test store

[PHOTOKERIM]

Hello Everyone. When I entered the ads section, I noticed that my store was a test store. It's too bad Etsy made new updates and tested it on successful stores like mine. My store's views and sales have dropped significantly. What can I do about this issue?

[PlatypusDream]

EVERYONE on Etsy is a "test store", not just yours.

Ride out the changes, as they are most likely temporary.

https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/128628130971

Note also that there is a LOT more competition in your category. Everyone is using AI and thinking they can sell it for a million bucks with little to no work.

Your titles and tags are spammy and repetitive, which will give them a lower placement in search.

Learn how the search engine has changed and how to adjust things so they are more in line with current recommendations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAvxU7fEkO4

[SugarTaffySoap]

@PHOTOKERIM  I have no idea what you mean by "test store".  Etsy is doing some testing with ads.

It could be your sales may have dropped due to starting an ad campaign. There has been other threads in the past years who have the same issue. 

Off topic, but do you know why you are a Star Seller with no Message badge? Just curious. 

[PWOriginals]

@SugarTaffySoap 
 When the message badge is missing on a SS shop, I believe it means the seller hasn't received any messages, therefore no need for responses, during the reporting period.

[PHOTOKERIM]

Yes, my ads are on and I am not getting the same efficiency as before. I am aware that many competing sellers have joined the category with artificial intelligence, but I do not understand why the ads have gotten so bad.

[BagmakerSupply]

@PHOTOKERIM: On Etsy there is no such thing as a "test store" - if you are referring to the various tests that Etsy runs virtually all (if not all) tests are run against the viewing account not the selling account. If you are in a given test then all shops you look at, including your own, will appear in that test mode. But that also means that those not in the test will see your shop "normally".

[PHOTOKERIM]

When I activate ads, it says that we are running ads-related tests in the blue area above. and when I click on the blue box and read the description, there is a word saying "this application is implemented in certain stores according to the percentage". I may have misunderstood too. But I can't get the results I want from ads like before.

[OmasFabricStash]

I don’t know about the ad section test but with the “let’s move the description to the stupidest place we can think of” I somehow was never in any of it. I would see all shops in the regular format. If I had been in the test then I would see all the shops in the test format. 

[SugarTaffySoap]

@BagmakerSupply  I believe the OP is talking about a blue banner that appears at the top of the ad campaign when one begins it. Here's what it says: We’re testing a new way to find tags that could help your advertised listings show up in more searches. Check it out and tell us what you think!  And there's a link from the Sellers Handbook >  https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/128628130971 ) .

@PWOriginals  Thanks for the SS message info.  

[PHOTOKERIM]

Yes. This is exactly what I'm talking about. Before this blue text appeared, my sales were very good. But since this blue text came out, my sales have decreased significantly.

[PrimFun]

Okay, I went and looked at the blue banner.  Did you go into the process and check to see what Etsy thinks is missing or should be different.  The one it picked for me there was one word that could help.  I chose it.

Does this mean drastic changes have been made to your ads?  Not likely.  My ads are showing as they always have and getting clicks as before.  This program seems to have no effect really on my Etsy ads so far.

You may simply be seeing downturn due to other factors.

The article attached was interesting though, It really didn't apply to this test but it did give a glimpse into their thought processes.  I found it a bit amusing. 

[9ElizabethStreet]

You've already gotten the answer about the test message, so I could offer you a couple reasons views & sales have dropped off.

1) Your product descriptions are exactly the same, no matter what backdrop is clicked on. The entire spiel just sounds like a promo for your store in general, not the particular item. If I click on the Christmas backdrops, the first thing I'd expect is a blurb about Christmas, and how this backdrop might make holiday cards stand out - not the same thing about maternity backgrounds. It's as if the only thing you are promoting is pregnancy & babies in every single listing. If you widen your target market, you'll get more viewers.

2) Americans spell license with an S, not a C (license vs. licence). So are Americans your primary market? If so, you'd want to correct that, since you say you're based in California. Not that it really matters with digital, but people do value transparency.

[PHOTOKERIM]

I exactly agree with you on this matter. However, the backgrounds to be used in maternity shoots have a large share in the market and I have sold maternity backgrounds well so far. That's why I focused more on the maternal backgrounds. However, I read your comment and decided that you are absolutely right. From now on, I will use images and descriptions that can better introduce the product. Thank you very much for your return.

[SugarTaffySoap]

@PHOTOKERIM  When you stop your ads do sales pick up again shortly after or a day later? 

[PHOTOKERIM]

I really can't tell this sometimes. When I catch the ads, sales increase on the 2nd day, but sometimes they do not increase at all. I couldn't figure out what he was facing. I now believe that Etsy's algorithm has a different working principle.