etsy shop tips: building a community

So, you're an Etsy seller.

And you're the only Etsy seller you know IRL.

Your friends don't quite get what you do, and your spouse has been really nice about listening to you talk about the latest weird convo you got, but let's be honest.. wouldn't it be nice to talk to someone who actually understands the joy of the "cha-ching" and the frustration of the "3-star-feedback-even-though-they-wrote-a-positive-review"?

There are two ways you can build a community within Etsy itself, and one way to join a super kick butt (if I do say so myself) community outside of Etsy.

1. The Forums

The Forums are a mystical place on the Etsy interwebs where you can chat with fellow sellers about anything and everything including site glitches, a promotion you're having in your shop, or that "huge crack of thunder at 1 o'clock". (Actual thread title right there, folks.)

Just be careful not to get sucked in for too long. Trust me, it's happened to the best of us. You can find a wealth of useful information inside the Forums (it's especially great for diagnosing tech problems and getting immediate feedback). You can also find some crazy negativity, which I personally like to stay wayyy the heck away from.

2. Etsy Teams

Etsy Teams let you connect with other sellers, grouped together by interests, locale, similar goods for sale, etc. When you join or create an Etsy Team, you have your own team forum where you can chat with your fellow members in a private environment.

Lots of teams run challenges, help fellow members promote their goods, have IRL and digital meet-ups, and generally just keep each other sane.

3. If you want a forum AND a team that's totally on your side (no crazy negativity allowed!), I would absolutely LOVE for you to join the shophappy society.

You can ask questions, share your big (and small!) wins, and meet fellow makers and curators. Vintage, handmade, and supply sellers from every corner of the globe are ALL welcome!

I'm also constantly sharing my own expertise and giving you tips and tools to make the most of your Etsy biz.

Whether you're just starting out or getting serious about growing your hobby into a legit biz, I hope to see you there very soon!