Etsy Conversations Podcast

Front Page Guide to Etsy with Tammy Cannon of Cannon Online Marketing

Running an Etsy shop with your spouse with ben and Monica Wigen of Catch Me Studio

Expaning beyond local selling and reaching a global market with Lauree Sayne of Etsy shop Dancing Dish & Decor.

Creating everyday to stay inspired w/Hailey Smedley of the Etsy shop Ozetta.

Makreting your Etsy shop with Dan Safkow of iMakeTheCase.

In this special tax season edition of the Etsy Conversations Podcast Resource episode, I review and summarize the article about what deductions are available to Etsy sellers in 2017. NOTE: I am not an accountant or tax lawyer and this recap is purely for informational purposes and should not be construed as tax or financial advice. Okay, so now that that's out of the way... Here are some major take-aways: Keep excellent records - by being diligent with your record-keeping, you can save yourself a lot of heartache and stress if you ever get audited by the IRS. Things to track: Vehicle expenses and mileage Cell phone and internet use for business Equipment expenses Shipping expenses Home office expenses Advertising fees Legal or professional services Charity donations Education, networking, and travel Meals and entertainment Retirement contributions Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com For more help growing your Etsy-based business, check out these resources:

Learn all about the Etsy Small Business Contest and how you may enter for the chance to win $10,000 to scale up your business.

Entrepreneurs need to learn to adapt to rapidly evolving markets and unstable business conditions to survive in the tough world of business.  Saskia runs the Etsy shop  and she was ready to face these challenges when she first set-up her Etsy shop in 2013. Little did she know that she was about to face a much bigger battle – a battle for her very own life, against cancer. Artist and customizer, Saskia, has always been naturally different. While others fear being different, Saskia was afraid of blending in. She felt the need to look different and be different. She began customizing her own clothes, which immediately caught people’s attention due to the uniqueness of her designs. After receiving several requests from people who wanted their items customized, Saskia decided to start an Etsy shop to share her art with more people. After setting up her shop and receiving her first sale on Etsy in 2013, Saskia realized that she had to abandon her newly founded business when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She battled this killer disease for almost 3 years before finally claiming victory and getting her life back. In this week’s episode, Saskia shares how cancer transformed her life completely and how it has made her even more passionate about the unique art that she creates on products in her Etsy shop. Saskia discusses her fears, the difficulties of being a “one-person” show, and the challenges she faced in re-opening her business. She also shares invaluable resources that have helped her learn and re-learn how to manage her Etsy shop. We also discuss concepts about SEO and blogging on Etsy. I make things with so much love... So to be able to give somebody something that will make them technicolor and just make them stand out from the crowd makes me feel wonderful.  Natural Born Customs – Topics Discussed Saskia shares how her outlook on business has changed after surviving cancer. Saskia’s collaborative design process. Daily routines. The challenges of working as a full-time business owner. The importance of personal social interaction. Fears that come with selling your own creations. Recommended tags and keywords to improve your Etsy Shop’s SEO. Improving your business by participating in craft fairs and exhibits. Challenges of Etsy sellers who offer customized items or services. A direct approach to getting rid of your fears of shipping internationally. Finding the right brand or identity for your blog. Staying motivated to succeed. The importance of authenticity over automation in marketing.  Natural Born Customs – Resources Mentioned: Etsy Resources:  Podcasts:  Courses:  Sheri Schmelzer:  Best Ways to Reach Saskia Etsy Shop:  Social Media:  |  |  |  Email: saskia [at] naturalborncustoms [dot] com Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com For more help growing your Etsy-based business, check out these resources:

