Search results (tags) for: "tagging how-to"

Come Craft With the Etsy Labs & AMH Design: Needlepoint Gift Tags

2009-11-05T10:30:00-05:00

Why stay in and craft all by your lonesome? Come join us for a free needlepoint workshop — whether you're in Brooklyn or anywhere in the world. Stop by for our weekly Craft Night in our online, interactive classroom, the Virtual Labs, for a live demo via webcam at 5 p.m. ET, or in person at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn anytime between 4-8 p.m. ET at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512 in Brooklyn, New York. (Click here to see what time 5 p.m. ET is in your hometown.) Craft Night is a time to make things, sharpen your craft skills, and make new friends.

This week, on Monday, November 9, we will be making needlepoint gift tags with artist Amy Holbrook of AMH Design. (She is also our neighbor here on Washington Street.) Make your own needlepoint gift tags for the upcoming holiday season. This project is an easy and fun way to learn the basics of needlepoint while making some cute gift tags. Needlepoint adds a personal touch to your gift without a lot of effort!

Amy Holbrook, the founder of AMH Design, is bringing needlepoint into the 21st century with her collection of contemporary needlepoint kits. Easy, stylish, portable and all-inclusive, AMH Design needlepoint kits are perfect for beginner and veteran stitchers alike.

If you are attending Craft Night virtually this week and would like to stitch needlepoint gift tags along with us, you'll need to gather the following supplies:

Perforated paper sheet
Perle cotton floss size 5 (embroidery floss is okay)
Tapestry needle — size 24
Needle threader
Scissors
Colored cardstock paper
X-acto blade
Paper glue
Hole punch
Download the instructions

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs:

Saturday, November 7: Sock Monkey Workshop at the Etsy Labs

Join us this weekend for an afternoon of creating original sock monkeys for Fresh Art's Sock Monkey Program.

Fresh Art is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing expanded artistic, personal development, and entrepreneurial opportunities to New York City artists with special needs. The sock monkeys we create this afternoon will be sold to raise funds to support Fresh Art's programs. All skill levels are welcome, though basic hand sewing skills are helpful.

When: Saturday, November 7, 2009; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Etsy Labs at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY

Please RSVP for this free workshop at rsvp@etsy.com or on the Etsy Labs Meetup page.

Additonal Upcoming Events
11/16: Bag-making workshop with Bags for the People
11/23: Rolling Ball Book Ornaments with Esther K. Smith
11/30: Open Craft Night
12/7: Needle-felted Ornaments with KnitKnit

Looking for more holiday craft projects? Try these how-to's:

Felt Garlands | Snowflake Gift Wrap | Holiday Table Decor

Will we see you on Monday? Let us know in the comments below.

Seller How-To: Tag-o-rama With Descriptive Keywords

2009-10-05T14:00:00-05:00

Tagging is an essential part of the listing (and selling!) process. Many shoppers are using keywords to search for the exact type of items you make, and you want your work to show up in these search results! The key component in this search-and-rescue mission are your items' tags.

Tags are keywords sellers attach to their items during the item listing process. After selecting the first tag, which determines the category for your item, sellers can attach up to 13 keywords or tags. These tags are used to help surface items in search, and they currently determine which subcategories your item falls under.

After you choose the category and subcategories, you then can choose words that accurately describe your item. Etsy Admin often suggest using style, color, textures and motifs as tags for your items, so with the help of some of my colleagues (and sellers) I've come up with the following lists to help you if you get stuck.

Want a few more tips? Come on by the Virtual Labs for a workshop on Tagging, Titles and Descriptions on Oct. 15, 2009 at 4 p.m. ET.

Style 1980s (or any decade) adorable African Americana angelic antique art deco art nouveau Asian autumn avant-garde bizarre black tie bohemian boho chic bold burlesque business casual cheerful chic circus classic classy clever cocktail colorful complex contemporary country cute cyber dark deconstructed delicate DIY dramatic earthy eccentric edgy Edwardian elegant ethnic European everyday fall fantasy feminine flapper folk folk art formal formal French funky funny futuristic gag geek geekery gladiator glam goddess goth gothic gothic lolita grotesque harvest hippie hipster horror humorous Indian indie industrial Japanese kawaii librarian lolita luxurious manly masculine mermaid Mexican midcentury Middle Eastern mod modern modest modish mystical natural nautical nerd noir nostalgic old world organic oriental Paris peasant pirate playful polished prairie preppy pretty Primitive punk quirky refined Renaissance Renaissance Fair (Ren Faire) retro rockabilly Roman romantic rustic sailor secretary seductive shabby chic simple sophisticated southwest sporty spring steampunk summer sustainable tasteful traditional trendy ugly urban Victorian vintage waldorf weird western whimsical winter witty woodland zany	Texture airy bright bumpy buttery coarse cool cozy cuddly delicate downy embossed feathery fluffy frilly frizzy furry fuzzy glittery grainy hammered hard iridescent light luminescent luminous matte metallic opaque patina plush pointy polished prickly puffy rough ruffled sculptured shaggy sharp sheer shimmery shiny silky slick smooth soft sparkly stamped translucent transparent velvety waxy woolly	Size baggy big bulky chunky curvy deep delicate dense extra small fitted frail gigantic heavy huge large lightweight little long loose massive medium miniature oversized petite plump plus size shallow shapely short small snug streamlined substantial tailored tall thick thin tight tiny voluminous voluptuous wide	Motifs and Patterns argyle Asian asymmetrical brocade Celtic checked checkered complex damask dotted Egyptian fleur de lis floral geometric gingham Gothic hearts paisley plaid polka dot scalloped stars striped swirls symmetrical tartan tweed woodland	Specific Colors charcoal chartreuse chocolate brown cobalt blue coral pink cornflower blue cream crimson cyan emerald green fuschia gold hot pink indigo ivory kelly green lemon yellow lime magenta mauve navy blue nude olive green periwinkle robins egg blue royal blue sapphire silver sky blue slate grey taupe teal turquoise

Feel free to add other keywords that fit in these lists in the comments below!

Guidelines & Tips: Tagging on Etsy | The Seller Handbook

Handmade Code: Tag Finder Tool from Craftweasel.com

2009-09-04T13:15:00-05:00

As part of our Handmade Code series, we're bringing you news and how-to's about the innovations emerging from the Etsy Developer Community. Located at developer.etsy.com, the Etsy Developer Community serves as a hub for third-party software developers who are making neat and helpful programs for Etsy shoppers and sellers. In this edition, Martin Jones tells us all about his Tag Finder tool, just one of the applications he's developed for his website Craftweasel.com.

Photography has been a hobby of mine for a while, and at the start of this year I set up an Etsy shop called redrowstudio for my photographic prints. At the same time, I was taking the photos for my partner's shop, thedoghouse. My day job is in computational biology, and I do a lot of programming, so straight away I started thinking of ways to use the data from Etsy's API to make useful tools. The first thing I built was the Personal Shopper tool — I've been interested for a while in recommendation systems, and I thought that Etsy Favorites might be a good starting point. I put up the craftweasel.com website, posted a link in the Forums, and got lots of good feedback. I wrote the Tag Finder tool to see if it could help me with my own tags, then realized by reading the Forums that others might find it useful, so I added it to the website, and straight away it became the most popular tool.

What's the basic idea of the Tag Finder tool? What need does it fill?
A lot of sellers (myself included!) find that one of the most difficult jobs is deciding on tags for our items — if you search the Etsy Forums on any given day you can pretty much guarantee that someone will be asking for help with their tags. Sometimes you can't think of enough tags for a particular item, and sometimes you can think of too many and can't decide which to use!

The idea behind the Tag Finder tool is to help with both of these problems. You give Tag Finder a couple of tags to start with, then it gives you a list of suggested tags that are associated with your original tags. (This bit works like the Google and Yahoo keyword tools).

It also lets you see the average number of views per day of each suggested tag. (It's a bit more complicated than that; see the website help page for more info). This is very useful if you're a seller, because you can choose tags that generate high numbers of views.

Very Important Editorial Note from our Etsy Support Team: Please remember to only use tags that are accurate and relevant to your specific item listing to best help shoppers find your items on Etsy. Inaccurate tags may be flagged by other members for review and removed from your listing by Etsy, without notice. Also, remember to consider appropriate tags that function as subcategories within your item's category. Check out the Selling FAQ for more info about using tags properly.

Who is it for? How many people are using it right now?
The Tag Finder tool is for Etsy sellers who want to optimize their tags. Of course, you can also use it for market research — to see what color of hats get the most views, for instance. We've had about 5,000 visitors who have used the Tag Finder tool, and they've searched using about 7,000 different sets of starting tags.

Where do we go to find it? What's the URL, etc?
Go to http://craftweasel.com, and click to go to Tag Finder from the menu bar at the top of any page on craftweasel.com. Or go directly to this link: http://craftweasel.com/TagToolQuery.do

How do you use it?
The Tag Finder page is very simple — just a single box! You type in some tags that describe your item (for example, wool scarf) and click the button. You might have to wait a while for the results to load,
because the application has to go and retrieve a bunch of data from Etsy.

The results page consists of a few graphs and a table. The first two graphs show the distribution of price and average number of views per day for items that match your input tags. For instance, for "wool
scarf" we see that most items cost between $20 and $40, and that most items get fewer than 10 views per day.

