4 Etsy Algorithm Tricks You Aren't Aware of for SEO in 2024

Learn 4 advanced Etsy algorithm tips and SEO tricks to help you rank higher in search before the holiday season.
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▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
00:00 - Preparing for the holidays on Etsy
01:09 - The listing video Google ranking trick
02:32 - How niches help you to rank with authority
03:59 - Giving your listing quality score a head-start
06:57 - How to avoid the vacation mode curse
#Etsy #EtsySellers #HandmadeAlphas

[@StarlaMoore]

🔵 Free Etsy SEO Toolbox: bit.ly/EtsyNoodle ❄ Maximize your Holiday Marketing success during our 7-day Alpha Holiday Bootcamp: www.BootcampAlpha.com *Deadline: September 26th!!!

[@brian8431]

What a great video, I literally just opened my store today and I only have two products and I wonder what kind of advice would you give somebody like me as far as having a general store or a niche store? I've heard equally people saying that both ways are good. My concern is when it comes to social media and organic marketing when you have a general shop besides advertising your shirts on there what else would you talk to people about? A great example is I run a Shopify store also where the nice is home decor so it's easy for me to be able to teach people things about home decorating and then throw an ad in between every now and again but when it comes to a general Etsy shop I'm not sure what I would talk about or educate people about with a general store? Any help would be great. And do you feel that I should just concentrate on Halloween designs right now since that's the next holiday coming up

[@StarlaMoore]

I have a great video from a few weeks ago where I cover this exact topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4rOc4V5ed-embssi=xsCGTocakFXOFfGF

[@StarlaMoore]

As for Halloween - it's a bit too late, unless you're selling digital items. Shoppers are already buying Christmas items. A good rule of thumb is to list items 4 months ahead of the intended holiday or season. Align you launch schedule alongside what craft stores are putting out. If your local craft store has their Christmas stuff out, it's time to list Christmas items.

[@brian8431]

@@StarlaMoore wow great thank you so much I'm going to go check out that video right now. So I guess technically I should be designing for Christmas already. Lol

[@StarlaMoore]

Definitely!!! We are already seeing huge spikes in Christmas shoppers on Etsy.

[@danwilliams341]

I love your videos, because you can tell they are well thought out and planned. There are a lot of POD influencers that seem to just come up with a topic and wing it. They create a 15 or 20 minute video with only maybe 5 minutes of quality content. Your content is to the point, well annunciated, understandable, and valuable all the way through. Thank you for all of the extra work you put into this for us.

[@StarlaMoore]

I truly appreciate it! Many KZbinrs go for quantity and click-bait over actual quality. It's definitely frustrating. I try to focus on quick content that serves a specific purpose. Comments like these keep me motivated! ❤️

[@decrepitoldbeauties]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Specially the tidbit about coming back from vacation. It’s my current situation and now I know I’ll have to work a bit harder to advertise and to make my items be seen again. Thank you Starla!😃🌹

[@JobePower]

Informative video 👍🏾

[@ArthurLA]

Great video! You have a remarkable ability to be clear, concise, and understandable to the masses while at the same time being very informative to more seasoned SEO folks. I'm a seasoned SEO/tech dude with years of training and still learn something new from your channel on a regular basis. If I didn't already know it, I think I would have guessed you were once a teacher. Thanks for the value you provide!

[@StarlaMoore]

I totally was a teacher! 💛 I was a preschool teacher... which is why my videos are so fun! 😅🎉

[@ArthurLA]

​@@StarlaMoore, indeed! I wish I had half of your pep. 😆

[@melanieklarofficial]

Oh my gosh I’m so glad i found you!

[@kirstenpennington3485]

Such helpful information, thank you!

[@StarlaMoore]

Glad it was helpful! 💜💜💜

[@heathalee]

Wow I feel like I just learned something!

[@GeminiThaMom]

Thank you!

[@StarlaMoore]

You're so welcome! ❤️

[@kaylagregory4056]

Thank you for all your content! It has been so helpful! Will the bootcamp include information if you have no following yet? I set up my IG and FB for my etsy store but haven't done anything with it. Will the bootcamp help with getting followers or do you have any other tips that I can look into before the boot camp starts? Thanks again!

