From $2 Templates to a Six-Figure Etsy Spreadsheet Business

Building a Spreadsheet Empire on Etsy

Emily McDermott started Pretty Arrow with a simple goal: sell digital spreadsheets that actually help people manage money without fuss. She set her first template price at just $2 and relied on user feedback to shape each design iteration. Within 24 hours of listing, she secured that initial sale—proof demand was there.

Finding Demand Through Keywords

Instead of generic listings, Emily used an Etsy SEO tool to spot long-tail phrases like "budget spreadsheets for Google Sheets" and "fun Excel templates." By tailoring titles and tags, she spoke directly to buyers ready to click "Add to Cart." This keyword focus helped her climb search results and reach her core audience—young women juggling student loans and savings goals.

Smart Pricing and Bundles

Once Emily confirmed her audience would pay, she experimented with prices between $5 and $25. Bundles of popular templates offered discounts and boosted her average order value. She created PDF guides with direct links to downloadable Google Sheets and Excel files, ensuring a frictionless experience.

Beyond Templates: Engaging Customers

Emily makes full use of Etsy’s features. She added 15-second videos showing her templates in action, and filled all eight image slots per listing with previews, user reviews, and free resources. A personal photo and background story built trust, turning browsers into buyers.

Diversifying Traffic Sources

Organic traffic formed the base, but Emily tapped email marketing and ads next. A free resource library on her site collected emails, then she sent targeted offers and tripwires. When launching new products, she ran Etsy Ads with a 2% conversion target, tweaking bids until performance hit her benchmarks.

Daily Workflow and Tools

Because Emily stocked her shop aggressively in the first 3–6 months, she rarely creates new products now. Her routine: 1–2 hours of keyword research and marketing courses several days a week, plus quick customer-service check-ins. Key tools: eRank for SEO, Canva for guides, ConvertKit for email.

Results and Future Focus

In under two years, sales grew steadily until Emily hit six figures in annual revenue. Now she eyes online entrepreneurs and busy moms for future niches, planning custom templates that solve specific business and family-budget needs.