The next three graphs show some suggested tags, with views/day on the up-down axis and price on the left-right axis. From the first graph, two suggested tags stand out as getting high numbers of views —
"'woman" and "organic." So if these tags are suitable for your item they would be good to include in your tags.

Right down at the bottom of the results page is a big table that shows all the suggested tags and for each one the average views/day, price, and the number of items that were found. You can click on the column
headers to sort by that column. The table shows all tags that are associated with "wool scarf" so it can be useful for market research. For instance, imagine that we are trying to decide what color scarf we should make next. If we look in the table for color words, we can take a note of the views/day for each color:

red 3.10
blue 2.75
green 2.61
silver 3.31
gray 6.68

Gray wool scarves seem to get more views than the other colors, so we might decide to make our next scarf a gray one.

Are there any costs or further opportunities/ways to get involved?
All the tools on craftweasel.com, including the Tag Finder, are free to use — the website is supported by advertising through Project Wonderful. I'd love to hear any feedback, and I'm always interested in ideas for new tools — contact me using the details below. I'd also love to hear if you've come up with an interesting way to use the Tag Finder; I'd like to put more examples on the craftweasel blog.

What should one do if there's a bug or a problem? Who should one contact?
I've tried to make it easy for users of the tool to report problems or give suggestions, etc. You can:

Email me: martin@redrowstudio.com
Convo me: my Etsy username is redrowstudio
Leave a comment on the craftweasel blog: http://craftweasel.blogspot.com
Message me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/craftweasel

If you do encounter a problem, please let me know what tags you were searching for, as that will help me track down the problem. There are a couple of known issues: the Tag Finder tool won't work when Etsy is
down for site maintenance, and the site can be slow when a lot of people are using it. Hopefully I will be able to move craftweasel.com to a faster server in the future, which should speed things up.

What's one surprising/fun/amazing story you've heard about someone using your app? Or what is your favorite part about the app?
My favorite thing about the app has been the response from the Etsy community — lots of people have given feedback, and helped out with bug reports and feature suggestions. I also love the way that people have come up with creative ways to use the tool. For instance, because top-level categories are also tags in Etsy, the Tag Finder can be used to choose which category to list an item in when it could fit in more than one ("knitting" and "accessories," for example).

Anything else you'd like to add?
I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped with craftweasel.com by reporting problems and making suggestions. I chose the Related Items below from some of the shops of sellers who have helped. Particular thanks go out to my partner Jane (thedoghouse) who came up with the name and color scheme for the website.

Also, there are a few other tools on craftweasel.com that might be useful. They are:

Shop Stats tool: Summarizes a bunch of information about your shop, prices and tags.
Personal Shopper tool: Finds recently listed items for you based on your Favorites.
Similar Items tool: Enter a few items and it will try to find similar items that have been recently listed.

Post in the comments below if you love the Tag Finder!

Getting Creative with Moo

2009-06-29T15:21:00-05:00

Every time I'm at a craft show, there are always a few sellers giving away Moo MiniCards (which are mini business cards that display photos of your work). There's something about the compact size and design that draws a lot of attention. What's more, you can use up to 100 full color photos on your mini calling-cards, and these photos can be pulled right from your Etsy shop. Moo is offering a special deal just for Etsians for the next two weeks: Spend $30 (£15/€22.50) on Moo.com and get free shipping on your order. Use the code: "etsyjune." This promotion ends on July 13, 2009.

All these options seem to be inspiring Etsy sellers to get crafty with their Moo minis! Check out some cool examples below...

pretty buggie sachets by jekbot

sweet jewelry packaging by wiccked

Moo Bookmarks by Emmalynne

How I use my moo cards by clevergirl

MooPocket with window by splatgirl

tagged with a matching moo card by memake

So what can you do with your Moo cards? We want to see! Upload your photos to Flickr and tag them Etsy Moo MiniCard Challenge!

The items below are some of our previous top picks!

More Moo Posts | Seller Handbook | Help on Etsy

Seller Workshop Recap: Tags, Titles, Descriptions and Most Relevant Search

2009-06-02T11:30:00-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came to our May 28, 2009 Virtual Lab on Tags, Titles, Descriptions and Materials and the new Most Relevant option in Etsy's Search. We had some great questions come up, and we wanted to make sure we shared the answers with those who couldn't make the workshop. Here's a quick Q&A.

Q: How long should my item titles be?
A: We suggest three to seven words. The most important words in your title should be first, as the first 18 characters of your title are going to be seen in Gallery View in Etsy Search, and the first few words will be the ones displayed on external search engine results (see this Seller How-To: Optimizing Your Etsy Shop for Search Engines). If your item titles are too short they will not grab a buyer's attention, and if they are too long they will distract buyers, so balance is key. It's great to be creative in your titles for your branding, but we recommend beginning titles with the specifics. Try to think like a buyer and use words that your customers would use when searching. Generic-sounding titles don't attract potential buyers as well as specific titles, so don't be afraid to be specific! You'll improve your targeting and attract more buyers in the market for your items.

Q: How important is the order of your item's tags?
A: Your first tag is your item's top-level category. If you are interested in promoting your item in a Subcategory Showcase, your next tag should match that Subcategory. We suggest tagging in order of importance, and in general for each of the item fields (Tags, Titles, Descriptions, Materials), go with the most important information first. Note: Major changes to tagging guidelines or the listing process will be communicated in advance. Our current tagging guidelines still apply.

Q: Should I use all 14 tags?
A: Yes! It is important to use 14 relevant tags that properly describe your item. See this article on tagging for lots of tips!

Q: Should I be tagging a striped item with "stripes," "striped" and "stripe"?
A: No. Using the root word "stripe" is enough, and our search function will pick up these variations. No need to use multiple variations of a word.

Q: What about "floral" and "flowers"?
A: Yes. Those words are different enough to be used as two different tags.

Q: How much of your item's description shows up in a Google search result?
A: The first 160 characters of your item description appear in Google search results, so be sure to include the most important information first! Be as specific as possible and use words that you think your customers would use. Item dimensions and measurements are important pieces of information for buyers but can go lower down in your description. Lots of great information on search engine optimization can be found in this article.

Q: I sell soy candles. Should I be adding "soy" to my item titles, tags and descriptions?
A: Yes. The fact that your candles are made of soy is an important selling point. Include this information in the title, description and as a tag, as it is relevant information.

Q: I've heard that if I use only a few tags my items will show up higher in search results sorted by Most Relevant.
A: The best strategy for placement in search results sorted by Most Relevant is to describe your items accurately and thoroughly, using words your customers would use. It's important to follow our guidelines for tagging and to keep your tags relevant (and to use them all!). Improvements to relevancy on Etsy are being rolled out regularly and frequently, with the goal of matching well tagged, thoroughly described items with the often very specific searches shoppers are performing.

Remember, if a shopper is searching for "emerald green earrings" and you've only tagged your item "jewelry," for example, your item won't be found in that shopper's search results. When you describe your item thoroughly and accurately with specifics and details, you give your item more opportunities to be found by buyers looking for your items. Items not described well are simply not seen by the right people. Also, note that optimizing a listing for a single search term you have in mind will actually limit your visibility — you won't appear in as many searches as you might otherwise. The more tags you can use the better.

See this article for more tips on optimizing your listings for search results sorted by Most Relevant.

Q: What percentage of searches on Etsy are currently using the Most Relevant option?
A: A very small percentage of searches on Etsy (less than 1 percent) are currently being sorted by Most Relevant. The Most Relevant search option is not the default search option. It is a feature in active development and updates are being rolled out regularly and frequently behind the scenes, just as with other search engines. Searches sorted by Most Relevant are leading to purchases at a higher rate than searches sorted by Most Recently Listed, and we're actively monitoring the performance of the Most Relevant search option — as well as your feedback — to make it even better.

Q: How important are Materials in search results sorted by Most Relevant?
A: Materials are a factor in search results sorted by Most Relevant, but not an important one. Item tags, titles and descriptions, in that order, are the most important item fields in search results sorted by Most Relevant. However, don't forget that Materials is an option in the Advanced Search.

Q: Why is item listing date a consideration in search results sorted by Most Relevant?
A: It's true, an item's listing date is also a factor in determining relevancy, though not the most important one. We've found shoppers value fresh results for their favorite searches. This is common among other search engines — you'll find Google often returns relevant and current (recently updated) results.

Q: If I put "free shipping" at the beginning of my title, will that hurt me?
A: It can. Remember that in Gallery view, Etsy shoppers can only see the first 18 characters of your title, and you have a better chance of making a sale when you attract shoppers that are searching for specific things. People do perform searches for "free shipping," but they usually qualify those searches with something specific. We recommend doing the same: include "free shipping" in your title if you like, but start with something more specific.

Q: Does using your Etsy Team tag hurt your item's performance in search results sorted by Most Relevant?
A: Team tags are relevant for Team-related searches. Using one or two Team tags will not hurt your chances of being found in search results sorted by Most Relevant.

Q: Is the price of an item a factor in relevancy?
A: No. Price is not a factor in search results sorted by Most Relevant.