[@StarlaMoore]

Yes, the bootcamp teaches you about what kind of content to post and how to engage with followers. You might also want to check out my 30-day Instagram challenge. You can find it here: bit.ly/EtsyAlphaFreebies

[@Karan-ur9ym]

Hi, quick question. If we plan to sell multiple items like pod t-shirts mugs etc. Is it advisable to have a single store or separate store for each category. Thanks

[@StarlaMoore]

It's important to note that mugs are not a niche. Shirts are not a niche. Tote bags are not a niche. These are industries. A niche would be a cohesive design element that is shared across your products. For example, a shop could absolutely sell mugs, shirts, and tote bags all within one shop under a "Dog groomer" niche, where all items are related to dog grooming, even though these designs are printed on different types of products. I discuss this topic a bit more in-depth in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4rOc4V5ed-embssi=vXg1vCD5Ovwunds8

[@heavenonthehorizon777]

Thanks Starla.

[@StarlaMoore]

You're so welcome!!! 💜💜💜

[@awlthatwoodcrafts8911]

I've added videos to 4 of my listings and they are my 4 best sellers. The first video I added to a listing was for my best seller, a squirrel feeder. I captured a squirrel figuring out how to open the feeder to get a peanut, so I added it to the listing. It took off. When I listed my wooden jack o' lanterns, I created some videos for them straight away and they were part of the listings when they launched. They have out-performed even my 2 best sellers, in terms of views and favorites, and are right behind those two in sales. I don't have any way of knowing if the videos have really been the difference, but if the advice is to add them to your listings, I have no reason to doubt it.

[@StarlaMoore]

That is absolutely awesome! ❤️ Do you have Google Analytics set up? If so, you should be able to see if the traffic from those listings is coming from Google search!

[@awlthatwoodcrafts8911]

@@StarlaMooreI do but I haven't done enough yet to understand what I'm looking at. If I look at "user acquisition", it's all "direct". Direct from where? I need to do my homework, for sure.

[@StarlaMoore]

I would do yourself a favor and connect your GA account to eRank. GA is super confusing. Even I can barely understand it. If you connect your GA to eRank, eRank will display the more important stats for you in a way that is easy to understand. It's been a life-saver.

[@awlthatwoodcrafts8911]

@@StarlaMoore cool. I will give that a look. Thanks.

[@intentionally-blank]

Thanks Starla. Newby here and new eRank Pro subscriber. Looking forward to eRank helping me with this venture.

[@StarlaMoore]

Welcome aboard!

[@mariecreativity9065]

I opened in late March and have 21 sales. I’m trying to be patient!

[@StarlaMoore]

Believe it or not, 21 sales isn't too bad since the summer on Etsy has been so slow. Make sure you are watching where that traffic is coming from so that you can double down if it's a certain social media platform.

[@almagjim]

I open my shop in June and I have no sales, I am wondering if I am doing something wrong 😅 but I am very helpful for the holidays. How many listings do you have? I have 120 so far but I want to have at least 300 for Christmas 😊

[@RunAwaylilGirl]

I used to cancel my "dead traffic listings" and pay again to list them up just to gain that "new listing boost" I only sell a few listings per month of high value so I am not sure if it really helps :/

[@eliastahan2394]

Love your hair

[@louisd95714]

Thank you for this information Staria. As for me, I literally opened mu ETSY store six days ago and have some entries. I also have lots of patience and I believe it can take some months to be established. Can you advise how about how long from your experience the SEO typically takes to recognize the entries?

[@StarlaMoore]

There is no magic number unfortunately. It depends on what you're selling, what keywords your using, and shoppers' searches. Stay at it and be sure that you're using social media to drive traffic to your shop and not just depend on organic Etsy traffic. Keep in mind, too, that right now is a slow time on Etsy overall. If you haven't already, be sure to grab all of the free Etsy and marketing resources and mini courses that I offer! There are a ton of different toolboxes to help you with various areas of your business. You can find them all here: bit.ly/EtsyAlphaFreebies

[@abbyscreativescape]

Yes! Question, my shop is mental health related but is mainly tees and hoodies with quotes on them that relate. But i also have a few bracelets that i make with the same phrases on them. Should i take the bracelets off? Or would they be good if i just "specialize" in mental health or anxiety

[@StarlaMoore]

You can have multiple types of items as long as they all relate to your niche and your brand.

