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Is Etsy Safe from Cyber Criminals?

More importantly, is Etsy doing enough to protect it's users from cyber criminals? From what I'm witnessing in 2022, the answer to that is a resounding no.

Over roughly the past two years organized groups of scammers have prolifically setup shop on Etsy. We've seen an increase of all users on the site, so this isn't surprising. Some of it Etsy is dealing with appropriately, and some of it they are either ignoring or taking a rather lax approach.

While there are quite a few scams, cons and crimes taking place on the Etsy marketplace every day (as there are all across the web), I've been closely following one particular issue for a few months now, one that I know Etsy knows about and yet appears to be blatantly allowing to prosper.

Here's the situation:

An organized group, likely spearheaded by a single organising individual, probably being run out of Asia or North Africa, are setting up new Etsy shops by the hundreds (thousands?) per week. These shops "sell" bundles of digital graphics made up entirely of trademarked and stolen copyright material. All of these shops have notifications all over their listings not to buy the item on Etsy, but to visit an independent website to make the purchase instead. And customers are incentivized to do so with seemingly huge discounts.

I've personally found approx 30-35 such independent websites being advertised on Etsy via these shops.

All of these websites look to match up in registration details and all of them contain false contact info to make them look like bonafide american owned businesses. But if you dig deeper, this falls apart quite quickly.

Aside from the blatant Etsy fee avoidance policy violation there is also an element of data theft and hacking going on with this group, both on and off of Etsy.

Not all the shops used by this group however are 'new' Etsy shops. Some of the shops have been hacked into and are pre-existing but currently inactive Etsy shops opened by well-intentioned sellers. Which raises a whole other set of questions, namely, how?

Etsy recently sent out an email reminding sellers to keep their accounts safe and provided a list of helpful tips on how to do so. But is this actually enough? Is Etsy doing everything possible to keep the site secure? Personally I don't think so. I think they could, and should be, doing a LOT more than they are.

Further to this is that all the customers being funneled off of Etsy to these independent websites are probably having their data harvested during checkout. I say probably, because I don't have hard proof for certain...

But this is a group of individuals who are clearly working in an organized fashion with each other, who have no problem violating Etsy's policies, no qualms about selling content they don't have a legal right to, and are presenting false information about who they are on these websites. I'd say chances are pretty good that they would also steal customer data for other nefarious activities. Even possibly as a way to get into their customer's Etsy accounts. All they need is a matching email and password.

So what is Etsy doing about all these shops violating their fee avoidance policy? And we're talking about thousands of accounts here, it's not some small little issue. Well, they are actually removing a lot of these shops. But for some reason the crooks are able to create more accounts than Etsy is able to remove with a manual reporting and investigation system.

I monitored the situation quite closely for two full months and in a six week period I reported and saw removed just over 1,100 shops. Another 150 shops that I have reported however still remain open today.

Two months on and there are just as many of these shops in existence as there was when I started looking at this, possibly more. No matter how many of these shops Etsy closes down, the same number or more are opened up immediately.

On the surface you might be inclined to think, well, Etsy has an impossible job then. If they can't keep up with it then it's a losing battle. But is it?

I have to wonder why Etsy hasn't deployed a bot to instantly remove these shops. It would be entirely possible to do, they all use roughly the same worded listings. They all have very clear identifiers to immediately separate them from legitimate shops. And why do some of the shops remain open even when they've been reported multiple times?

I have a few theories on both points but it all seemingly comes back to revenue. Sure, maybe Etsy really is just this inept. But, it just so happens that these cyber criminals are paying for advertising on all the shops they open. That's thousands of listings bringing in ad revenue on what appears to be very popular content.

Is that a coincidence or an incentive to look the other way?

If you haven't seen what this looks like, here is a screenshot on the type of listing I'm referring to:

I think we need to start asking some hard questions about how Etsy is working to protect its users both while on the platform and where and how they are directed off the site. But we also need to take a serious look at what Etsy is willing to allow on the site for the sake of a few dollars and to hold them accountable in areas where they are clearly failing.

This type of listing has no business being on the site in the first place, but to allow it and thousands of others like it to remain, to proliferate and prosper, is utterly outrageous.

Shawnna

Etsy just announced an update to the very unpopular Star Seller program that they rolled out last year and yet again it has Etsy sellers divided.

This latest update is being billed as a 'perk'. Earn Star Seller status and you'll have a chat button to contact Etsy support right in your dashboard. (instead of having to search it out in the Help pages where it is often elusive and regularly moved around).

On the surface, this sounds like a good idea, if you're Star Seller. Except many sellers are questioning why access to seller support should ever be restricted or used as a 'perk' in the first place. Don't ALL Etsy sellers deserve easy access to support?

It's certainly not a new concept though. VIP customers, loyalty points earners and big spenders have often enjoyed special access to a service provider or retailer.

Personally, I think we should be looking deeper at Etsy's customer service quality instead of focusing on who gets access to a chat button, when and where.

Ever since Etsy's very first day in business they have had notoriously bad customer service. From initially having no customer service at all, to then having it but being bad at delivering it to being slow to respond and more currently, just unable to cope in any meaningful way with the sheer volume of it.

So is Etsy getting at all better at offering seller support service, or worse?

I think the answer is a bit of both. Having been with the platform for 14+ years, I've been witness to a lot of changes. Some of them are positive and some are disappointing.

One thing Etsy HAS improved upon over the years is their customer service attitude. Believe it or not they are way better at dealing with people than they used to be. It used to be pretty bad. So even if the person on the other end can't help you or actually answer your question, they are at least polite about it.

Another major improvement is that there are now multiple ways to contact or be contacted by Etsy when you need assistance. Etsy used to be an email only company. In recent years they've added live chat and telephone call backs. Ok, those aren't always available, Etsy turns them off when they're swamped or short staffed, but it's still heading towards improvement.

Myself, I've used all three contact features on multiple occasions. In the past, under email only, every response would take exactly three days. So you email your issue, three days later get a reply that doesn't help so you respond with more info, and three days later you get another reply. You get the idea. Almost everything took weeks to resolve.

Today, with over 4 million sellers, you email with an issue and maybe you get a response at some point and maybe you don't. You might get lucky with your timing and your issue might be in a shorter queue.

Different issues are handled by specialists for that particular area of knowledge, so when something breaks and everyone is contacting Etsy about the same thing, it can be a really long line, and a really long wait. Two to four weeks long has been reported by some sellers.

I've also used the chat feature a few times. And while the person on the chat couldn't help me themselves any of those times, they did raise a support request internally and I did hear back from someone via email in a reasonable amount of time (a few days tops). Other sellers are reporting similar experiences but with varying degrees of timescales.

I've also used the phone back feature and booth times felt quite lucky to not have a long wait time. The first time was less than a 30 second wait and the next time was under 10 min. The phone back function seems to be rarely available though and often hidden deep in the Support Help pages.

So where is Etsy failing? They just can't handle the volume. This has always been a problem, and was still a problem in 2019 when Etsy had just 2.5 million sellers. With that number close to doubling in 2 years, it's an even bigger problem for them today.

It means that support is rushed and/or overwhelmed, so while the service reps are polite, (when you actually hear from them) they aren't necessarily doing a good job of things. And Etsy sellers are being left frustrated at every turn.

I had a complicated issue this year that arose due to the current and ongoing banking verification process (not the usual issues) that took 3 separate calls and multiple emails to sort out. But it shouldn't have taken that much effort. I could see very clearly through that process that the individuals handling my issue didn't know the system well enough to know all the steps that were required to actually solve the issues fully, so I had to call or email for each piece of the puzzle separately, even though it was all connected to one single issue. And that issue still isn't entirely fixed 4 months later.

In 2021 Etsy raised transaction fees with one of the promised investments to be "customer support".

