📢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.

🧠 7. Educate Your Buyers: Let your audience know you also sell direct on your own website. A flyer in the downloads with your contact information outside of Etsy keeps your brand strong and traffic flowing outside of Etsy.

If you’ve been in this game long enough, you know that setbacks are part of the process. But when you stay prepared, they don’t stop you—they sharpen you. 💪🏽 Comment "Stay Ready" if you are implementing these tips ASAP.

Let’s keep building smarter.

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