Categories changes

[TheFeltedGnomeKnows]

Really not sure I like the categories change that now has been implemented. As a fiber artist I have a hard enough time getting found and it seems like my views will decrease with this new change. Ugh.

[Former_Member]

I hate it and have said so. I think it still has some kinks, which I hope will get worked out.

[TOMgirlApparel]

I think we are all a bit upset. Just when you finally feel like you have things figured out, it is changed again! It is daunting, but it is like any business where you have to constantly change and adapt.

[Former_Member]

For me it's not just the change- I really think it's going to have a negative impact for me. All of my most popular items are in categories that aren't being included in the new browse. And I'm thinking I'm not alone as far as bag sellers go (but I guess I can't speak for everyone).

[RainbowMittens]

Yes, that's exactly how I feel, Amanda!
Exhausting !
I hate computer work, but etsy with all those changes makes me all the time keep changing my tags and so on. ;(

[KilnMasterPottery]

As far as I am concerned it is not as bad as some of the earlier incarnations of this experiment. However I truly miss the old extensive list of categories. I assume geekery items are somewhere under iPhone, but I am an Android owner. I would not even go looking in there. As for my own inventory it is there somewhere under house -> serving but seeing the long list was easier than guessing. I wonder how many people will give up not being able to find it fast. I also find it disappointing that under more we get pictures rather than a list of minority categories. Luckily I am still doing OK with Google search so hopefully this will not be too disastrous.

[DesignsbyCher]

Well I'm sure how I feel about it... I absolutely HATE it!
I detest their pinterest style, the page takes forever to load, and it seems they've chosen to feature their own styles and favorites, rather than give all items in a category a fair chance... and of course the categories have changed pretty drastically too. I feel sorry for the buyers... and for us as sellers, because I have no doubt this will impact our sales.

I was really hoping that the outcry from so many of us against the "test" of this format would be enough to make them realize we don't like it, nor do we want it for our shops or for ourselves as buyers. It's likely that I'll revert to buying from my outside suppliers, rather than trying to endure browsing in this format and trying to find what I want here on etsy anymore.

[Former_Member]

I dont know, I've had 4 sales today so customers seem to be finding my items pretty easily. I haven't gone looking too much myself so I cant say.

[Former_Member]

I'm trying to specialise in wood jewellery. There isn't a wooden jewellery section, in the jewellery browse. A little disappointed.

[OriginalArtworkbyK]

I am running the Ads right now which doesn't seem to play a role anymore. I think I should stop it. I can't figure it out.

This is not the time of year for changes. We have to spend time on producing not spending days on the computer for revisions. I really don't understand who makes these decisions. Obviously they don't know anything about retail as far as I am concerned. The most important thing in business is timing and it seems that Admin doesn't understand this!

I just re-did almost all my tags and don't have time to re-do 210 items again since I am working on orders and preparing for shows.

Does anyone know if we have to re-work our tags again?

[Former_Member]

Don't think I will EVER get found now for sure!!! :(

[DesignsbyCher]

The best advice from CindyLou who is very knowledgeable about these things, is not to go ahead and change your tags yet... especially, if your category searches are not how your items are found. If they are, she has suggested changing a couple of items and see how that affects them.

If you type a search phrase in the box, you will still get the relevancy search as it has been... it seems only the browsing categories has changed to this new style. I don't intend on doing much browsing here anymore, that's for sure... ugh

[Former_Member]

I think its something that we'll have to get used to. My first impression is that I don't like it. There is no paper crafts section in the new browse options and I have a feeling I'm not going to get found easily.

[Former_Member]

Being found on Etsy without doing outside marketing is like palying the lottery, your chances are very low. I hit all the social networks every time I list an item. Without that, i'd be dead in the water.

[Former_Member]

I'm really bummed about the category change. I've been found a lot from being in categories, and right now none of mine are on the front page. It must be good for those who make the stuff in those categories though.

[ColorMyWorldCrochet]

Natasha Wiegand from Loopedwithlove4U says

Being found on Etsy without doing outside marketing is like palying the lottery, your chances are very low. I hit all the social networks every time I list an item. Without that, i'd be dead in the water.
------------------------------------------------------------

I agree Natasha!

I know I am in the minority here, but I actually like it. I have already gotten 8 views today from Browse/Women.

[wildwomanbeads]

I emphatically agree that the timing is terrible and hope someone at Etsy admin is reading and thinking about these comments. Most of us have just completed a major overhaul of titles and tags for the fall and upcoming holidyas, and then to find out we have to do more! It's aggravating, time consuming and may have more of a negative impact than positive on sales, though we'll have to wait awhile and see.

I wish this had been floated on the discussion forums before implementation, or was it, and I just missed it?

[Former_Member]

I think everyone agrees that this is symbolic anyway, but there is a petition on the Ideas Team, against this new change:
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7714/ideas/discuss/11054839/page/3/

[MyCupTeaMiniatures]

Here is a petition to change it back http://www.etsy.com/teams/7714/ideas/discuss/11054839/page/1

[LittleAppleNY]

I've only been looking at the jewelry category, and it's giving me a headache. It seems really counterintuitive and confusing. I make jewelry, and yet I'm hard-pressed to understand the difference between the subcategories for "drop earrings" and "dangle earrings."

I'd be a lot more upset about it if a larger percentage of my views had come from categories, but I am worried that this messy "browse" thing is going to send potential buyers to look elsewhere than Etsy.

[Former_Member]

I agree, Dione. If seller find it confusing, will buyers, too? I have so many first time buyers tell me that Etsy is confusing.

I'm a librarian by education, and while I'm not an expert cataloger or lexicographer, if this was the online catalog for a library, I would not be a patron.

[JulieEllisDesigns]

I think it will only affect those who used the categories for browsing. Most of my sales came from specific searches, not from browsing I'm hoping for the best!!

[EviesToolEmporium]

Look at your stats from last year compared to this year in categories! My views from from categories are right in line last year compared to this year! I will continue to watch that stat!

[TheRogueBaby]

I haven't had a single view from categories all day, and my views today are half what they usually are. My verdict is this is not good for my shop.

[Former_Member]

My ads are doing nothing! And my views/sales are now at a slow creep! This is awful! I have so many items and up until this point was doing very well for a new jewelry seller. :(
Hoping they figure this out by the holiday season, cause if not I'm going to have to close shop....I can't afford this.