Is this a bad move?

[Davs]

So while editing my titles for relevancy I thought to add a side note to the end of my descriptions which is this: *Please forgive my long and redundant title and understand I must use it for SEO (Search Engine Optimization).;)

Do you think it is a bad move or no?

[thedots]

Far too many buyers are going to have absolutely no idea what you are referring to... Also, feeling like you have to apologize for anything, in print, in your descriptions seems kind of unprofessional. The buyer should not have to read the seller apologizing for anything!

Also, you don't have to have a long and redundant title for anything. You can keep your title's short, sweet and to the point, and incorporate more descriptive words for your Tags.

[Davs]

I don't know, from investigating, in my category's first pages the seller's items that some up first in the searches have the longest titles, so I came up with super long titles and matched keyword phrases in my titles with my tags and now I'm in the first pages too, I'm certain it has something to do with long titles...
But I see your point about not wanting to apologize.

[Former_Member]

Very bad move.

You do not need long titles in your listings. You do need accurate keyword phrases that people might use to look for what you create and are trying to sell.

Try "abstract oil painting" at the beginning of the listing title if that is accurate, followed by more descriptive words if you like or followed by a creative and imaginative name of the painting. Do not break up the keyword phrase or rearrange the words.

There were almost 600 searches on Google last month alone for "abstract oil painting" and using this keyword phrase should help you reach at least a few of those searches.

I suggest using Google's keyword research tool to find more good and appropriate keyword phrases for your listings; https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal?forceLegacy=true

Using keywords does not spell the end of creativity. But creative writing does become more challenging.

[MightyBunny]

I believe you're only allowed up to 140 characters in your title anyway so you wouldn't be able to fit that at the end. ;-)

[Davs]

TeenyBunny says

I believe you're only allowed up to 140 characters in your title anyway so you wouldn't be able to fit that at the end. ;-)
.............
I didn't put it in my title I put it in the end of my description in apology for my long redundant title.

[Davs]

SEOWebDesign says

Very bad move.

You do not need long titles in your listings. You do need accurate keyword phrases that people might use to look for what you create and are trying to sell.

Try "abstract oil painting" at the beginning of the listing title if that is accurate, followed by more descriptive words if you like or followed by a creative and imaginative name of the painting. Do not break up the keyword phrase or rearrange the words.

There were almost 600 searches on Google last month alone for "abstract oil painting" and using this keyword phrase should help you reach at least a few of those searches.

I suggest using Google's keyword research tool to find more good and appropriate keyword phrases for your listings; adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal?forceLegacy=true

....................

Than why only after I made my title as long as I could using as many keyword phrases that fit my description as possible did my listings show up in the first 3 and 4 pages of the search? And likewise for for other listings in the search for "oil paintings" the ones that show up in the first pages all have super long titles. I figured that had something to do with them showing up first...

[Former_Member]

Try "abstract oil painting" on a few listings and see how that works out for you. You should do better than you have done.

[Former_Member]

I've got long titles also- I don't love the way it sounds, but it works to get me on those first few pages in relevancy search. The search will give relevancy to exact word match in titles and tags- but when you have exact word match in both you'll be considered more relevant then listings with it in only one of those two spots.

And I agree with thedots- I wouldn't apologize for it. I think most buyers don't even care much about title, they're looking at photos and descriptions. I know when I'm a buyer I don't read more then the first few words, if that. I'm usually scanning the photos till something catches my eye. Apologizing might just point out something they didn't even really notice.

[Davs]

SEOWebDesign says

Try "abstract oil painting" on a few listings and see how that works out for you. You should do better than you have done.
.............
But that's what I'm trying to say, is I am doing well, but when I put just "abstract oil painting" as my title I wasn't showing up within the first 20 pages in search but when I put for instance "Abstract Oil Painting, Set of Three, Original Art, Palette Knife, Colorful Art, Multicolored Art, Textured, Wall Art, Home Decor" :
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79892535/abstract-oil-paintings-set-of-three

I show up on the first page...

[Davs]

Oh but I forgot to add I also matched the keyword phrases in my title with my tags and that's when I showed up on the first page in the search...

[JoArtyJo]

I agree to not bother with the apology as buyers probably won't know what you mean, and it may make them think something is 'wrong' with your listing when they hadn't noticed before....

I totally understand the long titles though. I find mine getting longer as I try to include everything I think 'relevant' as I agree that good titles AND tags are what is needed. So I say keep the titles and don't apologise. It's not your fault the new search favours these kind of titles! :-)

[Davs]

I think you're right JoArtyJo :)