how do you list your items to optimize viewing?

[Former_Member]

Hi All: Your feedback would be appreciated here. I have posted my items and not sold any polymer. More to the point in searching beads and polymer I dont see much listed in the way of straight bead work, I have found phenominial artistist on Etsy using polymer but they are not listing it as polymer so it wont come up on the standard search. The question is how do you list your product and do you list with or without using the keyword polymer clay and how is that working for you?

Thanks!

[Former_Member]

Making sure you have the right title and key words are very important in selling on etsy. As a fellow polymer clay artist I can sympathize with your issue. I only have polymer clay listed in my tags because you have to think on the buyer's level. The average person looking for beads may not even know what polymer clay is. You want to appeal to the customer and put yourself in their shoes , imagine if you where someone who maybe does not have an extensive knowledge of crafting , just a beginner beadier looking for a unique product and what you would type in to search for such item.. Use words to describe such as color shape and also an eye catching pretty word like: unique, glorious, fun, edgy, lovely, get out the thesaurus and play with a few words. Also don't forget texture words like smooth, rough, pebbled est. For example on your item http://www.etsy.com/listing/85700462/purple-meets-pink-combo-beads-mokume I would title it something like Swirling Pink and Purple bead lot - Funky, youthful, fun. Then in tags add your technical terms for the more knowledgably searcher: monkume, polymer clay, also add some tags such as bead lot, bead destash, rave, neon est. if you do not have any new hits in two weeks change the wording again. I update my discriptions every few weeks if an item hasnt sold and every week I knotice their are no favorites added to them. It dosn't cost anything to edit and it just takes trial and error to get a good word combo to appeal to your target buyer. Good luck

[Former_Member]

I agree with the above.

I'd take your name out of the title... it just makes it look too busy. If people are looking for you, they'll search under "Shops", and that's not linked to item titles!

Let's take these as an example...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85700409/tropical-sea-beads-mokume-gane-beads-by

People are not going to search for "Tropical Sea" (although it IS fitting, and I can see why you used it).
Your target market for selling beads is people who will use them. Usually, they'll be looking for certain colours or shapes. A lot of beaders know what they want when they're looking online (personally I'm not one of them, I like to browse. But I would still search by colours).

I would title these more like: Blue, Green, Purple Swirl Handmade Coin Beads

The best tip I've heard for tagging items is this:
Imagine you're describing what you've made to a friend over the phone, who can't see the item/s. What words do you use? THESE are your tags!

[Former_Member]

Thank you VERY much that is some excellent input and I will take your ideas and incorporate them. I really appreciate it!!!