Looking for some help

[Former_Member]

Hoping some seasoned Etsy Members can help me with a shop critique?

[InsideSandysShop]

Hi Sherri - Welcome to Etsy :-) It takes time to get established on etsy and there is a huge learning curve.
The first priority is getting found in the searches. The way to get found in the searches is having great SEO (search engine optimization). This is done through your 1) Titles, 2) Tags and 3) Description.

**Titles - The first 3 words of a title are the most important and your item should be identified in those first few words of a title and then any description after that.

**Tags - The first thing is to get your title in the tags exactly word for word - staying within your 20 character limit. You will need to really brainstorm in this area and come up with 13 great descriptive tags for your items. This is
the prime real estate for getting found so utilize them well. Also, think like a buyer and what they will type in the search bar to find your items.

**Description - Now that you have a great title and tags you will want ALL of those words and phrases sprinkled throughout your description. When the search engines come in and "crawl" your shop when the phrases all match up in these 3 areas you will show up in the searches.
Let's take one of your listings and optimize these 3 areas then you can take these principles and apply them to every single listing.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/243729161/pillow-lavender-bag?ref=shop_home_active_4
In the listing above a longer more descriptive title would be better for searches - what about a title like Lavender Sachet In Muslin Bag, Air Freshener, Wedding Favor

Then using this title you would have tags like

Lavender Sachet
Muslin Bag
Air Freshener
Wedding Favor

Then keep brainstorming to think of other phrases your customers would type in to find this item :-) A few I thought of are below.

rustic wedding
rustic wedding favor
muslin sachets
lavender in muslin
natural moth repel
dried herb
aromatic fragrance
air scent
drawer freshener
closet freshener
shoe freshener
sachet potpourri

If this happens to be organic lavender be sure to put that in the title and tags.

I know I've given you more than 13 tags but use the 13 tags that are most appropriate and keep an eye on your stats page to see what people are typing in to search for this item and then adjust accordingly.

Now you have a lot of words and phrases to make a very appealing description. When all your words and phrases show up in the title, tags and description you will pop up in the searches :-)

Another thing that is important is to have all 5 photos for every single item. Your customer cannot pick up your item to look at it so you need to do that for them in photos. Also, give them different way to use this versatile item. Have it tucked in a pair of pretty shoes or laying next to some lingerie - make it appealing to your customer.

I hope some of these tips help and I wish you much success in your shop.
Blessings,
Sandy

[Former_Member]

Hi Sandy,

Great advice you've given to Sherri!

Can you please also have a look at our Etsy shop and critique some of the listings?
https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/AncientSunDesigns

Many thanks,

Roxy & Dan

[InsideSandysShop]

Hello Roxy and Dan :-) Welcome to our team! You have beautiful and I do mean beautiful jewelry. I like the way you have items at all price points. This is the way to have a larger target audience. I especially like the way you have the item below as a bridesmaid gift in your description because it is beautiful for a wedding with the pearl in it but still affordable for the bride. We all know how everything adds up in a wedding but your shop gives an affordable option ;-)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/249683928/dainty-silver-necklacewoodland?ref=shop_home_active_1
Probably the best place you could start to improve SEO is in your titles and tags. I have that info in the critique for Sherri so I'll let you go back and read that up there but I will add that in the titles you should avoid "title stuffing". "Title Stuffing" is cramming as many words as you can in a title hoping the search engine will pick up something but in reality the SE sees the repetition of words as spam. In the listing above you have the word "necklace" in the title 5 times. What about making the title

Dainty Silver Necklace, Simple Woodland Botanical Jewelry, Modern Bridal Pendant with Pearl

This title uses all your key words but doesn't duplicate any of the words. Take out the cap's in the title - they are not necessary and punctuation needs a space after each one to be SEO friendly and the less punctuation the better. Punctuation should only be used for readability for the buyer. Each one of your phrases in your title needs to be in your tags exactly word for word. So with the title above you will want the tags

Dainty Silver
Silver Necklace
Simple Woodland
Woodland Botanical
Botanical Jewelry
Modern Bridal
Pendant with Pearl

Then keep brainstorming for the rest of your tags. You have great ones already in this listing

charm necklace
boho wedding
bridesmaid gift
bridal necklace
pearl charm necklace
botanical necklace
precious metal clay
boho chic necklace
simple necklace
minimalist necklace
These are all your tags and they are great! And as you can see you have more than 13 very descriptive tags. Pick out the most applicable and use them. Then keep an eye on your stats page and see what terms are being typed in to find this item and adjust your tags accordingly.
The main thing we've done here is optimized your search so your items will pop up in the searches.

Your description is great it has all these words and phrases from your title and tags sprinkled all through it and it answers any questions your customer may have. Wonderful job there.

I was absolutely drawn into your about page telling me a little bit about you both and the process of making your jewelry. I loved the photos especially the one of the "messy studio" as you called it. This is truly a working space :-) I'm always amazed at the photos that show a work space that looks like it's out of a magazine - lol - all of us crafters know a workspace is never neat and tidy :-) Thank you for taking me into your workspace and telling me about yourself :-)

Don't forget to use any social media that you are on to post, tweet or pin your beautiful items. It's a lot of work but so very gratifying.
I wish you much success in your shop!
Blessings,
Sandy

[Former_Member]

First of all, many thanks for accepting us to your Etsy team and for your valuable advice, Sandy.
We will go back and review our tags as you suggested so that our items will be picked-up by the search engine.
Wishing you and all the Etsy sellers lots of sales!
Yours,
Roxy & Dan