Mistake #1: Not Choosing a Niche — Why My Shop Looked Like a Digital Dollar Store (and How I Fixed It)
When I launched my first Etsy shop back in 2020, I was excited and overflowing with ideas. I'd finally discovered Canva and felt like a whole new world had opened up. After years of working in roles where I supported others, I finally had a creative outlet that could bring in extra income—and potentially more. It felt like freedom.
But that freedom came at a cost.
I was creating everything I could think of—wedding templates, affirmations, vision boards, self-care trackers, resume templates, social media kits, planners. If I saw a trend, I jumped on it. If I had a random idea, I made it that night. My shop was growing, but not in a good way. It looked like a cluttered discount store—tons of stuff, no clear direction.
And worst of all? I wasn't making consistent sales.
The Root of the Problem: No Niche, No Focus
I thought I was targeting "women who wanted to make passive income." That felt specific enough at the time. But I now know—it wasn't a niche. It was a vague aspiration.
Without a niche, everything was harder. I couldn't figure out what my bestselling product should be, because none of my products spoke to a clearly defined customer. I didn't know what kind of content to create. My SEO was all over the place, because I was using too many unrelated keywords. I didn't have a clear brand identity, and the few people who landed on my shop had no idea what to expect.
There was no buyer journey—just confusion.
What It Looked Like Behind the Scenes
I remember checking my Thrivecart dashboard late one night, looking for some spark of encouragement. I had dozens of listings. I had stayed up until 2 a.m. most nights for months. But I wasn't seeing traction. Not even a glimpse of momentum.
And honestly? I felt like a failure.
I had all this passion, but nothing to show for it. I was embarrassed. I didn't want to admit to anyone—especially my husband—how overwhelmed I was. I had put in so many hours, and the results didn't match. My shop didn't feel like a business. It felt like a chaotic experiment.
And when your shop feels chaotic, your confidence crumbles. You start to doubt everything.
What Finally Shifted
After spinning in circles for far too long, I started paying attention to the businesses that were succeeding—on Etsy, Shopify, and beyond. One thing they had in common? They had a clear focus. Their shops spoke to a specific audience with a specific problem.
So I started asking myself better questions:
👉 Try This: 3-Step Niche Clarity Prompt
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Think of a time when you were struggling with something in your business. What were you looking for? What couldn’t you find?
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Now imagine your customer is stuck in that same place. What would make them breathe a sigh of relief and say, “Finally, this is exactly what I needed”?
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Write a one-sentence answer: “I help [specific person] who is struggling with [specific problem] by offering [specific solution].”
You might not get it perfect on the first try—but clarity grows when you take action. Revisit this as your shop evolves.
It was like a lightbulb went off. I wasn't just here to help "women create passive income." I had been the woman overwhelmed by restrictive licenses, ugly templates, and overpriced design kits. I had struggled to find products that were both editable and re-sellable. I knew how much easier things got when I found quality PLR and MRR digital products that were customizable and clear.
That became my niche: Helping digital product sellers launch or scale with done-for-you Canva templates and re-sellable resources—without confusing licenses or bad design.
Once I had that clarity, I stopped trying to be everything to everyone. And my business started to grow.
What I Wish I'd Known from the Start
Many new sellers believe "niche" means picking a category—like planners, wall art, or checklists. But niche is deeper than that. It's the intersection of:
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A clearly defined person (not just "women" or "entrepreneurs")
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A specific problem they're trying to solve
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A clear solution you provide through your product
And here's the truth: you can't discover your niche by sitting around thinking about it. You discover it by trying things, listening to your audience, and paying attention to what lights you up. But you've got to be brave enough to focus—because clarity always beats clutter.
The Results of Getting Focused
Once I stopped offering random products and focused on helping digital product sellers, my marketing became easier. My listings improved. My SEO started working. And best of all—I started building a loyal customer base that returned again and again.
Focusing didn't make me feel limited. It made me feel free. I could finally build products that solved real problems. I could create bundles and collections that made sense. And I had the words to explain what I did in a way that connected with the right people.
I also stopped wasting time second-guessing everything. I stopped chasing trends that didn't align with my mission. I got better at saying "no" to things that weren't right for me—even when they looked profitable on the surface.
When you know who you're serving, every decision becomes simpler. Product creation, marketing, customer service—all of it flows when you have that foundation of clarity.
If You're Struggling With This Too...
If your digital product shop feels like a mess right now, you're not alone. I've been there.
Maybe you've listed dozens of products, but they're not moving. Maybe you're attracting traffic, but not conversions. Maybe you're exhausted from creating, but unsure if it's even working.
Take a step back. Ask yourself:
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Who am I really trying to help?
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What problem do I know intimately—not from research, but from experience?
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What products would make my dream customer say, "Finally—someone made this for me"?
And then have the courage to pivot if you need to.
You Don't Need to Start Over—Just Refocus
The beauty of digital products is that nothing's wasted. You can rebrand old listings. You can bundle what makes sense. You can retire what doesn't align and refine your shop as you grow.
Refining your niche isn't closing doors. It's opening the right ones.
You might lose a few people, but you'll gain the loyalty of the ones who truly need what you offer. And those are the customers who will return, refer others, and grow with you.
Your niche isn't a prison—it's your power. It's what makes you memorable. It's what builds trust. And it's what turns browsers into buyers and buyers into raving fans.
Ready to Get Clear on Your Niche?
If you're in that foggy stage of business where everything feels scattered, I've created something specifically for you. The Digital Product Clarity Guide is a step-by-step workbook that helps you define your niche, identify your ideal customer, and create products that actually sell. It's part of the Side Hustle Starter Kit in my shop, and it's helped hundreds of digital product sellers finally get clear on their direction.
You don't need more ideas. You need clarity. And clarity leads to confidence, momentum, and sales.
🎯 Grab the free Finding Your Niche Clarity Guide here and start making decisions that actually move your business forward.
