Why you are not getting found newbies

[#1]

Things are tough when your category has 2,000,000 items, and you have 40.
You must do everything possible to give yourself a chance to be found. I dont see that in threads compalining about low views.
And, it isnt that hard, nor does it take much time to have good tags and titles. Ignore all that constant "tweaking" noise you read about. Do it right the first time, and you can spend the tweaking time making things.

I have learned the following from the Queen of SEO:

1.Your title is not the name of your item. It is a 70 character string whose goal is to get your item found by etsy search.

2. If you cant tell exactly what the item is by reading your tags, your tags stink. Those words are what people search on. If I had a dime for every purple necklace that had neither purple nor necklace in the tags, I would have a lot of dimes.

3. Words in your title must show up in your tags. If Blue scarf is in your title, blue scarf needs to be in your tags.

4. Use as many of the 20 characters in your tags as possible. Blue scarf as one tag is better than blue, then scarf as two tags.

5.Read about SEO at cindys seo group. she is very wise. http://www.etsy.com/teams/10713/cindylouwho-team/discuss/10196168/

the end

[Former_Member]

This is a great thread. I opened last year and had to stop selling because of illness. I began selling again this pass July. Sells are very slow, almost non existent. I would like to be successful and would appreciate any advice and help. Thanks have a great day
Cindy

[Former_Member]

How i tag

https://www.etsy.com/listing/112343359/mosaic-wooden-wall-cross-serbian

what is it?

it is a cross in a mosaic design using old wood which is mostly green. serbian orthodox christians use it.

so i title it

Mosaic Wooden Wall Cross Serbian Orthodox Reclaimed Wood Green

res ipsa loquitor

It is a good idea to mix up the words if you have several of these items.
I dont remember if I do that.

I look at my stat page for the year
hmm
reclaimed wood, wall cross, cross, mosaic,wood, orthodox,wood art, mosaic art, serbia, flying pig, wood cross all rank high under keywords.
that is the search term used by the buyer to find an item. she clicked on it, and came to my page. yay!!
they have been successful in the past. I think I will use them again!!

see my tags??

let us see how we do in search.

serbian cross, 20 items. I have 12. hmm I need to make more so I can run those other 8 off of my page!!!!
that is a micro niche.If someone types in serbian cross, they WILL buy from me.

mosaic wall cross
500 items
first page
the other two on the second

I did not use those words consecutively in the title. But the category is so small, I didnt need to


wall cross, wow, 10,000 items.
I am first page!!
3 on page two!!!
most of those others really suck

reclaimed wood, it is more general and has 16000 results
first page with the fleur de lis!!
lotta views today, it will sell very soon

cross, 180,000 results
that is too many to tangle with
i will use cross along with other words
why the christ is kelly rippa on the first 5 pages?????
alex will be reporting those slime bags

serbian orthodox, 22 results
I have half
I want all 22!!!!!

so... I list a lot of crosses. I sell a lot of crosses. I have never had a cross expire. evuh
see why?
I am all over the cross categories. I own several.

So, knowing these facts, I decided a few months ago to make mosaic crosses. They are more expensive. I like to make more expensive stuff.
I own cross categories.


do this on your own listings post haste

[Former_Member]

Alex you rock! I just spent about half an hour on two of my listings working the title and tags..... I show up on page one and two for both of my shawls. These are new for my Etsy shop ....... usually I only sell these at the Maker's Market but because of a move I won't sell there till spring. It's sometimes so frustrating to be "relevant" :)

[Former_Member]

Wow, Alex. Thanks so much for great explanation. It really does help me understand. There is so much to learn.
Cindy

[EZCraftingStore]

I'm not really a newbie, I've been here a little over a year. Been working on tags and titles like crazy for hours and hours. Sales have improved quite a lot. In the beginning of this August I still only had one sale. Now I have 23 so they have improved. Not making a living but sales are getting better. Lately when I title and tag my items I just keep working at it until I type in the first three words and it is on that front page. It can take awhile sometimes. How do my titles and tags look to you? I still have some to fix.

[Former_Member]

rene from nocal, she pushed her way to the front

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lillyzcardz

I wasnt going to do you right away, but I got excited by this

http://www.etsy.com/listing/97021697/two-friends-all-occasion-greeting-card

I love this pic. it reminds me of my baba. Print dress, baba shoes, mebbe a hair net..

