5 common SEO mistakes Etsy Sellers make- Stop making them to rank higher on Etsy!

Ever felt like your Etsy store is lost in the crowd? You tried great photos, prices, and packaging, but your shop might as well be wearing an invisibility cloak.

But why is it happening? Because you’re probably neglecting Etsy SEO.

Now, what is it? Etsy SEO or Search Engine Optimization is the process of optimizing your shop and product listings to rank higher in Etsy’s search results. Just like Google, Etsy has an algorithm that decides which listings show up first when buyers search for something.

If your shop isn’t SEO-optimized, potential customers won’t find you—no matter how amazing your products are. Don’t worry though! This guide will walk you through the most common SEO mistakes Etsy sellers make and how to fix them so your store can finally get the visibility it deserves. But first, let’s see how Etsy search works and how you can optimize your listings.

How does Etsy Search work?

Etsy search is the algorithm that serves listings to the user based on the search term. The platform itself says that Etsy search has two main phases— ranking and query matching. When a shopper enters their query (the product they’re looking for), search fetches all the products that match it. After fetching these listings, it goes into phase two and begins ranking them.

Many Etsy sellers believe that listings are ranked based on tags and attributes but the reality is different. Rankings depend on several factors like shop quality, listing quality, customer service quality, shoppers’ habits, etc.

This is where SEO comes into play!

It helps you become searchable, gets you product views, and eventually, helps you convert them. Once your product starts selling and your click-to-conversion ratio increases, search deems your product of high quality and ranks your product higher. So, you don’t just have to string together keywords for your tags. Instead, you have to focus on the entire process from getting views to selling your product.

We know it isn’t easy. Thousands of Etsy sellers struggle with it and end up making these 5 common Etsy SEO mistakes. Watch out for them!

Mistake 1: Not using all 13 tags

Etsy tags are like keywords that you attach to your product listings. You can think of them as labels that describe your product entirely from its material to its purpose. Etsy’s search engine matches these tags with the search terms that buyers use in their searches and ranks your listing accordingly.

Etsy gives you 13 slots as in 13 tickets to be found by your audience and boost your sales but many sellers don’t use them all. It’s not your fault; we understand. Sometimes, you just don’t know how to use all those tags.

Here is what you can use to describe your product in the tags:

• Materials: You can use keywords like “sterling silver” or “organic cotton” to describe your product’s material.
• Style: “Bohemian,” “rustic,” “vintage,” “gothic,” and “kawaii,” are some keywords that you can use to describe the style.
• Purpose: Describe your product’s purpose and occasion with keywords like “Christmas gift,” “housewarming present,” “baby shower,” etc.
• Long-Tail Keywords: These are more specific phrases like “cosmic digital art” or “organic coffee scrub.” They have lower search volume but are less competitive and often have higher conversion rates.

Mistake 2: Repeating words in your tags

Repeating your keywords in the tags might seem like the logical choice to you, sure. But in this Etsy world, it is a mistake and a gigantic one at that.

Let’s see how search views tags and what goes on behind the scenes; you’ll understand why repeating words in your tags is a wrong move.

When search receives a query, it executes its first process of query matching. Here, titles, tags and other factors are considered. For tags, in particular, search creates combinations from them.

Say, if you have: “octopus art” and “octopus print”, search will create combinations like “octopus”, “art,” “print,” “octopus art,” “octopus print,” “octopus art print” (and some other, too.)

Now if you use: “octopus art print” and “animal wall decor” it creates a wider range of combinations like “octopus,” “art,” “print,” “animal,” “wall,” “decor,” “octopus art,” “octopus print,” “octopus wall decor,” “animal print,” “animal wall decor” and a lot more because you are using more words.

This increases your chances of ranking higher on the search page. So, from now on, try to use a variety of words and try not to repeat any in your tags.

Don’t worry, just keep it real. Use words people actually type when shopping.

Bonus tip: Sometimes, the same product has two or more names based on the location. For example, a pacifier for babies is called a dummy or a soother in other parts of the world. Finding synonyms—that people often use—can help you broaden the scope of your tags!

Mistake 3: Not using your primary keyword at the beginning of your title

Etsy’s algorithm gives more weight to the words at the beginning of your title. If your primary keyword – the word or phrase someone is most likely to search for – isn’t near the start, your listing might not rank as well as it could. Worse, it might not rank at ALL!

But why is this such a big deal?

In the Etsy Seller Handbook, while describing the key points that make Etsy listings rank, they have mentioned, “Shoppers only see the first few words of your title when they’re looking at search results, so make sure you’re using that space to describe what your item is.”

And how do you make sure you’re using the space right?

• Identify your primary keyword: What is the one or two-word phrase that best describes your product? Research it carefully.
• Start your title with that primary keyword: Avoid adjectives like “beautiful,” or “soft” and directly add your keywords in the start. You can add the details in the description.
• Include other keywords: After your primary keyword, include other relevant keywords and details, but prioritize them in order of importance.
• Keep it readable: Don’t just string together keywords; balance keywords with detail and readability. For example, “Handmade Ceramic Mug – Pottery Coffee Cup Gift.”

Mistake 4: Missing high-quality photos

Your product images are as important as your tags and titles, especially the first one in your Etsy listing, your thumbnail. When your ideal customer views your listing, the first thing they focus on is the image. If it shows your product clearly against a decent background, they will click on it, swipe through other images and likely purchase the product, increasing your click-through rate.

But if your image isn’t appealing enough, they would scroll past your listing and lose your sale. That is IF your listing ranks. Now, why would we say something like that?

Because Etsy requires you to have images; it is compulsory. They have mentioned in the Etsy Seller Handbook that, “Each of your listings should include multiple high-quality photos.”

So, ensure these 3 things:

• Use all 10 images – Show your product in different placements and ensure they are aesthetically pleasing.
• Abide by the sizing guidelines – Ensure your listing images are 2000px with a resolution of 72PPI and 500 * 500px for your profile photo.
• Be cautious of file types – Etsy supports .jpg, .gif, and .png, so use these formats and avoid animated videos along with transparent images.

Mistake 5: Incomplete shop

Please be honest — would you enter a bakery that has no board, no logo, and no return policy?

You won’t and neither do customers on Etsy. They buy from stores that have clear policies, on-point branding, and a complete shop. You need to build trust among your audience for them to buy from you, too. Moreover, Etsy penalizes listings from shops that are incomplete.

So, what all do you need to have a complete shop?

• Logo: A professional logo helps establish your brand identity and makes your shop look more credible. Ensure it showcases what your brand is about.
• Title: Your shop title should clearly describe what you sell and include relevant keywords.
• About Section: Share your story—what inspired you to start your shop? What makes your products special? This personal touch helps buyers connect with your brand.
• Cover Image: A high-quality cover image or shop banner creates a strong first impression and reinforces your branding.
• Shop Policies Section: Clearly define your shipping times, return/exchange policies, and processing times. Buyers want transparency before they commit to a purchase.
• FAQs Section: Answer common customer questions upfront, such as customization options, gift wrapping, and international shipping.

This is not all

These are the top 5 Etsy SEO mistakes you can make but these are not all. There are several mistakes that can bring your listings down. One is, shipping rates. especially for the domestic US — no free shipping price above $35 can be penalized, and shipping price over $5.99 is not “prioritized.” So, you need to ensure your shipping rates are less than $5.99 to have a better shot at ranking higher on the Etsy search page.

Another mistake Etsy sellers make is putting customer service on a backpedal when they should instead prioritize it as much as listing creation. Having a good customer service strategy can give you a boost in the search and Etsy has confirmed it. “Shops that consistently follow our customer service standards are prioritized in search. We include factors like a shop’s average review rating, message response rate, and case rate from the past three months in our search ranking,” these are their own words in the Etsy Seller Handbook.

Other small mistakes include not refreshing old listings, not having a proper pricing strategy, and using collages in your first listing photo.

It might sound overwhelming but making these small changes can set you up for long term success. If you don’t know where to start or how to check your listings for these common SEO mistakes, download our free guide which will walk you through the process of optimizing your shop and listings for Etsy.

Wishing you good luck on your Etsy journey. Just be patient, it will take time.

Did you know?

Among the 850,000 stores created in 2024, 31,127 (3.6%) reached 100 sales and 3,299 (0.38%) stores reached 1,000 sales, yay! But wait… 70 stores (0.008%) reached 10,000 sales and 9 stores reached more than 25,000 in their first year?!

So, relax, you are not waiting alone. Your success is just around the corner!