📥 Free Download: The Mad Hatter’s Guide: The Proven Strategy to Drive More Visitors to Your Etsy Shop or Website with Blogging
Click here to grab the free guide! 🚀
🎓 Free Workshop: Discover How Blogging Can Drive More Traffic to Your Handmade Business
Sign up for the free class here!
Topic: Taking Risks in Business—How a $30,000 Bet Changed My Life
Welcome back to The Marketing and Heart Podcast! Today, we’re diving into risk-taking—the kind of leap that makes you wonder if you’re on the edge of a breakthrough or a total misstep. I’m sharing one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken in my jewelry business, The Wicked Griffin, and the lessons that came with it. If you’re feeling stuck or are on the fence about a big decision, this one’s for you.
Let’s go back to when my business was thriving but wearing me down. Orders were nonstop, and every piece was hand-made from morning to night. Even when I was pregnant, I kept up this cycle, pushing myself past exhaustion.
I’ll never forget one particular night: eight months pregnant, hunched over my workbench at 8 p.m., trying to saw through a thick piece of silver with hours of work still ahead. I was grateful my business was doing well, but I was also breaking under the pressure. That night, I told myself that something had to give.
That’s when I decided to invest in a laser engraver—a $30,000 purchase, straight from my profits. I didn’t take out a loan or have a backup plan. It was just me, my business, and a huge leap of faith. I was terrified, but I knew this change was necessary if I wanted to keep my business and sanity intact.
When the engraver finally arrived, it felt like a weight had been lifted. I wasn’t spending endless hours on each piece anymore, and I finally had time to breathe. That single decision allowed me to rearrange my workflow and made my business sustainable.
Looking back, it was a life-changing decision. But that risk, scary as it was, taught me something crucial: to grow, you have to be willing to take a leap.
Of course, not every risk pans out. I’ve had my share of misses, too. I once bought a $4,000 Glowforge that now just gathers dust in a spare room—a great idea that never took off. But that’s the reality of taking risks.
Each decision, whether it works out or not, teaches something valuable. The key is to learn from each one and keep moving forward.
So, here’s where I want to turn this back to you. Think about the risks you’re holding back from right now. Is there a decision you’ve been hesitating over because you’re unsure how it’ll turn out?
Maybe it’s an investment in a new tool or exploring a new marketing strategy. Whatever it is, ask yourself: What’s the best that could happen if this pays off? Then think about what you would need in place to take that step with confidence.
📥 Free Download: The Mad Hatter’s Guide: The Proven Strategy to Drive More Visitors to Your Etsy Shop or Website with Blogging
Click here to grab the free guide! 🚀
🎓 Free Workshop: Discover How Blogging Can Drive More Traffic to Your Handmade Business
Sign up for the free class here!
Topic: Taking Risks in Business—How a $30,000 Bet Changed My Life
Welcome back to The Marketing and Heart Podcast! Today, we’re diving into risk-taking—the kind of leap that makes you wonder if you’re on the edge of a breakthrough or a total misstep. I’m sharing one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken in my jewelry business, The Wicked Griffin, and the lessons that came with it. If you’re feeling stuck or are on the fence about a big decision, this one’s for you.
Let’s go back to when my business was thriving but wearing me down. Orders were nonstop, and every piece was hand-made from morning to night. Even when I was pregnant, I kept up this cycle, pushing myself past exhaustion.
I’ll never forget one particular night: eight months pregnant, hunched over my workbench at 8 p.m., trying to saw through a thick piece of silver with hours of work still ahead. I was grateful my business was doing well, but I was also breaking under the pressure. That night, I told myself that something had to give.
That’s when I decided to invest in a laser engraver—a $30,000 purchase, straight from my profits. I didn’t take out a loan or have a backup plan. It was just me, my business, and a huge leap of faith. I was terrified, but I knew this change was necessary if I wanted to keep my business and sanity intact.
When the engraver finally arrived, it felt like a weight had been lifted. I wasn’t spending endless hours on each piece anymore, and I finally had time to breathe. That single decision allowed me to rearrange my workflow and made my business sustainable.
Looking back, it was a life-changing decision. But that risk, scary as it was, taught me something crucial: to grow, you have to be willing to take a leap.
