How to Optimise Etsy Listings – Tags, Titles, Descriptions & Images

I’ve been selling on Etsy for the best part of 5 years. What was once a side hustle is now a full time business with over 40k sales.
For a new seller, it may seem like an impossible task to compete with a seemingly saturated market. However, there are still ways to get your products in front of potential customers.

It’s crucial to optimise your Etsy listings to stand out from the competition and attract potential buyers. In this article, we will explore the different elements that contribute to Etsy listing optimisation and provide you with valuable tips and strategies to maximize your listing’s visibility.

Summary

• Optimising your Etsy listings is crucial for improving your sales and visibility on the platform.
• Understanding Etsy listings SEO is key to creating effective listings that rank well in search results.
• Crafting the perfect titles involves using relevant keywords and being descriptive yet concise.
• Choosing the right tags involves using specific and relevant keywords that accurately describe your product.
• Writing compelling descriptions involves highlighting the unique features and benefits of your product and using persuasive language to entice buyers.

Understanding the Importance of Etsy Listings SEO

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) plays a vital role in ensuring that your Etsy listings are visible to potential customers. SEO involves optimising various elements of your listing so that it ranks higher in search results when users search for relevant keywords or phrases. By implementing effective SEO techniques, you can increase organic traffic to your listings and ultimately boost sales.

Etsy’s search algorithm takes into account several factors when determining how high a listing appears in search results. These factors include relevancy, customer satisfaction, recency of listings, and more. It is essential to understand how these algorithms work so that you can tailor your optimisation efforts accordingly.

Crafting the Perfect Titles to Optimise Etsy Listings

Etsy Title – Rule #1: Select a long-tail focus keyword

The title of your Etsy listing is one of the most critical elements when it comes to optimising for search results visibility. A well-crafted title not only helps potential buyers find your product but also entices them to click on it among numerous other options.

Before you start, say to yourself, “What would a customer be searching for to find my item?”.

Let’s face it, Etsy customers aren’t searching for your exact item (keyring, poster, notebook etc). They’re looking for inspiration for an occasion (gifts for grandparents, mothers day gifts) or homeware’s to fill a space (bedroom wall art, living room furniture).

Work out what single occasion or search term best matches your product, (this is your focus keyword) use this at the start of your title.

Your focus keyword should also be a long tail search term (more than 1 word, up to 20 characters long).

This should then be followed by a short description of the product, e.g. “Back to Uni Gift — Personalised Flamingo A5 Lined Ruled Notebook Journal”

Additionally, make sure your titles are descriptive enough without being overly long or cluttered with unnecessary information. Keep them concise yet informative by highlighting key features or unique aspects of your product that set it apart from others.

You can check the competition on Etsy for your focus keyword by searching the term and seeing the total results. Anything below 10,000 is a good place to start.

Choosing the Right Tags for Your Etsy Listings

Etsy Tags – Rule #1: You have 13 tags for each listing — Use them all.

Etsy allows you to use up to 13 tags per listing, so make the most of this opportunity by utilising a mix of long-tail and short-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords are more specific phrases that target a narrower audience (softback notebook, A5 lined journal, back to uni gift) but have higher conversion rates. Short-tail keywords, on the other hand (notebook, journal, gifts for her), are broader terms with higher search volumes but also higher competition.

Etsy Tags – Rule #2: Ensure your focus keyword is also a tag.

Tags are a crucial element in optimising your Etsy listings. These tags act as keywords that help categorise and classify your products, making them more discoverable to potential buyers. Ensure your focus keyword, that you’ve added to the start of your title, is also a tag.

Writing Compelling Descriptions for Your Etsy Listing

While titles and tags play a significant role in optimising your Etsy listings, descriptions should not be overlooked. A well-written description can provide potential buyers with valuable information about your product, while also persuading them to make a purchase.

When writing descriptions for your listings, it’s crucial to strike a balance between being informative and persuasive. Start by ensure your focus keyword is in the first sentence, then provide detailed information about the product’s features, materials used, dimensions if applicable, and any other relevant details that potential buyers might want to know.

Incorporate relevant keywords naturally throughout the description without overstuffing or sacrificing readability. This will help improve its visibility in search results while still providing valuable information to customers.

Additionally, consider highlighting unique aspects or selling points of your product within the description. Whether it’s handmade craftsmanship or eco-friendly materials used, emphasising these qualities can set you apart from competitors and attract buyers who value those attributes.

Bonus — At the bottom of your description, add a share and save link to a related category in your shop.

Optimising Your Etsy Listing Images for Maximum Impact

Images play a crucial role in attracting potential buyers on Etsy. High-quality, visually appealing photos can capture attention and entice users to click on your listing for further exploration.

When it comes to optimising your listing images, start by ensuring that they are clear, well-lit, and accurately represent your product, especially your main thumbnail! Avoid using stock images or low-resolution pictures, as they can give a negative impression of your product’s quality.

Consider using multiple images from different angles to showcase various aspects of your product. This allows potential buyers to get a better understanding of what they can expect when purchasing from you.

Furthermore, take advantage of Etsy’s zoom feature by including close-up shots that highlight intricate details or unique features. This will give customers a closer look at the craftsmanship and quality of your product.

Bonus – Add your focus keyword, along with a description of the item in the image alt tags, this helps with Google discoverability.

Tips and Tricks for Improving Your Etsy Listing Performance

In addition to optimising titles, tags, descriptions, and images, there are several other strategies you can employ to improve the performance of your Etsy listings.

Pricing plays a crucial role in attracting buyers. Research similar products on Etsy and set competitive prices that reflect the value you offer while still remaining attractive to potential customers.

Shipping options also impact buyer decisions. Offering various shipping methods such as expedited or international shipping can broaden your customer base and increase sales opportunities.

If you’re using a print on demand service, check their lead times and accurately reflect this in your processing times.

Providing excellent customer service is essential for building trust with buyers. Respond promptly to inquiries or messages from potential customers and ensure timely order fulfilment with accurate tracking information provided.

Conclusion

Optimising your Etsy listings is crucial for standing out in a crowded marketplace and attracting potential buyers effectively. By implementing effective SEO techniques such as crafting compelling titles, choosing relevant tags, writing informative descriptions, optimizing listing images, considering pricing strategies along with shipping options while providing exceptional customer service — you can significantly improve your listing’s performance.

Remember, Etsy’s search algorithm takes into account various factors when determining the visibility of your listings. By understanding how these algorithms work and implementing the tips and strategies outlined in this article, you can increase organic traffic to your listings, boost sales, and ultimately achieve success on Etsy. So don’t wait any longer — start optimising your Etsy listings today!

If you’re looking for some help optimising your Etsy listings, drop me a message on Fiverr.