MY PROMISE TO YOU
If it's on this page, I've tested it in my own shop first
Every tool here has been through my own business first. If it didn't save me time, make me money, or make my shop easier to run, it didn't make the list. Simple as that.
Heads up: some of these are affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission if you buy (at no extra cost to you). That never decides what I recommend. My students' results do.
FIND YOUR STAGE
The right tool at the right time
Buying every tool on day one is how shops get overwhelmed (and broke). Start where you are, then add the next tool when you reach the next stage.
Open Your Shop
You're just getting started. Your focus is great designs, products people actually want, and listings buyers can find. Keep your tools simple (and cheap).
STAGE
01
Scale Beyond Etsy
Your shop runs like a business. Time to build your own store, teach what you know, and set up systems so growth doesn't depend on you doing everything.
STAGE
03
Get Consistent Sales
Your shop is making sales and you want them steady. Now it's about better SEO, more traffic, an email list, and content that brings buyers back.
STAGE
02
Highly Recommended
TOOLS of the Trade
STAGE 1 · DESIGN
Canva
Where every one of my designs starts. Mockups, listing photos, Pinterest pins, and printables all live here. The free plan is a great start, and Pro pays for itself fast.
NANCY'S PICK
STAGE 1 · DESIGN
Kittl
My go-to for print-on-demand designs. Fonts, templates, and text effects that make shirt and mug designs look pro, even if you don't call yourself a designer.
CODE NANCY25 · 25% OFF
STAGE 1 · PRINT ON DEMAND
Printify
Print-on-demand without the inventory. Connect it to Etsy, upload your designs, and Printify prints and ships every order for you.
NANCY'S PICK
STAGE 1 · ETSY RESEARCH + SEO
Alura
The Etsy research tool I recommend most. Find products that actually sell, check keywords, and write listings buyers can find.
NANCYFRIENDS · 15% OFF
STAGE 2 · PINTEREST TRAFFIC
Pingenerator
Turns your listings into Pinterest pins in minutes. It's an easy way to keep fresh traffic flowing to your shop without spending hours designing pins.
NANCY'S PICK
STAGE 2 · AI CONTENT
Poppy AI
My AI content sidekick. Drop in videos, docs, and ideas, and it helps turn them into scripts, captions, and posts way faster.
CODE NANCY · $25 OFF
STAGE 2 · EMAIL MARKETING
Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
The email platform I run my whole list on. Your email list is the one audience no algorithm can take away, and Kit makes it simple to grow.
NANCY'S PICK
STAGE 3 · YOUR OWN STORE
Shopify
For when you're ready for a shop you fully own. Build your brand outside of Etsy, keep more of every sale, and own your customer list.
