Esty Shop Optimization Focus Group - Day 1

[#1]

Hi Team! Before we get started...

1. You can see the format and timing for today's workshop here:
https://www.etsy.com/teams/15782/etsy-meet-n-tweet/discuss/13432955/page/1

2. Regarding keywords, with the exception of Jan, I want you all to set aside what you currently consider your keywords--they were much too broad for getting found in search engines as they were more like categories or headings. However, Jan, there is still room to work on yours as well. So, let's all see where today's research and analysis takes us!

Today's Participants:
1. Jan Purves from cardsbymormorjan
2. Tori Jackson from SecretScentSociete
3. Kathy Jones from KKJJewelry4You
4. Randi from LovelyLikeTheSun
5. Miss Tan from MissTanDesigns

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STEP ONE: Know What You’re Really Selling

Keywords depend on what you’re selling and the terms customers are most likely to use to find items like yours. Before trying to figure out the best keywords for your shop, determine exactly what you’re selling.

This might seem like a no-brainer (hello, I make knit hats!); however, many sellers have a product, but still don’t know exactly what they are selling. The ins and outs of your product can make a huge difference in the keywords you later choose for SEO.

Using knit hats as an example. A knit hat is a knit hat? Nope: not when you’re trying to be an SEO superstar. The knit hats likely come in different sizes--for men, women and kids. And different colors, textures, yarn types and varied thickness. Knit hats can be offered in different styles--cloche, newsboy, pixie, etc… PLUS, knit hats can offer an experience, not just warmth i.e. a trendy style accessory or a statement piece. Or maybe offer the memory of bundling up as a child and running out to throw snowballs with the neighborhood kids.

Get down to the nitty-gritty of what you’re really selling by considering all the details and options your products provide; then make a list. Write it all out and you have a perfect starting point for finding the perfect keywords.

ASSIGNMENT: Complete as quickly as you can so that we will have time to discuss your list before moving on to Step Two at Noon.

1. Make a list of all the details related to your products. Include variables like size, colors, demographic or genre, uses, feel, texture, trend, can it be customized or personalized?

Use the questions and suggestions in these article as a guide:

www.etsy.com/blog/en/2007/guidelines-tips-tagging-on-etsy/
www.etsy.com/blog/en/2009/seller-how-to-tag-o-rama-with-descriptive-keywords/

Also, on your list be sure to include any feature(s) of your products you feel your customers might be PASSIONATE about? ie all natural, organic, genuine...

2. Please post your list below.


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Special Note: I adapted much of the wording for this post from the following article:
http://outright.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-seo-for-your-etsy-shop/

[TwentyandUnder · Accepted solution]

PRODUCT TITLE

The product title is tricky for many sellers who are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with SEO. Because we naturally want to describe our item in a way that catches a buyer’s eye, we may add too much fluff and too little searchable information. It’s a good idea to use the 60 character rule here, too: include as many descriptive keywords as you can in the first 60 characters of your title.

****The title you write ultimately becomes the link that search engines create, that links back into your shop.****

So, instead of this:

Beautiful and warm knit hat in brown, cream and gold, for men. Size large.

Try this:

Men’s Brown Knit Hat Size Large

The first title creates a link that looks something like this:

www.etsy.com/listing/0123456/beautiful-and-warm-knit-hat.

While the second creates a keyword rich link that is more likely to be found by the search engines, and clicked on by a customer:

www.etsy.com/listing/0123456/mens-brown-knit-hat

Assignment:

Select a product in your shop to and reconsider the title based on your new keywords and keyword phrases. Resist the urge to add descriptive fluff in the first 60 characters.

3 Examples:

1. Christmas Baubles, Watercolor Christmas Cards, Blank Notecard Set, Holiday Greeting Cards

2. Watercolor Holiday Card, Tulips and Hyacinths Watercolor Notecards, Blank Notecard Set, Art Cards

3. Green Christmas Trees, Holiday Earrings, Christmas Earrings, Swarovski Earrings

Next up...Product Descriptions

[TwentyandUnder]

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

As with your titles, search engines look at the very first information you provide in your product description; the first 160 characters to be exact.

You’ll want to write your product description in an enticing way, so shoppers will want to buy, BUT ALSO USE YOUR KEYWORDS so shoppers CAN FIND YOU.

Consider repeating the product title as the first sentence of your product description. Using the notecard example, you could start your description with:

Christmas Baubles, Watercolor Christmas Cards, Blank Notecard Set, Holiday Greeting Cards - Set of 4 with Matching Envelopes

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For this Assignment we are only going to focus on the FIRST SENTENCE.

The following is for when you begin actual work on your shop:

Because search engines look at the entire product description, be sure to use your keywords that accurately describe your item throughout the description.
Don’t stuff each sentence full of keywords. Rather, use them as you would in natural language-as if you were telling someone in person about your item.

