If I could go back to the beginning of my Etsy journey, this is the conversation I’d have with myself. The one that could have saved me time, slow sales, and a whole lot of guesswork.
Because picking a niche sounds simple. Just choose something you like, right?
But when you’re staring at endless ideas, Pinterest boards full of inspiration, and everyone shouting different advice, it’s easy to end up trying too many things, only following trends, or selling what someone else told you is the right fit for you.
Here’s what I wish I had really understood before I chose mine.
1. Passion matters, but it’s not enough.
Yes, you should enjoy your niche. You’re going to be designing, researching, and improving those products, so if you hate the topic, it’s not going to last.
But I learned the hard way that passion alone won’t sell a product. You also need to know that people are actively searching for what you’re making.
A niche works when your excitement lines up with actual demand. And that alignment doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by researching the right way.
2. “Popular” niches aren’t always profitable for you.
I once picked a niche just because it was trending. Everyone was making money in it, so I figured I would too.
What I didn’t realize was that the competition had better designs, there were too many sellers pricing the products for practically nothing, and honestly, I didn’t even enjoy making those products. I was just trying to find something that I thought was already working.
That didn’t last long.
It taught me that the right niche isn’t just what’s popular. It’s what’s strategically aligned with your strengths, interests, and goals. Read more about finding the right product line for you here.
3. A niche isn’t a cage. It’s a foundation.
One assumption I made was that if I chose a niche, I’d be stuck. What if I changed my mind later? What if I wanted to try something new?
But choosing a niche doesn’t mean boxing yourself in forever.
It just means giving your shop a clear starting point so customers (and Etsy) can understand what you’re about.
You can still grow. You can still pivot. But you’ll get there faster with a focused foundation.
4. You can’t pick the “perfect” niche without a plan.
This one’s big. I spent so much time thinking, brainstorming, and researching, but not enough time planning and testing.
What I’ve learned since is that niche clarity often comes through action, not overthinking.
You start by choosing a direction, creating a small product line, and seeing what resonates. The market gives you feedback, and you adjust. Not just one product – a few that are one product type or one buyer type.
That’s how your niche grows into a real business.
If you’re full of ideas, but not sure where to focus, this Choose Your Niche GPT can help.
It walks you through a simple step-by-step reflection and research process . You’ll answer easy but strategic questions that help you narrow down your direction with clarity and confidence.
No fluff. No “just pick something and hope it works” advice. Just a clear next step.
Check it out here: ourgoldengirlsshop.com/choose-your-niche-gpt