How many "pages" really make sense?

[HeritageDishes]

I purchased a total of 12 items from various shops here on Etsy for Christmas gifts through my buyer account (separate from my seller account), and I just noticed what appears to be MY buying pattern. I'm wondering if this is the norm, and if so, this is important. . .

Every single one of my purchases came from the first two pages of the shop. Evidently even with sections to narrow down my selections, after the first couple of pages I moved on to another shop with similar items.

I used the search function exclusively. Once search pointed me to shops with my selections, I didn't go beyond the first couple of pages there, either. If I didn't find what I was looking for I changed my search.

I looked back, and some of the shops I purchased from had WAY more than a couple of pages which I never saw -- never even looked at. One I did NOT purchase from didn't have a full first page, and I discounted it for some reason that escapes me at this point. I probably was reluctant to invest in a shop that wasn't willing to invest in itself????

My point/question here is this: Are hundreds and hundreds of items really a good idea, or do so many just muddy the waters?

[WilliamsGiftshop]

It totally depends on the type of items.
Supplies, for instance, call for lots of pages.
And if you have a large variety of different (handmade) products, like I have, you need lots of pages too.
When I shop I use search and browse shop sections, so the total number of shop pages doesn't matter to me.
I like to have a lot of items to choose from though, so I would look beyond the first pages.
Also, the more items in your shop, the more chances of being found.

[Former_Member]

I guess it would depend on what you sold. I have a variety of items: handmade quilts (baby, twin, and queen), aprons, purses/bags, table runners, and a few other things.
I have assumed that if someone was shopping for a baby quilt, they wouldn't care about aprons, so I'm trying to keep like items on the same page. If I opened a separate shop for each type of item, my reviews would stay with the original shop, potentially losing sales because of the "newness" of my shop.
Hundreds of items probably increase views simply because the shop is capturing a variety of browsers with slightly different tags.

[Former_Member]

Oops, Bea and I posted at the same time! Hi Bea!

[Former_Member]

I don't tend to care about pages. I go to the section that has the item I'm looking for.

[MariasWorkshop]

I have a buyer account as well and I try to buy all my supplies from Etsy shops.

I do the same as Bea, Tanya and Julie. Sometimes I just browse, but too many pages overwhelm me. However,I do not leave the shop, I just go to sections or do a search within the shop for the size, color, etc., I am looking for.

I must say that, as a buyer, I love to look at a well-supplied shop, even if I do not look at all their pages.

I am editing to add that I not only buy supplies, but gifts as well.

[BirdiesLab]

I'm with Heritage! I get bored browsing more than two pages/shop. Maybe it's just a matter of each shopper's personality. :)

[Former_Member]

Hmmm I do shop a little different than you I think... Too many pages (more than 8 or so) do tend to overwhelm me. When I don't feel like really browsing, I tend to go to the next shop with less pages so it is easier to see if a shop offers me something I would like.

Besides my own browsing behaviour, I do think Etsy likes us to have a lot of pages.... I heard before shops with a lot of pages are ranked higher in search options.... but I am not sure of that, anyone?

[WilliamsGiftshop]

*Hi Tanya!*

I agree there are different kinds of shoppers.
Nowadays many people are of the 'browser' kind (in all aspects of online life). They have short fast looks at shops and move on.
Then you have shoppers like me, who know exactly what they want and will continue to browse a shop untill they have found it. No 'channel surfing' for me.

[Former_Member]

Yes, if I'm browsing a shop or search results, I may not go past the 1st couple of pages. BUT if there is an item I like in search results, and I click on the item - that item maybe on the 3rd or 4th page of the sellers shop. The more items a person has in their shop (with good relevancy) the better their chances are of showing up with good placement in search & browse.
Hopefully that makes sense.

Also, if I really like a shop I'll click on their sections/do a search in their shop.

[Former_Member]

I usually don't move past the first two pages. I usually use the shop sections to narrow it down for me. I feel if the shop isn't organized well it really makes it difficult for me to find things. Having an organized shop is going to be important to me as my shop grows.