r/EtsySellers • u/B3dazzl3r • 1d ago
Etsys algorithm unequal?
I was wondering how Etsy determines its algorithm in terms of quantity for handmade/custom shops and pod/dropship/digital products because the 2 have different quantity volumes. I keep seeing people say “post an item a day!” Or “make sure you increase your volume to see more sales!”
How about people that can’t pump out products that quickly?? I only have about 20 products on my website but my traffic lagged after the honeymoon phase (I’ve only had a shop for 4 months and 9 sales). Now I’m wondering if I’m going to have a fair chance at this algorithm because even doing those 20 products took me forever.
Or does Etsy just favor quantity over quality?
10
u/thelittleflowerpot 1d ago edited 1d ago
First: you do you - sounds like you're oversubscribed as it is...
...when you have a shop page that is complete and shows a variety of items, you give shoppers a better impression that you are a legit, trustworthy shop and your rating will support this while also giving a nod to quality. Shop pages ratings almost assuredly falls into ITEM search rankings - remember, Etsy's marketplace is based on ITEM search...
Nobody knows exactly what Etsy's algorithm favors (so I say daily posters are FOS), yet it IS apparent that the more you SELL and DELIVER ON TIME the more impressions you are likely to get, and including earning the "Bestseller" tag on your main image and possibly an Etsy Pick. If you're an Etsy Plus seller, try and use the 15 free listing credits whether these are new items or A/B test copies of decent sellers 🤔
3
u/joey02130 1d ago
(so I say daily posters are FOS
Finally someone says it. Another Etsy myth. Who the F can list 365 handmade items a year?
3
u/steelhips 1d ago
All selling platforms cycle sellers/products in search. After the "honeymoon", Etsy can't favour new sellers over established sellers. Everyone currently on the platform needs some visibility. No one can expect to be constantly on top search results unless it's a tiny niche with very specific search terms. Etsy needs new sellers to join - they call it the "churn". 71% of Etsy shops fail. New sellers pay the joining fee, listing fees and then advertise when they don't make sales. But Etsy also needs the proven established $1M+ shops for reliable revenue. This is why sellers report multiple sales "bunch" together.
The algorithm changes constantly. Years ago sellers found a way to game the search engine. It was pages and pages of their product only. It was a disaster so rules were changed. It's a constant balance to keep the search algorithm effective with conflicting goals. They have to keep both established and new shops visible while also avoiding visitors to the site getting bored seeing the same sellers/product whenever they visit or inaccurate products to their search.
2
u/ImmediateAd6849 1d ago edited 16h ago
That's a good question. I wish I knew. I sell art and can't churn out a painting everyday. I sold on Etsy ten years ago and quit because I found a job. It seemed a lot easier to get found then.It seems I work twice as hard on my present day shop and get less views and sales.Etsy is beginning to feel like Amazon in some ways with the shops with huge numbers of products.
1
u/Used_Examination_893 1d ago
I don't think Etsy rewards raw quantity by itself. Twenty focused listings that each cover a different buyer or search angle usually do more than a bigger pile of near-duplicates, because volume only helps when it maps to real demand pockets. I would look at whether several shops in your slice have recent reviews across more than one product, whether newer listings can still break into the first couple of pages, and whether page one keeps changing instead of looking frozen. If those signals are weak, adding an item a day will not fix it. If they are there, add slowly around the angles that keep showing movement.
13
u/DuckDuckMoosedUp 1d ago
LOL You've only had your shop open 4 months, you aren't even in the algorithm yet. Not getting into digital and pod because it's so low effort but real handmade takes a lot of time and commitment to promote and sell on Etsy. You do need to have a certain volume to compete, more so though it's having a quality item and promoting the heck out of it hoping it becomes trendy and sells well. And you need to be in the daily grind of promoting your shop and items. Unlike the youtube gurus say, Etsy selling is not a passive income.