Thanks SO MUCH for the clarifications, updates and entertaining banter. I really appreciate all the massive amounts of time that you spend to research, prep, and present UA-cam videos for us out here trying to navigate ETSY. By the way Starla, you are an intelligent and beautiful woman. Just wanted you to hear that.
Unfortunately Etsy has penalized shops, already ours included. This occurred very quickly following the release. They have stated they will not clarify what you did wrong. . . They won't clarify how often they are going to remove for creativity policy. It is not clarification. They continuing to randomly remove listings with a bare notice and a warning that once removed for creativity you will not be able to list that item again. I was told by Etsy Help\feedback that they will not address these questions unless a large amount of sellers call and ask that clarifications be given to sellers. Please do.
I don't sell them, but I have purchased them, and I highly, HIGHLY disagree that AI prompts are lazy. Not everyone can write good prompts. It's a art form and skill all on its own. Someone buying an AI prompt is literally no different than someone buying clipart. It's a tool to make their work process quicker. If purchasing AI prompts is lazy, then so is buying clipart, templates, or any other tools purchased to use in your final product.
As always, loving the nuggets you give us. I am handmade and appreciate all of the info you and Mr. consistently share with us!!! This is very appreciated. You and your fellow You tubers keep us all in a good place and keep us moving forward. Thanks again!!
Thank you so much for all the info, I'm always looking forward to your videos and it really feels so comforting and helpful to have someone being there for you whenever Etsy is not clear! ❤ as for the photos for pod, personally I will not panic, because Etsy knows how pod works and would be absurd to ask for photos of EVERY finished product, no matter if it's first image or not, you would still need a sample of every design... hundreds, thousands of designs...and if I show a first image with a design in a particular way, but I offer design variations for other colors of the product, that first image will still not represent how the other variations will really look like on the other colors and so on, there are soo many possible scenarios...I do believe that as long as you have photos from mockup sellers that are the real deal, then the end result should be very similar to what the customers will receive... plus to make sure we adjust the transparency accordingly, I set mine at around 85% sometimes even going between 75-80, depending on the mockup's brightness. Another thing we can do is to buy mockups that are not too wrinkled, but not to square either, that do not have too many things in the way of your design, so when we place our designs, it looks as realistic as possible.
Long post alert - go for a pee if you need to 😆 Love you guys & hate dropshippers on Etsy too btw... and in regards to the “..sometimes you just say dumb stuff..” comment: I could not agree more - we all do it, and it’s actually what finally prompted me to start my own channel 2 years ago. So here’s some context: • a long time ago I had “another company or person” AND (obviously) the Production Partner added (that has always been a MUST ever since Production Partners were finally permitted officially) • my shop was suspended because it looked to Etsy like i had ZERO hand in the creation of the DESIGN (when you do POD, it is, and has always been about the DESIGN) and I had to show a selfie of me, in my office, holding a piece of paper with that day’s date and time on it with a certain number they gave me written too, in front of my computer with one of my designs open on-screen to prove that “I did” create the design • once validated a few days later, i was instructed to select “I did” for who created it (not “another company or person”), because, as you can guess, I actually DID create the design Fast forward 3 years: • This came up again in my FB group. I asked Etsy to confirm again (not only for proof, but most importantly to make sure what I was saying was accurate). They confirmed that if you use a Production Partner, you must at the very least select “I did” to indicate that you (obviously) did create the design. They also said to make sure that I select “I design everything myself” from within the recently changed Production Partner options and to also pick “They do everything for me” (which they cited was precisely why i had to select “I did” at the very start). • Another 1.5-2 years later I asked “is it still “i did” even though it clearly says “i design everything myself” in my production partner section? Seems redundant.” “Yes”, they said. Fine. Whatever. Who really cares? • Let’s jump ahead another 1.5 years to about 10 days ago. I actually screen recorded this time too. They took a while and had to ask a superior for clarification.. Same reply. I shared it in the Printify group and in a video on my channel • Yesterday: 3 more members of my community confirmed the same (one of them 3 times with 3 different support staff) because again, i suggested that they go to the source • Also Yesterday: one of those members got a reply from an Etsy support person who actually does POD. They said that’s even what THEY did too. They also said to select “Computerized tools..”, and to also select “An AI generator” if any element of the design is made with AI, which makes sense. This option is not there if you do not select “I did”. • Today: 10 of 11 answers from Etsy to people in my community all say the same thing (Aside from one bot - to which i say, “ask for a human”). Does Etsy support sometimes get it wrong? Of course. In this case they’re all on the same page. Are they all wrong? Possibly, but doubtful. The only answers that seem to differ are from some UA-camrs who are relatively new to the POD space and/or have just done what a 3rd party (their POD Provider of choice or some other UA-camr, perhaps) has suggested. I’m not sure how many more times people need any sort of “proof” or whatnot, and I’m done looking haha.. Life’s too short and this isn’t a competition, but i’m going to continue doing what Etsy has always, and continues to say to do.. and I’m obviously going to continue suggesting that we all do what Etsy says to do. I’m not pulling things out of the air here folks - in fact, quite the opposite, and nothing has changed in this regard. Please rest assured that if Etsy changes their mind and says overwhelmingly otherwise, I will also relay that language too - because it’s what’s best for the community. Full stop. Now, could things change? Of course! Could they have changed since yesterday? Absolutely. Could they have changed as of the time of me writing this? Sure. The POD landscape had changed immensely in my nearly 11 years of POD. Yes, Etsy’s rules have changed in that time too (not much with regards to POD though, aside from no longer needing a form filled out separately to get a Production Partner approved). Could this comment come back and bite me in the a-$? Maybe, but as it stands, it’s what Etsy says to do. Will i keep suggesting to do what Etsy says to do? Another resounding and obvious “yes”. Since you guys disagree, and since you also have contacts at Etsy, can you please: 1) Tell us who told you to put “Another company or person” and then 2) ask Etsy? I trust that you’ll also relay my findings above to Etsy for context. I’ve bulleted it so their support can easily digest it - we all know every little bit helps over there that way ;) Happy Friday folks - Keep fighting the good fight & have a great weekend!
