If you’re new to selling on Etsy you probably want to learn as much as you can. The good news is that there is so much valuable information out there for free. I was very grateful for this as it really helped me when I was starting out. I pretty much watched YouTube videos obsessively for a while there!
However…
I’m writing this article for 2 reasons:
- Not everyone is trustworthy and I want to help you to not get scammed by being aware of warning signs.
- Conversely, others are genuinely helpful and experienced but unfairly get lumped into this “fake guru” category. I would love for people to be more discerning and to understand that there is a difference.
So let’s get into the warning signs that an Etsy guru might be a bit suss.
Do they actually have a successful history on Etsy?
Ideally they would share screenshots of their revenue and sales. To decide how successful you consider them to be, you would need to bear in mind the time period and the profit margin. For example, print-on-demand sellers might only keep 20–40% in profit, while digital sellers might keep closer to 80%.
Should they share their shop name? It’s not unusual that they won’t share it as there are so many copycats on Etsy. It can be a big risk to their shop. This is the reason I don’t share mine either.
Are they selling an overpriced course?
Courses can be helpful for people who to prefer to learn in this structured way. But does the course cost thousands of dollars? Are they using high pressure sales tactics to get you to sign up immediately? Are they not offering refunds? These are all serious red flags.
Does everything they write or say sound like AI?
I would strongly question their actual knowledge and experience if their words appear to be coming from a chat bot. I don’t know if that’s my personal bias against AI writing, but I feel like if you understand the topic well, writing about it should come easily.
Do they seem to help people genuinely?
This might be in a community or a comments section. Are they engaging with people genuinely without every piece of advice being a sales pitch?
Do they make claims that seem too good to be true?
Are they claiming you’ll make a large amount of money in a short time (aka get rich quick)? In fact, anyone who puts a dollar value on what you will make by following their advice is highly suspicious. No one can promise you outcomes like that. Even more shady if they position it as, “the course costs $2000, but you’ll make $5000 in your first month so you’ll get it all back and more!” Stay far away from this one.
Do they have a reputation?
Look them up. I’d recommend searching on Reddit as people are brutally honest on there. Is there a disproportionate number of people warning against someone? Probably best to listen to that advice.
Final thoughts
Some Etsy gurus are more trustworthy than others. Take what they say with a grain of salt and look out for warning signs. If everything seems good, happy learning!
Just be careful if money is involved. Make sure you’re confident before making a purchase, particularly if it is a large one. If your gut is telling you something seems off, put the credit card away.