How To Be A Handmade Boss

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Whether you’re a complete beginner on Etsy, or want to scale your handmade business to multi-6 figures, the “How To Be A Handmade Boss” podcast gives you actionable advice and workshop style full length episodes to grow your handmade business on Etsy and beyond.We get it. Starting or growing a handmade business can be really overwhelming, and sometimes you feel like you have an expensive hobby rather than a profitable business. If you have questions like “How can I make sales in my business?” “How do I start a handmade shop?” “How can I make this passion my full-time gig?” or “How do I sell my crafts online” then you’re in the right place boss!I’m Steph, a multi 6-figure handmade business owner (in the top 0.1% of all shops on Etsy), bestselling author of “How to be a handmade boss”, visionary and coach behind Handmade Bosses. However, It wasn’t always rainbows and unicorns though. Today, my business(es) are bustling, but way back in 2014 when I started, it was HARD. Favourites but no sales, slow sales and low profits seemed in the beginning, like the trajectory of my business. Luckily following the system I’ve now curated, All of that changed and I went full-time in my handmade business in 2016.Let’s focus on turning your passion into profit, because the world really does need these special creations that you only bring to life.

Steph Cole-Lewis


    • May 14, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 27m AVG DURATION
    • 59 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from How To Be A Handmade Boss

    Why Your Sales Are Inconsistent (And How to Fix It for Good)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 16:02


    How the Threads Algorithm REALLY Works (And What to Do About It)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 9:45


    If you've been posting on Threads and wondering why some posts take off while others flop... you're not alone. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how the Threads algorithm works (spoiler: it's NOT just a copy of Instagram's).We'll chat about what Threads looks for when deciding what to show people, the role of engagement (and what kind of engagement actually matters) and why posting more isn't necessarily the answer.I'm also sharing simple, practical tips you can use right now to boost your reach, without needing to go viral or burn yourself out trying.✨ In this episode:✔️ How Threads decides what shows up in feeds✔️ The key signals the algorithm looks for✔️ What content performs best (and why)✔️ Actionable ways to work with the algorithmWhether you're brand new to Threads or feeling a bit stuck, this episode will give you clarity and confidence to grow!

    How Jen Turned Her Craft Hobby Into a Real Business – The Honest Journey of Indy Bee Crafts

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 32:50


    In this uplifting episode, I'm chatting with the lovely Jen from Indy Bee Crafts, one of our Handmade Business Success Academy (HBSA) students, about her real and raw journey from craft hobbyist to small business owner.Jen opens up about:

    Cracking the Code: How the Facebook Group Algorithm Really Works

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 11:13


    How the Pinterest Algorithm Really Works (and How to Use It to Boost Sales)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 10:42


    Welcome back to How to Be a Handmade Boss! If you've been sleeping on Pinterest, it's time to wake up because this visual search engine is a goldmine for handmade business owners who want consistent, long-term traffic and sales.In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how the Pinterest algorithm works and how you can make it work for you and unlock the secrets to turning your passion into profit. We'll cover:✨ What the algorithm actually looks for (spoiler: it's not followers)✨ Discover the importance of SEO and keywords, fresh content, saves and clicks, and consistency.✨ The biggest mistakes that are secretly killing your reach✨ How different pin types serve different purposes... from Idea Pins to Rich Pins✨ How often to post, what to post, and how to make your pins go further✨ The #1 thing that will help you get more saves, clicks, and traffic over timeIf you're ready to ditch the constant hustle of social media and tap into a platform that works while you sleep, hit play now.

    How the Instagram Algorithm Really Works in 2025 (for Handmade Business Owners)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 12:46


    #52 How the Facebook page algorithm works

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 16:57


    #51 - REAL TALK Does the HBSA actually work?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 14:25


    #50 - 'The perfect journey' for our HBSA Student Heather

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 47:07


    #49 The beginners guide to Pinterest for handmade business owners

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 28:37


    #48 - How to keep going when you're not seeing results - AMA (Ask Me Anything)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 20:53


    #47 - Your 7-Day Affirmations Challenge

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 12:00


    #46 - Learn how HBSA student Laura turned her passion into a business

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 28:59


    #45 - Marketing has changed since 2020. Here's what's working now (backed by research)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 14:53


    #44 - The Communication Game: Should You Speak with 'We' or 'I'?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 19:45


    #43 - Unlock Effortless Social Media Growth: Proven Strategies that Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 20:19


    #42 - Here's how to have a calm marketing strategy for your handmade business

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 22:09


    #41 - Unlock Peak Sales After Christmas: Tips to Thrive in the New Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 33:25


    #40 - Unlock Extraordinary Business and Personal Growth with My Proven Dream Board Method

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 32:54


    #39 - I Failed. How Ignoring My Own Advice Led to Burnout — Lessons Learned

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2025 41:23


    #38 - Crafting Success: Charly's Journey to Niche Mastery and Business Resilience

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 41:11


    #37 - GPSR, Is Etsy's $£ down? Instagram scams and things you need to know - The BIG Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 27:15


    #36 - Unlock Your Handmade Business Potential: What's Holding You Back?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 26:32


    #35 - How to succeed in your handmade business with ADHD

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 28:24


    #34 - "A year ago I was listing something on Etsy, finding it wasn't selling and having a panic attack" HBSA student Tara's honest conversation about her business then and now

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 29:48


    #33 What to Do When Someone Steals Your Designs: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 18:26


    #32 - Don't Give Up on Your Handmade Business Dreams – This Can Help!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 39:22


    #31 - How to Seamlessly Take a Month Off and Keep Your Business Running

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 26:54


    #30 - The BIG Ecommerce World Updates for Etsy and Instagram: Everything You Need to Know

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 16:38


    #29 - How My Husband REALLY Feels About My Handmade Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 67:52


    #28 How Joining HBSA Boosted Vicky's Conversion Rate From 0.2% to 5.4% - An interview with HBSA student Vicky

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 44:22


    #27 - How I Built Lasting Friendships As A Handmade Business Owner

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 29:02


    #26 - What is a social media home hub and how do you find yours?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 19:13


    #25 Discover Why Leigh Calls The HBSA a "Business Hug" for Students

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 27:33


    #23 Skyrocket Your Handmade Business Sales with These Proven Strategies

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 19:28


    #22 Discover Your Target Audience: Tips for Online Handmade Business Owners

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 20:16


    #21 - The BIG Update - Ecommerce world update - Etsy, Shopify, Instagram, Canva & Pinterest

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 36:59


    #20 - Handmade business sales dropped? WTF is going on!?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 39:26


    #19 The HBSA "helped us get set up properly right off the bat... it's a really nice community that makes it a little bit easier to not just be stuck in business by yourself" Diversifying Your Handmade Business with Erik

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 31:43


    #18 - What should I pay myself, as a handmade business owner?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 26:59


    #17 - How to stop overwhelm in your handmade business

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 17:56


    #16 - This is why your handmade business is HARD (business lessons part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 40:32


    ⭐️ Back for more handmade business help? 

    #15 "Joining the HBSA was, hand on heart, the best thing I've done" Live with Handmade Bosses student Pash

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 27:51


    #14 - The HARD Handmade Business Lessons NOONE Talks About

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 34:45


    #13 - The BIG Update - Ecommerce world update - Etsy, Shopify, Instagram, etc

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 33:03


    #12 - My first LIVE episode answering your handmade business and Etsy questions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 49:51


    #11 "There's something about you that clicked...and I invested in myself" ... Live with Handmade Bosses student Karen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 37:38


    #10 - When should I start an email list?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 18:44


    Are you wondering when to start your email list? In this episode I'll be helping you decide when the time is right for you and your handmade business. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, we'll guide you through everything you need to know about starting an email list. Tune in for expert advice to help you make the most of this powerful marketing tool.Struggling to list stuff that actually sells?  Join our FREE Listathon challenge starting June 3rd at handmadebosses.com/listathon. Learn to list more + sell more! It's not too late to join for all the juicy help :) 

    #9 - Can you have a handmade business without social media?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 22:13


    A question I'm asked on a regular basis is "do I have to be on social media to make sales in my handmade business?" Join us as we explore this intriguing question.From examining the reasons why you might have resistance to social media marketing, to alternative marketing strategies and discussing the pros and cons of social media presence. We'll help you determine if going social-free is a viable option for your handmade business. Remember, you're the boss - your marketing strategy needs to suit you, your life and what you want to do in your handmade business. Tune in for valuable insights that might just reshape your approach to digital marketing.Struggling to list stuff that actually sells?  Join our FREE Listathon challenge starting June 3rd at handmadebosses.com/listathon. Learn to list more + sell more!

    #8 - When should you trademark your business?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 17:47


    Are you wondering when to trademark your handmade business? Tune in as we break down the ins and outs of trademarking. From what a trademark is, how to trademark your business, understanding the importance of protecting your brand, and more. We've got you covered, including the pros and cons of trademarking your handmade business.  We'll help you answer the question 'is it worth trademarking my handmade business?'Don't miss out on this episode packed with valuable insights to help safeguard your handmade business identity.Struggling to list stuff that actually sells?  Join our FREE Listathon challenge starting June 3rd at handmadebosses.com/listathon. Learn to list more + sell more!

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