They both give weight to the title of your item. Etsy gives strong emphasis on the first three words of your title. Google gives a little weight to your entire title. Put the most important words first.
Etsy gives heavy weight on tags, Google all but ignores them. Using multiple keyword phrases is good for tags on Etsy. Repeating the same word on different tags is good because the Etsy search algorithm is looking for EXACT keyword matches. For example if you have a vintage red leather belt, try to think of ways people would search for it. "vintage leather" and "vintage belt" both describe the item and optimize you for two different phrases. Avoid tag stuffing. If you have a belt that is three colors "red orange blue" is not a way to describe it. You'll want to use the colors in separate tags like "red belt" and "orange leather" and "blue buckle".
Etsy does not use the description in their algorithm but Google uses it very heavily. Try to make sure that you have the keyword phrases listed in your description. Try to use them multiple times as long as you can make it sound conversational or descriptive without sounding too repetitive. I try to use the keyword phrases twice in the description and have some of my other keyword phrases spread out in the description since Google does not look at tags. Please note that since your tags are listed in the main body of your description it is possible that Google does see and use your tags slightly.
There are a lot more factors and variables that go into both search algorithms but I feel like these are the main ones that you have control over. Make your words count. Etsy and Google do not release all of what goes into their search algorithms so we may never know exactly whet they look for but taking steps to optimize for what we do know they are looking for will at least give us a better chance of being found.
This is a fabulous post. I've been re-vamping my shop trying to make it more relevent, and your tips are super - thanks so much!
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This is to the point and simple, thanks for the post!
ReplyDeletevery helpful! thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Eric...great stuff!! I have a question. I've seen some shops use what I consider to be almost an ad in their first paragraph the "ad" containing all relevant tags you may find them under. They then go to the description. Is this a smart idea? I found it somewhat irritating as I was looking around but if it's smart perhaps buyers might overlook it?
ReplyDeleteGreat and thank you, now back to redo my items yet again but at least I know more now.
ReplyDeleteGreat info as usual. And all comes to optimizing for both engines...keeping fingers crossed for may happy customers.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's really good to know actually. I get quite a few hits from Etsy but rarely from Google so that explains a lot.
ReplyDeleteDonna,
ReplyDeletePeople that are trying to optimize for both Etsy and other search engines tend to have a more descriptive description with more facts and less story. That and some people just do not know how to write engaging descriptions. I am one of those. I am more at home with technical writing style.
Helpful as usual! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, very informative!
ReplyDeleteHad a spike in my views after adjusting the titles for Etsy searches, thank you :)
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