How Best to List Sizes

[KeepsakesStudio]

Checking to see how buyers search for sewing patterns has brought up this question. How SHOULD I list sizes?

This morning I noticed that someone had searched in my children's patterns for girls "size 10-12". Curious about the results of that search (in my shop only), I did a quick search myself and found there were actually far more patterns that fit that criteria than what showed on my search for "size 10-12". So I tried to match the title, tags, and descriptions up and did another search. The inconsistency of the results have me even more confused.

Was it the way the search itself was written "10-12", or because I put commas between sizes, or because some of the patterns are listed for example, "8 - 10 - 12" or "8, 10, 12" or "8 10 12"? I went through most of the vintage patterns and changed the tags, titles, and descriptions to match up, without ANY punctuation. But will that help me when someone searches for a range of sizes using punctuation that does not conform to what we have been told to use? And does using the term "size" (singular) vs. "sizes" (plural) make any difference in either Etsy or Google searches?

This is a short links listing for a pattern listing in which I did not use any punctuation regarding size. https://www.etsy.com/listing/463011940

Hope this is not confusing. But this is vital for those of us selling items with sizes listed, either as sm med lrg, etc. or numerically.

Thank you!

[Former_Member]

Your listings would show up in searches for childrens clothing sizes 10 and 12 if the shopper only uses "size 10-12" as the search term.

Womens Clothes were sized differently 40 years ago. You can list a size or sizes in the listing title and tags (punctuation does not matter but you must include one space between size number). You should also include this very important sizing information that your customers will appreciate in case they miss the photo of the measurements for each size:

This is from my own Vintage Crochet and Knitting Pattern Shop:

VINTAGE SIZING FOR WOMENS CLOTHING:
How can you tell what your "vintage size" is? Very simply, the size of a vintage garment pre-1980s is roughly 6 dress sizes larger. That's right, SIX sizes LARGER. For example, if you wear a modern dress size 8, any vintage garment you should wear is a size 14.

Once you have measurements to go by, you will eventually find that most vintage sizes are fairly constant. A vintage size 14 generally has a 30" waist and usually fits a woman who is a size 8 in modern clothing. A waist size 28" is usually a dress size 12 or 13 in vintage dresses, which is a modern size 6. If you notice, these vintage sizes are almost always 6 sizes larger.

You are welcome to join my free and helpful and active Facebook SEO Team for more SEO help: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SEOSalonGroup

[Former_Member]

Instead of guessing and stressing over keywords, you can do some keyword research using Keyword Planner to see which keywords shoppers are using when they search for vintage patterns or anything else. Keyword Planner is the best free keyword research tools available. You can find documents in my Facebook SEO Group on How to Use Keyword Planner.

[KeepsakesStudio]

Thanks for the link to the Salon Group! Just signed up! I'm sure it will be helpful.

Re: sizing: I guess what I am asking is how best to write the sizing in terms of punctuation that will capture the most searches - or not, as the case may be. As examples only, here are some choices:
8 - 10 - 12
or
8, 10, 12
or
8 10 12
note that I am trying to adher to the the spacing conventions used for proper SEO. The customer who started this whole thing (LOL) did not use any spacing.

I'm guessing that the 8 10 12 listing may work for both Etsy and Google searches, as there are no search limitations, i.e., commas or "ands" or dashes with or without spaces.

I know this may seem like nit picking, but given that I have done my own
"beta" testing on these terms, I want to achieve some consistency in my listings. I have done keyword searches and even those are inconclusive when it comes to size.

Thanks for the info on sizing changes, Mary. Thanks to my daughter, an apparel designer, I am aware of those "morphs" in sizing, but I did NOT know how much of a change it really is! I include this in every pattern listing, "SIZE CAUTION: Care should be taken in determining the appropriate size. Compare measurements with those indicated on the THIRD image above to ensure a perfect fit." And I make a special effort to edit and highlight the sizing chart for each individual pattern.

By the way, I checked out your knit/crochet shop. It is clean and crisp and I love it! Wish I had seen a couple of your shawl patterns before I got halfway through the one I am crocheting now. So pretty! I'll be back I think, when this one is finished. And I have to say that after reading some OTHER shops' listings, I appreciate the detail you go into. particularly the issue of yarn terminology. Thanks!

p.s. While I think this is ultimately a punctuation question on the size issue, Barb referred me to you. (Who, by the way, is terrific! Reading her thread has really help me in the past.)

[Former_Member]

The punctuation that the shopper uses does not have to match exactly to the punctuation or lack of punctuation in the listing titles and tags. Some shoppers use punctuation with or without spaces, others do not us any punctuation. It is not feasible to use every combination that shoppers could possibly use. Etsy just matches the number(s) in the search query to the numbers in the listing title or tags.

I would just use the numbers with spaces but no punctuation.

Thank you for the compliments for my pattern shop.

[KeepsakesStudio]

Mary, I realize that this question was of the "how many angels dance on the head of a pin" variety, so I appreciate so much your patience and the attention you gave my question. I feel completely confident now about how I write the sizes for my patterns.

Thanks so much!