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Story by
amydec,
sean11,
TechUpdates
Published on September 9, 2009 in Etsy News |
Photo by |
Tags are keywords sellers attach to their items during the item listing process. After selecting a category for your item, sellers can attach up to 13 keywords or tags. These tags are used to help surface items in Etsy's Search, and they currently determine which subcategories your item falls under.

Etsy suggests subcategories for your item on Step 2 of the item listing process, where sellers are asked to "sort your item." These suggestions come in the form of links based on the tags you enter or suggested subcategories you choose.
In the past, these suggested subcategories appeared as "Related Tags" and the suggested subcategories could come from anywhere in Etsy's category tree. Beginning today, we'll only suggest subcategories relevant to your chosen top-level category. We're also making it clearer that these suggestions are not only tags, but also directly relate to the Etsy Categories.
Why are we doing this? We believe this update will help reduce mistagging and confusion during the listing process, and help make the Etsy Categories more relevant. This update should make the item listing experience feel a little more logical.

There is no need to edit or re-tag your listings. You can still enter tags not suggested by Etsy during the item listing process, and the order of your chosen subcategories does not have an impact on your placement in Etsy's Categories. For tagging tips, see this article on current best practices for tagging items on Etsy.
We're taking a thorough look at categorization and tagging on Etsy, and this small adjustment is part of that process.
Check the Virtual Labs Schedule for Shop Critiques | View the Etsy Seller Handbook
| Tags | categories, categorization, Etsy News, ETSY NEWS, listings, search, selling, sorting, subcategories, tagging, tags, Tech Updates |
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amydec
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sean11
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TechUpdates
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163 comments Login to add your own!
maiziedesigns
I am really excited to employ this feature! Perfect update for buyers and sellers.
Ryanplz
good job! thanks for always keeping etsy up to date with new features.
AlphabetLove
This is very helpful. I never know how to tag my items effectively. Thanks!
Mymothersgarden
Fantastic! We need all of the tools we can get. This looks like it will make tagging a lot easier.
sakizome
Thanks! Tagging is one area where I am continuing to learn. This helps.
Fairyfolk
Excellent help... there's so much technical stuff to know to enhance a shop. It definitely doesn't stop at creating something wonderful... you need to know exactly how to get it out there in the right way. Thanks for the help.
Blessings and magic.
beadinbythesea
Great information. Tagging is something that we can definitely use some help with here. Thanks!!
SunnyDayVintage
As a new seller, I'm glad to have so many smart resources. Props to Etsy for helping us be successful!
MariesVintage
Awesome, hopefully this will help with some of the mis-tagging issues! It would still be fantastic (and less confusing) though, if Step 1 only gave the option of the three major categories.
ColorfulTherapy
Thumbs up for the Etsy staff ~~ very informative & helpful -- thanx ;)
paisleybaby
Thank you for this article! It takes a while to learn the ins and outs of tagging.
imfromthewoods
(also blueberryshoes) this is such a great time for newbies to be joining the etsy masses. the site just keeps getting better and better every week!
HempPatch
cool! I just listed an item, and I knew something was different!
McIsaacArt
I took a look at art, and hopefully prints will no longer be tagged as painting. Also the print section under art has a huge choice of what pertains to specific prints. Thanks, and when I went to original art it was refreshing to see original artwork.
Art2ArtColorado
wonderful step in the right direction on what i can only imagine is a monumental task.
thanks, Houston!
nickandnessies
Awesome- thanks! Anything better for buyers is better for sellers :)
HAREandDRUM
I just listed something and was wondering why the page looked different but could not quite figure out why. Thank you for this clarification!
QuiltFinger
Thank you! I took me eight months to realize I wasn't use subcategories. Very unfortunate.
rossoaps
Vanessa mentioned in a comment on the storque article on tagging that Kelly and Michele were re-working the way that tagging works, but I don't know who they are to contact them.
I just listed a new soap and noticed that I can no longer tag the phrase "lye soap." The tag application will accept "bar soap," the word "soap" by itself, and the word "lye" by itself but not "lye soap" as a phrase, even if we key it in manually.
