Feeling overwhelmed about starting on Etsy? Let's break down your Etsy journey together!

Feeling Overwhelmed About Starting an Etsy Shop? Let’s Break Down Your Etsy Journey Together!

Starting an Etsy shop can feel like a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and a never-ending to-do list. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Many aspiring shop owners experience that mix of excitement and fear when they first begin. The good news? You don’t have to navigate this journey by yourself. Let’s break it down together and get you on the path to Etsy success!

1. Understanding the Overwhelm

Why does everything feel so daunting at first? (Hint: It’s not just you!)

When you’re starting something new, especially a business, there are a lot of moving parts. From choosing a niche to figuring out product listings and marketing, it can feel like there’s too much to tackle at once. The pressure to “get it right” from the beginning can also add to that stress. But here’s the truth: no one has it all figured out on day one, and you don’t need to either!

There’s a common expression people use: done is better than perfect. You don’t need to have everything perfect (or even that good) you just need to get started! Until you jump in, you won’t be able to learn and grow. You didn’t drive a car or ride a bike perfectly the first time, right? It took practice to get better, and that’s what you’ll do with your Etsy shop, too.

You don’t need to have design experience, either! You can start with a very simple format or a template at first and also get inspiration about what looks good while you do your research.

2. Breaking Down Your Goals

Start small! Setting manageable goals can lead to big successes.

Instead of trying to do everything at once, focus on small, actionable goals. Want to open your shop? Start by deciding on a product to sell. Then, work on creating one listing. Small steps build momentum and prevent burnout. Ask yourself: What’s the next easiest thing I can do to move forward?

My 5 day Etsy shop launch challenge gives you small actionable steps to do each day to get your shop launched. It will help you brainstorm ideas for your shop, how to do keyword research, what you need to know about titles and tags, my recommendations for creating printable products and mockups in the free version of Canva, and then how to open your Etsy shop and create your first listing.

Get your first 40 Etsy listings free when you open your shop by signing up here!

3. Creating a Simple Plan

Creating a plan doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few simple ideas on what to do first get started:

  • Brainstorm Product Ideas: What are you passionate about creating?
  • Ideal Customer: Who do you think is your ideal buyer? Moms? Teachers? Nurses?
  • Research Keywords: Find the popular words your ideal customers are searching for.
  • Software: What will you use to create your product? What are you already familiar with? PowerPoint, InDesign, Canva, Excel, Notion?
  • Create Your First Product: Focus on just one item to start. Pick something you’re the most excited to create!
  • Choose Your Shop Name: Pick something easy to remember that is either meaningful to you or explains what kind of products you sell or who you sell to. (You do have a chance to change it later, so don’t stress too much on this!)

By breaking these steps into manageable pieces, you’ll make consistent progress and start your Etsy shop without feeling overwhelmed.

4. Prioritizing What’s Important

Everyone’s journey is different. The best part about starting your own Etsy business is that you get to decide what should come first in your journey. It’s okay to take one step at a time. Your life experiences and the time you have available is unique to you. Maybe you have kids, maybe you have a full time job (or two jobs!). Don’t worry if your life looks different from someone else. That’s a good thing! It is what makes you unique.

Not everything is urgent. Prioritize the essentials: creating quality products, writing clear and compelling listings, and understanding your audience. It’s okay to let other tasks wait while you focus on the foundation of your shop. Remember, progress is better than perfection.

5. Finding Support and Resources

You don’t have to do this alone! There are plenty of resources and communities where you can find support:

6. Staying Motivated Through Challenges

Every business faces setbacks. Whether it’s a slow sales month, a bad review, or technical hiccups, challenges are part of the process. To stay motivated:

  • Celebrate how far you’ve come.
  • Focus on what you can control.
  • Remind yourself why you started.
  • See if you can learn a lesson for the future.
  • Talk to others who have been or are where you are.
  • Learn a new skill or implement a business tip.

A positive mindset and a supportive community can make all the difference. Join our Facebook group!

7. Celebrating Small Wins

Recognize and reward yourself for every little achievement along the way!

Opened your shop? Created your first listing? Got your first sale? Your first $100 month? Every milestone counts! Take time to acknowledge these victories. Small wins add up and keep you motivated for the long haul. They also help you to create momentum and establish goals and business plans for the future!

Rewards can be anything that helps motivate you to reach your goals. Maybe something new for your business, a piece of candy, celebrating your wins with your spouse or a friend, taking a day off, getting a massage. Each time you set a new milestone for yourself, think of how you will celebrate your achievement.

We’re here to support you and help you start your Etsy shop today. Subscribe to our email list to get Etsy tips delivered right to your inbox – then check out this post to help you start your Etsy shop today!