From the Etsy Fortress of Solitude

The first month our Etsy site was up, we got a handful of sales that were mostly from our friends. Yes, this is totally working, we thought. The second month our site was up, we sat quietly and listened to the crickets chirp. Oh no, it's not working anymore! Etsy, why have you forsaken us, we lamented. Sound familiar?!

Sometimes Etsy can feel like a very lonely place. Even though we know there are actually shitloads of people there, we can find ourselves left adrift wondering why no one cares about us. This is the double-edged sword of the bloated Etsy marketplace: so many people and also way too many people.

What is a hopeful crafter to do? Well, here's how I've heard it explained. If you want to build something, the first thing you need to do is get some tools. Etsy is a tool like any other - no different than a hammer or a glue gun or a bedazzler. That's great, tools are important. You can't build the thing you want to build without them. But tools aren't all you need. Because a hammer can't build a birdhouse or a bench or a shelf for you. It doesn't know what you want to build, or how quickly, or how big, or why you want to build it. The hammer is simply there, waiting for the moment when a person decides to pick it up and build that birdhouse that they have always dreamed of building.

So don't blame Etsy. Even though it's very, very tempting. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is an online business. It takes vision, yes, and also careful planning, dutiful execution, and gobs of follow through. Etsy will NEVER build your business for you. You have to take every step all by yourself. But if you know what you want to build and why you want to build it, then having a tool like Etsy in your hand could be a very powerful help to you. Wield it as you would a hammer, and cobble together whatever your dream business looks like to you. Just don't forget the part where you have a plan and work hard. And you know, if it means as much to you as I think it does, it will not only all be worth it in the end, but each step of the process will be a source of true joy.



At least, that's what I keep telling myself.

Love,
Ecoquirky

Our Fortress of Solitude