At the end of Season 2, we put out an episode called “How to run your etsy shop in 4 hours a day” and wow - that was apparently a very controversial topic. You guys got so spicy about it.
We got a ton of Instagram messages saying that many of you don’t have 4 hours a day to run your etsy shops, it’s more like 1 or 2 hours a day. So, while everything we shared in that episode can be modified to a 2 hour plan, we also asked for your best time saving tips and you shared so many good ones!
Time is so valuable, it’s the most valuable thing we have, and the time you spend in your business should feel good to you. You should know that every minute you put into your business has an impact - no matter how big or small - and that what you’re doing is intentional and meaningful.
I (Taylor) also need to say - if you don’t think you have enough time, the truth is, you probably do.
Track your time (use the Atracker app or a notepad) to see where your time is going to, what are the leakages in your time (maybe it’s social media, maybe it’s netflix...)?
Be real with yourself about your time. Once you’ve done time tracking, get honest with yourself about how you need to revise your daily habits. Maybe you need to start earlier or only watch 1-2 episodes of tv instead of 4 most nights, or maybe it’s emails and texts that interrupt your day, so be honest and realistic about where your time is going.
You can listen to the episode here, or keep reading below!
Time-Saving Tips for Your Handmade Business (Part 1):
Tip #1 Be prepared before you start
Whether you use a planner, have a list of daily to do’s, or you're like me and you like to create a checklist of etsy listings or products you plan to work on...you have to have a system.
A system is not negotiable for having a successful handmade business. It can be hard to motivate yourself to stick to a system and build up that habit, but I promise you, it is worth it, and it pays off in saving you time.
Tip #2 Keep your supplies organized and together.
This is more of a tip for some people than others (people who are neat vs people who are messy AKA naturally disorganized).
Have a dedicated shipping supplies cabinet, keep all your scissors in one place, etc. Create dedicated spaces for different work processes. And pro tip: it sounds simple, but keep everything clean and clutter free.
A clean space leads to better business systems and saves you time because you're no longer looking for stuff or gathering supplies…if this is hard for you, you could use a habit tracker & reward yourself!
Tip #3 Technical Etsy tip: Use the bulk editing tool on Etsy
You can use the bulk editing tool for SO many things including pricing, social media updates, moving items to different shop sections. I'm always surprised when I hear people say they update prices on listings one-by-one!
Tip #4 Set up automated messages to your Etsy customers
You can create saved message templates in your Etsy shop manager for questions like "where's my package" and save yourself tons of time. Curious about how to respond and what to actually write when someone asks this? Check out this podcast episode: Common Questions Etsy Customers Ask + How to Answer Them!
Tip #5 Wake up early before kids & family
This tip might be perfect for you...or it might not. If you feel like you can't concentrate on your business at home because you're always being interrupted, it would likely help you to identify times you can work when the house is quiet, and that might just be an hour before everyone wakes up (or after they go to bed).
This requires discipline, of course, and it's not always easy. You might even consider just adding an hour earlier to your schedule just 1-2 days a week and see if it makes a difference in your work productivity and available time.
That’s it for part 1 of our time-saving tips. We’re all about working smarter, not harder, so you can regain your time and enjoy the time you spend working in your business. Your handmade business and creative work should be something that makes you feel excited, happy, and motivated to continue doing, and feeling in control of your time is one of the best foundations you can set for your creative business.
We hope you've found these tips helpful! Ready for the next step in your handmade biz?? Get our free guide to Etsy SEO