When Writing Content

[Former_Member]

When reading about SEO these days I notice one of the tips is to write a unique content for every listing. I'm not sure I quite understand this particular tip. Does it mean that every single item in my store has to have a different written content? Or does it mean to write a unique content for all of my listings?

I wish someone can enlighten me with this :)

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

Each listing's content should be different, especially in the first paragraph. You shouldn't copy & paste the exact same copy for each listing (the same is true for your titles). A lot of my listings are similar so to save time I do copy other listings when creating new ones. However, I tweak the wording in the first paragraph by switching things around and deleting and adding words.

[Former_Member]

@Judy: All I do is just cop&paste the content for my listings because it'll be hectic to work on every listing's content individually. Now that I know it's perhaps one of the issues why I'm experiencing lows views and sale, I will work on it.

Thank you for the input :)

[twowhiteowls]

I'm guilty of the copy paste as well. I went to an seo meetup not too long ago and the speaker said that every listing description should be different. If each one is the same then google views it as duplicate content and penalizes you. Which is maybe why I barely get any views from google. Another thing to add to the to-do list, lol!

[Former_Member]

@Jacky: Now that I think about it, it does make sense why it's better to have different content for each listing. The same goes with tags and variation in one's store. It increases the opportunity for more exposure under different keywords and terms. People don't use the same phrases and words when searching for a specific item.

Thank you for your input ;)

[Paintspiration]

This is true! And the same goes for if you're selling on another site. For example, if you decide to list one of your items on ebay as well, don't just copy and paste the description, or Google will view it as duplicate content!

[Former_Member]

@Michelle Eshleman: I'm selling at other website like Luulla but I'm using the copy&paste method as I always do. But since I'm not listing too many items there it's not too late for me to change the content. I'm trying to use different words and phrases but I don't think I'll manage to write some completely different for all of my listings.

Thank you for your input :)

[Former_Member]

i find it so hard to come up with different phrases sometimes as english is not my mother tongue. i even find it hard in german sometimes
after all what other way is there to call a bracelet a bracelet???

[Former_Member]

The keywords in each listing title and description can be the same. There are thousands of web sites that use the same keywords simply because those are the keywords that shoppers use when they look for something.

The description of each item has to be unique to get around Google's Duplicate Content Filter. The description should also be full of good information wrapped in creative writing to get around Google's Low Quality Content Filter.

Writing good quality unique content is a lot of work but is worth the work when you see more views from Google.

If you would like to know more about Duplicate Content and Low Quality Content: https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/12579731/

.

[Paintspiration]

Yes, like Mary said you can use the same keywords, but don't just copy and paste. I usually find it helpful to think about the keywords I want to include, then write out the new description without looking at the first one. It's usually different enough to work!

@Barbara that's got to be tough! Maybe some teammates can help you with different phrases and rewording in your descriptions? :)

[twowhiteowls]

@Michelle That's a great idea. Makes it a little less painful.

@ Mary Thanks for the tips and link!

[Former_Member]

So, okay, I've wondered about this, too. I absolutely get why it would be an issue, but my prints are basically just variations on the same theme over and over -- the state or city or country might vary, but they're all prints of that state or city or country made up of hearts.

It's hard to come up with unique content for something like that. So I've started trying to tweak things here and there, or add a geographically-specific intro (like, a list of things a certain area is famous for then launching into my product description, e.g., "xx, xx, xx, xx, -- there are a lot of reasons to love xx, so...")

It does get taxing, though!

[Former_Member]

@Barbara -- have you ever heard of J. Peterman? It was a catalog here in the states that was famous for its descriptions of clothing items. Like, instead of saying "this is a trench coat," it would be like, "She first caught my eye at a cafe in Paris -- long brown hair, a hat tilted over her eyes, and a camel-colored trench coat." And would go on and on. It was actually satirized on the TV show Seinfeld.

Anyway, it's an interesting idea, and maybe you could adapt it for your bracelets? Like, "You love the open sea, the waves, the sky, and the carefree lifestyle of the beach. Why not wrap your wrist in a work of art that brings all the colors of the ocean together in a high-quality, washable pearl cotton friendship bracelet." Well, that was a little cheesy, but you get the idea, maybe? Just trying to visualize who would wear each item and writing it for them... getting a little creative with it.

Or you could try talking about what they could wear it with... "Looks just as stunning with a thin white T-shirt and a faded pair of blue jeans as it does with an edgy black dress and heels."

Hope that helps or sparks some ideas!

[Former_Member]

@Barbara Höbling: That can be a little hard especially when you try to write different terms for one item. As Michelle suggested, you can join some teams that can help you with that.

@Mary: I figured that out lately especially when I created this topic. I used to read a lot about writing a good or unique content but didn't dwell on its meaning a lot. Thank you for the link.

@Michelle Eshleman: I won't do that anymore ;)

@Christina Lembo: Even though I can write different descriptions for all of my items but sometimes I don't have an idea what I'm about to write.

Will work out to all of the advices I received on this topic and I'm truly thankful for all of your help :)

[Former_Member]

hey guys
thanks for the suggestions. that´s what i sometimes do when i´m totally stuck, ask other people how they would call my items
in general i find talking much easier than writing, ihave the same problem when writing my diploma thesis right now which is in english too. i consider myselfto be rather fluent but my head keeps spinning to find new, elegant phrases so i don´t come up with the same ones again and agin

[MerlinMN]

I love the J.Peterman reference. The catalogue is a hoot! A very few shops here adopted that way of description, but I don't see them much anymore. I can hope it did so well for them, they didn't need Etsy.

@Barbara - wristband or wristlet for bracelet? And if the bracelet is a little larger/longer, maybe its an anklet?
Thinking out loud...

[Former_Member]

@MerlinMN haha I definitely don't think we need to be so long-winded and pretentious as J. Peterman was... but maybe just adapt it to Etsy!

[EleanorsVintage]

@ Barbara: Why is your thesis in English - do you study in England?
Mine was in English, but then I live in the US now, and being immersed in the language has definitely helped me. Are all your textbooks in English too? If you are reading in German, but are expected to write in English, that would be super-hard!

[Former_Member]

@ claudia
no i don´t study in england, i´m at vienna university of technology and i could choose whether i´d write in english or german
i chose english because that´s definitely better for scientific publications and future jobs
besides most of my literature is in english as i study chemistry. so i´m surrounded by english language all day

[EleanorsVintage]

@ Barbara: Best of luck with it! I see your reasoning, and find it interesting they give you a choice.
You probably don't need motivation, but I'll throw it in anyway: I finished my thesis (in gerontology) earlier this year, looked for a job for 3 months, and just signed a contract for something I would never have gotten with my old German BA. I know about the struggle and the tiredness and the stress, but once you get that job you are excited about, it will have been so worth it!

[CurlicueCreations]

What an enlightening conversation. I had no idea this was an issue. Looks like it's time to get out the thesaurus again and find some new and interesting words to describe my listings! I have been guilty of the copy & paste mentality lately, too! I had no idea this was hurting my shop. Thanks & have a super day!