As I’ve been discussing, search engines use keywords that they ‘find’ in the text that we write when we title, describe and tag our item listings. They can only find those keywords if we include them in our text. I hope you’ve taken some time to do some keyword research for some of your items and that you’re ready to do some writing. The most important thing to remember about creating SEO friendly text, besides including appropriate keyword phrases, is to organically weave those keyword phrases into your titles and descriptions. When you’re writing your text, there are two ‘audiences’ that you’re writing for: search engines and humans. Guess what? Search engines expect to ‘read’ text that humans will understand! Keep these basic points in mind as you sit down to create the text for items you’re ready to list:
Repeat your ‘best’ keyword phrase once or twice in the description if possible but don’t force it.Use one or two additional keyword phrases in your description if possible but again, don’t force it. What you write needs to flow naturally and make sense to your human readers.Include as tags the same keyword phrases that you used in your title and descriptions.If English isn’t your primary language, find a friend whose primary language is English to proofread your text.Google doesn’t like duplicate content. If you have the same items listed on other sites, you need to edit your titles and descriptions so that they aren’t identical. You can and should use the same keyword phrases but you should alter your sentence structure so that your descriptions vary.Choose your words carefully and remember that you’re writing for both search engines and humans and they both have the same expectations!
Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!
Why You Need to Choose Your Words Carefully Part 1 | Why You Need to Choose Your Words Carefully Part 2 | Why You Need to Choose Your Words Carefully Part 3
Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Denim and Pearls, A Stitch and a Prayer, Black Creek Crossing and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.
Tags: Descriptions, Item Descriptions, Keywords, Search Engine Optimization, SEO, Success on Zibbet, tags, Title, Why You Need to Choose Your Words Carefully Part 3
Last week, I defined some important terms that you need to understand when you’re writing titles, descriptions and tags for your items. Search engines use keywords to index web pages so that when you conduct a query, a list of relevant pages are returned in a ranked list. Selecting good keywords and weaving them organically into your text should be your number one consideration when preparing a listing. I repeat, selecting good keywords and weaving them organically into your text should be your number one consideration when preparing a listing. Got it?
Competition means that Google has a lot of web pages indexed with this keyword. A high number of Global Monthly Searches indicates that this is a popular search term. In most cases, Google will return a list of 100 keywords. Go through the entire list and click the check box to the left of the keywords that seem appropriate for your item based on what the item actually is and the criteria I’ve just described.
We often receive this question in Support from new sellers, especially from those who are selling online for the first time. Here’s how to list an item:
On the Images page you’ll be able to upload images of the item you’re listing as well as select up to four colors that best fit the item. You can also rearrange the order that the items will appear in the final listing. After you’ve completed uploading your images, click the Continue button at the bottom of the page.You’ll now see a draft of what your listing will look like in your shop. You can click the Edit Details and Edit Images links if you want to make changes. When you’re happy with your listing, simply click the List item link to make your listing Active.
Recently, I talked about why it’s important to choose your words wisely when writing item titles, descriptions and tags. I first reviewed some basic vocabulary–terms you need to understand when you think about your listings. Next, I emphasized the value of selecting good keywords and directed you to Google’s keyword tool for assistance in making those selections. I concluded the series with an explanation of the need to write for both humans and search engines in order to have your items found. Today, I’d like to take another look at buyer intent and identify some do’s and don’ts when it comes to your text.
Avoid the use of extravagantly creative titles. While “Standing at the Water’s Edge by Moonlight Jewelry Set” sounds extremely romantic, a better title for a handmade crystal necklace and earring set would probably be something more along the lines of “Handmade Crystal Necklace and Earring Set”. Why? Unless a shopper already knows the name of your item and is looking specifically for it online, how many shoppers would you estimate will search for “Standing at the Water’s Edge by Moonlight Jewelry Set”? To answer that question, check it out using Google’s keyword tool.
I recommend that you include your location in your description somewhere as well as your name, your shop name and the word Zibbet. As you, your shop and Zibbet become more well known online, the more important this information will become in searches. You can help develop the future by building this information into your descriptions now!
The Zibbet Picks Pinterest boards include location specific boards for those who like to shop close to home and support local handmade artisans. This week we are featuring Oregon. Shop Local Oregon managed by Mary A. Duncan of Merry Uncanny has grown to over 130 pinned items. All of this week’s featured items were selected from the Shop Local Oregon board.
Judy writes the ‘Fantastic Five‘ column where she features 5 Zibbet items every week. She is the owner of four Zibbet shops: Portable Graffiti Graphics, Portable Graffiti buttons, Proofreader, and Wild Goose Chase vintage, crafts and supplies. You can follow Judy on Facebook.
