Amanda Peterson transitioned from teacher to Etsy shop owner, and then pivoted her Etsy shop to make a completely different product than she started out with. Listen in to hear how she changed her business model to something that worked better for her lifestyle, matched her interests, and met customer demand...all while balancing her job as a mom of 5 kids! Struggling to grow your own Etsy shop? Check out the Etsy SEO Checklist here - laurenkeplinger.com/checklist
Jun 05, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Mallery Neptune has taken a passionate to serve underserved women in Haiti, and turned it into an ethical, sustainable business that has wide reaching impact. Tune in today to hear her story of the challenges that she faced in building a business in a third world country, how the business has changed over the years, and what she has learned along the way. Gift of Hope Haiti - https://www.giftofhopehaiti.org/ For more Etsy tips and business savvy - laurenkeplinger.com...
May 22, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 46
This week we will talk through 5 Quick and Dirty Tips on how to improve your SEO. All of these tips are in preparation for a master class I am offering Friday, April 24, 2020 at noon. You will need to register for this additional course, but my hope is that together we can take your shop from crickets to cha-chings! Follow the link below to learn more and register! LINKS - laurenkeplinger.com/masterclass
Apr 20, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In this week’s episode we talk 5 tips to improve your shop during uncertain times. The world is a little off right now, that’s no secret, but how can we use this time at home as an opportunity versus a roadblock? I’ve come up with a few tips to help you get focused on your shop and take advantage of this time. LINKS - laurenkeplinger.com/checklist laurenkeplinger.com/group/facebook
Apr 06, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this weeks episode we discuss strategies that you can employ and things you should keep in mind when starting an Etsy business os that it can work for you. Not everyone is in the same season of life, and the wonderful aspect of Etsy is that it offers endless flexibility. So how can you harness that flexibility to set and achieve your business goals? Take a listen! LINKS laurenkeplinger.com/facebook
Mar 30, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Overcoming the Overwhelm - 042 In this week’s episode we talk to Katie Fleming, a former accountant turned entrepreneurial consultant about how to overcome and control your feelings of overwhelm. A lot of you have expressed to me that you are having trouble taking that final leap to launch your shop because you’re feeling overwhelmed. Whether you’re anxious that your shop will flop or that it will gain too much traffic and you won’t be able to control it, we address all of your fears and provide...
Mar 23, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 42
In this week’s solo episode I talk about some tips that I have for sellers considering expanding into the international market. There are some larger things to keep in mind such as cost to yourself, how to protect yourself, and the best practices when it comes to interacting with your international customer. We address those aspects of international shipping and more, so give us a listen and if you like what you hear, join the conversation in our Facebook group. Links below! LINKS - laurenkeplin...
Mar 09, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 41
This week we are talking to Etsy shop owner Cindy Funk of Neatokeen, an Etsy store specializing in collectibles and vintage linens. Cindy talks to us about how to successfully brand your shop when the items you carry are one of a kind. We touch on staying in your niche in order to maintain your brand and best practices for interacting with your customers and optimizing your store. LINKS - https://www.etsy.com/shop/NeatoKeen https://www.instagram.com/neatokeen/ https://laurenkeplinger.com/learn/...
Mar 02, 2020•37 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Are you worried about the changes that Etsy is making to Etsy advertising? This bonus episode will walk you through what is happening, when it is happening, and what the projected impact will be in terms of hard, real-life shop numbers. Want to continue the conversation -- laurenkeplinger.com/facebook
Feb 27, 2020•20 min
In this week’s episode Lauren gives tips to Etsy sellers at all stages of their store on ways that they can grow or scale. She walks through the four stages of seller: New with unopened store, opened store with inconsistent sales, medium sales but not reliable, and booming business in need of scaling or reigning in. Through each of these stages there are strategies to implement in order to make your store more successful while maintaining a healthy work life vs. home life balance. LINKS - Lauren...
