How to Maximise Your SEO on Etsy

Overview

This article explains the common mistakes new Etsy sellers make with their SEO strategies and provides actionable tips to improve your shop’s visibility and ranking. By following this guide, you’ll be better equipped to optimize your listings and drive more traffic to your Etsy shop.

What You Will Learn in This Article:

• How to maintain a cohesive product theme
• Strategies for maximizing keywords in your titles
• Techniques for writing effective product descriptions
• How to fully utilize all 13 tags with the right keywords
• The importance of competitor research in shaping your SEO
• Optimizing your shop sections for better navigation
• Improving image quality to increase click-through rates
• The benefits of using Etsy Ads and how to leverage them
• Why and how to update your listings regularly

Mistakes to Avoid with Etsy SEO

Etsy is a fantastic platform for selling posters, but many new sellers make crucial mistakes that can prevent their listings from being discovered. In this guide, we'll go over the most common Etsy SEO mistakes and how to avoid them so that your shop has the best chance of success.

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1. Selling a Random Mismatch of Products

One of the biggest mistakes new Etsy sellers make is trying to sell a completely random mix of products. Etsy shops work best when they have a cohesive theme—customers should immediately understand what to expect when they land on your shop page. While your products can differ slightly from one another, they should all fit within a broader niche.

For example, a shop selling vintage travel posters, retro car prints, and classic movie artwork has a clear and defined aesthetic. On the other hand, a shop selling minimalist typography prints alongside novelty T-shirts and handmade jewelry lacks consistency.

A clear theme helps Etsy understand what your shop is about, which can help with ranking in search results.

2. Not Maximizing Keywords in Titles

Etsy gives you 140 characters to write your listing title—so don’t waste them! Many sellers make the mistake of writing short, vague titles instead of packing them with relevant keywords.

What NOT to do:

"Skiing Poster – Beautiful Mountain Print"

This title doesn’t take advantage of the available space and misses key search terms.

What TO do instead:

"Les Arcs Skiing Poster, Les Arcs Print, Les Alpes, France Ski Poster, Skiing Poster, Snowboarding Poster, Ski Resort Poster Holiday, French"

This title is packed with keywords related to the product, increasing its chances of appearing in search results.

Avoid:

• Using only a couple of words in your title
• Being vague or using creative names that customers aren't searching for
• Repeating the exact same keyword multiple times

Instead, think like a buyer—what would someone type into the search bar to find your item?

3. Writing Weak Product Descriptions

Your description is another place where you can strategically insert keywords to improve your listing’s visibility. However, many sellers make the mistake of writing a short, generic description that doesn’t include enough search terms.

What NOT to do:

"This is a high-quality poster of a Formula One car. It would make a great gift."

What TO do instead:

"Experience the thrill of the racetrack with this stunning Formula One poster. Printed on high-quality paper, this racing car wall art print features a dynamic image of a Formula One car in action, perfect for adding a touch of speed and excitement to any motorsports room or man cave. Whether you're a die-hard fan or simply appreciate the adrenaline of high-speed racing, this poster is sure to impress. Available in a range of sizes, it makes a great addition to your home or office, or as a gift for a fellow F1 enthusiast."

Avoid:

• Writing only a sentence or two
• Forgetting to mention key details (e.g., size, material, color)
• Ignoring potential use cases (e.g., home decor, gift ideas, office art)

A well-optimized description naturally includes important keywords while also making the listing more appealing to buyers.

4. Not Fully Using All 13 Tags

Tags are one of the most important factors in Etsy SEO, but many sellers make the mistake of not using all 13 or choosing tags that are too broad. Each tag can be up to 20 characters long, and they act as search terms that Etsy matches with customer searches. If you’re not maximizing them, you’re missing out on traffic.

What NOT to do:

• Using only 5-6 tags instead of the full 13
• Choosing generic tags like “art” or “poster” that are too competitive
• Repeating the same keywords from your title without variation

What TO do instead:

• Use all 13 tags to target a mix of broad and specific search terms
• Look at what successful competitors are using by scrolling to the bottom of their listings
• Use variations of search terms (e.g., "skiing decor" and "ski wall art") to capture different audiences

5. Choosing the Wrong Tags for a New Shop

A common mistake among new sellers is using highly competitive, generic tags instead of more specific ones. Etsy ranks listings based on shop history and sales, so new shops won’t rank well for broad keywords like "poster print" or "wall art." Instead, use niche-specific tags to improve your chances of ranking. For example, instead of:

Too Broad: "Poster Print"

Better: "Russell Mercedes Poster"

As your shop grows, you can experiment with broader tags, but early on, target specific search terms to increase visibility.

6. Ignoring Competitor Research

One of the best Etsy SEO tricks is studying successful competitors—but many sellers skip this step. Etsy shows the tags that other sellers are using at the bottom of each listing, so you can see exactly what’s working.

What NOT to do:

• Guessing your keywords without researching
• Using only the words that you personally associate with your product
• Ignoring what top-selling listings are doing

Instead: Analyze successful competitors, take note of their common keywords, and integrate them into your own strategy.

7. Not Optimizing Your Shop Sections

Etsy allows you to categorize your products into sections, but many sellers neglect this feature. Well-organized shop sections improve navigation for buyers and help with Etsy SEO.

Fix it by:

• Naming your shop sections with SEO-friendly keywords (e.g., "Vintage Travel Posters" instead of "Miscellaneous")
• Ensuring each section has multiple listings—empty sections can look unprofessional
• Keeping categories relevant to your overall shop theme

8. Using Low-Quality Images

Etsy prioritizes listings with high-quality, clear images, yet many sellers make the mistake of uploading blurry or poorly lit photos. Etsy SEO factors in click-through rate (CTR), and if your images aren’t attractive, fewer people will click your listing.

Fix it by:

• Using natural light or a lightbox for professional-looking product photos
• Ensuring the image is at least 2000px wide for zoom functionality
• Including multiple angles and lifestyle shots in your gallery

9. Neglecting Etsy Ads

Some sellers assume they don’t need ads, but even a small budget can help you test which keywords work best.

Fix it by:

• Running Etsy Ads on a few listings to see which keywords drive traffic
• Monitoring ad performance and adjusting budgets accordingly
• Using ads to boost new listings that don’t yet have traction

10. Failing to Update Listings Regularly

Etsy favors active shops, and many sellers make the mistake of listing products and never updating them.

Fix it by:

• Refreshing descriptions and tags every few months
• Updating images if they’re outdated or low quality
• Keeping an eye on trends and adjusting listings accordingly

By avoiding these common mistakes, you'll have a much better chance of ranking higher on Etsy and making more sales. Implement these fixes, and watch your shop grow!