How To Be A Handmade Boss
Whether you’re a complete beginner on Etsy, or want to scale your handmade business to multi-6 figures, the “How To Be A Handmade Boss” podcast gives you actionable advice and workshop style full length episodes to grow your handmade business on Etsy and beyond.We get it. Starting or growing a handmade business can be really overwhelming, and sometimes you feel like you have an expensive hobby rather than a profitable business. If you have questions like “How can I make sales in my business?” “How do I start a handmade shop?” “How can I make this passion my full-time gig?”...
#132 Etsy Stats for Beginners: Which Numbers Actually Matter?
About It: www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
Etsy Stats can give you a lot of numbers without necessarily telling you what to do with them.
In this episode, you'll learn:
The difference between Etsy visits and views
Which Stats I'd look at first as a beginner
What conversion rate can and cannot tell you
How to use listing Stats to spot useful patterns
Why you shouldn't panic over one quiet day
Use your Etsy Stats as clues, not a daily business report card.
#131 How Many Listings Should You Have on Etsy?
Grab the free guide: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It: www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
How many listings do you actually need on Etsy before you can expect traffic or sales?
In this episode:
Is there a “right” number of Etsy listings?
When adding more products can genuinely help
When more listings are just creating more work
How to tell whether you should expand or improve
What to check before aiming for 50 or 100 listings
More listings can help...
#130 - Should You Use Etsy Ads As A New Seller?
Grab the free guide: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It: www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
Should you use Etsy Ads as a new seller, or are you about to spend money before your listings are ready?
In this episode, we’ll look at when Etsy Ads can help, when they might waste your money, and what to check before turning them on.
You’ll learn:
What Etsy Ads can and cannot do
Why ads do not fix unclear listin...
#129 - Why Is My Etsy Shop Getting Views But No Sales?
Grab the free guide: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It: www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
Getting Etsy views but no sales can feel wildly frustrating, especially when people are clearly clicking but nobody is buying.
In this episode, we’ll look at what Etsy views actually tell you, what they do not tell you, and what to check before changing your whole shop in a panic.
You’ll learn:
Why views do not automatically mean sales
What buyers may be...
#128 - How To Price Your Etsy Products: A Walkthrough
Grab the free guide: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It: www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
Not sure how to price your handmade items on Etsy? You are absolutely not the only one.
In this episode, we’ll look at why guessing your price or copying competitors can cause problems, and what you need to include before deciding what to charge.
You’ll learn:
Why materials are only one part of your price
Why copying other Etsy sellers can be risky
What costs beginn...
#127 - Should You Shorten Your Etsy Titles?
Grab the free guide: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It: www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
Should you shorten your Etsy titles, or is that just another thing sellers are panicking about this week?
In this episode, we’ll break down what Etsy’s newer title guidance actually means for handmade sellers and what to change first.
You’ll learn:
Why overly long Etsy titles can confuse buyers
What “clearer titles” actually means
Why keywords sti...
#126 - Etsy’s New Payment Account Explained: What Sellers Need to Know
Grab the free guide: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It: www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
Etsy has redesigned its Payment account, and the new Current, Pending and Total balances may look confusing when they first appear.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
✅ what Current, Pending and Total mean
✅ where Payment account reserve money now appears
✅ why your Current balance might look negative
✅ how to check whether a payout is delayed or genuinely blocked
✅ which further Payment account changes Etsy says are coming soo...
#125 - Why Your Social Media Isn’t Leading To Sales Yet
🎁 Grab the free guide: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It: www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
Getting views and likes on social media but still not seeing sales? This episode breaks down why being seen is not the same as being understood.
You’ll learn:
Why likes do not automatically mean sales
What buyers need before they click, DM or buy
The difference between visible content and clear content
The Seen → Clear → Action → Repeat system
Simple fixes for posts that are being ignored...
#124 - Social Media for Beginners: What To Post When You Have No Idea Where To Start
🎁 Grab the free guide: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It: www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
Stuck on what to post for your handmade business? This episode breaks social media down for Etsy beginners who feel completely lost before they even start.
You’ll learn:
What actually counts as content
The 4 simple post types beginners need
Why you don’t need to post every day
How to stop overthinking the first line
Easy post examples for handmade sellers
How social media con...
