Thanks for starting this, Karen. Ever since Etsy changed their search algorithm, this is really important. I'll be using the thread!
Another resource is The Helpful Relevancy Team (
http://www.etsy.com/teams/10240/helpful-relevancy-team). It was started by an Etsy employee when they changed the algorithm, and now is captained and led by expert sellers. You post items and get rapid responses with suggestions on relevant search terms to use in titles, tags, and descriptions. It's a great team, so check it out if you need more help on this topic.
In case anyone doesn't know, Etsy recently changed their search algorithm so results reflect relevance more than recency, as they did in the past. That means when you search for "slouchy yellow hat", an item that has that three-word chain in the title, description, and/or tags will appear higher in the results than a "hat" that was listed an hour ago. It was a great move because it connects buyers with what they're looking for. It was also a bold move for Etsy because it meant de-emphasizing the use of relisting items – which must have made them buckets of cash up front – to focus on a better shopping experience which should translate to more sales. I hope it has!
Importantly for us, it means that relevancy is more important now than ever. Even if you think your terms are perfect, remember that with changing trends it's vital to review and revise. Educate yourself about two- or three-word search terms by taking a litmus test on some people. Like right here!
Thank you, wonderful team!