This week for Zibbet’s Fantastic Five I used the Zibbet Kids board on Pinterest managed by Gail Metcalf to find some holiday gifts for the little ones.
Hi ho off to Ohio we went to interview the talented
My home is in Ohio, where I was born and raised and I have been happily married for 33 years. We have three beautiful grown children, two girls and a boy; and eight Grandchildren; four boys and four girls, ranging from newborn to 11 years of age.My passion for sewing, and cross stitching began when I was 8 years old. Even though I dabble in all kinds of art forms, my strongest passion is designing cross stitch patterns. For more than three decades I was designing patterns and made them as gifts for family, friends and co-workers. Before long, my reputation spread through word of mouth and I had requests for my patterns coming out of the woodwork. I decided to make them available for others to enjoy, starting with craft shows and then the internet. I feel blessed being able to design high quality and unique cross stitch patterns for all ages to enjoy. 
I am a Graphic Artist and also specialize in Customer Service. I am currently unemployed which allows more time for me to enjoy my family as well as reading, bike riding, hiking and walking.Life. I believe that I have been blessed with my creative abilities and I thrive to design and create patterns for others to enjoy patterns that cannot be found elsewhere.God. I firmly believe that we must pay forward our God given talents for others to enjoy. I am grateful to God every day for all He has blessed me with…my Husband, my Children, my Grandchildren…everything!My family, of course. But I also enjoy gardening and building things around the house. 
I really like everything about Zibbet. It’s a wonderful user friendly marketplace where I can display all of my products that can easily be found shoppers. I also really like that I can rearrange my shop items in any order I want, which give shoppers another option of how to view my products.I look forward to the growth of Zibbet and I’m sure many new things will be coming our way. I would really like to have a bulk editing function added as well as the ability to see which items are marked as favorites by others when they are shopping my store. I participate in local area craft shows and distribute my business cards, and I also advertise my website on my car. I have a facebook and pinterest account as well as a website where I have recently added a page of FREE downloadable patterns so that shoppers can check out my quality of workmanship before they buy. It’s made a huge positive impact on buyers, and they love the freebies. I also send a free pattern with each purchase for shoppers to enjoy.
Take good photos of your products and give as much detail as possible about your product while keeping your wording to a minimum. You have about 3 seconds to make a good impression, starting with your photo. You don’t want to overwhelm your shoppers with too much information…just enough! And keep adding new items. Be sure to invite them back to see your new products that will be arriving soon. And make sure that you do add more items constantly to keep them coming back!I would like to become even more productive and much more successful. I want to reach even more fellow cross stitchers worldwide so that everyone can enjoy unique and fun patterns to make.
This week we had the pleasure of interviewing Christie Gaskill about Luvncrafts in Dry Ridge, Kentucky.Christie is an active member of Zibbet’s Community Hub. Her mini thank you cards are quite popular and she also sells her sewing and crocheted products here on Zibbet. We are very pleased to introduce Luvncrafts this week as our Featured Zibbeter. 
My Name is Christie. I am 38 years old. I have been married to my husband for 16 years, and we have six children. I enjoy gardening, exploring creation, and crafting. I also enjoy photographing my children and nature.I love to crochet and make cards. That is my way to relax and create. I don’t watch t.v. or anything like that. I unwind with a crochet hook. LOLI enjoy spending time with my family more than anything. I am a home body. Playing games with hubby and the children, or being out exploring in the woods. Those are the best times!I teach my children, clean house, cook, do laundry, garden, etc. The children and work of the home keep me pretty busy most days.
God and His creation, my family and friends.I look up to my parents and grandparents, who have given me a heritage of enjoying life and doing good for others. I look up to the Lord, He is my inspiration and help. I look up to anyone who can find joy in life in the midst of whatever they may be facing. And those who do what is right, regardless of what those around them are doing.Raising my children to be a strong generation for the future. Raising them to be good, caring people who don’t follow the crowd, but will be themselves and do their best in all things.
I have a passion for the Lord and living a life well pleasing to Him.I have a passion for doing good to others.The friendly, helpful atmosphere.Hmm…..I like Zibbet a lot the way it is. I think it would be fun for there to be a way for members to create collections of Zibbet items that would show on the front page.I promote by interacting in the forums, and using pinterest. Also, by word of mouth. Being a busy mom to six, I don’t have a lot of time on the computer.
Take time to interact in the forums. Make use of your “My Page” in the zibbet forums by adding pictures, blog posts, etc. Keep listing items, and taking better pictures.Better at what I do. And better at being who God created me to be. Sitting in my rocker with my crochet hook, watching my grandchildren playing outside and hearing their giggles. I hope that is FAR off tho……My children are still young.