I know a lot of people, not knowing that ALL bar soap is "lye soap," look up the item as "lye soap, you know, like Grandma useta make." But since many people don't know that all soap is made with lye, I think having to use the tag "lye" by itself is frightening to many people.
What is the fix for this?
Richard
paperstreet
there is a lot of confusion and frustration about this update, is it possible some of the questions raised in the forums could be answered?
FineThreads
I'm a bit confused. I went in to edit a Christmas ornament. I selected the category holidays because under crochet there isn't anything that would match for the next tag. Then I selected Christmas. When the sub category came up there was nothing there that matched my item. I would love to see ornament or crochet or something close to what I sell.
IslaNewYork
Can't wait to try this out when I start listing some new things :)
flandersfield
Good improvement! What about adding a first step of selecting handmade, supplies or vintage before showing the handmade categories to make things even clearer? :-)
anycards
there is a lot of confusion and frustration about this update, is it possible some of the questions raised in the forums could be answered?
**************************
ditto.
tootsweethandbags
this is a fantastic idea! i'm off to list something now and try it out ::abouts-face and skips out to list item::
artrageousclay
This looks great! I'm ooking forward to an easier way of viewing items!
rossoaps
>> paperstreet
there is a lot of confusion and frustration about this update, is it possible some of the questions raised in the forums could be answered? > anycards
there is a lot of confusion and frustration about this update, is it possible some of the questions raised in the forums could be answered?
**************************
ditto. <<
Yes, that would be helpful. And so far as I can see, at least from my type of handmade item, this is NOT an improvement.
And I completely disagree that we should have to choose from Handmade, Vintage, or Supplies first and eat up one of our tags.
Loved Etsy when we first joined, but all the "improvements" only make it more complex.
SanDesign
I am afraid I do not see where this is going to help anything at all.
abcdimages
Looking forward to seeing how this works out for photography subcategories.
PaperPetalCreations
I will have to list some items tonight so I can try out this new functionality.
crochetgal
Hopefully this will help in in the selection of tags and in keeping tags relevant.
Thanks for your work on this.
lv2cr8
Thank you for this. You are helping us all out with these latest features and I appreciate it.
LilithEvy
I was suprise earlier today when I've listed an item and see the change, but I think it's a good thing!!! Thanks!!!
MerCurios
Thanks! I think this is a great feature. ...a few more tags would be awesome too! *hint* *hint*. While we're on it, subcategories within a shop would brighten my world!
xoxo,
MJ
MerCurios
http://facebook.com/mercuruiosjewels
HightowerBotanicals
I love the pincushion ring. So much that I bought one!
jill2day
Thanks - this is great improvement - lots of work too, but appreciated!
heatherfuture
Marvelous! I hope this helps organization as much as I think it will! Good work, Etsy!!! :D
sentimentalstones
That will work great when all those extra tags actually show up in the search categories too. I am patiently awaiting for a great idea to come full circle.
RomanceCatsAndWhimsy
Great - thank you for the update, it makes sense and I'm sure buyers will appreciate it. :)
SecretLentil
thank you! this makes a lot of sense.
is there a forum thread started for some of the questions?
i can't find one.
MysticSilks
Thank you for any and all changes that help buyers find our items without having to come upon 'everything' under the sun!!!
MysticSilks
Thank you for any and all changes that help buyers find our items without having to come upon 'everything' under the sun!!!
CassiasGarden
I am just wondering one thing: Etsy says to tag your items with your shop name. with a store, why would that be important?
i am on 4 teams, and between listing my team names, and the item description tags, sometimes I am hard pressed to know which tags to not worry about listing......
OhFaro
Oh Baby! I love you guys! You ROCK! Thanks for all the great new features.
UglyBaby
CassiasGarden --- one reason might be so that if someone is searching for your shop name but they are on the wrong search category (i.e. vintage instead of seller names) -- then an item from your shop will still come up in the search and they can get to your shop that way.
natalya1905
Thanks for your job! This will definitely help to get more relevant tagging and search results.
MaryLittfin
This tagging thing bogs me down just about every time. Thanks for any help with it.
patriciavidour
Thanks! A great help, it was very difficult for me to know the different names for tha colors, now I am adding with the tool you gave us!
