17 Etsy SEO Tips and Strategies for Boosting Your Sales

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Are you tired of listing your products on Etsy without much success? Are you looking for practical, actionable tips to help boost your sales?

Look no further because, in this blog post, we’ll be sharing 17 Etsy SEO tips and strategies to help get your products seen by the right people.

These tips are easy to implement and will make a big difference in your shop’s visibility and sales. So let’s jump right in and start increasing those numbers!

An illustration for Etsy SEO Tips

1. Know What Etsy SEO Factors Are

Execution: Requires attention
Impact:     

When it comes to selling on Etsy, SEO (search engine optimization) is an important factor to consider. But how does Etsy’s search algorithm work, and how can you optimize your products to increase your chances of being discovered in search results?

To optimize your products for Etsy’s search algorithm, you first need to know what they are.

According to Etsy’s Seller Handbook, the platform uses a combination of factors to determine a product’s relevancy and ranking.

In addition to these factors, Etsy also takes into account the user’s search history and location, as well as the overall performance and engagement of your shop and products.

Optimizing your products for these factors can increase your visibility in search results and drive more sales for your business on Etsy.

Etsy ranking factors are; 

  • Relevance: How closely a listing matches a shopper’s search query, with more relevant listings ranking higher in search results.
  • Listing quality score: The conversion rate of a listing (the number of people who view it and then make a purchase) to determine its quality score and placement in search results.
  • Customer and market experience score: The customer and market experience score is based on a seller’s past customer satisfaction and sales performance on the platform.
  • Recency: Recency refers to the timeliness of a listing, with newer or recently updated listings ranking higher in search results (a temporary boost for Etsy to determine its performance).
  • Postage price (for physical products): Postage price for physical products can impact a listing’s ranking, with lower prices potentially leading to higher search placement.
  • Translations and language: Translations and language availability can affect a listing’s ranking, mainly if the shopper’s preferred language is offered.
  • Shoppers’ habits: Etsy uses CSR (Context Specific Ranking) technology to customize search results for each shopper based on their past behaviors, resulting in individualized search results.

2. Have At Least 10 Products

Execution: Depends on your products
Factors to be improved: Relevance
Impact:     

One of the first steps to boosting your sales on Etsy is to have a sufficient number of products available for sale.

While it’s possible to see success with just a few products, having a larger selection will give potential customers more options to choose from and increase the chances that they’ll find something they like.

Etsy recommends having at least 10 products available for sale in order to increase your chances of becoming visible in search results and attracting more customers to your shop.

Need inspiration? Check our digital product ideas to sell on Etsy article.

3. Do Keyword Research Wisely

Execution: Not that hard
Factors to be improved: Relevance
Impact:     

It’s important to do your keyword research wisely.

This means selecting relevant keywords that accurately describe your products and their features, as well as using long-tail keywords that are more specific and less competitive.

It’s also a good idea to use a mix of broad and specific keywords to cover a range of search terms.

To help with your keyword research, there are a few Etsy SEO tools that you can use.

These tools can help you identify popular keywords and give you insight into the competition for those keywords.

Some popular Etsy keyword research tools include MarmaleadeRank, and EtsyHunt.

In addition to using these tools, it can also be helpful to check out your competitors’ listings to see which keywords they’re using.

This can give you ideas for new keywords to try and help you stay ahead of the competition.

4. Choose A Product-Focused Shop Name

Execution: Easy
Factors to be improved: Relevance
Impact:     

It would help if you considered going the product-focused path.

Including your main product or product category in your shop name could be a way to let potential buyers understand what you’re selling.

And make it easier for them to discover your products in Etsy searches.

It’s necessary to note that a product-focused shop name is optional for success on Etsy. There is a ton of victorious sellers out there who have chosen a different approach.

If you don’t feel like a product-focused name aligns with your branding or have other reasons for wanting a different shop name, don’t worry! Making your shop name relevant to your products could be helpful, too.

5. Use Keywords In Your Listings

Execution: Easy
Factors to be improved: Relevance
Impact:     

Using keywords in your Etsy product listings is a crucial element of Etsy SEO and can help you increase your visibility in search results.

Including keywords acquired during your research phase in your titles, tags, and descriptions will make you more likely to attract potential shoppers searching for products like yours.

