Date: September 19, 2024
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
Etsy recently announced significant changes to its algorithm, which requires sellers to take action by October 1st to avoid losing search traffic. These updates change how listings are prioritized in search, so it’s crucial for Etsy sellers to adapt quickly to maintain visibility and sales.
eRank’s recent blog article Etsy’s October 1st Shipping Visibility Change covers the new $6 shipping threshold being implemented by Etsy in detail. Be sure to read this article in plenty of time before October 1st to allow for any necessary changes.
Shipping under $6 is only one of the changes announced by Etsy. Let’s discuss how these additional factors might impact the search ranking for your Etsy product listings.
Summary (TLDR)
- Significant algorithm changes on Etsy take effect on October 1st
- Listings need at least five high-quality photos to improve visibility, avoiding dark images and collages.
- A clear return policy is needed for all listings, even if you do not accept returns.
- Review ratings, message response rates, and on-time shipping now play a bigger role in search rankings.
- The new Search Visibility Page helps identify areas where your listings may need improvement based on the updated search criteria.
Listing Photos
In their recent announcement, Etsy also emphasized the importance of having multiple, high-quality photos, encouraging sellers to add at least five photos per listing. Although Etsy hasn’t officially stated this as a requirement, their CEO has suggested that listings with fewer images may be deprioritized in search. Sellers should avoid dark or low-quality photos, collage images, and thumbnails that are hard to see on smaller screens. Etsy’s goal appears to be transparency and ensuring that shoppers understand fully the product—if purchased—that they will receive.
Etsy now flags listings with images under 2,000 pixels wide, encouraging sellers to upload higher-quality photos. If you need assistance with creating your product photos, check out Kristina Nicole’s YouTube Channel. Kristina is a professional product photographer and teaches makers how to take product photos that attract more customers and result in more sales for product-based businesses.
Return Policies
While high-quality photos are crucial, another important factor for search ranking is your return policy. Even if you do not accept returns (unless legally required), simply having a policy in place can improve your placement in search results. This is an easy fix—just make sure each listing has a clear return policy.
Other Factors
Being more transparent, Etsy revealed other ranking factors that fall under its Customer and Marketplace Experience Score standards. These include:
- Average review rating
- Message response rates
- Rate of refunds or cases that resulted in refunds
- On-time shipping with tracking
Etsy clarified that while having a Star Seller badge does not directly impact search rankings, many of the factors that contribute to being a Star Seller do affect visibility.
New Search Visibility Page
Etsy’s new Search Visibility Page helps sellers identify areas in need of improvement. While eRank’s Listing Audit Tool measures how well your listings follow best practices, Etsy’s new tool focuses on the updated search criteria that will take effect next month. Essentially, it’s a heads-up that your listings may no longer meet Etsy’s updated standards, particularly when it comes to shipping prices.
What Sellers Should Do
To stay competitive and maintain your shop’s visibility, here are the steps you to take before the October 1st deadline:
- Adjust Shipping Prices: Make sure your domestic US shipping costs are under $6 to avoid losing visibility in search.
- Update Listings: Add multiple high-quality photos—ideally five or more—to each listing. Avoid using collages or dark, unclear images.
- Check Your Return Policies: Even if you do not accept returns, make sure each listing has a return policy in place.
- Monitor Your Shop’s Performance: Keep an eye on your message response rates, review scores, and overall customer service. These factors now have an even greater impact on your shop’s visibility.
Etsy’s algorithm changes are coming quickly, and sellers need to adapt to avoid losing search visibility. From lowering shipping costs to improving listing photos, these changes could impact how well your products perform, especially during the upcoming holiday season. Don’t wait until the last minute—take these steps now to stay ahead of the competition and maintain your shop’s visibility.
