Viewing Views Differently

[#1]

Hi Team!

I wanted to share a few thoughts. I'm sure you're aware we've changed the way Etsy's search works. In this change, you may notice buyers looking at fewer items before they pounce. We're seeing more overall sales by the Etsy community. This is exciting, the quicker a buyer can find what they are looking for, the better. But this does mean they are viewing less items on their hunt for the perfect handmade or vintage item or supply.

A while back I wrote about the single sale highs and lows: http://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success/discuss/6796368/ It's easy to get wrapped up in watching a sale or view counter get higher and higher - but this can be an arbitrary way of measuring success.

Now I want to talk about conversion rate. Your conversion rate would be the number of favorites you get in comparison to the number of visits, or the number of sales compared to the number of visits. (Or go ahead and track both!)

I'm sure many of you have thought about this already, but I want to bring it back up to you now, because I see many sellers focusing intently on the number of views they are getting in their shops. Remember all views are not created equal. Instead of trying to grab as many views as possible, you should be thinking about pulling in the right buyer (one who is ready to support you and become a collector)!

With all this said, it is important to update your shop so that your views don't drop too drastically. In the last Relevancy Shop Critique on Etsy's Online Labs page: http://www.etsy.com/community/online-labs. In this pre-recorded workshop HeyMichelle and I give you a way to come up with your own formula (SEO is never cut-and-dry) to help you optimize your titles and tags for Etsy search.

Before you go off updating, tweaking, coming up with your own formula - think about what your most important measurements of success are.

One more thing while I have your ear, I'd hate to see anyone spend more time than necessary trying to tweak titles and tags for any kind of search engine optimization. I can't tell you exactly how much time you should invest experimenting in this area. You may want to see where Etsy Search ranks in your top referrers list (you can see this in your Shop Stats). If it's at the very top - you're probably doing ok. If it's way down near the bottom of the list, perhaps you should do some more researching and testing. Again, there is no one path to success, but the first step is the same for all: set specific, important and reasonable goals. Then you'll know which path you should be on to get there.

I hope this helps! Please feel free to challenge me in your responses! I'd love to have a good discussion about this.

Danielle

[NanaBugz]

After a month on Etsy, my views are consistently over 130 every day with 4-6 favorites a day. But, this past week, there have been NO sales! I think relevancy gets many people to my shop, but I still have to relist a few items once or twice a day to keep the views up. Prior to this past week, I was gwtting about 5 sales a week and appeared to be increasing, then NOTHING in 9 days. Any idea what I may be doing wrong?

[Former_Member]

I'm at a loss too, sort of. I'm not getting sales.

[Former_Member]

anybody game to give my shop a critique?

[Former_Member]

Thank you for this information!!!! I enjoyed reading everyone's responses as well!

[Former_Member]

ps. Hi sistersilver, I just went to check out your shop since you said the titling is working for you. First of all, beautiful work! and I see that you are fairly descriptive but to the point. I got from the relevancy advice, as many people may, that we are just to put what it is concisely, which is leading to so much repetition in the titles. I will try to be descriptive but not too wordy and see if it works, I hope so. I'm interested in any advice anyone can offer.
Thank you, Deanna

[NanaBugz]

Is there a simple way to set up google analytics?!!!! It appears to be waaaay over my head! But, I sure would like to find out my bounce rate since my views are way up but my sales are nonexistent. Thanks in advance for any help.

[Former_Member]

HI Everyone:) I am still kinda new here...Having fun being a part of Etsy..

Does anyone want to check out my shop and share any words of advice. I went thru my titles and tags...think i fixed them all....open to what anyone has to share:)

Also, I find most my sales come after I renew an item. That gives me a sale yet also adds up...anyone else do that.

boy ...I am also behind on the etsy language....thanks ahead of time for any help!!! THANKS Daniell for all your support and advice:)

[Former_Member]

Hi, sorry I don't know about google analytics, I wish I could help you Nanabugz but I wanted to check in and say just since joining this team a few minutes ago I have had the total Aha! moment about relevancy. I think the light is dawning in my darkness. I have a lot of work to do on retagging and titling. Woohoo, hope it works. And when I'm done I will be over for the critique.....:)

[Former_Member]

I recall one vintage jewelry piece that I sold which really was a stunning piece to a collector and in excellent condition. I purchase it off the orignial owner for $20. and found out it was a highly collectible piece of jewelry, signed and everything. I originally priced it a $199 and then put on sale for $149.00 which is fair market value for a piece of that quality, and even below what it would retail for. Even had a jewelry appraiser (friend) look at it and said it was very well made)
Anyhow...My 1st three words to describe the piece was DROP DEAD GORGEOUS...I had lots of hits from collectors and not long before someone purchased it.
So if you really think is some piece is worth that title, which I think I did. Do it. It's an eyecatcher! Or STUNNING if the piece deserves the title!

[Former_Member]

I think this is great advice. I think sometimes we all get caught up in unimportant numbers sometimes. Thanks for the reminder!

[Former_Member]

My sales are double what they were in July, my shop favorites have tripled, and my views are almost double over last month. I've tried to keep my listings short and descriptive - it seems it is paying off!

[Former_Member]

@Caitlingracequinn - I can tell you have beautiful jewelry but your photos do not do your pieces justice! Your best photo is your Avatar! Take some time looking at your product photos, do some research and check out the types of photos within your genre pop out at you and why. I think if you update your pictures you will do great : )

[Former_Member]

Thank you for this thread. I am going to watch the online lab. It sounds like information I am in need of.

