Etsy sellers have a new tool at their disposal to enhance their product visibility—alt text for images. Recently released by Etsy, this feature allows sellers to add descriptive keywords behind their product photos, which can significantly improve search engine optimization (SEO) on the platform. Understanding and effectively using this feature can unlock untapped organic traffic and boost your shop’s performance.
What is Alt Text and Why Does It Matter?
Alt text, short for alternative text, is a description embedded within an image tag that helps search engines understand the content of the photo. While product images primarily serve human shoppers, the text behind those images communicates directly with the Etsy algorithm, acting as an additional way to signal what your product is about.
Just like Amazon and other ecommerce platforms have done for years, Etsy’s introduction of alt text means your images can now carry more SEO weight. When you add relevant keywords in the alt text for each photo, you increase the chances of your product showing up for a broader set of search queries. This can include niche keywords, brand references, and variations that may not be present in your product title or description.
How to Add Alt Text to Your Etsy Listings
If you’re new to this, here’s a straightforward guide to adding alt text:
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Sign In and Go to Shop Manager: Log in to your Etsy account and navigate to the Shop Manager.
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Select Listings: From the left sidebar, click “Listings” and choose the product you want to optimize.
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Hover Over an Image: When you hover over a product photo, an option to “Edit” or “Add alt text” should appear.
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Add Descriptive Alt Text: Enter a clear, keyword-rich description of the image. Etsy allows up to 250 characters, encouraging a full yet natural-sounding description rather than keyword stuffing.
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Repeat for All Images: You can add unique alt text to each product photo, allowing you to cast a wider net for search terms.
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Save and Publish: Don’t forget to save your changes and publish the updated listing.
Tips for Crafting Effective Alt Text on Etsy
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Think Like a Search Engine: Describe the product and its uses as if explaining to a search engine robot, including keywords a potential buyer might use.
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Be Descriptive but Natural: Etsy prefers alt text that describes the image clearly and contextually, rather than just a long string of keywords.
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Leverage Existing Keywords: If you’re already selling on Amazon or other platforms, consider reusing or adapting your successful alt text there. Tools like Helium 10 can help you identify high-ranking keywords to include.
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Optimize Character Usage: Etsy supports up to 250 characters for alt text, giving you room to craft detailed descriptions without overdoing it.
The SEO Impact of Alt Text on Etsy
Adding alt text is a low-effort, high-reward SEO strategy. Unlike pay-per-click (PPC) ads, optimizing alt text is a one-time task that continues to attract organic traffic over time without ongoing costs. It helps your products rank for more keywords, increasing visibility in both Etsy’s internal search and external search engines like Google.
For example, if you sell a “Mega Pint Tumbler,” adding alt text targeting phrases like “Johnny Depp gift,” “pirate tumbler,” or “Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise” can help your listings appear when buyers search those terms, even if they are not directly in your listing title.
Overcoming Common Challenges
During implementation, you might encounter issues such as image size requirements (Etsy recommends images to be at least 2000 pixels wide) or errors when uploading photos. Ensuring your images meet Etsy’s specifications will smooth the process.
Additionally, if you’re unfamiliar with SEO tools, don’t worry. You can manually create alt text based on your product descriptions or customer FAQs. The key is consistent effort and incremental improvement.
Conclusion
The introduction of alt text on Etsy opens a new avenue for sellers to boost their SEO and attract more organic traffic. By strategically adding descriptive, keyword-rich alt text to each photo, you can improve your listings’ discoverability both on Etsy and on search engines.
This feature is quick to implement and offers long-term benefits without ongoing expenditures. For sellers looking to maximize their Etsy shop’s potential, mastering the new alt text capability is an essential step toward greater visibility and increased sales.
About the Author: Steven Pope is an SEO expert specializing in ecommerce platforms like Etsy and Amazon. As the founder of My Etsy Guy and My Amazon Guy, he helps sellers optimize their listings to generate free, organic traffic and grow their online businesses.
