My Opinion:
I am going to be super honest here: I am frankly tired of this argument. I really want to say to everyone that’s ever had a black or white opinion on the topic, “Let’s stop trying to convince people that one way is necessarily better than the other.”
#HANDMADESELLER 55
Because it’s not.
If Etsy was the best answer, then all successful handmade shops would be Etsy shops. If having your own website was the best answer, then no Etsy shops would be successful.
We all know that’s ridiculous. Some shops do very well on Etsy and others thrive off their own website. It sucks because it means that you have to make a choice, which is so much harder than letting someone convince you of which way to go, but it’s also exciting! It means you get to decide what you want to do with your shop and what’s best for your specific situation.
Please never let anyone convince you that their way is the best way simply because it has worked well for them (and especially not if it’s because they’re selling a course on it).
Instead, consider what we’ve covered together in this article (technical learning curve, branding, pricing, positioning, etc.) and decide what is best for your specific situation.
The good news? You can have a WILDLY successful shop no matter what you decide.
Finally, if you need help with this, reach out to me! I am always happy to help and to give you unbiased advice.