From Zero to Etsy Millionaire: Dylan Jahraus’ Winning Strategy

In a recent episode of The Lindsey Anderson Show, Lindsay sat down with Dylan Jahraus, an eCommerce expert with a thriving Etsy business, a high-performing YouTube channel, and a top Etsy podcast. 

Dylan shared her journey, insights, and strategies that have propelled her to success, helping thousands of students achieve multi-million dollar revenues on Etsy.

Prefer to listen instead of read? Listen to the full episode here.

The Power of Resilience and Work Ethic

Dylan attributes her success to endurance and work ethic. She emphasizes the importance of showing up every day, even when motivation is low. As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to procrastinate or lose momentum, but Dylan’s philosophy is simple: “I will do what I do not feel like doing, day after day, for years.”

Her drive comes from a challenging upbringing—being the daughter of an addict and dealing with her sister’s tragic accident. Instead of letting her circumstances define her, she used them as fuel to create a better future.

From Etsy Novice to Multi-Million Dollar Business

Dylan’s Etsy journey started with humble beginnings. She initially listed a product with little effort, and for two months, nothing happened. Then, out of nowhere, she got her first sale. This motivated her to apply corporate eCommerce strategies she had learned from her career to scale her Etsy business. Within months, she was making over $10,000 a month. Over time, her business reached over $50,000 a month and continued growing into a multi-million-dollar enterprise.

Customer-Centric Approach to Product Creation

Instead of asking, “What product should I sell?” Dylan focused on, “Who do I want to serve?” She built her product line around milestone events—weddings, babies, and memorials—ensuring steady demand regardless of economic conditions. Many of her product ideas came directly from customer requests, and she always said yes to meeting those needs.

Building a Thriving Course and Coaching Business

As Dylan shared her Etsy success on YouTube, people began asking for a course. Within weeks, she launched The Ultimate Etsy Course, which combined online learning with coaching. Today, her program includes private coaching, a team of 14 coaches, and five live coaching calls per week. Over 3,000 students have benefited from her system, generating over $28 million in revenue collectively.

The Role of YouTube in Her Growth

Dylan’s journey on YouTube started with a bold challenge—posting a video every day for 21 days. Although she eventually scaled back to two videos per week, her consistency paid off. Her channel now boasts over 100,000 subscribers.

She emphasizes that success on YouTube requires:

• Consistency in posting
• Outsourcing tasks like video editing
• Providing high-value content
• Balancing educational content with personal relatability

Live Streaming for Deeper Engagement

Dylan goes live every Wednesday to connect with her audience, answer questions, and build trust. She believes consistency in live sessions demonstrates commitment and reliability to her community.

Tailoring Content for Different Platforms

Not all content performs the same across platforms. Dylan has found that:

• Long-form educational content works best on YouTube.
• Short, lifestyle-based videos with text overlays perform well on Instagram.
• TikTok wasn’t delivering quality leads, so she deprioritized it.

Mastering Instagram DM Selling

Dylan initially sold her high-ticket coaching packages (some over $9,000) solely through Instagram DMs. She emphasizes that DM selling is about relationship-building, not just pitching. Today, she has a team of setters in her DMs and six closers taking sales calls, ensuring a smooth conversion process.

Leveraging AI in Business

Dylan has incorporated AI strategically, even launching Etsio, a SaaS tool for Etsy SEO optimization. However, she remains cautious about overusing AI in customer interactions, ensuring that personal touch remains intact, especially in high-ticket sales.

The Importance of Hiring Early

One of Dylan’s biggest lessons: “Hire before you think you need to.” She warns against waiting until you’re overwhelmed to make crucial hires, as panic-driven hiring can lead to poor decisions.

Final Takeaways

Dylan’s journey from struggling Etsy seller to multi-million-dollar entrepreneur is packed with lessons for anyone looking to build a thriving online business. Her story is a testament to resilience, strategy, and the power of consistently showing up. If you’re looking to scale your Etsy shop or leverage social media for business growth, her insights are invaluable.

Want to connect with Dylan? Follow her on Instagram and YouTube (@DylanJahraus) for more free education and insights on building a successful eCommerce business.