Etsy Conversations Podcast

Listen in to get all the latest information about what's going on in the Etsy community. 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

Every now and then, I receive requests to have specific Etsy sellers on the podcast as my guests from the amazing listeners of the show – people like you! I absolutely love when you all send a request for a guest that you’d like to learn more about on the podcast! My guest this week is here by special request from a number of you and she is Julie Ann, the artist, illustrator and owner of the Etsy shop , where she sells beautifully crafted, straight-forward sentiments, stocking stuffers, gift items, and holiday and greeting cards. Julie Ann has been selling on Etsy since 2008 and, to date, has over 63,000 sales. What started out purely as a hobby quickly turned into a fun and very lucrative business. Over the last 4 years, Julie Ann’s shop has enabled her to work full-time as an entrepreneur, and she shares some very valuable insights on what she believes made her business so successful. In 2013, Julie Ann wasa featured seller in the Etsy  blog series! Today, we discuss how that happened and how being featured has impacted her business, shop views, and sales. We discuss how the market for greeting cards has changed over the years, launching new product lines versus individual products throughout the year, as well as how she runs and prepares her business during vacations and holidays. We also talk about her pricing strategy, the SEO techniques she has learned over the years, and how keeping lists has helped her not only run her business smoothly, but also keep a healthy work-life balance as an entrepreneur. [bctt tweet="Take advantage of the freedom that owning a business can give u. It’s ok 2 take a break from ur #Etsyshop" username="ConvoMePodcast"] Julie Ann Art – Topics Discussed Why Julie Ann finally decided to turn her passion hobby into a full-time business What she initially sold on Etsy and how her product lines have changed over the years Why she believes the age of her shop may give her business an edge over the competition We discuss the difference between launching new seasonal products vs full product line launches as well as the pros and cons of each technique How and when Julie Ann decides to discontinue a product or product line SEO and how putting her Etsy shop on vacation mode has impacted her business as well as what steps she takes to overcome that challenge Julie Ann shares how her cross-country move has impacted her business and what planning strategy she used for her business before the big move How/when she realized her business was ready to be part of the Etsy wholesale opportunity Julie Ann Art – Resources Mentioned Craft Fairs: Educational Courses: Blogs: Melyssa Griffin’s blog – Other Tools: Dymo Label Writer 4XL Label Printer – at and | Affordable 4x6 Shipping Labels from Julie Ann's Etsy Shop Shout-Out Her best friend’s Etsy shop: – for beautifully hand-crafted, laser engraved wedding hangers, cocktail stirrers, and more Contact Julie Ann Website: Instagram: Email: Julie [at] JulieAnnArt [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

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel the world... To play the “nomad game”...  Seeing different sights and experiencing different cultures of people living in foreign countries? Have you ever wondered how an experience like that could change your perception of life – or even how it could inspire you to create and run a business? My guest today is Alexandra (Alex) Matthews, owner of the Etsy shop . Alex had the opportunity to travel the world at a fairly young age – fresh out of college and she has seen the beautiful landscapes and inspirational cultures throughout New Zealand, Australia, Bali, as well as Europe. Although Alex had an Etsy shop before she decided to see the world, it was after she returned from living the dream life of an explorer that she hunkered down and focused on growing her business. In her Etsy shop , Alex creates and sells beautifully hand-crafted state maps, greeting cards, and illustrations. She shares her journey with me, from touring the world to re-designing her shop and website, as well as what techniques she uses – both online and offline – to grow her business and get her name out there. Alex has a unique view of business, life, and the world in general. Through her traveling experiences, she has found the inspiration she needs to continue creating. Although, like many creative entrepreneurs, she admits to sometimes feeling isolated, she shares how she overcomes that feeling of isolation feeling. We also discuss how she manages her time between working full-time in marketing for a home building company while running a successful business. Alex's story is truly inspirational! [bctt tweet="It's important to keep people in your life. Have a social life & get outside!" username="ConvoMePodcast"] Soul Paper Art – Topics Discussed How traveling the world helped Alex re-design and re-brand her Etsy shop Why Alex decided to sell her work on Etsy instead of becoming a freelance graphic designer for businesses Why Alex decided to re-name her shop and how quickly she received her first sale after the revamp Factors she takes into consideration when determining her product prices Future goals and plans for Soul Paper Art – could wedding stationery be in her business’ future...? ;) Ways she uses to successfully promote her business Why she decided to build a website separate from Etsy We discuss the pros and cons of  sites Alex's experiences with pop-up shops and maker fairs Soul Paper Art – Resources Mentioned Social Media Planning Tools: Website Building Platforms: | | Newsletter Programs: | Etsy Tools: Shipping labels | Reviews | Etsy Wholesale Contact Alex Etsy: Website: Instagram: 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

