A social network for people who love Etsy.com

Getting noticed by search engines

Take away: Unique content feeds the Google.

Delivering enough traffic to your site is a key to a successful online store as it is for a brick-and-mortar one. You can get friends and family looking at your site, but how to get strangers? There are several strategies, but this post will focus on getting your store to show up in the search engines.

Search engines, such as Google, love unique content. Unfortunately, online stores don't usually pass their threshold for unique content. That's no reflection on your work; it's more a matter of the coding that is used to build your and your fellow Etsians' sites. (Search engines see these stores as a sub-directory of a larger site and ignore them.)

So how to create that unique content? Take your choice. If you have a hosted website, create a link to your store. The search engines will find the link and you'll start to show up in searches. Search engines love blogs. Link your online store in a blog and the search engines will find your online store. Exchange links with a fellow Etsian--assuming their site already shows up in the search engines. Create an article with a link to your store. Post it on a hosted website or blog. The search engines will find you. Lastly, posting a link to your site in a forum such as--our favorite--We Love Etsy. Forums are filled with unique content that search engines gobble up with great contentment.

Psst. The search engines are watching us even as I type this. Want your site to more likely show up in search engines? Reply to this post listing your store address :-)

Tags: blog, exchange link, forum, search engine optimization, unique content, write an article

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Laylalegs on January 19, 2009 at 10:03am: Come see my store Laylalegs.com ( outoftheboxx.etsy.com) for unique one of a kind handmade baby leg warmers and arm warmers for all ages! Many fashionable designs to choose from over 165! Better prices than baby legs with softer cuffs.

Great information!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Noah Peal on February 1, 2009 at 7:45pm: I really like this type of reply. Laylalegs has a ".com" domain name that she points to her Etsy store and she lists a compelling reason for us readers to visit her site. I like it --and so will the search engines. Great way to promote yourself in a forum!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by LonesomeRoadStudio on January 19, 2009 at 11:02am: Thanks, Noah!! I'm always looking for simple (and free) tips like these to promote my store and increase my exposure in and out of Google.
Angie @ www.LonesomeRoadStudio.etsy.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Noah Peal on January 21, 2009 at 3:51am: Thanks for your kind words. Please consider buying your own .com name. At the time I am writing this, your www.LonesomeRoadStudio.com name is available! Buy your domain from whomever you feel most comfy with, but www.downdoggy.com has a tutorial on how to forward your domain to www.LonesomeRoadStudio.etsy.com. For less than $10/year, you will own your .com name and you can send people to www.LonesomeRoadStudio.com and they'll end up at www.LonesomeRoadStudio.etsy.com :-); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ToastGuy on January 21, 2009 at 2:50pm: hahahaha. Good point.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by cbartworks on January 21, 2009 at 3:00pm: Interesting thanks for the tips! I need to promote my shop more at http://cbartworks.etsy.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrea Kobayashi (AKJapan) on January 22, 2009 at 7:56pm: Haha! I'll add my Unique Content:
http://akjapan.etsy.com

I have found that changing my shop title has helped lift my shop in the searches from nowhere to the first page or first few pages. I used to have "Get some Zen", which sounded cool but wasn't helpful in Google searches. Recently I changed it to "Small works on paper by Andrea Kobayashi". I want to target collectors of works on paper and now I come up the first page of a Google search for small works on paper.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fiona on January 24, 2009 at 10:36am: Thanks Noah, this is a great help :)

Jewellery making and Craft supplies
www.fionamacneil.etsy.com

Handmade Jewellery
www.hinniemune.etsy.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ali Bali Jewellery on January 24, 2009 at 10:57am: Brilliant tips!! And I'll do what you suggest!

My contemporary silver jewellery shops are http://www.alibalijewellery.etsy.com and http://www.alibalijewellery.folksy.com. I make fine silver and sterling silver jewelry, combined with pearls and semi precious stones.

I also blog very regularly, my blog is http://www.alibalijewellery.blogspot.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by novationglass on January 24, 2009 at 6:53pm: Thanks, check out the fused glass goodies here,

http://www.NovationGlass.com

http://novationglass.etsy.com

http://novationglass.blogspot.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by CocosGreenhouse on January 24, 2009 at 7:39pm: Thanks for all of the great advice here! Stop by and visit my jewelry inspired by nature shop! :)

http://www.CocosGreenhouse.etsy.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Artisan Jewels on January 24, 2009 at 11:07pm: Thank you so much for the info!! Please visit ArtisanJewels.etsy.com for unique
handmade jewelry!!! I have just listed new items!!

Visit soon!!!; ▶ Reply to This