Get a Relevant Makeover

[#1]

Hi Team,

Many of you have already heard – Etsy search now defaults by relevancy. HeyMichelle and I are working on a blog post to help you get the most out of this change. In addition to this great post by Natalie, "Putting Your Shop on Top : Etsy’s Most Relevant Search"
http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/putting-your-shop-on-top-etsy%E2%80%99s-most-relevant-search/

Michelle and I will select a few of you to use as real life examples to explain how you can best optimize your search position. Let us know if you think you need help below – and tell us a bit about how you're already worked to optimize your shop with the tips above, so we can see what is and isn't working for you!

I'll pop back in this thread to let you know when we have enough submissions and when the blog post will go live!

Best,
Danielle

Here are a few more links to help you:

Answers to common questions:
http://www.etsy.com/help#/relevancy/1

Chat with Frank (and the rest of the Search Team working on this) here:
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7718/site-help/discuss/8808254/

[PaperAffection]

I try to be as careful and relevant about my titles and tags. I think the thing that makes me the most confused is the word pairings - what used to be a one word slot seems to be much more open to interpretation. I also try to include these kinds of key words in my shop announcement and title. What else could I do better?

[GayleDowell]

Hi Danielle. I would love to know what i could do better in my shop. I've deleted duplicate text that I had from other sites, and I've been working on my tags and titles. I'm also trying to optimize my niche of nature-inspired jewelry. Just started working on that part. Any suggestions would be appreciated...and if you have the secret to getting on the front page, I wouldn't mind learning that as well.

[sandrassatchels]

I just put up a new banner (new brand) and believe it has switched the light on for my shop. I love the Success stories and would like to be one of them. I'm willing to put in the work to make my shop front page worthy.

I have worked on a number of things -- improving tagging, use of all photo boxes, descriptions, listing, treasuries, showcases, photos. I am open to whatever help and feedback you would give me. Pick me, pick me.
Thank you,
Sandra

[Former_Member]

ooooooo submitting my shop, please and thanks!!

[BirdHouse197]

Hey I've recently changed many of my tags and titles and such, and I was wondering if I still need to change anything?

Thank you so much

[Former_Member]

I have started to re-title and tag all of my listings. What I have the hardest time with is what if you don;t know how your customers find you? what if THEY don;t know that they want when you do? I make copper enamel jewelry. People that do not know how I make my jewelry, love it but then ask what it is made of. If I fix my titles for read copper enamel jewelry then how will the customers that do not know what copper enameling is but love my jewelry when they see it? Please HELP! I support my family with the funds I earn on Etsy. I am self employed with 3 children.

[Former_Member]

With the new default search I am trying new title words and different tags based on shop stats (love those) but am still ending up below items with less relevant words in their titles, what am I doing wrong?

[jpstyle]

I would LOVE the help! I am on etsy everyday trying to revamp my shop with pictures, relisting, changing title tags, etc.

I need someone from the outside to take a look at my shop and provide constructive criticism.

Thank you for the opportunity!

[JacarandaDesigns]

Hello,
I've been trying to improve the views in my shop over the last couple of years to no avail. I've used GA extensively and now Shop Stats. over the last month I've been trying to optimize my tags and desc to make full use fof the new relevancy search. It doesn't appear so have had much impact. I'm at a loss and would so appreciate some help please!
Thanks
Jane

[mad4plaid]

I would love to get involved - I will actively participate and follow any direction given.

Thanks so much!

[lifeartdesigns]

If it's not to late, I would love some help as well!

[Former_Member]

Hello! I've been working hard to label my items accurately : ) I'm also renewing every day to come up higher on the list. I would love a review : )
Thanks so much for the tips and for optimizing the Etsy search engine!

[PatrisCorner]

Hi, I would like to have some help too! I think I have good items but I don't know yet where is the broken line. I would like to know what I'm doing wrong.
Help me please.

[hjmArtGallery]

Submitting my shop. I would love some help! Thank you so much for this offer! :-)))

[IrinSkye]

Hi Danielle!

Thanks for the opportunity to help all of us confused (and a bit frustrated) sellers!

So far, I have been working on optimizing my listing titles and tags. I have always been a fan of "titling" my work with an artistic, creative name, simply because it makes it easier for a customer to specifiy which piece they are interested in when you have similar items. Needless to say, I'm now having to move all of these titles to the end and am working on the key words that should be at the beginning of the listing title. The shop stats Top Keywords feature has been very helpful for showing me what words work! I know you asked for input, so I am letting you know that using Top Keywords at the front of the listing title brought me many more views on those items.

For the tags, the Top Keywords are again very useful. What I am also finding is that using the same words that were in the title down in the tags is also increasing views and visibility. I'm not sure if this is working as intended, but if I title an item "Bird and Tree Neckace" and also put "tree necklace" and/or "bird necklace" in the tags, bam, it's near the top in a relevancy search.

What isn't working for me is the fact that many of the same items are staying on the first page of a relevancy search despite all of the tweaks many sellers are making. Including some of my own. Visibility has always been a challenge for me, and renewing was usually the answer. With the SEO, I'm afraid that my shop which has been moderately successful on Etsy will, well, drop off the face of Etsy! I have noticed a severe drop in my sales (1 in 48 hours), listing views, and shop views despite the tweaks and adjustments I'm in the process of making. Any help would be much appreciated, therefore I would like to submit my shop as an example :)

All the best,
Forevermore Creations

[Former_Member]

Hi, I just joined this team and my shop could really use some help. I would love to get involved and hope there is still time to be considered.

I get the newsletters and am on Etsy and blogs everyday reading about how to improve my shop. I have been working on the titles of my items, making the info about them clear and using good tags, but I still feel like I have so much trouble getting views on my items and getting people to my shop.
Please help!

[SandraDesigns]

I think I need some help, too. I've had my Etsy jewelry shop for nearly 2 years. I sold better in the first year or so but sales have dropped dramatically. I don't know if it's the style of my pieces, the economy, or just too much jewelry competition on Etsy now. I make one-of-a-kind pieces, in a wide range of styles, materials, prices, etc. but many have an ethnic flair. I've redone all my photos, added lots more tags, and am now trying to make my titles more relevant. I am self-supporting and counting on sales for extra income to add to social security.
Thanks. Sandra

[Former_Member]

These cannot be enough info on this topic! I am always challenged to find the best tags for my items. All tips are greatly appreciated!

[lovemesugar]

Hello, I would love to get some help. I experiment with tags, change titles around with some of my items and have re-written my descriptions using keywords to see if that makes a different. To be honest last month was very busy and this month seems strangely quiet. Would like to have someone look in my shop and any advice would be appreciated. Thanks : )

[Former_Member]

I am running out of descriptive tags and phrases...I seem to utilize the same ones which is not driving buyers to my shop. How many ways can you describe jewelry? Thanks for any tips!

[Former_Member]

Hi there, I write and sell crochet patterns but I am not selling as much as I should, after a fairy good month last month this one I have hardly sold a thing... could you please help?, I don't know if it is the new search or whether I am actually getting any hits at all! please help!

[allisajacobs]

Hello!
I'd love to submit my shop as I'm currently trying to make adjustments and do some fine-tuning. I've streamlined my items and hope to add more soon...with the updates!

Thank you so much for all the information,
allisa

[OxArtJewelry]

You have pages and pages of volunteers but here's another one! I've continued to change titles and tags using google's stats and now Etsy's as a guideline. My shop has been open over a year now and due to advice from other Etsy sellers and admin. I've improved my photos by retaking and manipulating. I've also added links within my Etsy pages, started a blog and Facebook page! Never miss an issue of "Etsy Success".
I can always find ways to make changes to my shop but would love to know if I'm on the right track, so as not to waste valuable time.

Hopefully, if not chosen, we'll all get to be a part of your critiques as many of us are probably having the same problems.

Thanks!
PatsyOx

[EfiaFair]

Hi there,
I would love for my shop to be considered.
I love that Etsy is always making improvements and striving for overall betterness - I try to do the same. :) Lately I do feel like I'm not quite caught up on the most recent changes (relevancy included), and I would appreciate any advice.
I have always been a renewer, and from what I've read, I think it may still be a good idea to renew regularly, but I'm unsure about how important that will be in the months to come.
I am trying to title my items better, but admit I have a weakness for creative titles.
I am also trying to tag my items better, and am always revamping my banners/photos.
Thanks!

[jewelrybyNaLa]

I always arrive at these things late ... ;)

Hey Danielle and Michelle,

I've been here since June, 2009 and just began seeing some decent sales last year around Christmas time. I try to promote my shop and Etsy as best I can, and I think I can see results when I do that.

Things went well in my shop until around April of this year, when I was forced to take a break from online promoting for a month. I checked into my shop every day and did what I could online, but my time was limited.

I'd like to have things squared away in my shop well enough that I can be away for a few days, without seeing sales plummet. I could really use an expert opinion as to whether or not I have everything in place to do that.

Thanks for all you girls do!

NaLa