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/

[Former_Member]

Since switch to default by relevancy has come out I have really been working hard to redo lots of my shop listings. I used to be a big renewer, but now I'm going to slow that a bit. In the article it says recency is a part of the search algorithem but from doing a few personal searches I think that titles really pay a bigger role so I'm going to be focusing on getting great titles. So far I've:
*Taken a look at each item.. Not looking at the current title.. and thought how I, as a buyer, would search for that item. I then compared what I would have typed into the search bar to what I had. I will admit it. Alot of my titles needed to be reworded.
*Now the items I didn't need to reword I took a look at in Craftcult.com. They had More hearts and more views than any other items in the past few days. So obviously relevancy works for properly titled items :)

For me I felt my tags were already good enough.

xoxo
Catherine

[Former_Member]

Hi there! I sell contemporary artwork, original drawings and paintings, reproductions and a few 3 dimensional pieces.
I begin grad school in the fall and have been improving my shop every day this summer. My focus has been on the following:
1. Researching trends, pantone colors and commonly used art related search terms in order to improve my keywords.
2. I changed all of my titles to include relevant search phrases- my titles still need work but before it was only the title of the piece and the same descriptive phrase, used over and over. It was bad but I didn't know better! No I need help taking my titles to the next level.
3. I made lists of words that are of-the-moment and integrated tgem into my descriptions.
4. I have been drawing every day and listing new pieces
5. While completely reorganizing my room I discovered artwork that had not been listed and compiled a list of images that can be sold as reproductions. It tirned out I had listings just sitting in the sold category that I needed to print reproductions of.
6. Started to create blank cards with hand made collages, to have fun items that can be sold for under $6
7. Designed and ordered new business cards with my shop url and Columbia email address to give to people at my new school.
8. After years of procrastination I finally began a FB fan page, I still need to add it to my shop though.

It sounds good but its not working yet. I have never had regular sales and I have been around for a few years. I'm very grateful for my 60 sales but I know there are many sellers with hundreds and thousands more sales than I have, even shops much newer than mine. Every day I wonder (my mother wonders too) why my sales are hit and miss. I package things well and write little notes, I don't receive return customers though, only great feedback.

Part of the solution needs to address the fact that other shop owners do not buy from me, it is extremely rare when they do. Is it because I make art? I dreamed that my shop could help me through grad school but I have not been able to step up my game. If you read this far, I love you!

[Former_Member]

HI! I noticed on the latest Success email you are able to submit your shop as an example on using Shop Stats. What information are you looking for for submission?

Thanks!

[Former_Member]

I would love some help trying to figure out how to get my shop to turn up on the top pages of the search engines through Etsy as well as outside sources. I would LOVE some insight! I have tried changing the title as suggested but can not seem to find my last 2 listings! Help!!

[Former_Member]

I definitely need help with titles and tags. Recently I played around with the first three words in the title and am experimenting with scarf / knit scarf and other style words.

Tags are still a puzzle for me. If I can't list all the colors in the item in one tag, how can I make sure people will find a multicolored item?

Thanks!
Susan

[Former_Member]

Hi Danielle and Michelle,

Please tell me that help is on the way! Save me from relentless re-listing in order to get my shop on top. There must be a better way.

I have tried to use my Tags to my best advantage, but still feel they are falling short. I have also used many great apps to re-list,renew, create and repeat. I feel like I'm working harder and not smarter when it comes to getting my store seen and shopped.

Save me
Lindy

[Former_Member]

I am relatively new here at Etsy. I opened shop in March. Since then I have read about tags & how to choose better words to draw viewers. I changed my tags. I read about "search for relevancy" & I changed the words in the titles to draw more viewers. I feel that I have good, well lit photos. Yet, low views. It's discouraging when you feel that you have done the right things & still really low, extremely low views. Maybe it's the product that I offer ...I would be very thankful for your input.
Thank you for your time,
Marla

[Former_Member]

Hi,
I have worked really hard trying to understand the whole SEO issue and even joined a Learning SEO Team. I made the changes they suggested and have tried to bring it to a point where it is easier to find among the many. I am still having a low view issue and would really like to know what I could do to change it. I changed the tags I had been using, updated the words under my name and changed how the Info appears under my banner. I would really appreciate being selected as one of the ones you decide to work with on this project and welcome any and all help.

Thanks - Dotti

[Former_Member]

I have this beautiful shop with beautiful things and inconsistent, low sales. It's time to figure out what's working, what's not, and how to be a real power-seller here on Etsy. Today I'm working on changing my titles to move relevant words closer to the start. We'll see if it does anything to my shop stats over the next few days, since I'm currently plummeting off of yesterday's awesome Etsy Finds feature spike (my second ever)!