The sources by a seller for POD is stating that if a buyer comes to you and wants their own design or photo they created put on a mug or a tee, that is what is sourced. Meaning you had no role in creating the design, you are just slapping a customers design on a product and printing for them. That is my understanding.
Thank you so much for outlining all this info! It's SO helpful! Once thing I'm still unsure of... What are your thoughts on photo listing requirements for digital templates that the customer personalizes, downloads and prints (e.g., gift tags, Christmas photo cards, editable back to school signs, birthday invitations) through online editing platforms like Corjl? Do we have to take real photos of each digital design or can we use a simple JPG mockup with plain background to show the item? Everything I've read refers to POD but these designs are different since customers edit themselves and print.
Another great video!!! Even before you posted this video, added the ai requirments to the needed listings. For those that don't already know, you can do in bulk. Taking this even a step further, for those listings created by hand without AI, added a quick note to those listings as well. I also hope that customers understand that an item with AI componants can still take hours to design. The only policy that may needs come clarification is the personalization; it seems a bit ridiculas that regular POD items can use stock, but personlized needs a physical product. Feedback for Etsy for sure.
Not sure if you covered this but is there any way to batch edit and change prior listings to reflect the creative update. I searched and didn’t see any way to do it. With over 400 items that’s gonna be painstaking. Also I noticed that editing an old listing to reflect these changes and it still shows as designed by instead of made by. Even after waiting a day it still didn’t update.
I kind of like the idea of the gift baskets, mixing my handmade items with other items, like my wax melts with a wax warmer. Of course, I don't make wax warmers, so this would be a fun starter gift.
About AI... I understand disclosing it if a person used AI to help create their design but what if designs were taken from Creative Fabrica to help make designs? It's not up to the Creative Fabrica buyer to decide that it was AI created even if it seems obvious. This is where things will be iffy. As you said "fill things out as best as you can".
"real deal'' to me means an actual finished product which can be done via a mock-up. The shut downs happen in my opinion because those mock-ups aren't the actual product (brand of tee) in their photos.
That is not my interpretation of personalized/customized POD. I think it just still stands that It is prohibited to use a photo of the blank product or a mockup with placeholder text (e.g. “Your Text Here”) as the main image. If the mock-up shows an actual finished product it should be fine. That is my interpretation. You pushed back to the "sourced by" slide that says no stock or commercial images. Which makes sense. If you make a gift basket of sourced products that want you to take the photos of what is included no stock photos from another site of the included products.
I am finally catching up and watching. You mentioned that you needed permission to use the personalized/custom product of a buyer. I think this was interpreted wrong. It only states "review photo" no where does it say that you can't take a photo of a personalized/custom photo, at least that I can see. direct quote from the listing image requirements update from photos of personalized or custom items "If you would like to use a buyer’s REVIEW photo as a listing image, you need permission from the buyer. I take this as you can't use a photo the customer uploaded to a review without their permission. Thoughts?
So I have a question what if you get stuff made by a manufacturer but it gets sent to your house and you put it on cute packaging ? Alot of us get stuff made but there all from different manufacturers. Do we have to list every website that we get stuff made from? Or can we call it handmade
It is "Designed by" according to their TOS. As it is Etsy forums are full of sellers getting in trouble for saying they made an item where it was made by a partner. Buyers can contact etsy and point it out as false advertising and they get to keep the item while getting a refund. There were plenty of buyers doing that when Etsy started getting flooded by resellers. Also in many countries you need to disclose the country of manufacturing, so if it is made in China and you ship it from your house claiming it was made in the US you can get in trouble. Honesty is always the best on things like this.
The listing image requirements are the same for made by and designed by. My interpretation is that you can use a mock-up for the first thumbnail for POD if it accurately shows a personalized/customized "finished product" But your mock-ups need to be good and not look fake to make them look like an actual finished product! Too many bad and floaty mock-ups out there.
Starla I’m a crystal seller and Etsy changed my listings all to Hand Selected, but I heard you say crystals should be under sourced by. Should I go in and change all my listings? Thanks in advance for all your guidance
Someone may have already addressed this, but I think you can use photos you take of customized items you created for a customer as the first photo without asking the customer, it's the review photos you need to get permission for. (From Etsy: If you would like to use a buyer’s review photo as a listing image, you need permission from the buyer.) Is this correct? I hope so because I create custom dog sweatshirts and I offer over 74 different dog breeds. I don't have that many friends to make dog shirts for! lol I also don't want 74 random sweatshirts with dogs laying around my work room.