Of course, not every risk pans out. I’ve had my share of misses, too. I once bought a $4,000 Glowforge that now just gathers dust in a spare room—a great idea that never took off. But that’s the reality of taking risks.
Each decision, whether it works out or not, teaches something valuable. The key is to learn from each one and keep moving forward.
So, here’s where I want to turn this back to you. Think about the risks you’re holding back from right now. Is there a decision you’ve been hesitating over because you’re unsure how it’ll turn out?
Maybe it’s an investment in a new tool or exploring a new marketing strategy. Whatever it is, ask yourself: What’s the best that could happen if this pays off? Then think about what you would need in place to take that step with confidence.
📥 Free Download: The Mad Hatter’s Guide: The Proven Strategy to Drive More Visitors to Your Etsy Shop or Website with Blogging
Click here to grab the free guide! 🚀
🎓 Free Workshop: Discover How Blogging Can Drive More Traffic to Your Handmade Business
Sign up for the free class here!
Topic: Taking Risks in Business—How a $30,000 Bet Changed My Life
Welcome back to The Marketing and Heart Podcast! Today, we’re diving into risk-taking—the kind of leap that makes you wonder if you’re on the edge of a breakthrough or a total misstep. I’m sharing one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken in my jewelry business, The Wicked Griffin, and the lessons that came with it. If you’re feeling stuck or are on the fence about a big decision, this one’s for you.
Let’s go back to when my business was thriving but wearing me down. Orders were nonstop, and every piece was hand-made from morning to night. Even when I was pregnant, I kept up this cycle, pushing myself past exhaustion.
I’ll never forget one particular night: eight months pregnant, hunched over my workbench at 8 p.m., trying to saw through a thick piece of silver with hours of work still ahead. I was grateful my business was doing well, but I was also breaking under the pressure. That night, I told myself that something had to give.
That’s when I decided to invest in a laser engraver—a $30,000 purchase, straight from my profits. I didn’t take out a loan or have a backup plan. It was just me, my business, and a huge leap of faith. I was terrified, but I knew this change was necessary if I wanted to keep my business and sanity intact.
When the engraver finally arrived, it felt like a weight had been lifted. I wasn’t spending endless hours on each piece anymore, and I finally had time to breathe. That single decision allowed me to rearrange my workflow and made my business sustainable.
Looking back, it was a life-changing decision. But that risk, scary as it was, taught me something crucial: to grow, you have to be willing to take a leap.
Of course, not every risk pans out. I’ve had my share of misses, too. I once bought a $4,000 Glowforge that now just gathers dust in a spare room—a great idea that never took off. But that’s the reality of taking risks.
Each decision, whether it works out or not, teaches something valuable. The key is to learn from each one and keep moving forward.
So, here’s where I want to turn this back to you. Think about the risks you’re holding back from right now. Is there a decision you’ve been hesitating over because you’re unsure how it’ll turn out?
Maybe it’s an investment in a new tool or exploring a new marketing strategy. Whatever it is, ask yourself: What’s the best that could happen if this pays off? Then think about what you would need in place to take that step with confidence.
📥 Free Download: The Mad Hatter’s Guide: The Proven Strategy to Drive More Visitors to Your Etsy Shop or Website with Blogging
Click here to grab the free guide! 🚀
🎓 Free Workshop: Discover How to Ethically Use BuzzFeed’s Traffic Strategy for Your Handmade Business
Sign up for the free workshop here!
Topic: Why Etsy Sales Might Be Better Than You Think—and How Your Email List Is the Real Game-Changer
Hey, everyone! Welcome back to The Marketing and Heart Podcast. Today, I’m here to tackle a topic I think we all come across now and then, whether it's from customers or from fellow Etsy sellers. There’s this idea floating around that every sale is somehow “better” if it happens on your own website rather than on Etsy. You’ve probably heard customers say, “I’d rather buy from your site so you keep more of the sale,” or even Etsy sellers who believe selling on their own sites means saving money on fees. But… does it actually work that way? Let’s dig into why Etsy sales aren’t just good for your wallet—they’re actually crucial for your visibility.
