While starting an online business is significantly cheaper than starting a brick and mortar business, it’s not free. At the very least you have material or equipment expenses, and some costs to create some basic branding, listing fees on Etsy, etc, and it’s important to be prepared for these expenses, otherwise the efficiency of how you run your business is going to majorly suffer. Being prepared for business related expenses and then being able to take some of your revenue and reinvest it back into your business is going to allow you the freedom and flexibility to grow in strategic ways and not be constantly putting out fires to stay afloat. Let's talk about it. ------------ Ready to take your business up a notch and get step by step training and help?  Check out the shop at http://www.cricketstochachings.com for *all* of our templates, workshops, and trainings.  

149. Why Selling Online Ends Up Being a Lot More Expensive Than You Anticipated (Myth #2)

Crickets to Cha-chings is a podcast for handmade entrepreneurs wanting to uplevel their Etsy shops and take their side gig to a full time income. Join us as we talk marketing for your handmade business, strategy to drive traffic to your shop, how to stand out on Etsy, and running an online business while maintaining flexibility for your family.

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Etsy put out a spring/summer trend report​​ and Julie reviews it in this episode of the Crickets to Cha-Chings podcast. Here are some snippets of trending keyword searches according to Etsy in case you don't have time to read the report:  +266% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for divorce gifts or items +351% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for cozy home items +465% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for host or hostess gifts +2,159% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for lawn games +105% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for wildflower art +50% YoY increase in searches on Etsy for pickleball gifts  We're also seeing major vibes for western and pasta night here. You may be like "eh, my product doesn't fit in these trends" but I would encourage you to think a little deeper about how you can incorporate trending ideas into the product that you already make. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R5wfzV7pQoQ Etsy Marketplace Report: https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/1255437605579?ref=handbook Watch our free workshop at: https://goldcityventures.com/

172. Etsy Marketplace Insights 2024 Spring and Summer Trends Report

In this live episode of the Crickets to Cha-Chings podcast, Julie Berninger and Sasha Hutchison discuss strategies for growing an Etsy business off of the platform. They provide guidance to Naomi, an Etsy seller selling printables, on how to expand her business and reach a wider audience. The conversation covers topics such as building an email list, repurposing content for social media, and creating YouTube videos. They emphasize the importance of niching down and finding the right platforms to connect with the target audience. The hosts also highlight the need for traffic generation and suggest exploring Facebook groups as a potential avenue for growth. In this conversation, Julie and Sasha discuss the importance of trying new things and not being afraid to fail in business. They also explore the target audience for Naomi's products, including Sunday school teachers, camp directors, and homeschooling parents. They emphasize the need to understand the specific needs and interests of these target customers in order to create relevant and valuable products. The conversation also touches on the potential for affiliate marketing and the importance of staying focused on the core topic of the business. Gold City Ventures Beyond Program: https://goldcityventures.com/beyond/ Takeaways  Building an email list is crucial for growing an Etsy business off of the platform. Repurposing content for social media can help save time and reach a wider audience. Creating YouTube videos can be an effective way to showcase products and attract customers. Niching down and finding the right platforms to connect with the target audience is essential for business growth. Generating traffic is a challenge for Etsy sellers, and exploring Facebook groups can be a potential solution. Don't be afraid to try new things in your business and allow yourself to fail. Understand the specific needs and interests of your target audience to create relevant and valuable products. Consider the potential for affiliate marketing to promote complementary products to your target audience. Stay focused on the core topic of your business to avoid confusing or losing your audience. 