I caught part of the live but couldn't stay. So, according to the new guidelines, we're required to take our own photo of a real end product for personalized/custom items? If so, custom listings are "pay to play". Nice one, Etsy. 🤔
@25:03 New Update policy on Product placeholder text. I sell Digital Downloads. I have a listing for a digital art personalized custom order. My 1st image has a blank coin image base that I've created. Where people get a custom icon/symbol placed in the middle. My 1st listing photo currently has the text "Personalized Custom Coin Emote" Guessing this isn't allowed anymore? I don't know how else to really present my 1st listing photo now I could use my shop logo as the personalized image? If I change the image of the coin to like say my shop logo inside the coin... I don't want people getting dumb thinking THATS the download file they should be getting. Ive had to deal w/ some people like that in the past. lol
That is actually one of Marc's original compositions! I told him he should put a full length version on Spotify for everyone to listen to while they work. We've just been calling it "the Bean song". 😂❤️
I'm wondering if a buyer can still search for the term "vintage' and will it be a category they can select rather than searching for "hand picked"? For example, is Etsy doing away with the term "vintage" on the buyers end?
I'm honestly not sure. They didn't mention that. These classifications are not taking the place of categories such as Tshirts, mugs, etc. These are in addition to the categories.
Impossible! How to order 100 samples for each ornament or t-shirt, or personalized candle to take a photo of and which you can no longer use?! If these listings won't even sell, are we just making some costs for the sake of a real photo? And then eventually we will create a real, brick and mortar store to be able to sell these samples? Maybe Etsy is no longer for POD (and I think this even if they have become giants especially thanks to these small POD sellers). If this is what they ask of us, I will give up Etsy even though I worked a lot on these listings, I spent on mockups and all kinds of tools :( I don't want to store samples in my house. What about WASTE? What's the point with ONLINE platform and PRINT ON DEMAND? These will clash with the fact that we have to take REAL pictures of the personalized items. Maybe we should also look for a professional photographer to help us, to buy other elements to take the photos really attractive... No, that seems too much!! Etsy doesn't make our life easier, on the contrary!
I design workbooks, planners, journals, and books for my customers. I guess I’m an example of “sourced by” since I have a production partner make my item from scratch. No other item exists like it. Even down to paper weight, binding type, cover finish etc. I already have to order samples because each item is one of a kind.
You are 'designed by'. If you fill out the listing as 'another company/finished product/date' then it'll prompt you to add a production partner. Do that, filling out the questions as you don't have the tech, you design everything and they do everything. I just tested this now and it comes out as 'designed by'. You would only be 'sourced by' if you had no input at all.
@@karlamurphy9934 it's probably a 'glitch' on Etsy's end - or what I'd more accurately call 'sloppy bot coding'. I see a lot of stuff that should say 'made by', so I suppose it's either wait for Etsy to clean it up (and make sure your listing conveys you entirely designed this), or duplicate the listing and make a brand new one. Obvious downsides to that path, and Etsy earns 20c where it does not deserve it. This whole thing is a dumpster fire.
@StarlaMoore first, thank you SO much for this video as well as all of your others, always straight to the point and very clear! I do have a question in regards to my particular shop and situation. So I have a shop where I sell natural tea blends and single herbs. The majority of my herbs themselves are sourced literally from all over the world, however, I do also grow quite a few of my herbs myself, and I offer tea blends that are created by me based on my experience in herbalism. I know that quite a few of my competitor shops, literally buy herbs then simply repackage, which I do for some of my herbs as well, but how would I stand out from them when I actually grow my own herbs, and come up with my own tea blends? Thanks!
The policies aren't as befuddling as the new categorizations. I'm feeling a bit stuck in a gap: I sell prints of my art, painted with real paint on real paper, but I use POD to print them. I'm fairly certain my work will now be categorized as "designed by me," which is the same category as t-shirts sporting clipart.
@@akapoetry My understanding is that if you sold your customer the original painting on canvas, it’s “Made by”, but if you sent the image to a printing provider to mass produce, it’s “Designed by.”
@@akapoetry If you print it yourself though it would still count. I would suggest you use up one of your images in the listing to show that you painted the original BUT an POD handles the printing. Much of their new policy to is to combat the amount of buyers requesting refunds for false advertising. The forums are full of shops who are actually resellers where the customer complained, got a refund and got the keep the item and their shop was punished. Many people buying art prints know the artist doesn't always print them at home but want to make sure it isn't AI generated. :)
If you use AI to remove something, no. Background removal has been around for ages, the issue is AI generated, so if you add stuff to it that you didn't make you should disclose that it is edited with AI tools. So if you start with your own art and build up make sure to detail that. (Ex, I make my own art but use an AI to generate some of the effects used.)
@@wobbuffetbuffet That's why I was curious. Sometimes I take a photo that is great except the sky/lighting and if I am changing it most of those programs consider that to be AI, same as some of the upscaling apps out there.
