Etsy Seller Interview with Karly of KarlyHocking

How KarlyHocking got started

Introduce your Etsy shop and tell us your story. How did you begin and decide on what to sell on Etsy, and how do you create your products?

Hi, I’m Karly from Karly Hocking Content Marketing (karlyhocking.com). I run a content marketing consultancy and have been selling marketing templates, planners, and guides on Etsy since 2020. I love working as a content consultant with business and government clients, but I understand that engaging a content expert is out of reach for most small businesses. Small businesses often approach me with big ideas and limited budgets, so I decided to bundle my expertise into high-quality, affordable marketing templates, planners, and guides. Since 2020, over 7,000 businesses have used my marketing templates, planners, and guides to start up or scale up their marketing (a mix of Etsy and karlyhocking.com customers).

Favorite items

What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?

My 3-Month Instagram Kit is my best seller and has made the largest impact on more businesses than any of my other products. I have fond memories of working on this product for months at my kitchen bench between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. before my children woke for the day. I am so appreciative of all my beautiful customers who gave me such glowing feedback on the 3-Month Instagram Kit as it motivated me to create more products to support even more businesses.

Getting sales on Etsy

How long did it take for you to earn your first sale and how do you currently attract customers to your Etsy shop?

I’m pretty sure I sold my first product on the first day it was listed, but I don’t put this down to anything other than luck. When starting out, it’s difficult to compete with other shops that have high sales and good customer reviews. My commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience has contributed to the success of my shop. This includes getting back to inquiries quickly, personally reaching out to every customer to thank them for their purchase, offering free marketing support, and, above all, creating products that go above and beyond my customers' expectations. Many of my customers return to my shop to purchase more marketing products, which is the best vote of confidence I can ask for.

Managing KarlyHocking

How do you manage your shop? Are you running solo or do you have any team members? What tools or services do you use to run your shop and how do you handle fulfillment?

As with many small businesses, I wear all the hats! I’m the only person who runs my shop, plus I do my marketing, product development, bookkeeping, research, admin, and everything in between! The Etsy app is my most-used app, plus I use a host of tools to support my business, including Canva, Adobe, Quickbooks, Grammarly, Planoly, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest. I also built and manage my own website.

The future of KarlyHocking 

What goals do you have for your shop in the future?

I am 100% motivated to make a positive impact on as many businesses as I can. I truly feel honored to be part of the marketing journey of over 7,000 businesses so far. I am passionate about making sure all businesses have access to expert marketing advice, not just those with big budgets. As a small business owner myself, I understand the impact small businesses have on our families and communities. If I can play just a small role in a business’s success, I have achieved my goal.

Advice for new sellers

What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?

I absolutely LOVE everything Etsy has to offer, and I appreciate just how easy they make it to get your shop up and running! It’s all about connecting the right people with the right products, so it can take time to work out which products add the most value to your ideal customer. I recommend doing your research before starting your shop—find out what keywords people are searching for and how many shops are competing in your space before coming up with a strategy. Alura is great for this kind of research! The beauty of Etsy is that you can try things out at a super low cost, and if there’s not much interest in some of your listings, you can try something else! Make sure your customers’ experience is truly incredible. I strive to create products that go above and beyond, then above and beyond again!