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

Do Etsy ads work?

Yes. But not in the way most sellers think they do.

If you’ve ever turned on Etsy ads hoping they’d magically fix slow sales, this episode is going to save you money.

Because ads don’t create demand.They don’t fix bad photos.They don’t improve weak conversion rates.

They amplify what’s already happening in your shop.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

• When Etsy ads are likely to waste your money

• When they can scale your sales beautifully

• How to know if your shop is ready

• And why ads should never be your starting point

If you’re debating turning ads on, or wondering why they didn’t work for you before, this is a must-listen.

Mentioned in This Episode

🎓 Free Masterclass: Visibility on Etsy Without Going Viral - https://sarahjwaggoner.com/freeclass

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-accelerator

• Join my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreative

• Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggoner

• Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner

If you’re getting traffic to your Etsy shop but people aren’t buying, your conversion rate is costing you sales every single day.

And the frustrating part is that most sellers are making the same five completely fixable mistakes.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the exact five things that tank your conversion rate and how to fix them.

Because the goal isn’t to get more traffic. It’s to make it easier for buyers to say yes once they’re already there.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Apply for 1:1 Coaching Here - https://sarahjwaggoner.com/coaching

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-accelerator

• Join my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreative

• Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggoner

• Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner

Getting traffic but not making sales? Your conversion rate might be the problem.

Today, we’re breaking down:

• What a conversion rate actually is

• What a “good” conversion rate looks like on Etsy

• Why this number matters more than most sellers realize

• How to calculate it for individual listings

• And what to fix if yours is low

Because you can double your revenue without getting a single extra visitor…

…if you improve your conversion rate.

And most Etsy sellers aren’t even looking at it.

Mentioned in This Episode:

💻 1:1 Coaching - https://sarahjwaggoner.com/coaching

📱 DM me on Instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-accelerator

• Join my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreative

• Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggoner

• Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner

• Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahJWaggoner

Freaking out over your Etsy stats? You might be overreacting! Let’s talk about the three Etsy stats that sellers constantly misinterpret and what you should do instead.

Because they might not be telling you what you think they are.

And if you’re making panicked changes every time you open your shop stats, you could be tanking your own momentum.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

• Which stats actually matter and which ones don’t

• How low-performing listings might still be helping your bestsellers

• Why Etsy stats are noisy (and how to zoom out for more useful info)

So if you’ve ever felt tempted to delete a listing, change your pricing, or overhaul your SEO because of one slow week, hit play on this one first.

What you’ll learn:

• Why Etsy sellers often misread their traffic data

• How “favorites without sales” can still be a good thing

• What a slow day really means for your shop strategy

• When to adjust a listing and when to leave it alone

• How to use your stats without sabotaging your visibility

Mentioned Resources:

• Work with Me: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/coaching/

Your Next Steps:

• Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahJWaggoner

• Join my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreative

• Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggoner

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner

Wondering if you should delete those listings that haven’t sold in months? Here’s what to do instead.

While it might feel like a good way to clean up your shop, deleting those listings could actually hurt your traffic more than help.

In this episode, we’re breaking down:

• When it makes sense to let listings go

• When it’s smarter to keep them (even if they’re not converting yet)

• And how to make these decisions strategically instead of emotionally

Because if those listings are part of a keyword family Etsy is starting to recognize your shop for, you don’t want to accidentally tank your visibility by pulling them too soon.

You’ll also hear:

• Why quantity matters for Etsy SEO (yes, even if some products aren’t selling yet)

• What to do if a listing is getting traffic but no sales

• The best way to let go of old products if you’re changing your shop direction

Plus, I’ll share a related YouTube video that pairs perfectly with this episode - 👉 How Many Different Products Do You Actually Need to Sell on Etsy?

🎥 Watch here: https://youtu.be/3cgpErjlJLg

And don’t forget to grab my free masterclass - https://sarahjwaggoner.com/freeclass/

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-accelerator

• Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahJWaggoner

• Join my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreative

• Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggoner

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner

If your Etsy strategy feels chaotic, it’s because you’re doing too much, too fast, in too many directions.

And when everything feels like a scramble, your visibility takes the hit.

In this episode, we’re digging into why so many sellers feel stuck in Etsy strategy chaos and how to fix it with simplicity that actually gets you seen and gets you sales.

We’ll talk about the real reason your strategy feels like a mess (spoiler: it’s not because you’re lazy), how Etsy’s algorithm actually works when it comes to relevance, and what a simple, high-impact strategy really looks like in your shop.

If you’ve been bouncing between niches, keywords, and tactics and feel like nothing’s working, this one’s for you.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why Etsy can’t rank your listings if you keep changing strategies

• How chasing every new tip online kills your consistency

• What Etsy actually needs from you to build relevance

• What a simplified strategy looks like (even if you sell multiple products)

• How momentum and confidence come from staying in one direction

🎯 Want the full visibility framework? Watch the free masterclass here: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/freeclass

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-accelerator

• Join my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreative

• Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggoner

• Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner

• Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahJWaggoner

Want to set a 2026 goal that actually fits your life? Let’s do it today!

