Amber sells metaphysical and celestial-inspired jewelry on Etsy. She wants to grow her business so she can leave her full-time job. This episode is a casual live coaching call for the Crickets to Cha-Chings podcast with Julie Berninger and Sasha Hutchison of Gold City Ventures. They discuss what they each outsource both in their business and their home, how to create social media content if you don't have the time, keywords that are hot in the metaphysical space, building your personal brand, gr...
Apr 01, 2024•38 min
Julie Berninger of Gold City Ventures chats with Kennedy of Our Friendly World Etsy shop. Kennedy sells crochet kits, crochet patterns, and finished crochet products. This episode is in a casual live coaching call style for the Crickets to Cha-Chings podcast. They discuss how to interpret keyword research from tools such as eRank, ideas for monetizing a blog with display advertising, Etsy ads, & more! Resources: Our Friendly World: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ourfriendlyworld Our Friendly Worl...
Feb 28, 2024•1 hr 18 min
Etsy Gift Mode presents a huge opportunity for Etsy sellers. Julie Berninger of Gold City Ventures explains this new shopping experience and how to change your shop sections, pictures, and tags to take advantage of it. She also covers the Etsy email marketing policy change and TikTok shop. Topics covered in this episode: 1 - Etsy Gift Mode 2 - Etsy Email Marketing policy change 3 - Tik Tok Shop Resources: Gift mode article: https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/1232461378911?ref=handbook ...
Jan 28, 2024•25 min
This is the Etsy SEO help you need in 2024! Julie Berninger of Gold City Ventures reviewed articles in the Etsy seller handbook and YouTube videos from the team at Etsy for hours to determine exactly how to improve your Etsy SEO search algorithm ranking in 2024. Learn more at: https://goldcityventures.com/ Resources in the video: https://www.etsy.com/legal/policy/search-advertisement-ranking-disclosures/899478564529 https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015745428-How-Etsy-Search-Works?segme...
Jan 07, 2024•41 min
Gold City Ventures puts together an annual Black Friday deals roundup for Etsy sellers. Find it here: https://goldcityventures.com/etsy-seller-resources/ These deals apply for handmade, POD, or digital product sellers. Some require using the special Gold City Ventures links or coupon code. 🌟 For More Insider Tips & Strategies on E-Commerce Success! 🌟 Follow along on IG for business insider savvy and connection -- https://www.instagram.com/goldcityventures Learn more about Gold City Venture...
Nov 22, 2023•10 min
What titles, tags, and keywords should you add to your Etsy listings this year for the holidays? Can you package your existing listings in a different way to capitalize on what holiday shoppers want? Julie Berninger of Gold City Ventures presents her best ideas for Etsy sellers this holiday season based on the following Resources: Etsy Holiday Merchanding Guide Etsy Marketplace Insights: Holiday Trends Our Link for eRank: https://go.goldcityventures.com/erank Share & Save Program Gold City V...
Nov 06, 2023•29 min
Julie and her business partner Cody from Gold City Ventures discuss what's been going on with some POD sellers and the future of mockups. They also cover the current Etsy listing image requirements and other best practices and how they think the POD manufacturers will respond. For those outside of the POD space, they also talk about interesting opportunities for handmade sellers to expand their revenue sources (including a cool story with the woman who runs Happy Rugs ). And of course, what all ...
Nov 03, 2023•30 min
Julie and Cody of Gold City Ventures are continuing on with the podcast. I am happy since I know so many of you were disappointed that all of the old episodes would disappear. That issue is solved - and we have a better plan. The team at Gold City Ventures will be producing new episodes for you going forward. We recorded one final episode for you today as my truly final goodbye. I'll be stepping away from the business and letting Cody & Julie run the podcast from here on out. The episode t...
Oct 18, 2023•39 min
My plan was to shut down the business and move on. But after I sent the last goodbye email, my friend Julie from Gold City Ventures reached out to me. She proposed an interesting opportunity. It allows me to keep the podcast and all prior episodes live for you ..and for Julie and her business partner, Cody, to take over the responsibilities that I need to offload. I'm excited to announce that their business, Gold City Ventures, will continue on with my podcast, Crickets to Cha-Chings. Today we r...