The big question that should be asked of Etsy more than a year later is... do they consider sellers as part of their customer base, or are they only improving support on the buyer side?

To date, since the fee increase, I have not witnessed a tangible improvement in seller support. I'd go so far as to say things are actually worse because Etsy has created quite a few messes this year requiring an elevated need for support.

Bank account verification has proved troublesome for a great many sellers which has resulted in the increased need to contact support but Etsy has also rolled out multiple bots this year to automatically take down listings and/or shops that are supposedly in some sort of violation. Except there are so many false positives that end up needing a review by a human.

Add to that the very real violations occurring on the site that Etsy cannot keep up with and it's easy to see how they'd have their hands full. And yet Etsy keeps rolling out new tools and new tests and new updates all the while not being able to keep up with the fallout from past roll-outs.

Adding a chat button to the dashboard for Star Sellers is nice, but it's not an improvement to the actual support sellers are receiving. And from what I've experienced this year, improvements notwithstanding, it's some of the worst seller support Etsy has delivered in it's recent history.

Digital paper patterns are hugely popular on Etsy and the selection available is massive... 2.4 million in scope massive. And that's just Etsy, every other digital resource marketplace will have a large collection of offerings as well.

So what if you want to get started today selling digital papers? Can you still be successful, is there room for more, and how hard will it be to stand out in such a crowed category?

Let's take a look...

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

When joining an already crowded market, and this applies to any product or service, in order to be seen and chosen your best option is to stand out in some way from all your competitors. There is a variety of ways to do this with papers, from chosen topics to style and aesthetic to pricing or format.

You need to ask the question "what else can I offer"?

KNOW WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS WANT/NEED

If you are starting to design digital papers and have no experience using them or have knowledge on what customers are looking for and needing; you are going to be at a critical disadvantage.

You need to understand your product niche and your target customer base well enough to anticipate what they will benefit from, what they are looking for and the value they place on different features.

Don't just copy what other sellers are offering, do the research to understand the product inside out so that you can provide something better or unique that customers will actually want.

RESEARCH BEFORE YOU DESIGN

Before you even begin designing your paper patterns to sell on Etsy you'd be wise to do some thorough research. Not only will this aid you in achieving the above two points but you'll also be able to uncover less competitive niches within the category.

This is also a good time to be thinking about possible keywords. Most sellers tend to keyword their products after they've made it and are uploading it to sell. But by thinking about keywords from the outset you can create products to fit gaps in the market and to specifically take advantage of lower competition keywords.

WHERE IS THE SATURATION?

Yes, there are a lot of digital paper listings in total on Etsy. But does that mean everything is super saturated already, or is there room for more?

While some of the really popular categories have a huge number of choices, floral papers for example, there are still many specialist themes that have significantly less variety and would be much much easier to rank well for. Even within the floral theme.

You might ask, but can you sell enough from lesser searched for themes to do well in sales? Probably not. But the objective should be to balance your product offerings for a range of really popular or classic designs alongside more unique themes in order to bring in a broader base of buyers and to have less competition for at least some of your inventory.

I've compiled a list of themes, starting with some basic searches and really popular categories to give you a feel for just how many listings show up in these very busy niches. And then I worked through the numbers for ideas that have a lot less going on at the moment.

Just a quick note: Where you see just a number, this is the total number of listings Etsy delivered for that exact search term. Where it says "under x" I have approximated how many listings actually match the search term exactly because Etsy is now including a lot of related/unrelated listings into the mix that ultimately pollutes the true result. I've tried to exclude those listings that aren't directly on point for the intended search.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

Digital paper = 2,400,642
Digital seamless paper = 95,519
Digital scrapbook paper = 1,180,291

polka dot digital paper = 17,625
Christmas digital paper = 206,846
unicorn digital paper = 18,486
Floral digital paper = 174,640
Boho digital paper = 85,227
Halloween digital paper = 118,488
Vintage digital paper = 28,372
Valentine digital paper = 83,396

Guinea pigs digital paper = under 200
Platypus digital paper = under 100
Stingray digital paper = under 100
Robin digital paper = under 1,000
Dragonfly digital paper = under 3,000
Insect digital paper = under 5,000
Jellyfish digital paper = under 600
Chameleon digital paper = under 500

Tulip digital paper = under 3,000
Pansy digital paper = under 1,200
Bluebell digital paper = under 200
Oak leaf digital paper = under 500
Petunia digital paper = under 50
Bird of paradise digital paper = under 400
Bromeliad digital paper = 0

Mango digital paper = under 300
Dragonfruit digital paper = under 50
Sushi digital paper = under 700
Vegetable digital paper = under 3,000
Jelly bean digital paper = under 250
Pickles digital paper = under 300
Peanut butter digital paper = under 200

Skateboard digital paper = under 1,000
bmx digital paper = under 10
Karaoke digital paper = under 50
Hip hop digital papers - under 100
Saturn digital paper - under 500
Computer geek digital paper - under 200

Chinoiserie digital paper = under 1,600
Agate digital paper = under 2,400
Honey comb digital papers = under 900
Terrazzo digital paper = under 1,200
Shibori digital paper = under 900
Paisley digital paper = under 2,200
Ikat digital paper = under 200
Granite digital paper - under 700
Jade digital paper - under 400

Vampire digital paper = under 3,000
Zombie digital paper = under 2,000
Dracula digital paper = under 1,000
Werewolf digital paper = under 200
Frankenstein digital paper = under 1,000
Poison digital paper = under 1,000

I hope you found this list useful. Perhaps it inspired you to explore hidden or under-developed themes. Let me know in the comments how you've fared in this category.

Are you overwhelmed with too much work, not enough time and too little energy to get anything done?

That’s the feeling we all get from time to time, no matter how organized or productive we are. When this happens to you, it is usually because you are overstressed, overworked and understimulated.

This post will help you figure out what is keeping you stuck and give you five tips for getting yourself out of the rut so that your productivity isn’t just back on track.

Read on for more :)

Why do we feel overwhelmed?

Being overwhelmed is a feeling of having too much work and too little time to get it all done. It happens when you are trying to do too much, when you don’t prioritize effectively and maybe don’t have the energy to do what you want to do.

This kind of situation can be caused by a number of different things, including:

1. looking only at the bigger picture instead of focusing on smaller goals
2. trying to do too many things at once
3. under-estimating the time you need to spend on certain tasks
4. being constantly distracted by other activities or projects
5. not knowing where to start
6. not giving yourself room to breathe

Use the following 5 tips to help you overcome the overwhelm and get yourself unstuck.

1. Don’t try to do too much at once

The most common reason for feeling overwhelmed is that you are probably trying to do too much at once. What do we mean by “too much”? If you have more than one or two major projects on the go at the same time, you are probably overdoing it.

If you are managing a project at work, an extra-curricular activity with your kids and cleaning up your house, you probably have too many things on your plate at once.

If you have even one or two major projects or goals that you are trying to achieve or you are responsible for other people’s work, you probably have a few tasks on your plate that you don’t have enough time to do properly.

That’s why it’s important to prioritize what you are doing and to set realistic goals. Make a list of the tasks you have to do, and then prioritize the ones that are most important.

2. Take a short break

If you feel overwhelmed, it might help to take a short break from your work.

A break doesn’t have to be a month-long vacation. It can be as simple as taking a few minutes to do something for yourself. This can be anything from a quick breathing exercise to a walk outside, from a few minutes reading a novel to watching an episode of your favourite TV show.

Try to find something that will not only distract you for a few minutes, but that will also give you a bit of a break from whatever is stressing you out. Even a few minutes spent doing something nice for yourself can be helpful in regaining a sense of balance.