Now, I totally get it. Having a website feels amazing because it’s your own space, your brand, and everything is under your control. But Etsy brings something valuable to the table that your website may not, and that’s visibility. Think of it like this: every single sale on Etsy doesn’t just bring in cash—it actually helps you get discovered by more people. Every sale tells Etsy’s algorithm that people are interested in your shop, which can improve your search rankings, showing your products to even more potential customers.
Plus, Etsy is already a trusted marketplace with an established audience. People go there specifically to buy handmade, unique products, and Etsy handles the payment processes, buyer protection, and so on. That’s a level of trust you don’t automatically get on a personal website, and it can make a huge difference when someone’s on the fence about hitting that “Buy” button.
It’s easy to think that skipping Etsy fees means more money in your pocket, but let’s look at it practically. Running a website is not free. There’s hosting, maintenance, security updates, and then there’s the marketing effort to drive traffic. With Etsy, those fees you’re paying are effectively buying you exposure to a huge audience, saving you time and resources that you’d otherwise need to spend on getting traffic to your own site.
Now, if you’re wondering how to get the best of both worlds—a site you control and the visibility of a marketplace—let’s talk about what I believe is the number one place for traffic: your email list. Here’s why: your email list is your direct line to people who want to hear from you, and that’s where the real control lies. Whether you’re promoting your Etsy shop, your own site, or anything else, your email list lets you send customers exactly where you want them to go, and you can do it any time.
One of the best ways to build that list? A blog. A blog on your website not only allows you to connect with your audience by offering helpful or inspiring content, but it also helps you funnel people onto your email list. Every post is an opportunity to encourage
📥 Free Download: The Mad Hatter’s Guide: The Proven Strategy to Drive More Visitors to Your Etsy Shop or Website with Blogging
Click here to grab the free guide! 🚀
🎓 Free Workshop: Discover How to Ethically Use BuzzFeed’s Traffic Strategy for Your Handmade Business
Sign up for the free workshop here!
In this episode of The Marketing and Heart Podcast, we’re addressing the limiting belief that your products need to be perfect before you can sell them. We’ll break down how perfectionism is holding you back from reaching your audience, how customers are craving handmade authenticity in a world full of mass-produced items, and I’ll share my personal story of how letting go of perfectionism transformed my own business.
Welcome back to The Marketing and Heart Podcast! Today, we’re going to dive into a topic that hits home for a lot of handmade business owners: the idea that your products need to be perfect before you can sell them.
I’ve been there—when I first started making jewelry, I was obsessed with perfecting every little detail. It felt like if my products weren’t just right, there was no way I could put them out into the world. But what I didn’t realize at the time was that my perfectionism was actually holding me back.
If you’ve ever stopped yourself from launching a product because it wasn’t exactly how you imagined, or you’ve delayed a collection because it wasn’t “perfect,” then this episode is for you. We're going to break down why perfectionism is not just hurting your business, but also robbing your potential customers of the joy your products could bring into their lives.
Let me share a bit of my own story here because I know this struggle all too well. I’ve been running The Wicked Griffin since 2011, and I went full-time with my business in 2016. Before I opened up shop, I had been perfecting my craft as a jeweler for years. And the funny thing is, the thing that was really holding me back wasn’t my skill level or my designs—it was my own perfectionism.
I started making jewelry because I wanted to create pieces that I couldn’t find anywhere else. I thought, "If I can’t find it, I’ll just make it." That’s what led me to open my Etsy shop. I spent years refining my craft, and I was so focused on every tiny detail being absolutely perfect before I was willing to sell anything.
And here’s the thing I had to learn over time: Your business isn’t for you. That was a hard lesson to learn because, as artists, we put so much of ourselves into our work. But at some point, I realized that once you decide to turn your hobby into a business, you have to make a mindset shift.
It’s not about you anymore. Your business is for your customers. Yes, you play a major role in creating those products, and of course, you want to love wh
📥 Free Download: The Mad Hatter’s Guide to Growing Your Handmade Business Without Burning Out
Click here to grab the free guide! 🚀
🎓 Free Workshop: Discover the Secret to Scaling Your Handmade Business Without Overworking
Sign up for the free workshop here!