To choose and use keywords in your listing (description, title, tags), you need to:

  • Do thorough keyword research: Use Etsy keyword research tools and/or check competitors’ listings.
  • Create a list of relevant keywords:  Make a list of all the keywords you want to use in your listings, ensuring that they apply to your products.
  • Incorporate keywords into your titles, tags, and descriptions: Use them in the titles, tags, and descriptions of your products to help them appear in relevant search results.
  • Use a mix of broad and specific keywords: Include a mix of comprehensive, general, and more detailed long-tail keywords to cover a range of search terms.
  • Avoid keyword stuffing: Don’t overuse your keywords; aim for a natural, easy-to-read tone.
  • Only include relevant keywords to your products: Using irrelevant keywords will harm your listing quality score as it decreases your CTR and conversion rates.

6.  Maximize Your Visibility With All 13 Tags In Each Listing

Execution: Easy
Factors to be improved: Relevance
Impact:     

Etsy allows sellers to use up to 13 tags per listing, and by utilizing them, you’ll be able to optimize your products for a broader range of keywords and search terms.

To choose the tags for each listing, remember to follow the steps we discussed in the last section.

By using all 13 tags in each of your listings and choosing relevant, varied keywords, you’ll be able to maximize your visibility in search results and drive more sales on Etsy.

7. Make A Strong First Impression With Professional Product Photos

Execution: Requires dedication
Factors to be improved: Listing quality score & customer and market experience score
Impact:     

When marketing products on Etsy, the quality of your photos can make a big difference in your shop’s success.

High-quality, professional-looking photos will showcase your products in the best light and increase the chances of potential customers clicking on your listing in search results and ultimately making a purchase.

Using high-quality photos can also help potential customers get a good idea of what they’re purchasing and make them more likely to buy.

When you increase your click-through rate (CTR) and conversion rate, your listing quality score will also be affected positively, which can further improve your visibility in search results and drive more sales.

Consider investing in a good camera or hiring a professional photographer to ensure that your photos make a solid first impression.

Take the time to stage your products attractively, and use good lighting to highlight their features.

It would help if you also considered using multiple photos to show different angles and details of your products.

8. Use Keyword-Rich Alt Text

Execution: Requires dedication
Factors to be improved: Relevance & Listing quality score
Impact:     

In addition to using high-quality photos to showcase your products on Etsy, optimizing your images for traditional SEO is also essential.

One way to do this is to use keyword-rich alt text to describe your photos, and Etsy allows sellers to add descriptions for their product photos.

Alt text, or alternative text, is a text description of an image used by search engines to understand the content of the picture.

By including relevant keywords in your alt text, you’ll be able to increase your visibility in search results and attract more potential customers to your shop from other search engines such as Google.

To optimize your photos with alt text, hover the image on the picture you uploaded and click the pen icon to include a short, descriptive phrase with relevant keywords.

For example, if you’re selling handmade ceramic mugs, you might use alt text like “handmade ceramic mug with hand-painted flowers” or “unique ceramic mug with gold leaf accents.”

9. Offer The Best Customer Experience

Execution: Requires dedication
Factors to be improved: Listing quality score & customer and market experience score
Impact:     

One of the key strategies for boosting your rankings on Etsy is to offer the best customer experience possible.

This means providing high-quality products, excellent customer service, and a smooth and seamless shopping experience.

By doing so, you’ll not only increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, but you’ll also see an increase in your CTR (click-through rate) and conversion rates.

This, in turn, will lead to a better position on Etsy’s listing and search result pages, making it even easier for potential customers to discover and purchase your products.

So, how can you implement this Etsy SEO strategy and offer the best customer experience? Here are a few tips to get you started:

  • Respond to customer inquiries and concerns promptly. This shows that you value your customers and are willing to go the extra mile to ensure their satisfaction.
  • Offer flexible shipping and return policies to give customers peace of mind when shopping with you.
  • Get your Star Seller badge. Etsy says it doesn’t directly affect your ranking score, but your CTR and visibility will be boosted if you have yours. This will lead you to have a better listing quality score.
  • Use clear and concise product descriptions that accurately describe your products and their features. This will help customers make informed purchasing decisions.

10. Optimize Your Shop Sections

Execution: Easy
Factors to be improved: Relevance & Listing quality score
Impact:     

It is an excellent strategy to include relevant keywords in your shop sections and categories to improve your visibility in Etsy search results.

Shop sections and categories can also help potential customers browse your products and find what they’re looking for.

To optimize your shop sections and categories, start by organizing your products into relevant categories (utilize the keywords you acquired during your keyword research phase we discussed earlier).

11.  Increase Your Visibility With Renewed Listings

Execution: Easy
Factors to be improved: Recency
Impact:     

Renewing your listings on Etsy is a straightforward yet practical way to improve your visibility and drive more sales.

When you renew a listing, it gets boosted on the search results page, which can help draw potential shoppers to your products.

Just click the “renew” text under the settings button on your listings page to renew your listings.

You can renew your listings as often as you like, but it’s generally a good idea to renew them once a month.

Also, remember that you have to pay the listing fee again each time you renew your listing.

In addition to renewing your listings, it’s also a good idea to keep your products updated with fresh, high-quality photos and accurate, detailed descriptions.

12.  Improve Your Quality Score With Etsy Ads

Execution: Requires investment
Factors to be improved: Listing quality score & Customer and market experience score
Impact:     

Etsy Ads are sponsored listings that appear at the top of search results, and by running ads for your products, you’ll be able to seduce more buyers for your shop.

By running Etsy Ads, you’ll be able to increase your CTR and conversion rate, ultimately improving your quality score and visibility in search results.

To run Etsy Ads, you’ll need to set up an ad campaign by navigating to Shop Manager > Marketing > Etsy Ads.

From there, you’ll be able to choose which products you’d like to advertise and set your budget.

You’ll also be able to track the performance of your ads and make adjustments as needed.

13. Attract Inbound Links

Execution: Requires dedication
Factors to be improved: Listing quality score & Customer and market experience score
Impact:     

Advertising your store outside of Etsy is a great way to attract inbound links, which can help improve the search engine (e.g., Google) rankings of your Etsy shop and listings.

Inbound links (backlinks) are links from other websites that point back to your store or product and are a critical factor in traditional search engine algorithms.

There are several ways to attract backlinks to your store, including:

  • Advertising on other websites: You’ll attract potential customers and generate inbound links by advertising your store on other websites.
  • Partnering with other businesses: Partnering with companies or influencers in your industry can help expose your store to a new audience and potentially generate inbound links.
  • Participating in online communities: Participating in online communities related to your industry can help you establish yourself as an expert and attract inbound links from other websites.

14. Know Your Audience

Factors to be improved: Shoppers’ habits & Listing quality score
Impact:     

Understanding your target audience for Etsy SEO is essential because Etsy uses CSR (Context Specific Ranking) technology to customize search results for each shopper based on their past behaviors, resulting in individualized search results for each buyer.

Shoppers who have previously searched and clicked on items similar to yours will be more likely to find your products in their search results.

Knowing the types of items and keywords your target audience is likely to search for can help you optimize your product listings and increase visibility.

15. Try To Offer Free Shipping

Factors to be improved: Postage price
Impact:     

Many shoppers are more likely to purchase if they don’t have to pay for shipping, and by offering free shipping, you’ll be able to attract more potential customers to your store.

Etsy’s SEO factor, called “Postage Price” can significantly impact a listing’s ranking.

To offer free shipping, you can absorb the cost of shipping into the price of your products.

However, remember that this may cause your product to be more expensive in buyers’ eyes.

To maintain and improve your CTR and conversion rate, carefully calculate the shipping cost and factor it into the price of your products.

16. Translate Your Products Into Other Languages

Factors to be improved: Translations and language, Relevance & Listing quality score
Impact:     

Make sure your products reach a wider audience by translating them into other languages.

By translating your products into other languages, you can expand your customer base and increase your sales.

Whether you are using a hired translator’s translations or adding your own, it is important to ensure that the translations are accurate and sound natural.

Utilizing the language you selected during setup will ensure that your titles, tags, and listing descriptions are properly translated and displayed to shoppers who have selected that language.

With accurate translations, you can reach a larger audience and make sure that your products are seen by the right customers.

Learn more about translations and instructions by visiting Etsy’s relevant article.

17. Run A/B Tests

Last but not least, one of the key strategies for boosting your sales on Etsy is to improve your listing quality score, as we cited a lot during this article.

By running A/B tests on your listings, you can enhance your CTR and conversion rate, therefore, your quality score. 

A/B testing, also known as split testing, compares two versions of a product listing to see which one serves better.

For instance, you could create two variations of a product description and test them against each other to see which leads to more sales.

Here are a few samples of A/B tests you could run on your Etsy listings:

  • Product titles: Test different variations of your product titles to see which ones have a higher CTR.
  • Product descriptions: Compare two versions of your product description to see which leads to more sales.
  • Photos: Test different angles or styles of product photos to see which ones attract more attention.
  • Pricing: Try out different price points to see which results in the most sales.
  • Shipping: Offer free shipping in one variation and paid shipping in the other to see which leads to more sales.
  • Returns and exchanges: Test different return and exchange policies to see which results in the most conversions.

By running these sorts of A/B tests, you’ll be able to determine which elements of your listing are most effective and make data-driven findings to improve your CTR and conversion rates.

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Emir E.
Emir E.
I've been working in the digital marketing space since 2012. My main focus is SEO consulting, helping businesses improve their search engine rankings and drive more website traffic.