Why Renewing Items is Still Important as Ever (even with the changes)

[#1]

Most shop owners are aware that the default on the Etsy search engine has changed from “Most Recent” to “Relevancy”.

So many people are upset with this but I am ELATED!! I’ve had handfuls of people asking me – an outspoken advocate of renewing in my ebook – if renewing is still as important. In fact just three this day have responded to a Twitter comment I made today.

My answer is YES! And DO NOT despair. This can be better for you as a business owner.

Have you ever renewed/listed an item and looked it up a little later to find it buried beneath pages and pages of competition? Sometimes the pages are filled with things that don’t even match the search!

Have you clicked on some of those items to find tags that irritate you because they’re not proper for the item being sold? Perhaps the person is using every tag from here to eternity to attempt to draw in large customers (a big mistake).

Also horrible, perhaps you looked up an item to find one of your constant competitors updated half their store at the same time and they do this on a regular basis.

NOW your item has a chance. So do NOT despair the recent change, renewing STILL keeps your *relevant* tags higher up every time you renew. If this should change ANYTHING it should be a lazy or lax attitude towards proper tagging.

Need another reason to keep renewing regularly? Okay, here:

RELEVANCY is ONLY how *Etsy* designates your customers - by default - find you.

Google & other search engines still find newer links. I know people think they can come to me with arguements to the contrary: meanwhile THEIR shops have something like 20 sales in 4 years. I have almost 750 in over one (including a decent amount during Etsy’s infamous dry period of June-September).

I am not talking from *research*. I am talking from BEEN THERE, DONE IT, HAVE THE SALES TO BACK UP WHAT I SAY.

I know what worked for me. I am sharing it with you. Proper tags have ALWAYS been important, just as important as renewing items. I’ve seen my shop come up again and again and AGAIN on Google’s front page after renewing and it stays there for a decent amount of time.

I don’t know about your shop but almost 3/4ths of first time customers with me were NOT searching for stuff on Etsy. Instead they come in from Google, Yahoo and recently a few from Bing. Many signed up SPECIFICALLY to buy my item(s).

My renewal rate will not slow down due to the in-site Etsy change.

I hope I have answered this concern with sufficient information.

[Former_Member]

Chantal - Your shop looks so well done! You're getting decent sales for your price range and what you're selling (beautiful work, btw). I don't see really any IN SHOP issues.

Your Twitter account isn't helping you at all. You might be getting "views" when you tweet, but they're for the most part bot views. There are a LOT of sites and professionals out there that tell you how to effectively use a Twitter account. Read up on that. It's better to *not* have one then to use it improperly.

Do you have a Facebook Fanpage or Blog? These (and Twitter) are great ways to CONNECT to buyers. To really get to know who you're selling to, who your market is and what they like. And to connect means that you're working smart, not hard. Post pictures of behind the scenes work or something personal. Don't just advertise all the time.

Do you get many repeat buyers? I do but my stuff is sort of like buying a collection. If you don't get many repeat buyers I'd try to work on that. Maybe create your own pattern and a collection around that, or maybe matching sets of things.

[Former_Member]

Chantal - Also, again, don't worry so much if the sales have dropped too much. Anything between June to September (even October) is a dryer time for Etsians. I experienced a slight drop from May to August and September was just awful. But it has always been like this. There are always exceptions, but this is what I know.

[Former_Member]

Heather - A few things: I'd work on your shop announcement. Instead of mentioning EVERY material you work with round it down. I understand you're really trying to get all the keywords in there, but the shop announcement shouldn't look like a jumble like that and Google WONT pick up every one of those words. I would try something more personal. USE keywords but don't just mash them up. Make that an area where you talk to your customers quickly, concisely and with pride about what you do. If you're really keen to use many of the indiviual gemstone keywords then set yourself up with a Google Analytics account and see what people are typing in to find you.

Also (and this is a BIGGIE) you're not just in an over-saturated jewelry market (as am I) but you're doing the same kind of jewelry as many, MANY, MANY other Etsians. So you're in one of the most saturated of the saturated. That's going to be really hard to stand out. I would try and make the jewelry more individual. Do you HAVE a target market? Find out what THEY want. Cater to them. That should help. So would a well-placed and used blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

[Former_Member]

Heather - Sorry, one more thing! I would also look at your tags, honey! "Black and white contrast" and "mirror reflection" are not going to be something people will be typing in to find a necklace like this http://www.etsy.com/listing/83412712/silver-quartz-crystal-necklace-wire

And yes, Flickr titles technically should contain some keywords but don't make them a mash of keywords like your Etsy. People tend not to go onto Flickr to look for things to buy, but to connect to others.

