Does your shop need a Relevancy Critique??

[#1]

Hi Etsy Success Friends,

All of us have been like little sponges, soaking up the tips for success this week. Sometimes we just need a fresh pair of eyes to look at our shop and say - "Hey, you forgot to use this tag!" or "You might try this title!"

The rules:
1. You are at least moderately up-to-date with the suggestions for Relevancy and
good tagging < http://www.etsy.com/teams/7716/announcements/discuss/8822575/>

2. If you pop into this thread and want to be critiqued yourself, you can join by critiquing the last shop that commented. The next person to pop in will critique you.

3. You don't have to look at every listing and every tag. . . but try to come up with a few suggestions . . .Words or Synonyms that you think would help with relevancy search.

Who wants to go first?

[Former_Member]

Greengarland:
Sorry that took longer than a few minutes...I got interrupted.
Your shop looks great! I love what you make - what a great idea! Here are a few suggestions:

1. Your titles are well thought out for relevancy. I suggest flipping just a few of them so that some begin with "Eco friendly", "recycled", "Party decoration", etc. Don't flip all of them, but just a few so that you have some with the titles in front and some with the description in front. This will add some variety. I read that the relevancy search uses the first few words in the title and not the ending words. So if you switch up the order of your titles then you will diversify your search listings and perhaps gain more viewers.

2. This listing:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72230416/just-married-eco-friendly-garland
has the tags "child" and "baby". These don't seem to fit the listing. I would change these to "celebration", "groom", "marriage", or "newlyweds". You could also use "bachelorette" or terms like that, too.

3. Your tags for this one are great!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56001288/childrens-name-garland-priced-per-letter
Consider using "nursery", or "custom" for tags or titles as well.

4. Most of your items look like they are unique - meaning they are not reproduced in mass quantity. You might consider using tags and titles like "original" or "unique" or "one of a kind". This will draw in a different kind of customer search than what you are currently catering towards.

5. In your setting and appearance where you are to list your shop name...I suggest you change the shop name to a list of keywords. In the top left corner of your shop page you will notice in bold "greengarland". Under that is unbolded "green garland". You can change the unbold part in your settings. This section is also used in the relevancy search. If you use words like "garland, eco friendly, banner, party decorations," then it will just be one more way that people can find your shop easier. Using the words "green garland" even though that is your shop name is limiting.

Finally, for some of your tags you can add "green garland" or greengarland" so that people looking for your shop can find you even if they forget to change the search from handmade to people. Also, you might choose some of your tags to say "environmentally friendly" as these are words I would use to search instead of "eco" for all of them.

I hope this helps! Good luck to you!

[CapitalCityCrafts]

Well I killed the thread earlier and also have been slkipped.
sorry if I offended anyone!

[Former_Member]

@ DaisyPatchwork and DorothyLMorgan

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me with my tagging. You gave me so many great ideas.
@DorothyLMorgan:
Thanks for the wonderful examples and the tips for titling. I don't know why it just did not quite make sense until you gave me some examples.

I appreciate both of your time and now I've got some work to do! :)

[BrittanyWright]

@sammysgrammy...thank you so much for your advice. The titles are something I've definitely been struggling with, especially since the latest search change. It kind of sucks, as an 'artist' to not be able to use your photo titles. But, I agree with your critique.

@DiReichertsArt...you are too kind!!! I thank you so much for your kind words. :0) It's funny you mentioned my note cards in particular because I've gotten the advice that black backgrounds don't work for treasury lists, so I think I'm going to change those. But thank you for your words. I wish you the best of luck!

Thanks to both of you!

[Former_Member]

Let's not stop this thread! I thought some of the advice people were getting was very helpful and I'm really looking forward to a critique of my shop! :)

[Former_Member]

Dorothy, I'm no expert but I'll take a look!

