The Handmade Shop: Etsy Business Strategy for Makers with Physical and Digital Products

Hosted by Sarah Waggoner

Business

Website RSS feed Facebook Instagram

Episodes

244

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

If you want consistent, daily sales on Etsy without relying on social media, you’re in the right place. Hosted by Sarah Waggoner, Etsy sales strategist and owner of a top 0.1% Etsy shop, this podcast teaches you how to grow your Etsy business. This show is for handmade sellers who are ready to build a shop that actually gets found by the right buyers. Inside each episode, you’ll learn how to: - Increase your Etsy sales organically - Build product lines that drive consistent traffic - Understand your Etsy stats - Create listings that convert - Grow your shop without ads, social media, or cha

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 16, 2026Episode 24511 min

245. Why People Are Favoriting Your Listings But Not Buying

Favorites without sales is one of the most frustrating Etsy problems. Here's why it's harder to fix than it looks and how to actually figure out what's going on.If your favorites keep climbing but your sales aren't following, something is creating friction between a buyer loving your listing and actually purchasing it. In this episode I'm walking through all the variables that affect conversion rate and why guessing which one to fix first is how sellers spend months making changes that don't actually help.What you'll learn in this episode:What a favorite actually tells you about your shop (it's more useful than you think)All the variables that can affect whether a buyer purchasesWhy conversion problems are so hard to solve without a planHow intentional testing is what separates sellers who figure it out from the ones who stay stuckResources mentioned:Summer Search Workshop Series: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/summerofsearchYour next steps:Etsy Visibility Accelerator: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-accelerator1:1 Coaching: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/coachingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggonerFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreativeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahJWaggoner

June 9, 2026Episode 2449 min

244. How to Get Your Etsy Listings in Front of the Right Buyers

Getting your Etsy listings in front of the right buyers isn't just about one well-optimized listing. Here's what it actually takes.Sellers often approach keyword research as a single listing problem. In this episode I'm breaking down why ranking on Etsy is really a shop-wide signal and what that means for how you build your strategy from the ground up.What you'll learn in this episode:Why the words you use to describe your product are often not the words buyers are searchingWhy one optimized listing often isn't enough to get consistent trafficWhat "authority" actually means in Etsy search and how your shop builds it over timeHow to think about keywords that attract buyers who are ready to purchase, not just browsingWhy what your shop can realistically rank for matters as much as what buyers are searching forHow the compounding effect works and what it looks like when a shop finally breaks throughResources mentioned:Summer Search Workshop Series - https://sarahjwaggoner.com/summerofsearchYour next steps:Join the Summer Search Workshop Series: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/summerofsearch1:1 Coaching: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/coachingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggonerFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreativeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahJWaggoner

June 2, 2026Episode 24312 min

243. How to Know If What You're Selling Is Actually the Problem

Is it really your products that are holding back your Etsy sales? Probably not…but here's how to know for sure.Most sellers jump straight to blaming their products when sales slow down. But the majority of the time, the product isn't the problem. In this episode I'm giving you a four-step framework for figuring out whether your product is actually the issue, or whether something else entirely is holding your shop back.What you'll learn in this episode:The four checks that tell you whether your product is actually the problem or notWhat zero impressions really means (and why it has nothing to do with your product)How to tell if there's real search demand for what you're selling on EtsyWhy the timeline matters more than most sellers realize when evaluating a productThe three specific scenarios where switching products actually is the right callWhy starting over is often the most expensive mistake a seller can makeResources mentioned:Summer Search Workshop Series: Your next steps:Join the Summer Search Workshop Series: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/summerofsearch/1:1 Coaching: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/coachingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggonerFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreativeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahJWaggoner

May 27, 2026Episode 2423 min

242. Summer is not a slow season if you do this

Summer is coming, and most Etsy sellers are about to make the same mistake they make every year. They slow down, they pull back, and then they wonder why they're not ready when Q4 hits.This is a short episode with a big announcement. If you've been wanting to understand how Etsy search actually works and stop guessing at what's getting your shop found (or not found), you're going to want to hear what's coming this summer. There's also something new for sellers who are already making consistent sales and are ready to grow. Two things are launching this summer, and my email list hears about both of them first.Resources Mentioned:Get on the email list: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/getmorepodcastYour Next Steps:Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggonerJoin the Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreative

May 13, 2026Episode 2415 min

241. The Time Audit Every Etsy Seller Needs to Do Right Now

Not enough time is the number one reason sellers don't invest in their Etsy strategy. But in my experience, the sellers who say they don't have time are usually spending a significant amount of it on things that aren't working. So let’s fix it.In this episode I'm taking you through a real time audit so you can see exactly where your Etsy hours are going and which ones are actually moving your shop forward. For most sellers, the time is already there. It just needs to be redirected. I'm also walking you through two columns that will change how you think about your Etsy to-do list for good.What You'll Learn:The difference between Etsy tasks that feel productive and ones that actually build momentumA quick audit you can do this week to see exactly where your time is goingWhy checking your stats multiple times a day might be one of the biggest time drains in your shopHow chasing new product ideas is spreading your authority thinner instead of building it fasterWhy social media time often produces the least results for Etsy sellers specificallyWhy a clear strategy doesn't add time to your week, it redirects the time you already haveWhat to do next:Enroll in the Etsy Visibility Accelerator before cart closes tomorrow: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/evapodDM me on Instagram before cart closes to talk through whether EVA is right for you: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner/

May 13, 2026Episode 2408 min

240. Why Your Etsy Shop Can Rank Even If You Don't Believe It Yet

"My shop just can't rank on Etsy." I hear this constantly. And then comes the reason. My prices are too high. My photos aren't good enough. I'm not selling the right product. My shop is too new. I don't have enough reviews. The big shops have taken over my niche.In this episode I'm going through all six of these beliefs one by one, because most of what sellers think is standing between them and consistent traffic is either misunderstood or completely fixable. None of these are reasons a shop can't rank. They're reasons a shop hasn't ranked yet. But we can fix that.What You'll Learn:Why price is almost never a ranking factor on Etsy and what it actually affects insteadThe real role photos play in your visibilityWhy there is a buyer on Etsy for what you make and what's actually standing between you and reaching themWhat new shops need to understand about how Etsy tests listings from day oneWhy reviews matter for conversion but not in the way most sellers think they do for rankingHow to find room in your niche even when the biggest shops feel like they've taken overThe difference between a shop that can't rank and one that just hasn't had the right strategy in place yetWhat to do next:Enroll in the Etsy Visibility Accelerator before cart closes on Sunday: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/evapodDM me on Instagram to talk through what's been holding your shop back: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner/

May 11, 2026Episode 2394 min

239. Every Etsy Niche Is Saturated. Here's What to Do About It.

If you've ever talked yourself out of going after a product line because the niche felt too saturated, this episode is going to reframe that completely.Saturation is one of the most common reasons sellers hold back on Etsy, and it's also one of the most misunderstood. Every niche is saturated. The entire internet is saturated. And yet new sellers are breaking through in competitive spaces every single day, because saturation doesn't mean there's no room. It means there's demand. In this episode I'm breaking down why saturation is a strategy problem, not a niche problem, and how to find the pockets of opportunity inside even the most competitive categories on Etsy.What You'll Learn:Why a saturated niche is actually a sign that buyers are thereThe difference between competing everywhere in a niche and finding where you actually have room to growWhy the biggest shops in your niche can't dominate every buyer search and what that means for youWhat long-tail keywords have to do with finding your opening in a saturated marketWhat to do next:- Enroll in the Etsy Visibility Accelerator: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/evapod- DM me on Instagram to talk through where your opportunity is: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner/

May 7, 2026Episode 2385 min

238. Why Your Etsy SEO Didn't Work Before and What to Do Differently

You did the research and optimized your listings and your shop is still slow as heck. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.A lot of sellers come to me frustrated with Etsy SEO because they feel like they've already tried it and it didn't work. But when I dig into their shops, the issue is almost never the concept of SEO itself. It's one of a few specific things that are quietly undermining the whole strategy. In this episode I'm naming all of them so you can figure out which one is showing up in your shop, and what to do about it.I'm also sharing the story of one of my students, who had been selling on Etsy for two years before joining my program. She thought she understood SEO. She had done her research. She had optimized her listings. And she was still not seeing the growth she wanted. Her first month inside EVA she doubled her monthly income, and by six months in she was making almost four times what she had been making before.What You'll Learn:The three most common reasons Etsy SEO stops workingWhy broad keywords one of the biggest things holding your traffic backWhat happens when you target keywords with no real search demand behind themWhy not knowing how to read your Etsy stats is costing you more than you realizeWhere to start if you want to finally get a complete strategy working for your specific shopCalls to Action:Join EVA here and get daily sales on Etsy: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/evapodDM me on Instagram to talk through what might be missing in your shop: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner/

April 28, 2026Episode 2376 min

237. Why Your Etsy SEO Isn't Working (It's Not Your Keywords)

You did the keyword research. You optimized your titles and tags. And your shop is still slow. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.The most frustrating place to be as an Etsy seller is when you've followed the advice and it still isn't working. In this episode, I'm cutting through the noise and pointing you at two specific things you can actually look at this week…your product line and your thumbnail. Neither one is glamorous, but both of them are what separate shops that get consistent traffic from shops that stall out after a few sales.What you'll learn:Why your SEO is probably not the actual problem (and what is)How Etsy tests your listingsWhy keywords are the entry point, not the whole strategyHow building listings that support the same keyword space compounds your authority over time and speeds up your timeline to consistent salesWhat click-through rate is and why Etsy is paying very close attention to yoursWhy your thumbnail is making or breaking your visibility before a buyer ever lands on your listing pageResources:Sign up for my free Live Masterclass here: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/freeclass/DM me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner/Your Next Steps:Join the Etsy Visibility Accelerator: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-acceleratorWork with Sarah 1:1: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/coachingFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner/Join the Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreativeFollow on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggoner

April 23, 2026Episode 2367 min

236. Five Questions to Ask Before You Add More Etsy Listings

Do you actually know if your Etsy product line is set up to rank or are you just hoping it is?Most sellers are putting in real work and still not seeing consistent traffic, and a lot of the time it comes down to one or two specific gaps in how their product line is built. In this episode I'm walking you through five yes or no questions you can ask about your shop right now to find out exactly where those gaps are.What You'll Learn:Whether you have enough listings for Etsy to start treating your shop as relevant in your nicheWhy the number of listings you need isn't a one-size-fits-all answer and what actually determines itHow to know if your keywords are based on real buyer search data or just educated guessesThe three specific listing elements that need to work together for your SEO to actually landWhy your thumbnail image is doing more work than you think and what it needs to do in search resultsWhat a healthy Etsy conversion rate actually looks like and how to calculate yours in two minutesHow to use your nos as a starting point instead of a reason to panicResources Mentioned:Free Live Masterclass: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/freeclass/DM Sarah on Instagram with which question gave you a no: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner/Your Next Steps:Work with Sarah: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-acceleratorJoin the Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreativeFollow on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggonerFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner/