An example of why it makes no sense

[Former_Member]

I've been reading up and down about SEO and relevancy. I thought I finally understood a small portion of it. But today I was proven wrong. I have tried my best to understand the logic behing relevancy, and put in a lot of work to get my items to be high up on the relevancy list. Would someone with more insight tell me what I've done wrong?

Here's the example. My aquamarine necklace was on top of page 1 when you entered the search word "aquamarine". Today I found it on page 2 in the middle. I have not changed the listing, except added "free shipping" at the end of the title. As I'm having free shipping in november. It was also relisted 4 days ago. Then I removed that frase, to see if that played a role. But no.

I have another example with another listing that was on page 1 when you entered the search word "beige". I had two of this listing, so I removed one. Same title, same description, same tags. And suddenly I was way behind page 7 or so. So I had to activate the other listing and then I was on page 1 again when you entered the search word "beige".

These two cases makes me even more lost in the relevancy/SEO jungle.

Any of you experienced similar cases or know what's the logic behind it?

Thank you for your time and help!

[Former_Member]

Sorry, I forgot to add the two examples.

Here's the aquamarine necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78906851/natural-aquamarine-rough-nugget-necklace

And here is the beige feather earrings
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77186888/champagne-light-beige-feather-and-raw

[WrappedbyDesign]

Perhaps it's on a rotation of some sort to give others a chance, since there must be many more 'relevant' items than can physically fit on the fist page of a search... maybe.

Would love to know the answer to this myself!

[yaelsplace]

I think the result comes as a combination of relevancy and renew. For example: they 100 items which has the same relevancy. The order within these 100 items is according to the dates. The latest to be renewed appears firs....

[Former_Member]

Recency is still a part of relevancy, along with a whole bunch of other things. From what I know, titles, tags and description are still the main things but not the whole picture. They did also say they would be rotating items to avoid stagnant search results.

A better guide perhaps is how you're doing overall in categories- for example, since relevancy started we've had one item in the top few on page one for masquerade masks, then more on page two etc. The items change but our posistion remains much the same.

[Former_Member]

@Jacqueline and Yael: Thank you for your reply.

@Yael: Are you sure? Because many items that was renew later than mine was much higher up on the list. So for me it seams like the date have little to do with why my two listings suddenly appeared on page 2 instead of 1.

[Former_Member]

@ Karen and Rich: Thanks for your reply!
No factors were changed in my two listings: titles, tags, descriptions- all the same. And the same with relevancy. That's why I'm so puzzled. It stayed on top of page 1 for weeks, and then suddenly ended up on page 2 for no obvious reason.

[SerenityInChains]

You also have to take into account the idea of relevancy iteself. If someone else lists a item in that category a day later, and it is 'more relevant' it will bump you down.

However, the rotation does exist. If you type in 'chainmail' 3 days in a row, each day a different listing from our store will show up on the first page. We haven't renewed or changed anything, it's just etsy rotating our items that are equally relevant.

[WrappedbyDesign]

Since no factors were changed, maybe someone else's item/s, more relevant than yours was listed and knocked you back a page or two. I know this can happen because I have seen other people's items knocked back to page 2 after I've listed something new targeting a specific keyword phrase.

[Former_Member]

There are all sorts of factors involved in the relevancy algorithum that are unknowns to us. Recency ie when you listed or renewed is a factor but no one knows quite where it fits in and probably never will.

Don't focus on 'why I am on page 2' and I did this and x person is on page 1 and you have no idea what they did. Focus on you and getting titles and tags as user friendly as possible and don't forget your SEO. Just keep thinking common sense ie what words or word selections would a buyer use to find this. It is all interconnected.

Some days the majority of my viewings come from outside of Etsy ie SEO and others inside Etsy ie getting those words right for both is sooo important.

Don't fret about the whys and where fors because it can eat you up. Just do the best you can on the information you have on your listings and then do what you are best at - making stuff. Jewellery is a minefield on Etsy because the base is massive. My field of supplies is huge, but not as huge, but I can find myself on key phrase searches quite easily.

Renathe - your main problem just from looking at the above post is that you don't have necklace or earrings in the first three words of either listing.

This http://www.etsy.com/listing/78906851/aquamarine-natural-rough-nugget-necklace

Should have the following words in this order of the title - aquamarine nugget necklace and so on.

This http://www.etsy.com/listing/77186888/champagne-light-beige-feather-and-raw

should have moonstone feather earrings in the first three words - at the moment earrings isn't even in your url so no use on Google for example.

Take time to look at the words and phrases people use in their searches in stats - most are very simple one or two words. Those are the one or two words that need to be at the beginning of each listing and in your tags ie that word or that 2-3 word phrase.

[Former_Member]

Renathe - NB - things like free shipping and sale in titles can exclude you from Google shopping, it is therefore not advise to include either in a title and absolutely not at the beginning of a title. Don't waste your key words and space on Google with words that are not important for that piece.

[Former_Member]

@ Claire: Thank you for reply!
I did an experiment regarding your reply on SEO and having the keywords with in 3 first words. I have 6 item in my shop with the words blue feather earrings in the title. The phrase is also included in the description and tags. But I made a google shopping search, and none of my item did show up in the entire 50(!) pages I scrolled thorugh. So nowwhere in the google shopping pages was my earrings to be found! And even in one of the 6 blue feather earrings I have in by shop, the 3 first words is exactly blue feather earrings. How come I'm not found on google shopping at all? I saw many item from etsy in the 50 pages, and many of them had the key words spread all over and with many words in the title.

How come my 6 blue feather earrings was ignored by google shopping?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/StillWithYou/search?search_query=blue+feather+earrings&search_submit=&searc...

[Former_Member]

Google shopping does not pick up every item in every shop especially if it thinks the listings are repeats. To ensure the items are actually there in the first place search for your shop name on Shopping. If they aren't try deactivating and reactivating the missing listings as there has been a problem with some items being picked up at various times. NB Only about half my listings are on Shopping which means I have a lot deactivating/reactivating to do one day.

Don't stress too much about Shopping as it is a function few people use compared to other resources on Google. It also doesn't exist at all in many countries version of Google or is in beta stage as it is on the .co.uk version. Meaning a lot the world don't know it is there and not many people use it. This will no doubt change in coming months/years.

Are you sure your shop is syndicated? Are any of your items in Shopping?

[Former_Member]

Thank you, Claire. I will definitely make some of the SEO suggestions you had.

Maybe I should not focus too much on where my jewelry ends up on the relevancy sides. But I have noted a decrease on the aquamarine necklace, and that was one of my top keywords in etsy stats and one of my best sellers.

I tried a little experiment I relisted the aquamarine necklace today. And today the necklace is on the middle of page 13! How can possibly a necklace go from top of page 1 and then to the middle of page 13? Even considering all the factors that have been discussed in this thread. That is just rocket science to me

[ScrapsofLuv]

@StillWithYou-

Reading over the previous posts. Have you considered adding the term "nugget" to your necklace listing? I did a few searches, there are already defaulted search terms that use that word. I would suggest the following:

1. Aquamarine Nugget Necklace
2. Nugget necklace aquamarine
3. Necklace aquamarine nugget

You can even try adding the term "raw" to your title and see what happens with that, however I did get less hits with the term "raw".

Be sure to add the new title suggestions to your tag list and start your description with those words in the beginning of your first sentence. Also, in case you did not know, Google prefers to index items based on 2-3 repeats of title keywords in your description. Inserting a phrase such as "...my nugget necklace..." or "...this aquamarine necklace..." is what Google indexes on and not the tags like Etsy uses.

there are several other areas in your shop that could use a little tweaking and if you are interested, I could do a complete shop review for you and provide examples, using your own items. there is no charge for this as I do this as a "pay it forward" or RAK. Let me know if you are interested.

-pat

[Former_Member]

@Patricia: Thank you so much!
I've tried to tweak it the last days, and it will not move on the list. Now I've changed the title to Aquamarine nugget necklace, so we'll see how it goes. And also added the words in the beginning of the description as you suggested and tags.

I would really appreciate if you would be so kind to help me tweak my shop!
Sometimes it can be so difficult to see what's under you own nose. So some fresh eyes would be awesome!

Thanks to everybody for the help! I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

[ScrapsofLuv]

renathe-

In case you haven't checked your item is #1 on a search for "aquamarine nugget necklace" and on page #2 (of 7000+ hits) on a search using "nugget necklace"
Boy am I glad we got that fixed! I will be happy to look at your shop. Right now I have 10 (yeah 10!) other shops to look at so it might be several days until I get to yours. I will send a convo to let you know when my review is done.

-pat

[Former_Member]

Awesome! Thank you so much for all your help! Take time you need, absolutely no rush. Thank you!