What Etsy says a good title looks like
Etsy's guide to creating a listing is short and specific about titles. A title can be up to 140 characters, but Etsy suggests:
- Fewer than 15 words. Enough for what the item is and the traits that make it special.
- Say clearly what the item is and its key details: material, style, size, who it is for.
- No repetition and no subjective words such as “perfect”.
- No price or shipping information.
- Holidays, occasions or recipients only when they are essential to what the item is (a “Halloween costume”, not a “gift for mum” on every listing).
The checker tests each of these, plus one we add: a title should read as one phrase, not keywords chopped up with | or • symbols.
Before and after
Before (19 words, repeats, sales words): “Perfect Gift Necklace | Name Necklace | Personalized Necklace | Gift for Her | Mothers Day Gift | Free Shipping | Custom Name Jewelry Gift”
After (12 words): “Personalized name necklace in sterling silver, dainty custom script pendant with chain”
The second title tells a buyer exactly what they are getting. “Gift for her”, “Mother's Day gift” and “custom jewelry” are still useful searches, so they move to the tags, where each one counts as its own search.
How to write your title in four steps
- Start with the item itself, in the words a buyer would use: “linen tote bag”, not “everyday carry companion”.
- Add the two or three details that set it apart: material, colour, size, style, personalisation.
- Read it aloud. If it sounds like a list of keywords, cut until it sounds like a description.
- Move every other phrase you wanted in the title into your tags. The tag checker makes sure all 13 are valid and different.
A title only works alongside its tags and description. To check all three together, use the listing checker, or audit every listing in your shop at once on the ListingLab homepage.