Publication date: November 21, 2023
Reading time: 3 minutes
With the holiday season upon, Etsy sellers need to gear up for the busiest time of the year. As shoppers flood the marketplace in search of unique gifts, it’s essential to fine-tune your strategies to stand out from the competition. Let’s explore four Etsy algorithm tricks and strategies of which you might not be aware to generate more traffic and sales during this festive season.
Harness the Power of Etsy Listing Videos
Etsy listing videos are an often-underused feature that can make a significant difference in your shop’s performance. While they may take a bit of time to create, these videos serve a more profound purpose than you might think.
Listing videos help shoppers better understand your products, making them feel more tangible. In a digital world, where your items are merely pixels on a screen, videos breathe life into your listings, making them stand out in search results.
But here’s the real secret: while listing videos don’t impact Etsy search rankings, they hold substantial weight in Google search results. So, creating engaging listing videos can improve your products’ visibility beyond Etsy’s platform.
Embrace a Defined Niche
Having a well-defined niche isn’t just about brand recognition; it also aligns with Etsy’s algorithm. Etsy’s search algorithm seems to favor topical consistency, meaning it rewards shops that consistently use specific keywords related to their niche.
Imagine a jewelry shop that specializes in silver jewelry. By using relevant keywords consistently across all listings, they signal to Etsy that they’re an authority in that niche. When a shopper searches for “silver jewelry,” the algorithm is more likely to rank this specialized shop higher.
Top-selling Etsy shops often have clearly defined niches, reflecting Etsy’s preference for shops that specialize in specific product categories.
Leverage the Boost Window for New Listings
New listings receive a temporary boost in Etsy search results. During this boost period, Etsy evaluates how customers interact with your listings to determine their permanent rank in search. To maximize this opportunity, focus on driving traffic, sales, and reviews to new listings.
While some sellers used to share listings in external groups to boost their rankings, this tactic no longer works. Instead, prioritize sales of the item, regardless of the traffic source. Building a strong social media presence can help direct traffic to your new listings, contributing to a stronger listing quality score.
Master Vacation Mode Strategy
Many sellers view vacation mode as detrimental to their Etsy shops, anticipating a drop in traffic and sales upon their return. However, understanding how listing quality scores work can change this perspective.
When you activate vacation mode, your listings go dormant in search, and your listing quality score takes a temporary backseat. Shoppers can’t discover, click, favorite, or purchase your items during this period.
Upon your return, it is crucial to “wake up” your listings. Plan a marketing campaign to drive traffic to your shop, such as a flash sale, email marketing, or new product launches. By actively generating traffic, you will expedite your shop’s recovery from dormancy and regain Etsy’s attention.
So, the lesson here is that if you have had your shop on vacation mode, you cannot just reactivate it the day before Black Friday and expect to see a lot of traffic. Reactivate it as soon as possible and spend time on social media to drive that needed traffic to your shop.
Stay Informed and Adapt
The holiday season is here—there is no more time to wait! Success on Etsy hinges on understanding how its algorithm works and adapting your strategies accordingly. Stay informed about changes and updates to Etsy’s algorithm and policies. Implement these algorithm tricks and strategies to maximize your shop’s visibility and sales. Remember, a successful Etsy shop requires continual learning and adaptation. By staying proactive and innovative, you’ll be well-prepared for a prosperous holiday season and beyond.
If you found these tips helpful, they were provided by eRank Manager and Handmade Alpha Academy Coach Starla Moore. Starla’s 9-module self-paced coaching program opens on December 1st and will only be open for new students through December 10th. The Handmade Alpha Academy teaches Etsy sellers the foundational knowledge of brand psychology, marketing, and funnel building. Starla also includes a year of eRank Pro with your enrollment to utilize while learning the in’s and out’s of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
For more information and to sign up for the waiting list to be reminded when enrollment opens, go to joinhaa.com. You can also email starla@handmadealphaacademy.com with any questions that you may have about the program.