I'd love to work with you guys optimizing all your suggestions and watching to see what increases views and, more importantly, what increases sales.

Thanks, guys! You rock my socks!

[LifeUnscripted]

I was just starting to gain some traction on Etsy when this Search change reduced my views dramatically. Despite title and keyword updates, I don't seem to be getting anywhere. I can use any help I can get! Thank You!

[Former_Member]

I have been actively trying to apply those tips. Titles, keywords, everything has been getting a makeover. Then, I try and renew or put a new item up often, so I can stay up to the top of recency in my categories.

But I obviously still need more help.

[Former_Member]

Converting views to sales is a big issue..... I think the categories are a big mystery to me as sometimes there is not a category to fit ......

[Former_Member]

HELP!!! I would love some extra help! I have updated photos on almost all of my products and gone through and changed tags. Not sure any of it is helping though.

I'm wanting to get my shop out there more but not sure what to do next. I do quality work but don't get many sales. Whats next???

~Kris

[Former_Member]

I'd love to have my shop used as an example! I like to think I tag all of my items appropriately, but I'm not always sure if this is the case. I'll take all the help I can get!

[claylicious]

I started working on my optimization about a month ago ,reading and trying to get ready for the big change I thought I was on the right path but today I feel that my efforts did not hit the right direction and would love to have my shop checked by you guys .
Thanks

[Former_Member]

I'd be happy to have my shop used as an example. My partner and I have been working on our SEO since long before the announcement that relevancy would become the default and it has paid off for us all along. We expect that now it will continue to do so.

[Former_Member]

i would LOVE to have my shop looked at.

i have had very steady sales for the past two years and this august came around and my shop absolutely DIED! i've had one sale. and i normally make them daily.

not sure if it's school getting back in, the recession, or the new 'search by relevancy.'

either way, i'm panicking.

help would be fabulous!

natalie

[Former_Member]

It would be great to get help. I am fairly new to Etsy and I have been playing with different items, tags, and photos to see what peaks views and sales. I'm still unsure of how to use all that Etsy has to offer. In time I will find my niche.

Thanks!

[sanderswoodworking]

Better late than never, a request for help on page 39. I'd love help with relevancy. I post a new or renew an old listing almost every day. It does help. I have had significantly more sales since July but am still way below some benchmarks with longer term ETSY stores. Some of it might be longevity but I am willing to do whatever it takes to get more hits. My wooden bowls, platters, hollow forms and puzzles are very high quality, my feedback is all excellent, I have 145 listings and my prices are reasonable for the quality of my work and my intended audience. I just need more traffic.

[Former_Member]

I would love help! Hope I'm not too late. HELP!!! :-)

[hothomestead]

I would love to have someone look at my shop and give me some pointers. I have tried different titles and tag. I try to make my tags and titles relevant and think "what would I type in the search if I was looking for this item". I still feel my items are not being viewed as much as they should and I am not sure where else to make changes.

[Former_Member]

I opened a shop a few months ago with what I feel is an innovative product for sale. A product great for children, is easy to store, and cute. However the success is coming very slowly. I really have focused on being clear as to what the product is in my title and search terms, made sure I listed in all categories that my product may qualify under, and also have tried different pictures to try and get customers, but because it is innovative and different than what they've probably seen before I feel like maybe people don't realize what they are missing and therefore aren't typing in the search words that would bring this great product into their view.
Another problem is of the visitors I get I do get quite a few "hearts" and "favorites" but not a lot of purchases. Not really sure what I should do to improve my shop. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all the tips so far.

[Former_Member]

I'd love some creative critiquing for my shop. This is my 2nd of 3 shops on Etsy and it seems to get the most traffic, the most views and has had the most sales, yet I still think it could do better. I'd love help with the tags portion especially, as I think my paper dresses in particular could reach a wider audience. Thank you!

[Former_Member]

I would love to be featured. I was very set in my old tagging ways and had a lot of sucess before. Now I'm struggling to figure out how to best tag, etc. I'm working hard but I could really use your help!!

[Former_Member]

I have gone over my tags, titles, shop description, and item description to optimize my SEO. I have noticed my hearts and views go up a little, but my traffic is still pretty low. Sales are non existent. I have used Adwords to try and find other key terms that might pull in views. Everyday, I do a little more reading in the support forums and go back and tweak something else. Any advice is always appreciated!