Lessons I Learned from Running an Etsy Shop

Truthfully, if you're just starting out, Etsy is one of the best places to begin. It offers built-in customers, and your job is to convince them that your product is the one they need. However, once you’ve established a customer base, I believe it's in your best interest to create your own website to sell your products. Etsy fees can start to add up and eat into your profits, and remember, Etsy can close your shop for almost any reason, sometimes making it nearly impossible to get it back. Just like having multiple income streams, it's important to have several avenues for people to buy your products. This includes platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

While I could dive into the details of listing optimization and keywords, there are plenty of resources available, and the Etsy Handbook is a fantastic guide that covers most of what you need to know. However, the truth is, your goal shouldn't be to stay on Etsy forever. The ultimate goal should be to move toward having your own platform and loyal customer base—something Etsy can help you build by establishing your reputation.

Etsy is a great stepping stone for small business owners, but it shouldn’t be the final destination.