Rock Your Etsy Biz: How to Make Sure You Show Up in Search
Guest Post by Christen Strang, LetterHappy Design
Etsy is one of the most powerful and incredible tools on the Internet with which to springboard your product-based biz. I got my start on Etsy over 7 years ago (from my parents’ kitchen counter!), so I know from first-hand experience that with over 1.5 million sellers currently using the site, it can feel totally overwhelming, and dang near impossible to get found by customers.
One of the major advantages of having a shop on Etsy is the built-in traffic of over 25 million active buyers, so it’s absolutely crucial that you show up and rank highly in a search. Here are a few of my tried and true tips for making sure you’re as visible as possible.
USE THE ENTIRE CHARACTER LIMIT IN YOUR TITLE + ALL 13 TAGS.
I mean, duh, right? It seems obvious, but I see it happen ALL THE TIME. Just remember, if you’re not filling up your titles and tags, you’re missing opportunities to get found. I get that it’s hard to come up with 13 tags, but if you’re stumped, here are a few tricks to get you started:
Head to the almighty Google and look up synonyms and definitions for words you’re currently using to describe your products;
Ask a friend or family member what words and phrases they would use to describe your product, or what they would type into a search bar to look for them online. The answers may surprise you, but they’re absolute gold when trying to fill up that all-important title;
Consider who it is for or what it could be used as. People LOVE to know what they can do with something. They may like what you offer, but not be able to clearly see themselves using or gifting it, so you need to give them a little nudge, and
When using colors, be aware of what others might use in place of the standard ones, like green or blue. If you’re selling something green, maybe it’s actually chartreuse, mint, kelly, or olive. If you’re selling something blue, try aqua, turquoise, navy, or cerulean. (I was that kid with the massive box of crayons. Can you tell?)
BONUS TIP: Are there common misspellings for what you do? For me personally, I find that a great deal of people will misspell station(e)ry as station(a)ry. I’d hate to miss out on the potential buyers who are looking for what I sell, but simply made a common mistake when typing it into the search bar. I won’t use it on every listing, but I will throw it in the title of a few (typically towards the end), just in case.
MAKE YOUR DESCRIPTIONS 100% YOU.
Of course you’ll want to clearly convey all the pertinent information about your listing, including size, use, color, etc. But put yourself in the buyer’s shoes for a minute. Isn’t it a lot more interesting to read those details in a voice that is uniquely the seller’s?
Connection is key, and people love to know that they’re buying from a real human with a real personality. So find your own unique voice when writing your product descriptions!
You’re awesome, your products are awesome, and your buyers need to know that. Remember that they’re spending their hard-earned money with you and it may take a bit of convincing to make them part with it, and
Describe it like you’re telling a friend about it. Brag about it. Tell the story behind it. Sure, it may take a little extra time and effort, but it will connect you with your audience and make a huge difference in the long run by showing that you put care into every aspect of your business.
USE ALL FIVE PHOTO SLOTS.
Did you know that over 50% of Etsy’s traffic now comes from mobile devices? That’s a pretty overwhelming stat, isn’t it? Did you also know that when viewing items on the Etsy App, a buyer will literally have to click “listing details” to read the info that you’ve typed into your description?
The photos are truly the star of your mobile-optimized listing, so you need to convey as much information through your photos as you possibly can.
I get it. Sometimes it’s not so easy to come up with 5 different ways to photograph the same item. Take a ton. Put your best photo as the main one, of course, and use the others to give an idea of size and scale, or how it looks in a specific setting.
If it’s a piece of clothing or jewelry, show it lying flat as well as on a model or a dress-form;
If it’s a piece of art or a print, show it in a frame, sitting on a mantle, or hanging on a wall;
If it’s a small item, show it in your hand or next to something universally sized, like a coin, and
If your customers have Instagrammed or sent you a great photo of your item in use, consider showing it off (with permission, of course!) if it fits with your shop’s vibe.
All of these things will not only contribute to a well-rounded, professional, interesting shop overall, they will also increase your visibility in searches! Etsy’s search algorithms look favorably on shops that have all areas filled out to the max. (Bonus Tip: This includes policies, shop announcements, and About sections!) Take some time to take care of your biz, and your biz will take care of you!
About the Author
Christen Strang is the stationery + graphic designer, color enthusiast, and creative force behind letterhappy design. When she’s not running her two Etsy shops, mentoring fellow Etsy sellers, or snuggling her sweet pup, you can find her relaxing on the beaches of her sweet home Alabama or frolicking around Disney World.
Christen Strang, Letterhappy Design
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