Licensed cosmetologist here…that is not true. Washing your hair daily is not the problem. It’s using stripping drying shampoo that is the problem. Here’s the chemistry of it-oil is not moisture. Water is moisture and conditioner helps the hair absorb the moisture. Oil can only help keep moisture in but you can have dry oily hair! Hair needs water.
I do wonder about resin, resin earrings, resin necklace, resin statues, etc, where would that fall under? I assume it would be under the same as the 3d printing which would be handmade... etsy is kind of confusing they say one thing then say something different therefore contradicting themselves so therefore making it confusing with certain things, I want to sell some resin crafts at some point, it'll be a friend of minewho'll be working part time for me... I also want to do a gift basket with some of my handmade... With Ai I love coming up with prompts I saved a few that I like from my Ai prompts I'm going to get an Ai image made of my adopted kitty that we adopted 3weeks ago she's adorable...
Like you mentioned, I would assume that resin falls under the same classification as 3D-handmade. If you have a friend that will be working with/for you, be sure to list her in your shop's about section.
So i make some items at home like buttons and pins.. and some items i use POD for my design... For the listings that i actually make at home i need a photo if finished product as first image ? Or can i just do a video of me making it ? Sometimes its hard to photograph buttons well lol So far i dont see the badges in my listings But i am looking on the app as i am not at home
It seems so strange that, for example, if I create a design for, say a mug.. I can put that design on a mockup.. but if I take that exact same design in another listing for people to put their love one's name on it... I can't use a mockup? It's so strange.. I don't do customization, but I have a few ideas and was thinking of offering just a few, I'll be able to order some samples.. but for those who've built their business around this and have tons of listings, it is really going to effect their business... :( This is a crazy policy, imo...
Can someone explain how canva designers get high and mighty about AI when they are just remixing clip art they didn’t create with little effort. Most of them cranking out designs and products that look like cheap canva designs because let’s be honest they lack graphic design skills.
I’m a photographer and former web designer. But I never had great illustrative skills. I use AI to compensate for that but I don’t use it straight out of an AI. generator. I vectorize,clean up, combine elements, and add text in Adobe Illustrator.I may lack illustration skills but I have a great eye. With AI I can can produce professional grade graphic design in a fraction of the time. And it doesn’t look like cheap canvas designs that people with little to no design skills crank out Willie Nilly
In my opinion why not use the tools available to get the product. Not straight out of the box cleaned up crafted and combine with good desktop publishing skills. The fact is a illustrator takes days or a week to produce a single image simply can’t keep up with the Etsy’s hunger for as many products that the search algorithm demands out of shop owner to build up their product line.
I have no problem saying my work is assisted by AI…. At the end the day I want to present the very best product design. IMHO using sole canvas to remix produces substandard work. It may sell in mass production if marketed and niched but it just looks cheap to me. Call me an AI design snob if you must
From what I've seen on Etsy true illustrative artist are in the minority. If they are creating the entire image themselves they are likely silkscreening their work to produce a better product than DTG. They are true handmade artist and my hat is off to them. But POD Canva designers just need to get over themselves with respect to aI. They are not artist list silkscreen illustrators. They are remixing others work. I don';t just use the first thing out of an AI generator I run prompts over and over to find the best. Then I manipulate it with desktop publishing tools. Cleaning up elements, remixing and combing AI elements. If AI has to identify themselves I don't see why clip art remixers don't have to. Let's be honest that is just as much a stretch to the definition of handmade as AI is.
The only valid argument is that Canva designers are supporting graphic designer who create clip art or templates. Illustrators have issue with AI taking away their work at a high rate of pay to justify the hours they put in. AI works around the years it takes to develop those skills to produce similar quality with far less effort. Now those people have a right to complain. They have a valid point. But POD Canva designer don't because they are making a living off of other's work in the same way a AI designers just with different tools to compensate for lack of illustration skills.
Thanks SO MUCH for the clarifications, updates and entertaining banter. I really appreciate all the massive amounts of time that you spend to research, prep, and present UA-cam videos for us out here trying to navigate ETSY. By the way Starla, you are an intelligent and beautiful woman. Just wanted you to hear that.
Unfortunately Etsy has penalized shops, already ours included. This occurred very quickly following the release. They have stated they will not clarify what you did wrong. . . They won't clarify how often they are going to remove for creativity policy. It is not clarification. They continuing to randomly remove listings with a bare notice and a warning that once removed for creativity you will not be able to list that item again. I was told by Etsy Help\feedback that they will not address these questions unless a large amount of sellers call and ask that clarifications be given to sellers. Please do.
I love the different icons! It helped me navigate the video. Thanks!
I do not see any icons any where in my shop....?
The icons was just for my video to help everyone connect to what they do and know what applies to them. It's not an Etsy. Sorry for any confusion.
I don't sell them, but I have purchased them, and I highly, HIGHLY disagree that AI prompts are lazy. Not everyone can write good prompts. It's a art form and skill all on its own. Someone buying an AI prompt is literally no different than someone buying clipart. It's a tool to make their work process quicker. If purchasing AI prompts is lazy, then so is buying clipart, templates, or any other tools purchased to use in your final product.
Forgot to say a huge "thank you" for this discussion. It was very helpful. Y'all rock!
