You keep hearing rumours about Etsy updates, fee changes, algorithm tweaks and “big changes coming in 2026”… and it’s enough to make any seller panic.

In this episode, I’m breaking down how to future-proof your Etsy shop without trying to predict every update or burning yourself out in the process.

We’ll talk honestly about why Etsy is always changing, what you can and can’t control, and how to build a business that doesn’t fall apart every time Etsy moves a button.

You’ll learn:
• Why waiting for Etsy to “settle down” is a trap
• What future-proofing actually means (and what it doesn’t)
• How to stop relying on Etsy search as your only traffic source
• Simple ways to start owning your audience with email
• Product and SEO strategies that survive algorithm changes
• How to build a money safety net so slow months don’t derail you

Helpful resources mentioned in this episode:

👉 The Makers List Kickstart Kit
Learn how to build an email list that you actually own (without tech stress):
https://www.handmadebosses.com/offers/KM79eUH7/checkout

👉 Social Media Sidekick (SMS)
Done-for-you monthly content so you can show up consistently without overthinking:
https://www.handmadebosses.com/sms

This episode is for handmade sellers who want to move into 2026 feeling calmer, more prepared, and more in control of their business.

🎧 Plus, I’ll give you simple, practical homework you can actually do this week.

If Etsy changes make you nervous, this one will steady your head.

Insta CTA

🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

No fluff.

No pressure.

No trying to keep up with everyone else.

Just practical support that actually makes sense.

Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.

January hit… and your Etsy sales fell off a cliff?

Before you spiral, open Indeed, or convince yourself your shop is doomed, take a breath. This episode is here to talk you down and give you a clear, calm plan for navigating the post-Christmas slump without burning everything to the ground.

In this episode, Steph walks you through why January sales drops are completely normal for handmade businesses, how to read your December Etsy stats properly, and the small, practical tweaks that actually make a difference when things go quiet.

You’ll learn how to:
• Understand what’s really happening after Christmas (and why it’s not a failure)
• Use your December data to make smarter decisions instead of emotional ones
• Refresh best-selling products for the new year without creating new work
• Set up simple January offers that don’t add to overwhelm
• Choose one off-Etsy marketing channel to steady your sales
• Build a realistic, calm January plan you can actually stick to

This isn’t about hustling harder or reinventing your entire business.

It’s about knowing which levers to pull when sales slow down… and pulling them with confidence.

✨ Helpful links mentioned in this episode:

📧 Build your email list properly (even if you’re starting from scratch):
The Makers List Kickstart Kit
👉 https://www.handmadebosses.com/offers/KM79eUH7/checkout

📦 Increase your order value without making new products:
Bundle It & Boost It Toolkit
👉 https://www.handmadebosses.com/offers/gCmz6VtE/checkout

📱 Struggling to stay consistent on social media?
Social Media Sidekick (SMS)
👉 www.handmadebosses.com/sms

If this episode helped you feel calmer and clearer, make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss future episodes.

Insta CTA

🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

No fluff.

No pressure.

No trying to keep up with everyone else.

Just practical support that actually makes sense.

Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.

Holiday Replay: Our 2nd Most-Popular Episode of 2025 🤶

🎅 We’re rerunning the Start-Your-Shop Checklist because it helped a ton of makers stop faffing and finally launch. No waffle. No scare tactics. Just the order of steps that actually works.

What you’ll learn:

• A simple setup that makes you want to sit down and create
• Target market + niche, done without a headache
• A USP that isn’t “I make it with love”
• Naming your shop (short, memorable, available everywhere)
• Legal bits + money basics without the panic
• Your first 10 products, priced so you actually make profit
• Test → tweak → photos (and a quick 15s video)
• Packaging that looks polished, not pricey
• Shipping you can rely on
• A one-platform “home hub” so you’re not shouting into the void
• A tidy launch plan with drafts ready to go

Pop in your earbuds, grab a cuppa, and let’s get you open without the overwhelm.

Follow for more real-talk help for handmade sellers.

- Steph 🎄 xoxo

Insta CTA

🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

No fluff.

No pressure.

No trying to keep up with everyone else.

Just practical support that actually makes sense.

Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.