In this episode of The Marketing and Heart Podcast, we’re busting the myth that hard work alone is the key to success. I’ll be sharing my personal story of extreme burnout from hustling on social media, where likes, comments, and followers only gave the illusion of progress. We’ll explore why those vanity metrics didn’t translate into sales, and the one caveat—how social media can be valuable for building your email list. We’ll also cover why hard work, without the right focus, leads to burnout and frustration, and what actually creates sustainable growth.
Welcome back to The Marketing and Heart Podcast! Today, we’re going to dive deep into one of the most common and exhausting limiting beliefs that handmade business owners and Etsy sellers struggle with—the belief that hard work alone guarantees success.
You’re probably familiar with this idea. Maybe you’re hustling right now, pouring hours into your handmade business, working harder and harder, hoping that eventually it’ll pay off. I know because I’ve been there too.
I spent years believing that if I just worked harder, posted more, and put in the hours, success would follow. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Hard work alone won’t get you there.
Today, I want to share not only why that belief is holding you back, but also how focusing on the right work—the kind that brings real, lasting results—can transform your business.
Let me share my story. For years, I was stuck in the cycle of social media hustle. I was doing everything I thought I should be doing—posting multiple times a day, engaging with followers, optimizing my hashtags, and watching my likes, comments, and followers grow.
On the surface, it looked like I was doing great. My engagement was up, my follower count was climbing, and people were leaving comments on almost everything I posted. But there was just one problem: Those vanity metrics didn’t translate into sales.
And that’s where the real frustration kicked in. I was putting in all this work, chasing these numbers that didn’t actually matter in the grand scheme of things. Sure, I had followers, but they weren’t leaving Instagram to visit my website, let alone buy anything.
The truth is, likes and comments are nice, but if they aren’t turning into sales, they don’t move your business forward. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers because they give you this false sense of accomplishment, but when you step back, you realize—none of it matters if it’s not leading to results.
📥 Free Download: The Mad Hatter’s Guide: The Proven Strategy to Drive More Visitors to Your Etsy Shop or Website with Blogging
Click here to grab the free guide! 🚀
🎓 Free Workshop: Discover How to Ethically Use BuzzFeed’s Traffic Strategy for Your Handmade Business
Sign up for the free workshop here!
In this episode of The Marketing and Heart Podcast, we’re going to break down one of the biggest misconceptions holding Etsy sellers back: that focusing only on SEO is the key to more sales. Many sellers have been stuck in this mindset, obsessively tweaking their listings without seeing the results they want. We’ll talk about why SEO alone isn’t enough and how you can shift your mindset to open up bigger and better traffic opportunities by thinking beyond Etsy SEO.
Welcome back to The Marketing and Heart Podcast! Today, we’re going to dig into one of the most common limiting beliefs I see among handmade business owners and Etsy sellers: the idea that SEO alone will get you the sales you’re looking for.
I get it—everyone talks about Etsy SEO like it’s the holy grail. You’ve probably heard that all you need to do is tweak your keywords, optimize your listings, and wait for the sales to roll in. But how’s that working out for you so far?
If you're feeling frustrated, like you’re constantly tweaking and yet seeing little to no difference in your traffic or sales, this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth: SEO alone won’t get you more Etsy sales. In fact, relying on it is holding you back from unlocking your real potential.
Let’s talk about why so many Etsy sellers fall into the SEO trap.
It’s easy to believe that SEO is the answer to your traffic problems because it’s tangible—it’s something you can control. You can research keywords, rewrite your listings, and make changes hoping to get a little bump in your rankings. But when you focus only on Etsy SEO, you’re setting yourself up for a cycle of constant tweaking and never getting the results you deserve.
Why? Because Etsy’s algorithm is always changing. And if you’re relying solely on SEO to get traffic, you’re putting your business at the mercy of something you can’t control. You’re letting Etsy dictate how visible your shop is, and that’s a dangerous place to be.
Imagine constantly pouring your time into tweaking keywords and tags, hoping that it’ll magically turn into sales. It’s frustrating, exhausting, and—honestly—it’s not the most effective way to grow your business.
Here’s wha
In this episode of The Marketing and Heart Podcast, we’re breaking down the biggest misconceptions handmade business owners and Etsy sellers have about Pinterest. If you’ve been thinking Pinterest is just another social media platform or that you need thousands of followers to succeed, this episode is for you.
