Etsy is a unique marketplace, but that doesn’t mean that the same old SEO rules don’t apply. If you want your shop to be seen by more people, you need to optimize your listings using tried-and-true SEO techniques.
The better your Etsy SEO, the more likely shoppers will find your items when searching for something specific. And if your items are easy to find, more shoppers will likely buy from you! This post will give you an overview of what Etsy SEO is and share some Etsy SEO Tips.
What is Etsy SEO?
Etsy SEO is the process of optimizing your Etsy listings, so they appear higher in search results. By making small tweaks to your listings and using the right keywords, you can encourage shoppers to find and purchase your items.
There are two main components of SEO: on-page factors and off-page factors. On-page factors are things that you can control directly from your listing, such as the title, description, tags, and photos. Off-page factors are things that aren’t determined by your listing (but can still impact your ranking), such as the number of views and favorites your listing has.
Search engine optimization is the practice of optimizing your website so that it will rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). By optimizing your Etsy shop for SEO, you can increase the visibility of your products, which in turn will lead to more traffic and sales.
Why is SEO important?
In a world where we are constantly bombarded with advertisements, it’s easy to become desensitized to the constant sales pitches and calls to action. Online, this is especially true; we’ve all learned to tune out banner ads and pop-ups. So how can you make sure your message is heard above the digital noise? The answer is search engine optimization or SEO.
SEO ensures that your product appears as the top result for relevant searches when done correctly. And we all know that people are likelier to click on the first result than others below it. But why does this matter? After all, can’t people find your shop another way? Yes, they can. But studies have shown that organic searches (i.e., those powered by SEO) result in 5.66x more clicks than paid ads. In other words, investing in SEO pays off in a big way.
Think about it this way: when was the last time you clicked on a sponsored ad? Chances are it’s been a while. But when was the last time you googled something? Probably pretty recently, right? This illustrates just how powerful SEO can be.
How To Improve Etsy SEO
If you sell handmade goods or vintage items on Etsy, you know that standing out in a sea of almost 3 million active sellers is no easy feat. Luckily, you can do a few things to help your shop get found by potential customers through search engines like Google. Here’s a quick Etsy SEO checklist of things you can do to optimize your Etsy shop.
1) Start keyword research: What terms or phrases do you want to be known for? Use Etsy Keyword Tool and Google AdWords Keyword Planner to get started. Look for high-volume, low-competition keywords that are relevant to your products. And once you’ve finished your keyword research use Etsy Tag Generator to generate relevant tags that will boost the visibility of your Etsy listings and the Google search results for related keywords.
2) Incorporate keywords throughout your shop: Once you’ve identified the right keywords, place them strategically in your shop’s title, tags, sections, bio, and product listings. Be sure to use them in a way that sounds natural—stuffing your listings full of keywords will not only turn off potential customers but also hurt your chances of ranking high in search results.
3) Use high-quality photos: Good product photos are essential for any online shop, but they’re especially important if you want your listings to show up in image search results. Use well-lit, sharp photos that accurately represent your product, and be sure to include alt text (a brief description of the photo) for each image.
4) Promote your shop on social media: Social media is a great way to drive traffic to your Etsy shop. Post links to new listings on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; run targeted ads, and use relevant hashtags to reach new audiences.
5) Keep your shop updated: Nothing says “unprofessional” quite like an outdated Etsy shop. Be sure to regularly update your banner image, product photos, and listing descriptions so that potential customers know they’re dealing with an active and engaged seller.
6) Encourage customer reviews: Customer reviews not only build trust and credibility—which can encourage more sales—but also provide fresh content for your product listings (which helps with SEO). So go the extra mile to encourage happy customers to leave reviews on the items they’ve purchased from you.
7) Offer fast shipping: Customers today expect fast shipping, so do whatever you can to meet (or exceed) their expectations. Offering expedited shipping options is one way to improve the customer experience and make sure people come back to your shop again in the future.
8) Get involved in Etsy teams: Joining an Etsy team is a great way to network with other sellers in your niche and get your products in front of new audiences through team treasuries (curated collections of items from team members). Most teams have their forums where members can share tips and advice—take advantage of this resource and learn as much as you can from more experienced sellers!
9) Monitor your stats: Keep an eye on how many views, favorites, and sales each of your listings receives using Etsy’s Stats tool so that you can fine-tune your tags, descriptions, and other listing details accordingly.
10) Write compelling listing titles and descriptions: In addition to using the right keywords, it’s also important to write catchy, descriptive titles and descriptions for your listings. This helps customers find your products when they’re searching Etsy, but it also helps convince them to click on your listing once they see it in their search results. Remember to keep your target audience in mind as you write—what words or phrases will appeal to them?
Conclusion
SEO is important for any online business—and that includes businesses on Etsy. By following these simple tips, you can increase the visibility of your products on Etsy and get more eyes—and sales—from potential customers.