3. Make a Small Change

Sometimes, when you are feeling overwhelmed, the best thing you can do is to make a small change in your daily routine. This can be something as simple as changing the order in which you do things or swapping out an item on your daily to-do list.

If you are feeling too busy and overworked, you probably need to schedule downtime. This can be as simple as setting a “date night” with your significant other or taking a little bit of time each day to read a book.

The idea here is to give your brain something new to focus on. To shake out any cobwebs and to get off of autopilot. A fun distraction can also lift your mood or lead to new inspiration.

Making small changes can make a big difference when you are feeling overwhelmed. If you are trying to do too much and feeling like you don’t have enough time, a small change in your daily routine could be all you need to eventually get back on track.

4. Make a plan

If you are overwhelmed with work, you might need to make a plan. This doesn’t mean you need to write a novel. It can be as simple as writing down a list of the things that need to be done.

If you are busy with more than one project, try to prioritize them. If you are responsible for other people’s work, try to get organized so you know what tasks you need to check off every day. This doesn’t work for everybody, but it can help if you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t know what you need to do.

You might feel like you have too much work and not enough time to do it, but you aren’t sure what needs to be prioritized and what doesn’t. If you don’t know where to start, making a plan can help you get organized and get your productivity back on track.

This helps to narrow your focus from the bigger picture and hone in on smaller tasks that are less overwhelming overall.

5. Be Kind to Yourself

Finally, if you are feeling overwhelmed, you need to be kind to yourself. There is no use in beating yourself up for being too busy or for having too much on your plate.

When you are feeling overwhelmed, you need to stop and give yourself a break. Spend some time doing nice things for yourself, like drinking a hot cup of tea, reading a book or watching your favourite TV show.

Most importantly, don’t feel pressured to get everything done. If you can’t finish a project or get all of your tasks done in a day, that’s normal. Being too busy and having too much on your plate are sometimes unavoidable parts of life.

However, you can learn to cope with them and even use them to motivate you to be more productive and organized. Sometimes we think something is important, and has to get done, when really it can wait. Prioritize urgent tasks first and give yourself a break on things that won't stop the earth from spinning.

Conclusion:

If you are feeling overwhelmed to the point of being paralysed by it, the best thing you can do is get yourself back on track by following these five tips for getting yourself into a healthy positive mindset.

The answer to this is both yes and no. For simplicity sake, if you are only just now jumping into making planners and your designs are very general generic planner printables then yeah, you'll likely to struggle for sales. But let's take a closer look at what you can do to be successful in this seemingly saturated niche.

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

When joining an already crowded market, and this applies to any product or service, in order to be seen and chosen your best option is to stand out in some way from all your competitors. There is a variety of ways to do this with planners, from style and aesthetic to pricing, selection and detail or some other format that isn't being offered.

You need to ask the question "what can I do differently"?

KNOW WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS WANT/NEED

If you are starting to design digital planners and have no experience using them or have knowledge on what customers are looking for and needing; you are going to be at a critical disadvantage.

Don't just copy what other sellers are offering, do the research to understand the product inside out so that you can provide something better or unique that customers will actually want.

RESEARCH BEFORE YOU DESIGN

Before you even begin designing your planner printables to sell on Etsy you'd be wise to do some thorough research. Not only will this aid you in achieving the above two points but you'll also be able to uncover less competitive niches within the category.

IS THE SATURATION REAL?

I'm hearing a lot of people talk about saturation with planner printables and that only established shops can do well anymore. Newcomers to the category are often experiencing difficulty making sales but not all stories are of failure to succeed. There are still new sellers starting their journey into this category today who are finding a way to make it work.

Ultimately, a category is only saturated if there aren't enough buyers to support the number of products being sold. Because so many planner printable shops are actually doing very well, the buyers are definitely there.

So let's take a closer look at different niches within the planner printable category and see what the product numbers actually look like. I've created a list of as many planner types as I could think of, it's not comprehensive I'm sure, but it will give you some ideas on how to niche down and perhaps where best to focus your efforts.

I also wanted to show just how far down you can niche and that there are still plenty of ideas that haven't been fully explored. Often, people don't know they need a product until that product exists, so thinking creatively about how and why people need these types of printables may lead to new ideas.

THE PLANNER LIST

planner printables = 476,049
planner templates = 271,030

wedding planner printable = 13,461
wedding planner template = 15,708
digital wedding planner bundle = 1,927
destination wedding planner printables = 1,063
bridal shower planner printables = 2,195
honeymoon planner printables = 499

vacation planner printables = 6,584
cruise ship planner printables = 491
camping planner printables = 2,094
disneyland planner printables = 1,249
travel planner printables = 9,801
road trip planner printables = 1,887

party planner printables = 404,335
event planner printables = 4,998
birthday party planner printables = 15,285
reunion planner printables = 1,177
retreat planner printables = 147

parenting planner printables = 2,131
family planner printables = 17,685
mom planner printables = 12,454
chores planner printables = 13,445
meal planner printables = 29,060
grocery shopping planner printables = 6817
pantry planner printables = 1,187
cleaning planner printables = 10,090

school planner printables = 60,589
homework planner printables = 3,349
student planner printables = 25,400
college planner printables = 17,669
kids planner printables = 84,918

bucket list planner printables = 3,281
mindfulness planner printables = 4,637
meditation planner printables = 1,481
pcs military palnner printables = 232

fitness planner printables = 15,788
exercise planner printables =5,210
diet planner printables = 5,676
habit tracker printables = 26,475
yoga planner printables = 1,482
wellness planner printables = 11,936
health planner printables = 19,671
self care planner printables = 16,369

finance planner printables = 16,594
budget planner printables = 46,042
savings planner printables = 21,822
investment planner printables = 435
spending tracker printables = 6,662

job search planner printables = 238
career planner printables = 1,058
retirement planner printables = 1,446
moving planner printables = 2,542

business planner printables = 19,417
sales planner printables = 2,396
blog planner printables = 2,633
side hustle planner printables = 799
wardrobe planner printables = 434

social media planner printables = 5,427
facebook planner printables = 1,450
instagram planner printables = 2,312
twitter planner printables = 347
youtube planner printables = 1,588
pinterest planner printables = 1,699

garden planner printables = 3.290
plant care planner printables = 779
renovation planner printables = 442
project planner printables = 9,144
house maintenance planner = 590
car maintenance planner = 659

emergency planner printables = 4,109
end of life planner printables - 842
care giver planner printables = 475
pet care planner printables = 1,958

christmas planner printables = 18,890
halloween planner printables = 11,856
holiday planner printables = 11,789

reading planner printables = 7,811
writing planner printables = 7,020
craft planner printables = 69,450
sewing planner printables = 2,257

bible planner printables = 7,299
christian planner printables = 5,521
spiritual planner printables = 2,790
manifestation planner printables = 9,586
law of attraction planner printables = 1,951
goal setting planner printables = 7,639

disclaimer: numbers are 'as of publication'. these numbers also include ads and 'related' products that etsy now includes into searches where keywords don't match exactly, as well as products where sellers have used the keyword for a similar product that maybe isn't quite on target for the search.

CONCLUSION

So what to make of these numbers? These serve as a guideline for what categories are the most popular and the most populated. If you want to sell in one of these bigger categories you're going to have work hard to stand out from the competition and build fabulous products.

On the other side, there are many categories that haven't got as much competition. Making products for these keywords can help get a little bit of traffic into your shop. They may not be the biggest sellers but they may be easier to compete with for those few customers who need something highly specialized.

Having a broad base of keywords in your shop is instrumental in being able to put your products in front of buyers. While you may not immediately get to page 1 of a search for wedding planners it might be easier to hit the top of the list with something like a renovation planner.

I hope you found this useful. Let me know in the comments if you want to add anything to the list or if you've recently started a printables shop let me know how it's going!

