Etsy Conversations Podcast

Shah is an online friend that I was fortunate to meet through and because of the podcast. It feels like we've known each other for quite a while now but this was our very first IRL (in real life) conversation. She runs the Etsy shop which, unlike most Etsy shops, started off first as an offline pop-up shop then migrated to an ecommerce website and then finally to Etsy! I like the evolution of her business and how she eventually found her way onto Etsy and you'll get to hear the unique story of exactly how it happened in our convo this week. Have you longed to get media exposure and have the positive "fallout" that follows that? Well listen in to hear how Shah's business received a great deal of press and how you can replicate a similar process for your own business. But there's a caveat... You'll have to listen in to hear what it is :) We had a nice long conversation and here are some highlights of what you'll hear us discuss in-depth: Working with a business partner & going it alone Product line development Running an independent website - pros, cons, and tips for doing it well Balancing an Etsy shop vs ecommerce website Shah's D.E.B.R.A system for keeping up with business tasks Etsy Resolution and why you might want to participate the next time it rolls around From Buzz Feed to Interiors Addict to Babyology... Getting media attention and how to capitalize on it and keep the momentum going Shah's experience being a finalist of the 2015 Etsy Design Awards Shah's Etsy Shop ShoutOut - Phoenix is the cool lady behind this Etsy shop where she sells whimsical greeting cards, mugs, and gifts. Hi Phoenix!! :) - Lauren Munn set up this group for moms who sell on Etsy and want to connect. Lauren has been a valuable member of the Etsy Conversations community for a long time and I highly recommend that if you;re a mom and you sell on Etsy you strongly consider joining Lauren's Facebook group Resources Mentioned Freelancers: -find people of all skill levels and price ranges to do website (and other technical and non-technical) tasks for you Search Engine Optimization tools: - SEO plugin for WordPress websites; - website by Brian Dean with information about using link-building for website traffic and SEO Getting media exposure: (Help A Reporter Out), (similar to HARO) Recommended Reading: this article by Lauren Munn is a refereshing and honest piece on why her Etsy shop failed but there's a really great message in the piece - Contact Shah Etsy Convo: on Etsy Email: Shah [at] LilSpaces [dot] com Social media: , Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com For more help growing your Etsy-based business, check out these resources:

Jessica runs a new Etsy shop called Gifts Outside The Box which she opened up to fill a need in a niche that didn't provide her what she was looking. Listen in to learn how she's finding her place on Etsy.

In case you missed it last week, on Tuesday May 2nd 2017 Chad Dickerson was removed as CEO of Etsy after almost 6 years in that position; he will remain in an "advisory role" until the end of May. Chad is being replaced by Josh Silverman who is currently a board director on Etsy's board. Chad is also being replaced as the chairman of the Etsy board by a tech investor, Fred Wilson. But wait... There's more... Etsy also announced that they will lay off approximately 8% of its total workforce which equates to about 80 positions. Now, I don't know this for a fact, but based on y research and according to the Bloomberg website, black & White Capital LP (who owns about 2% of Etsy) urged Etsy to explore "strategic alternatives... including a possible sale" Here are some other quotes from Black & White's proposals for and criticisms of Etsy: "...the company's historical pattern of ill-advised spending has completely obfuscated the extremely attractive underlying marketplace business model..." "...we are fully prepared to take any actions we believe are necessary to protect the best interests of all Etsy shareholders..." and finally, Black & White Capital LP wants Etsy to better invest R&D to fix its "horrendous search functionality", suggest similar available items, and redirect marketing expenses to drive repeat customers... and some other suggestions So... I kept waiting for Etsy to say something publicly about all of this but they remained pretty mute on the whole topic until about Thursday or Friday. You might have received an email form Etsy's new CEO, if you missed, I read it verbatim in the podcast. Takeaways: Don't forget the Q&A with Josh Silverman will be this Thursday May 11th, 2017 in the though no specific start and end times were given You can check the Etsy forums as of today (per Josh's email) to find out how to participate I plan to join the Q&A session and then do a follow-up podcast episode about it so stay tuned/come back for that :) Update On Etsy Q&A Pt.2 I reached out a couple of Etsy Admins and was asked to submit my request for an interview through Etsy's media relations/PR department. I guess the good news there is that I'm now officially considered "the media" ;) Anyway, long story short, after exchanging multiple emails with the someone in Etsy's media department, the response I got was essentially, "not now...". In the podcast episode I explain what my plan is going to be going forward... First off, thank you so much to everyone, and I mean, every single person, who sent in a question. I don't want your effort and time spent responding to go to waste so I will hunt down the answers to your questions, even if it means reaching out to Etsy support for each individual question. I will create either a Q&A blog post or podcast series so please stay tuned.

Convo with Julie Fuller of Etsy Shop Tokyo Blossom Boutique.

Front Page Guide to Etsy with Tammy Cannon of Cannon Online Marketing