Feb 24, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In this week's episode we talk to Charo Roman, owner of ASEISMANOS Etsy store. Charo is based in Spain and, with the help of her husband and daughter, she hand-makes tech accessories, backpacks and handbags. We discuss some Etsy policies and how they impact international Etsy sellers, specifically the encouragement to offer free shipping. We also talk about things that we wish we'd known when we first started out, so give it a listen! LINKS- Facebook Group- http://creativemomboss.com/facebook Ch...
Feb 17, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Creatively Naming Your Etsy Shop- In this week's solo episode, we talk through some tips for how to begin the planning process for naming your Etsy shop. The name of your Etsy shop is your customer's first impression, so take the time to plan and strategize, while also considering that the name of your shop will not make or break your business. We talk through some common mistakes and some of my personal naming pet peeves you should avoid. If you follow our steps and still find yourself struggli...
Feb 10, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 37
The importance of social media to drive sales for online retailers is growing exponentially. In this week's episode we talk to Kristyn Burney about how she utilized Instagram's Live, Story and posting features to create meaningful connections with her followers, effectively turning them from followers to fans. We discuss tips for how to engage with followers and touch on some best practices for using Instagram to further cement your brand. LINKS- Facebook Group - http://www.creativemomboss.com/f...
Feb 03, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Mastering the Art of Product Photography with Becca Ellison - Why product photography and its quality is so important including tips to using Lightroom and natural light to ensure your photos aren't too dark, grainy or low resolution as well as tips for maximizing your lighting for photo clarity, branding your photos in order to maximize sales and create consistency and how you can utilize your photos to to appeal to your buyer's emotional state. LINKS - Becca Ellison's Website- https://rebeccae...
Jan 20, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 35
My 2019 Year in Review - Big changes my business saw in 2019, what worked best for me (and how you can apply those things to your business), what didn't work, and preparing for 2020. LINKS - Facebook group - http://www.creativemomboss.com/facebook SEO Superstar - http://laurenkeplinger.com/seo
Jan 07, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Allison Carter has built a successful business simply by listening to her customers - what they want, what they want added to what she already has, and what direction they need her to go in...even when it is something that she's not sure she wants to do. Listen to all the wisdom she shares about building a business in the margins of time, listening to your customers and pivoting to meet their demands, and building a community that supports your products and cheers you on. Key Links: Allison Cart...
Dec 02, 2019•51 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Feedback is necessary to improve your product and present it with it’s best foot forward. Feedback will also give you the confidence to sell your product and reassurance that you are marketing it to the correct audience. Consistent feedback can occur through customer reviews or friends and family. However, there are certain pieces of your business that your friends and family may not be qualified for feedback (depending on their background). For instance, friends and family may not understand ho...
Nov 25, 2019•24 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Welcome back to this week’s episode of Crickets to Cha-Chings. On today’s episode we’re talking with my college friend, fellow military spouse and sorority sister Alyssa Cowan. Alyssa is the brains behind Stinkmuffin, and she’s done an amazing job of building her business with balance and grace while also raising two very young children (including an infant). In this episode, we’ll talk about: How she got started on Etsy, the pull to have something for herself, and why that post partum period ca...
Nov 18, 2019•52 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Welcome back to another episode of Crickets to Cha-Chings! Today, we are going to dive into you several of the different kinds of customers that you find on the Etsy platform. I wrote a blog post about this a couple years ago and this updated and expanded version of that blog post. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Different types of customers you’ll encounter on Etsy Dealing with bargain-shoppers or bargain-hunters - Why I no longer accept coupon codes and not honor expired gift cards Approach...
Nov 11, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Hey everyone! Welcome to another episode of Crickets to Cha-Chings. I am so excited for this episode because today I have a very special guest, Adriane Woodle Mrsa. She is a reef maker on Etsy and has been in business for right around 2 years with a sale of over 1500 . I think it's super helpful for you all to hear from other people who have had success on Etsy or had success in an online business. So I think you guys are going to love to hear what she has to say and I cannot wait for us to dive...