Thank you!!
lisalaubhan
thanks to you!!! i am new to etsy, so anything to help me with tagging will be wonderful!
enjoy!
tellis
Anything that makes it easier for the buyer to find me is MUCH APPRECIATED!!! Thanks!
FrederickAvenue
Thank you for all that you do to make our (sellers) lives a little easier!!!
ImpressionsExpress
It is definitely quicker listing now! Thank Etsy and keep up the great work!
LavenderField
Thanks, hopefully this will improve the views (and the sales, of course)
PandoraSpocks
Awesome! This should definitely help both sellers and buyers. But while we're talking about categories, I'd like to suggest that there be a "beret" subcategory in the various hat sections. Berets are so popular right now, and it's not listed!
VavaVeve
Wow! I just signed up and designed my shop tonight (which went really well BTW), and already I received an email from Etsy telling me about some improvements! This is a fast moving group with lots of great ideas! Thanks Etsy!!
CreativeEyeStudio
It sounds like this will be helpful and will save some time. I look forward to trying it this weekend. Thanks for the update!
SharryJo
Sounds great to me, Should clear up many questions. Ican't wait to see the changes. Thanks
PaperedFair
Actually, I'm finding that the new change is limiting my exposure a bit. I want to be able to appropriately list my holiday paper items in both 'holiday' and 'paper goods' categories so that they can be seen in both. Am I missing something here?
neelieileen
Thank you so much. I appreciate all your efforts to update Etsy.
samsstuff
Thanks for keeping us informed on all the great changes here on Etsy!
panchromatica
Much needed I think, because mistagging is a major problem.
VeryCarey
Great to have tools to make your listing more search specific. And just in time for the holidays.
DoubletakesDesigns
Hoping all this makes things show up for more people! Since I'm pretty new at this I'm still rather floundering! Love the ease of listing on here though!
maxscentsoycandles
Thanks for this tech update. I can't wait to dive in and add sub-categories to all of my listings!
heavenlytrinkets4Him
As a New seller, I am grateful to have received this information. Very helpful. Thank You.
lindabutterfly
Good we can still add extra tags, because my greetings cards are under the main tag Paper, but if I attach a crochet ring, for example, I need the tag appropriate for that, Accessories, or a magnet needs the housewares tag. My greetings cards with a gift mean I am a multi tag lady!
dsenyo
Thanks for the post. I appreciate the example being Bags & Purses. Very applicable for me!
IrishEyez
I'd just like to point out 2 things that relate to my listings.
1. My items are both handmade and suplies. I never know which to list them under.
2. There is a severe shortage of tags for scrapbooking items. My items don't fit under any of them!
Kingstreasuresca
I would like to see more tags .. there is not yet a Gemstone tag or Semi-precious tag
KandiceInWonderland
Is it just me? All my recent listings ONLY show up in my main tag/category! None of the other tags/subcategories appear to be registering. For instance, miniature books that can be used for school trading photos and also as an American Girl Doll accessory ONLY show up under "books and zines", not under "back to school" or "American Girl Doll" or "Children", tho those are all sub-categories I've listed for them. What am I missing?
banfflines
Thank you for the info.…always open to ways which will boast my presence.
Sandra
alyssakaycollections
Thanks for working on this. Something for us to ponder!
OctoberMansion
We are glad to see this update. In the past, there seemed to be a lot of prints mixed in with original art. I'm sure this will help people with their tagging.
ImJewelee
Hmmmmmm... we will see what happens with this new feature! Going to list something to try it out. Thank you!
♥ Julee
lunaclaydesign
wow, more changes...alot of sellers asking why sales and views are down the last two-three weeks..between this and SEO changes who can find anything or anyone...maybe we do need to go in and again change our tags..our shop titles..etc
KisforCalligraphy
Although I appreciate any efforts that are made to help improve the overall experience for Etsy users, this change has done more negative to our views and sales than it has helped in minimizing mis-tagging.
With all due respect, this change is actually going to encourage more mis-tagging. But hey I am sure "renewing" has increased ten fold! I am truly disappointed by this change and saddened to think that the powers of Etsy could be so deviant. Hoping this is change is just all a bad dream! Pinch me!



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