Q: How would you tag something that can be made in any color scheme?
A: Use "custom" or "personalized" as a tag.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Seller Workshop Virtual Lab! Please keep an eye on the Virtual Labs schedule to find out about upcoming Seller Workshops. (EDITOR'S NOTE: The previously noted discussion about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) on June 15 has been postponed.)

Related Articles:

Your Shop 101: Hitting the Sweet Spot with Etsy's Most Relevant Search

2009-05-21T13:33:00-05:00

What's the ultimate goal of the Most Relevant option in Etsy's Search? To get shoppers more quickly to the exact items they want. But how does Etsy get them there? The answer is bound up in our site's collaboration with you, our sellers. We need sellers to create listings that accurately and fully represent their items. The goal, really, is to arrive at that magical moment — that sweet spot — when shoppers find the items they love and sellers do the happy dance!

Although that sweet spot feels magical, there are a lot of algorithms and number crunching going on behind the scenes. Etsy's Most Relevant Search is a living feature in active development, and it will evolve over time as we monitor its performance and make improvements to the listing process. However, as a seller, you can follow these golden rules when listing your items:

"ANY 3-Letter Word in ASL Your Choice" By MoonlightAura

Tags: Tags, also known as "keywords," are the most important part of your listing! Sellers can use up to 14 tags right now; use as many as you can to accurately describe your item. Use the most important words in the tags, even if they are in your title. Remember, the first tag determines the category your item. Look at that category's subcategories and include the relevant one as one of your tags as well. Please see this how-to for thorough tagging guidelines.

Titles: Titles can be a catchy and creative way to lure in a shopper, but keep in mind that titles should also be descriptive. Think about it from the computer's point of view: a computer is not going to understand something titled "Welcome to My World," even if that is a really awesome title for your self-portrait art photograph. "Self-Portrait Art Photograph - Welcome to My World" may not be quite as catchy, but our computer friend crunching the algorithm will know how to translate that for relevant searches.

Also, consider if from the point of view of a shopper who is scanning a search results page in Gallery view: when you put your descriptive title first, those words quickly communicate what your item actually is to the shopper. Then when they click through to your listing page, they'll see the rest of the title and get hooked by your clever branding.

Super long and unnaturally written titles don't work well for Most Relevant, and they are unappealing to shoppers. A good, accurate, buyer-friendly title can help your relevancy; a super-long title, jam-packed with keywords — or, conversely, a short title with no descriptive information — will hurt it. Aim for the "sweet spot" in the middle here. Make sure to put very important search words, such as what the item is, in the title. For more tips on Titles, see this how-to.

Descriptions: Thorough and meaty descriptions will boost your relevancy. Having inadequate descriptions for your items will bring down your relevancy. Think about what keywords your ideal buyer would be using in her searches, and try to weave that into the story you're telling.

For example, "This handmade lamp would fit into a chic, modern home or office decor — perfect for contemporary design collectors. When designing this lamp, I was inspired by mid-century interiors and decor, so my piece has a bit of a retro furniture style. Its glossy finish and vivid green make this lamp a statement piece for your living room or workplace. I made this ceramic lamp by hand with a special glaze and fit it with standard hardware. It measures 16 inches high and 6 inches wide. Lamp shade is not included." This is just an example to illustrate that considering your target market when writing your descriptions will lead to proper relevancy.

ElizabethOcean's paper doll description includes the words "Bike Messenger, Rockabilly, Steampunk, Rollerderby, Goth Lolita"...because you can't fit all that in a title!

Extra tip: If you've made the item, use the active (not passive) voice. For example, "I made this item using reclaimed silver." Passive voice works better for vintage items: "This item was made with reclaimed silver."

While you want your descriptions to be thorough, you don't want them to be intimidatingly long blocks of text. Many online shoppers simply scan text. Daniellexo, the Etsy Admin who runs the Etsy Success email list, suggests breaking out your description text into easy to read paragraphs. She notes that you can use bullet points to call out important info, like dimensions, customizations or alternate sizing. For more tips on Descriptions, see these how-tos.

Extra tip: Following the instruction is this how-to will also be good for your search results in Google and other search engines. Learn more about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Etsy here.

I found this Haute Potato Bag by SasakiCreations by searching Materials for "potato sack."

Materials: Fill this section out accurately with all of the materials that are used in your item. Think in terms of supplies (for example: chain, fabric) and content (for example: metal, copper, cotton). Most Relevant takes Materials into account as well as Tags, Titles and Descriptions; however, Materials are weighted lower than these others. Also, remember that shoppers can choose to search by Materials in the Advanced Search page.

Recency: An item's listing date is also an important factor in determining relevancy, as we've found shoppers value fresh results for their favorite searches. Sellers should experiment with what time of day and which days of the week work best for their types of items. Consider things like time zones and climates around the world. What time of day do you think your customers are on the hunt? Use the Craftcult site (craftcult.org), and scan the times that your items and shop get hearted. What times are bringing the best results?

To reiterate, Most Relevant will be an evolving site feature, and this is normal for search algorithms around the Web. Thank you, sellers, for taking the time to make your listings the best they can be. We know this is a time-consuming process, but we hope that the results will benefit both you and your buyers and create that magic moment. We want you doing the happy dance!

Please join Etsy Admin Daniellexo and Sean11 for a Tags, Titles, Materials and Descriptions discussion in the Virtual Labs on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 3 p.m. ET. Please bring any questions you have.

Seller How-To: Optimizing Your Etsy Shop for Search Engines

2009-04-29T17:01:00-05:00

UPDATE: Please see the most recent information on this topic in our Help section. Click here!

We've been making some changes around the site that we hope will have a big impact. Over the past several months, we've implemented a series of changes to improve Etsy's SEO (search engine optimization). Improved SEO means that it's more likely Etsy pages will be found by people searching with sites like Google, Yahoo and other search engines. While we've done a lot of the work behind the scenes, Etsy sellers can also help maximize the impact of Etsy's SEO on their shop and item pages.

Meta Data: Understanding the Components

Much of this SEO work is done through meta data, which is part of a website's code that is read by search engines. Meta data for SEO has three main components: page title, meta description and meta keywords.

ABOVE: In this screenshot of the Jewelry Category, the meta page title is highlighted in orange in the web browser title bar.

The page title is visible on the site in the top bar of your web browser window. This also shows up when you add a web page to your browser's Favorites or Bookmarks. Ever wonder how a search engine gets the text for the link that is shown in results pages? That's right: it's the page title.

ABOVE: This screenshot shows how Google displays the meta page title and meta description for Etsy's home page in search results.

Both the page title and the meta description are displayed on search engine results pages. Search engines display just a short bit of text for the description, between 140-180 characters depending on the search engine. Meta keywords are generally not visible to someone viewing a web page, but they are used by search engines to help rank relevancy of pages in search results.

We’ve updated the meta data for many of the pages on Etsy: Category and Subcategory pages, the shopping features (like Treasury and Pounce), Etsy shop and item listing pages. Certain pieces of information you control for your shop and item listing pages can impact your shop's SEO. Below we'll explain how you can boost your Etsy shop's SEO.

Your Etsy Shop Pages

ABOVE: This diagram of jenniferladd's shop home page shows how Etsy uses parts of your shop text for the page title, meta description and meta keywords for your shop page.

The page title format on shop pages is: "[username] on Etsy - [Shop Title]"

You can partially control what appears here by using your Shop Title wisely. Your Shop Title is the text that appears in bold just below your banner in your shop. To edit your Shop Title, go to Your Etsy > Appearance. We recommend using this Shop Title to briefly describe your shop and the items you sell so search engines will pick it up more readily. You may also want to include your full name or your business name in your Shop Title if potential customers are likely to search for you that way.

The meta description is the short blurb that appears on a search engine result page to help people quickly learn what the page is about. For your Etsy shop page, the meta description is the first part of your Shop Announcement. We recommend you use the first 1-2 sentences of your Shop Announcement to describe your shop (what kinds of items you sell) and use welcoming language that will entice someone to explore your shop further.

Meta keywords are a less critical component to SEO, and various search engines use them differently to help rank relevancy of a page in search results. For Etsy shop pages, we have automatically pulled the Section Titles for the shop to be used as the meta keywords. We observed that many sellers use basic terms for their sections that translate relatively well into keywords. For example, it's common for jewelry shops to have Section Titles such as: bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings. To edit your Section Titles, go to Your Etsy > Sections.

Your Item Listing Pages

ABOVE: This diagram of an item listing page from FriendlyFairies shop shows how Etsy uses parts of your item listing text for the page title, meta description and meta keywords for your item listing pages.

On individual item pages, the page title format is:

   • For handmade items – "Handmade [Category] on Etsy - [Item Title] by [username]"
   • For vintage items – "Vintage on Etsy - [Item Title] by [username]"
   • For supplies – "Craft Supplies on Etsy - [Item Title] by [username]"

Once again, you can partially control the information that appears as the page title for your listing pages. You create your Item Title on the first step of the listing process. (To edit an Item Title, go to Your Etsy > Currently for Sale, and click the edit link by the item you wish to edit. Make sure to click "finish" to save your changes.) We recommend you clearly describe your item in the Item Title so search engines will understand what the page is about.