[@almagjim]

Very helpful information 😊 question to you, if I have a niche already let’s say it’s teachers do all of my products need to say teacher in the design? Or as long as I add teachers in the title and tags?

[@StarlaMoore]

The designs don't need to all say "teacher". As long as your niche is "teacher" and you've built a cohesive line of products that teachers will be able to recognize and identify with, utilizing the word "teacher" on every product isn't necessary. I recently participated in a great session with Printify about niches! You can check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipKUp2CMbth4rqMsi=RwhAS-90qBpxdlcp

[@almagjim]

@@StarlaMoore thank you Starla ☺️

[@TheRedButterfly217]

Question: how does your primary Shop language influence your Ranking? (I feel like US sellers are always prioritized...)

[@StarlaMoore]

I honestly do not know if primary shop language affects your ranking or not. I know your shop's location does play a part in the algorithm, but it's only one of many factors that go towards your shop's ranking.

[@mnkygirl13]

If I only sell SVG & PNG's but half my listings are a very specific niche (sports related) the others are random, should I split my shop into two? Or is the niche of svg or png enough?

[@Ic3h0t]

If you will create a second store you will not give 100% on any of them. Better focus on this one because the niche of SVG or PNG should be enough. Make sure you create some categories on your store front so that the buyers can find them easier if they are browsing your store. Even consider creating bundles to include some of each category. Example: "Sport Bundle" and include 10-15 graphics related to sports; "Jobs Bundle" and include some graphics related to jobs... you get the idea. Good luck!

[@mnkygirl13]

@@Ic3h0tthank you!

[@heathalee]

Do you guys do shop critiques ever? I could really use that.

[@StarlaMoore]

I recommend checking out my past Etsy shop critique live streams, which I host every few months on my channel. By watching replays of past streams, you can learn a ton about the criteria that I use when critiquing shops. Especially since 99.9% of the time, I give the exact same pieces of advice. You can find a playlist of these past critiques here: kzbin.info/aero/PLl27QKVQFjTs7xFg8hD2uo5zHDKPR4tAF

[@PatriotCoinRings]

@StarlaMoore or anyone who knows. *Regarding Etsy's "Save and Share" program,, exactly what is it the seller is "sharing"? Are we leading our customer base to other sellers, I'm confused? I understand the concept of getting 4% back on sales generated by posting an Etsy link outside of Etsy such as from our social media platforms but still wondering if I'm maybe giving away some information or customer base I wouldn't want to. Do you or anyone here know the answer to this new Etsy offer?*

[@StarlaMoore]

You're leading customers directly to your shop and listings. So this would have nothing to do with leading shoppers to competitors. It would be no different from advertising your listings on social media as usual. You're just using a specific link that ensures you get you 4% discount.

[@PatriotCoinRings]

@@StarlaMoore Thanks Starla. I also just emailed you regarding the Alpha academy membership.

[@jillmorrow3134]

Hi Starla - I've heard about the 'new listings bump' from several experts but is there proof to this statement from Etsy? I ask because I have four etsy stores. I've been on Etsy for years and I can't say that I've ever seen that happen to my listings. After 30 days, I'll still have most listings without any views at all. Unless you run Etsy Ads. I really want the bump to be try but I seem to miss out on it.

[@StarlaMoore]

Here's the direct link from Etsy! The part you're looking for should be highlighted in this link, but if not, scroll to the section titled "Recency". www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/375461474487#:~:text=When%20a%20new%20listing%20is,similar%2C%20though%20smaller%2C%20boost.