As always, loving the nuggets you give us. I am handmade and appreciate all of the info you and Mr. consistently share with us!!! This is very appreciated. You and your fellow You tubers keep us all in a good place and keep us moving forward. Thanks again!!
Thank you so much for all the info, I'm always looking forward to your videos and it really feels so comforting and helpful to have someone being there for you whenever Etsy is not clear! ❤ as for the photos for pod, personally I will not panic, because Etsy knows how pod works and would be absurd to ask for photos of EVERY finished product, no matter if it's first image or not, you would still need a sample of every design... hundreds, thousands of designs...and if I show a first image with a design in a particular way, but I offer design variations for other colors of the product, that first image will still not represent how the other variations will really look like on the other colors and so on, there are soo many possible scenarios...I do believe that as long as you have photos from mockup sellers that are the real deal, then the end result should be very similar to what the customers will receive... plus to make sure we adjust the transparency accordingly, I set mine at around 85% sometimes even going between 75-80, depending on the mockup's brightness. Another thing we can do is to buy mockups that are not too wrinkled, but not to square either, that do not have too many things in the way of your design, so when we place our designs, it looks as realistic as possible.
Long post alert - go for a pee if you need to 😆 Love you guys & hate dropshippers on Etsy too btw... and in regards to the “..sometimes you just say dumb stuff..” comment: I could not agree more - we all do it, and it’s actually what finally prompted me to start my own channel 2 years ago. So here’s some context:
• a long time ago I had “another company or person” AND (obviously) the Production Partner added (that has always been a MUST ever since Production Partners were finally permitted officially)
• my shop was suspended because it looked to Etsy like i had ZERO hand in the creation of the DESIGN (when you do POD, it is, and has always been about the DESIGN) and I had to show a selfie of me, in my office, holding a piece of paper with that day’s date and time on it with a certain number they gave me written too, in front of my computer with one of my designs open on-screen to prove that “I did” create the design
• once validated a few days later, i was instructed to select “I did” for who created it (not “another company or person”), because, as you can guess, I actually DID create the design
Fast forward 3 years:
• This came up again in my FB group. I asked Etsy to confirm again (not only for proof, but most importantly to make sure what I was saying was accurate). They confirmed that if you use a Production Partner, you must at the very least select “I did” to indicate that you (obviously) did create the design. They also said to make sure that I select “I design everything myself” from within the recently changed Production Partner options and to also pick “They do everything for me” (which they cited was precisely why i had to select “I did” at the very start).
• Another 1.5-2 years later I asked “is it still “i did” even though it clearly says “i design everything myself” in my production partner section? Seems redundant.” “Yes”, they said. Fine. Whatever. Who really cares?
• Let’s jump ahead another 1.5 years to about 10 days ago. I actually screen recorded this time too. They took a while and had to ask a superior for clarification.. Same reply. I shared it in the Printify group and in a video on my channel
• Yesterday: 3 more members of my community confirmed the same (one of them 3 times with 3 different support staff) because again, i suggested that they go to the source
• Also Yesterday: one of those members got a reply from an Etsy support person who actually does POD. They said that’s even what THEY did too. They also said to select “Computerized tools..”, and to also select “An AI generator” if any element of the design is made with AI, which makes sense. This option is not there if you do not select “I did”.
• Today: 10 of 11 answers from Etsy to people in my community all say the same thing (Aside from one bot - to which i say, “ask for a human”). Does Etsy support sometimes get it wrong? Of course. In this case they’re all on the same page. Are they all wrong? Possibly, but doubtful.
The only answers that seem to differ are from some UA-camrs who are relatively new to the POD space and/or have just done what a 3rd party (their POD Provider of choice or some other UA-camr, perhaps) has suggested.
I’m not sure how many more times people need any sort of “proof” or whatnot, and I’m done looking haha.. Life’s too short and this isn’t a competition, but i’m going to continue doing what Etsy has always, and continues to say to do.. and I’m obviously going to continue suggesting that we all do what Etsy says to do. I’m not pulling things out of the air here folks - in fact, quite the opposite, and nothing has changed in this regard.
Please rest assured that if Etsy changes their mind and says overwhelmingly otherwise, I will also relay that language too - because it’s what’s best for the community. Full stop.
Now, could things change? Of course! Could they have changed since yesterday? Absolutely. Could they have changed as of the time of me writing this? Sure. The POD landscape had changed immensely in my nearly 11 years of POD. Yes, Etsy’s rules have changed in that time too (not much with regards to POD though, aside from no longer needing a form filled out separately to get a Production Partner approved). Could this comment come back and bite me in the a-$? Maybe, but as it stands, it’s what Etsy says to do.
Will i keep suggesting to do what Etsy says to do? Another resounding and obvious “yes”.
Since you guys disagree, and since you also have contacts at Etsy, can you please:
1) Tell us who told you to put “Another company or person” and then
2) ask Etsy?
I trust that you’ll also relay my findings above to Etsy for context. I’ve bulleted it so their support can easily digest it - we all know every little bit helps over there that way ;)
Happy Friday folks - Keep fighting the good fight & have a great weekend!
Great stuff guys, I love you both! Have a fantastic holiday and good weather. Warm greetings from cold England :*
The sources by a seller for POD is stating that if a buyer comes to you and wants their own design or photo they created put on a mug or a tee, that is what is sourced. Meaning you had no role in creating the design, you are just slapping a customers design on a product and printing for them. That is my understanding.
