How To Start an Etsy Shop Podcast Appearance and Guest Post

Recently, I have made both a Podcast appearance and written a guest post about how to start an Etsy shop.  In my opinion, Etsy is a less discussed side hustle compared to selling on eBay or Amazon.  It isn’t for everyone, but I have really enjoyed putting together a shop in a short amount of time with the ability to earn income at all times of the day.

If you are looking for a side hustle and Etsy sounds intriguing then I encourage you to check out these links.

Also, check out my Modern Printable Shop to see what I have been creating and selling on Etsy.

Fire Drill Podcast Episode

In March and April, I participated in a 6-week mastermind that the Fire Drill Podcast held.  It just so happened that after previously listening to a podcast episode of theirs about selling printables I said “hey, I can do this too”.  Soon after, they announced that they were holding a mastermind with their listeners to make Etsy shops.

At first, I was hesitant since it cost $199 to participate.  Strange enough though, I had previously put $200 on the side for opportunities like this (seriously).  That way, when something would pop up I would have the funds ready.  Well, here was my opportunity.

The Mastermind

I didn’t know what to expect as I had never participated in a mastermind before.  Really, I didn’t even know much about them at all.  I figured though, that it would be the best way for me to make my shop.  Otherwise, I would need to self-direct it without any sort of schedule or accountability.

I bet that if I hadn’t joined for the mastermind I still wouldn’t have a shop.  By joining and having weekly meetings it forced me to be accountable each week.  I do well in those situations as I can be a bit competitive.

Well, after 6 weeks, of the group’s participants I was the top seller.  As a result, the top seller was given all their money back so that was a big bonus. I have since taken that money and put it towards similar opportunities for self-investment.

As a result, the podcast hosts, Gwen and J asked another group participant Tamzon and I to join them on their podcast to share what we learned.

It was fun doing the episode and even more fun sharing the experience with everyone during those 6 weeks.

Click here to listen to our podcast episode.

How To Start an Etsy Shop Guest Post

Soon after the mastermind was complete I received a message from Eric at the High Five Dad blog.  He had been following the Etsy mastermind and asked me to write a guest post on how to start an Etsy shop.

I was very thankful for the opportunity and said I am going to give it all I got.  Fortunately, I had a good month to work on it but it mainly happened the last week before it was published.  The result is a comprehensive guide on how to start an Etsy shop.

This is not a minor post that leaves lots of questions unanswered.  This is everything I, and really the group, learned about Etsy in that 6 weeks.  When all was said and done, I had written 7,500 words.  For all the bloggers out there, you know how intense that is.

The crazy thing is that there are still some things I could have written about.  Sure, there is always more, but if you are looking for a methodical, step-by-step approach to starting a shop then this is your guide.  You will not read it in one seating, but rather, use it as a key resource to develop your shop.

Click here for the comprehensive guide for starting an Etsy shop.

What I Have Learned

So, both the podcast and the guest post were great opportunities for me.  I did see those coming at the beginning of the year.  The reason I got those opportunities though is because I was willing to push myself and step out of my comfort zone.

If you’d asked me a few months ago about the idea of side hustles I would have acted annoyed.  I can’t really vocalize it, but they just annoyed me.  I was probably jealous but I also took it as an insult at the idea that I needed a side hustle.  I mean, I have worked hard in my career and been able to work on many award-winning buildings as an Architect.  Why would I need a side hustle?

Well, I think the answer is different for everyone.  Sometimes you just need cash.  For me, we didn’t need cash in the traditional sense.  I have though started to realize that by doing side hustles it can help me in Architecture.

I haven’t closed the gap yet but extra income could allow us to buy a rental property.  It could allow us to renovate our house and show off my skills.  Maybe I’ll have enough money someday to build a cabin in the woods as a vacation place and VRBO it when we are not there.

Now, I have a long way to go to hit those goals, but as I learned when paying off our debt, you can achieve a lot in a short amount of time.

In mid-March I opened an Etsy shop and was a complete novice.  Two months later, I was asked to be a guest on a popular podcast and write a guest post on creating a successful Etsy shop.

What Can You Do?

In a short amount of time I have gone from having no clue about Etsy to potentially being a leader in the field based on these opportunities.  I don’t want to overplay that term or sound arrogant.  I have a long way to go, but according to EtsyRank, I sell more items than 82% of other sellers on Etsy.  Through hard work I expect that number to go up, but that means after a short amount of time I am in the top 20% of sellers currently.

I mention that because I want to know about what you can do with your time and talent.  I don’t care if you start an Etsy shop.  If it isn’t for you, fine, but what is for you?

You don’t have to know everything about a topic.  You just need to be willing to learn, willing to push yourself, and just plan willing.

Don’t underestimate yourself and what you are capable of.  Stuff like this can happen to you and in a couple months people will be looking to you to help them get their side hustle going.