[StudioOnTheRidge]

Great information! This cleared up some of the questions I had. I hope everyone has Syndication turned ON for their shop so you will be picked up in the Google searches.

Not sure this ?? will be seen amid so many comments, but does anyone know how far the system tracks search results to sales? For example: my item appears in search results, the person who did the search goes to that listing, but then looks at other items (either in my shop or others) before purchasing the item shown in the initial search . . . would that sale still be shown in my shop stats as a sale resulting from my search ads?

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much for all the advice! I'll go make those changes right now :) I know that one needs new tags, I've been slowing getting to each listing. Lots of work!

I know you are right about the all too common wire wrapping, thing. It's tough because it sells well locally, but on etsy it's soooooooooo saturated! Frustrating. I will try to list some different pieces soon :)

I do have fb, but someone told me not to put it on my etsy page becuase it will take people away from buying in my shop. What do you think?

Thanks again for taking a peek at my shop and giving me the run down on it! I REALLY appreciate it!

[Former_Member]

Heather - Keep up selling locally! That's wonderful. If you have a blog write a little about what this piece means in one article and then another in a separate one. Talk about how you keep organized or pick out your beads or styles, etc. TALK about your jewelry. Show your passion for it. That will help distinguish you. And it doesn't have to be much. One 250 to 750 word update a week should help bring you traffic.

I risk it. I have a facebook link. Some people don't like to. What you CAN do is go into INFO & APPEARANCE and link to the FB fanpage. That way people can "Like" without leaving the site.

And you're welcome!

[Former_Member]

Wow, that's a whole new light on renewing. I never "new" that. I will reconsider how I view my advertising budget. I recently stopped the search ads. I get 1 or 2 "Googles" a day, and feel thrilled about that. I know Etsians are good buyers, but one has to have the right stuff. Are others trying to find their niche like me?

[marokel]

Rebecca, you are so right. I am a big fan of renewing. I experiment and have found the best times of the day to renew. It gets me exposure and my sales have been pretty consistent.

[Former_Member]

Rebecca, I thank you so much for the advice.
I'm not very good at tweeting. Can't seem to get into it much.
I do have a fanpage but I never thought of putting personal thoughts in there. I will work on that.
I've had a couple of repeat buyers but that's it. Besides the travel bags and accessories, I'm now working on a collection of bags. Your post was good timing for the reminder.
This is a very interesting thread. Learning a lot here. Thanks for the good words and comments.

[Former_Member]

I still renew just as I always did and keep to a monthly budget, this went up with search ads but I have found they make no difference at all and have cancelled them.....
thankyou for the information,, most helpful

[WhiteMoonWitchcraft]

Aha! I thought renewing had to have a purpose but wasn't sure what it was... I didn't know it had any impact on google searches, so I'm glad I have read your post. thanks :)

[DarlingJadore]

I never knew the importance of renewing! THANK YOU! I've tried it out and it's already making a difference :)

[littlehipsqueaks]

Thanks for the advice! I don't have a single view from Etsy, but this week I started renewing items and have had a little bump in sales!

[Former_Member]

Sierra - You're so welcome!

Amy - YAY!! I'm so happy for you!

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the information! I'm persuaded. :)

[ThePixelwood]

Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you for saying this!

[Former_Member]

I was really considering leaving Etsy because of the recent changes. But you have convinced me to give it a little more time... I will try to keep renewing and see what happens :) Thanks for the advice!

[Former_Member]

Leanda - I'm really glad that you haven't left Etsy. If anything this relevancy change gives the little guy MORE of a chance. You just have to be on the ball, that's all!

Contact me if you feel you need anything and I'll see if I can help you :)

[MoonAndHare]

Thanks for the advice -- I'd wondered about the role renewing played in the whole relevency thing.

[Former_Member]

As someone just getting started - I love to hear some great tips! Thank you!

[Former_Member]

Thanks for this, it's really interesting, i've just been. wondering if it's still important to renew regularly. Will keep doing it ;)

[Former_Member]

Interesting perspective. I have never really tried a renewal strategy. I just try to list new items every few days. May have to consider this.

[Former_Member]

after reading this post i did some renew and observations. my 'normal' views per day are around 200 and after renewing 6 items and adding 2 new ones my views went to 400. i will keep testing and observing

thanx for such a positive post, appreciate it!

love this team

[Former_Member]

I will agree, that reposting has been quite effective for me as of late, especially on my other shop, Florida Scarf.