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The Importance of Superstar Keywords

The Importance of Superstar Keywords

4 min read

An older artisan displaying her handmade pottery vases, which is her superstar keyword

This post is also available in: Español

Want to attract more shoppers to your Etsy shop? It all starts with choosing the right keywords. On Etsy, keyword relevance is one of the most powerful factors for matching your listings with what buyers are searching for. Enter your Superstar Keywords: those magical phrases that perfectly describe your items and drive traffic to your shop. These keywords are usually long-tail or multi-word phrases that have less competition than broad, generic terms—giving you a better chance to stand out. Ready to find superstar keywords for your own shop? Keep reading to discover how eRank’s tools can make the process easier than ever!

Why Use Superstar Keywords

In the first phase of Etsy search, the algorithm scans every available listing to match what a shopper typed into the search bar. The parts of a listing scanned during this process are titles, tags, categories, and attributes. Having phrases that buyers use within those 4 parts of your listings can help you match with those searches. Shops that have a consistent theme or niche with certain keywords that they use repeatedly build keyword authority. Etsy’s algorithm learns that specific keywords bring traffic and sales to specific shops, so it will show that shop’s listings for those keywords more often.

Superstar keywords are those specific keywords that drive traffic to your shop by being specific enough so that there is lower competition, but broad enough to match with a wide range of buyer queries.

To learn more about Etsy search, read Etsy’s How Etsy Search Works article.

How to Find Your Superstar Keywords

If you don’t already have a superstar keyword in mind, there are a few eRank tools to help you find them. The Spotted on Etsy tool provides daily snapshots of the keywords that eRank found your listings for and if you have Google Analytics connected, shows actual buyer keyword matches as well.

💡 Don’t have Google Analytics linked to your Etsy shop and eRank account? Read eRank’s How to Set up Google Analytics 4 for Your Etsy Shop for a step-by-step guide.

Screenshot of eRank's Spotted on Etsy tool

Another tool that shows which keywords brought shoppers to you is eRank’s Traffic Stats. This feature shows how shoppers found you not only on Etsy but on other platforms such as Facebook or Pinterest or your own website or blog. Link your Google Analytics to eRank to use this feature. Looking at the keywords that brought the most traffic to your shop may help you find your new superstar keywords!

Learning the keywords that bring traffic to your shop can inspire you when refining your SEO strategy, making tweaks to your listings, or even planning new products. But how exactly do you use superstar keywords?

Adding Superstar Keywords

Once you have a superstar keyword picked out, it’s time to add that keyword into your Etsy listing. To see if you are already using that term, open that listing in eRank’s Listing Audit. Go to your Active Listings and click the “Listing Audit” button just below the title of the listing you want to work on. Once the listing audit has opened, there is a place for you to enter your superstar keyword.

Screenshot of the "Add Superstar Keyword" area from the Listing Audit screen in Erank

After adding your new superstar keyword, the page will refresh and display where in your listing you are already using this particular keyword. Also, see tips for how you could improve the usage of that keyword within your listing following Etsy’s best practices. Having your superstar keyword in your title, tags, and description can give you more chances to match with buyer searches, resulting in more opportunities to boost your visibility.

💡 Remember eRank’s Golden Rule: Never touch the SEO of a listing that is performing well for you.

Screenshot of eRank's Listing Audit after entering your superstar keyword

Level-up Your Listings

Learning which keywords attract the most visitors to your shop—and using them consistently—can bring in even more shoppers. Set aside time to dig into your traffic stats and listings to uncover your superstar keywords. As buyers respond positively through organic sales and glowing reviews, Etsy is more likely to rank your listings higher for those keywords, giving your shop even greater visibility. It’s a small step that can lead to big results!

For a comprehensive look at Etsy keywords and how eRank can help you uncover not only your superstar keywords but also guide your entire research process, check out What Are Etsy Keywords? Compare Keywords To Find The Best with eRank on the eRank YouTube Channel.

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