These lovely vintage graphics have been made into 1.75" circle rounds perfect for a wide variety of craft projects from stickers to scrapbooking elements. Print them on aged looking craft paper for added effect!

This is an 8.5x11" PDF sheet saved for print resolution.

Use these freely in any personal or commercial project, all graphics are public domain.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Happy Crafting
Shawnna

PIN ME

You know that feeling when you just don’t want to work? It’s almost like your soul is disconnected from your body and you feel like someone else is controlling your life instead of you. It’s a weird phenomenon that we all go through. Even the most successful people in the world have had their moments where they just can’t seem to bring themselves to do anything productive.

If you are reading this article then chances are, you’re going through one of those moments right now.

In this article, we explore ways to stay motivated when you don't want to work. Read on to find out more.

Take a break

When you are feeling unmotivated to work, you might think that you have to push through it. You might feel as though if you stop, you’ll never get started again. But, taking a break from work can actually help you get back into the swing of things.

It can allow you time to rest and de-stress from whatever you have been working on and it can allow you time to reflect on the things you have been doing and help you to see what is working for you and what isn’t.

When you are feeling unmotivated, you may not be able to recognize that you need to take a break. You may be too caught up in that negative cycle of not feeling like you are making any progress. Taking a break can help you to re-evaluate your situation.

Recognize that your feelings of being unmotivated are nothing more than a fleeting condition that can be overcome with a bit of rest and relaxation.

Exercise

Exercising is one of the fastest and most effective ways to get out of a rut. It will get your blood flowing, get your mind working, and help you to break out of whatever negative cycle of thinking you might be trapped in. It has been proven to be a great way to re-charge your creativity and often allows your mind to wander to new ideas.

Depending on what type of exercise you do, it may also give you a chance to reflect on what is going on in your life and help you to come up with solutions to the problems that you are facing.

Now, to be clear, we are NOT saying to go out and run a marathon or lift weights for hours on end.

What we are saying is that even something as simple as taking a walk can be enough to help you get out of that negative cycle and clear your mind.

Set small goals

When you are feeling unmotivated, it can be easy to spiral out of control. You may find yourself thinking about all of the things you have left to do and how you’re never going to finish them. You might also find yourself thinking about all of the times you have let yourself down, and how you are never going to be successful if you keep going at the rate you are going.

When you feel like this, you need to stop and focus on just one small thing. Set one small goal, and focus on accomplishing it. What matters is that you focus all of your energy on it and don’t put it off until later.

Once you have accomplished that small goal, set another and then another. Keep setting goals and keeping yourself busy and you’ll find that you are able to break out of that negative cycle a lot faster than you might expect.

Don’t judge yourself for not feeling motivated

If you have ever gone through this before, then you might have started to judge yourself for feeling unmotivated. You might feel as though there is something wrong with you for not being able to just get over it and move on with your life.

It's important to remember that everyone goes through this at one point or another in their lives. Everyone has periods of time where they don’t feel like working.

What makes someone successful is not that they don’t go through these periods, but that they are able to move past them and continue on with their lives no matter how they feel in a singular period of time.

Do something you enjoy

When you are feeling unmotivated, you need something to get your mind off of the things that are bothering you or keeping you from tasks at hand. You need something to distract your mind in a different direction, perhaps something that you can enjoy in that moment. It may be that your mind just needs a break.

Do something that will make you happy. Or find a task that is less taxing on you.

Reading can be a great way to relax and get your mind off of things. Playing video games can help you to relax and not worry about anything else. Going out with friends and doing something you enjoy can help you to break out of the negative cycle of being unmotivated and help you to get back on track with your life and work.

Conclusion

Everybody goes through times when they don’t want to work. These periods are difficult for everyone, and you shouldn’t beat yourself up for them.

When you are feeling unmotivated, the most important thing you can do is take the time to re-evaluate your situation. Look at what you have been doing and decide what you need to do in order to get yourself out of this negative cycle.

Find something that you enjoy and do that. Find something that can help you relax and get your mind in a better place and you’ll find that you are able to get out of this a lot faster than you might expect.

Now, keep in mind that this may not be a quick fix. It may take some time to get yourself out of the rut, but once you do, you’ll be able to come back stronger than ever before.

Sometimes you'll need to grab a screenshot from your computer screen, whether it's because of a tech issue you need help with or something you just need to share and if you've done that before it can feel a little frustrating to figure it out in the moment.

Luckily your PC comes with built in tools to assist and make this a super easy and super quick task.

There are two options depending on how much of your screen you want to share:

1. The entire screen

To create and save the screenshot, just tap the Windows key + Print Screen key at the same time. The screenshot will be saved instantly to your Pictures > Screenshots folder.

And it's just as easy as that. Should you really not want to share the entire picture you just snapped, you can quickly crop out the parts you want to hide, or you can use the second method below.

Here's a keyboard pic showing where the Windows and Print Screen keys are:

2. A specific portion of your screen

To create and save just a portion of your computer screen you'll click on just the Print Screen button (as shown above). A plus sign with dotted lines will appear which you can move around with your mouse to position how you need. Just click and drag to create a box around the part of your screen you want to capture.

Once you release the mouse to create the box a dialog box will pop up with various ways to save the screen grab. You ca use whichever most suits your needs, but the first option 'Save as (displaying dialog)' is most likely the best choice. This option will bring up a save dialog box similar to that of other programs where you just name your file, choose a location to save to and click 'ok'.

And that's it, you now have an image of your screen that you can share however you want, right from your desktop in just a couple clicks.

Happy computing
Shawnna

I am not a font hoarder. I do have more fonts than I can use, but I'm not a true collector by any means. Some of my designer colleagues have fonts by the thousands. I've whittled mine down to a few hundred (i think, honestly it's so hard to keep track).

And that's the point. Once you get beyond a certain number of fonts it becomes difficult and overwhelming to manage. I not currently doing much design work requiring loads of fonts so I'm keeping my list to the absolute best / favorites. The go-to fonts that I love the most.

I recently picked up an incredible bundle deal that has quickly become just that. My go-to font collection when I need something with a little personality. See that feature font in the image above, that one is called Shiplap. On my tech support post images I'm using Farmer's Market.

They are part of a 100 font bundle I picked up in a sale event last year and it is one of the best groups of fonts I have. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of other individual fonts I love and use often, but as a collection this one is - well, just fun.

One of the best features of the bundle that I have appreciated the most (besides fantastic font designs) is a small under-utilized organizational feature - the font file name. Not the name OF the font, but the how the font FILE has been named. Hats off to the designer for this because I LOVE it.

Every font file begins with the letters DTC then the font name. Which means when I go to use a font in the collection they are all lined up in order as a collection in my font manager. Such a small detail but it is so very helpful when trying to manage too many fonts!

Ok, so the fonts are really the important bit. See for yourself if this collection tickles your fancy. :)

Happy creating
Shawnna

please note :: I often recommend resources I love, some I receive an affiliate commission for at no additional cost to you, but all are resources that I personally use. I am not otherwise paid to promote.

At first glance, it would seem that there’s no end to the creativity you can bring to an Etsy shop. With so many categories to choose from and so many products within those categories, there must be endless ways to showcase your artisanal interests.

But as much as we love all things handcrafted, not every business idea actually fits well within the world of Etsy. You need to think about the type of work you’re willing to spend time doing on a regular basis, the resources you have available for creating those products, and whether or not people are really going to connect with what you have to sell. Not to mention, whether or not it's profitable.

To help you get started in creating your own Etsy shop, here are some top tips for picking the best products to sell in your own eCommerce store.

Research the market

Even before you decide which products to sell, you need to get an idea for the market you’re operating within. You don’t want to be just another seller in a niche that’s already saturated, but on the other hand, you don’t want to choose a product that no one’s buying.

