Getting No Views Now

[#1]

What could I have possibly done that I have gotten ZERO views since 8/30. I admit I'm not a big drawer of views, but for the last 2.5 years GA and now these shop stats, I have always way more than absolutely no views at all. It is the same in my other shop, no views.

How can this happen in both shops, since 8/30, no visits?

[Chanchala]

crochetgal, I need to optimise my listings! Also, need to add more items. But where oh where is the time?!

[Former_Member]

I think you have some nice photos showcasing some really pretty items. Hopefully September will be a bigger month! I have worked on tweaking my item titles numerous times since the search feature changed, and nothing seems to work. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate them.

[WendysWonders127LLC]

My sales have been down also, but views have been okay. I have tweaked most of my items and retaken some of the pictures. I am hoping sales pick up soon, also. I guess we all are kinda in the same boat, waiting for the shoppers to start buying again. I am sure hoping that is the case. If any of you have any advice, I would sure appreciate it. I am still in my first year of Etsy and forever learning!

[Former_Member]

Your work is wonderful!! Like others have suggested to you ( and to me) the title is the most important part. You can use your special name for your item in the description, however, in the title it just won't work. Think of how you search online for a table quilt or table runner. . . what is the first thing you would type in? That should be the first part of your title. For example, if you would type in table quilt. . . then your title should be Table Quilt, Fall table Quilt, Blue table quilt. . .. you get the idea.

I just fav'd 4 of your items and added you to my favorites! Hang in there, things will work out. . . they always do!

[ScrapsofLuv]

@Handmadetablelinens-

In addition to the other recommendations, I would suggest adjusting your shop title and shop announcement. Both of these areas are prime search and SEO resources and should contain keyword rich brief descriptions of what is in your shop. IE Shop Title- "Quilted table runners, placemats, mug rugs and runners" The first sentence in your shop announcement should be a duplicate of the shop title. Quilted table runners, etc.

Titles- advice above is spot on. The first three words in your title should be exactly what your item is, then add one or two adjectives. You do not need to put a complete description in your title save that for your description area.

Description- The first sentence of your description should be a mirror of your title, this area is prime for searches and SEO. Use your title and then add your technical info and descriptive words.

Tags- yours are actually not too bad. The order of your tags is not important but we are now using "phrase tagging" as opposed to the single words. I actually prefer to use both kinds because that's how people search. One of your tags should be an exact duplicate of the 3 keywords in your title. IE "Quilted table runner" , tags should be specific and related to the item, be sure to proof read your typing also, typos do not give a good impression.

[StymiepieStudios]

good morning..maybe someone can answer this question..i know that you should repeat your keyword tags from the title in your description, but some of my , like "personalized piggy bank" won't work....i get that "tags cannot be longer than 20 characters" thing..what do you do then?

hang in there, handmade..your work is beautiful..

[GemSourceCorporation]

hi check your stats...loved your items n shop!!

[Former_Member]

You have some beautiful quilts! I think your titles might use a little tweaking to make them more search friendly. I especially love this table runner, but almost didn't click it because it said Hannukah in the title. It doesn't have any manorahs on it or anything and would work well for any winter occasion. I would leave Hannukah in the occasion spot and tags, but remove it from the title, since more people will find it without it. Your tags look fine. I saw a table runner with the title Where are my sun glasses in the first spot. When I typed that into the search box yours was the only listing, and when I used sunglasses as one word I got 2. I think more people will find it if you use where are my sun glasses in the description and a more shopper-friendly title. Etsy recommends changing your titles around a little, for instance some with table runner first and some with winter first, some with a very popular color or two first, like blue and white and some with another tag first.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77193690/blue-and-silver-hanukkah-table-runner
I'm having a problem with what I'm calling reverse listing too. I think of my lampwork as specific items I'm selling, not as items I'm trying to find. I started checking shop stats a lot to see how people are finding my items.

I apologize if I'm being preachy. This just struck me as a reason people may not be finding your wonderful work.

--Carol

[Former_Member]

Repeat key word on title, description and tag is new for me! I have to try this:)

Agree with GemSource. Checking on your shop stat and check what key words people find you. And also type in search box and see what come up and try to use the same words that related to your item.