171. Start a Niche Subscription Business for Printables: Live Coaching Call

If you missed our Live Q&A;, here is the replay on YouTube. Julie broke down 4 business ideas and how they would work off Etsy 1) subscription book box, 2) beauty professional templates 3) seasonal printables for kids monthly subscription and 4) a blog for dog lovers. She also screenshared what Beyond looks like and the prizes you get with purchase. Special pricing ends April 30th at 11:59PM ET. Resources: https://goldcityventures.com/beyond/

170. 4 Business Ideas: 60min Live Q&A with Julie

  In this episode, Julie and Sasha of Gold City Ventures and Kennedy of Our Friendly World discuss growing a business off of Etsy. They talk about competitor analysis and the importance of understanding your customers and competitors. They specifically discuss what to do when your competitor is a bigger brand than you and was on Shark Tank!      They also discuss the potential for collaborations and sponsorships, as well as the role of video content in driving traffic and engagement. The conversation highlights the importance of repurposing content and experimenting with different platforms to reach your target audience.      Links:    Kennedy's Business Our Friendly World: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ourfriendlyworld   Gold City Ventures Beyond Program: https://goldcityventures.com/beyond/   This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TU_L6OaA5UQ      In this conversation, Julie and Sasha also discuss various strategies for driving traffic and generating leads for a handmade crochet kit business. They emphasize the importance of understanding the customer journey and tailoring content to different stages of the sales funnel. They also discuss the potential of affiliate marketing, building an email list, and outsourcing tasks to save time. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the value of collaboration and networking within the crafting community.      Takeaways   Understanding your customers and competitors through competitor analysis is crucial for growing your business off of Etsy.  Collaborations and sponsorships can be effective ways to expand your reach and attract new customers.  Video content is a powerful tool for driving traffic and engagement, and it can be repurposed across different platforms.  Experimenting with different platforms and strategies is important to find what works best for your business. Understand the customer journey and tailor content to different stages of the sales funnel  Consider affiliate marketing as a way to leverage the networks of others to promote your products  Build an email list to capture leads and nurture relationships with potential customers  Outsource tasks to save time and focus on high-value activities  Collaborate and network within the crafting community to expand your reach and opportunities            Chapters 00:00  Introduction and Background 02:00  Competitor Analysis and Insights 04:06  Understanding the Woobles and Differentiating Your Products 09:06  Taking Advantage of Competitors and Building the Market 12:24  Repurposing Content and Driving Traffic with Video 15:18  Exploring Collaborations and Sponsorships 22:16  The Role of Video Content in Attracting Customers 25:49  Experimenting with Different Platforms and Strategies 28:03  Understanding the Customer Journey and Tailoring Content 35:24 The Potential of Affiliate Marketing and Building an Email List 45:32  Outsourcing Tasks to Save Time and Focus on High-Value Activities 52:07  Creating Efficient Workflows and Maximizing ROI 58:22  Collaborating and Networking within the Crafting Community 

169. When Your Competitor is a Bigger Brand .. Do This!

In this episode, Julie Berninger and Sasha Hutchison of Gold City Ventures interview Jenny, an Etsy seller who sells printables. They discuss Jenny's journey from selling physical products to focusing on printables, specifically in the golf niche. They explore the potential for Jenny to expand her business beyond Etsy by creating a lifestyle brand and leveraging social media. They also discuss the importance of custom and personalized products and the potential for affiliate marketing. The conversation provides valuable insights and ideas for Jenny to grow her business. In this conversation, Julie and Sasha discuss different strategies for monetizing an Etsy shop that sells golf-themed products. They explore options such as affiliate marketing, creating video content, and targeting specific niches within the golf community. They also discuss the importance of understanding the target audience and their preferences. The conversation ends with rapid-fire ideas for expanding the product offerings and leveraging affiliate marketing. This is another coaching call-style podcast and there will be two more following in the series! They discuss:  The customer journey of people searching for niche printables Why picking a niche once you start selling off Etsy is the way to go Where Etsy sellers posting on social are messing up What to post on social media to attract your ideal customer Ways to monetize with YouTube and affiliate marketing by performing product reviews How the Gold City Ventures team can improve their new offering Beyond & more!  Stay tuned to learn more about Beyond which launches mid-month to the Gold City Ventures community! Resources: Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3VCSKIx5bUM 

149. Why Selling Online Ends Up Being a Lot More Expensive Than You Anticipated (Myth #2)

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