Etsy FINALLY has a Competitor

Summary

In this video, Etsy coach Starla Moore explores the platform's alternatives, focusing on Go Imagine, a marketplace for handmade and digital businesses. Despite its low traffic, Go Imagine stands out for its seller-focused approach and commitment to charity. Moore interviews CEO John Link, discussing the platform's growth strategy, the Mosaic website builder, and the benefits of supporting a self-owned marketplace over shareholder-driven ones. She emphasizes the importance of community support for Go Imagine's success in the handmade industry.

Takeaways

• 🚫 The speaker, Starla Moore, emphasizes her unbiased approach to discussing Etsy's pros and cons, despite being an Etsy coach.
• 🔍 Starla has researched various Etsy alternatives and found that none come close to Etsy's global ranking in traffic.
• 🌟 She highlights 'Go Imagine' as a promising alternative marketplace for handmade and digital businesses, with a strong emphasis on sellers.
• 📉 Concerns are raised about Go Imagine's low traffic, which has led some sellers to close their shops.
• 🤝 Starla met with Go Imagine's CEO, John Link, to discuss the platform's values and long-term growth plans.
• 🤔 John Link emphasizes the importance of handmade work and the company's focus on supporting children in need through charity.
• 🛍️ Go Imagine offers a Mosaic plan for $10/month, allowing sellers to build a custom website and remain within the marketplace.
• 📈 Despite skepticism, Go Imagine reported a 28% increase in traffic year over year, contrasting with the flat or declining trends in e-commerce.
• 🛑 Starla acknowledges the cons of Go Imagine, such as its current limitation to US sellers and handmade products only.
• 🌱 She discusses the benefits of Go Imagine being self-owned, seller-focused, and having a strict application process for sellers.
• ✅ Starla commits to supporting Go Imagine and announces the integration of bonus content for Go Imagine sellers in her Etsy coaching program.

Q & A

What is the main concern of Etsy sellers regarding the platform?

The main concern of Etsy sellers is the negative buzz surrounding the platform and whether it's time to consider other marketplaces due to dissatisfaction with Etsy's treatment of sellers.

What is the role of Starla Moore in the Etsy community?

Starla Moore is the founder of the Handmade Alpha Academy for Etsy Sellers and manager at eRank.com, Etsy's most popular SEO tool. She is also an unbiased coach focusing on both the good and bad aspects of the marketplace.

What is the name of the Etsy alternative mentioned in the script?

The Etsy alternative mentioned in the script is called Go Imagine.

What are the key differences between Etsy and Go Imagine?

Go Imagine is a platform exclusively for handmade and digital businesses, with a strong emphasis on the actual sellers. Unlike Etsy, Go Imagine is self-owned, seller-focused, and has no plans to go public. It also has a charity focus, directing profits towards children in need.

Why did Starla Moore schedule a meeting with Go Imagine's CEO, John Link?

Starla Moore scheduled a meeting with John Link to discuss Go Imagine's values, long-term plans for growth, and to understand why sellers should invest their time and effort into this platform.

What is Go Imagine's stance on handmade products?

Go Imagine believes in the authenticity of handmade products, emphasizing that they should be made by hand, not mass-produced or created with tools like Canva or AI.

How does Go Imagine plan to address the issue of buyer traffic?

Go Imagine plans to focus on buyer acquisition after building a strong foundation of sellers. They are also offering a $10 per month Mosaic plan that allows sellers to build a custom website, which can be advertised to their audience while still being included within the shoppable marketplace.

What are some of the cons of selling on Go Imagine according to the script?

Some cons include that Go Imagine is currently only available for sellers in the US, it is only for handmade and digital products, and it is still in its growth phase, which means it may not have the same traffic as Etsy.

What is the Mosaic plan offered by Go Imagine and what are its benefits?

The Mosaic plan is a $10 per month service offered by Go Imagine that allows sellers to build a custom website for their products. It is cheaper than Shopify's basic plan and includes listings within the Go Imagine marketplace, providing a professional atmosphere for the brand.

How does Go Imagine support its sellers and what resources does it provide?

Go Imagine supports its sellers by providing a familiar interface, an updated listing builder, and a community app where sellers can interact and get updates from the CEO. They also offer resources and assistance for sellers who decide to join Go Imagine.

What is Starla Moore's stance on Go Imagine and how does she plan to support it?

Starla Moore is personally standing with Go Imagine and plans to incorporate bonus content for Go Imagine sellers into her Etsy coaching program. She is also inviting Go Imagine's CEO to join her community to provide resources and answer questions for her students.