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]

Best Thread Ever!

Marked and will be coming back often- so much great info here...that somehow hits home in a way other SEO threads never have. I'm getting to work! Thank you Alex for cutting to the quick (and being hilarious). And helping so many of us get past our dreaded, scary, the-boogeyman-is-in-the-SEO blocks!

I'll humbly throw my name into the hat while I soak up all this info- please have a peek at my shop when you get a chance? I promise I'll be working on having less stuff for you to bust me on while I'm waiting.

Oh and FYI- yes, I'm in Texas....no I do not watch football. (I am a Dynamos fan, though.)

Let it rip, I can take it. :)) And...
THANK YOU!

[BaloolahB]

Jc, put your prices up..........

[DoggieStylz]

Dear Sweet Alex,

I am hoping you don't forget me. I think I'm back on page 20 something. I have been reading faithfully (yes, I like foreigner) every day.

Thank you bunches...
Marietta from Doggie Stylz

[Former_Member]

Hi Alex, please could you critique my shop!

[Former_Member]

everso patient lawra loo from wyoming

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

i hear there are 5 men for each woman there
wasnt brokeback mountain set in wyoming?

first off, put more descriptive keywords in your shop title. it is under the banner. helps with the google

she sells jewelry

your pics are flat and dull

ask for help here
http://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success/discuss/11104015/page/1

your prices are pretty low for the nonwyoming parts of the country

your about page is adorable. yuou can put more pics there

i like your tags and titles
i have never said that in this thread
om like g

do you put your tags in search and see how ya rank?

have you studied your keyword page to see whats been working?

you are in the most crowded market on etsy
you have to work 5x harder than I do to get found.
do you wanelo?

have you thought how you can differntiate your products to stand apart from the 206,524 pieces of turquoise jewelry?
How can you get found amongst that mess?

didya join this team for more advanced seo stuff?
http://www.etsy.com/teams/10713/cindylouwho-team

put a lot of effort into your pictures
think about how to best compose each one

you need to find an edge

[AdamRabbit]

I would love a critique as well!

[Former_Member]

here is a post from the forums yesterday:

My sales have dropped to zero & my views are down by hundreds. I can't say I'm making any money & I don't forsee the new changes as being helpful. I mean wth couldn't they have initiated the changes after the holidays? Did they have to kill business now? I'm not a happy shop owner. I'm working my butt off for what?
....................................

Seen that one before?

It isnt my fault!!!
its them, not me!!!!
they are making mysterious and unnamed changes that are killing me!!!!

If you are new, DONT READ THAT CRAP!!!
total bullshit
he doesnt want to be responsible for his shops performance.
how the christ can anyone possibly succeed with that attitude?
oy
I debated whether to identify this poor slob, but he posted in public, so why not.

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

karma
the eyes are rolling

see when he joined?
six months after etsy's big change
oops
its a she

lets look at a listing:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/100207645/womens-green-sweater

No idea why that title aint bringin the traffic

here are the tags:

women, casual, clothing, sweater,fashion, yarn, fall, christmas, green, rose, and my all time favourite, gift.

My hand is sore and my head hurts from all the facepalming.

And, of the listings I Ilooked at, this is the most highly optimized for etsy search.

yet it is not karmas fault

karma has done everything possible.

so, it must be "them"

"they" are out to ruin you.

Karma sold on ebay where none of this is required. Wouldnt you all love that here?

no.That would suck hind teat.

KNowing this stuff will give you a MASSIVE edge over the karma's of the world.
they quit when thnigs arent going well

because they have done all they can, so it cant be their fault.

there is always more you can do.
.

[Former_Member]

Oh Great Alex....
If you have a moment could you hit my shop with you no-nonsense, spare the bullsh*t wisdom?

I'll say now that I'm in the process of re-optimizing my listings... some more fine tuning. Its not views that are I am upset with... its where they come from and that they don't turn into sales. :)

If you could spread your wisdom... i'll.... hmmm... i'll think of something to do in return ;)

[PureImpressions]

Alex -

I think they're might be 5 men for each woman here, but they're all the same...there's a reason the movie was filed here ;)

I'll work on the keywords in shop title.
Some places say to make it short, some places say to make it long so I've been toying with it to see what difference (if any) I notice.

Photographing jewelry sucks. Maybe some cleavage pics?
I have white foam board and a white daylight bulb on my shopping list to make a light tent this week.

I'll toy with prices and bring them up...that just really scares me lol

And holy crap, you said you liked the tags and titles lol
I've done a lot of research on this and recently purchased a handmadeology pro membership which includes a keyword program that has made a HUGE difference this week.

How to stand out..how to stand out...I think that's the magic equation we're all looking for.

Thanks again, you're made of magic.

[IntuessaJewelryCo]

Hi Alex, just wanted to ask you to not forget about me. I am adding more listings and am rehabbing my tags and descriptions. I am also re-doing my pictures.
Would love to get your take on my shop.
Sorry to ask again. You are in high demand.
Thank you!
Ruxi

[TheFamilyJewelsWI]

Greetings!

I fiddled with my tags and titles. I would appreciate recommendations so much! I know my photos need more work. I'm working on them as time permits (I work full time).
So appreciate you help!