[Former_Member]

First, your work is beautiful! I think you have the right idea, just in the wrong order. Etsy is going to match using the first few words in your title. You want to be matched directly to the person looking for a still life of pears. Use that first. I would take out extra words that don't specifically describe the painting.
1. Girl with ducks oil on canvas should be first in the title.
2.Shakespeare and Paul the Apostle Oil Painting - use the title you have now as tags.
3. It doesn't look like you have any featured items. Why not use this mechanism?
4. Use Red Geraniums - that may be too specific though
5. Still Life with Pears
6. I would use phrases instead of one word and get a little more colorful in your tag descriptions. Also, use the term Fall somewhere in your landscape tags since that is the season coming up.

Hope that helps!

[Former_Member]

I seem to have been missed too.

[Former_Member]

PaperandBooks,
It looks like most of your titles aren't set to maximize the new relevancy tags.
I'd suggest using the first 3 words of each title as keywords. Choose words that tell people exactly what it is.

For example:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77835715/rainbow-heart-garland-hand-sewn-with
I'd change this to Paper hearts garland, rainbow
I would also suggest getting creative with your tagging. Think of the words you'd use to search for items matching your taste.

[Former_Member]

@Froggit. What an interesting store! That was a really good idea that you had to make those kinds of earrings.

I would say that your general use of tags is very good. I think that you are hitting on many of the main searches. However, you aren't using any of your material tags. What is the chain made out of? What kind of hooks are the earrings on? or are they posts? Maybe add Toy Soldier to your materials tag. Things like that.

(While we are on the subject of toy soldiers, I might add different listings for different poses so that people know for sure what they are getting.)

You might want to revamp your titles a little bit. As small of a tip as this sounds you might want to go back through and add more capital letters. Dinosaur Earrings, Stegosaurus Red looks much better than Dinosaur earrings, stegosaurus red. What else can you use in your titles? Dangly, Funky, Fun, Toy? I think that you can go ahead and try adding one more good descriptor to the end of each title.

There is only one more thing, I think your photos could use a little bit of refreshment. They are a bit dark in color and if people buy on etsy based on photos, as they say, then you should be taking some fun photos for your fun earrings!

Well I hope this helped you.

[Former_Member]

@Troubadori

Really good titles. I would try beginning each title with the 3 keywords that would describe your pieces to a buyer.

Some of the tags like "short" and "fine" do not seem to really capture the style and feeling of your work. I might try adding some tags that send the ideas of "earthy" "exotic" and "spiritual."

Your pictures give a great visual description of what the necklaces look like on a person from every angle.

Thanks

Shirley Be Mine
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShirleyBeMine

[Former_Member]

Hello!
This is a great thread! So now I'm next with @ShirleyBeMine.
Back in a sec

[Former_Member]

@ShirleyBeMine:

Hey! Your descriptions are really good, I think, descriptive and to the point.
I saw a couple things I can comment on:

-Include 'bridesmaid' in all your items, it's an important one. And maybe 'something blue' when relevant.

-In your descriptions, change your sentences around so you have the most important technical specs, materials, etc at the top, so it shows up in the search after the title.

-Since you use different kinds of wire (sterling, 14kt filled...) be sure to say which one is used in all items, since they look the same.

The following is not about relevancy, but since I'm here, there it goes:
-You could use a white or neutral colored background so your colorful jewelry stands out more.
-If you take pictures in natural, diffused light, the color of your image will be more natural (for ex: fluorescent bulbs make pictures look green).

-For me, it's more comfortable for the first image of dangling earrings to be upright (I mean the earrings hanging vertically) so that I can fully appreciate them, and not have to tilt my head. The other images are still very pretty, but the consumer might need to see it the way it'll look when you wear them in the first image.

Hope this helps!
Jimena

[EraDansLherbe]

Jb, I think it is great. If you could add a few more photos with the sun coming in , a blind?, adding texture it would be perfect. I would also raise your prices for the gold.

[Former_Member]

Eradanslherbe,
I am relatively new, but here are a couple of factor I've noticed

1- your photos are all taken with a dark background and thus appear too... strong. Perhaps you can try taking the photos with a white background thus allowing more visibility for your products

2- you are not using all 5 available photo spots, why not show another angle, or perhaps your item pictured together with similar items

3- your listings are very short which may have a negative effect for SEO and keywords, add more words such as suggested usage, how its made, target audience... using your important keywords 1-2 times each

looks good otherwise

[Former_Member]

Trinkets by Leah:
I think your work is beautiful and very detailed and I am far from qualified for a critique, however here are a few of my thoughts
I felt the thumbnails of your hands as a backdrop showed scale better and also your items just viewed better at first glance. I thought your descriptions were great. In your dentist santa listing your tags could be combined more I.e. santa dentist, holiday dentist, dental themed gifts, etc. Your sock monkeys show really well in your photos and don't need changed. Hope this helps a little, but you seem to be doing well!

[Former_Member]

I seem to have been skipped, but I'd love some thoughts if anyone would like to take a look at my shop. Thanks!

[Former_Member]

Dear thehappycouple,

Your shop is clean, bright and happy! Love that!!
I love your cute pillows, but I feel you don't really highlight them as well as you could with your photography. You are allowed 5 photos! Why not use them? You can take photos of the center where the bow has secured the ring, another shot with the ruffles being out of focus and perhaps the ring in focus, another shot with the ruffles blurred and the ring in focus and then perhaps have a cute younger fellow in dress up clothes standing against a neutral background holding the pillow as if he's ready to walk down the aisle himself!

Also, I have been reading that the first 3 words are the most powerful in the search engines. Perhaps use "Wedding accessories, ring bearer pillow?" Others may have a different idea?

I like the bows, but again, you have only one photo of them. Take advantage of that prime photo real estate and show the bow in a little girls hair maybe?

Anyway, hope this helps!

Renee

[Former_Member]

Here's an example of someone who took advantage of every square inch of her photo real estate even tho some seem like repeats, you certainly have a good idea of the item.

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/24683819

(It's my cousin's shop and she introduced me to Etsy.)

[MiLaViKnits]

I would like a critique. I also appreciate for good advise. Thank you.

[Former_Member]

Oops didn't mean to skip anyone! Sorry....i think I'm next?

[Former_Member]

Milavikids you have to critique someone else first :)

[LogicFreeArt]

What great rules! This way everyone gets an opinion!
Renfenable, I looked at your shop and here are my impressions. First - I Loved your banner! It's unusual and shows that you know what you are doing! And in general I liked how your shop is set and couldn't find any obvious flaws. There are only two things I would do differently in your shop. 1st: less sections. There are too many and I would combine some of them. For example, it took me a while to figure out what 3 PC and 9 PC sets meant. Considering that you do digital design I kept thinking it had to do with some personal computer issues, like an OS or something. :) So not to confuse dummies like me I would just combine those two sections and maybe a few others. And the 2nd thing: you gave a link to your facebook page in your announcement and I once read in one of the articles here on Etsy that in your shop you shouldn't put any links leading outside your shop. All links should lead into your shop, never out. Because people will never return. I have no experience to back up that piece of wisdom but that's what I've read here and it seems to make sense.
I also tried to see whether your titles are relevant but I'm too far from the subject of selling anything digital to have a sensible idea about it, sorry.
Good luck with your shop! You're doing great.

[LogicFreeArt]

MILAVIKIDS, Your shop LOOKS great! Good photos, a banner, everything clean and simple. But I think you could do some improvements with your... I don't know how to call it - search efficiency? Did you know that the shop announcement and the title are searchable? That means that you should skip sentiments like "Welcome" and plainly state what you are selling, like "crocheted baby clothes, hats, etc." The beginning of yout item description is searchable too. You can see how your listing will appear in Google when you are listing an item and you'll notice that the few first sentences of your description will be visible. So fill them with key words too. And as for your titles, I think if I were looking for something like one of your items, I would type in "crocheted baby girl hat, pink, cotton" So add "baby" in every title, cause just "girl" refers to an older child and definitely add the word "crocheted". At least that's my opinion, I'm not sure how accurately in represents an average shopper's way of thinking. :)
But keep up the good work, you are on the right track. :)

[MiLaViKnits]

I am so sorry. thehappycouple I think that the prices a little too high but don't get upset may be I'm wrong. So far it looks fine. Again sorry and good luck!