Now THAT makes sense!
Thank you so much for outlining all this info! It's SO helpful! Once thing I'm still unsure of... What are your thoughts on photo listing requirements for digital templates that the customer personalizes, downloads and prints (e.g., gift tags, Christmas photo cards, editable back to school signs, birthday invitations) through online editing platforms like Corjl? Do we have to take real photos of each digital design or can we use a simple JPG mockup with plain background to show the item? Everything I've read refers to POD but these designs are different since customers edit themselves and print.
I love you guys!!! 100% 💯 drop shipping is a big problem in my niche!
thank you so much, still confused about some things ... but will just have to go with the flow for now.
Feel free to email me starla@handmadealphaacademy.com with any questions that you have, and I'll see if I can help.
@@StarlaMoore Hi Starla, I have sent you an email, cheers Wendy
Another great video!!! Even before you posted this video, added the ai requirments to the needed listings. For those that don't already know, you can do in bulk. Taking this even a step further, for those listings created by hand without AI, added a quick note to those listings as well. I also hope that customers understand that an item with AI componants can still take hours to design.
The only policy that may needs come clarification is the personalization; it seems a bit ridiculas that regular POD items can use stock, but personlized needs a physical product. Feedback for Etsy for sure.
Thanks for reminding everyone that the changes can be bulk! ❤️
Not sure if you covered this but is there any way to batch edit and change prior listings to reflect the creative update. I searched and didn’t see any way to do it. With over 400 items that’s gonna be painstaking. Also I noticed that editing an old listing to reflect these changes and it still shows as designed by instead of made by. Even after waiting a day it still didn’t update.
Can you use Graphics and Illustrations that you purchased on Creative Market that you use to design printable wall art?
I kind of like the idea of the gift baskets, mixing my handmade items with other items, like my wax melts with a wax warmer. Of course, I don't make wax warmers, so this would be a fun starter gift.
About AI... I understand disclosing it if a person used AI to help create their design but what if designs were taken from Creative Fabrica to help make designs?
It's not up to the Creative Fabrica buyer to decide that it was AI created even if it seems obvious. This is where things will be iffy. As you said "fill things out as best as you can".
"real deal'' to me means an actual finished product which can be done via a mock-up. The shut downs happen in my opinion because those mock-ups aren't the actual product (brand of tee) in their photos.
That is not my interpretation of personalized/customized POD. I think it just still stands that It is prohibited to use a photo of the blank product or a mockup with placeholder text (e.g. “Your Text Here”) as the main image. If the mock-up shows an actual finished product it should be fine. That is my interpretation. You pushed back to the "sourced by" slide that says no stock or commercial images. Which makes sense. If you make a gift basket of sourced products that want you to take the photos of what is included no stock photos from another site of the included products.
I am finally catching up and watching. You mentioned that you needed permission to use the personalized/custom product of a buyer. I think this was interpreted wrong. It only states "review photo" no where does it say that you can't take a photo of a personalized/custom photo, at least that I can see. direct quote from the listing image requirements update from photos of personalized or custom items "If you would like to use a buyer’s REVIEW photo as a listing image, you need permission from the buyer. I take this as you can't use a photo the customer uploaded to a review without their permission. Thoughts?
Thank you for the update. Quite informative ❤😊❤
You are most welcome! ❤️
A easy way to do this is to take the product and photoshop the name in, I believe you can do this in canva also.
Do you think you need to add it to the description about AI if you used ChatGTP to help you come up with phrase ideas, keywords and titles?
No, just your actual products.
So I have a question what if you get stuff made by a manufacturer but it gets sent to your house and you put it on cute packaging ? Alot of us get stuff made but there all from different manufacturers. Do we have to list every website that we get stuff made from? Or can we call it handmade
It is "Designed by" according to their TOS. As it is Etsy forums are full of sellers getting in trouble for saying they made an item where it was made by a partner. Buyers can contact etsy and point it out as false advertising and they get to keep the item while getting a refund.
There were plenty of buyers doing that when Etsy started getting flooded by resellers.
Also in many countries you need to disclose the country of manufacturing, so if it is made in China and you ship it from your house claiming it was made in the US you can get in trouble.
Honesty is always the best on things like this.
The listing image requirements are the same for made by and designed by. My interpretation is that you can use a mock-up for the first thumbnail for POD if it accurately shows a personalized/customized "finished product" But your mock-ups need to be good and not look fake to make them look like an actual finished product! Too many bad and floaty mock-ups out there.
what was the AI documentary you spoke about?
Starla I’m a crystal seller and Etsy changed my listings all to Hand Selected, but I heard you say crystals should be under sourced by. Should I go in and change all my listings? Thanks in advance for all your guidance
Are your crystals naturally made or synthetically made? That will make a difference in the classification.
@@StarlaMoore natural, I do hand select them at gem shows or through video calls with my suppliers
Someone may have already addressed this, but I think you can use photos you take of customized items you created for a customer as the first photo without asking the customer, it's the review photos you need to get permission for. (From Etsy: If you would like to use a buyer’s review photo as a listing image, you need permission from the buyer.) Is this correct? I hope so because I create custom dog sweatshirts and I offer over 74 different dog breeds. I don't have that many friends to make dog shirts for! lol I also don't want 74 random sweatshirts with dogs laying around my work room.