[@PigletsDiamondArt]

Hi im an etsy jewellery seller and I have variety of handmade jewellery on my etsy shop from earrings to bracelets! But I mostly want to cut back to doing necklaces. Earrings and bracelets are saturated but not the necklaces. Would this be a good idea so I can concentrate on just one jewellery item rather than a selection? Thanks

[@StarlaMoore]

That's a decision that you will need to make for yourself. However, sometimes picking one item and doing it REALLY, REALLY well is the best idea. When I had my handmade jewelry Etsy shop, I made one thing-skeleton key necklaces and became a top 1% Etsy shop.

[@sch728]

I feel like I’m doing everything right except maybe niching down. Yet I’ve made 5 sales to family members. It’s been 3 months. I’ve watched hundreds of videos and done everything, including adding videos. Do you look at shops and make suggestions?

[@StarlaMoore]

I recommend checking out my past Etsy shop critique live streams, which I host every few months on my channel. By watching replays of past streams, you can learn a ton about the criteria that I use when critiquing shops. Especially since 99.9% of the time, I give the exact same pieces of advice. You can find a playlist of these past critiques here: kzbin.info/aero/PLl27QKVQFjTs7xFg8hD2uo5zHDKPR4tAF

[@hamletyork5273]

I want your course so bad!! I always join your contests wherever platform and whenever you have (even with printify amplified and collab video) but i always end up not winning 😂 i heard so many reviews about it, i want it so bad ugh but can't afford it right now 😭🙃

[@StarlaMoore]

I understand. But in the meantime, I have lots of free content that you can access on KZbin plus my freebies here: bit.ly/EtsyAlphaFreebies I'll always keep putting out free content for those that haven't reached the point for HAA yet. You might want to check out my upcoming holiday bootcamp, especially if you need help preparing for the holidays and with social media. You can get more info about it here: bit.ly/AlphaBootCamp

[@WolvesandWhatnot]

How do you actually verify the information you are teaching somebody? Like do you work for Etsy to know for sure that the quality score goes dormant when you go on vacation mode? Like I hear a lot of KZbinrs saying conflicting information. And I’m really just trying to figure out where people are actually getting this information, and if it’s even valid. Thoughts?

[@StarlaMoore]

I'm a manager at Etsy's largest SEO company. We are an official Etsy integration, meaning that I HAVE to understand how Etsy's search algorithm works to the extent that Etsy is willing to share. If you have a specific point within the video that you'd like a source for, just let me know!

[@slrcouture]

Hmmm as a buyer/seller, do you think it's a good idea to have the video listed after the first picture or have the video as the 1st listing? As a buyer, I think it's a good idea to capture the persons attention quickly on what the item is and how it's used.

[@StarlaMoore]

Videos will always appear in the second photo slot. You do not get to choose.

[@slrcouture]

@@StarlaMoore thank you 🙏🏾

[@nitzanlevi5236]

Should I "renew" dead listing for the etsy boost?

[@StarlaMoore]

I would first look at the listing to see why it might be dead. Review your listing photos and your tags and titles and update, if needed. Then you can renew the listing with the new information to see if that helps.

[@anacarlamenelau8722]

I sell illustrations on Etsy, and this year it's very hard to stand out... I think AI is the reason :( many shops selling tons of illustrations from websites of AI with a price like 2 dolars... It's hard to compete! Idk if etsy have a plan to help all designers, watercolor professionals that are struggling with sales... they should :(

[@dianaholish]

What kind of sweat shirt are you wearing?

[@StarlaMoore]

This one is printed on Cotton Heritage. It's been my favorite sweatshirt supplier so far! 😊

[@amygiacomelliart]

Oh, it’s 2024 already? 😊

[@StarlaMoore]

2024 is right around the corner! 😊

[@vickieclark5931]

I know you always talk about how it's not important to have a lot of products cause it's more about quality and SEO. I get that. But doesn't it give you a better chance to be found when you do have a lot of listing in your shop? I'm not talking about random listings, I'm talking about listings that all go to the same audience. Cause even if you have stuff that people like, everyone else selling in that niche or similar niche are still competing with the same keywords. So doesn't more mean you can dominate that market? For example: If you are selling minimalist printable wall art. There are a lot of people looking for it, but there are also a lot of people that are selling it. So regardless how good your product or SEO is, it is hard to be found if you only have 50 items in your shop when you are competing with thousands of items. Even using long tail keywords, there are still lots of sellers that pop up when you put something into the search regardless what it is. I'm just curious if that could be a barrier is just not dominating that market because even if you have stuff people like, you don't get found unless you have more than anyone in that niche. That's kind of what I notice when I put in a search is that the people that come up ALL OF THE TIME and the ones with thousands of listings.