[Former_Member]

Alex thanks so much for the help with my shop. I will start working on improvements. Very good advice
Thanks
Cindy

[Former_Member]

Hi Alex! Thank you for the info! I recently re-opened my shop and boy have there been some changes! i went from a pretty steady selling shop to seeing tumbleweeds go by every once-in-a-while! Any input, critiques, etc. would be SO appreciated!! ~Sara

[Former_Member]

ruxi from joisey

what exit??

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

real new jewlry gal

ugh
two of your featured items have hideous pix
really bad
do you use a photo editor like photoscape?
its free

oh boy
the dark light dark light pix are off putting
I'm not even looking at your pieces.
you have to fix that nownownow

holy crap
you do great work
and such goddawful pictures
i love the curviness to your earrings
so
ruxi knows how to make stuff
she dont know how to photograph it
check this shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/wasataylor?ref=pr_shop_more

great cleavage, to be sure

but her pics are composed
see how her outfit matches the jewelry?
chicks will say "I have a dress just like that. I would look smokin with that necklace".

you jewelry people have to be better than other category to sell.

luv these:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/110035469/sterling-silver-with-jet-black-swarovski

tags:

sterling silver 700,000 items. ho lee shee it. it would be easier to win the lotto than to make first page

wire wrapped 270,000 results

earrings 1,378,000 results. I have a better chance of being Pope and King than you have of showing up in that one.

infinity 47,000

hmmm... what would "infinity earrings" be?????

1,442 results

would you like to show up there??

then have that phrase in both tags and title.
I bet you will show up in the first five pages. If you have more of these, then title and tag the same way.

do what i did for all 38 items
use all 20 characters alloted in the tags, and up to 70 for the titles
get more items listed, or all that wont help much. I know you are new, so write down your goals and tell someone so you will be accountable. Put it on your monitor, I will do this by then, etc

you can do well here if you have a plan and follow it thru

your work is great

[Former_Member]

Thanks again, this thread is so great. I will be working at improving. Thanks all your help and all the time.
Cindy

[Former_Member]

ijeoma from la via africa

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

dont ever change your avatar
i went back looking for it in this thread. I remembered it

she makes stuff out of imported african stuff. likin it so far
you say african apparel and something in your shop title. say more

you say you list every other day
great plan!
I can go check to see if its true
want me to? I will
hmm
looks true.
I love ladies who keep their word
that was a Big Test

i thought there would be more clothes
i love lookin at that stuff
kinda trendy now

you say you can alter stuff. How long does it take?
i dont ever read the policy page. Is it in there?
I would rather read the Lagos phone book
Or " The Memoirs of Former President Glenn Beck".

whats wax fabric? do women know that kinda stuff?
those pillows are cool
I think you gotta winner with the african stuff.
you need new stuff every day
really

your photos need work, and you need to use all the tags
but you really need more stuff

it will sell

actually, if you have time after your nursing studies are done.
get that done first

[IntuessaJewelryCo]

Thank you so much! You are awesome! I will work on it.

[IntuessaJewelryCo]

I got so excited i forgot to answer your question. Exit 14 off the turnpike.

[Former_Member]

Alright. I've been following this for a week or so now, and I laugh and cringe every time I read the posts - you're honest, hilarious AND informative - love it!! I know I'm quite possibly somewhere around #172 on your list, but - I'd love it if you'd take a crack at my shop.

[Former_Member]

No Alex, you are not being critiqued...I want to take your advice, go look at their shops, go look at my shop, and see where I fall on the critique scale without having to take up your time.

So when you say "i thought there would be more clothes" I go look and see how many actually are and then know that you thought more would be better.

Just makes it easier for me to relate to your particular comment if I can see the store. Thanks for adding links on your reviews! I'll be learning a lot faster now!


And what the heck...if you are still critiquing, dump me in the lot and let her rip!

[Former_Member]

Wow Alex...you are the shop critique wizard! i reworked many of my titles and tags, but one of my front page listings disappeared to page 9! Not sure why but I'm trying to fix it....my brain isn't figurin this out!

What's an ELF to do???

[Former_Member]

Patiently checking in as well. I'm back on page 20 something. I have been updating titles and tags all week based on your advice in this thread but I'm sure I have a long way to go! Thank you!

[jerseymaid]

I'd appreciate a critique please!

[glassbead]

Alex- I found your critique of my shop. Thanks! So I guess you're saying one word tags aren't really worthwhile. Which kind of makes sense. I'll have to figure out multi work titles that I think folks might actually use. I guess I was thinking that if a person entered for instance- lampwork- they would subcategorize using the choices on the left.
Yeah, I'm not a newbie, but I still need someone to take a peek at my shop now and then and give me a new perspective- Thanks again!

[Former_Member]

Hey Alex, I've been stalking this thread since I posted in about page 7 or 8. I updated my titles, tags and cover photo. I know I don't have enough products and you probably don't have any interest in baby blankets, but I would still love to hear what you think. I read where you said you skipped around on the critiques, but I think you may have actually forgotten about me.

I'll continue to stalk...hoping...