This weeks; Fantastic Five features just a few of the many fun products on Zibbet that are striped. Zibbet’s Pinterest board Yikes Stripes! is managed by Rhonda. Rhonda’s Pinterest board makes it easy for you to find over 870 striped Zibbet products all in one place. Her board grows daily so be sure to check it often.
We could smell the delicious aromas of homemade Polish food as we approached Mishawaka, Indiana to interview Linda Opaczewski. Linda enjoys cooking her family’s traditional Polish meals to keep that tradition alive for future generations.Linda’s Zibbet shop Waterfall Crafts is a great place to shop for your holiday gifts. She makes products for all ages, children, men and women. You’ll love this interview! Please enjoy the interview, leave Linda a comment, and then use the Share Tools so others can read it, too. Please spread the Zibbet Love!
I’m a 62 yr old grandmother, disabled and I always have my wheels with me. I have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. My husband is my ROCK and helps me tremendously. I sew and embroider by machine and hand, quilt and I also have an accounting business all done from my home.I love to cook, bake, any kind of strange or delicious items I make. My husband will eat it all but funny thing is I could care less to eat it. I do make a lot of the Polish food from the years gone by. Recipes passed down from family members and people from the Polish neighborhoods. I teach our youngins how to cook the Polish foods and to speak it so the family will keep the traditions going. My grandkids do speak Polish and understand what we are saying when we talk. I also am an Accountant and have clients who I do their work from home.
Sometimes it is the view out the window, sometimes it is what I was up all night thinking about. I do my best work in my sleep. Hahah. Seeing other items people have made or new designs. I am like most sewers and quilters, I have numerous UFOs in my piles and one day they will be finished.I really only look up to 1.. GOD, he is there for me thru thick and thin. He was there to give me mental support when I finally realized I was going to be in a wheelchair and be in my home 24/7..365. He was there for support when my husband got his cancer. He pulled us through it. He is the only one I look up to.
My garden is awesome. It has brought us plenty of food for the summer and has given the neighbors many time heart attacks and nervousness. When they see me turned over in my wheelchair in the garden they come running only to find me normally laughing because I flipped it. I sometimes forget that there are things I cannot do but yet I try and keep trying. Sometimes the outcome is good and sometimes it isn’t but I will not let my wheels stop me from trying. I do sell my items but I also give a lot away. Right now I am doing 200 bags for the Children that will come to Santa’s Pantry for Xmas. These are being made from bed covers cut up and serged together. Knowing the smiles on those kids faces.. makes me happy .
I like the fact that the people there are not mean and nasty. I had other shops on Artfire and Etsy. The Artfire community is not a welcoming group of people. I had been told many times my items are not handmade because I use a machine. I luv the fact that there is so many different kinds of items on Zibbet, not just all Jewelry or soaps. It gives buyers a one stop shopping venue. I like the way the Admin addresses the problems and not just lets it go. I like the fact that there are not too many “Clicks” on here. People seem to be genuine and real and helpful when needed.
These might already be there but I would like to take my items and put a Free Shipping label on them so when the customer looks at the pic, they know right away that there is no shipping or when I have a sale, same thing. Just a little banner across the pics. I wish they would take the way we have the shop performance and be able to see it in a graph for each item instead of looking thru all the listings and then be able to see them month by month., as a compassion from year to year. Tweets, Pinterest, Facebook, Linkedin, where ever I can get it out. I do have a lot of customers from when I had a brick and mortar shop. They now buy from the net or call me. Giving away items also gets a lot of business. People remember you and pass your information on, not all for free items but for what they are looking for.
#1 you have to have the times to sell. People I have talked with say if there is just a few items in the store they do not stay and look. Talk about it, use every source available to get the word out. Zibbet is a venue for selling your items, it is like the brick and mortar store. YOU have to do the advertising to get the customers in. You cannot just open a shop and walk away and expect people to find you, just like they would not find you in a B & M shop. The Internet offers many more ways to advertise and get your name out there. But you must have the time also to create and promote, that is the hard part, trying to define the time for each. Zibbet has a great yearly price and will grow in the future. It offers a venue for those who cannot pay or just want to test the waters of selling online.I’d like to be free of my chair, but realistically I am waiting for next April when my husband retires and I am not the only one in my house all day. We are making plans to go to Florida or someplace warm for the winters and stay here only during the summers. I would luv to have a B & M again and since he will be retired we might be able to do that. And I will be able to do craft shows again. I have my wheels but I cannot drive because of all the drugs I take. Him being retired will be a blessing for me and I might get my sanity back hahah. People in this world do not understand.. They think being home all day is great, YES, if you could walk outside when u want and get the mail or run to the store when needed. I walk the path that God has planned for us and go from there. Hopefully our retired days will be great. If only I could find a wheelchair that I can use on the sand by an ocean. That would be awesome!