For listing pages, the meta description is taken from the first portion of your Item Description. You create your Item Description on the first step of the listing process. (To edit an Item Description, go to Your Etsy > Currently for Sale, and click the edit link by the item you wish to edit. Make sure to click "finish" to save your changes.) Remember: search engines only display the very beginning of this text, just 1-2 sentences. We recommend you use the first part of your Item Description to draw in potential shoppers: describe your item briefly and use engaging language to encourage them to want to find out more.

Meta keywords on item listing pages are taken from the listing's tags. You tag your listing on the second step of the listing process. (To edit the tags on a listing, go to Your Etsy > Currently for Sale, and click the edit link by the item you wish to edit. Make sure to click "finish" to save your changes.) If you're using your tags wisely for Etsy's on-site search already, then most likely you'll be in pretty good shape with your tags for SEO. For more help with tagging, check out Guidelines & Tips: Tagging on Etsy.

These are a few easy ways you can help bring more targeted traffic to your Etsy shop from search engines by improving the SEO of your shop and item listing pages. Search engines are complex, and there are several other factors that contribute to how high your pages rank in search engine results. For more insight on some of these other factors outside your Etsy shop and item listing pages, you may want to read Shop Makeover Series: Google PageRank Tips for Your Etsy Shop.

Seller Handbook | Shop Makeover Series

P.S. These exercises are also published in the Etsy Success Mailing List. Sign up here to get helpful tips delivered to your inbox twice a week!

Guidelines & Tips: Tagging on Etsy

2009-03-25T14:20:00-05:00

Tags are keywords sellers attach to their items in the item listing process. When searching for the perfect handmade or vintage item or supply on Etsy, a shopper will browse Categories, or more often, use Search to find their items. Since tags are keywords for Search, and they are also used to organize items in Categories and Subcategories, it's important to understand how to tag your items correctly and effectively so that buyers can find them!

The step-by-step guide below will give you 13 ideas for good tags to help buyers find your item and help it get featured. If you are having a hard time thinking of tags, look in your title and description for keywords.

Please see special rules and help for Art, Bags and Purses, Bath and Beauty, and Clothing at the bottom.

TAGGING SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS

For your first tag, choose a main Category from the drop-down.

If the item is handmade or hand-altered by you, your first tag can be any category but vintage.
- Don't use the tag commercial.
- Handmade crafting supplies? Your first tag can be supplies or another appropriate handmade category.

If you're not sure, go to the Categories page, and see if your item is a Subcategory of any Category. Or, do a search for like items and see what Category most of the items are listed in. Eg. Does an apron go in Accessories or Clothing? Doing a quick check will help you find apron listed under the Accessories Category here.

If your item fits in two categories (eg. Children and Clothing), you may pick which one you use for your top category tag. Try to decide where might a shopper look first.

Only select vintage if the item is 20 years or older. See more on vintage items here.

Now you will choose your remaining 13 tags.

The order of them does not matter. Related tags will pop up as you add tags, remember these are only suggestions that *might* apply to your item. You may choose any that accurately describe your item.
You may also create your own tags based on what will be most accurate for your item. Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself:

1. What is it?

Tip: Don't pick any words that are related, but not what it is. Eg. Don't tag bracelets with "earrings".

Tip: If the word describes what something is, don't use that unless your item *is* that. Eg. Don't tag a tote bag with "clutch", even though you can clutch it in your hand. Don't tag anything but a dress with dress. Eg. Don't tag cookies with "tea" or "coffee", even though you can eat them with these drinks.

2. What is it specifically? What type?

Eg. Hoop (for earrings), v-neck (for sweaters), long sleeve (shirt).

3. Who is it for?

Tip: You may pick as many correct ones as you want. Eg. women, men, baby, children, boy, girl, adult, pets, dog, cat.

4. What is the main material?

Tip: Add the major material to your tags, if it is something you think a buyer might search for to find your item. Add minor materials or component materials to the "materials" box on page 1. Eg. leather, cotton, canvas, felt, metal, 14K gold, sterling silver, glass. If there are two words to describe a material, use them both, as separate tags. Eg. cotton, canvas. metal, 14K gold. mahogany, wood. merino, wool.

5. What is the main color?

Tip: Buyers are not likely to look for minor colors in your piece, so stick to the main color(s) or important color combos! Eg. white, black, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.

6. What method or technique did you use to make it? Only relevant for some items.

Eg. hammered (for metal jewelry), burned (for woodworking), appliqued, embroidered.

7. Where will the item be used? Only relevant for some items.

Eg. kitchen, hair, office, beach, garden, car, nursery.

8. What size is it?

Eg. small, extra large, 7mm, 18in, 8x10.

9. What style is it?

Eg. goth, victorian, hippie, punk, impressionist, post-modern, feminine, sophisticated, southwestern.

Eg. sweet, spicy, salty (for bath and beauty and food items).

10. Imagery or motifs that are on the item.

Eg. owl, landscape, nature, Marilyn Monroe.

11. Are there synonyms?

Tip: Use these if the word means exactly the same thing as the tag you already used, it is accurate for your item, and you think it will be an important search term that buyers will look for. Eg. Infant for young babies, handbag for purses and clutches, toddler for children 18 months - 3 years, drink for coffee, trousers for pants.

12. Mature content items must have the tag "mature".

Mature content is defined as: sexual activity or content, profane language or graphic violence. Artful representations of the nude human figure do not need the tag "mature".

13. Don't tag with potential uses for the item.

Eg. Don't use "stocking stuffer" or "gift" as tags. Do not tag a messenger bag with "backpack", even though you can wear it on your back. Don't tag a blank book with "poetry".

14. Don't put multiple words in one tag box, unless they are a phrase.

Eg. Do tag with "sterling silver". Don't tag with "silver earrings", these should be two different tags.

Helpful Tips

Feeling stuck? Look to your item description for keywords to use as tags.

Check out this list of colors to inspire using more than just a simple "blue" tag. What about "Cornflower Blue", instead?

Use a second browser window to navigate through the Categories and Subcategories that pertain to your item. This way you can be sure to include tags for all the Subcategories that relate to your item.

If you sell similar items in your shop, it is helpful to create a listing template on your desktop with your most commonly used tags. This way you can quickly pick and choose which ones are appropriate and just copy and paste them into place.

Using Google's Keyword Tool or Yahoo's Keyword Selector Tool will help you generate a list of the most popular related search words and phrases. This involves a good amount of time and research, but can be a valuable tool to help create a list of the most commonly searched for words to use as tags.

You do not have to duplicate words found in a compound tag. Eg. "sterling silver" does not also have to appear as "sterling, silver".

Common Definitions of Tags by Category

Art: All 2D artwork is either an original or reproduction, but not both.

Original: for original 2D artwork only.

Reproduction: for copies or reproductions of your original 2D artwork.

Bags and Purses:

Only tag your bag or purse with the correct terms (as defined below) so buyers can find what they are looking for. Almost all items should only be tagged with one of these.

Backpack: primarily meant to be worn on the back. With rare exception, has two straps that are worn over both shoulders at the same time. Messenger bags and tote bags are not backpacks.

Clutch: small (sometimes medium sized), usually flat bag primarily meant to be carried in the hand. Usually does not have straps. Wallets and simple zip-top cotton pouches are not clutches.

Diaper Bag: a large bag with multiple interior and/or exterior pockets. Main purpose is to be used to carry diapers and baby items. A messenger bag or backpack is not a diaper bag. A tote with no pockets is not a diaper bag.

Laptop Bag or Sleeve: A padded bag designed to snugly fit and protect a laptop.

Messenger Bag: A medium to large sized bag with one wide, long strap that is long enough to wear crossing the chest, over one shoulder, to waist.

Pouch: a small to medium sized bag, usually with a zipper. Not worn as a woman's handbag or "carrying bag"- usually holds items within a larger bag.

Purse: a women's bag with 1 or 2 straps or handles, worn over one shoulder, or carried in the hand.

Tote: Bag with two long straps, that is meant to be worn over the shoulder.

Wallet: Primary function is to hold money and credit cards. Not worn as a handbag or carrying bag — it goes inside another bag. A simple pouch with no inner dividers is not a wallet.

Wristlet: A bag with a looped strap that is wide enough to wear on the wrist.

Bath and Beauty:

Body Wash: liquid, gel, or other non-solid body wash. Solid soap is not body wash.

Fragrance: perfume, cologne, eau de toilette. Not scented lotions or soaps. Use the tag scented instead.

Oil: for products in oil form. For products containing oil, list the name of the oil as a tag, but do not use the tag oil by itself. Eg. jojoba oil.

Vegan: contains no animal products, or products directly produced by animals, even if the animals are not harmed. No honey, no milk, etc. See this how-to on tagging vegan items.

Clothing:

Dress: means an actual dress, not formal wear.

Plus Size: size 16 (USA) or larger.

Sweater: an actual sweater, not scarves or other things made of sweater material. The name for sweater material is knit, or knitted or sweater knit or "crocheted." Not a sweatshirt.

If you notice a seller misusing tags, you may report it to flagged@etsy.com.

If you would like to share any of your own tagging tips, or have questions about how to tag your items, please ask in the forums. Check out our other tagging how-tos for more help.

Seller Handbook | Shop Makeover Series

Team Tip: Fun Facts!

2008-10-13T18:05:00-05:00

"Just what are the Etsy Teams and how do I get involved?"

