Ready to give your Etsy listings a visibility boost? One of the simplest yet most powerful ways to rise in Etsy search results is by using attributes effectively. Think of them like extra tags that help shoppers find exactly what you’re selling. Curious how this under-the-radar feature can rev up your Etsy SEO? Keep reading to discover how attributes work, why they matter, and how you can optimize them to reach the right buyers at the right time.
What ARE Attributes?
Etsy attributes are the characteristics of an item and can include a variety of aspects based upon the category. You’ll find them in the “Details” section of a listing, just below the category. Attributes include aspects such as color, size, style, holiday, and occasion. When creating your listing, it’s important to fill out each applicable one as accurately as possible.
According to Etsy’s Keywords 101 article, attributes act as bonus tags. There is no need to repeat a keyword within your tags if it is already an attribute. For example, if you sell blankets and have “animal print” selected for the Pattern attribute, there is no need to have the keyword “animal print” as its own separate tag. This means that you can plan out your Etsy SEO strategy to include these bonus tags, freeing up space within your tags for adding a wider variety of keywords.
Do I Need to Fill Out Every Attribute?
Since attributes act as bonus tags, it is tempting to fill out each one in an effort to match with more buyer searches. However, best practice is to use only the ones relevant to your product. Etsy’s Add Attributes to Help Increase Your Shop’s Visibility article advises sellers to skip any that don’t apply. Why?
Adding irrelevant attributes to your listings can lead to a disappointing experience for shoppers.
This is especially true for the Holiday and Occasion attributes. An item such as a coffee mug may make a great Retirement gift, but it isn’t specific enough for that occasion. On the other hand, a mug that says “This is my Retirement Coffee” is for that specific occasion. For a more in-depth look at these guidelines, read eRank’s Using Holiday Attributes Effectively blog post.
To check your listings for attributes, use eRank’s Listing Audit tool. From this page, you can select any of your active listings to see a detailed breakdown, including the attributes for that listing.
If your listing is missing any, you will see it flagged within the SEO Tips area. This area also highlights potential areas of opportunity for you to polish your listing and ensure that it follows Etsy’s best practices.
How Do Shoppers Use Attributes?
When buyers search for a product on Etsy, they can refine the results using specific filters that Etsy provides. Some of these filters include attributes such as color or style. If your listing has the appropriate attribute added, then shoppers who refine their searches with these filters may have a greater chance to see your listing. Leaving relevant attributes blank may mean your listings miss this additional opportunity.
Take Advantage
When creating new listings on Etsy, take the time to fill them out properly and use all relevant attributes available. These spaces help buyers refine their searches, and they also act as bonus tags, giving sellers the chance to cast a wider net and match with more buyer queries. Ensure that they are as accurate as possible to give buyers an easier time finding exactly what they are looking for.
Want to sharpen your Etsy SEO even further? Don’t miss the eRank blog article Etsy SEO Basics.
Have more Etsy questions? Join thousands of fellow sellers in the eRank Facebook Group and grow your shop with a community that’s ready to help.
