Amy was a seller on Etsy. She had been selling her handmade jewelry on the platform for over two years and had built a loyal following of customers. However, in the past year, she had noticed that Etsy had been raising its prices. First, it was the commission fees that they charged sellers. Then, it was the cost of listing items on the site. Finally, they introduced a new policy that required sellers to offer free shipping on all orders.
Amy was struggling to keep up with the rising costs of selling on Etsy. She was barely making any profit and decided that enough was enough. She closed her shop on Etsy and moved her business to a different platform.
She picked Shopify, created her domain name, and waited for the sales to roll in. She wasn't successful at first.
The sales didn't roll in at first because Amy didn't understand that Etsy was a marketplace and there were people always looking for her products. On her site, no one knew about Amy.
She had to start from scratch, building up her traffic and customer base. It was a lot of work, but eventually, it paid off and Amy's business took off.
Amy took to build her own creative business, get off of Etsy, build her base of loyal, returning customers and grew her following on social media, and was able to make a full time living off of her shop plus bonus money off of passive income she created for herself along the journey.
Curious how Amy got there? Check out the steps here.
NOTE: This isn't a get-rich-quick solution. This will take work. I recommend you do this slowly. Don't jump off of Etsy right away. This is a long-term strategy. Remember: You're in this for the long run.
Here are some reasons you should consider getting off of Etsy:
1. Etsy is getting too expensive
2. You have to offer free shipping on all orders to have a chance of ranking in search.
3. You don't have control over your branding or website design as you would on your website.
4. It's hard to find your products among the thousands of others on the site
5. You can't create a passive income stream with Etsy
6. It's difficult to grow your business on Etsy
7. Sites like Shopify and Squarespace give you total control over your business
Why do people stay on Etsy instead of starting their own online business?
1. They're afraid of the unknown
2. They don't think they can be successful on their own
3. They're not willing to put in the work required to be successful
4. They're comfortable with the status quo
5. They're worried about what other people will think
If you want to be successful in business, you have to be willing to take risks and put in the hard work required. You also have to be okay with making mistakes along the way. The most successful businesses are those that are constantly evolving and adapting to the changing landscape. If you're not willing to do that, then you'll never be able to reach your full potential as a business owner.
Why should this be a slow process and not a fast transition?
The answer is simple: because it's a lot easier to fail when you're not prepared. If you try to do too much too quickly, you'll likely get overwhelmed and give up. It's important to have a solid plan in place before you make any big changes to your business.
1. Make a list of all the reasons you want to leave Etsy. Be specific.
2. Do your research on other platforms and figure out which one is the best fit for your business
3. Create a plan for how you're going to transition your business off of Etsy. This should be a slow process so that you can adjust along the way
4. Implement your plan and start building your new online presence
5. Promote your new website and let your customers know that you're no longer on Etsy
It's important to remember that this is a process and it will take time. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results immediately. Just keep working at it and eventually, you'll start to see the fruits of your labor.
Why weren't the sales rolling for Amy when she first launched her own online jewelry store?
Etsy has a built-in marketplace of customers. Having her own online store with little to no social media presence, Amy was starting from scratch in building an audience for her business. It took a lot of work, but eventually, she was able to reach her target market through strategic content marketing and by promoting her new website on Etsy.
When you first start your own online store, it takes time to build up your traffic and customer base. You have to put in the hard work up front, but eventually, it will pay off. Once you have a loyal following of customers, you'll be able to start generating passive income streams that will help you grow your business even further.
What is the difference between growing my audience organically versus paying for ads?
Organic growth is when you build your audience organically through things like content marketing and social media. This takes time, but it's a more sustainable way to grow your business in the long run. Paid ads are a quicker way to get traffic to your website, but it's not as sustainable because you have to keep paying for the ads.
It really depends on your goals and what you're willing to invest in your business. If you're patient and willing to put in the work, organic growth is the way to go. But if you want immediate results and you're okay with investing money in your business, then paid ads might be a better option for you.
What are the steps you need to take to build a social media presence organically?
1. Figure out which social media platforms your target market is using
2. Create high-quality content that is relevant to your target market
3. Post regularly and be consistent with your content
4. Engage with your followers and build relationships
5. Promote your social media channels on your website and other marketing materials
6. (Eventually) Use paid advertising to reach a wider audience
7. Analyze your results and adjust your strategy as needed
Organic growth takes time, but it's worth it in the long run. You'll start to see real results when you're consistently posting high-quality content and engaging with your followers. The more you promote your social media channels, the more likely you are to reach new people. And as you start to generate more traffic, you can then start to think about using paid advertising to reach an even wider audience.
Why should I create pillar content for YouTube, blogging or podcasting in addition to posting on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok?
Pillar content is the foundation of your online presence. It's the core of what you do and it's what sets you apart from everyone else. When you create pillar content, you're creating something that people can come back to again and again. It's a way to build trust with your audience and establish yourself as an authority in your industry.
Creating pillar content also allows you to go deeper into the topics that you're passionate about. You can explore all the different aspects of your niche and share your unique perspective with the world. If you're only posting on social media, you're limited by the format and the attention span of your audience. But when you have a YouTube channel, blog on your own website, or your own podcast, you can really dive deep into the topics that you're passionate about and share your knowledge with people who are interested in learning more.
Creating pillar content is the foundation of your online presence. It's a way to build trust with your audience, establish yourself as an authority, and share your unique perspective with the world. If you want to be successful online, you need to start creating pillar content.
You can also earn passive income on your YouTube channel through affiliate links and monetization. You can also earn affiliate income through podcasting or on your blog by linking to associated products that you love but don't want to keep stock in your shop.
How can I earn passive income on YouTube, my Podcast and through the blog on my website?
There are a few different ways to earn passive income on YouTube, your podcast, and through your blog.
One way is to monetize your content with ads. You can sign up for Google AdSense or another ad network and place ads on your videos, website, or blog. When people click on the ads, you'll earn money. You will need 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours on YouTube to monetize your channel. However, even if you never monetize your channel, having a YouTube channel can be a visual place to answer your customer's burning questions about your product and talk about relevant topics related to what your customer is looking for. Having your own audience will translate into relevant customers who will be loyal and purchase your product.
Another way to earn passive income is through affiliate marketing. You can include links to products or services that you love and recommend in your videos, blog posts, or podcast episodes. When people click on the links and make a purchase, you'll earn a commission.
Finally, you can also sell products or courses directly from your YouTube channel, website, or blog. This is a great way to earn a passive income because you can sell products that you're passionate about and that your audience wants. By creating products that solve your customers' problems, you'll be able to build a loyal following of customers who will want to buy from you again and again.
Why do I need both pillar content and a social media strategy to avoid paying for paid ads?
Pillar content is the foundation of your online presence. It's what sets you apart from everyone else and it's a way to build trust with your audience. A social media strategy is necessary to reach a wider audience and to connect with potential customers. However, a social media strategy alone is not enough. You also need pillar content to establish yourself as an authority in your industry and to share your unique perspective with the world. If you want to be successful online, you need both pillar content and a social media strategy. Paid ads are not necessary if you have a strong pillar content strategy.
What is a social media strategy?
A social media strategy is a plan for how you will use social media to achieve your business goals. It should include what platforms you will use, what kind of content you will post, and how often you will post it. Your social media strategy should be aligned with your overall business goals. For example, if your goal is to increase brand awareness, your social media strategy should focus on creating compelling content that will reach a wider audience.
Do I need to be on all of the social media platforms, or can I focus on just one or two?
You don't need to be on every social media platform. In fact, it's better to focus on one or two platforms that you can use effectively. Pick the platforms where your target audience is most active and create content that will resonate with them. For example, if your target audience is on Instagram, focus on creating beautiful visuals and short videos that tell a story. If your target audience is on Twitter, focus on creating concise tweets that offer value and start conversations.
How often should I post on social media?
The frequency of your posts will depend on the platform you're using and your goals. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should aim to post 1-2 times per day on each platform. This will ensure that you're active enough to be seen by your audience, but not so active that you become a nuisance.
What are some ideas for pillar content?
Some ideas for pillar content include: how-to guides, tips and tricks articles, listicles, product reviews, case studies, original research, interviews, and opinion pieces. Whatever type of content you choose to create, make sure it is high quality and provides value to your readers.
What are some ideas for what I should post on social media posts to get relevant followers and boost my sales on my own website?
Some ideas for social media posts include: sharing your latest blog post, sharing a photo or video of your product, offering a discount or promotion, hosting a contest or giveaway, and sharing customer testimonials. Whatever you post on social media, make sure it is interesting and engaging, and that it links back to your website.
Leaving Etsy, launching my own creative business and having social media strategy plus creating pillar content sounds hard and overwhelming. What do you recommend as the first step to getting started?
The first step is to get clear on your goals. What do you want to achieve with your online presence? Once you have a goal in mind, you can start planning your strategy. If you need help getting started, there are plenty of resources available online, including blog posts, ebooks, and courses. Once you have a plan in place, take action and start creating content. And don't forget to measure your results so you can adjust your strategy as needed. Thanks for reading! I hope this article has inspired you to take control of your online presence and build the business of your dreams.
How can Sara Dalton Coaching help me out in building my creative business endeavors?
Sara Dalton Coaching can help you in several ways, including helping you to develop a clear business plan, providing one-on-one coaching and accountability, helping you to come up with creative ideas for new products, and launch your own products and courses, and teaching you how to effectively market your business online. If you're interested in learning more about how Sara Dalton Coaching can email me at sara@saradaltoncoaching.com and we can set up a time to jump on a call.