Since so much has grown about the Etsy Teams program in the past year, we're revisiting this FAQ on the Etsy Teams. Since this article was first published, Etsy Teams program has more than doubled in size - in numbers of Teams and the number of members involved. It's truly gratifying to see members of the Community self-organize. Soon, we hope to launch new tools to help the Etsy Community communicate and to give Etsy Teams a more visible role on the site. On the Storque, you can keep on top of Team-related content by clicking on the EtsyTeams featured column listed in the left sidebar.

At Etsy, community is super important to us, and one big way Etsy members can become active in the Etsy Community is to join an Etsy Team. Etsy Teams are for not only Etsy sellers, but there are Teams for buyers, as well! Support your favorite Etsy artists by promoting handmade and buying from Team members! Here are a few simple things you need to know if you'd like to participate in Etsy Teams. To learn more, you can always visit http://team.etsy.com to find lots more information in a few quick clicks.

What is an Etsy Team?
Etsy Teams are groups of organized Etsy members who network, share skills, meet other people with similar interests, and promote their shops and Etsy together. A Team forms around a shared location, a craft or genre, or another interest. Currently, there are over 400 Teams and new Teams forming daily. This makes us not just a marketplace of individuals, but an interconnected and diverse handcrafters' community. Teams are Etsy’s biggest and most creative grassroots engine for support, networking and marketing — for each Team member’s shop, for the Teams themselves, and for Etsy as a whole.

How can I shop by Etsy Teams?
Many Teams have a search tag listed on their Profile page. You can find items made by that Team by searching for their Team tag, or by clicking through shops listed on the Profile pages. If you want to just search for items by all Teams, you can search "team" and find over 150,000 items by all Etsy Team members!

How do I join a Team?
You can browse through the list of Etsy Teams, which are sorted by location and by interest, to find teams that suit you and your shop. Each Team has contact information on their profile page about how to join.

[Examples of Treasuries from the CCCOE and ArtsInRI Teams]

Can I join more than one Team?
Sure! Please join as many Teams as your schedule permits you to be actively involved in.

What Team should I join?
You can browse through the Team Profiles to see what each Team is up to — visiting the Teams' pages and clicking through their websites and blogs will help you get an idea of what the team is about and how active they are. We do ask that you join location-based Teams according to where you spend most of your time (ie, where you live). Some Teams have membership requirements, and these are listed on the profile pages. If you have specific questions about a Team, try contacting the contact person or leader listed on the page.

There are over 400 Etsy Teams and new Teams being formed each day, there's an Etsy Team for everyone! If you don't find a Team that interests you, or if there isn't currently an active Team in your area, you can start an Etsy Team yourself.

How do I update my Team's page?
If you've started an Etsy Team, you can have the profile page updated by emailing updates to teams@etsy.com, and we'll make the changes for you. Updates can include new members, new links to websites or blogs, or you can let us know about event, challenges, contests and more.

Are there resources for Teams, like ideas on how to promote or organize events?
Yes! You can search for Team Tips here in the Storque, or check the Guides page at http://team.etsy.com/guides.html.

Not on a Team? No problem! Lots of the Tips and Resources available for Teams are also useful for individual sellers!

For more Team Tips, please check the Teams Resource page. Also, we discuss the Team Tips, news and ideas in the Etsy Teams email list! Keep up the great work, Etsy Teams!

Etsy Holiday How-To #3: Creating Labels and Hang-Tags

2008-10-07T11:21:00-05:00

So, dear seller, you've just figured out how to wrap that 300 lb, giraffe-shaped menorah it took you 4 days to carve. Why not let your buyer know where it came from? Michelle from Etsy Labs gives you some creative techniques for labeling your loot in our third edition of the Holiday How-To series. Check out everyday materials you can use to make hang-tags and easy ways to put a little bling on your labels.

See more helpful how-tos about your indie biz in the Seller Handbook. Don't feel like making your own tags? Support your fellow crafters and get some from them! We'd also love to hear your crafty ideas for making hang-tags and labels in the comments below.

Handmade Hang Tags | Hang Tags in the Supplies Category

[This video was originally published October 12, 2007. We're bringing it back for the '08 season!]

Tagging Tips for Sellers: Kids, Baby, and Maternity

2008-07-09T10:58:00-05:00

Hello sellers of children's, baby, and maternity items! The Handmade Kids series prompted us to start a conversation about tagging your items.

Finding the right tags is an easy way to increase the number of buyers who are seeing your items. Here are a few suggestions for tags to use to improve your exposure and get your items in the right places in the Category Browser and in search.

Tip #1: Choosing Categories
Are there multiple top-level categories that your items could fit into? For example, if you make toys for children, you might try listing some of them in Children, and some in Toys. Overall, the Children category is the best place to list Children's items, but listing in other appropriate categories can increase your exposure. After you list, check the views and hearts of your items to see which category is best for your items.

Tip #2: Research in the Category Browser
Look under the category where you've listed your item. Add the names of any subcategories that are accurate to your tags. Look under these subcategories, and add any sub-subs that are accurate as well.

Tip #3: Synonyms
Are there any words that buyers might search for that mean the same thing as the normal word you might use? These make great tags. Some examples:

Children: kids, girls, boys, toddlers, tots

Baby: Infant, Newborn (generally under 3 months old)

Tip #4: Activities and Uses
Think about the uses and activities that apply to your item. Here are some examples:

- Breastfeeding, nursing, feeding

- Play, dress-up

- Educational, learning

Tip #5: Sizes
Add the size as a tag for clothing.

In your description for children's clothing, try putting the approximate age of the child that this would fit. This helps relatives and friends who are shopping for a gift — but don't have kids themselves — find the correct size.

So, there you go! Hopefully, these tips will give you a good start for tagging your items. Please suggest any sub-categories or tags below. We want to hear from you.

As well, check out this tagging tips article for more suggestions for effective tags. Happy selling!

Vegan Tagging: A How-To for Sellers

2008-07-08T15:45:00-05:00

Samantha Sauvé aka bookworms helps clear things up in the ongoing debate over what should or should not be tagged as "vegan" on Etsy. A vegan is defined by Vegan.org as "someone who, for various reasons, chooses to avoid using or consuming animal products. While vegetarians choose not to use flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs, as well as fur, leather, wool, down, and cosmetics or chemical products tested on animals." Samantha kindly elaborates...

Dear Sellers:

Lately, there's been a lot of discussion in the Forums about tagging items as "vegan." A lot of sellers are confused about what does and does not constitute a vegan item — some don't use the tag at all, for fear of being mistaken.

I'm here to say, "Fear not!" Utilizing the "vegan" tag (when appropriate!) can open up your store to a new audience, and may very well direct more business your way — and more sales are never a bad thing! However, abusing the tag can really turn off some customers who care passionately about the types of products they buy.

The nuts-and-bolts idea of veganism is a life free from consumption of animal products. Vegans aim to not use anything that comes from an animal or is tested on an animal.

[Vegan Yarn by hobbledehoy]

The aim of this article is to provide a basic list of materials that are not vegan. Proper tagging helps both the buyer (for ease of finding truly vegan products) and the seller (adds a popular search term to your items, helping to direct more traffic your way).

The following are NOT considered vegan, and should not be tagged as such. Bear in mind that even if these products are organic, they are still not vegan!

Animal fibers:
Alpaca, angora, cashmere, merino, mohair, qiviut, silk, wool, yak, wool felt, velvet made from silk
Bee products:
Beeswax, bee pollen, honey, royal jelly
Foodstuffs:
Butter, casein, cheese, eggs, cow's milk, goat's milk, animal rennet, whey, white sugar*
Other products:
Bone, coral, feathers, animal gelatin, animal glycerin, ivory, lard, leather, shell, pearl, lanolin

*Many brands of white sugar are produced with bone char, which is not vegan. Check out the link at the bottom of this article for more information.

(Fragrance oils are almost always vegan, so if you're selling an "Oatmeal, Honey, & Milk Soap" that is made from vegetable glycerin and uses an oatmeal, honey, and milk fragrance (and no actual milk or honey), you could accurately tag it vegan. You might want to explain that to your customers in the listing's description.)

[Faux Leather Clutch by CrystalynKae]

Etsy is home to several vegan-friendly Teams. Check out Cruelty Free Etsy (tag is CFE Team), EtsyVeg, and VeganEtsy.

Trying to decide if something is vegan can be confusing. Please keep in mind that this list is rudimentary — hopefully, enough to clear up common concerns. If you have any specific questions, please don't hesitate to comment here or contact me — I'm happy to help!

Further Resources:
Vegan Resource Library (Especially helpful for bath and beauty products)
Is it Vegan?
The Vegan Wolf (Food-oriented list)
Veg Family Mmore about white sugar)

Cruelty Free Etsy | EtsyVeg | EFA Etsy for Animals | Handmade4Hounds | VeganEtsy

Looking for more vegan friendly info? Check out our past articles on the subject. Stay tuned for an upcoming article from the VeganEtsy Team.

Seller How-to: International Tagging, Yeah Baby!

2008-06-17T12:15:00-05:00

How can thousands of items boost their visibility? Why would most British men steer clear of your handmade suspenders? Why is my mother blushing at your listing for a fanny pack?

scatterboxoriginals, one of Etsy’s growing number of international members, invites you for tea, cucumber sandwiches and a lesson in the wonderfully weird world of British English…

International tagging, yeah baby!

