Viewing Views Differently

[Former_Member]

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

[Former_Member]

Thanks! Great advice.

[heartsabustin]

I spent a good deal of time tweaking tags and titles, and I can say, it's working for me. I used this as an opportunity to "make-over" my shops. I rewrote some descriptions, filled out the new tags at the top (who made this?, etc.), filled out the attributes (romantic REALLY needs to be a style label!), and re-tagged and re-titled until my contact lenses glued themselves to my eyeballs.

You know what?

It worked. 234 and two shops later, I'm doing pretty well in the relevancy seraches, and my bounce rate dropped like a rock.

Don't be afraid to put the time in! You won't regret it. :D

Good luck, everyone!

[Unblushing]

Great info Danielle. Hoping it will put a damper on all the people ranting about low views...

[Former_Member]

I completely agree with you Danielle, all views are NOT created equal!! Yes it's somewhat true, my views have slowed down since the relevancy search was introduced, BUT my hearts have increased and I have gotten a couple sales recently! And that is fabulous.

Thanks for putting this information out there! :)

[Former_Member]

This is a great perspective. I hadn't really thought about views that way (probably because I was too busy stalking my Shop Stats).

Thanks!

-Dani

[lilruby]

I'm still muddling through it all but I do feel the recent changes are helping, at least I have become more aware of changes and updates I needed to make within my listing descriptions, etc. Time will tell!

[Former_Member]

Thank you! I was trying to find the link for your previous thread for the thread on raising prices . . .
*off to check my conversion rate*

[Former_Member]

That is great to hear, heartsabustin!

[Former_Member]

It is so true that all views are not equal. My views have gone down for my shop, but I am getting more hearts, which is not something I was thinking of. I am now hitting my target market, though I still don't have the sales.

[Former_Member]

Hmmm, I think my conversion rate is pretty good for hearts, but not sales. People like me, they just don't want to take me home ;-P

[Former_Member]

SLIGHTLY better conversion rate for sales in this shop, but I'm feeling better about my relevancy now :-)

[Former_Member]

well, my sales to visits is only 1% but my sales to items listed is 39%. I think that's not too bad for a part timer. I'm excited about relevancy because my items are so specific.

[Former_Member]

Thanks! Etsy is usually at the top for my traffic, so I'm happy with that. Google is 3rd. I have had more "new to etsy" buyers lately too. It's all good :)

*I have tweaked some of my listings, randomly.

[heartsabustin]

Thanks, Danielle. I've been pleased.

*waits for sales fairy*

*baits sales fairy trap with chocolate*

[SoulRole]

I did notice views were going down but I also noticed that it has not seemed to affect my sales.I personally I am VERY happy with the new relevancy changes and have been working since I opened my shop last November to always have a title full of keywords.
In there some formula you are using to analyze the hearts/sales ratio?

[Former_Member]

*steals chocolate and runs*

[heartsabustin]

ROFLOL. :D

I have people cookies, if you'd rather, LBJ. tee hee

[Davs]

Danielle,

Since the switch I have investigated and edited and finally settled on a formula for my titles and tags that I am happy with. And Etsy Search ranks in my top referrers list, my only problem is despite my views being even higher than before the switch to relevancy my sales have dropped drastically. Any advice? I am not sure what my next move should be... ~Sarah

[Former_Member]

*settles in w/cookies* who brought milk?

[Former_Member]

Davs, I think your titles are a little too vague (too many keywords)

"Original Oil Painting Abstract Art Canvas Painting Colorful Abstract Modern Art Palette Knife Painting Wall Art Home Decor Wall Hanging"

Try something simpler and more specific in a few listings and see how that goes. What style is it? What are the main elements/colors? Use those words in your titles. Sometimes if you are trying the most general keywords you will never be able to grab the right buyer.

[heartsabustin]

"Original Abstract Oil Painting : Title of painting" perhaps?

I wouldn't use all the knife and palette stuff in there - most people wouldn't know what that is. *I* do, but my parents went to Ringling. That's another story.

Put those in your tags, though, because a more savvy shopper might look for a palette knife - done painting. And Definitely put it in your description.

I love palette knife work - my dad is really good at it.

[WalterSilva]

Great info here! Thanks Danielle:)

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the tips, Danielle! I need to read more about the relevancy search, but from what I have read, I'm torn about what to do about my titles. So often I read "Don't give your items a name that doesn't describe your item - like calling a necklace 'The Rachel'" But naming my soaps after gods and goddesses is part of the essence of the Sacred Suds brand. Sales have dropped for me since the relevancy switchover, but I don't know if that's because of my titles or if it's because I haven't been as active over the past couple of weeks. I guess I'll have to watch a while longer (and read more about relevancy) before I make a decision about re-titling my items. If you have any input, I'd be glad to hear it.

[JoArtyJo]

Danielle

Great thread thanks! I think my views to hearts is good, yesterday 106 views, 44 hearts (I have 46 items for sale, still a newbie!)

Have you any advice for me on how to turn my views and hearts into the all important sales?!