“How to rank higher on Etsy?” is one of the most common questions I get from my students.
It can be frustrating to put so much time and effort into your listings, only to have them buried under a pile of other listings.
The good news is, there are some solid strategies to improve your Etsy SEO and boost your search ranking. And I’ve put all the SEO tips here in this article. I've also included relevant links to other free Etsy guides if you want to read more on the topic.
I’ve also put all the tips in this article in a free printable checklist. You’ll find that at the end of this article.
Let’s dive in.
What Is Etsy SEO & Why Is It Important?
Etsy SEO is the process of optimising your Etsy business, including your listings and shop, to rank higher in Etsy search. In other words, Etsy SEO is about making your Etsy shop and products more noticeable on Etsy.
The goal of doing Etsy SEO is to get more people to visit your Etsy shop. Having more visitors to your shop means more chances to sell your items. The more people see your products, the more likely you can make a sale. That's why it's so important to understand and optimise your business for Etsy SEO.
The Complete Etsy SEO Checklist
Understanding Etsy Search Ranking Algorithm
- Understand how the Etsy search algorithm - Understand how it works and its ranking factors like relevancy, listing quality score, customer & market experience score, etc. Read this SEO guide to understand all the Etsy search ranking factors.
- Know what ranking factors you can control - For example, you’re able to change the titles and tags for your listings, and fill in your shop’s about section, policies, etc.
- Recognise what you can’t control like shop location, shop’s age, etc.
Etsy Keyword Research
- Research long-tail keywords that customers actually use - Make use of the Etsy search bar. The keywords that show up there are actually used by Etsy shoppers.
- Use other websites or social media to get a list of keywords your customers use - Shopping websites like Amazon is a great way to find relevant keywords.
- Make sure your keywords are long-tail and relevant to your listings - Avoid short, one-word keywords that are too broad and overly competitive.
- Consider synonyms or variations of the keywords - This can broaden your keyword variety and allow you to reach more shoppers potentially.
- Use Etsy SEO tools to speed up the process - I have included a list of my recommended tools here (free options available).
- Consider using less common keywords that your competitors aren't using - Only if they're relevant to your listings and only if they show up in Etsy search bar.
Optimising Listing Titles
- Put your most descriptive keywords at the front of the title - The front of the title has a higher importance in the search algorithm, and the words in front are also seen by shoppers in the search results.
- Avoid using the same keyword too many times in the title - Doing so may get your listings penalised by the algorithm, and you miss out on opportunities to use a bigger variety of keywords.
- Your title should sound natural - This allow shoppers to read it and understand what your product is quickly.
Optimising Listing Tags
- Use all 13 listing tags
- Only use keywords that customers would use
- Don't use broad keywords that are too competitive
Choosing Listing Attributes & Categories
- Choose the most descriptive listing attributes and categories for your products
- Don’t repeat the attributes and categories as keywords in listing titles or tags
Optimising Listing Photos & Videos
- Include a relevant listing video - For example, showcase the product in action, show the behind-the-scene creation process. This can improve the conversion rate of your listings.
- Ensure your listing photos are bright with the subject as the focus - Avoid busy backgrounds and under-exposed photos.
- Make sure the photos are at least 2000px on the shortest side
Writing Engaging Listing Descriptions
- Start with a natural-sounding paragraph highlighting your product's biggest selling point - This way your main keywords should be included in your paragraph naturally.
- Use bullet points or other easy-to-read formats for product features
- Use descriptive language to help customers visualise using the product
- Focus on the benefits of your product supported by relevant product features
- Don't use generic words like pretty, high quality, unique, beautiful - Use descriptive and specific language.
Monitoring & Adjusting Your SEO Strategy
- Refresh titles, tags, photos, etc. for underperforming listings
- Analyse your best-selling listings and understand what makes them sell well
Shop Optimisations To Boost Customer & Market Experience Score
- Fill in the 'About' section of your shop with engaging and relevant information
- Complete your shop policy
- Resolve any cases against your shop quickly
Additional Strategies To Optimise
- Encourage customer reviews
- Respond to customer enquiry promptly
- Offer free shipping whenever possible
- Consider renewing your bestselling listings regularly
Free Printable Etsy SEO Checklist
Click here to download and print out the complete Etsy SEO checklist
What's Next
Now that you have this checklist, read my Etsy SEO Guide for a deeper understanding and more strategies to rank higher.
One of the most important factors of ranking higher is conversion rate. A higher conversion rate means that more of your shop visitors are actually making purchases. To help you boost your conversion rate, I've put together a comprehensive guide on Maximising Your Etsy Conversion Rate.