You can start off your research with some simple Google searches to learn more about the product industry you are interested in. Look at what's popular, how diverse the product range currently is, the popularity of certain products and how broad the customer base is. You want to get a feel for what is going on with the chosen industry and drill down into specific niches.

For example, if you are interested in making pottery, the industry is pretty massive with a high volume of sales, so there is good opportunity to build a strong customer base. Now get specific, what kind of pottery, for whom, what style? Looking at a particular niche, is there anything missing? Can you do something new or different? You want to identify something that is popular but then add your own spin to it.

You want to do this is in the wider market and not just on Etsy. But it's important to do the exact same research on Etsy as well. You want to look for a product type that you have a keen interest in, will enjoy making long term, has good potential to sell well and then you need to create your own special versions.

You might also look at Etsy’s top sellers in different niche's to research what’s selling, and try to figure out why. Looking at the top sellers should give you an idea of what is required to setup a store for success. Study and understand what their doing right and why they are selling so well. Can you come up with your own unique product offering and sell as successfully?

And finally, think about the products you already own and have in your home. What’s missing from the market? What do people not realize they need? Is there some value you can add to an existing product to make it better, or a new product that doesn't exist yet? These insights can help you recognize gaps in the market and pick a product that’s well-positioned to succeed.

Find your niche

If you’re new to running your own business, the concept of niche marketing might not be second nature to you. But it’s something every entrepreneur needs to take into account. In fact, not only does it help you decide which products to sell on your Etsy shop, it helps you decide how to run your business as a whole.

When you pick a niche, you’re focusing your marketing efforts on a specific group of people. You might decide to cater to families, people who work from home, stay-at-home parents, or any number of other groups.

You can find your niche by first looking at what you want from a business. You can ask yourself questions like: Who do I want to work with? What kind of lifestyle do I want to have? What are my goals? Who will my product be most useful to?

If this feels like a waste of time, remember that in order to actually sell your products you need to know who you are actually selling to. Otherwise you'll have the same results as standing on a street corner hustling to random passersby.

Ask yourself some important questions

Once you’ve got an idea of the type of business you want to run, it’s time to dig a little deeper into the products you can sell. When picking products to sell on your Etsy shop, you have to keep a few things in mind:

How popular is the product? What’s the price range? How unique is the product? Are there patents or trademarks on the product? Is the product easy to source? Can you customize it? How big is the market for the products you want to sell? Are there enough people who want to buy what you have to offer? Are there already tons of people selling this product? Is the product something you can stand behind? Will customers understand the benefits you’re aiming to provide them?

That's a lot of questions! But it's important to have those answers otherwise your products and marketing are likely to fall flat and miss their target entirely. If you want to be successful with your Etsy shop venture you can't just randomly throw products out there and hope for the best, it takes a strategic and targeted approach to get the best results.

Decide on a product and its viability

Once you’ve narrowed down your product options, you then need to decide which one you should sell in your Etsy shop. You can’t sell everything, so you need to evaluate each product and decide if it suits the business you want to build.

You'll need to look at the market and decide if there’s room for your product in it. You don't want your hard work to drown in a sea of sameness and being a copycat rarely brings true success. You should be looking to see if your product fulfills a need or gap that isn’t being met.

You also need to take into account your own motivation to sell the product. Why do you want to sell this product? Does the product align with your values? Does the product have a strong aesthetic appeal? Does the product solve a problem for customers? Does the product have a clear and easy-to-understand branding? Is the product something you know enough about to communicate with customers?

Taking these considerations into account will help you choose the best product for YOU to sell in your Etsy shop. And it makes the job of selling it so much easier!

Take into account your skills and resources

Once you’ve decided on a product, look at your own personal resources and skills. How much time do you have each week, will you be able to fulfill orders, and how many can you feasibly handle at once?

Think about your source of income and how much you have to invest in your business. Is this doable?

And then, how much income do you need from your business to break even?

You also need to consider your personal strengths and weaknesses. Are you good at communicating with customers? Are you a good problem-solver? Do you pick up new skills quickly? Are there other skills you’re lacking? You can’t be great at everything, but you can definitely be good at something.

Now is the time to identify any areas you are weak on or lacking in knowledge so you can spend some time improving or learning in order to make up for anything lacking.

Summing up

An Etsy shop can be a great way to earn some extra cash from a hobby you love. But before you dive into creating your storefront, you need to think about the type of product you want to sell and how viable the product is. The most important step that most Etsy sellers fail to do up front is the MATH.

The numbers are so important. If your dream is to quit your day job, the product you sell has to be able to scale up to the point where you can earn an income. Some products or methods or selling simply won't offer that and are destined to always be pocket change income.

When you’ve got your product line in mind, it’s time to pick a name and create a storefront that’s as engaging as possible. You have to convince customers to spend their hard-earned money on your products. You have to prove that what you are selling is worth investing in.

Happy creating
Shawnna

Today, there are so many different graphic design software programs to choose from, with options to suit every budget or experience level. So choosing one, when you have no experience with them can be an overwhelming task.

You have to spend the time learning how the thing actually works. Make the wrong choice and you've wasted precious time and have to start all over again from the beginning.

The following list, while not comprehensive, gives you at least some guidance into the most popular options currently on the market.

I would love to be able to categorize these accurately based on difficulty or ease of use but 'easy' is relative. If you are a brand new user with no experience at all, likely you're going to find even the easiest program a little bit challenging. It all depends on where you are starting from.

PHOTOPEA
I recommend this one as a compatible option for Photoshop files. It looks and feels a lot like Photoshop when you are using it though it doesn't have ALL the features that Photoshop has (obviously) but it's great for creating basic design layouts with lots of editing tool options. If you have any experience with Photoshop or PS Elements you'll feel at home with it. There are thousands of online tutorials for Photoshop and simpler actions will easily transfer over to Photopea.

PIXLR
This is also a lot like Photoshop in how it looks and feels. Recently revamped there are now two options; PixlrX and PixlrE. PixlrX is super basic and only has very limited editing options. Great for projects where you are just adding a text overlay, cropping or making minor photo adjustments. PixlrE is the advanced option that mimics Photoshop and has a robust selection of design and drawing tools.

While it will open photoshop files, it doesn't seem to be able to handle larger sized files very well and doesn't keep layers organized in folders, so complex files end up very messy. Photopea works better here.

CANVA
This design program is a closed system editor. What that means is, you can't create and save native files the same way as regular software programs. Files 'in progress' can only be saved inside Canva and you can only download finished projects in flattened form such as PDF, PNG or JPG. Designers offering Canva templates therefore will always label their products specifically as Canva templates. If a designer (like me) does not mention Canva in the product details... a Canva specific template is not included.

You'll only be able to use my PNG format files here, which is fine for simpler projects. Canva is very user friendly and reasonably quick to learn. Just note that the free version of Canva has very limited tool options.

SUMO PAINT
It has a nice selection of tools for beginners and a friendly navigation. This is not one that I have personally tested, but it comes highly rated for what it is and is the most likely candidate for me to recommend as a beginners graphic design tool with an easy learning curve.

It is only compatible with image files such as jpg and png and has a more limited selection of tools than some of the more advanced software options but otherwise a perfect option for the occasional simple project.

GIMP
This is definitely not one of my favorites, but it's been a few years since I last tried it and I'm adding it to the list because it is a popular free software with advanced editing capabilities. It is very similar to how Photoshop works and has all the tools you could need for either drawing or graphic design. I didn't find it particularly intuitive but luckily there are loads of helpful tutorials available as Gimp has been around for quite some time now.

While it will open Photoshop files it doesn't support all features so some files may not function properly.

INKSCAPE
This downloadable software is a vector graphics editor and a comparable substitute for Illustrator. It opens any vector based files with full functionality intact. It has a steep learning curve but plenty of tutorials can be found online to get you started. While you can use it for any type of graphic design projects I don't recommend it for beginners unless you're prepared to spend some time upfront learning how to use it.