Since opening my shop on Etsy, I began making lists of descriptive words that people might use to find me. Now, I also write small phrases as well. I use Word to count the characters in the phrase. Now, I can refer to the list and am testing out the various words and phrases in a more organized way.

I have noticed that certain items have a great "favorite to view" ratio and others don't. I am looking at that to see what "type" of drawings/paintings I should have in my shop.

[Former_Member]

Hello everyone, I just recently opened my Etsy shop, I am a new stay at home mom that is trying to make some money from my sewing talent while my husband is in Iraq, but I am not having very much success. I have looked at other peoples tags, tried different tags and still to no avail I have not had very many views/or hearts. I have seen some people post similar items as mine and two hours later they have 100 views. Am I doing something wrong do I need to change me photos, description, etc? I am open to any suggestions or words of wisdom that any of you have. Thanks again for the help in advance I truly appreciate it!

[Former_Member]

Well "Search" is my number one Traffic Source so I must doing something right!
I've tweaked my Titles and Tags and really feel it's helped in the Relevancy Search. I still haven't gotten to my entire shop yet but I'm getting there.

I have also noticed that renewing definitely increases my views and adding new items works even better!

[Former_Member]

I spent days tweeking my titles an tags last week and since I made the changes search has been #1 or #2 on my stats- and I'm getting more hearts on my items. I have also been spending time adding new items and improving my photos- so I don't think it's any one thing, but a combination. Now to keep hoping for my first sale :)

[Former_Member]

@ Nanaspocket - I checked out your shop
Your Titles seem good, I also looked at your tags. Even though you have "rosary" " beads" & "necklace" as individual tags you might want to add he phrases "rosary necklace" "rosary beads" or maybe even "prayer necklace" to your tags as well. I would use those phrases when doing a search for your items.
I also think your product photos could use a little attention as well. Some of your items are not centered or even out of the frame . . . If taking pictures isn't your thing see if you have a friend who has a good camera and a good eye to help out.
No matter how good your titles or tags are, your photos have to pull buyers in from the search page even if it's at the top of the list!
Hope this helps!!!

[Former_Member]

@DarwinsDress
I just checked out your shop. Steam punk is definitely a large genre so I understand your frustration.
Just a few tips to offer:
Most of your photos are great. Some however it's hard to see exactly what the item is that you are selling. Maybe retaking a few photos or rearranging the photos so the first photo is the most clear . . .
You also only have one page of items. Remember the more items you have in your shop the more opportunities for your items to appear in searches. Each item is like a tiny advertisement for your shop. The more the better! So think about adding some new items.
Hope this helps!

[Former_Member]

my shop increased in shops heart, favorites and views since the change. I definitely had to make some changes to my titles, description, and tagging to be more enticing too. It really works for me to take that extra time to revamp. Soon re-shoot photos on some of my items. Hard work = success!

[Former_Member]

I gues it's shop critique night ; )

@Unruhlybeahviors
Ass a stay at home mom myself, I totally feel you!!!!
I love your baby stuff, so cute. I think you have fabulous products.
I think your titles and tags are very concise and specific.
One suggestion for your Titles and or Tags would be to vary what you call your items. for example: Instead of calling all your Car Seat Covers "Car Seat Cover" title a few "infant seat cover" or "infant carrier cover". This way you will show up relevant in more than one search.
Also, on the same theme as my previous critiques . . . Photos, photos, photos. You have such fun, colorful fabrics in your products. Whatever background you are using is not doing them justice! Do a search for similar isms that you sell. take a look at photos that really catch your eye. What background or styling are they using? I'd say a few new photos will really make a BIG difference. Just because you come up first in a search does not mean someone will click your listing. The photo ALSO needs to draw them in.
I hope you found this helpful and Good Luck!!!!
~ Brooke

[Former_Member]

Awesome brooke on search being your top source. I am still working on that.. my shop is my top source. Not sure exactly what that means but people are finding me. So far, treasuries are a big way people find me on etsy. I am thankful for them.

@Unruhlybehaviors - photos are the first thing I noticed. I love your bright color fabrics. I do not think your photos do them justice. I did not think they really "popped". I struggle with photographing my artwork. Photos for Etsy is completely different then merely documenting. Brooke is right, just because you show up in a search, if the thumbnail does not grab a person, they will not click on it.

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much for the critiques I will change some titles and photos and see if that helps. I really appreciate it!

[SilverBlueberry]

Nice thoughts Danielle! I have one comment though - favorites may to a large degree not be related to sales, since we have a lot of Etsy members who make treasury after treasury and favorite the items they feauture. Others use favoriting as a way to help team mates, I think, by having it show up in their activity. So while it's nice that items are favorited, I don't really know how much it actually means, sales wise.

[kreationsbykarenk]

Since all the changes for searches .... My business has dropped incredibly! I dont understand .... I even changed my titles ... Most important search word are first... My tags too...

I must be doing something wrong. I went from selling something almost every day to making a sale once or twice a week. HELP?

[Former_Member]

@ConnieSalesArt
Aside from you having beautiful work, what is the trick to ending up in so many Treasuries? Do people just find you?
Since I was in your shop . . . I was wondering if you have ever tried photographing your work in a simple white frame with a white matte and hung on a wall. I love seeing Artwork as it would look framed/hung.