Listen in to get all the latest information about what's going on in the Etsy community. 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

Craftcation Conference 2017 is coming around again and the time to start planning is now. craftcation 2017Networking with other creatives, crafters, and business owners is important to continually grow your online business. Whether you attend meet-ups, masterminds, or conferences, getting out of your comfort zone and meeting new people is one of the secrets that many small business owners and entrepreneurs use throughout their businesses to maintain consistent growth and help drive sales. My guest on the show this week is Nicole Stevenson, co-founder of the Craftcation Conference in Ventura, California. You may remember her from Episode 116 back in February. Nicole rejoins me to talk about the importance of attending conferences throughout the year and how they can impact your business. We also discuss what inspired her and her business partner, Delilah Snell, to plan and organize a conference specifically for small, creative business owners. As Nicole says, “You have to put yourself out there and make connections”. She shares some valuable tips for entrepreneurs about what they should consider before registering to attend a conference, how to put yourself out there and connect with people before the conference takes place, and also how to determine how many conferences you should aim to attend in a given year. Nicole also shares the inside scoop on exactly what the upcoming Craftcation Conference 2017 has in store for attendees, how you can register to attend this exciting and rewarding event, and what fun activities are planned before and after the conference. [bctt tweet="Making connections with people before an event gives you a way in" username="ConvoMePodcast"] Craftcation Conference 2017 – Topics Discussed Different types of conferences available to business owners Logistics of planning and developing a conference, and specifically Craftcation How many conferences Nicole recommends business owners attend annually Nicole explains why assessing your business goals can help you determine which conferences to attend – and how many Why it is important to build and sustain an online presence before attending a conference The importance of researching and connecting with conference presenters Resources Mentioned Free Business Cards: Moo Contact Nicole Website: DearHandmadeLife.com Facebook: Craftcation Conference Use promo code: EtsyConvo to register for Craftcation Conference 2017 Conference and get $20 off your registration fee! Register to attend the exciting, educational, and rewarding Craftcation 2017, held at the beautiful beach-side hotel – Ventura Beach Marriott in Ventura California from April 27 through 30, 2017! This four-day conference is jam-packed with over 80 different workshops and presentations to help you learn everything from building and growing your social media strategies and branding your business to learning new skills like block printing and embroidery. At Craftcation 2017, in addition to the amazing presentations and workshops, you can also enjoy: Fun networking lunches A dance party Morning daily yoga A Fun Run And much, much more! Don’t forget to enter the discount code – EtsyConvo – to receive a $20 discount just for being an amazing Etsy Conversations Podcast listener! Visit Dear Handmade Life to register. Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in iTunes and Stitcher. That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow @ConvoMePodcast Facebook Group: Etsy Conversations - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Etsy Conversations Podcast Facebook Page Pinterest: Etsy Conversations Podcast Instagram: @EtsyConvo Google+: Etsy Conversations Podcast Email: Use the Contact Form OR interview [at] convome [dot] com For more help growing your Etsy-based business, check out these resources:

Working from a studio apartment offers a unique set of challenges and no one understands that better than Nicole Dotto, owner of the Etsy shop Dotto – Vintage Clothing for a Good Cause. For over seven years, Nicole has run her Etsy shop from the comfort of her home in a variety of locations across the United States. You may remember my interview with Nicole back in August, where she shared her story on how she got started on Etsy over 7 years ago and how she promoted her products as a new seller. Today, she rejoins me to dive a little deeper into what it’s really like running her business from her studio apartment, her fascination with the risks – and rewards – of being a small business owner, and how she has grown her business over the last several years to become her primary source of income. In March 2014, Nicole was featured on the Etsy blog and today, she explains how she believes she attracted their attention, what other sellers can do to increase their chances of being selected as a featured guest on the Etsy blog, and how it has helped her gain more traction for her business. She also explains why she considers her shop a “means to an end” and how she uses that mindset to consistently work on her business to make it a success. We take a deep dive into why she feels that the flexibility of running her own online shop is like a double-edged sword and why she believes setting small and large goals for her business helps drive her out of a “lazy slump.” Nicole strongly believes that her targeted focus on activities that will generate income is one of the factors that has helped her grow her business successfully. She shares what activities she has focused on in the past, as well as what she is currently focusing on to push her business forward in the future. Tune in to hear a ton of valuable information, resources, and advice for new Etsy sellers that Nicole shares, as well as tips on how to determine your price points when you’re unsure. [bctt tweet="When you put a value on something, other people will see it and appreciate it more @Dotto" username="ConvoMePodcast"] Dotto Vintage – Topics Discussed How Nicole got started and why she became an Etsy seller Why she decided not to specialize or niche down her shop into one vintage style The struggles she faces with sourcing her products in a relatively small town How selling on Etsy has allowed her more time to follow other passions – like volunteering for several organizations Why setting goals is so important to the success of her business Product promotion and how Nicole's promotion methods have evolved over the years Why focusing on activities that will increase your ROI and letting go of other activities is important for your Etsy shop to continually grow We discuss organization and storage techniques and how she stores the products she sells Nicole explains how she photographs her products – while modeling them Nicole’s Etsy Shop Shoutouts Vera Vague - sells antique vintage clothing Her friend Joseph's Etsy shop - Carnival of the Maniac – for uniquely amazing men’s clothing The Original Cat Cult – for cute, whimsical cat collages Rodion Creative Dotto – Resources Mentioned Heart-o-Matic on Craft Cult – for a quick snapshot of your Etsy shop stats, hearts, and clicks. Etsy Teams Podcasts like Etsy Conversations (aww – thanks, Nicole!) and TedTalks Contact Nicole Etsy Shop: Dotto – Vintage Clothing for a Good Cause Email: nicoledotto [at] yahoo [dot] com etsy shop dotto Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in iTunes and Stitcher. That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow @ConvoMePodcast Facebook Group: Etsy Conversations - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Etsy Conversations Podcast Facebook Page Pinterest: Etsy Conversations Podcast Instagram: @EtsyConvo Google+: Etsy Conversations Podcast Email: Use the Contact Form OR interview [at] convome [dot] com For more help growing your Etsy-based business, check out these resources:

Listen in to get all the latest information about what's going on in the Etsy community. 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