MS WORD
I list this here only because so many people insist on using it, largely because they have it and are comfortable using it. You can do simple design projects, but keep in mind this is a text editor, not a graphics editor, so there are big limitations. My PNG window files work perfect here though, just insert as image into any blank document.

MS POWERPOINT
Personally I would choose this over Word any day. Page setup is a little trickier (set page size first) but the tools are far more design friendly so you get just a bit more flexibility. I recommend using the same PNG window files here as well.

MS PUBLISHER
You have to buy this separate, it's not included in the MS 360 office pkg, but if you design regularly and want a simple + easy to use program, this one is aces. Admittedly, I haven't used it myself for a long time, but when I did I loved it because it was intuitive and had the same sort of feel as all the other MS programs. You can go from no experience to design whiz very quickly.

PAINTSHOPPRO
From the software brand Corel. For PC users only, one time purchase and very affordable. Corel used to be very popular but has been overshadowed recently by the plethora of newcomers on the market. This is still a very good quality software program however with loads of features.

PICMONKEY
This is an online editor that requires a monthly subscription. I haven't had a chance to try this yet but it is popular among my clipart customer base. For the money, there are more comprehensive choices, but I suspect the attraction will be ease of use and the ability to use anywhere anytime.

PS ELEMENTS
Adored by the scrapbooking community this program has fallen in popularity only because so many other options abound but it has nice affordable one time only price tag and is moderately easy to use. You'll find many tutorials and it's compatible with it's big sister Photoshop.

PHOTOSHOP
Offered via a monthly subscription (get the cheaper photographers pkg) this program takes some time to learn but online tutorials abound as it has been around a very long time. I use this almost exclusively in my own work. Recommended for those who require a robust program that does it all and will get regular use from it.

AFFINITY DESIGNER
One time payment and very affordable. I only recommend going this route if you plan to be a serious designer and need top rated software. There is a steep learning curve for any vector based programs.

As you can see, this list is by no means comprehensive. I've included only programs that are suitable specifically for graphic design, rather than those specifically and only for drawing or photo editing. There are probably hundreds more programs and apps that offer very niche actions that may be a perfect fit for your own needs. Apps for mobile are constantly being created. Online tools come and go. And existing programs are updated or expanded.

If you are still unsure which route is best for you, ask your peers online in any forum groups you're part of for their recommendations or experience. Everyone will have a different perspective or opinion and you may glean something more through those conversations.

Happy designing
Shawnna

Procrastination has been found to be the single greatest inhibitor of performance and success for both individuals and organizations. In fact, procrastination is considered the primary roadblock when it comes to peak performance, effective time management, and the achievement of personal or professional goals.

But what exactly is procrastination? Simply put, it’s the habit of leaving things undone until the last minute or putting it off indefinitely.

Did you know that this unhelpful habit impacts 70% of people on a regular basis? The good news is we all have the power to beat procrastination and get stuff done.

But before we jump, let’s look at why exactly we procrastinate in the first place…

Why do we procrastinate?

The why of procrastination can vary wildly from one person to the next. However, there are some consistent reasons we put things off, including:

1. Conflicting intentions

If you’re unsure of what you want to achieve and how you want to get there, you’re likely to be a procrastinator.

2. Fear of failure or fear of success

The fear of failure can stop us in our tracks and it's often something we're not even consciously aware of.

3. Lack of focus

If you’re juggling too many tasks and don’t know where to start, you may procrastinate as a way to buy yourself more time.

4. Lack of motivation

When we don’t feel inspired or see the value in what we’re doing, we tend to procrastinate.

Know the reasons why you procrastinate

Not only does knowing the reasons why you procrastinate help you understand yourself and your tendencies better, but it also provides you with insight into what you need to do to stop. So, if you tend to procrastinate due to conflicting intentions, it may be time to take a look at your values and clarify what you truly want out of life.

If fear of failure is holding you back, you need to find ways to get past that and start taking small steps towards your goals.

If you’re lacking focus, you may need to work on prioritizing your tasks and setting realistic expectations for yourself. And if you’re feeling uninspired, try setting yourself smaller, more attainable goals that help you feel more motivated and engaged in your day-to-day activities.

Whichever category you fall into if you want to beat procrastination, then you first need to identify what’s driving your need to put things off. Once you do that, you can then go about establishing strategies and tactics that help you get things done on time, in a timely manner, and without that nagging voice in your head telling you to “just put it off for another day.”

With that in mind, here are…

10 Steps to Help You Beat Procrastination and Get Stuff Done

1. Set clear goals:

We know that procrastination can be caused by conflicting intentions, but what can you do about it?

One of the best ways to combat procrastination caused by conflicting intentions is to set clear goals. When you know what you want out of life, how you want to get there, and what your values are, you’re less likely to feel lost or overwhelmed. You’ll have a clear path to follow and a sense of direction that will help keep you focused and engaged in your daily activities.

So, when you feel the urge to procrastinate coming on, take a few moments to sit down and clarify what you want out of life or the situation at hand. What are your core values? What do you want to achieve? What are the benefits of completing the task you're putting off?

2. Reframe your perspective on how you view the task:

If you’re putting something off because you’re afraid of failing try re-framing your perspective on that task. Remind yourself that failure is a necessary part of success and that failing is the best way to learn and grow. In other words, if you’re not failing, then you’re not really pushing yourself to succeed.

Mindset plays a key role here in how you frame things in your mind. Check out my post on positive mindset skills to steer your thoughts in a more productive way.

3. Make a plan and build habits:

Another way to combat procrastination caused by conflicting intentions is to make a plan and build habits.

One of the best ways to keep yourself on track and focused on what’s important is to make a plan. And when we make a plan, we’re really making a promise to ourselves to do something. So, when you make a plan and promise yourself that you will complete a particular task by a certain time, you’re less likely to procrastinate and more likely to follow through.

Procrastination can also be caused by a lack of motivation, especially when we feel uninspired by the tasks ahead of us. If you find yourself struggling to stay motivated, try setting smaller, more attainable goals that allow you to take action and see immediate results. Small daily wins can help build momentum and keep you motivated so that you’re less likely to procrastinate on the things that matter.

4. Set a deadline for the task:

If you’re putting something off because you don’t know where to start, set a deadline for when you want to start that task. Tell yourself that you need X amount of time to get started on the task. Once you set a deadline, you’ll feel a sudden sense of urgency to get it done. You need to be realistic with this, set yourself up for success by working honestly with your schedule. And see point 3 above.

5. Use accountability tools:

Another way to fight procrastination and stay motivated is to use accountability tools. These can range from simple daily or weekly check-ins with yourself, to connecting with an online accountability partner.

Whatever tool you choose, it’s important to find one that fits your needs and keeps you motivated. So be sure to choose a tool that is right for you and your needs. There are many types of online tools out there that can help you stay accountable. Find one that works for you and make sure to use it!

6. Delegate the task if you can:

If you’re putting something off because you’re overwhelmed by the task, ask yourself if you can delegate it to someone else. You might be surprised to find that someone else would be more than happy to take it off your plate! Or they maybe are just happy to help you out, either way, learning to ask for help can be a motivator to getting things done if you're not in it alone.

7. Break the task down into smaller pieces:

If you’re putting something off because you’re not giving yourself enough time to get it done, break the task down into smaller pieces. This will help you feel less overwhelmed and better equipped to get the job done.

8. Focus on your “why”:

If you’re putting something off because you’re not sure where to start, focus on your “why.” What drives you? What makes you excited? What do you want to accomplish in your life? What do you want to leave behind? What are your passions and what are your interests?

