Etsy SEO Google SEO for the New Etsy Format - Updated

[Former_Member]

Etsy SEO Google SEO for the New Etsy Format - Updated

The new shop design coming in April includes changes in SEO. The changes do not affect searches within Etsy but they will have an effect in Google searches.

All Etsy shop pages can be found in Google searches, including:
-Home page
-Section pages
-Listing pages
-About page (shop)
-Profile Page
-Policies

As with every web page, all of these Etsy pages include snippets of information for Google that are not visible to ordinary readers. On Etsy these snippets of information are created from various kinds of text on the page.

NEWS
Etsy has changed the way it is providing these snippets of information to Google. Before, Etsy sent unique pieces of information for each Etsy page. Most pages in an Etsy shop included the title and the first 140 characters from the text on the page.

On the Home page, for example, the information for Google previously included the shop title and the first 140 characters of the shop announcement. This has always worked well in Google SEO when keywords were added to the the shop title and shop announcement text.

This will no longer be the case. For the Home page and most other Etsy pages, the short 140 character text will be replaced by the following “boilerplate”:

“Browse unique items from [your shop name] on Etsy, a global marketplace of handmade, vintage and creative goods.”

The title on each page are still available for Google. On pages that have a title or heading, these are still great places to include keywords that will be visible on Google.

The section pages will no longer include the section name in the hidden title that is created for Google. The section names have always been and will continue to be used for the hidden meta keyword tag. It is good to continue using keywords in the section names.

The short, hidden description on each web page has always been very important to Google and should be unique to pass Google's search standards. This change to boilerplate language is significant since shoppers on Google who find any Etsy shop pages including the Home page, will not easily see what function these pages perform in your shop or what you sell, beyond the keywords you provide in the title.

The actual visible text throughout your shop is still available to Google, even when located far down on the page. So it’s important to continue using good keywords in your shop text. This includes your shop announcement, profile, about page and policies.

Note that, in product listings, both the title and the description are very important to Google and appear in most Google searches. Although some of the good places to use keywords for Google searches will be gone with the new design, the listing titles and descriptions will continue to be great places to add keywords and other text.

The listing tags will continue to be very important in Etsy searches and somewhat useful in Google searches.

[EECustomGifts]

Thanks for the helpful information! So appreciate you sharing this!

[ShillyShallyjewelry]

Thanks for all the information..don't know how you understand all of it? It will take me some time to digest but really appreciate how hard you work for all of us!

[Former_Member]

Thank you for the info! I was wondering if keeping my banner will have an impact...

[BluebirrrdDreams]

Thank you, Mary! This has been a good excuse to revisit every area of my shop.

[Former_Member]

That's amazing relevant info Mary!!! I am just dying to have you work on my shop!!! Many blessings and thanks to you!!! <3 <3

[DecoDazeFineVintage]

Talk about screwing us over ...
and themselves without seemingly knowing it.

Unbelievable. Would love to know who is running things over there and why they insist on sabotaging their and our best interests.

Truly shocking.

[BeadsAndKnotsByNina]

Thank you Mary for the information you provide us.

[AmyandAnnaDesigns]

Hello Mary,

I am still in the process of learning and educating myself with SEO. Is there any way you could take a look at my shop and give me some advice on what to possibly correct for the new upcoming SEO changes? Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. 😀

[LooptheLoop]

I agree with ArtDecoAntiques
The newly proposed Etsy Format does seem to be counter-productive if it will be more difficult to find us in Google Search.
I'm finding the biggest problem to be the mobile phone app. That's the issue which needs to be addressed. People are not seeing your shop nor your listing information. The poorly designed app causes time consuming questions which are all answered in my listings.

[WhippoorwillValley]

Thank you so much for this information!

[SuitcaseInBerlin]

Thanks for the info!!

[Former_Member]

L.C.,

The banner does not make any difference to SEO but it can make a difference to Usability. Studies have shown that shoppers decide within 7 seconds whether a website has what they are looking for. You only have a few seconds to catch the shoppers attention with what your shop is selling by showing some of the items above the fold (bottom of screen before scrolling. Banners take up too much space that is better used to display your products before anyone has to scroll.

[Former_Member]

Amy and Ann,

Please start your own thread on this team if you would like anyone to look at your shop. All leaders and team members will see your post and can jump in with suggestions.

[Former_Member]

...On a road to nowhere....Self Destruction is being played out.

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much for thia info. Would you say this new change will make it harder to be seen in Google shopping then? I get decent traffic from there (compared ro other sources) and I'm a bit worried the changes will effect it.

[DecoDazeFineVintage]

I would just love to know why a mobile-friendly platform and app were not designed on their own, and just leave PC alone.

You can't force fit a mobile look and feel on a PC, nor can you sacrifice one for the other.

Currently only 6% of my views are from mobile which means that 94% of people looking at my page will see blurry photos if they even bother to scroll past the top heavy design which is not over-branded but not in a good way.

Self-destructive absolutely comes to mind.

[Former_Member]

Thanks Mary!
I was curious about this. There goes my top ranking website for my niche! Glad I learned from you over the years so I can get my own website into number one (vs here being number one) I'm sure I'll tank or already have as sales are horrible the past two weeks.

No google traffic to here but tons of inquiries on my website.

Hmmm.

[AuntMaymesAttic]

Wow! This is great information. I never knew how SEO plays in the background (sections, etc.,) and in your post, I've learned a lot! I have to do some studying on what a "meta keyword" is and how it's used. I'm going to keep this thread marked for reference. Thank you!

Beth

[Former_Member]

"The short, hidden description on each web page has always been very important to Google and should be unique to pass Google's search standards." What is that? a hidden description?
Thanks for your post, by the way.

[Former_Member]

I am disappointed, to say the least, that our titles no long brand our shop, but instead brand the venue. Maybe not brand so much as work as important keywords google used.

[TheVelvetPrincess]

I solved my problem of folks not reading the description when looking at etsy on their phone. I put my description and measurements on the last picture. I have about 12 items ready with this new format.
Thank you. I will get working on this.

[ClaycrazyPottery]

marking

[umeone]

Thank you for keeping us updated on these changes and explaining what they mean to us. I was wondering about the Sections, I sell mostly vintage items. Should I put "vintage" in my section title?

[Former_Member]

With the boilerplate "This will no longer be the case. For the Home page and most other Etsy pages, the short 140 character text will be replaced by the following “boilerplate” will google be less likely to send searchers here?