Have you ever noticed the alt text field when uploading photos to your Etsy listings and wondered whether you really need to fill it out?

In this episode of What You're Wondering, I'm explaining what alt text is, why it matters for accessibility and SEO, and how Etsy is using AI to automatically generate image descriptions for sellers.

I'll also share how to check whether Etsy has already added alt text to your listing photos, what to look for in those AI-generated descriptions, and what I recommend doing moving forward, whether you're creating your first few listings or already have hundreds in your shop.

If you've been skipping the alt text field, this episode will help you figure out what deserves your attention and where Etsy may already be saving you some time.

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Which tools do you really need to start and grow an Etsy print-on-demand business, and which ones are worth paying for?

In this episode of The Modern Etsy Seller, I'm sharing ten tools and platforms I use to run my own Etsy businesses. From researching product ideas and finding keywords to creating designs, managing personalized orders, and marketing my products, I'll walk you through what each tool does, how I use it, and what it costs.

I'll also share which free versions are worth trying, where I think a paid subscription makes sense, and which tools I'd recommend waiting on if you're just getting started.

Whether you're opening your first Etsy shop or looking for ways to make running your existing shop easier, this episode will help you decide which tools are worth exploring.

Resources Mentioned:

Print on demand provider: Printify*
Design Tool: Canva
Product Research: Everbee*
Keyword Reseach: E-rank*
Personalization: AnywherePOD*
Design Elements: Creative Fabrica*

*Affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I ONLY recommend products I personally use and love.

Episode 16: When to upgrade to Printify Premium

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Find me online: Website: melissacarroll.co Instagram: @TheModernEtsySeller

Enjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps other sellers find the show and means the world to me.

In this episode of What You're Wondering, I'm answering the question, "Should I participate in Etsy's sales events?" I'm explaining how Etsy's sales events work, where to sign up, and what participating could mean for your shop. I'm also sharing my experience from the past two years and why it's important to consider your profit margins, Etsy fees, and holiday shipping surcharges before committing to a discount.

Etsy's Cyber Specials runs November 23 through December 1, and October 27 is the deadline to opt in for consideration for Etsy's marketing features.

Want some personalized help with your Etsy shop?
I'm currently accepting applications for a FREE two-week Etsy coaching experience! If you're ready to figure out what's holding your shop back and what to focus on next, I'd love for you to apply.

Apply here: Coaching application link

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Find me online: Website: melissacarroll.co Instagram: @TheModernEtsySeller

Enjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps other sellers find the show and means the world to me.

In this episode of The Modern Etsy Seller, I'm breaking down the four core components of building and running an Etsy print-on-demand business:

• Foundation: Establishing the essential pieces of your business.
• Repeatable Product System: Researching, creating, listing, reviewing, and responding to build and improve your product catalog.
• Efficiency: Using systems, tools, AI, and other resources to make your work more manageable.
• Amplification: Finding additional ways to reach potential customers and bring traffic to your shop.

We'll talk about what each component involves, how they work together, and why you'll continue working within these different areas as your business grows.

FREE TWO-WEEK ETSY COACHING OPPORTUNITY

I'm looking for five Etsy print-on-demand sellers to participate in a free, two-week, one-on-one coaching sprint!

We'll identify a specific goal for your business, create a plan, and work together to help you make progress. You'll receive three private coaching sessions and Voxer messaging support between calls.

Applications close Friday, October 16, 2026.

Apply here: coaching application

EPISODES MENTIONED

• Episode 13: Show Up in Search (3S Listing Framework, Part 1)
• Episode 15: Stop the Scroll: How Your Listing Image Makes or Breaks the Sale
• Episode 17: Secure the Sale (3S Listing Framework, Part 3)
• Episode 27: The Two Background Systems I'd Set Up on Day One

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Find me online: Website: melissacarroll.co Instagram: @TheModernEtsySeller

Enjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps other sellers find the show and means the world to me.

Can digital products and print-on-demand products work together in the same Etsy shop?

In this episode of The Modern Etsy Seller, I’m breaking down when adding digital products to a POD business might make sense, when it probably doesn’t, and how the two can work together to serve the same customer.

We’ll look at examples across several different niches, compare the digital and POD business models, and talk about how this strategy could work for an established shop or an experienced seller starting a second one.

I’m also sharing a new tool from AnywhereDigital that caught my attention, especially if you’re interested in personalized digital products and creating more opportunities for customers to shop your related products.

If you’ve been wondering whether digital products could have a place in your Etsy POD business, this episode will help you decide.

Click to: Sign up for emails

Click to: Check Out Anywhere Digital

Click to: Check out AnywherePOD

These are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and I ONLY affiliate with companies I truly love and trust!

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Find me online: Website: melissacarroll.co Instagram: @TheModernEtsySeller

Enjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps other sellers find the show and means the world to me.

In this episode of What You’re Wondering, I'm answering the question, "Can I Have More Than One Etsy Shop?" I’m covering Etsy’s rules for owning multiple shops, when a second shop might make sense, and when keeping everything together may be the better choice.

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Find me online: Website: melissacarroll.co Instagram: @TheModernEtsySeller

Enjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps other sellers find the show and means the world to me.

Scam messages are especially common when you’re a new Etsy seller—and they can be surprisingly convincing.

In this episode of What You’re Wondering, I’m answering the question: How can I tell if an Etsy message is a scam?

I’ll walk you through some of the most common scam messages Etsy sellers receive, including fake buyers claiming they need your email address or asking you to click a link or scan a QR code to complete a purchase, as well as scammers pretending to be Etsy Support.

You’ll also learn two simple checks you can use anytime a message seems suspicious: how to verify whether you actually received an order and how to tell whether a message claiming to be from Etsy is legitimate.

If you’re a newer Etsy seller—or you’ve ever received a message that made you wonder, Is this real?—this quick episode will help you know what to look for and what to do next.

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Find me online: Website: melissacarroll.co Instagram: @TheModernEtsySeller

Enjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps other sellers find the show and means the world to me.

Etsy has rolled out another round of seller updates, and there are some really useful changes in this one.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the September 2026 Etsy updates that I think sellers need to know about, including changes to personalization and Custom Options, the long-awaited third variation, new Shop Stats graphs, Etsy Ads groups, Shared Access, listing appeals, and more.

I’ll walk you through what’s changed, how some of these new features can make running your shop easier, and a few important things POD sellers should know before using them. Plus, we’ll talk about Etsy’s new test that could turn eligible digital purchases into physical prints—and why there are still a lot of questions around that one.

If you sell on Etsy, this episode will help you get caught up on the changes worth knowing about without having to dig through all of Etsy’s announcements yourself.

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Have a question for What You're Wondering? Submit it to melissacarroll.co/question

Find me online: Website: melissacarroll.co Instagram: @TheModernEtsySeller

Enjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps other sellers find the show and means the world to me.