Click here for the last UEN post about tagging.HeyMichelle says:
The Search Bar
Search bar is for specific searches- when you know exactly what you want. 2-3 words is best. It works well for some 1 word searches that aren’t across categories, or mean multiple things. If you search for 1 word and don’t find what you want, think of 1-2 more words that describe what you are looking for, (or go to Categories to get ideas). When I add terms to my search, I am automatically eliminating things I DON’T want, in addition to finding what I DO want.
You can also use NOT to eliminate terms from your search.
Categories
Categories is for browsing- when you don’t know exactly what you want or you only know 1 word to describe what you are looking for. If you select a Subcategory you automatically add the tag of the Category to your search. Pulls from all items tagged with that word, whether they are in the top-level Category or not.
Helping Buyers Find Your Items:
Tags
Search works best when sellers DON’T use the wrong tags, and DO use the right tags!
First, check here to see the Do’s & Don’ts of Tagging:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/etsyNews/article/tech-update-small-change-to-suggested-tags/458/
Good Tags!
So, to help buyers find your item in Search or Categories, you should fill your 14 available tags with relevant terms. Think about the types of words that buyers would search for to find your item.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/guidelines-tips-tagging-on-etsy/281/Also, see this great thread by Dyno (an etsy seller): she outlines a great approach for creating your tags (don’t use “possible use”- the last one- though, it’s one of the Don’ts!:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=23040
Tip: Check the Categories page. You may tag your item with the name of any Category, Subcategory or Subsubcategory if they *accurately* describe your item & don’t violate the Tagging Don’ts. Categories work off of tags…so if you want your item to show up in Accessories>Belt>Women, your item must be tagged with all 3.
Another tip: Tag supplies that are handmade by you with “handmade”.
Feel free to ask any questions here about how search works & tagging! Also, spread the word to other sellers to use those tags wisely!
UPDATE Oct 24:
Limited search tips added - info from Etsy Storque:
Today we’ve instituted a new sidebar on each and every search page. This sidebar showcases helpful hints to searchers who may not know the ropes of the Etsy search engine.
For instance, it’s more accurate to search for more than one word in your search. Searching for 14k gold jewelry will give you more exact results than simply searching for gold when using the main search button.
These and many other tips await you, on the new search sidebar!
Here’s the new info in the sidebar:
Search Tips
• Use two or more words to find exactly what you want
• Use the word NOT to exclude items from your search
• You can sort your results by price, number of views, or date listed
• Use the drop down to search just tags, tags and titles, or tags, titles, and descriptions
• Select sellers: usernames from the drop down to find sellers by name
October 28th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Worse yet, how are you supposed to know the Etsy code words, like ‘commercial’?
if I want supplies actually made by the seller, since so many people use commercial as well as handmade in the same listing, even though by Etsy definitions that doesn’t make sense - you have to search for ’supplies handmade NOT commercial’. That’s okay for me, since I am a seller and I know the site, but for a new customer it’s not quite obvious.
JDW says…”I must be missing something, because my searches get me what I’m looking for.”
What you’re missing is that most of our potential customers are unfortunately not sophisticated computer users. I can find whatever I want on Google, through savvy choice of keywords, search features and knowing how the search works. unfortunately, my mother, father, friends, aunts, etc. are not as sophisticated. That’s why something like actual categories would be nice.
Critically missing, as well, is the ability to use quotes to find phrases.
The ability to display more than the standard items per page has been oft requested and sure would be nice. The search also mangles common words by stripping the endings, making certain searches like ‘anime’ equal ‘animal’ and ‘bowling’ equal ‘bowl’.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
thanks JDW (I did see it in all its brevity when it was first announced) but my point was more of why would they know to add the patterns bit after the NOT. - it eventually becomes clear once you’ve run the search and got thousands of patterns i guess but i’d like to be kind to potential customers
NOT is intuitive to a lot of users who are familiar with other search engines, although I suspect many buyers coming to Etsy may not even have that advantage.
the non-intuitive bit is why the heck would you have to exclude patterns when searching for a finished piece of clothing?? (substitute fabric, beads, pot_pipe, etc for all the other categories ….)
that’s what makes the whole thing so f*cked up