If you’ve ever fallen down a YouTube rabbit hole searching for “how to get more Etsy sales,” you’ve probably noticed something…
Every so-called Etsy expert seems to have a different opinion.
One says, “Post 40 new listings a week!”
Another swears, “Only list once a month or you’ll confuse the algorithm!”
Someone else pops up insisting, “You must use all 13 tags!” while another confidently claims, “Tags don’t even matter anymore.”
Sound familiar? 😅
The truth is — they can all be right and wrong at the same time. Because every Etsy shop is different.
Let’s talk about how to cut through the noise and figure out which advice actually works for you.
1️⃣ Why So Much Etsy Advice Conflicts
Etsy doesn’t publish exactly how its algorithm works (and it changes often), so everyone is experimenting — and sharing what worked for their shop at that moment.
But here’s the catch:
What works for a shop selling hand-painted mugs in the US might not work for someone selling digital clipart in the UK.
Factors that change how advice performs:
- What you sell (physical vs digital)
- Your niche (party invites behave differently from jewelry or wall art)
- Your price point
- Your customer’s buying habits
- Your shop’s history and conversion rate
So when two gurus give opposite advice, they might both be telling the truth — for their own experience.
2️⃣ Common Conflicting Advice (and the Real Story Behind It)
“Post as many listings as possible!” vs “Fewer listings, better SEO!”
🧠 Truth: If your listings are low quality, quantity won’t help. But if you’ve already nailed your keywords, adding more variations can increase visibility.
👉 Test it: Add 10–15 new listings at once and track if your shop views per listing rise or fall.
“Renew daily to stay on top!” vs “Never waste money on renewals!”
🧠 Truth: Renewals only matter when your listing’s conversion rate is healthy. Renewing a dud doesn’t help, but refreshing strong sellers can reignite traffic.
👉 Test it: Renew 3 of your best listings manually each week and watch impressions in your shop stats.
“Run Etsy ads on everything!” vs “Ads are a waste!”
🧠 Truth: Ads amplify what already converts. If your listings aren’t clicking organically, ads won’t fix that — they’ll just burn money faster.
👉 Test it: Try a £1/day ad budget on 3 proven sellers for 7 days. If they don’t bring at least one sale, turn them off.
💬 But here’s the extra thing most people miss:
Don’t just judge your ads by ad spend vs ad sales.
Sometimes, a customer sees your ad, doesn’t click it, but later searches again and clicks your organic listing instead.
It can take seven or more exposures before someone finally buys.
So instead of obsessing over individual ad numbers, look at your shop as a whole — if your overall views, favourites, or sales are improving while ads run, they’re likely doing their job.
“SEO is everything!” vs “Just make good products!”
🧠 Truth: SEO gets you seen, quality makes you sell. You need both — but obsessing over tags without improving your photos or designs won’t move the needle.
👉 Test it: Update photos on 3 listings with the same tags and see if views rise — if they do, your visuals were the issue, not your keywords.
3️⃣ How to Know Which Advice to Follow
Here’s the simple truth: if you can measure it, you can trust it.
Don’t blindly follow what someone says on TikTok just because they have 50,000 followers.
Instead:
✅ Track your data (Etsy stats, views, favourites, and conversion rate).
✅ Test one variable at a time (so you know what caused the change).
✅ Give it 2–4 weeks — Etsy takes time to adjust.
✅ Keep notes — even a simple spreadsheet works wonders.
If something improves your numbers, keep it.
If not, ditch it.
You don’t need permission from a guru — your data is your best teacher.
4️⃣ Not All “Gurus” Are Equal
Let’s be honest — a lot of Etsy gurus built success in one niche and then started teaching Etsy in general.
That doesn’t automatically make them wrong, but it does mean their strategies might not translate to your type of shop.
The advice that works beautifully for a handmade candle business might flop for a digital planner seller or a printable invitation shop.
When looking for people to learn from, pay attention to:
✅ Sellers who’ve built multiple successful shops across different niches.
✅ Educators who show data, testing, and examples instead of just opinions.
✅ Creators who admit that Etsy changes — and that no strategy is “forever.”
Those are the voices worth following.
5️⃣ The Only Universal Rule That Actually Works
Focus on creating listings that buyers want, presented clearly, and backed by consistent effort.
That’s it.
That’s the magic formula every “expert” is trying to package differently.
Etsy rewards activity, good customer experience, and products that convert. The rest? Just details.
✨ Final Thought
The next time you hear a new “Etsy secret” on social media, don’t panic or pivot your entire shop overnight.
Pause.
Ask yourself:
- Does this advice make sense for my products?
- Can I test it and measure the results?
- Do I have data that already answers this question?
Trust your instincts, your experience, and your shop stats.
Because at the end of the day, the best Etsy expert you can follow is… you. 💛