I caught part of the live but couldn't stay. So, according to the new guidelines, we're required to take our own photo of a real end product for personalized/custom items? If so, custom listings are "pay to play". Nice one, Etsy. 🤔
@25:03 New Update policy on Product placeholder text. I sell Digital Downloads. I have a listing for a digital art personalized custom order. My 1st image has a blank coin image base that I've created. Where people get a custom icon/symbol placed in the middle. My 1st listing photo currently has the text "Personalized Custom Coin Emote" Guessing this isn't allowed anymore? I don't know how else to really present my 1st listing photo now I could use my shop logo as the personalized image? If I change the image of the coin to like say my shop logo inside the coin... I don't want people getting dumb thinking THATS the download file they should be getting. Ive had to deal w/ some people like that in the past. lol
What is the name of the jazz composition playing at the end of the stream? Love it.
That is actually one of Marc's original compositions! I told him he should put a full length version on Spotify for everyone to listen to while they work. We've just been calling it "the Bean song". 😂❤️
@@StarlaMooreomg!!!! The World needs it! I really need it, I keep going back like 50 times after the end of each live stream 😂😂
I'm wondering if a buyer can still search for the term "vintage' and will it be a category they can select rather than searching for "hand picked"? For example, is Etsy doing away with the term "vintage" on the buyers end?
I'm honestly not sure. They didn't mention that. These classifications are not taking the place of categories such as Tshirts, mugs, etc. These are in addition to the categories.
Impossible! How to order 100 samples for each ornament or t-shirt, or personalized candle to take a photo of and which you can no longer use?! If these listings won't even sell, are we just making some costs for the sake of a real photo? And then eventually we will create a real, brick and mortar store to be able to sell these samples? Maybe Etsy is no longer for POD (and I think this even if they have become giants especially thanks to these small POD sellers). If this is what they ask of us, I will give up Etsy even though I worked a lot on these listings, I spent on mockups and all kinds of tools :( I don't want to store samples in my house. What about WASTE? What's the point with ONLINE platform and PRINT ON DEMAND? These will clash with the fact that we have to take REAL pictures of the personalized items. Maybe we should also look for a professional photographer to help us, to buy other elements to take the photos really attractive... No, that seems too much!! Etsy doesn't make our life easier, on the contrary!
I design workbooks, planners, journals, and books for my customers. I guess I’m an example of “sourced by” since I have a production partner make my item from scratch. No other item exists like it. Even down to paper weight, binding type, cover finish etc. I already have to order samples because each item is one of a kind.
You are 'designed by'. If you fill out the listing as 'another company/finished product/date' then it'll prompt you to add a production partner. Do that, filling out the questions as you don't have the tech, you design everything and they do everything. I just tested this now and it comes out as 'designed by'. You would only be 'sourced by' if you had no input at all.
@@penelopesparrow I did go back and check that I had that “another company” checked and I do… but it doesn’t change to say “designed by”. 🤷🏻♀️
@@karlamurphy9934 it's probably a 'glitch' on Etsy's end - or what I'd more accurately call 'sloppy bot coding'. I see a lot of stuff that should say 'made by', so I suppose it's either wait for Etsy to clean it up (and make sure your listing conveys you entirely designed this), or duplicate the listing and make a brand new one. Obvious downsides to that path, and Etsy earns 20c where it does not deserve it. This whole thing is a dumpster fire.
Agree-if you are designing and having someone make them, then I would call it "designed by."
@@StarlaMoore okay 👍🏽 then what is an example of personalized items that are sourced by?
Am I blind? I do not see any of these icons anywhere in my shop/listings nor any showing of what my shop category is.
It should be under your add to cart buttons.
@StarlaMoore first, thank you SO much for this video as well as all of your others, always straight to the point and very clear! I do have a question in regards to my particular shop and situation. So I have a shop where I sell natural tea blends and single herbs. The majority of my herbs themselves are sourced literally from all over the world, however, I do also grow quite a few of my herbs myself, and I offer tea blends that are created by me based on my experience in herbalism. I know that quite a few of my competitor shops, literally buy herbs then simply repackage, which I do for some of my herbs as well, but how would I stand out from them when I actually grow my own herbs, and come up with my own tea blends? Thanks!
The policies aren't as befuddling as the new categorizations. I'm feeling a bit stuck in a gap: I sell prints of my art, painted with real paint on real paper, but I use POD to print them. I'm fairly certain my work will now be categorized as "designed by me," which is the same category as t-shirts sporting clipart.
@@akapoetry My understanding is that if you sold your customer the original painting on canvas, it’s “Made by”, but if you sent the image to a printing provider to mass produce, it’s “Designed by.”
@@MarigoldSundays Exactly, and that wording is questionable for fine artists selling prints.
@@akapoetry If you print it yourself though it would still count. I would suggest you use up one of your images in the listing to show that you painted the original BUT an POD handles the printing. Much of their new policy to is to combat the amount of buyers requesting refunds for false advertising. The forums are full of shops who are actually resellers where the customer complained, got a refund and got the keep the item and their shop was punished.