It’s the end of the year, and if you’re feeling the pressure to pick a “big” Etsy goal but you’re also completely over it…you are not alone.

In this episode, I’m walking you through how to set your 2026 Etsy goals in a way that’s clear, sustainable, and actually useful without the usual overthinking or hustle energy.

We’re ditching the pressure and perfection, and getting laser focused on what will actually move your shop forward this year.

This episode is especially for you if:

• You’re afraid to set a revenue goal because “what if I don’t hit it?”

• You’re in a new season of life and need your business to match that energy

• You’re tired of setting vague goals that never turn into action

Plus, I’ll tell you exactly how I set goals in my own business (and what I help clients do too), so you can use a super simple process that actually works.

And don’t forget to register for my free Daily Sales on Etsy Without Ads masterclass happening January 13th. I’ll show you how to use Etsy’s free search traffic to hit your 2026 sales goals with no ads and no burnout.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to set a revenue goal that supports your real life

• Why vague goals lead to vague results (and how to fix it)

• A 3-step framework for breaking down your goal by quarter

• How to match your Etsy strategy to your life—not just the calendar

• Why “less” planning might actually move you forward faster

• What we’re covering inside the January 13th masterclass (and why it’s the best first step into the new year)

🎯 Register for the masterclass: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/freeclass

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-accelerator

• Join my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreative

• Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggoner

• Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner

If you’re wrapping up the year and feeling unsure what actually worked (or didn’t) in your shop, this episode is for you.

Today, we’re doing your Etsy Data Debrief. A simple, non-overwhelming look back at 2025 so you can walk into 2026 with strategy.

This is one of my favorite December rituals, and it’s something most Etsy sellers skip. But when you take just 30 minutes to review your traffic, top listings, and low performers, you can stop guessing and start making decisions that actually move your shop forward.

In this episode, I’ll guide you through:

• Where your traffic really came from in 2025 and what to do with that info

• How to identify the real best-sellers in your shop (not just the ones you like most)

• Why “almost” listings are your biggest source of low-hanging growth

• And how to pull 3 key takeaways to shape your 2026 product and visibility strategy

If you're not a numbers person, that’s ok! This is about making smarter decisions with the data your shop is already giving you.

What you’ll learn:

• How to find patterns in your Etsy traffic that highlight what’s actually working

• Why your top listings often share subtle traits you can double down on

• How to spot conversion problems hiding in plain sight

• What to do with listings that fell off (and how to prevent that in 2026)

• A simple framework for turning your 2025 stats into next year’s strategy

Mentioned in this episode:

• DM Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner

• 1:1 Coaching Application: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/coaching

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-accelerator

• Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahJWaggoner

• Join my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreative

• Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggoner

• Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner

We’re deep into December, and while you’re probably still shipping orders and checking your stats, this is actually the perfect time to look back at the listings that didn’t do well this year.

I know it’s not the most glamorous part of running a shop. But reflecting on your low performers might be one of the smartest things you do before 2026 kicks off.

Because those listings are handing you data, direction, and a chance to refine your product line so you’re not dragging dead weight into the new year.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through a three-step process to review your underperformers with intention so you can decide what’s worth fixing, what might need a tweak, and what it’s finally time to let go of.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why low-performing listings aren’t failures (and what they are instead)

• What to look for in your Shop Stats before jumping to conclusions

• How to figure out if a listing still deserves a place in your shop

• 3 clear options: refine, repurpose, or retire

• Why retiring a listing might actually help your overall visibility
  

Mentioned in this episode:

• 1:1 Coaching: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/coaching
  

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-accelerator

• Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahJWaggoner

• Join my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreative

• Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggoner

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner

Planning your year on Etsy and not sure what to keep, cut, or create for your shop in 2026? Let’s fix that.

We’re in that weird Etsy season right now because orders might still be rolling in, but your brain is already jumping ahead to next year. And one of the most common questions I get this time of year is how to know what to focus on and what to get rid of.

In this episode, I’m walking you through the exact three-step framework I use with my coaching clients to plan out a profitable, aligned product line for the new year.

We’ll talk about:

• What to keep (because it’s already doing the heavy lifting)

• What to tweak (because it’s close to converting)

• What to let go of (because it’s cluttering your shop)

• And how to map your product types across the year so you’re not launching in panic mode every season

Resources mentioned:

• 1:1 Coaching Application: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/coaching

Your Next Steps:

• Work with Me: https://sarahjwaggoner.com/etsy-visibility-accelerator

• Join my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheartlandcreative

• Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sarahjwaggoner

• Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjwaggoner
  Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahJWaggoner