Getting found on Etsy is harder than ever. With over 100 million listings competing for buyers' attention, the difference between a successful Etsy shop and one that never gets sales often comes down to one thing: keywords.

In this guide you will learn how to find the best Etsy keywords and tags completely free — no paid tools needed.

How Etsy Search Works

Etsy's search algorithm — called "Etsy Search" — ranks listings based on several factors, but keywords are the most important. When a buyer searches for "personalized silver necklace", Etsy scans all listings and ranks those that contain those exact words in their title, tags, and description.

Etsy gives you two main keyword fields:

Your title and tags should work together. If a word is in your title, also put it in a tag. Etsy looks for keyword matches across both fields.

Method 1 — Etsy's Own Search Bar

The simplest and most powerful free keyword research tool is Etsy's own search bar. Here is how to use it:

💡 Do this research in an incognito browser window so your previous searches don't influence the suggestions.

Method 2 — Spy on Bestselling Listings

Your best source of proven keywords is the listings that are already selling. Search for your product type on Etsy and filter by "Bestseller". Open the top 5-10 listings and study them carefully:

Write down every keyword you see across multiple bestselling listings. The keywords that appear repeatedly across multiple top sellers are your most important keywords.

Method 3 — Use TagReveal to Extract Competitor Keywords

Instead of manually reading through listings one by one, you can use TagReveal to instantly extract the keyword strategy from any Etsy listing URL. Just paste the URL of a bestselling competitor and TagReveal will reveal the primary keywords, long-tail phrases, and related terms that listing is targeting.

TagReveal also detects the type of Etsy product (digital download, art print, SVG file, jewelry, clothing) and tailors the keyword suggestions accordingly — so you always get relevant results, not generic suggestions.

Choosing the Right Tags

Etsy gives you 13 tag slots — use all of them. Each tag should be a phrase (2-3 words), not a single word. Single-word tags like "necklace" or "gift" have far too much competition. Instead use phrases like:

Mix different types of tags: product-specific, occasion-based, style-based, material-based, and recipient-based. This increases the number of different searches your listing can appear for.

Optimising Your Etsy Title

Your Etsy title should start with your most important keyword phrase. Etsy gives more weight to words at the beginning of the title. A good title structure is:

Primary Keyword + Style/Material + Occasion + Product Type
Example: "Personalized Silver Name Necklace — Dainty Minimalist Gift for Her — Bridesmaid Gift — Custom Initial Jewelry"

Use all 140 characters if possible. Include commas to make it readable, as buyers also see your title.

Tracking What Works

After updating your keywords, give them 4-6 weeks to take effect — Etsy's algorithm takes time to re-rank updated listings. Use Etsy's built-in Shop Stats to see which searches are bringing visitors to your listings. If a keyword is getting views but no sales, the keyword is right but your photos or price might need work.