Etsy Vacation Mode KILLS Shop Traffic?!

Yes - Etsy vacation mode can do serious harm to your traffic. In this video, I cover why it happens and what you can do to fix it.
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▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

00:00 - Etsy vacation mode and traffic
00:52 - How vacation mode impacts Etsy's algorithm
01:32 - Maintaining your listing quality score
02:39 - How vacation mode impacts listing quality
03:46 - What to do when you return from vacation mode
04:39 - How social media can help

#Etsy #EtsyTips #HandmadeAlphas

[cryptolaird]

I have a 3d print Etsy shop and I recently went on a 7 day cruise which clearly meant I could not print any orders. Instead of choosing vacation mode I just extended my production time from 3-5 days to 1-2 weeks. This method worked perfect and I have since just left the 1-2 weeks since it did not affect my orders and I am less rushed now.

[spottedbearknits]

I’ve used Vacation mode multiple times over the years. The effect is very short term and worth every minute of the free time!

[SuzanneHughes]

I did when I moved and was in temporary housing for several months. That was 3 years ago, and we have still not recovered. I really appreciate all the information you have provided in this and several other videos and will be trying them to see if I can get back to the sales record we had before. Thank you

[PlainValleyPress]

This is very helpful! Also, I want to say thank you, as I just launched a small bookmark drop in my shop today and it’s going well! 🎉 Your videos contain a wealth of knowledge! 💕

[nicoleweber]

Thank you, Starla. You always have the best advice! And I LOVE your outros... Pookie! 😆

[hollyhobbyist]

It's nice to know the logic behind the reports of poor performance after returning from "vacation mode". I have always extended my processing times for fear of losing my ranking. I will definitely be continuing this practice. Thank you!

[loristewart]

Excellent video, really good to know! I am always nervous about putting our shops on vacation mode but this really helps to know these tips! Thanks for another extremely helpful video!

[heppydayz]

Hi Starla, Love your videos. They are very helpful, thank you!!! I have a burning question about the use of listing images. At the moment I'm using an image that I bought from CF. If I have understood correctly things have changed now. I will now need to make an actual photo of my product to use as my first listing photo in my shop? (I have a Greeting Card shop). If this is the case, does this mean I will have to change all my current listing photos of all my existing products? If yes, I'm a bit concerned as what will happen to the algorithm that we as sellers have built over time? As it is recommended to NOT"change" listings that are selling? Hope you can take away my concern. Thanks a lot and keep the good videos coming! regards Ellen

[cherylr]

I was just on vaca for 9 days due to a funeral cross country. Within 30 minutes of coming off vacation mode, I had a sale. I do save a few items in drafts to list when I get back.

[itssophsoph]

5:23 hi Starla! If i may ask, do i message the customer after they place an order? If yes, should i mention I'm out of office or just tell them that my Processing Time is currently *this* long?

:)

[whipsandchains]

I recently went on vacation mode just to catch up on orders. I was sooo busy. When I came back from vacation mode and I'm getting only 3 sales per week. Live and learn, next time I will extend my processing time.

[gabbybagsnmore]

I used it when I was sick. unrelated question... if you are also a vendor (who accepts square, if you make sales from the square, does that help listing quality store.
Also, if an item sells out, but you resist the EXACT SAME ITEM (which means, a makeup bag sold out, I made another of the exact same), would resisting the item negatively impact my store?
Thanks for all you do!

[xzxjessxzx]

I do understand listing quality scores, but I still think it's absolutely crazy that we are punished for going on holiday for a week or 2. It should just pause completely and then resume as normal when you come back, as long as you aren't gone for a long time. It shouldn't essentially be pushed to the back of the queue. I have a holiday booked and I feel like I just can't go on vacation mode. My store is almost a 6 figure store annually and I feel scared to potentially destroy my store by putting it in vacation mode and then attempt to rebuild when I return. It's too much of a risk and too stressful. Thankfully I sell digital products so I'll be copy and pasting a "sorry I'm on holiday but I'll reply once I'm back" message to anyone who messages me. I had surgery recently and I was replying to messages the next morning because Etsy made me feel like I couldn't have a break.

[awlthatwoodcrafts]

I'll be having surgery at the end of August so I plan on going in to vacation mode the week before and if all goes well, opening back up by mid-September.

I was really looking forward to the advanced Halloween shoppers finding my jack o' lanterns again but now I'll be out right in the middle of the window of time for the best sales.

The other bummer is that I don't really have a huge social media presence so I will have to rely heavily on organic results on Etsy. I've done very well just using organic results but I understand your point about using social media to kick start a shop coming out of vacation mode. We'll just have to see how it goes. Fortunately, Etsy is just a side hustle for me.

[jenniferlarregui]

I went on Vacation Mode in January because I was away moving my daughter to another state. Since the end of January, I have barely had any sales in my shop. I would say about 8 sales each month. It is killing my business.

[pustapustka]

The only thing Etsy prioritizes is being crazy like a robot. You come back from vacation or sick leave and you can't go back to normal work, you just have to work much harder for some time so that the gracious algorithm notices you.
After a few days you are more tired than before your vacation.
Launching the shop in Vacation mode should start exactly from the place where this mode was turned on. Because it was a vacation, not preparation for a tornado...

[lunaessencejewelryandhandb]

Yup no sales this month because I am forced to use vacation mode due to their shipping policy

[athena]

I wish I saw this earlier. Just got back from vacation mode. Was on a high before I set it to vacation mode and now no traffic :(

[JoeyMcNew-Drummer]

Etsy is so stupid, when the documents that they're asking for is uploaded, they want to put your shop and temporary vacation mode. What idiots!

[eleanor.shadow]

My Etsy shop has been on Holiday Mode for a few weeks now, and I'm not sure I have any plans to bring it back... I'd much rather spend my time driving traffic to my own website, considering how much Etsy fees are and how they're not transparent in regards to how they calculate them.