I read the description

rene took it in sicily

uh, sweetheart

where is sicily in the title or tags?

Do you know how many Italians are in this country?
I cut out words. I dont like it, but they sell. I make 45 italian words.
I will be able to cut out mangia and buon natale in my sleep soon.

This is a Sicilian Greeting Card. I dont care what other words you use.
stick nana or nonnie in there.
The only thing better is if one of the women was holding a bulletproof vest with a dead fish in it.
Men would eat that up. We have seen the Godfather 28 times on average.
use that as a tag
You have struck gold with this one.
I am going to buy some for me Eyetalian friends.
one of them just met the Pope
Gimme a deal
use every Italian tag you can think of.
most of your tags for this stink

your dog cards are cute
make sure the breed is in the tags and titles

this nana card is a winner
vincitori di tutti vincitori

[EZCraftingStore]

I made an error typed too fast, in the beginning of August I had a whopping four sales.

[Former_Member]

Alex you rock! I just spent about half an hour on two of my listings working the title and tags..... I show up on page one and two for both of my shawls. These are new for my Etsy shop ....... usually I only sell these at the Maker's Market but because of a move I won't sell there till spring. It's sometimes so frustrating to be "relevant" :)
....................
that is money

my first page stuff things are getting monster views and hearts
I hope they dont sell for a while
When they do, I will renew sold with a new one. They will not be identical, so I will put a new pic in.

so

since we know that buyer behavior is a factor in relevance, I get to keep some of that in my renewed sold listing.
The algorithim will know that buyers think that item is relevant to their search.
That is why Al Gore invented it.

[Former_Member]

Alex, Loving the way you think with tagging! Redoing some and experimenting

[FlutteringWings]

Thanks Alex for the post on tags,

Question on titles To comma or not to comma?

I comma, now I think I shouldn't. hmmm

Oh and I joined "Wanelo" way cool. Wrote all my friends and asked them to tag me. Thanks

Pam from fry up another

[Former_Member]

I have been messing around with my titles and tags non-stop....the lightbulb has finally switched on for the big picture! Most of the items I've fixed are showing up on page 1!!! The rest all show up in the first 5 pages (but I'll keep going until their ALL on page 1).

Alex, I'll spare you my request for a critique...yes, another jewellery shop.

THANK YOU :)

I know I still have a helluva way to go but this is a big step forward.

OOO (Hugs, don't know you well enough to kiss you.)
Tasha

[Former_Member]

I have been messing around with my titles and tags non-stop....the lightbulb has finally switched on for the big picture! Most of the items I've fixed are showing up on page 1!!! The rest all show up in the first 5 pages (but I'll keep going until their ALL on page 1).

Alex, I'll spare you my request for a critique...yes, another jewellery shop.

THANK YOU :)

I know I still have a helluva way to go but this is a big step forward.

OOO (Hugs, don't know you well enough to kiss you.)
Tasha
..........................

wow

If you chicks were in the wood category, there is no way possible way I would tell you doodleysquat about this stuff. In fact, I would go so far as to spread falsehoods on this subject. And I would urge tasha to quit. She doesnt need the aggravation. I would be all " tasha girl fren, You need to just take a break, and go have some tasha time. This will all be here when you come back."
I better go see what she sells.
I am getting a little nervous.

[Former_Member]

Alex you are the best!!! I have been working on reworking my tags and I am still working at redoing my photos. I tried to take out all of my "gift for her" tags (recommended from others) but since looking at my stats every 5 or so hours... then from reading this thread, and being more aware of my stats, I have realized that I haven't EVER got a search from it... Gift for her be gone!!! Then last night I actually checked my stats and had some google booty!!!!! My first real searches so far!! I was so excited because I hadn't received any real stats from google until now. So I'm hoping I'm finally getting onto the right track.

[Former_Member]

Alex, please critique me! I am new and have read a lot about SEO and tips about search but it's not clicking just yet...

[Former_Member]

Cracking up over here reading your responses Alex.... getting nervous now if you get to my critique. Pins and needles. 0_0

Also LOVE the butterfly jewelry shop.... so cool that they are real. I was completely freaked not knowing if they were picked off the poor little buggers, so happy to know it's all humane.