If you want to beat procrastination, then finding your “why" is a great place to start. Why are you doing what you are doing? Why are you working the job you are working? Why are you doing the things you are doing in your personal life? Find your “why” and it will help you drive the decisions you make and help you stay focused on what is really important in your life. It will also help you stay motivated and driven throughout the ups and downs of life.

9. Make a public commitment:

If you’re putting something off because you’re afraid of letting others down, commit to it in public and make a promise to yourself that you will get it done. Accountability is a very strong motivator!

For example, you can make a public commitment to your friends or family members by telling them that you will complete the task at hand before a certain date. If you are a member of an online community this is a great place to make a public commitment. Ask other members to check back with you on your progress, or announce a deadline when you'll 'show' them your progress.

10. Don’t forget to celebrate:

Lastly, don’t forget to reward yourself! A lot of what we do is forward-looking and focused on achieving our goals. However, sometimes we forget to celebrate the little wins along the way. When you’re beating procrastination and getting stuff done, celebrate your successes along the way. When you complete a task, no matter how small it may seem, reward yourself in some small way. If you fail to make your deadline - no reward.

These lovely vintage graphics have been made into 2" circle rounds perfect for a wide variety of craft projects from stickers to scrapbooking elements. Print them on aged looking craft paper for added effect!

This is an 8.5x11" PDF sheet saved for print resolution.

Use these freely in any personal or commercial project, all graphics are public domain.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Happy Crafting
Shawnna

PIN ME

If you've ever run into problems printing something only to be disappointed with how it turned out, I'm here to tell you that you are not alone!

Even seasoned pros will run into frustrations with print quality or printing mess-ups. The real trick is in knowing what to do when these things happen. How do you solve your printing problem without a flood of tears or chucking your printer out the window? (or blaming the creator!)

Here are the solutions you can use to solve those printing woes...

TOP TIPS FOR SOLVING PRINTING ERRORS

1. Choose the right printer for the job.

Here's the truth, not all printers can handle any job. So if your printer isn't up to it, nothing else you do will get your print job to look perfect. Understanding and accepting this will save you a big headache.

Rule of thumb, inkjet printers are great for text documents and photos while laser jet printers work better for graphics and large color blocks. Because inkjet printers are generally cheaper, this is what most people tend to have at home, and they work just fine for most home applications. But you might struggle when printing certain types of graphics.

Solution: Who do you know who has a laser printer? Is there a printing service near you that you could use instead? If you need to print semi regularly it could be worth researching alternative options before investing in a brand new printer. Either a local option or an online option, whichever works best for you.

2. Know your printer.

This is something that the average printer owner never really does. Explore the printer dialogue box and get to know every possible setting option that you have available to you.

Does that sound daunting? This doesn't need to take long but it will save you sooooo much agro later if you understand that there ARE different setting options for your printer. Just get to know what your printer is capable of with a quick review, make a few cheat sheet notes if you need to, and when you go to print something double check that your print settings are correct for the job.

I'll be honest, off the top of my head I don't know all of my own printer setting options. But I do know that it has a variety of options available and I'll check through these when I go to print anything other than a plain document just to be sure I'm making the most of what my printer can do.

These are things like paper size and weight. Paper tray selection (specialty paper often feeds better from the manual tray). And ink or layout settings, particularly the actual print size options.

3. Printing the correct size.

One of the most common print issues that I come across all the time are my templates not coming out at the right size. This is actually quite simple to correct once you know what to look for.

Most printers will try to optimize your printed page for you through automatic settings. If your print is too close to the paper edge it will automatically scale the print smaller to fit within the default margins. If it's really small on the page it might make it bigger to fully fit the page.

But when you need your printable to print at the exact size as it's intended to be used these default 'helpful' settings are really not that helpful at all!

Each printer will have this in the print dialogue box a little differently but you'll want to look for a setting that says "print actual size" or "print at 100%". You want to select this option and make sure that any box that says "scale to fit" is unchecked. Depending on what you are printing, if your printer has this feature you may also need to use the 'print borderless' setting.

4. Printing colors.

This is such a common complaint. And not restricted to the home printer or novice crafter!

The cold hard truth is colors look different from one device to another and when applied on different surfaces. Computers that are backlit and/or with retina or 4K display colors will appear more vibrant than they will do on paper.The screen is actually distorting the image to make it seem more than it really is - and print simply doesn't compare to these over saturated screen enhancements.

And even amongst print surfaces colors will look different on one surface type from another. Matte paper for example absorbs more ink that glossy paper, so the colors are going to brighter or more saturated on the glossier surface.

Each printer will also print a little differently. A little too much yellow and your blue is heading towards green, a little too much magenta and that same blue is sitting on the purple side of the fence. These tiny little differences in how each printer mixes the inks can create unexpected variances.

So what's the solution? Test printing.

If you have very specific requirements for color the best option is to test print everything first. Know that you'll need to experiment, make adjustments or try a different printer and you won't be nearly as frustrated. It's just a matter of accepting that color isn't consistent across all mediums and that this is a physical or technological limitation and not the fault of the file itself.

Happy creating
Shawnna

10 Tips for Running a Successful Etsy Shop

Creating an Etsy shop is just the first step in a long journey. The real work begins once you make your shop live. Running an Etsy shop takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but the payoff is worth it.

It’s not uncommon to see new Etsy sellers struggle to gain traction with their audiences. It takes time, patience and persistence to build a profitable business on Etsy. It is extremely rare for any business to be an overnight success, and even then, a lot of work will have gone into the initial launch to make that happen.

However, by following these simple tips, you can increase your chances of succeeding over the long term. There are millions of people searching for new and unique products every day on Etsyso finding buyer is absolutely possible.

And while aspiring sellers might be afraid of all the competition that currently exists in the marketplace, it's really just an opportunity for you to stand out from the crowd and create something amazing.

Here are some helpful tips for running a successful Etsy shop:

Be Unique and Authentic

One of the most important tips for running a successful Etsy shop is to be true to your brand. You want to be known for offering high-quality products that are unique and authentic. If you’re using an overstock product or sourcing factory goods, your products won’t be authentic, you'll just be another retailer with a lot of competition.

Authenticity is key when building a loyal customer base. Your customers want to feel connected to your brand. They want to know that they are supporting a real person behind the products. They want to feel like they have a direct connection to your brand. If your products are just more of the same 'ol thing customers can buy anywhere else, what is the incentive to buy from you - or become a fan follower of your shop?

Additionally, if you try to be everything to everyone, your brand won’t be anything to anyone. Your unique selling proposition (USP) should be the core of your brand. By understanding your USP, you can dive deeper into what makes your brand special.

What is USP really? It's that special ingredient that you bring to your business that makes you stand out from the crowd. It can be anything, but it should be the thing you become known for.

Your Etsy shop should tell your customers everything they need to know about your brand and products with well written product descriptions, beautiful product photographs and a clear call to action.

Be Realistic with your Expectations

New Etsy sellers often expect to make a living from their shops on day one, or day 12, or day 30. Sadly, not everyone will become an overnight success. This is actually a pretty rare occurrence.

The more usual path to becoming a successful Etsy seller is to follow a consistent and steady growth pattern. Realistically, you should expect to see some results anywhere from three to six months. But there are plenty of Etsy sellers that have been in business for years and still struggle to make a profit.

There are some common pitfalls new Etsy sellers encounter, and they can be easily avoided. Spending time to learn the platform as well as good business practices in general will help you move forward more successfully. Keep reading and learning every day!

If you don’t have a clear understanding of your target audience and their needs, you’ll struggle to provide a solution. Remember, customer buy what they need or want. You need to be able to answer that question for them and include it in your sales pitch.

If you aren’t willing to commit to consistent promotion and outreach, you’ll never see the results you expect.