When I first started selling on Etsy, as a Brit trying to reach a predominantly American market, I thought translating my descriptions and tags into American English would be easy as pie. After all, I was partially raised by Elmo and the cast of Friends, I like to think I speak pretty fluent American. But, in the two years I’ve been here, I’ve learnt a lot and I’d like to return the favour (or, indeed, favor).

Since Etsy began, many British sellers and customers have signed up, and right now, the UK stands as the third largest group (after the US and Canada, and followed up by Australia). Etsy's popularity continues to spread around the world, but English speakers are predominently the audience right now. All those potential customers! You want to be sure they can find your items too, right? Or maybe you’re a Brit like me, still getting your head around the linguistic differences.

Here are a few hints that you might not be aware of.

Vocabulary is a useful thing to be aware of while you’re tagging and describing your listings. For instance, what we Brits call a purse isn’t a bag; it’s a wallet or coin purse. If you’re selling one of those bags you clip on around your waist, very handy for keeping change in at craft fairs … please be aware that fanny means something a bit different, and quite a lot ruder in Britain. We call them bum bags (‘bum’ meaning posterior, not hobo — though hobo is also a type of bag). We also often refer to backpacks as ‘rucksacks.’

One of my favourite colours is a sort of deep purple – I know it as aubergine, you may know it as eggplant (both referring to the same food). Today, typing eggplant into the search gives 588 results, while aubergine gives 146. Only 35 items are using both tags and maximising their potential to show up in a search.

There are also a few odd differences in names for clothing. What Brits call braces, Americans call suspenders, while what Brits usually call suspenders, Americans call a garter (that’s one I learnt from being on Etsy, not from Elmo). We call sneakers trainers, sweaters jumpers, sweater vests tank tops and tank tops are vest tops. Confused yet? Now you know how hard it can be for a non-American customer to find what they’re looking for.

It’s not just an international issue: there are various words that have more than one commonly used spelling in English speaking countries. Brits generally spell ‘gray’ with an ‘e’ - ‘grey.’ At the time of writing this, there are 7906 items on Etsy tagged ‘gray’, but not ‘grey.’ 10369 items are tagged ‘grey’ but not ‘gray.’ Only 3283 items tagged both ‘grey’ and ‘gray.’ Thousands of listings could be missing out on being found here; you can’t be sure your potential customer will think to search with both spellings.

British English also loves to add extra letters – e.g. ‘jewellery,’ ‘aeroplane,’ ‘moustache.’ Try using alternative spellings if you have tags to spare — you may be able to check using your word processing software’s spell-check by changing the language setting.

The exchange rate between British pounds and American dollars is great for British customers right now, so a lot of Brits are looking at buying from America. It doesn’t mean you have to talk like Austin Powers through your whole listing (in fact, please don’t) — just bear in mind while you’re listing your item what else it might be called and try adding in the alternative words in your tags or description.

Don’t forget Etsy’s many other international members — Canadian English and Australian English have their own differences too. There are numerous resources on the internet that you can use to find out alternative words, or perhaps you can ask someone who’ll know. You could see an increase in views, hearts and sales – groovy, baby!

Celebrate the differences!

American English – British English

Gray – grey
Eggplant – aubergine
Fanny pack – bum bag
Suspenders – braces
Tank top – vest top
Sweater vest – tank top
Sweater – jumper
Jumper – pinafore or pinny
Sneakers – trainers
Airplane – aeroplane
Jewelry – jewellery
Pillow – cushion
Purse – handbag
Candy – sweets

Gotta Travel On | Travel Showcase | Etsy World Tour

A Dude's Perspective: How to Market to Men

2008-06-03T10:27:00-05:00

We all know that a majority of the traffic at Etsy is generated by women, and most of the items are targeted to women buyers as well. However, we also know that around key holidays (hello, Father's Day!), men's items featured on the front page sell very quickly. To us, that looks like an opportunity for savvy sellers to branch out and create some men's items to take advantage of all of that gift buying. With Father's Day upon us, it's also a good time to plan for the holiday shopping season around the corner. Here are a few simple thoughts on how to go about it:

Design
I hate to say it, but think plain. Which is not to say boring, but rather classic, minimalist. There’s a reason that The Gap sells a zillion pairs of men’s khaki pants each year. That’s not to say that you should hide your creativity, or that there aren't some exceptions to the rule. But think about it like the classic jewelry adage: put on your jewelry, look in the mirror and take one piece off. I love things with subtle design elements that stand out to me, but don’t call attention.

Marketing
Take a few simple steps to determine if your current customers would be interested in buying men’s items from you. If you’ve received permission to email past or potential customers, send them an email and inquire as to whether you could ask them a few questions regarding men’s items. If they’re willing to answer the questions, keep it short and see what types of items they might be interested in and try to get them to be as specific as possible — also ask for permission to contact them once you’ve listed some men’s items. Blog about your new items and perhaps switch up your avatar. It's also a great idea to add a new section to your shop, clearly labeled Men's Line. Once you’ve made some items, it’s critical to categorize and tag them correctly, which brings us to our next topic.

Tagging
Here are a few suggestions for ways to tag men’s items (of course always follow HeyMichelle’s awesome tagging tips). Tag everything with men and man. Tag with the theme and motif of your item and use the holiday that you're targeting as well as the ulimtate consumer of the item: Father's Day, son, brother, etc.

Categories:
The important thing here is to do your research on Etsy and see what subcategoires are being used for the types of items you make. While it may seem like this would increase your competition, being included with similar items will actually help your item be discovered.

Alchemy:
Last but not least, enable shoppers to request a custom item in your shop if you haven't done so already. Everyone loves something made specifically for them. You may want to note in your Alchemy announcement that you can make custom gifts for men.

Hey sellers, let us know in the comments if you have any tips for marketing your handmade items for men. Hey shoppers, what do you look for and how can sellers make the shopping experience easier for you?

Father's Day Showcase | Gift Guide for Him | Father's Day Gift Guide | A Dude's Perspective

Earth Tones How-to: Tagging Your Eco-Friendly Items

2008-04-14T11:22:00-05:00

Dear Sellers:

In one sense, all handmade and vintage items on Etsy are eco-friendly, since they are made in small production. Many Etsy sellers reuse materials as their supplies. In another sense, when people search for eco-friendly related terms, they are looking for some specific things. This is the sense we are going for in the tags. And we're suggesting that you do not use the tag "green" even though in the common parlance of our days it can often mean eco-friendly. After all, shoppers who use "green" a search term, are looking for something with the color green.

So, what is eco-friendly? And how do you know if this — and other related terms — apply to your items? Well my friends, here's an introduction to the world of eco-friendly tags. If your item relates to any of the guidelines below, and you made it in the spirit of preserving resources and helping the Earth, then feel free to use the tag "eco friendly." Please make it clear in the listing why you have tagged it this way.

We suggest using these terms in your tags if they correctly describe your item. If not, please respect the Etsy tagging eco-system, as it were, and leave 'em be...

- Eco Friendly: Leave out the dash because it gums up the search!

- Organic: Made of products grown in a chemical free environment.

- Vegan: Contains no animal products or products made by animals, such as honey or silk. Animals weren't used or exploited in any way in the production process. Please, be cool. There are objects which obviously wouldn't be vegan in the first place — like a cotton shirt. Please find out if each of your materials are vegan, and that you understand what it means before adding this tag, as you may be surprised!

- Recycled: Uses materials that would otherwise be thrown away to create a new item.

- Upcycled: Uses non-new goods and repurposes them into a new, improved, or altered item. If your item is upcycled, you may use the tag "Recycled" as well, since this is a more popular search term, and it applies and is relevant. These terms are often used interchangeably.

- Has an eco-friendly motif, such as a recycling symbol.

- Is used for an eco-friendly purpose, such as a set of tote bags that are specifically meant to replace plastic, disposable grocery shopping bags.

- Other logical reason — please feel free to list and brainstorm other terms in the comments here!

EGCG | Trashion | EcoEtsy | Environmentally Friendly Gift Guides | Earth Tones Series

What's the Word? Etsy-centric Terms and Acronyms For Shoppers (Part 1)

2008-03-28T14:38:00-05:00

Do you ever come across a cryptic message in an item listing that looks something like this: “OOAK ACEO WITH PURCHASE, BOGO!!” and promptly think to yourself: “O-O-HOOPTIE-HOO-HA-A/C-WHAAAT?!”

Don't worry, you're not alone. There's a whole Etsy-centric language out there that sometimes baffles the most die hard Etsy shoppers.

Here are some definitions that will help you find what you are looking for:

ACEO/ATC: An acronym for a very specific form of collectible art. It stands for Art Cards Editions & Originals or Artist Trading Card, respectively. Art cards are collected and traded worldwide. Collectors appreciate both one of a kind art cards, and limited and open edition art cards. An ACEO or ATC must be exactly 2.5x3.5 the size of a traditional baseball trading card, and can be in any medium an artist can think of — from crayons to glass to metal, anything at all.

Alchemy: An Etsy site feature that allows a buyer to request a specific custom item; sellers then bid on the opportunity to make it for the buyer. You can also do a private Alchemy request directly through a seller's shop (if they've opted in to taking such requests).

Amigurumi: The Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures.

