I have strange search analytics - search queries which doesn't fit with my products

[CreativeWithNadine]

Hi,

I checked my search analytics where Etsy tells you that your items were found via xx searches. Most of the search queries are what my products are about. I sell for example coloring pages for adults with flower motive. But 6 of 53 search queries are about 'a*nal s*ex' and I am really shocked. Of course I don't have this word in my product title, description or tags. This is NOT what my product is about and I don't want to see one of my product on the first page of such a search query
I asked my mother to buy my product and after their shopping 'similiar' products were suggested to her and these were also about this topic My mother was of course shocked too and I couldn't explain..

Why are my products associated to this topic??

Best regards
Nadine

[DragonflyDreams1]

Oh my..... I went to your listings and looked at "explore related searches" suggestions at the bottom of your listing page and yes, indeed there are suggested listings that are sexual in nature. One was a 4k cosplay with stepsister something or other. I did not click on it so I have no more information. Other suggestions were for "gay" art. I would contact Etsy. Maybe you have a few words that you use in the title, tags, or description that lead Etsy AI to believe it falls into a category that you did not intend.

[CreativeWithNadine]

Hi @DragonflyDreams1 

thanks for your answer! In the meanwhile I contacted Etsy but they were not helpful. They told me I should remove tags, change title or description. They couldn't tell me which tag is responsible for this search query.. and I already checked it by myself and I definitely don't have such tags and description. I only have the tag 'adult' as it is obviously a coloring page for adults and not for kids. Really great when this is the tag resulting in such search queries -.-

[FancyTogs]

Etsy index a listing for the words in titles, and tags, and the listing categories, and attributes, cherry pick a few words (unreliably) from descriptions, they then index a listing for a secret list of words which they statistically link to the other indexed words.

So in Etsy's AI statistics it is probable that "adult" = "XXX", etc.

Lawrence (Clare's other half)

[howtobooksandmore]

Have you ever fallen down a Google rabbit hole.  If someone searches for drugs, follows a link to a chemical plant, follows that link to an industrial plant and then follows that link to flowers, Etsy will say your search terms include drugs.  If someone started out looking for pornographic images and followed links that eventually led to your shop, you will get these types of search terms linked to your items.  Or, unless Etsy has drastically changed the search in the last twenty years, pornographic terms and images seem to attach themselves to almost everything and never let go of them.  Complain to Etsy if you want but don't expect it to go anywhere.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

apparently we are only 6 degrees of separation away, to be related to everyone on the planet

searches look to see what people have searched on, and clicked on, and searched on,
if you already have "adult", you have probably skipped a lot of those degrees of separation already

[TinLizziAntiques]

OP, you have to remove "adult" from your tags or description as Etsy has linked that to XXX rated, sex-related content. Would "mature person," "seniors," "grown-up" work instead of adult for your listings?

[CreativeWithNadine]

Hi @TinLizziAntiques,

Etsy has not confirmed this for me, that they equate 'adult' with 'xxx'. That was just my thought because that is the only tag that might makes a little sense....
Thanks for the alternative tags! I was so upset that I couldn't even think about alternatives I have only the problem that my shop language is german and the tags makes sense for the english language but the translated words are somehow a little bit strange in the context for the product. But I will think about other alternatives.. 'adults' was just so perfect...

[FancyTogs]

Etsy requires XXX content to be marked with the keyword "Mature" so good luck using that one instead!

Lawrence

[csmmel5h90b0usd8]

In my opinion, kids could totally use your coloring sheets! Reading practice for the win! You could just drop the "adult".

[CreativeWithNadine]

Yes, they can of course and I would have loved such coloring sheets when I was young! It was important to add the 'adult' tag for me because when you are searching only for 'coloring sheets' you see also a lot of childish motives and coloring pages with less details.

I just need to think about it again.. if I can't find an alternative tag, I will remove it completely.

[PlatypusDream]

There are several terms related to anaal s3x that are floral in nature.

It sounds like that's what is happening with the search engine.

I hope you figure out which words are triggers and can figure it out.

This reminds me of last year's math page seller who had naked pen!s pictures suggested at the bottom of his pages....

[CreativeWithNadine]

Oh no the search engine is in some cases really bad. It should be stricter for this topic, especially if children and young people are looking for products.

[DragoninKnots]

It's one of those "features" Etsy didn't think through well.

[CreativeWithNadine]

Yes, seems so ._.

[CraftyCornishMaids · Accepted solution]

what about words like

grown up

difficult

complex

detailed

complicated

art therapy

woman

man

senior

challenging

intricate

...... it's a bit daft, as adult should be able to work, but when in Rome ....

[CreativeWithNadine]

These are brilliant! Thank you very much!