I’ll show you how Pinterest works as a visual search engine, why impressions don’t matter as much as you think, and why Pinterest traffic is so much more valuable than what you’re getting from Instagram or Facebook. Plus, I’ll explain why Pinterest doesn’t require constant posting or a huge following to see real results—this is traffic that works for you around the clock.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
If you’re ready to stop relying on social media and start driving traffic with Pinterest and blogging, grab my free Mad Hatter’s Guide: The Proven Strategy to Drive More Visitors to Your Etsy Shop or Website with Blogging.
This guide will show you how to use Pinterest and blogging to bring in highly targeted traffic that works for you 24/7.
Click here to download the free guide now! 🚀
🚀 Free Blogging for Handmade & Small Biz Workshop: https://bit.ly/4gjagyV
Why Social Media Isn’t the Answer to Driving Consistent Sales for Handmade Sellers
After taking some time off, I’m excited to be back with fresh content and insights to help you take control of your handmade business. In this episode, I’m addressing a huge misconception that so many Etsy sellers and handmade business owners fall into: relying on social media to drive traffic and sales.
If you’ve been posting consistently on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok but still aren’t seeing the sales you hoped for, this episode is for you. I’ll walk you through why social media is failing to bring the long-term, consistent traffic your shop needs and how you can stop the hustle and start using more reliable strategies like blogging and Pinterest.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why social media engagement doesn’t always translate into sales.
- The hidden time sink of constantly posting on social platforms and why it’s not sustainable.
- How relying on algorithms is putting your business success in someone else’s hands.
- Why you should focus on long-term, evergreen traffic strategies like blogging and Pinterest instead.
- The exact steps you can take today to start driving traffic without the constant hustle of social media.
Ways I can help you:
🚀 Free Blogging for Handmade & Small Biz Workshop: https://bit.ly/4gjagyV
✨ Free Checklist - Drive More Visitors to Your Etsy Shop or Website with Blogging: https://bit.ly/3XMyc6A
As a handmade business owner or Etsy seller, you may be used to saying yes to every single request that comes your way. Or cow-towing to every nasty customer demanding unreasonable requests of you.
This can lead to burnout and resentment from both you and your customers. It's so important to set boundaries with your customers in order to maintain a healthy balance in your business and life and to keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed. In this blog post, we'll discuss the importance of setting boundaries and how to do it effectively.
Want to check out my free training that helps with email and social media marketing for your handmade biz & Etsy shop? Go here:
https://marketingandheart.com/marketing-with-heart/
Prefer to read the blog?
https://marketingandheart.com/why-etsy-sellers-need-to-set-boundaries-with-customers/
Prefer to watch on Youtube?
https://youtu.be/IAPTaCsHLHs
There are many different ways to market and run your handmade business. But have you ever heard of human design? It's a new way to run your business that is based on the human design types.
In this episode, we will discuss how to use human design marketing to promote your handmade business. We will also talk about each of the human design types and what makes them unique.
SHOW LINKS:
https://jovianarchive.com/Get_Your_Chart
https://www.mybodygraph.com/talking-bodygraph
Want access to my most awesome free training for your handmade business? Go here:
https://marketingandheart.com/marketing-with-heart/
PREFER TO READ THE BLOG INSTEAD?
https://marketingandheart.com/5-human-design-types-and-how-your-handmade-business-can-thrive/
PREFER TO WATCH THE VIDEO INSTEAD?
https://youtu.be/ELfv0utKnyk
Do you want to start a craft business? Are you an artist looking to sell your work? If so, you need a business plan! A craft business plan will help you map out your goals and strategies for your new venture.
It will also help you track your progress and ensure that you are on the right track. In this episode, I'll teach you how to make a craft business plan that will help you succeed!
LINKS:
Curious about the membership? Go here:
https://marketingandheart.thrivecart.com/the-next-level-membership/
Want access to my free training? Go here:
https://marketingandheart.com/marketing-with-heart/
Want to read the blog version of this episode? Go here:
https://marketingandheart.com/how-to-make-a-craft-business-plan/
Rather watch the YouTube version? Go here:
https://youtu.be/Is-318XKj1Q
If you're looking for one of the best ways to grow your Etsy email list & promote your handmade shop, running these types of giveaways yield the best return on your time and effort.
