SEO and Google

[AListDesigns]

I think I've figured how the Etsy/relevancy search thing works, but I still don't really get Google. What is it that makes some items from Etsy actually come up on the first page? I especially don't get it when I notice that the tags for the item are really basic terms, and sometimes there aren't even that many tags. Is it more a matter of the page having a lot of backlinks around the net that makes it show up so high in a search?

[WoolWench]

I think the backlinks count a lot for google, and the activity on your page too I think. Also, unlike Etsy, google thinks your item description is important too, so your first sentence or two needs to reflect your title, not a copy of the title but using the same keywords as in your title. I am not getting a lot of hits from google yet, but it has certainly increased in the last few weeks, I think it takes time to see results from any changes you make for google too,

[AListDesigns]

Ahh ok, thanks! Maybe it just hasn't been enough time for the changes I made to kick in yet. I hope it improves eventually.

[Former_Member]

For SEO, always put what the item actually is in the 1st words of the Title (e.g. instead of "Silver Jellyfish Earrings- Amethyst, Peridot, Apatite, Green Onyx, Metal Work with Gemstones", I would suggest " Earrings - Silver Jellyfish with Gemstones").

As for backlinks, post your shop anywhere you can find! Wanelo.com is a great place, also try weheartit.com, craftjuice.com, plumdrop.com, stumbleupon.com, and put an ad @ Craigslist.com.

Hope this helps - Good Luck!

[AListDesigns]

Thank you so much for all of the tips, LC!! :)

[shoptwoblooms]

This thread is great for someone new thanks.

L.C. Cooper,

I'm going to go through that list, I knew about Wanelo but not the others. How did you find all of those?

Michelle

[Former_Member]

Reading through different threads...also found this list by Valerie Lazear of ValValVoom

plumdrop.com
etsylush.com ( you can submit one item of yours every 24 hrs)
pinterest.com (You make boards, like treasuries- but you can't put your own stuff there - there's a pinterest team @ etsy tho)
stumbleupon.com
Squidoo.com
Twitter.com
Facebook.com
Craftgawker.com (Does not accept anything from Etsy but submit your blog, which has your shop name in it)
Craigslist.com (go to classified ads for sale and then to crafts)
www.craftseekers.com
www.craftjuice.com (list an item of yours anytime you want)
www.100craftlinks.com/cgi-bin/ldb/ldb.pl (I get lots of views from here)
gallery.tryhandmade.com/
kaboodle.com
tumblr.com
www.wanelo.com
linkreferral.com
artchain.com
Ravelry.com (for crocheters or knitters)
thingspeoplemake.com
www.mywebees.com ( this lets you put your shop on facebook but you have
to go thru them. Read carefully)
coolmaterial.com/basic-listing-the-black-book/ (This site is focused on
marketing to men)
digg.com (search engine)
the link for help with Stumble Upon is
www.theredheadriter.com/2011/05/how-to-guide-for-stumbleupon.html
mywebees.com ( this lets you put your shop on facebook but you have to go thru them. Read carefully)
coolmaterial.com/basic-listing-the-black-book/ (This site is focused on marketing to men)
digg.com (search engine)
ecrater.com/ (free online marke tplace to sell on)
blujay.com/index (free online market place to sell on)
bonanza.com (free online market place to sell on)
smashion.com (can sell any fashion items including clothing, accessories, beauty & cosmetic products, and footwear)
hootsuite.com (connect with FB or twitter, social networking site, go for the free plan)
etsyhacks.com/greasemonkey/ (Etsy tools)
myhandmaderegistry.com/ (List your items from your shop or website)
etsywishlist.com/ (Put your Etsy items on)
reddit.com/r/etsy (Put Etsy items on)
craftcult.com/treasury_widget.php (Tools to put Etsy treasuries on your blog, website)
directory.everythingetsy.com/ (List your Etsy shop for free!)
cr8tivity.com/ (Etsy tools)
handmademarketing.org/ (Sell your items here)
artfire.com/modules.php?name=forums&op=view_topic&tid=10816 (Sell your items)
freecraftylinks.com/ (Place an ad for your shop)
bit.ly/ (Track your links)
lookbook.nu/ (Post your own fashion looks)
craftopolis.com/ (Tools for Etsy)
stylishhome.com/Community/fabDesign-Bookmarks (Submit a link)
youtube.com/ (Upload a video about your shop. If you have Windows Movie Maker its very easy)
about.me/ (Put your info in about you and your shop)
linkytools.com/ (Tools for your Blog)
plus.google.com (Like Facebook only better I think. Going to be the next Facebook)
Indiepublic.com (Put info in about your shop)
www.pearltrees.com ( put your items on this site)
www.wists.com/ (Add your items to this site and you can make a slideshow easy for your blog )
delicious.com (Share sites you find on the web, including Etsy shops)
snipi.com (Same kind of site, share sites)

One caution - when @ stumbleupon.com, my virus software jsut started sending me notices that harmful viruses were stopped - don't know if it's that site or not, but be sure your virus software is up to date :).

Hope all this helps!

[FrenchVintagePrints]

Wow, what a list ! I only have a few of them upon mine.

I did install the Stumbleupon toolbar a while back and noticed that some unwanted add programs had installed themselves at the same time so I removed everything. It's perfectly possible to use it without the toolbar anyway.

[AListDesigns]

omgosh, wow, lc! that list is amazing!! thank you for sharing. :)

[Former_Member]

Basic search engine optimization concepts apply to not only Etsy, but Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. If it weren't for Google and Yahoo, SEO wouldn't be important!

[Former_Member]

wow! so many options, i've only explored a few!

forewarning on Wanelo though, it's really slow when uploading things!

[TrioArtisanDesigns]

What are backlinks?

[Former_Member]

Sally,
Backlinks are just other websites that contain an URL to either your shop or an item from your shop. So a blog that has www.trio3.etsy.com somewhere on it would be a back link.

I think.... anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!

[Former_Member]

L.C.Cooper,
Thanks so much for sharing that long list that you found!!! Now I have a lot of work ahead of me!

[Former_Member]

Wanelo.com is VERY slow for me too. Hang with it though - I get about 30 hits a day from there...

Good Luck Everyone!