Why Using Tags is RUINING Your Listings | Etsy 2025 Tutorial

About this video

This video argues that bad tags can bury Etsy listings and shows how to fix them. The biggest mistake is inconsistent tags: if a ‘50 stickers for kids’ listing uses tags like ‘mom gift’ or ‘wallpaper,’ Etsy has to guess what the product is, which weakens ranking; tags should repeat and reinforce the same keyword phrases used in the title (e.g., ‘stickers for kids,’ ‘cute animal stickers,’ ‘sticker decal for phone’). Tags that chase unrelated high-traffic audiences (e.g., ’nurse t-shirt’ on a custom logo shirt) are likewise harmful. Second, even perfect tags fail without clicks: Etsy ranks on click-through rate, so the main photo must show the product in use, in context, and brightly lit — she contrasts a flat, background-removed mockup with an on-model kids’ apparel photo, and for digital products insists on showing the actual content and utility (e.g., the pages inside a meal planning binder) rather than just a cover. She suggests building a Pinterest mood board of about 20 on-trend photos in your niche and mimicking that aesthetic. Third, avoid basic one-word tags like ‘shirt’ or ‘gift’ and use long-tail keywords built as product type + recipient + occasion (e.g., ‘planner for teachers back to school gift,’ ‘crochet baby blanket’). She claims switching her own tags from basics like ‘baby wall art’ to ‘boho nursery wall art’ and similar phrases tripled her views. Finally, don’t just copy top sellers’ tags; align with the algorithm, revisit tags using listing-level stats (but leave bestsellers alone), and test by rewriting one weak listing’s title, tags, and photo and tracking results for three weeks.

Key takeaways

• Keep tags consistent with your title and the rest of your SEO so they reinforce one clear keyword signal instead of making Etsy guess what the product is.
• Never use unrelated high-traffic tags (e.g., ’nurse t-shirt’ on a custom logo shirt); relevance beats raw traffic.
• Click-through rate drives ranking, so make the first photo show the product in use with clean, bright lighting — and for digital products, show the actual content, not just the cover.
• Replace one-word tags with long-tail keywords structured as product type + recipient + occasion, using Google Suggest or the Etsy search bar to complete phrases.
• Don’t copy competitors’ tags; update tags based on listing-level stats (leaving bestsellers untouched) and test changes on a weak listing over about three weeks.

Episode details: published July 14, 2025 · 6:50 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Dylan Jahraus’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

← Previous: ChatGPT Says To Sell These 8 Etsy Products NOW · Next: 3 Time-Saving Tools Every Etsy Seller Should Use →

All Dylan Jahraus videos · Dylan Jahraus profile · Dylan Jahraus on YouTube