AOP: This stands for Artist's Own Pattern, meaning a store bought pattern was not used to create the item. Or AOP may refer to the pattern itself if the pattern is the item for sale).

BFSC: Built from Scratch Clothing.

BOGO: Buy one, get one. Thanks to Payless shoes, most people know this term, which is used in promotional sales.

Convo: Short for 'conversation', Etsy's messaging system.

Geekery: A top category on Etsy for kitschy, "nerdy", "techy" and gaming-related accessories.

Gocco: a small-format screen printing system.

HTF: Hard to find, maybe related to groovy vintage items or rare components. Or my car keys!

OSWOA: Original Small Work of Art, not to be confused with ACEO/ATC.

OOAK: One of a Kind. OOAK can apply to anything at all that will only be made by the artist one time.

PIF: Pay It Forward. Items listed as PIF's on Etsy are usually $0.20 - $1 and by purchasing one of these items it's expected that you will, in turn, list your own PIF.

Pounce: A way to shop on Etsy. Find other items by a seller who just made a sale or items just listed by sellers who have yet to make any sales (undiscovered).

SRA: Self-Representing Artist.

SRAJD: Self-Representing Artist Jewelry Designer.

SNS: Saturday Night Special, weekly sale run in the Promotions section of the Etsy forums.

Time Machine & Time Machine 2: A way to shop on Etsy. The time machines list items that were just listed, will be expiring soon, or just sold.

Treasury: A list made up of favorites, created by one person, and lasting up to 3 days before it expires.

That should get you started! For a complete Etsy glossary check out Etsywiki.com, a great place to get questions answered! Or do a search or post a new topic in the forums.

Seller How-to: Making Category Suggestions

2008-03-25T22:30:00-05:00

Dear Sellers:

As many of you are aware, we are in the process of improving the Category system. This is a long-term project that we are very excited about!

We get many suggestions for subcategories and sub-subcategories. Almost all of these will be in the new system. Keep making these suggestions, as we are saving them to be implemented later!

As our engineers work on the new systems, we are currently and constantly adding new subcategories and sub-subcategories to the site. In my estimation, we immediately add over 50% of the unique ideas proposed into the current category system! Last week, for example, we added about 29 new sub and sub-subcategories. So keep 'em coming!

So, what determines whether we will add a new subcategory or sub-subcategory — now, versus later? And, if you have an idea for a new subcategory or sub-subcategory, what is the best way to suggest it to us? Here are some pointers and tips:

How to suggest a new sub or sub-subcategory on Etsy:

1. Start using the name of your proposed subcategory or sub-subcategory as a tag, and encourage others to do the same.

When we are deciding whether to add to the current category system, we will search for the word under the proposed Category. If there are items "tagged" with this word, it greatly increases the chances that it will be added. If the sub or sub-subcategory is added, these items will automatically be in it!

2. Got an idea for a subcategory or sub-subcategory? Let us know!

Etsians make category suggestions in various ways — all of them are great! Some like to post in the ideas section of the Forums. Make the title something like "Category suggestion: how about "XYZ"?". If an admin doesn't reply, please convo HeyMichelle (that's me!), and I'll take a look. Feel free to convo me directly as well.

Other ways that people suggest categories are by e-mailing Community or Support. These are just fine, although it may take a bit longer for me to see the suggestion, since they are just going to forward the email to me!

Many suggestions we get are good, but for various reasons, we are unable to add them at this time.

Reasons we might not add a suggested category, subcategory or sub-subcategory:

1. There's a better chance of us adding to a short list than a really long list.

Does the place where you would like us to add a sub or sub-subcategory have a long list underneath it? This makes it more difficult to add subs underneath it. If there is nothing, or a really short list, it's almost a shoo-in. Don't let a long list intimidate you, though! If your idea is a good candidate for the current system, we will try to find a way to accommodate it!

2. We are not currently adding "styles" to the category system.

Examples of styles are "Primitive," "Kawaii" and "Cottage." These are currently very useful for shopping, and will be included in the new category system. However, adding them now will lead to mistagging, and will make it more difficult to find items in these styles. A suggestion for those who are making items in a style: create or join an Etsy Team with others who are working in that style. At the bottom of your item descriptions, describe the style in one sentence, and encorage shoppers to search for the style to find similar items. This will spread the word about the style and help with cross-promotion!

3. We are not going to add new top-level categories that are not *types* of items.

New top-level categories in the current system are very rare indeed! We're not currently considering new top-level categories for methods, art forms, materials, styles, or any other type of category other than "What is it?" types. Please continue to suggest these, though, as they may be excellent candidates for sub and sub-subcategories, and are useful for designing the new category system.

4. Technical difficulties

Certain things that would make a fabulous subcategory for the current system can't be added now for technical reasons. An example of this is Art Dolls. We are working on implementing fixes for these types of problems, and we apologize for the inconvenience.

Well, that's all for now! Thank you so much for your category suggestions — we very much appreciate it, and we look forward to hearing more!

Team Tip: Team Tags!

2008-03-10T09:07:00-05:00

Does your Team use a Team tag in item listings to identify your items as being created by an Etsy Team member? Perhaps you should! Team Tags can be useful for a variety of reasons. By agreeing upon and using a consistent tag among your Team members, it becomes easy to tell buyers how to search on Etsy for items in your Team members' shops. Then on your blog or website, you can provide the link to the search results. You can also publish the Team tag on promotional materials you make for your Team.

But how does a Team decide upon a tag to use? Your Team Tag should include the word "team" in it, whether at the beginning, middle or end of the tag. The tag, ideally, is a word that isn't commonly used for other means of tagging — for example, the New England Street Team, or NEST, realized that "nest" isn't a useful tag for their Team because many items on Etsy are tagged "nest," and rightfully so, because they're object that are bird nests! Currently, the Team is using the term "nesty." Using the tag "NewEnglandTeam" might be a better tag, because it's highly unlikely that anyone who isn't on their Team would be interested in using that tag for items.

Please refrain from tagging your items with tags of Teams that you are not a member of. Mistagging is confusing to Team members and to buyers. Perhaps inquire about joining the Team if you find you'd like to tag your items with a Team's tag. If a tag includes the word "team," it's a Team tag. Teams work very hard! Be respectful of the work Etsy Teams do, and don't tag your items with Team tags unless you're a member of that Team.

For more Team Tips, please check the Teams Resource page. Also, we discuss the Team Tips, news and ideas in the Etsy Teams email list! Keep up the great work, Etsy Teams!

Seller Tagging Tips: "A Semi-Epiphany on Tags"

2008-02-18T15:28:00-05:00

Sellers! Here's a great tip from a forum thread, which was started many moons ago, to help you with tagging your items: Dyno recommends this model of starting with the general and going to the more specific. She uses a sweater as an example:

sweater (item)
wool (material)
cardigan (type)
fine or thin (type of knit)
blue (color)
tan (color)
stripe (design)
medium (size)
fitted (style/fit)
classic (style)
feminine (style)
casual (occasion)

If you're in need of more help with tagging, check out this post Guidelines & Tips: Tagging on Etsy, Tag Workshop Recap, and Shop Makeover series: Tagging for Success.

Shop Makeover series: Tagging for Success

2008-01-01T04:15:00-05:00

What an incredible response we got on this Shop Makeover post from you sellers! Be part of our Shop Makeover series: document your "before" and "after" with screen shots and post them on flickr or your blogs or whatever works best for you. Then share the links in the comments below. As we go through the different steps of the makeover, we'll hold Online Workshops in the Virtual Labs where we'll highlight great ideas that come from you and discuss further questions and share examples of what people are doing. At the end of the month, we'll all pick the most radical makeovers!

We'll be staggering the posts throughout the month of January, hopefully giving people enough time to participate. There's so much work to do! We're kicking off the Shop Makeover series with the following post about tagging, a crucial step to a more successful shop.

Make a resolution this year: better tagging. Help shoppers find your items more easily when they search on Etsy. Using specific and intuitive tags during the item listing process will help shoppers, Treasury makers, and Admins quickly find, buy, and feature your items!

What are tags? How do they work? (from Etsy's general FAQ's)
Tags are keywords used to sort items on Etsy. The first tag on an item determines which top-level category it's listed under. Subcategories on Etsy are also based on tags. For example, the drawing subcategory inside the Art category shows items first tagged with "Art" and then with "drawing." A single tag can be comprised of multiple words, e.g. Bath and Beauty. You can have up to 14 tags per item.

What can you do now?

First of all, when listing a new item, make sure you are tagging with the most obvious and descriptive terms. Look at the photo of your item and ask yourself the question: "What words would I type into a search bar to find this item?" Then start writing down the most obvious and relevant words you can think of as your first tags. When you start to get stumped, write down adjectives that describe your item as well as the materials you used to make your item. Try to use all 14 tags that are allotted for your listing; this will make your item show up in the most possible searches.
Secondly, take the time to sit down and look over all the tags on items you currently have listed in your shop. Do they match the above criteria? If not, go ahead and edit your listings to add more tags and/or change the current tags you have. You can edit your listings at any time free of charge: Just make sure to click "Finish" to save your changes and reactivate your listing.

Top tips:

When deciding what words to tag your items with, think about describing who the item is for (example: women, men, children, boy, girl, pets), and the major color(s) of the item. Both of these terms are frequently used in shopper's searches!
One of my best tricks is thesaurus.com; this site is a great place to get new ideas for tags when you can't think of any more.

