Have you been patiently waiting to get more traffic on Etsy wondering how long it takes for Etsy SEO to work? You’re not alone. The world of Etsy SEO (search engine optimization) can be frustratingly slow at times. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, there are several factors that can impact your shop’s SEO and ultimately determine how quickly it works for you. So, if you’re ready to learn more about the Etsy SEO waiting game, buckle up and read on.
How Etsy SEO works
First, let’s talk about what Etsy SEO really is and how it works. Etsy uses an algorithm to decide where your listings should rank in buyer searches on the platform. This algorithm takes a lot of factors into account, some of which you can control and some you can’t. These factors include:
- Relevance or how well your listing matches the phrase a buyer types into the search bar
- Listing quality which includes your conversion rate and reviews
- Recency or how new the listing is
- Shop location
There are more factors included in the algorithm, but the 4 listed above are among the most important.
Factors that affect Etsy SEO Relevance
So how do you show Etsy that you’re relevant for buyer searches? Your listing title and tags are the most important factor that you have control over. You want to make sure the keywords used in your tags and titles are phrases that buyers are using to search for products like yours and that you’re formatting your keywords in a way that tells Etsy you want to rank for these phrases. Listen to this podcast episode to learn more about that.
Your SEO is also affected by the demand a product has, or how many buyers are actually searching for the product, as well as the competition you have from other Etsy sellers.
How long does it take to rank?
So how long does it really take for your SEO to work on Etsy? While the changes that you make to your listings are effective immediately, Etsy can take anywhere from 30 – 90 days to test your listing in the algorithm and decide where it should rank. Very competitive niches can take longer to rise up in search rankings.
Tips for improving your SEO
To give your listings the best chance of getting found in search, you’ll want to start with a thorough keyword research process that helps you find niche keywords with lower amounts of competition.
You’ll also want to plan to have full product line for each set of keywords that you find. Learn more about full product lines here.
Common mistakes to avoid
While there are plenty of strategies for improving your Etsy SEO, there are also a few common mistakes that can hurt your search rankings. Here are a few mistakes to avoid:
- Using keywords with millions of results for competition
- Not matching your titles to your tags in your listings
- Changing your tags and titles too often
- Editing listing tags and titles that are already working for you and getting traffic
- Using single word tags
- Trying to rank for generic keywords that will have a low conversion rate
Tracking your Etsy SEO progress
After you implement and SEO strategy you love, you’ll want a process for tracking improvements over the course of 30, 60, or 90 days. I love tracking traffic using a google spreadsheet.
Conclusion: Patience is key in the Etsy SEO waiting game
Improving your Etsy SEO is a long-term strategy that requires some patience and persistence. The good news is that once you have a strategy that works, you can apply it to every product that you sell to grow your traffic quickly and easily. To get a strategy that you’re confident in, sign up for my free masterclass here to learn more about how my Etsy membership, the Seller Collective, can help you.