Oct 16, 2023•20 min
It’s great to be back and talk about all things Etsy and e-commerce with you (and thanks for so many DMs about last week's episode!) This week is all about what we would do differently if we could go back in time and start our Etsy businesses all over again -- and there's a laundry list of things that I would do differently. When I first started on Etsy back in 2012, the internet was a vastly different landscape. I was completely lost and trying to figure everything out all on my own. I didn't h...
Jul 31, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 158
This episode is jam-packed with valuable insights to help you grow and succeed in your Etsy shop (and, more importantly, in your e-commerce business as a whole.) Here's what you can expect: The state of Etsy sales: Discover the reasons behind the decrease in Etsy sales in 2023 and what it means for sellers. Where Etsy is growing and what it means for an individual seller's business Insights into Etsy's revenue model and how it affects your bottom line as a seller (it's not as clear as you'd thin...
Jul 25, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 157
In today's world, buyers are more conscious about the impact their purchasing decisions can have on the businesses they support. They want to align themselves with brands that share their values. And you know what? This trend is especially true for small businesses, creatives, and artisans like us... Now, I know what you're thinking..."No way, I'm not going there..." But the thing is, brand values don't have to be controversial or political, my friend. They can be centered on authenticity and cr...
Jul 18, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 156
Are you tired of spending countless hours managing your handmade business and you're looking for some tools and tricks to streamline and improve your efficiency? In this episode, we reveal the top productivity tools and apps to streamline your business and save you time -- making you able to get more out of the limited time you have available! From email marketing automation to print-on-demand service, social media scheduling and analytics and more, these resources will revolutionize the way you...
Jul 10, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 155
Are you tired of spending countless hours managing your handmade business and you're looking for some tools and tricks to streamline and improve your efficiency? In this episode, we reveal the top productivity tools and apps to streamline your business and save you time -- making you able to get more out of the limited time you have available! From email marketing automation to print-on-demand service, social media scheduling and analytics and more, these resources will revolutionize the way you...
Jul 03, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 154
Have you heard about Etsy's new affiliate program, which allows content creators and sellers to earn a commission for promoting Etsy products on their website or social media, including your own products? Let's talk about the good, the bad, and the reason that I think Etsy is rolling out this new program so you can get a full picture about whether or not this is beneficial to you as the business owner! 🌟 For More Insider Tips & Strategies on E-Commerce Success! 🌟 Shop workshops and trainin...
Jun 26, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 153
In the world of handmade eCommerce businesses, there's often a misconception that creativity alone is enough to guarantee success. In reality, finding the perfect balance between creativity, data that gives you information about next steps, and business strategy is crucial to truly thrive in the online marketplace. In this episode, we'll explore the importance of each piece of the e-commerce puzzle, and how they work together to create a flourishing handmade business. ------- 🌟 For More Insider...
Jun 19, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 152
In this week's myth busting episode, we're tackling the common misconception that you can simply sell anything online without considering market demand and competition. We'll cover things like why having a defined target audience and offering unique products that cater to their needs and preferences is crucial, especially in today's world of e-commerce. These days, it's not so much about niching down your store but having a specific segment in mind who the product works for, and that differentia...
Jun 12, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 151
Have you been blasted with Facebook ads over the past several years selling you on the idea of starting an online shop and creating a digital asset that you can sell for "passive income" while you frocklic into the sunset to spend your millions? Yeah, me too. And I'm here to tell you as someone who has a physical product shop, a digital product shop, a podcast, blog, and many digital courses -- passive income is the biggest lie the internet is out to sell you. Let's talk about it on this myth bu...
Jun 05, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 150
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 ...
May 29, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 149
When you started thinking about building a business online, what was your expectation for success for that business? A month? 6 months? A year? Well I'm here to tell you: whatever that timeline was, it will probably take you longer than that. In the age of internet smoke and mirrors where everyone is telling you that you can grow a six figure business in 2.5 seconds flat, I'm going to be the outlier and call BS. And don't worry, it doesn't have anything to do with your products. It has do with u...
