Top 3 Etsy SEO Tips that Will Take Your Shop To The Next Level

Contents

1 Search Engines

Are you thinking about opening an Etsy shop? Perhaps you already have one and you’re trying to gain more customers. Sure, you can offer a great product, but how can customers find out about what you’re selling if they are unable to find it?

That’s where SEO comes in! SEO, or “search engine optimization”, is the ability to get more people to visit a particular website through a platform’s search engine. For example, Google “hairdressers near me”. What’s the first result, and why is that result first? Chances are that the website has included different best practices to ensure that YOU see them before anyone else.

The great news is that you can include the same best practices with your Etsy SEO! But before we dive into tips and tricks, let’s look at how search engines work.

Search Engines

All search engines have software that is able to collect and store data. With the data collected, the search engine is then able to display results that are similar to what one has searched before. Of course, each search engine is different and focuses on different results. For example, search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing tend to display information-based results like articles, blogs, and videos where product-based search engines (like Etsy) will only display – you guessed it – products!

Now we have a better understanding of search engines, let’s dive in! Here are the top 3 tips for optimizing your Etsy SEO:

Tip #1: Etsy SEO Tools

When it comes to SEO, keywords are one of the most important elements of ranking on search engines. To find great keywords you should use the following easy-to-use tools:

Moz
Ahrefs
Google Search Console

Tip #2: Long and Short-Tail Keywords

Now, this is a big one. When creating keywords and tags, you really need to put yourself in the customer’s shoes. What would they type when trying to search for something? Would it be descriptive or vague?

Both, actually!

There are two types of search queries – long-tail keywords and short-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords usually contain 3-4 word descriptors while short-tail keywords contain around 1 or 2. Having both of these keyword types in your title is important because it will allow customers to find you easier.

Here are some examples of long and short-tail keywords.

Long Tail:

Topknot newborn baby hat
Round retro SVU sunglasses
Customer Workout Tank Top for Women

Short Tail:

Baby hat
Sunglasses
Tank Top

Luckily, Etsy has a 140-character title limit so use it all by combining both long and short-tail keywords to boost ratings.

Tip #3: Title and Product Descriptions

When writing keywords within your title, stay away from complete sentences. Including unnecessary extra words will make it difficult for customers to find your products and you’re wasting your 140-character title limit.

Also, it’s a good idea to separate your keywords with forward-slashes or commas, which gives it a cleaner, more professional look.

Here are some examples:

“solid gold ring sterling silver ring dainty gold ring 10k ring solid 14k gold ring delicate gold band” vs. “solid gold ring, sterling silver ring/ dainty gold ring/ 10k ring/ solid 14k gold ring/ delicate gold band”
“Beautifully hand-painted modern wall art that can be put in your office, living room, or bedroom. This also makes a great gift for your friends and family.” vs. “Modern Wall Art | Abstract Bedroom Print | Office Painting | Large Wall Art | Large Abstract Canvas | Home Decor Print | Ink Painting Art | Gift or Present”

Oftentimes, I find Etsy sellers include these complicated but vague titles in hopes that a customer will find the product more enticing. It’s best to stay away from “creative” titles and stick to something clear and exact, like the following:

Instead of “Awakened – landscape portrait”, try “Custom Landscape/ Painting on Canvas/ Painting from Photo Landscape Canvas/ Mountains Painting/ Landscape Art Oil Painting”
Instead of “Beautiful handmade carved box with personalized touches”, try “Wood Memory Box, Rustic Wooden Keepsake Box, Personalized Engraved Gift Box, Wedding Memory Chest, Jewelry or Photo Box, Couple’s Custom Box”
Instead of “The Unicorn Fun Pack | cool kids backpack”, try “monogrammed backpack, personalized backpack, school backpack, kids backpack, girls backpack, unicorn backpack, canvas backpack, backpack set”

See the difference? These titles might not be the most creative (which can sometimes be challenging for creative minds), but they allow customers a better chance to see your product through a simple search.