Stupid question of the day...

[Former_Member]

Does it make any difference (with regard to searches) what my photo titles actually are? Should 'DSC0001.jpg' be renamed 'red guitar print.jpg' for instance?
I was about to change some photos on a listing when this idiot thought struck me.

[SantasSockCentral]

I was wondering about that too. It wouldn't surprise me if it makes a difference! But I couldn't be bothered to rename photos like that.

[lightboxing]

can people see what your photos are called?
how?

[Former_Member]

That's a very good question! Not stupid at all.

I always name my pictures with intuitive names. I think Etsy doesn't care about the picture name for now, but Google sure does!

Instead of spaces between words you should use this_ or this -

[ThePlaidPineconeCo]

I don't think so. When I right click on my own photos to save them back to my desktop, the name I originally gave them (vintageplate1) turns into IMG124959505 (or something like that).

I don't think Etsy saves your original file name.

[ThePlaidPineconeCo]

Oooh, Gracinhas has a point. Google Image can pull up your photo under the original name.

[Former_Member]

it does not make a difference

[lightboxing]

ah, do you mean when you search in google images?
jeez, i never thought of that..
actually, i never thought about how google brought up the relevant images at all..

[Former_Member]

OH MAN, I remember an article on the Etsy Blog a while back.......... I think I remember the admin mentioning it *does* make a difference because it's utilized in SEO.

I'm sorry I don't have a link to the article!!!!

[denisemcguire]

I actually did wonder about this - thank you for asking!!!

[Former_Member]

That's a great question! Thanks for asking this, I don't think it's a stupid question at all! :)

[Former_Member]

Now I'm realizing that in my other shop, I stopped naming my pictures (it seemed to save time)-- although it may be that time of year, my sales have slowed down, and now you're making me wonder if it has anything to do with my photo titles... EEK!

[Former_Member]

Never thought about this ... now I wonder. Will check into.

[Former_Member]

I'm sort of hoping that it doesn't matter; the idea of re-uploading all my photos is a *little* daunting!

[drudruchu]

No it doesn't matter, Etsy renames them

[Former_Member]

Chas, you can just start from now on, because I agree-- I don't want to reload ALL those pics!
I couldn't find the article (so far, I'll keep looking because I really want to read it myself!), but I did find a few blogs via Google search mention that naming photos with key words improves your shop's SEO. Unsure if it affects Etsy search.

[Former_Member]

I realise Etsy renames the photo but I think the original title is still embedded in there somewhere. I suppose I'll just be careful about any subsequent uploads 'just in case'.

[ThePartyDeeva]

I rename mine to something relevant. I think it matters for Google images but I don't think it does for Etsy.

[drudruchu]

Yes it's a good habit to name your pictures something relevant, especially when you use them on your blog and other pages as well.

[Former_Member]

Chas Holley from EmpireSilkScreen says
I realise Etsy renames the photo but I think the original title is still embedded in there somewhere.
__________________________________________________________

Ok, this is making my mind go back and forth... also IIse from drudruchu mentioned just renaming them for when I use them for something outside of Etsy (blog, etc).

BUT, I posted a thread in the Etsy Site Help forum... after a few comments, I ended up going to one of my item listings and right clicking on the photo to "Inspect Element". It showed the photo was renamed to reflect "Etsy image" in the name, but it also included the listing title.

[Former_Member]

But even if it does save your original title does the google pic take you back to the Etsy listing. I dont plan to rename mine. All my items show up on google anyway so it's not worth the time for me. 5 x 231 = 1155. That's not even funny to think how long that would take.

[Former_Member]

Not a stupid question at all! It's my understanding that it doesn't affect Etsy search but it does affect google image search.

[Former_Member]

No it's not a stupid question : you must rename your image according to SEO question for *Our Dear Google*.

Eheh, this is a "Do What I Say, Not What I Make" (a very common phrase in French) : I know that since some months, but I haven't done it...

[Former_Member]

I don;t think it matters to google images; plenty of my posts end up on the images because of their titles & keywords, which I think matters to Google a lot more than if a file is called "Image8" or "chinadishimage"

None the less, I always use standard keys in my name to corelate with the thingI'm selling; for my pattersn they're named something simular to the name of the actualy pattern with "WATER" on the end so I can ID what images to upload. My vintage stuff is named something like "RoseDish1" so I can corelate which image goes to what product and the # tells me which goes 1st, 2nd, so on.

[Former_Member]

Wow, I never thought to do a google image search for my items. Thank for that idea. I was very pleased that my poms appeared in the top row of images! Not that many people go on google images looking for tissue cupcake pom poms, but still :) I'm going to check a few more listings and see!

I also name my images something relevant after editing, but only for my own organizational purposes. Never thought how that would help/harm SEO!