[@StarlaMoore]

So - yes, and no. There is a lot of subjectivity that plays into the topic of "more=better", because it is completely industry dependent. There are some niches, like supplies, templates, and some digital niches (this will vary tremendously by industry) that definitely will see more success from having more listings, simply because, they sell cheaper products. However, there are so many factors that also need to be considered. 1st: Buyer perception: If a buyer goes into an Etsy shop that claims to make handmade gemstone rings, but this shop has 8,000 rings listed, it's very unlikely that the customer will believe these rings are ACTUALLY handmade. In this case, this type of seller would not benefit from listing tons of products per day. 2nd: The rules of probability are not a telling sign of success. For example, we have several students who once listed an item a day ($0.20 per listing) and eventually began running their business into the negative because, despite having 1,000s of listings, those items still weren't selling. On the flip side, we have students who have 20 to 30 AMAZING items who see thousands of monthly sales. Using the "list once per day" strategy is akin to "buying a lottery ticket a day". It's only worth it if you win. And very few sellers "win" with this strategy. 3rd: Listing quality scores dictate rank, regardless of how many listings you have. In most cases, sellers will have small handful of "best selling items" that carry the weight of their shop. Shops with 20-30 listings see the same "few best sellers" as shops with 1000's of listings, simply because listings that perpetually sell over and over again are the listings that Etsy is most likely to recommend in search. Is it possible to throw spaghetti at the wall in hopes that a few pieces will stick? Sure! But the idea that "listing an item a day" has some magical algorithmic benefit is a myth. An expensive myth, at that. If you're burning cash to keep warm, you're not utilizing a meaningful strategy that will support the longevity of your business. Instead, I lean more toward having a shop full of meaningful and well thought-out items that you actually care about and connect with, then building a social media audience that aligns with your brand's overall values. From there, you build a double sided funnel - one side bringing in traffic from social media, which helps to build your listing quality scores and helps those items to rank on Etsy - THUS contributing to your organic traffic from Etsy search (the other side of the funnel). If you want to list an item a day, absolutely go ahead and try that. But if you don't see success from it (very few do, otherwise you'd see WAY more people making a living from their POD shops, for example), it may be time to pivot your strategy to one that focuses more on brand building - since literally ALL big successful businesses in the world have done just that. Even Etsy sellers can replicate the strategies of large brands. Apple isn't making a new phone a day. Nike isn't rolling out a new shoe style a day. Tiffany & Co. isn't creating a new piece of silver statement jewelry per day. The have a few select items that absolutely DOMINATE. And they do this by investing time, love, and care into their brands - something that I don't really think is possible when attempting to reinvent the wheel each and every day by making a totally new item.

[@vickieclark5931]

@@StarlaMoore Thanks so much Starla. I sell digital items, so it doesn't take real long to make the products, so I don't charge much because I can sell over and over. I do use erank to see what sells, and I do use some strong keywords, but I do still struggle. I think it's just knowing what is considered good or not. I've been researching different things and even looking on etsy to see who and what are doing well, and I try to do some of what they are doing (not copying) but just seeing what sells and I struggle getting any sales from that. It just seems like it doesn't matter what I do cause it always seems to be wrong. I've changed my niche many times cause I never think my product is good enough even though others do well in some of the things that I sell. That's why I was wondering when it comes to digital if those are the sellers that do better with more products. Cause it's not like I'm making a silver bracelet that can take weeks to make. It really doesn't take much time to make what I make. But as I said, many sellers do well selling what I sell cause even though it's not time consuming to make what I make, there is still a demand for it. I think that's where I get frustrated. :(