Many people buying art prints know the artist doesn't always print them at home but want to make sure it isn't AI generated. :)
If I use editing tools in photoshop that remove an item or add an item, does that need to be disclosed as AI used?
If you use AI to remove something, no. Background removal has been around for ages, the issue is AI generated, so if you add stuff to it that you didn't make you should disclose that it is edited with AI tools. So if you start with your own art and build up make sure to detail that. (Ex, I make my own art but use an AI to generate some of the effects used.)
@@wobbuffetbuffet That's why I was curious. Sometimes I take a photo that is great except the sky/lighting and if I am changing it most of those programs consider that to be AI, same as some of the upscaling apps out there.
Licensed cosmetologist here…that is not true. Washing your hair daily is not the problem. It’s using stripping drying shampoo that is the problem. Here’s the chemistry of it-oil is not moisture. Water is moisture and conditioner helps the hair absorb the moisture. Oil can only help keep moisture in but you can have dry oily hair! Hair needs water.
My issue is that all my handmade malas are showing as designed by 🙃 Thanks guys!!
I had that issue to for any items that can be personalized, I plan to make one of my photos showing that it is made by us and shipped by us. :)
I do wonder about resin, resin earrings, resin necklace, resin statues, etc, where would that fall under? I assume it would be under the same as the 3d printing which would be handmade... etsy is kind of confusing they say one thing then say something different therefore contradicting themselves so therefore making it confusing with certain things, I want to sell some resin crafts at some point, it'll be a friend of minewho'll be working part time for me...
I also want to do a gift basket with some of my handmade...
With Ai I love coming up with prompts I saved a few that I like from my Ai prompts I'm going to get an Ai image made of my adopted kitty that we adopted 3weeks ago she's adorable...
Like you mentioned, I would assume that resin falls under the same classification as 3D-handmade. If you have a friend that will be working with/for you, be sure to list her in your shop's about section.
Gift boxes are not new. So many beautifully curated gift boxes on sale on etsy for many years now.
Speaking of slips, I swore Starla said "drop shit" 😂
🤪
Buying mockups from a seller who takes their own photos without the help of AI would completely eliminate the need to take your own photos.
Drop-shipping ruined ebay too. Most of the stuff is just junk and it gluts the market for everyone.
So i make some items at home like buttons and pins.. and some items i use POD for my design...
For the listings that i actually make at home i need a photo if finished product as first image ? Or can i just do a video of me making it ?
Sometimes its hard to photograph buttons well lol
So far i dont see the badges in my listings
But i am looking on the app as i am not at home
It seems so strange that, for example, if I create a design for, say a mug.. I can put that design on a mockup.. but if I take that exact same design in another listing for people to put their love one's name on it... I can't use a mockup? It's so strange.. I don't do customization, but I have a few ideas and was thinking of offering just a few, I'll be able to order some samples.. but for those who've built their business around this and have tons of listings, it is really going to effect their business... :( This is a crazy policy, imo...
I'll admit-it does seem like a strange difference, but they must have some specific reason for it that they haven't shared.
Can someone explain how canva designers get high and mighty about AI when they are just remixing clip art they didn’t create with little effort. Most of them cranking out designs and products that look like cheap canva designs because let’s be honest they lack graphic design skills.
I’m a photographer and former web designer. But I never had great illustrative skills. I use AI to compensate for that but I don’t use it straight out of an AI. generator. I vectorize,clean up, combine elements, and add text in Adobe Illustrator.I may lack illustration skills but I have a great eye. With AI I can can produce professional grade graphic design in a fraction of the time. And it doesn’t look like cheap canvas designs that people with little to no design skills crank out Willie Nilly
In my opinion why not use the tools available to get the product. Not straight out of the box cleaned up crafted and combine with good desktop publishing skills. The fact is a illustrator takes days or a week to produce a single image simply can’t keep up with the Etsy’s hunger for as many products that the search algorithm demands out of shop owner to build up their product line.
I have no problem saying my work is assisted by AI…. At the end the day I want to present the very best product design. IMHO using sole canvas to remix produces substandard work. It may sell in mass production if marketed and niched but it just looks cheap to me. Call me an AI design snob if you must
From what I've seen on Etsy true illustrative artist are in the minority. If they are creating the entire image themselves they are likely silkscreening their work to produce a better product than DTG. They are true handmade artist and my hat is off to them. But POD Canva designers just need to get over themselves with respect to aI. They are not artist list silkscreen illustrators. They are remixing others work. I don';t just use the first thing out of an AI generator I run prompts over and over to find the best. Then I manipulate it with desktop publishing tools. Cleaning up elements, remixing and combing AI elements. If AI has to identify themselves I don't see why clip art remixers don't have to. Let's be honest that is just as much a stretch to the definition of handmade as AI is.
The only valid argument is that Canva designers are supporting graphic designer who create clip art or templates. Illustrators have issue with AI taking away their work at a high rate of pay to justify the hours they put in. AI works around the years it takes to develop those skills to produce similar quality with far less effort. Now those people have a right to complain. They have a valid point. But POD Canva designer don't because they are making a living off of other's work in the same way a AI designers just with different tools to compensate for lack of illustration skills.