Platforms like Etsy have paved the way to the rise of mompreneurs – female business owners who have found a balance between being an active parent and an entrepreneur. Managing a business and being a parent is no easy feat, especially if you are a first time parent like . Sarah first talked with me back in , when she shared her journey with her Etsy shop, . Much has happened to her over the past year since we last spoke to her! While most people expect new moms to slow down with their careers, this has not hindered Sarah from doing well in her business at all. In fact, she has even taken to teaching and launched her first Calligraphy class in November 2016. She joins me on the show this week to share her experience as a new mom in business and how she balances being a mom and managing her Etsy shop. Amongst lots of other things, Sarah shares how she keeps her customers engaged even if her shop is on vacation mode and how she built buzz leading to her re-opening. Sarah also provides some insightful tips on how to manage burn out and how to keep your creativity brewing. She shares the tools and processes that she has developed to manage busy periods in her business, such as Christmas and other busy selling seasons for her as well as the holidays.  Sarah Carson Designs - Topics Discussed How Sarah balances her time managing her Etsy shop and taking care of her new baby. The advantages and disadvantages of putting your Etsy shop on vacation mode. Building buzz on social media to boost your Etsy shop re-opening. Using promotions such as an open house to manage your leftover inventory. Strategies for developing new products. New features and functions of the new Etsy layout. Systems and processes that help her manage busy seasons. Goal-setting strategies. Finding creative ways to manage burn out. Podcasts that keep Sarah motivated. Helpful Etsy Shipping features such as labels and commercial pricing. Startegies for streamlining your shipping process. My previous conversation with Marie Segares in . Sarah Carson Designs - Resources Mentioned Graphic Creation & Editing:  |  Podcasts:  |  Sarah's Etsy Shop Shout-Out  - run by Emily Tuttle. In her Etsy shop, Emily offers hand-painted globes and donates some of the profits to refugee relief.  Best Ways to Reach Sarah Etsy Conversations:  Social Media:  |  Win a Copy of Marie Segares New Book: "Make Money Teaching Crochet" Are you ready to expand your crochet business, make more money, and inspire others to learn more about your craft? Etsy shop owner, Marie Segares' new book:  teaches you how to plan, structure, and launch a profitable, well-organized crochet teaching business with step by step lists, guides, and resources! Learn how to structure, set achievable goals, create lesson plans, develop payment options, and market your business to achieve success! Enter for a chance to win a copy of Marie's book... Leave a comment below sharing your #1 tip for managing your Etsy shop and you'll be entered into a random drawing to receive an electronic copy of Marie's book (NOTE: you'll get a physical copy of the book if you reside in a country that Amazon will not deliver electronic books to). Good luck!! Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com For more help growing your Etsy-based business, check out these resources:

“Know thyself.” Maybe you've heard it before, perhaps you haven't. It's a directive has been passed down since the time of the ancient Greeks. It sounds simple, but it is one of the most difficult things to do in life. The reality is that many people go through life without really developing a strong sense of self and identity. The same is true in business. Many Etsy sellers struggle with marketing, because they do not have a brand that people understand or resonate with.  embodies the zest and positivity of its owner, Paula Tamara Hoss. One of the things I love, and which makes sellers like Paula particularly successful on a marketplace like Etsy is that she and her daughters are the face of her business. They embody the  brand. Her brand’s message are her thoughts and how she lives her life, which makes it easier for her to reach out to her audience. Paula is an artist. She loves creating things and sharing it with the world. She found the opportunity to share this passion for art with her own Etsy shop in 2008. Like many starting entrepreneurs, she struggled with self-limiting thoughts that hindered her from finding her true passion. 3 Etsy Shops and several years later (yes, you read that correctly), Paula founded  without even knowing its potential for success. Her shop was born out of her love for her daughters. She was concerned about the chemicals in the skin products that she was using and how it would affect her children. Her crafty and resourceful nature helped her produce home-made sunscreen from all natural products, which she based on recipes that she had found online. She shared it with her friends and it was an instant hit! In this week's episode, Paula shares the story of how she started doing business on Etsy. She tells about her muse, or her buyer persona, which allows her to develop products that fit her brand and the needs of her target market. She also provides tips and tools that she uses to manage her finances and market her business. You are the face of your brand. You ARE your brand CLN & DRTY – Topics Discussed: The benefits of being intentional with your business. Developing a product line that fits the needs and wants of your target market. Building a buyer persona to find out who is your target market and to keep your brand in line. Creating a line of products that complement each other. Nurturing collaborative relationships to expand your business. Paula’s experience transitioning from an employee to a business owner. Reaching out and building better relationships with your customers. Attraction not promotion. Finding the right people to advocate for or promote your product. Leveraging the power of parallel markets to create more value. Selling your products to high-end buyers. The Etsy Shipping Tool. Tools and techniques to manage your finances. Marketing Tools on and off Etsy. Hard lessons that Paula learned from Selling on Etsy. CLN & DRTY Resources Mentioned Best Ways to Reach Paula: Website:  Etsy Shop:  Social Media:  |  Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com For more help growing your Etsy-based business, check out these resources: