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 Etsy
  
  
• Stuck in research mode and not actually opening your shop
  
  
• Confused about what you’re allowed to sell
  
  
• Worried about SEO, pricing, or “doing it wrong”
  
  

We’ll cover:

• What you can (and can’t) sell on Etsy
  
  
• How to set up the business basics without a massive faff
  
  
• Opening your Etsy shop without obsessing over perfection
  
  
• Creating products that actually have a chance of selling
  
  
• Writing listings and starting marketing so people can find you
  
  

By the end, you’ll know exactly what to do next, instead of spinning in circles on Pinterest and Facebook groups.

I’m Steph. I’ve been a full-time handmade business owner since 2016, and I now coach makers through Etsy, marketing, and turning side hustles into proper income.

☕ Grab a cuppa, hit play, and let’s get your Etsy shop open.

🔗 Need help keeping up with social media once your shop is live?

My Social Media Sidekick membership gives you plug-and-post captions, Canva templates, hooks, hashtags, and a full content calendar built for handmade sellers:

👉 Join the SMS today

👍 Like, subscribe, and check the next podcast once your shop is open and ready to grow.

Insta CTA

🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

No fluff.

No pressure.

No trying to keep up with everyone else.

Just practical support that actually makes sense.

Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.

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 2026
  
  
  
• The biggest consumer behaviour shifts affecting Etsy sellers
  
  
  
• Trend buckets you can plug your existing products into (without starting from scratch)
  
  
  
• How trends show up on Etsy search, Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok
  
  
  
• How to research Etsy trends yourself so you’re not guessing
  
  
  
• A simple, calm action plan to get your shop 2026-ready without overwhelm
  
  
  

This is about positioning, not panic.

Trends are seasoning, not a personality transplant.

If you want your Etsy shop to feel relevant, useful, and desirable in 2026 (without burning yourself out), this one’s for you.

🔗 Need help turning trends into consistent content?

The Social Media Sidekick gives you plug-and-post captions, Canva templates, hooks, hashtags, and a full content calendar designed for handmade businesses:

👉 https://www.handmadebosses.com/sms

👍 If this helped, hit like, subscribe, and check out the next video to future-proof your Etsy shop even further.

Insta CTA

🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

No fluff.

No pressure.

No trying to keep up with everyone else.

Just practical support that actually makes sense.

Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.

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 a trap
• What future-proofing actually means (and what it doesn’t)
• How to stop relying on Etsy search as your only traffic source
• Simple ways to start owning your audience with email
• Product and SEO strategies that survive algorithm changes
• How to build a money safety net so slow months don’t derail you

Helpful resources mentioned in this episode:

👉 The Makers List Kickstart Kit
Learn how to build an email list that you actually own (without tech stress):
https://www.handmadebosses.com/offers/KM79eUH7/checkout

👉 Social Media Sidekick (SMS)
Done-for-you monthly content so you can show up consistently without overthinking:
https://www.handmadebosses.com/sms

This episode is for handmade sellers who want to move into 2026 feeling calmer, more prepared, and more in control of their business.

🎧 Plus, I’ll give you simple, practical homework you can actually do this week.

If Etsy changes make you nervous, this one will steady your head.

Insta CTA

🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

No fluff.

No pressure.

No trying to keep up with everyone else.

Just practical support that actually makes sense.

Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.

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 learn how to:
• Understand what’s really happening after Christmas (and why it’s not a failure)
• Use your December data to make smarter decisions instead of emotional ones
• Refresh best-selling products for the new year without creating new work
• Set up simple January offers that don’t add to overwhelm
• Choose one off-Etsy marketing channel to steady your sales
• Build a realistic, calm January plan you can actually stick to

This isn’t about hustling harder or reinventing your entire business.

It’s about knowing which levers to pull when sales slow down… and pulling them with confidence.

✨ Helpful links mentioned in this episode:

📧 Build your email list properly (even if you’re starting from scratch):
The Makers List Kickstart Kit
👉 https://www.handmadebosses.com/offers/KM79eUH7/checkout

📦 Increase your order value without making new products:
Bundle It & Boost It Toolkit
👉 https://www.handmadebosses.com/offers/gCmz6VtE/checkout

📱 Struggling to stay consistent on social media?
Social Media Sidekick (SMS)
👉 www.handmadebosses.com/sms

If this episode helped you feel calmer and clearer, make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss future episodes.

Insta CTA

🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

No fluff.

No pressure.

No trying to keep up with everyone else.

Just practical support that actually makes sense.

Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.

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 create
• Target market + niche, done without a headache
• A USP that isn’t “I make it with love”
• Naming your shop (short, memorable, available everywhere)
• Legal bits + money basics without the panic
• Your first 10 products, priced so you actually make profit
• Test → tweak → photos (and a quick 15s video)
• Packaging that looks polished, not pricey
• Shipping you can rely on
• A one-platform “home hub” so you’re not shouting into the void
• A tidy launch plan with drafts ready to go

Pop in your earbuds, grab a cuppa, and let’s get you open without the overwhelm.

Follow for more real-talk help for handmade sellers.

- Steph 🎄 xoxo

Insta CTA

🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

No fluff.

No pressure.

No trying to keep up with everyone else.

Just practical support that actually makes sense.

Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.

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 strategy (when to roll shipping into your price)
• Why exact-phrase keywords beat jumbled ones and quick tools to research them
• The manual-renew trick so you actually revisit and improve listings

Perfect if you’re tired of feeling at the mercy of “the algorithm” and want clear actions that move the needle.

Come say hi on Instagram @handmadebosses and hit follow so you don’t miss the next replay drop.

Steph 🎄

Insta CTA

🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

No fluff.

No pressure.

No trying to keep up with everyone else.

Just practical support that actually makes sense.

Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.

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-guessing your prices, or waiting for “perfect” photos, this episode is your nudge. Listen in, take one idea, implement it today, and let it snowball. ☕️🚀

✨ Psst… posting still feels heavy?

Grab Social Media Sidekick (SMS) for plug-and-play captions, weekly prompts, and a simple plan so you can post in 20 minutes and get back to making. Join here: https://www.handmadebosses.com/sms This is the same membership Gem uses to help her with her socials.

🛍️ Find Gemma: Etsy – Wild and Gem | Instagram – @wildandgem

Insta CTA

🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

No fluff.

No pressure.

No trying to keep up with everyone else.

Just practical support that actually makes sense.

Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.

If you’re spinning plates, drowning in orders, and trying to post on Instagram while reheating your tea for the fourth time - this episode’s for you.

Steph shares her real-life four-step system to stay consistent on social media even when life feels chaotic. No 5am alarms. No “just push through” advice. Just a simple rhythm that actually works - especially if your energy and focus fluctuate (hello, ADHD friends 👋).

You’ll learn:
💡 The 4P framework: Plan, Prepare, Post, Protect
🧠 How to create content around your energy, not the clock
📅 The five-minute monthly map that stops decision fatigue
🛑 Why “motivation” is a myth and structure is your secret weapon
💬 And how to use “going wide vs going deep” to balance growth and sales posts

This is your permission slip to make social media easier, not heavier.

Ready to skip the overwhelm?
👉 Join the Social Media Sidekick (SMS) and get your captions, Canva templates, and strategy done for you each month: https://www.handmadebosses.com/sms

🔗 #90 - How To Stop Spending 2 Hours On a Post That Gets 12 Views - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2354025/episodes/18145588

🔗 #91 - How To Fix Your “No One Sees My Posts” Problem (Without Spending a Penny) https://www.buzzsprout.com/2354025/episodes/18145618

Insta CTA

🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

No fluff.

No pressure.

No trying to keep up with everyone else.

Just practical support that actually makes sense.

Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.