, and deeply empathetic—she celebrates wins big and small, and motivates sellers to keep going.
Final Takeaways
- Consistency and resilience are key: “Just don’t quit.”
- Use tools to reduce guesswork and get real data.
- Start simple, sell what’s in demand, and scale as you learn.
- Batch your work and systemize for efficiency.
- Validate, then expand—platform selection should fit your stage and audience.
- Lean on community, keep asking questions, and trust the process.
For detailed resources, links to tools, past episodes, and legal guides, check the show notes at howtosellyourstuff.com.