If you're just getting started in search engine optimization (SEO) for your Etsy shop, you might (unfortunately) have been subjected to a few SEO Myths. Before you start throwing away your time and money on an SEO wild goose chases, read these ten myths of search engine optimization.
1.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is too difficult to understand for regular people.
Not so. The basics of a good SEO strategy will equip you with what you need to make your site succeed in the search listings. Sure, there are some complicated topics in
SEO, just like anything else. But once you have the basics under your belt, you’ll be well prepared to optimize your Etsy shop.
2.There’s too much for me to learn about optimizing my Etsy shop. I’ll never catch up.
Again, not so. SEO is just like any other subject. You wouldn’t expect to learn everything there is about the War of 1812 by watching one PBS documentary, would you? SEO is much the same. Just learn the basics and move on from there. You’ll be surprised at how much more comfortable you feel once you’ve learned the core concepts.
3.Once I submit my Web site to search engines, I've got it made.
Not quite. In fact, submitting your site to search directories or search engines does not guarantee instant success. The act of submitting your site does not guarantee that you will now receive more hits, or suddenly shoot up to the top of the heap in the search results. Site submission just tells the world that you are out there and ready to be visited.
4. SEO just takes up too much time.
Not really. Again, the core of good
SEO is very basic. It just means you need to have a different point of view when writing your content, creating your source code, and designing your Etsy shop’s look. You’re already spending time doing all these things, so if you optimize your shop for your visitors and the search engines, you’re really only helping yourself in the end.
5.I need to submit Etsy shop to at least 1,000 search engines...right?
This is probably one of the most tired SEO myths out there today. First of all, where are these 1,000 or so search engines? Anyone who asks for money to submit your site to this many search engines is not going to be doing you any favors.
6. My Etsy shop is too big. I’ll never be able to do this all by myself.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your shop. The best strategy is to take one page at a time. Each page is a possible doorway into your site: that means that every single page can be your calling card to a possible customer or user. Focus on your most popular pages first to see what they need, and then keep the SEO core concepts in mind as you create new pages.
7. Meta tags are the most important part of website optimization.
Meta tags, such as keyword, title, and description tags, are informational HTML tags in the head section of website pages that search engine spiders use as part of their indexing strategy. Meta tags are by NO means the most important part part of optimizing your shop, but they are a part of a successful SEO strategy.
8. I need doorway pages, keyword stuffing, and more tricky stuff in order to get high rankings.
Doorways, cloaked pages, keyword stuffing - these are all part of what is known as "black hat SEO" and definitely should NOT be part of a good SEO strategy.
9. I can get to the Top Ten on any search engine in a very short period of time.
SEO is all about patience and lots of hard work...sounds fun, huh? In all reality, getting your site to the "Top Ten" of any search engine should not be the end goal; while obtaining that high ranking is a nice side benefit, your true target is providing a service to your visitors with your Etsy shop. The old adage "if you build it, they will come" applies especially in the realm of optimizing your site, because once you create a viable Etsy shop that gives searchers what they are looking for, more traffic naturally will follow.
10. I don’t need SEO. I’m already doing well in Google.
That’s great! However, you probably don’t want to ride off into the sunset just yet. Good SEO is an ongoing, never-ending process. There’s always something that could be tweaked, optimized, or revamped. Learn the basics of SEO and find out how you can apply them to your site to make it even more successful.
Adapted from: http://websearch.about.com/od/searchenginemarketing/a/seomyths.htm
Mary
SEO and Relevancy Guide Books
Talk about duplicate content & copy + paste
Lots of people asked me about duplicate content and " copy & paste ", so today I will talk about them briefly .
Q : what is duplicate content ?
A : your listings descriptions are all very similar to each other.
Q : I have lots of similar items in my shop. What does that has to do with Google search ?
A : Google has this " filter " thing. So if our listings descriptions are very very very similar , then our listings ** MAY ** not show up . I have to say **may ** because Google does not give out guideline , so we can only do our best to write our descriptions differently and then run our own research tests on Google.