Nov 04, 2019•55 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Welcome back to another episode of Crickets to Cha-Chings!, where we are super focused on taking your shop from struggling sales to consistent Cha-chings! On today's episode, we are going to be talking about getting ready for the holidays and not be stressed and freaking out about the holidays. I want you to get an early start on it really processing and thinking about what you're going to be doing. Before we dive into that topic today, I am going to read the review of the week from Stephvic13 ....
Oct 28, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Today we're diving into the most important analytics so that you're not overwhelmed by all of the numbers that Etsy provides but instead you can just focus on the ones that are going to get the most impact for your shop and the backend of your Etsy shop. In this episode, we’ll talk about: Why should we care about Etsy Analytics and how these numbers improve your shop? About Etsy Analytics Tracker - download here Actual Traffic to your shop Deciphering what each traffic stat means, and how they e...
Oct 21, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Shipping issues are almost inevitable in an online business, so how do you deal with them when they arise and how do you make sure you are protect from a potential scammer who is just wanting something for free? In this episode, we’ll talk about: Big reason why policies are so important and how you can protect yourself through your policies Why you should NEVER guarantee that your item will arrive by a certain time - you can only guarantee your side of the transaction…you don’t have control over...
Oct 14, 2019•37 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Setting realistic goals is super important as a business owner - but what happens when chasing after those goals takes over your life. In today's episode we're diving into why I set my revenue goals LOWER this year than last, and how you can set goals that work for your family and allow you to have work/life balance. Key Links: Episode 11 (Custom Orders on Etsy) - https://www.creativemomboss.com/episode-011 Facebook group - http://www.creativemomboss.com/facebook
Oct 07, 2019•33 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Hey there and welcome back to another episode of crickets cha-chings! Today, we are going to be diving into whether or not you should run a sale to your Etsy shop. I see this a lot with people who are struggling to get traction or to have consistent sales of their products. And one of the things that they often times say is “I think I'm gonna run a sale to try and drive more traffic in to try and have more sales.” But before we jump right into that, I do want to go ahead and read the spotlight r...
Sep 30, 2019•26 min•Season 1Ep. 24
In today’s podcast, we are going to talk about the top 7 reasons why building an Etsy shop can really and truly be the job of your dreams . It is flexible -It is so flexible depended on what you want from it. It can be part time, can be full time, can be side gig money and can be a supplemental income It can ebb and flow with your season of life - You don’t have to stay in one place. You don't always have to be full time or always have to be part time or even always have to be open. And it's so ...
Sep 23, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Hey there and welcome back to another episode of Crickets to Cha-chings! Today we are going to go over something that I get asked a lot in my Facebook group and through email… really through email and that is whether or not you should open a second shop on Etsy. People ask me this question alot especially when they're first getting started. I wanted to do this as a podcast because it's kind of hard for me to give up a really quick answer when people email me. Also, I wanted to be able to have th...
Sep 16, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 22
In this episode we talked about: Why I don’t love how people and businesses do marketing on social media About Amy Portefield podcast episode - Is this ONE EXCUSE Sneaking into Your Business and Slowing You Down? Taking imperfect action Difference between making excuses or playing small versus setting realistic goals Detrimental attitude that puts most women entrepreneur to an incredible amount of pressure Knowing and understanding your priorities Effects of allowing excuses, insecurities, disco...
Sep 09, 2019•26 min•Season 1Ep. 21
In this episode we talked about: The importance of talking to a local CPA about the accounting and the financials for your specific situation and your business How my local CPA helped me saved me thousands and thousands of dollars as my business has grown The value of separating all of your expenses in your income out of your personal money How do you actually deal with the money that's coming in your business Few problems you’ll encounter if you are not taking any money out of the business Why ...
Sep 02, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Are you making these top Etsy mistakes? Today we'll walk through 3 reasons that your shop isn't as successful as you would like. We'll talk about 1) How sales is a numbers game and what to do if your numbers are low 2) What to do if you have a product that isn't selling well even though you get lots of traffic, and how to hone in on your market if you have a product with a more narrow appeal 3) How your MINDSET is holding you back from achieving the success that you're wanting, or perhaps your g...
Aug 16, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 19