Here is a thorough Storque article with lots more tips and suggestions!

An Example:

One of the commenter's on our Shop Makeover intro, Chickibebe, has an adorable tiger costume listed in her shop. She's tagged it with "children" and "costume" and a few others, which is great. But we think she can be using a lot more tags: why not use all 14?! Chickibebe should think about what occasions kids would wear such a costume. What activities would kids be using this costume for? We suggest adding "Halloween," "dress-up," and even "costumecon," which is the tag Etsians used for the Halloween Costume Contest in October. Tiger-costume hunters on the prowl (rrrrearrrr!) or people who just have an interest in costuming probably were following the contest this past year, and might continue to search with that tag.

Post your most puzzling tagging questions below. Did you start using a different tag and start seeing results? Let us know. Happy tagging!

Tagging Tips: Your Username

2007-11-27T14:13:00-05:00

I think your username is a good tag to use for a few of your items if you are getting the word out about your Etsy shop and people (especially those new to Etsy) will be searching for you. Most sellers have a username that isn't a word, so this is a fine thing for most sellers.

If you have a username that isn't a word, say "blueberrysunrise" for example, this works well, since anyone typing in those two words together as one word is definitely looking for you! Unless your item directly relates to "blueberry" and "sunrise," you shouldn't use "blueberry" and "sunrise" in your tags.

Dingo brings up a good point about usernames that are words. Up to now, we've found that sellers have been really courteous about this (as Dingo and cozy have), and I have not seen it be a problem. I also find that the few sellers I've seen with usernames similar enough to come up in a search for a word are generally making that type of item. If your username is a category or subcategory (related tags appear under it on pg 2 of listing), or a word, you may use that only on listings that the word accurately describes. So if my username is Bracelet, I can only use that tag for my bracelets, not my earrings.

Also, remember that you can't tag with another seller's username, unless it is a word that accurately describes your item (or some special circumstance — eg. you have a licensing deal with that seller and have permission to use her name, etc.).

And, for those with a non-word username, you don't need to do your username on all of your items...maybe just a few items to help someone find your shop...It's best to try to think of as many relevant search terms as possible to help shoppers find you!

Here's another article on tagging to help you out. See the forum thread for more discussion.

Tag Workshop Recap

2007-10-08T12:41:00-05:00

Here's a recap of last week's tagging workshop for those who missed it! We've edited the transcript a bit to take out some of the "chat chatter." Thanks to everyone who came, it was a great workshop! The admin comments (kfarrell and iheartmoustaches) are in italics to make them a little easier to find. Since it was an Online Workshop, with admin answering questions over a live webcam feed, we've summarized the admin's answers, if they weren't also written out at the time.

If you need a refresher on tags, and how to use them, read Christine's tagging guide.

Iheartmoustaches: let's talk about the item above
Iheartmoustaches: i think it would be better off if it was listed within the housewares section rather than everthing else
kfarrell: you might also add the tags "floral" "business cards" and "organization"
kfarrell: and "shabby chic" can be combined into one tag

DreamWhimsy: I have a question about using the words Shabby Chic as it is a trade mark?
kfarrell: You can't use trademarked words to tag your item, unless you used that particular product in your item. So you can tag it as "Cheerios" if you made it from a recycled Cherrios box, but you can't tag something as "Tiffany's" if it is merely in the style of Tiffany's.

magickalrealism: yep, Shabby Chic is trademarked.
magickalrealism: http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm

RowleyBaby: what is cgge?
kfarrell: CGGE is an Etsy street team, the Creative Glass Guild of Etsy
Iheartmoustaches: she has it tagged with "pot holder" but most people think of a pot holder as something you use to pick up a pot rather than set something on
kfarrell: so pot holder is probably not appropriate on this one
kfarrell: this is also tagged as "quilt," is that a type of mosaic pattern?
abitabite: the pattern
abitabite: yup
RowleyBaby: it's a log cabin quilt pattern
RowleyBaby: like one square from a quilt
kfarrell: you'd be better off with "log cabin quilt" than "quilt" sinuglarly, so it won't show up when someone is searching for a quilt
Iheartmoustaches: you could also add the tag "wall hanging"

Iheartmoustaches: so right now she has tags like "baby boy girl" and "frog dragonflies"
RowleyBaby: is it okay to put all of those words w/ each tag?
Iheartmoustaches: it is considered tag abuse to double-tag like this, she should separate her tags into "frog" and "dragonfly"
nancygamon: so each tag should just be one word?
abitabite: two words can be like color colour
kfarrell: you can use two words as long as it's just one idea. So she can use "lady bug" because tagging it as "lady" and "bug" would mean something very different. But she can't use two unrelated words in one tag.
Iheartmoustaches: she might also want to remove the tag "plush" since that is used to refer to stuffed animals.
Iheartmoustaches: "bridal shower gift" is not an appropriate tag, you should use your tags to describe the item but not what it could potentially be used for.
nancygamon: so you can't take something bridal shower gift?
abitabite: what do you mean what it can be used for
abitabite: because i would way my items can be pincushion
abitabite: thats a use?
Iheartmoustaches: In that case, your item is a pincushion, so that's OK. But you shouldn't tag it as a "gift"
TheEbonSwan: So stocking stuffer is right out.
kfarrell: yep, stocking stuffer is out

skygirlstyle: should you use your team names
kfarrell: yes, it is OK to tag an item with a team name

designedbyDiana: the who what when where why how can you elaborate on this?
kfarrell: the "who what where..." etc is meant to help you think of descriptive tags for your items

nutnutgoods: how is tag abuse enforced?
kfarrell: we have a tag admin tool that lets us deal with mis-tagged items
kfarrell: so for tag abuse, support will send you a message letting you know about your incorrect tags, and change them for you
kfarrell: multiple instances of tag abuse may lead to diciplinary action, but you will be given warnings first

designedbyDiana: what about using colors in your item as tags?
artyfakt: or 50s, 60s, etc.
kfarrell: you are welcome to use descriptive colors in your tags. I'd suggest sticking to the basic "red yellow orange" rather than "plum" or any fancy names. Also, you might want to stay away from "fuchsia" as a lot of people have trouble spelling it.

nutnutgoods: is is a good idea to put your store name in the tags?
Iheartmoustaches: You are welcome to do so if you have enough tags

Iheartmoustaches: Since this item is a hand-printed linocut, it is OK to tag this item as "original"

Iheartmoustaches: Other tags she might consider for this item: hand painted, floral, red
abitabite: are the colours in tags how the colour flash thing work
kfarrell: The color picker looks at each image, and creates its own index of what color it thinks an item is. It's separate from the tags.
abitabite: oh neat!
nutnutgoods: cool
skygirlstyle: does it matter what order your tags are in ...more relevant items first?
kfarrell: right now, no. The search does not take into account the order of the tags after the first tag. However that may change, so we suggest ordering your tags with the more general ones first
Iheartmoustaches: She also has the item tagged as "silk" "scarf" and "silk scarf" but the "silk scarf" is redundant.

abitabite: would plush plushie be a good one for twwo tags in one tag box
kfarrell: this is not necessary, because our search engine will pick up both "plush" and "plushie" on a search for "plush." It automatically searches for the plurals of words.
nancygamon: use singular or plural? flower or flowers?
kfarrell: If you have a singular item, you should tag with the singular. If you have multiple items (for example: a tube of beads) you should tag it with the plural. You can also use the plural for items that are usually sold in pairs (earrings, pants, etc)
abitabite: will a search for plushie bring up plush?
kfarrell: No, the search engine can't go backwards from plural to singular.
artyfakt: good to know!

kfarrell: so this item could be tagged with any number of words relating to dog
kfarrell: and also with 'fundraiser' or "charity"
kfarrell: as her proceeds are going to charity

abitabite: when it comes to tagging for street teams should if be all one word like "Menofetsy" or "etsymom"
kfarrell: yes, you should compress them into one word. Unless you're actually selling the men of Etsy.
nutnutgoods: ha!

LilliputianDesigns: Can I tag a little girl's dress with holiday if it's dressy and meant to be worn for the holidays?
Iheartmoustaches: If it has a holiday design on it, then yes. If it is just a nice dress that might be worn around the holidays, then no. You can however tag clothing seasonally, such as "winter" if it's a warmer, heavier dress.

nancygamon: Do you need to tag both singular and plural? Both "bead" & "beads"?
kfarrell: no, you only need one.
nancygamon: if someone searches "bead" will they get items that are tagged "beads"?
kfarrell: yes
lessthanthreedesigns: if someone searches "beads", will they get items tagged "bead"?
kfarrell: no, they will not

abitabite: should people OS tag with thier country
kfarrell: it's not required, but you're welcome to

nancygamon: if you fold a calendar page into an envelope, can you tag the item "calendar" since that's a material?
Iheartmoustaches: It's not abuse per se, but it's probably not helping folks find your item, since they'll be looking for "envelope" and not "calendar"

nancygamon: how to best know then when to list the materials as tags?
kfarrell: think about the types of materials people search for: silver, crystal, wool. Don't list things like glue, staples, etc. It is OK to list materials both under "materials" and "tags"

kfarrell: That's all we have time for today, thanks for joining us!