📢Shut Down Proof Your Etsy Shop📢
Last week, I cleaned house on Etsy and reported several shops that were blatantly selling my original images. Since then—surprise, surprise—I’ve received three copyright notices. Two of them are completely bogus. I created those designs using DALL·E and Photoshop with my own hands, and yes, I have the receipts. Funny how after I reported one of those shops for using five of my designs, their shop got shut down…and now here comes the retaliation. I actually reached out to them and sure enough it was retaliation. But instead of getting mad, I want to show you how I’m staying ready—just in case—and how you can too. Here's how to stay two steps ahead if Etsy tries to play with your store: 🔒 1. Remove Anything Risky: If you're still holding onto designs that could even look like copyright material—let them go. And definitely don’t upload anything new that falls in the gray zone. 📥 2. Back Up Your Customer List: Use an email extractor tool (like the one I shared in a previous post) to download your customer emails. You want to own your audience—not rent it from Etsy. 🌐 3. Secure a Domain Name: Get a custom domain from GoDaddy and forward it to your Etsy shop. I use www.eboss247designs.com. That way, if Etsy ever shuts your shop down, I can simply point that domain to a new site—and none of my links or promo materials across the internet are wasted. 📂 4. Organize Your Files on Google Drive: Keep your entire collection—including your D3 images—organized in Google Drive. If Etsy ever pulls the plug, you can bundle your entire shop as a digital download and sell it directly. You worked hard to build that shop—don’t let it disappear without a backup plan. 🔁 5. Diversify Where You Sell: Don’t keep all your eggs in the Etsy basket. Upload your digital files to Stan Store, Payhip, Shopify, or your own website. This way, if Etsy ever disappears, your business doesn't. 📸 6. Use Unique Mockups: Avoid using the same mockups that come with bundles or freebies. Etsy’s algorithm detects duplicate visuals, and using custom mockups helps you stand out and stay compliant.