#123 - Etsy for Beginners: The Simple Shop Check I’d Do Before Chasing More Views
Grab the free guide: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It 👉 www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
Before you chase more Etsy views, ads, Pinterest traffic, Instagram posts, or yet another algorithm rumour, check whether your shop is actually ready for buyers.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
👉 Why more traffic won’t fix a confusing Etsy shop
👉 The simple “stranger test” to audit your listings
👉 What to check in your photos, titles, descriptions, pricing, and delivery
👉 How to spot buyer hesitation ins...
#122 - Etsy for Beginners: Why Buyers Don’t Trust New Etsy Shops Yet
Grab the free guide Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It here: www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales 🧡
New to Etsy and getting views but no sales?
Your products might not be the problem. Buyers may be finding your shop, looking around, and leaving because they don’t trust it enough yet.
In this episode, we’re looking at the trust signals every Etsy beginner needs, including:
✨ How to make your shop look finished
✨ What your listing photos need to prove
✨ Why vague descr...
#121 - Etsy for Beginners: Build Your First Product Range Without Making 47 Random Things
👉 Free resource mentioned: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It - www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
This will help you spot where your listings might be confusing buyers, missing key information, or stopping people from clicking and buying.
💡 Are you new to Etsy and wondering how many products you should start with?
In this episode, we’re talking about how to build your first Etsy product range without making 47 random things and confusing every poor buyer who lands in your shop. ☕
Because yes, you might be able to m...
#120 - Etsy for Beginners: How to Know If Your Handmade Product Is Ready to Sell
👉 Free resource: Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It - www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
This will help you spot what might be stopping buyers from clicking, trusting, and buying from your listings.
💡Thinking about starting an Etsy shop, but not sure if your handmade product is actually ready to sell?
In this episode, we’re talking about one of the biggest mistakes Etsy beginners make: opening a shop before checking whether their product is clear, sellable, repeatable, profitable, and easy for buyers to understand.
Because...
#119 - How To Get Your First Etsy Sales Without Posting Everywhere
👉 Grab the free guide here: https://www.handmadebosses.com/whynosales
❓ Trying to get your first Etsy sales can feel like you need to be everywhere at once.
Instagram. TikTok. Pinterest. Facebook. Email. Carrier pigeon. Absolutely not.
This Etsy for beginners video shows you what to focus on first when you’re new to
Etsy and want actual sales, not just endless content faff.
What you’ll learn:
✅ Why your Etsy shop needs fixing before you drive traffic
✅ How to get your first Etsy sales without posting everyw...
#118 - Etsy SEO For Beginners: Stop Using Random Keywords
Etsy SEO sounds fancy, but honestly? It’s mostly about using the words your buyers are already typing into Etsy.
This Etsy for beginners video is for handmade sellers who are new to Etsy and feel like keywords are some sort of secret code guarded by a very smug algorithm.
They’re not. Promise.
What you’ll learn:
What Etsy SEO actually means
Why vague keywords hurt your listings
How to find buyer-friendly Etsy keywords
Where to use keywords in your listing
How to start your E...
#117 - How To Start Your Etsy Shop Without Overthinking Everything
Starting your Etsy shop does not need to become a full-blown personality crisis.
If you’re new to Etsy and trying to get everything perfect before you list anything, this Etsy for beginners video will help you focus on what actually matters first.
The free guide, Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It, will help you avoid the listing mistakes that stop new shops getting sales.
What you’ll learn:
What you actually need before you start your Etsy shop
What t...
#116 - Etsy For Beginners: Why Your Listings Aren’t Selling Yet
If your Etsy listings aren’t selling yet, don’t panic and don’t start dramatically deleting your entire shop at midnight. Start here.
This free guide, Why Your Etsy Listings Aren’t Selling Yet - and What To Do About It, will help you spot what’s actually stopping shoppers from buying, without the faff.
This Etsy for beginners video is for handmade sellers who are new to Etsy, have listed their products, and are now wondering why the sales are not exactly rolling in like a craft fair stampede.
What y...
#115 - Etsy for Beginners: How Hannah Turned Her Hobby Into a Real Handmade Business
Are you new to Etsy? Or maybe you’ve started selling your handmade products but still feel like you’re winging it with a cup of tea in one hand and mild panic in the other?
In this episode of How to Be a Handmade Boss, I’m chatting with Hannah Kinchin, a ceramicist and potter based in Cornwall, about how she went from making pottery as a hobby to building a real handmade business.
This is a brilliant watch if you’re looking for Etsy for beginners advice, handmade business inspiration, or a proper...
#114 - Starting an Etsy Shop on a Budget: What to Spend, What to Skip, and What Actually Matters
Want to start an Etsy shop without spending a fortune? In this episode, I’m breaking down how to start your Etsy shop on a budget without wasting money on the wrong things 💸✨
We’re covering what beginner Etsy sellers should actually spend on first, what to skip for now, how to make your shop feel trustworthy on a tight budget, and how to avoid the classic mistake of throwing money at fluff before you’ve proven the product.
Inside this episode:
🛍️ what to prioritise when your startup budget is small
📸 how to improve your listin...
#113 - Etsy Shop Not Getting Sales? The Real Reasons Your Shop Feels Quiet
🙊 If your Etsy shop feels weirdly quiet, this episode is for you.
👻 We’re digging into the real reasons your shop can feel like a ghost town, even when you’re trying hard, tweaking things constantly, and doing “all the right stuff.” We cover the difference between a traffic problem and a conversion problem, how robotic SEO can quietly kill clicks, why cluttered product photos put buyers off, and what a confusing storefront does to trust.
Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
💡 how to tell whether your Etsy problem is visibility or conversion
💡 why keyword-s...
#112 The Best Daily Etsy To-Do List for Beginners (Without the Overwhelm)
Feeling overwhelmed by Etsy? 😵💫 Not sure what to do first in your handmade shop, or constantly bouncing between 47 half-finished tasks? This episode is your reset.
In this beginner-friendly Etsy episode, I’m walking you through a simple one Etsy task a day plan to help you grow your shop without the chaos. We’re covering what actually counts as a needle-moving Etsy task, what’s just busywork, and how to build a weekly rhythm that helps you improve traffic, trust, and conversion one small step at a time.
If you’ve been avoiding yo...
#111 Are Your Etsy Prices Too Low? A Simple Handmade Pricing Method for Beginners
Pricing handmade products on Etsy can feel weirdly stressful, especially when you’re scared of charging too much, undercharging yourself, or getting it completely wrong.
In this episode, I’m walking you through a simple beginner-friendly way to price handmade products for Etsy without using spreadsheets or overcomplicating it.
We cover:
💸 the bare minimum numbers you actually need
💸 how to include your time in your prices
💸 why so many handmade sellers undercharge
💸 how buyer psychology affects what feels “worth it”
💸 when pricing is the real issue, and when it’s actually...
#110 Starting Etsy Without a Perfect Niche: What Beginners Should Do Instead
Do you need a niche to start on Etsy?
Yes… but not in the rigid, overcomplicated way the internet makes it sound.
In this episode, I’m breaking down how beginner Etsy sellers can choose a niche without boxing themselves in too early. We’re talking about the difference between having a clear starting direction and being all over the shop, how to test product ideas properly, and how to use Etsy data like views, favourites, and search terms to refine your niche over time.
Inside this episode, you’ll learn:<...
#109 How to Write Etsy Listings Like a Human (That Actually Get Sales)
If your Etsy listing sounds awkward, stiff, or like you panicked and copied bits from 12 other shops… this one’s for you.
Because here’s the thing: your traffic probably isn’t the problem. Your listing just isn’t doing its job yet.
In this episode, I’m showing new Etsy sellers how to write Etsy listings like a real human (without ditching SEO), so buyers actually understand what you’re selling and feel confident enough to click Add to basket.
We cover:
✅T he simple Etsy listing structure that works for a...
#108 - What to Do This Week If You’re New to Etsy (A Simple Plan)
If you’re new to Etsy and everything feels messy, overwhelming, or like you’re doing loads but getting nowhere… this video is your reset.
In this episode, I walk you through a simple, calm weekly plan for Etsy beginners and early-stage sellers who feel stuck, scattered, or unsure what to focus on next.
We cover:
– What to actually work on this week (not everything)
– The one thing to stop doing if you want momentum
– How to build progress without burnout
– Why doing less in the right order leads to more sales
#107 - Etsy SEO for Beginners (Without the Algorithm Panic)
Etsy SEO feels confusing on purpose.
And if you’re brand new (or stuck with low sales), most of what you’ve been told is just adding panic, not progress.
In this episode, I break down Etsy SEO for beginners in plain English.
No algorithm fear.
No trending keywords.
No constant listing refreshing.
We cover:
✨ How Etsy search actually works (without the jargon)
✨ What keywords are… and what they’re not
✨ Where keywords matter, and where they really don’t
✨ Why refreshing listings doesn’t magically fix low sa...
#106 - Your First Etsy Listings: What Actually Matters (Beginner Friendly)
Struggling to make sense of your Etsy listings?
In this episode, Steph breaks down what actually matters when creating Etsy listings that convert - without SEO overwhelm or overthinking.
You’ll learn:
• What makes someone click a listing
• Photos vs titles vs descriptions (in the right order)
• A simple listing structure you can follow
• What NOT to obsess over yet
Perfect for early-stage Etsy sellers who want clarity, not chaos.
Subscribe for practical Etsy and handmade business advice that actually works.
If you’re hea...
#105 “How to Set Up an Etsy Shop Without Overthinking Everything”
If you’re stuck setting up your Etsy shop and haven’t made your first sale yet, this video is for you.
In this episode, Steph breaks down the bare minimum you actually need to open an Etsy shop properly, without overthinking, over-preparing, or faffing with things that don’t matter yet.
This is for complete beginners who feel “busy” but not progressing and want clear permission to stop tweaking and start selling.
You’ll learn:
👉 What you must set up before opening your Etsy shop (and what can wa...
#104 “Brand New to Etsy? Watch This Before You Do Anything Else”
Just opened an Etsy shop and already feel overwhelmed?
This video is your calm reset.
I’m breaking down what Etsy actually expects from brand new sellers, what you can completely stop worrying about for now, and why feeling lost at the start doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
If you’re new to Etsy and want to start without panic, guesswork, or burning out before your first proper sale, watch this before you do anything else.
✨ Want a calm checklist instead of guessing?
The Handmade Business Starter Pa...
#103 - 5 Real Ways to Make Money With Canva (The Honest Version for Etsy Sellers)
Canva can make you money.
But if you’re treating it like a shortcut to passive income, you’ll just end up with a very tidy Canva folder and… no sales.
In this video, I’m breaking down 5 real ways to make money with Canva in 2026.
No hype. No “sell one template and retire”. Just honest, workable routes that actually make sense, especially if you sell on Etsy.
You’ll learn:
👉 The 5 Canva money routes that actually work
👉 Exactly what to create for each one (not vague ideas)
👉 How to price Canva product...
#102 - My 2026 Etsy Profit Playbook: How Six-Figure Shops Are Actually Built (Without Burnout)
If you’re stuck around £100–£2k a month on Etsy and your current plan is
“maybe I just need more products”…
we need to talk.
In this episode, I’m breaking down my 2026 Etsy profit playbook and how six-figure Etsy shops are actually built - quietly, calmly, and without burning yourself into the ground.
This isn’t hustle advice.
It’s structure, clarity, and knowing what actually moves the needle.
We’ll cover:
👉Why more products usually stall growth (not scale it)
👉The difference between niche depth and niche hopping
#101 - Etsy Views But No Sales? Fix Your Listings So They Actually Convert (2026)
Getting Etsy views but no sales can feel maddening.
Because if people are clicking… why aren’t they buying?
In this podcast, I’m breaking down why Etsy listings get views but don’t convert, and exactly how to fix it without:
- more traffic
- more posting
- or weeks of faffing with SEO
If your shop feels busy but not profitable, this is almost always a listing problem, not an algorithm problem.
We’ll cover:
- Why clicks ≠ sales (and what buyers...
#100 - How Top 0.1% Etsy Sellers Got There And Why You're Falling Behind
Ever look at another Etsy shop and think
“How are they doing that… when I’m working just as hard?”
Same platform.
Same niche.
Same handmade chaos.
Yet some Etsy sellers quietly scale while others feel permanently behind.
In this video, I’m breaking down how the top 0.1% of Etsy sellers actually got there and why you might feel like you’re falling behind, even though you’re doing all the things.
Spoiler:
It’s not luck.
It’s not ta...
#99 - How to Start Selling on Etsy in 5 Simple Steps (Etsy Shop for Beginners Step by Step Walk Through)
Want to start selling on Etsy but feel completely overwhelmed by SEO, fees, rules, and everyone shouting different advice at you?
In this video, I’m walking you through how to start selling on Etsy in 5 simple steps, without melting your brain, overthinking your shop, or feeling like you need a business degree to get started.
This is a calm, beginner-friendly Etsy setup guide for 2026 and beyond, especially if you’re:
Brand new to EtsyStuck in research mode and not actually opening your shop
Confused abou...
#98 -The Etsy 2026 Trend Report
You keep hearing people talk about Etsy trends for 2026…
but what does that actually mean for your Etsy shop, your products, and your income?
In this video, I’m breaking down the handmade economy in 2026 and the trends that actually matter for handmade sellers. Not vague predictions. Not Pinterest aesthetics. Real shifts in buyer behaviour and how to turn them into products, listings, and content that sell.
We’ll cover:
What the handmade economy really looks like heading into 2026The biggest consumer behaviour shifts affecting Etsy s...
#97 - Future-Proofing Your Etsy Shop: Navigating 2026's Secret Unannounced Updates
You keep hearing rumours about Etsy updates, fee changes, algorithm tweaks and “big changes coming in 2026”… and it’s enough to make any seller panic.
In this episode, I’m breaking down how to future-proof your Etsy shop without trying to predict every update or burning yourself out in the process.
We’ll talk honestly about why Etsy is always changing, what you can and can’t control, and how to build a business that doesn’t fall apart every time Etsy moves a button.
You’ll learn:
• Why waiting for Etsy to “settle down” is...
#96 - Etsy's Post-Holiday Slump: Strategies to Thrive After Christmas Sales
January hit… and your Etsy sales fell off a cliff?
Before you spiral, open Indeed, or convince yourself your shop is doomed, take a breath. This episode is here to talk you down and give you a clear, calm plan for navigating the post-Christmas slump without burning everything to the ground.
In this episode, Steph walks you through why January sales drops are completely normal for handmade businesses, how to read your December Etsy stats properly, and the small, practical tweaks that actually make a difference when things go quiet.
You’ll l...
#95 - BEST OF 2025 - #7 Starting a new Etsy shop or Handmade business? This is your to-do list
Holiday Replay: Our 2nd Most-Popular Episode of 2025 🤶
🎅 We’re rerunning the Start-Your-Shop Checklist because it helped a ton of makers stop faffing and finally launch. No waffle. No scare tactics. Just the order of steps that actually works.
What you’ll learn:
A simple setup that makes you want to sit down and createTarget market + niche, done without a headacheA USP that isn’t “I make it with love”Naming your shop (short, memorable, available everywhere)Legal bits + money basics without the panicYour first 10 products, priced so you actually make pr...#94 - BEST OF 2025 - #1 - The Beginner's Guide to the Etsy Algorithm
Holiday Replay: Best of 2025 ☃️
We’re re-running our most-downloaded episode of the year - the no-fluff beginner’s guide to the Etsy algorithm. No scare tactics. No clickbait. Just how it actually works and what to do next.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• The two-step search process: query matching → ranking (and why “Page 1” isn’t universal anymore)
• The 7 signals Etsy uses: relevance, listing quality score, recency, customer & marketplace experience, postage price, translations, shopper habits
• Why changes take 60–90 days to settle (so stop tweaking every week)
• How reviews + conversion rate nudge you higher
• A simple postage...
#93 - “Your niche is your flag - plant it, own it, and never deviate.”
Right. Meet Gemma from Wild & Gem – archaeologist-turned-jeweller capturing real bits of the outdoors and turning them into wearable moments. 🌿✨
In this chat we get practical, not precious:
• 📸 iPhone photos that actually sell – no fancy kit, just light and intention
• 🎯 Your niche is your flag – plant it, own it, stick to it
• 💬 Shout your standout on every listing and post
• 🧭 Use envy like a compass to find what you really want
• 🐢 The tortoise strategy – small, steady moves that stack
• 🛍️ From first markets to gallery stock – visibility without the ick
• 🤝 Why community turns lonely building into confident action
If you’ve been hiding behind your products, second-gues...