Still a bit confused on the whole tagging thing but I've been checking out what my competition tags. Children's clothing is pretty generic..... there are only so many ways you can describe a simple knot dress. lol

[EmilyMadeMe]

Alex this thread is so helpful. Thanks to your critique I've now discovered Wanelo and I'm having a lot of fun. Also I thought I had a handle on tags and title but I've still learned some great things on this thread. It's really great how you helping everyone out and with such humour too.

I've printed your critique of my shop out and stuck it on my wall for motivation !!

[Former_Member]

Alex, please critique my shop ANY feedback will be appreciated.

[Former_Member]

Dear genius Alex-

thanks for letting me in your head and finding tags. I am the first bison leather bag amongst my fellow Etsy artisans making bison leather bag!

[Former_Member]

cassandra from cali

http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeartmadeCreations

she makes kid stuff

hmm

cass left negative feedback for a purchase
hear me now and believe me later......

DONT EVER DO THAT AGAIN!!

I am swearing to baby Jesus that if any of you ever do that, I am going to come to your home, kick open your door, track mud all over your rugs, point at you and say "Hey, princess go fetch me a beer". Then if you do not comply, I will give you the shoo motion with the back of my fingers. I will then guzzle the beer, crush the can in my manly hand and toss you the can. On my way out, I will snap my fingers point at the mud and say "Pat the stain, do not rub it into the rug. I bet if you hurry, you can get it before it sets".
I will do it.
Giving negative feedback reflects on your score also.
Work it out woman to woman.
Even if they sent you a box of fish guts, and dont respond to convos, Work It Out. Find a way. or else.

3-4 weeks for custom seems long.


close to best pic ever
not even sure what the product is

http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeartmadeCreations

I always want a few of sgt hub with cute widdle daughter pics.
Dont overdo it, just a few. I want to get the point across that you are an all american military family. They will want to help you out and buy from you.
I am smellin the apple pie.
I also want to see sgt hub in civvies with the kids. I'd be all like, "I want him to be home with his kids instead of some shithole desert"
How many kids do you have? 14 between 3-6?
I hope you aint octomom.
I dont think she is married
ok. not octomom. saw the about page.

oh sweet mother of baby jesus
please forgive cassandra for these tags
marine army air force acu nwu military homecoming digital brownie goose
any ideas on what she is selling from that????
at least air force is two words.
I am very sorry Cassandra
Get your keyster on the floor and give me 10 Marine pushups.
Not air force pushups, but marines.
have hub count em off
oh
its a katie top
I have no clue what that is
it aint in the tags.....
get the family together and you can make a game out of coming up with descriptive multi word tags!!
it'll be fun!!!

little eyerolling mother of all that is holy...
it looks like all your tags are like that
10 push ups for each poorly tagged listing is going to make cassandra a little sore.
I have said what works back in this thread 17489 times.
go look at my example for my cross listing.

I absolutely positively love everything else. I love how you will do sewing repairs.
I love your pics
Your shop is vibrant and fun
Your family is fab
You are adorable.

after yuo do the 770 pushups, fix those tags.

[RedOakImages]

Alex, How about a little critique of my shop. This shop is my second one and having a heck of a time getting it noticed in the big wide world of etsy jewelry. Your such a inspiration to all of us esty folks.

Thanks,
Tammy

[Former_Member]

Ya know Alex, This thread would make the most fun team evuh!!! I would join a team like this in a minute and be very active. I'm a leader on one that I'm in but it's never any fun ...the Captain is some what restrictive.......I want to be on a team the just lets it fly and has fun trying to make a go of being a seller here.

[Former_Member]

Hi Alex, could you please critique my shop? Thanks!

[Former_Member]

I agree 100% with inkleing! A team would be awesome!

[Former_Member]

Alex you're the God of tags.
Save us all from disappearing in the search engine's stormy rush

[BaloolahB]

Been off, tag tweaking, wanelo posting, Pinterest pinning, result: lots of traffic from different googles, direct traffic, Pinterest, wanelo, Facebook, the find etc...still no sales.
Definite increase in traffic from non etsy sources, thanks for all the tips!