How much do you spend on Search Ads?

[Former_Member]

Hi! I'm just wondering how to figure out how much to spend on Search ads. Do you spend more as you have more things listed? How do you guys do it?
Thanks in advance!

[heartsabustin]

Nothing - I've found that Search Ad money is wasted. I've tried targeting keywords, I've tried raising and lowering the amount I spend - I pay for ads through FishIndie and get far better results.

[Former_Member]

Interesting! I've never heard of FishIndie. Thanks for the info, I'll check it out!

[AVisionToRemember]

I don't use search ads either

[AvonnieStudio]

Search ad has been working well for me. It brings me sales once in awhile. I use $10/week one. I wanted to switch it back to $5, but have no idea how to do that.

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

I've used them in the past but I didn't spend a lot of money. I got one sale from a search ad. After the sale I stopped running them and haven't done it since. My shop does okay without them.

[Former_Member]

I don't use them either. I rarely hear anything positive about them.

[Former_Member]

Well I actually have had success with them. With a budget of $7/week. So would a larger budget bring in more sales or would it be more beneficial to hold off until I have a lot more products listed? Maybe I'll just up my budget to the mid range price for now and see how it goes.

[Former_Member]

I have done search ads on and off for the past year. I have only gotten two sales from the search ads. I go up and down with the budget, but the most I actually spent in a week was about $7 and that was with a budget set for $50 a week. I am giving it a try right now for only a couple of days and will see what happens. But, I do have to say that once I fixed my SEO issues I am being found right at the top of each page next to the "Sponsored Ads." Go figure :-)

[Former_Member]

Thanks Lars! Yes, I really need to work on my SEO!

[WilliamsGiftshop]

Never have spend any money on them and never will spend any money on them.

[Former_Member]

How much money do you have to waste?

Honestly, if you have good titles and tags on your listings they will come up in a search whether or not you are paying for search ads.

If you really want to pay for advertizing why not spend it outside of Etsy where you can reach a much wider target audience?

[Former_Member]

I did try search ads twice for $5 per week. It was a total waste of money. I won't do it again.

I agree with crochetgal, if your tags and titles are good, you'll be found in search results and you won't need to pay for search ads.

[JudysLittleShop]

Only did it once and agree it's not worth the money.

[PaintingsGalceava]

I spent a few dollars, but not worth...

[GrannyKnowsBest]

I tried 3 times in different periods of time! Every time at 5$ weekly budget and every time the result was the same - none. I'm still looking for a better way to spent money on ads, but didn't find so far!

[heartsabustin]

We used to have something here on Etsy called Showcase - essentially the same thing as the Search Ads, in a different format. It didn't take long for me to find out that they were called "Newbie Dues" and why. They don't work that well.

Search Ads are the new "Newbie Dues" - of course Etsy is going to encourage you to use them, because it's more money for them. I'd just as soon tweak my SEO and keep my money. :P

[denisemcguire]

I've never used them. When I feel a 'lull' in sales I just do some additional promotion myself by pinning, or posting something new on facebook. Bottom line seems to be that my best way to increase sales is to create and list...and then create and list...you get the idea! ;)

[TheSalvagedEdge]

I was having trouble coming up on Google search and I started the lowest search ad and began to come up on Google again. Not sure if that was coincidence or if it actually helps but I do run them through busy seasons like Christmas especially. Since I have been on here I have spent 58.88 and got orders for $59.00 so I guess it's a wash for me.

[Former_Member]

@Andi, I don't spend a dime on search ads.

My stats in 'this shop' stay above the 70% all week long and peak of course when I list a new item or sell more than one item in a day. My views hover around 275 plus, each day.

I use the traditional promotional venues and teams.

SEO..........spend a little time searching those sellers you admire. Look to see how they tag, describe and title their listings. Chose a few listings or a page every week to play around with, change things up, list in a different category or change the tags.

Its a wee bit of work ....this etsy thing.....but it does work.

Good Luck girl.

[BlackCatStudio98]

I agree with everyone that good SEO is the best thing you can do to get found, but I think search ads could help if you're in a saturated market and I think it can help with the really broad searches. I think my SEO is pretty good and I appear high up in most of the searches that I have tagged/titled for, but I'm not at the point where I will be found in some broad searches.

For example, pink bracelet, there are over 97,000 and I don't appear in the first 20 pages. So I think in searches like that where good SEO can only do so much that search ads could help. At least there is a chance of getting some views and increasing relevancy, even if a sale doesn't come out of it.

That being said I haven't used them a whole lot myself, but I tried them, got 3 sales and made more than I spent. So I do think it's worth a try especially if you set the budget at $5/week.

[GWachtelArtist]

I haven't tried them yet so... not spending anything on them at the time.

[Former_Member]

@crudeco, Thank you for very specific and helpful ideas!

[RobertaValle]

A big fat zero :)
Never tried them...

[Former_Member]

Tried them few times. Had only one sale. Not happy with ads and I am not spending money on them.