Search Engine Optimization (for dummies)

There have been many questions asked regarding Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This is what has worked for me...

1) Use relevant words in your title. for example.. call a bracelet a bracelet. You may refer to it as 'a moment in time' but its a bracelet. I don't search for 'a moment in time'. Titles are searchable!

2) Use the first words of your description to describe the item, using as many adjectives as you can. Keep the whimsy to later on. The first 160 characters of the description are the most important! This is what shows up in a Google search.

3) Use your tags effectively. Select tags for your items that describe the item.

4) Use titles on your shop sections that make sense for searching. If you have a section for purses, include the word purse in the section.

5) Make sure your shop title is relevant and relates to what you sell.

6) Use the first few sentences of your shop announcement to accurately describe what your shop is about. Those characters are searchable. So for example, 'welcome to my shop' really doesn't help your shop, but

"Crochetgal carries one of a kind crochet items, hand made soapdishes, and yarns at affordable prices" tells exactly what it is you do.

Thats about it in a nutshell!

For more details you can refer to the Etsy Sellers Guide for SEO

or check out Google's SEO Starter Guide
http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2008/11/googles-seo-starter-guide.html

or TechCrafter's notes on SEO Optimization
Part 1: What is SEO?
http://www.techcrafter.com/2009/07/seo-starter-guide-part-1-what-is-seo.html


Part 2: 10 things that will hurt your site
http://www.techcrafter.com/2009/07/seo-starter-guide-part-2-10-things-that.html


Part 3: Understanding Keywords
http://www.techcrafter.com/2009/07/seo-starter-guide-part-3-understanding.html