Q : What do you think of "copy + paste" ?
A : I LOVE "copy + paste" all my listings .... seriously, I do & here is why .
I think there is one benefit of "copy + paste" :
you get to set up your listing right away & your etsy buyers get to see your new listings. If your goal is internal traffic from etsy & you are in a hurry to set up a few listings, "copy + paste" will at the very least help you in this matter. Etsy does not " read " the listing descriptions, so you can have very similar descriptions.
Q : I also sell on other online site , can I "copy + paste" ?
A : It is up to you but for me, I would not :)
if you want listings from both sites to show up in Google search , then it is best to write " some what different " descriptions.
Q : I can't possibly re-write all my listing descriptions. I have 2 shops & hundreds of listings.
A : Is that a question? lol
My advise is : Do your best to change some words around , to just change a couple of listing description whenever you have time so you don't run yourself ragged , take your time & " play around " with the words just a little bit .
It can be time consuming to have different content for your listings but you will get the hang of it once you know what to say ..... if I tell you it is going to be a breeze, then I would be sugar coating it:) But it will benefit your shop & hopefully bring in some more views ....and that will be a good outcome., don't you think?
Q : okay, so can I use the same set of keywords in my listings and titles?
A : yes, if those keywords are suitable for you, then use them :)
Do your best to write your keywords out in a sentence form, in stead of in a long string of words.
I have also talked about duplicate content in a couple of these other threads, see link here, and offered some excellent examples , take a look & those examples may give you some ideas & inspirations to work on your listings too
http://www.etsy.com/teams/11352/relevancy-and-seo-for-all-etsy-shops/discuss/10229912
http://www.etsy.com/teams/11352/relevancy-and-seo-for-all-etsy-shops/discuss/10074504
and this is what SEO Team Captain Mary wrote about duplicate content from one of the previous thread :
" Google does not publish any specific guidelines to tell anyone how much is too much duplicate content.Eliminating as much duplication as possible is the best approach but if you would like to keep this content as it is, then test on google.com by searching on the keywords that you are using in the title of the listing. If Google treats your listings are virtual duplications then one or more of the duplicated listings would be very far back in the search results. "
a few excerpts & tips to help you out :
Q : My keyword phrase is too long & won't fit in Etsy 20 character limit for tags ?
A : break up the keyword phrase as best as you can.
I know it can be frustrating when I really "need" the whole phrase in for my own item ....so I totally understand :)
for ex; gemstone pendant necklace
....>>>gemstone pendant, pendant necklace , gemstone necklace.
Fabric flower handbag
...>>> Fabric handbag, flower handbag
Q : Can I just copy & paste my " title " with all these good keywords into my listing description ?
A : I would do your best to write out the keywords in a sentence form.
not in a string of words.
for ex, you can say :
I handmade this ( your keyword ) .......
hope you'll love this ( or another keyword ) .....
This ( another keyword ) is made with materials ......
Q : Anyway tips on how to write my descriptions differently because all my items are just about the same ... except color & size ?
A : Yes, I do have a few tips , believe it or not, there are " a couple " fairly simple ways to write out your listing slightly differently.
> ask a couple of friends , family members ...anyone to write out one paragraph of your listing .....just one paragraph or two,
so they won't think you want them to write a " term paper ".
Each person's writing style & choice of words are going to be very different from yours, so this give you a few different " bases " to work with .
> inspirations on words will come along if you read things that interests you ...such as gardening books, cook books , emails from other online websites, even newspaper apartment ads sometimes have interesting words that may inspire you to think of what to say:)
Q : I have lots of " standard information " about how I make my item, shipping policy, my production methods etc etc? Can I put a link in my listings ?
A : yes, you can try putting a link to your policy for " info / method process etc "
or any info that you don't think you can write them out " differently " or choose not to write them out in every listing ...yes a link is good!
Grace G
Cartilage Earrings on Etsy