GIVEAWAY SOCIAL MEDIA RULES:
Instagram
https://help.instagram.com/179379842258600
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/business/news/page-promotions-terms
Tiktok - isn't very clear, proceed with caution.
https://support.tiktok.com/en/business-and-creator/creator-and-business-accounts
Twitter
https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-contest-rules
LINKS FROM SHOW:
My Membership
https://marketingandheart.thrivecart.com/the-next-level-membership/
King Sumo (affiliate)
https://appsumo.8odi.net/5bQzv9
PREFER TO READ THE BLOG INSTEAD?
https://marketingandheart.com/how-to-run-a-giveaway-for-your-etsy-shop-or-handmade-business/
PREFER TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE INSTEAD?
https://youtu.be/1v7zNP1oNrs
Did you know most people don't put in that much effort in their product descriptions? Did you also know that learning the art of (ethical) copywriting will help you to not only make more sales, but to develop and maintain a relationship with your customers?
Want to check out the training I mentioned in the show? Go here:
https://marketingandheart.thrivecart.com/the-next-level-membership/
Prefer to read the blog? Go here:
https://marketingandheart.com/how-to-write-etsy-product-listing-descriptions-that-sell/
Want to check out my free workshop on social media & email marketing for your handmade business? Go here:
https://marketingandheart.com/marketing-with-heart/
We are talking about how to overcome artists imposter syndrome. Something. I think we all go through at some point because artists and Etsy craft sellers are often their own worst critics.
Prefer to read it on the blog instead? Go here:
https://marketingandheart.com/how-to-overcome-artist-imposter-syndrome/
Want some help with email and social media marketing for your handmade business? Get my free training here:
https://marketingandheart.com/marketing-with-heart/
Welcome to the Marketing and Heart podcast! I'm your host, Jackie. I look forward to spending some time with you and to help you grow your handmade business. I'll be spilling things I've learned along the way since 2011 that allowed me to quit my job and work my business not only full time, but to six figures. Cheers to your success!
Burnout is nothing to mess around with! In fact, it's one of the worst experiences to have especially if you're a handmade business owner running an Etsy shop. Here are 15 tips to help prevent burnout!
If you'd prefer to read the blog, go here: https://marketingandheart.com/15-tips-to-prevent-burnout-from-your-handmade-business/
Free training:
https://marketingandheart.com/marketing-with-heart/
If you’re an Etsy shop owner, you know that building a strong relationship with your customers is key to success. One of the best ways to do this is through email marketing. In this episode, we’ll discuss how to grow your business with Etsy email marketing and some tips for getting started.
LINKS FROM SHOW:-
Read the blog version here -→ https://marketingandheart.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-etsy-email-marketing/-
How to make an email list blog and video -→ https://marketingandheart.com/how-to-make-an-email-list/-
Etsy email templates -→ https://marketingandheart.com/email-magic/-
Free content marketing training -→ https://marketingandheart.com/marketing-with-heart/
So what exactly is Etsy SEO, why does it matter and how can it make you more money in your Etsy shop? Join me and find out!👉 Not in the mood to listen?
Go here for the blog -→ https://marketingandheart.com/understanding-etsy-seo/
Sick of Etsy and looking for a new place to sell your handmade crafts? Listen on, the results might surprise you! --→ Prefer to read instead of listen? Check out the blog: https://marketingandheart.com/10-alternative-websites-like-etsy-for-handmade-craft-sellers/--→ Want to join my community? community.marketingandheart.com
With so many things to do, so many hats to wear just to make your handmade business run, it's all too easy to lose motivation to continue giving your biz the time and energy it needs to thrive. In this episode I go over 6 tips to help you stay motivated.Link to the Marketing and Heart community: community.marketingandheart.comPrefer to read the blog instead? Go here: https://marketingandheart.com/6-ways-to-stay-motivated-in-your-handmade-business/Until next time!- Jackie
Finding the most profitable craft to sell isn't as easy as numbers! Listen to this weeks episode to find out why.Prefer to read the blog version instead? Go here --→ https://marketingandheart.com/what-are-the-most-profitable-crafts-to-sell/Go here for my free email & social media marketing training --→ https://marketingandheart.com/marketing-with-heart/