The inspiration to start a craft business can literally come from anyone, anything, or any experience you have throughout your life, and this is just the beginning of the journey of, Mary Glover, owner of the Etsy shop and Founding Director of Awakening Seeds. Mary has always had a passion for arts and crafts, and since she was a little girl she has created and crafted a wide array of designs and art projects. Mary says she has always viewed her artwork as a way to fulfill her crafty nature. Until 2015, she never thought about selling her work or building a business around her passion. That is, until the inspiration of her family and friends helped motivate her decision to begin selling her first handmade item - the "Don’t Worry Doll” which was inspired by her young granddaughter. Since then Mary has gone on to open her Etsy shop and expanded her product line beyond the Don’t Worry Doll. She currently also sells handcrafted cards, gift tags, and mixed media prints and collages. In this week's episode, Mary shares her journey into the Etsy world right from her very first sale. She discusses what techniques she uses to help grow her e-commerce business and explains why she believes sharing your story with your customers and the online community can help grow your business, all while incorporating authenticity and building trust. We also discuss Angela Holden and how Mary's experience with her building her beautiful online websites. Mary is also the Founder of the Awakening Seeds school and we talk about the motivation and driving force behind the school as well as the vision and educational curriculum of the school. Additionally, we discuss how she manages her time building an Etsy business while working full-time at Awakening Seeds plus writing for and maintaining two different - but equally important blogs, both of which she is very passionate about. [bctt tweet="Focusing on the visual presentation of your work is really valuable to your Etsy business" username="ConvoMePodcast"] MaryG Loves Art - Topics Discussed The genesis of the “Don’t Worry Doll” How Mary used art and an art journal as part of her healing process after being diagnosed with early stage breast cancer What inspired her to finally start selling her artwork How she determines how to price her products on Etsy Mary's Etsy shop promotion strategies Why she chose not to include an e-commerce component on her personal website The mechanics of running two different blogs and how Mary comes up with blog post topics for each Why she doesn’t focus much on SEO techniques while writing her blog posts Lessons learned about using SEO and quality photographs in her Etsy shop How a  photography course has helped her business Why Mary believes “getting her story out” through social media and blog post writing has helped her business grow MaryG Loves Art - Resources Mentioned Offline tools: iPhone | Thrift Stores Courses: Photo Editing: Social Media: Podcasts:   MaryG Loves Art - Etsy Shop Shout Outs - run by Mary's sister Jane. Jane sells handcrafted, whimsical, ornaments, and art. - run by Mary's friend Robyn Hood Black. Robyn sells handcrafted literary gifts with a vintage touch.  - web designer extraordinaire... :) Best Ways to Reach Mary Glover: Etsy shop convo:  Website:  Email: MaryKGlover [at] me [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:

Jenni Waldrop is a corporate job hating, former Fortune 500 “minion” turned 6-figure Etsy seller, success blogger, and owner of the Etsy shop, , where she sells beautifully designed digital and printed prints with a touch of sarcasm. She describes herself as an entrepreneur and the “maker of other businesses” largely because her Etsy success blog has proven to be a valuable resource for new and aspiring Etsy sellers. On this week's episode, Jenni shares her journey from her corporate working life to growing a six figure business. She explains how, although she has worked in marketing departments in the corporate world, after becoming an entrepreneur, she quickly learned that marketing your own products and services is vastly different than the way the big corporate businesses do things. Throughout the course of her journey, Jenni became quite savvy at using SEO techniques, discovering what works and doesn’t work for marketing her business, and now she teaches other Etsy sellers about SEO strategies and success strategies to help them grow their businesses. We discuss everything from living the “solopreneur life” and coping with “solopreneur isolation” to outsourcing tasks, connecting with your target customer, finding an Etsy tribe to brainstorm and hash out ideas with, as well as how to drive targeted traffic to your shop to increase your ROI. [bctt tweet="Pick 1 or 2 #socialmediamarketing platforms (max)... Customers can tell when u put in the effort" username="ConvoMePodcast"] Fuzzy and Birch - Topics Discussed How and when Jenni discovered Etsy and why she became an entrepreneur Jenni's secret to finding good people to outsource tasks to How she became savvy in SEO techniques. Why she believes having a “tribe” - a community of like-minded individuals and sellers - can be a critical factor to building a successful business and where to find them! We discuss how she learned to drive traffic to her Etsy shop at the beginning of her business She explains why she is so passionate about helping other Etsy sellers grow and build a successful business Products she sells in her shop, where she gets her inspiration from, and we discuss the new SEO course she’s launched to help other Etsy sellers find success Jenni explains why she believes it’s a bad idea to create an account on every social media platform available, and why you should just keep it simple Fuzzy and Birch - Resources Mentioned Outsourcing Platforms: Lead Generation: Blogging & Website Building: | Website/Blog Hosting: Other: Not On The High Street Best Ways to Reach Jenni Waldrop Online:  and  Courses: (available through the beginning of December 2016) 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

Listen in to get all the latest information about what's going on in the Etsy community. 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