Consider adding one to two keywords and keyword attributes every third to fourth sentence, as long as it makes sense and allows your text to read well.
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Assignment:

Using the same product title created in the previous assignment to create the first sentence of the product description or work the same keywords into the first sentence. Utilize the overall, first 160 characters of your product description to focus on keywords.



Next up (last assignment)...Product Tags...

[TwentyandUnder]

PRODUCT TAGS

Product tags are SUPER important to Etsy’s internal search system! Again we are going to repeat our key words and phrases here. When tagging for instances...Soy Candles, you’d likely use tags that represent words people would use to search for your item:

Scented soy candle, Soy candle, scented candle, natural candle, soy wax, holiday hostess gift, tuberose candle, black candle, candle gift set, candles, custom candle, wedding candle favors

You’ll see that you’ve used your Keywords here, while also relevantly describing your items in one word or two-word phrases that work with Etsy’s search system.

Assignment:

Now write down 13 tags based on your primary Keywords and relevant keyword Attributes.

And that's it! The next post will be a short recap of the assignments!

[TwentyandUnder · Accepted solution]

ASSIGNMENT RECAP:

Using your primary Key Words & Phrases and keyword attributes

Create the following

1. A New Shop Title
2. 1 or 2 Shop Sections
3. A Shop Announcement
4. A Product Title (just one for now!)
5. A Product Description - just the 1st Sentences/160 Characters
6. A set of Tags to Match Your Product Title and Description - try to come up with all 13.

Keep in Mind: THIS DOES NOT have to be perfect right now! This is to help you grasp the idea! And we can continue to work in this thread!


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Well Team, this is the start of Optimizing you Etsy Shop. It covers a good portion of the SEO - Search Engine Optimization. It's a lot I know! BUT it is extremely important!

SEO is the difference between showing up on the first page a buyer's search (and not one done by you to find your shop) and staying buried 8, 9, 100 pages deep...and not being seen!

To get to the top your SEO has to be more fierce than the next persons...and it will take a some work. However, I suggest taking it on as a challenge--a fun challenge because you will feel very happy when you see the results of your efforts paying off!

So let's keep at it! You all are doing GREAT! And if i don't see you before...Have a Happy Happy Thanksgiving!!! :) and I'll see you after the Holiday!

Cheers!
Clarissa

[Former_Member]

Thanks Clarissa! I'm just now starting to approach each product description, title, and tags with a new "eye" and WOW I saw so many areas that need improvement. Thank you for your insight!

[cardsbymormorjan]

Another WOW! from me! Clarissa you have worked so hard on our behalf. I cant believe how much time you have put into this for us. Thank you SO MUCH. I am planning to work through your ideas one at a time, have copied, pasted and printed them! It will take me some time. This is my last hurrah its a year in January that I opened my shop and if this doesn't work then I think I will seriously consider giving up. I don't need or want masses of sales but one a week would be nice!!! ha ha!

Many thanks again for all your efforts its outstanding or 'awesome'!!!
Jan

[cardsbymormorjan]

by the way HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY FRIENDS IN THE US

ALL GOOD WISHES

Jan

[cardsbymormorjan]

SHOP TITLE:
I am thinking I should change my Shop name to:

Art by Mormorjan or Watercolor Art by Mormorjan. or Watercolor Art Gallery by Mormorjan ???

followed by: Original Watercolor Art, Greetings Cards, Notecard Sets,

tried it, won't let me put in all those words can only put Original Watercolor Art, Card Sets.

SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT:
Watercolor Original Art, Greetings Cards, Notecard Sets, Art Cards, Giclee Prints.Perfect to send to your dear ones on any occasion. An opportunity to buy Original Art dealing direct with the Artist. My Original Watercolor Art is ready for you to look at in my Etsy Gallery. I will send it to you carefully packaged to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. All my cards are reproduced by me from my Original Watercolor Art. The Cardstock is Quality White Hammered Card and each one comes with a smooth White matching envelope in its own cellophane bag. They are blank inside for your own personal message. If you would like to select your own choice of 4 different cards from my collection just order the mixed pack and send me a message via Etsy requesting your choices. Many of my cards are also available as a giclee print or a Watercolor original. Some of my art is in acrylic, pastel or mixed media.Thank you for visiting Cards by MormorJan
do follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/MormorJan

[cardsbymormorjan]

SECTIONS:
Original Watercolor Art
Giclee Prints
Greetings Cards Sets
Christmas Cards Sets
Notecard sets
Art Card sets

[cardsbymormorjan]

or should I just limit the sections as the cards are all basically the same??? just calling them different for a variety of choice.

[cardsbymormorjan]

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND PRODUCT TAGS please check out this link where I have tried to put into practice all you good ideas.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/169994164/christmas-baubles-watercolor-christmas?
Thank you so much

[cardsbymormorjan]

changed it this looks batter on the link; https://www.etsy.com/listing/169994164/christmas-baubles-watercolor-cards-blank

[Former_Member]

Clarissa thanks so much for all the work!! I will start working on these right away. Happy Thanksgiving to you guys in the US and a good rest of the week to the rest of the world lol Kathy

[Former_Member]

Clarissa, you are very informative and very knowledegable about this stuff! I salute you! I have been working on this allday and amended/hopefully improved quite a few things in my shop but I know that I still have a lot to do.

[Former_Member]

i have printed all of this valuble info so I can work on it bit by bit - but life goes on and I have a question - I have some new items to list. my normal format for the title is the item number and the name of the item...just quickly reading the info and looking at some other shops - I think I need to redo this - start with using key words and phrases in the name (where it makes sense) and then finish with the item number, or maybe just put it at the end of the description. Am I on the right track? I want to do it better! And not have to do it over (like all the items already listed). Thanks Kathy

[TwentyandUnder]

Hi Team! Thank you!! I I'm back!

Looking over what you've posted here also want to share something with you! Check out the SEO on the listings examples! The shops employing this style of listing are getting 20+ orders a day! They take whatever is the subject matter of the listing and hit it from a few different angles incombination with their main keyword phrase(s):

1. Bird Necklace, Bird Pendant, Bird Jewelry, Bird Charm, Tree Necklace, Photo Art Glass Necklace Pendant Charm

2. Cherry Blossom Necklace, Sakura, Flower Necklace, Flower Pendant, Flower Jewelry, Flower Charm, Glass Art Pendant Necklace

3. Dolphin Pendant - Glass Pendant Picture Pendant Dolphin Charm Dolphin Necklace

so for instance Jan your listing might expand to:
Christmas Baubles, Christmas Ornaments Card, Watercolor cards, Blank Notecard Set, Holiday Greetings Cards, Christmas Card

Kathy for you Tree Earrings would be something like:

Christmas Tree Earrings, Christmas Tree Jewelry, Christmas Holiday Earrings, Swarovski Earrings, Swarovski Jewelry, Christmas Jewelry

For you Tori:

Lavender Candle, Scented Soy Candle, Hand Poured Soy Candles, Holiday Hostess Gift, Arometherapy Lavender Candle, All Natural Candles

also since lavender is often spelled wrong i would include lavendar in my tags
and maybe holiday hostess gift on some and just hostess gift on others?

Okay reading over you posts now... :)

[TwentyandUnder]

Hi Team! Following is an example using Jan's work.

For shop name I like when the artist uses their name for branding. IE JanPurvesStudio or JanPurvesArt or just JanPurves

Just tested this title and it all fits...it's 55 spaces exactly (the max allowed)

Original Watercolor Artwork, Giclee Prints & Notecards

Sections

How about:

1. Flowers Trees Landscapes
2. Animals Birds Wildlife
3. Fruit Foodies Still Life
4. Christmas Seasonal
5. Other Themes <------for any cards that don't fit the above, for now
5. Original Artwork
6. Giclee Prints
7. Custom (or Custom Assortments)
8. Commission Artwork (?)
9. Special Shipping

and for the announcement maybe something like:

Watercolor Artwork featuring Flowers, Trees, Landscapes, Animals, Birds, Wildlife, Still Life, Holidays and art for Foodies! - Original Paintings, Giclee Prints & Blank Notecard Sets - for Gifts and Framing - Custom Assortments

I would leave out the other stuff...maybe move some of it into the listing's page so that way customers don't get hung up there instead of browsing your shop.

[TwentyandUnder]

HI Kathy!

You are on the right track!

so KKJ124 Santa

would look like

Santa Hat Earrings, Santa Charm, Santa Jewelry, Swarovski Christmas Earrings, Holiday Earrings, Swarovski Jewelry, Crystal Dangle Earrings KKJ124

[Former_Member]

Thanks Clarissa - gonna be a lot of copy and paste going on lol

[TwentyandUnder]

Hi Kathy!

Try Besti!!! It's a (third party) bulk editing App for Etsy! There a free version (BetsiLite) and a paid full featured version that has 7 day free trial!

It will save you so much time!
https://www.etsy.com/apps/1660255685/betsi-lite-free-bulk-listing-editor

[cardsbymormorjan]

Wow! quite radical suggestions there. I would have to think how I could keep my lovely followers if I change my shop name. Also maybe I would have to change my twitter identity too? I have copied and pasted all the ideas and will work through them. Am feeling a bit shy about using my name as my shop name. daft I know!

[cardsbymormorjan]

It may just be easier to start a whole new shop?

[TwentyandUnder]

Oooh I thought you we're exploring new shop names...I would leave the name as is, at least for now and just experiment with the other stuff to see what works.

[TwentyandUnder]

but...you should get JanPurves.com if it's available!!!

[cardsbymormorjan]

Thanks will do. Going away saturday till Tuesday. Will work on shop when I can. Thanks again.