May 22, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 148
Do you ever feel like selling online is a constant rat race to keep up with everyone else in your industry? Or you feel like you don't even want to try out a new project or new style that you see because there are already so many people doing it, how can you even compete with them? Or you worry that your business is in a downward death spiral because your competitors keep taking your ideas and designs, and you don't know how to keep up? If you've had those feelings before, this episode is for yo...
May 15, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 147
I'm baaaaack! After a long hiatus while I dealt with my personal life/house fire, I'm back with a new episode, and I can't wait for you all to hear. This week on Crickets to Cha-Chings, I'm talking with Jon Lincoln, founder and CEO of GoImagine. GoImagine believes that by creating a handmade marketplace that donates 100% of profits to charity, there's an opportunity to transform the online economy into an engine for social good. And I, as a longtime e-commerce seller, believe that diversificatio...
May 09, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 146
Kerrie Fitzgerald created a multi six figure subscription box by leveraging the power of a raving fan base and repeat customers -- and she think it's the cornerstone of any brand that is going to have long term success in today's online selling environment. Tune in to this week's episode to hear how Kerrie built a cult like following for her business, why repeat customers are so important to your bottom line, and how you can use Etsy to introduce your customers to your brand while also connectin...
Apr 05, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 145
Today on this quickie episode, I'm digging into my thoughts about SVB and Etsy's complete lack of communication and transparency with sellers. In short: I'm not happy. If you're wondering where I stand or want to hear my unfiltered thoughts about the whole thing, tune in. Let me know if you agree, disagree, think I'm totally off my rocker or need to preach it over at http://www.instagram.com/lauren.keplinger Need more help diversifying income streams and growing beyond Etsy? Check out the shop a...
Mar 13, 2023•24 min
Allison Carter and Catherine Hildner were two strangers who connected at a conference, turned into business besties, and a few years later saw a gap in the product based business space and decided to take action to fill it. In addition to the two businesses they run individually, Allison and Cat are the founders and hosts of Ultimate Product Party (UPP for short!). UPP is a 2 day creative conference that serves product based businesses specifically. Allison and Cat create a unique experience and...
Feb 20, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 143
Over the past several years of doing the coaching/teaching/podcasting things, I’ve become very familiar with FB ads, and I always get really interesting comments on them. I’m not super easily offended at this point after 10 years in internet businesses, so rather than defend my ad or whatever I take it as an opportunity to read between the lines of what people are actually saying. Here are a few comments I have gotten in the last 6 months or so: You’re at the mercy of the Etsy algorithm. Nothing...
Feb 06, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 142
On today's episode, I am chatting with Stephanie about her journey to building a successful Etsy shop from her original products that she created for her own wedding. Listen as Stephanie talks about going from creating products that *she* wanted to understanding what is trending (and how to figure out where else her buyers are looking for trends that she can compliment). Stephanie has built her shop smartly and strategically, not being afraid to try new things but also not just throwing spaghett...
Feb 01, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 141
We all have different mental roadblocks that hold us back from taking the next step, whether that step is to start your Etsy shop or to grow your e-commerce business to the next level. I've had conversations with literally thousands of online sellers at this point, and I see common themes in the places where they get stuck or held back in the way they approach their business. In today's episode, I'm talking about these three fears or roadblocks, calling them out to address them, and talking thro...
Jan 23, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 140
In moving into 2023, I had some big goals and things that I was super excited to talk about with y’all, primarily focused around my product based business and things that I want to do with it in the coming year. Obviously some of those are currently in a holding pattern while I wait for my house and workshop to be inhabitable again (if you missed it, we had a house fire!) but I got to take some time last week to sit and ponder where I really want to be at the end of December 2023. What is going ...
Jan 09, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 139
2022 has been a doozy for me, and in this episode I'm recapping the major hits and misses of the year. There are always highs in business and lows in business and personally, and I'm not holding anything back. We'll talk through the top 5 hits, the top 5 misses, and how I'm moving forward into 2023 by giving space to set goals for my product based business as well as my coaching business that work within the confines of everything else we have going on personally in our lives right now (which yo...
Jan 03, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 138