Anyway, thanks so much for posting this because my view has been low too since the relevancy has started.

Watsa :)

[Former_Member]

Thank you for all the feedback, I so appreciate it. I would have liked to post in a critique my shop thread but I didn't think I'd have much to add, so you all did it for me!!! Ok so I am tweaking around, changing titles. As many suggested I had had the specific it in the first 3 words "quilted table runner" "quilted table topper" "table quilt". I read somewhere to SEO shops have more of a description in front of the title, thus "blue and silver bla bla" and I had changed it to that title, when before I had Quilted Table Runner. So I go back and forth with titles, I know I should just do a few at a time and see if that does anything.

I had read overa handbook on SEO's a few times and I had spent particular time counting out the characters that would come up in a search and repeating the item in my description, ie Quilted Table Runner - Christmas, I'd then follow the description I handmade this quilted table runner bla bla. I've just been confused if the number of characters is still important, it was 92 or so I think, to capture the views.

I will say, about 6 weeks ago, between this shop and my other, I had 12 sales in a 2 week period, which I thought was great. So I'm not over worried about sales actually, its getting the views and relevancy. Thanks for all checking the shop, I think I had 6 favorites and 140 views, so that was from all you guys.

[Former_Member]

Carol, I didn't think you were preachy at all. I say "If you don't want to hear it don't ask". I really have been back and forth with titles, with all of your suggestions in the last few months. When I tweaked last week, I changed a lot but some remained "quilted table runner" etc, cause I read to tweak some and not. To be honest I'm not worried about sales, I like to think "if I make it, they will come" from that Kevin Costner movie ... just never know when. I will definately work on the titles; my biggest challenge was working on pics, in my other quilt shop they were horrid and that is partially why I wanted to get to a more specific product. But I have taken and taken and retaken pics. Just tihjs weekend I re-took pics, specifically the ones you picked, the Peace one and the Hanukkha, I probably took 600 hundred pics for about 15 items. I still need to swap some out.

[Former_Member]

I love your pictures, especially how you are making them clear and natural, with great props! I hate taking pictures myself and groan at the thought of doing 600. I think if you are getting the sales you need that's proof that you're doing something right!

--Carol

[Former_Member]

Beautiful work Handmade!

I would suggest putting the relevancy words first - as you have in some of your items. eg. Hanukah or Table Runner Peace Signs.

I'm constantly tweaking my products! Here's some more on relevancy that may help:
http://angelasartistic.blogspot.com/2011/08/listing-your-product-for-greatest.html

[Former_Member]

Ok, so I went in and changed my shop title and announcement. I changed the first few offerings to reflect the SEO's and hope it helps the crawling.

LuvULots I had never thought to tag the first 20 characters out of the item listings. If anyone has a chance I'd love to hear if my edits seem to work better.

[Former_Member]

I checked out your shop...great stuff! I love quilts myself and admired yours. I agree with people giving advice about the titles.

I noticed that most of your quilts can barely be seen, as for the detail. I thought that dancing trees and the white doves had the best details, some of the others, while in interesting settings were barely 'see-able'. Some of the photos were a bit dark, though not gloomy but the darkness part was discouraging to a casual viewer.

I am having viewing trouble and low stats over the weekend also, if you are selling, then I'd just be a bit patient, mark in on the calendar and accept that a pattern is emerging...low views and sales in August and September..high on October, November...etc.

[Former_Member]

Nothing wrong with your shop or your quilts, which are quite beautiful. It's been a slow week and with relevancy it is even harder to get noticed, so just do your best and hang in their. Hopefully things will pick up even though the economy looks rather dismal.

[Former_Member]

Some of the runners were hard to photograph, getting them right. The Dancing Trees is one. It is really cute with trees going up and down the sides. I've been using picasa and that works wonders.

I wasn't complaining about the sales, it was just no views at all for 5 days. Between my 2 shops, I've had about 70 sales in 2.5 years, and my current shop has had 15 sales since I opened it in March, so I know buyers are always