Network, Network, Network

The best way to kick-start your sales initially is to network with other Etsy sellers. Start by connecting with other sellers on Etsy through teams or forums. You’ll learn more about the community and find ways to collaborate with other sellers. It's also a great learning opportunity since most Etsy sellers are happy to share information.

Find Facebook groups where you have honest conversations about running an Etsy shop. There are several big and active Facebook groups where you can grab ideas, get feedback and network with fellow sellers. You can also join various forums and groups on Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest, but you'll likely have more productive conversations in Facebook groups.

When joining any group, make sure to follow the rules and post relevant content that your fellow members will appreciate. There are tons of groups that are dedicated to Etsy sellers so join as many of them as you can and become an active member. Participating in these groups is a great way to learn new tips and tricks.

Grow your Audience Before Launching

If you are starting from scratch and have no audience at all you really should start building your audience before your Etsy shop even launches. You can grow your audience in many ways before launching your Etsy shop and gain traction for sales before your product is even ready.

For example, you can start a blog, create a Facebook group or video series. A blog is an excellent way to grow your audience before launching your Etsy shop as not only will you have a place to direct your potential customers, but you’ll have a place to gain confidence within your niche. If you have a blog, you can eventually link to your Etsy shop through your blog posts.

You can also use social media platforms to direct people to your blog so that once you have an established audience you can easily reach out to them and ask them to support your Etsy shop.

Promote, Promote, Promote

Once your Etsy shop is live, it’s time to start promoting it. You can’t expect people to come to your shop and start buying products if they don’t even know it exists. You really do need to actively promote your Etsy shop yourself.

A common misconception is that Etsy will bring all the traffic you need to your store. While this can happen, it really does depend on your product niche and how well your products are placed in the search results.

Use social media and search engines like Pinterest to promote your new shop from day one. Create content specific to each platform and showcase your shop, products or services through regular posts. Each platform has paid advertising options, but tread carefully here, some knowledge of best advertising practices are essential for success and each platform has a different level of ease with their advert programs.

Once your shop is live,, depending on your product, you could start reaching out to bloggers and influencers in your industry and ask them to feature your products.

Create a newsletter sign-up form and create an incentive for new customers to sign up. Use your newsletter to promote your products and sales to encourage repeat buying.

Another option is to use paid advertising through Etsy to promote your products. Etsy offers two types of advertising, onsite and offsite ads. While many new sellers choose to opt out of off-site ads due to the unpredictability of overall costs, if you budget for this in your pricing it could be a great way to attract new customers.

Use Quality Photos

The images you use on your Etsy shop and product pages are critical. People make their purchasing decisions based on images. If your images are blurry and poorly lit, you won’t see a lot of sales.

You don't need fancy equipment to take professional-looking product photos. You can achieve great results with just your phone's camera. The trick is to understand how to set the products up, using the right lighting and knowing what sorts of photos work best.

There are loads of free tutorials online to help you achieve this and a lot of very expert advice. Use that to your advantage.

A common mistake new sellers make is to use their own preferences when it come to styling the photo shoot. Industry best practices exist for a reason though and tailoring the photos for the benefit of the customers is always better than allowing your own personal tastes to get in the way.

Learn Something New Everyday

It may seem obvious, but we never stop learning in life. There will never come a point when you can say you already 'know everything'.

Running an Etsy shop is hard work for a solo-preneur and chances are you are not an expert in every area required of you to run your business.

Make sure you build time in your schedule to explore new ideas and new ways of doing things. Or just learning new skills, expanding on what you do know and taking in random facts.

Customers are a great opportunity to learn from, both positively and negatively. From each interaction examine what you have learned from it and adapt or adjust where necessary.

Diversify Your Offerings

If you only have a few products for sale, you’re going to struggle to keep your customers coming back for more. You need to have a reasonable selection of products for your customers to choose from.

With only have a handful of products for sale, you won’t be able to keep your customers satisfied but just as importantly, you'll have fewer opportunities to show up in search results. The greater the number of products the more chance you have to be found and seen.

This works through keyword density. Each product listing can only use so many words to be found in search. The more variations or styles or colors etc of your product, the greater the possibility for additional keywords - which leads to more opportunity to show up in searches.

That said, your products still need to form a cohesive collection.

Price for Profitability

To be successful in any business it is imperative that you are profitable. Pricing your products properly means taking into account all your overheads and having room for things that can't be accounted for (like refunds, lost packages, forced discounts or unexpected fees).

Many sellers look to their supposed 'competition' on Etsy and assume that they have to price their goods accordingly. This is NOT a good practice. For starters, most Etsy sellers completely mis-identify who their competition really is. Or they use the "i wouldn't pay that" mentality for their own goods.

Every product or service on the market has a price range. The price variance depends on the niche but every single product is available at multiple price points from budget friendly to ultra posh. Understanding where you are on the scale of quality/uniqueness/availability is helpful to truly comparing your products to any competition you might have.

Pushing your prices ever lower in hopes of finally selling something is not a success strategy, In fact many sellers have noted that sales increased only when they put their prices up. This is because of the 'perceived value' effect. Put simply, if something has a small price tag it must be of low value. If something has a big price tag it must be more valuable or sought after.

Adapt to Changing Markets

Learning to pivot in your business is a useful skill to develop that can help you stay successful for the long term. This looks different from one business to another but either way being in tune with your niche and your customers is important for longevity in business.

This might mean keeping on top of trends and pivoting as things fall from popularity and new styles emerge. It might mean entirely new products altogether.

The point is to keep your finger on the pulse of what is happening in your industry and being able to react to it in a timely fashion. Even better if you can predict these things in advance.

Other aspects of business tend to change and evolve as well. Things like wages or taxes. New rules to follow or changes to the Etsy platform. Many many Etsy sellers bemoan the fact that Etsy changes things with great frequency.

While that certainly can be more than a minor annoyance, it's really just a part of being in business. You'll experience similar upheavals no matter where or what you sell. Being able to roll with it and adapt is part of the process to being successful in business.

Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate

It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of running a business. You might spend most of your time thinking about what you have to do next. You have to put yourself on a schedule, but you also have to make time to celebrate your successes.

You’re probably going to have some bad days where you feel like it’s all too much. You’ll have days where everything seems to go wrong and you feel like giving up. You’ll also have days where you feel like you’re on top of the world.

Make time to celebrate every milestone, every achievement, and every small win. You have to make time to appreciate everything you’ve done because it takes a lot of hard work to run a successful Etsy shop.

Happy Crafting
Shawnna

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STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

KNOW WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS WANT/NEED

RESEARCH BEFORE YOU DESIGN

WHERE IS THE SATURATION?

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

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Why do we feel overwhelmed?

1. Don’t try to do too much at once

2. Take a short break

3. Make a Small Change

4. Make a plan

5. Be Kind to Yourself

Conclusion:

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STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

KNOW WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS WANT/NEED

RESEARCH BEFORE YOU DESIGN

IS THE SATURATION REAL?

THE PLANNER LIST

CONCLUSION

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Take a break

Exercise

Set small goals

Don’t judge yourself for not feeling motivated

Do something you enjoy

Conclusion

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1. The entire screen

2. A specific portion of your screen

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Research the market

Find your niche

Ask yourself some important questions

Decide on a product and its viability

Take into account your skills and resources

Summing up

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Why do we procrastinate?

Know the reasons why you procrastinate

10 Steps to Help You Beat Procrastination and Get Stuff Done

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TOP TIPS FOR SOLVING PRINTING ERRORS

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Be Unique and Authentic

Be Realistic with your Expectations

Network, Network, Network

Grow your Audience Before Launching

Promote, Promote, Promote

Use Quality Photos

Learn Something New Everyday

Diversify Your Offerings

Price for Profitability

Adapt to Changing Markets

Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate