How to Find the Best Keywords for Your Etsy Shop

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It seems like everyone is talking about Etsy SEO, and for good reason…

Search engine optimization is a strategy handmade business owners can use to get more shoppers to find their products on Etsy, Google, and other search engines.

At the most basic level, SEO involves coming up with keywords that customers shop for and then using those keywords in your product titles and descriptions. This takes time and effort, but it can dramatically increase the number of shoppers that reach your products.

If you’re interested in improving your Etsy shop SEO, here’s my process for coming up with the best keywords and phrases to use in my Etsy listings and shop.

Start By Brainstorming

Open a spreadsheet and spend some time writing down all the keywords you think people would type in the search bar to find your Etsy shop and products. Include words that accurately describe your products, such as color, texture, size, style, genre, etc.

You won’t be using all these keywords in your product descriptions, but it is a good starting point for figuring out the best keywords to use. Eventually, you will narrow down your list.

Example

I’m working on some cute paper dolls to sell on Etsy. Here’s the list of keywords I came up with for my product description. All these keywords will be used as tags in my Etsy shop, too.

paper dolls	vintage paper dolls
paper doll dress up	paper dolls online
color your own	paper dolls to print
paper doll clothes	cut out dolls
printable paper doll	gift little girl
paper dolls to color	coloring pages
digital paper dolls	coloring book
paper doll set

Here is the product description I wrote based on my keywords:

Printable Paper Doll Coloring Pages for Girls

You will love this printable paper doll set. It is a 20-page coloring book full of cute paper doll clothes and accessories. Simply print, color, cut, and play! Get ready for hours of creativity and fun.

I have fond memories of playing with vintage paper dolls as a kid. It’s a timeless activity everyone can enjoy. Help your kids experience the joys of cut out dolls, too. It’s the perfect activity for your up-and-coming fashion designer.

Print this digital paper doll set as many times as you want. The coloring pages include one girl paper doll and over 40 outfits and accessories. That’s a lot of paper doll clothes to mix and match! It’s the best value for paper dolls on Etsy.

I recommend printing these paper doll coloring pages on cardstock or heavy-weight paper. You can even laminate them and add magnetic tape to the back to turn them into magnetic paper dolls.

Please share photos of your paper dolls when you’re done coloring! I’d love to see your creations.

*This printable paper doll set is for personal use only. Thank you for not sharing the file with others. However, feel free to gift the printed version! It’s a great gift for little girls who love dress-up play.

Note: Keywords are important, but they should always sound natural. Never force keywords into your product description because it will turn off potential buyers.

You might also like: 12 Things Shoppers Want to Know About Your Handmade Products But Aren’t Asking You.

Do Some Keyword Research

Once you’ve done your own brainstorming, you need to do some actual keyword research. You can’t assume that people are searching for the keywords you thought about.

There are a few different places where you can do keyword research for free. One of the best ways is Etsy’s main search bar. Simply type one of your top keywords into the search bar and it will automatically suggest the most popular searches. If you’ve had an Etsy shop for a while, you can also look at your shop stats for data on frequently searched terms. Then you can use those keywords more heavily in your product descriptions and tags.

Another place I like to do keyword research for free is Google’s Keyword Planner. You type in a few of your keywords and it offers suggestions for new keywords based on search volume. If you incorporate the new keywords it suggests, this will improve your Etsy SEO.

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