Best Keywords for Selling Art on Etsy: SEO Guide for Artists (2025)

On Etsy, the right keywords are the difference between page 1 and page 100. This guide shows you how to research keywords buyers actually search for, optimize your titles and tags, and avoid the mistakes that bury your listings.

In This Guide

How Etsy Search Works
Keyword Research Methods
Title Optimization
Tag Strategy
Keywords by Art Category
Common Mistakes

1. How Etsy Search Works

Etsy's search algorithm matches buyer queries to listings based on two factors: relevancy (how well your keywords match) and quality (how well your listing performs).

Where Etsy Looks for Keywords

Title — Most important, especially the first 40 characters
Tags — 13 tags, up to 20 characters each
Categories & Attributes — Fill out completely
Description — Less weight for search, but still indexed

💡 The First 40 Characters Matter Most

Etsy heavily weights the beginning of your title. Put your most important keywords first — not your brand name or "Original Art by..." Those can go at the end.

2. Keyword Research Methods

Method 1: Etsy Search Autocomplete

Start typing in Etsy's search bar and note what suggestions appear. These are real searches by real buyers.

Type your base keyword: "landscape painting"
Note suggestions: "landscape painting original," "landscape painting canvas"
Add letters to explore more: "landscape painting m..." → "landscape painting mountain"

Method 2: Study Top Sellers

Search for artwork similar to yours and analyze the top results:

What keywords are in their titles?
What tags are they using? (Use browser tools like eRank or Marmalead)
What categories/attributes did they select?

Method 3: Think Like a Buyer

Buyers don't search "expressionist oil painting." They search:

By room: "living room wall art," "bedroom decor"
By style: "modern abstract art," "farmhouse wall art"
By color: "blue abstract painting," "neutral tone art"
By occasion: "housewarming gift art," "anniversary gift"
By size: "large wall art," "small original painting"

3. Title Optimization

Your title should be keyword-rich but still readable. Here's the formula:

Primary Keyword Mountain Landscape Oil Painting, Descriptors Original Art on Canvas, Secondary Keywords Nature Wall Art, Living Room Decor

P Primary keyword (first 40 chars)

D Descriptors & attributes

S Secondary keywords (room, style)

✅ Optimized Title Examples

Abstract Ocean Painting Original Art, Blue Coastal Wall Art, Beach House Decor, Large Canvas Art

Keywords: abstract ocean, original art, coastal wall art, beach house decor, large canvas

✅ Another Example

Sunset Landscape Print, Mountain Photography Wall Art, Nature Poster, Bedroom Decor, Housewarming Gift

Keywords: sunset landscape, mountain photography, nature poster, bedroom decor, gift

4. Tag Strategy

You get 13 tags with up to 20 characters each. Use them all, and use them strategically:

Tag Type	Examples	How Many
Subject/Theme	ocean painting, mountain art, floral print	2-3
Style	abstract art, modern decor, minimalist	2-3
Room/Use	living room art, office decor, bedroom wall	2-3
Color	blue wall art, neutral tones, colorful art	1-2
Occasion/Gift	housewarming gift, anniversary gift	1-2
Format/Size	large canvas, art print, original art	1-2

⚠️ Tag Mistakes to Avoid

Don't repeat title exactly: Use variations and synonyms.
Don't use single words: "art" is too broad; "abstract wall art" is better.
Don't waste tags on your name: Buyers don't search for you (yet).
Don't use misspellings: Etsy autocorrects searches.

5. Keywords by Art Category

🏔️ Landscape & Nature

landscape painting nature wall art mountain art forest painting scenic art print outdoor decor cabin wall art national park art

🌊 Ocean & Coastal

ocean wall art beach house decor coastal painting nautical art seascape tropical art wave painting

🔷 Abstract Art

abstract wall art modern abstract contemporary art geometric art minimalist art colorful abstract neutral abstract

🌸 Floral & Botanical

floral wall art botanical print flower painting garden art plant art wildflower art rose painting

🏠 Room-Based Keywords

living room wall art bedroom decor office wall art bathroom art kitchen art nursery wall art entryway decor

6. Common Mistakes

❌ Keyword Stuffing

Repeating keywords doesn't help. "Beach Art Ocean Art Coastal Art Beach Decor Ocean Decor" looks spammy and Etsy may penalize it.

❌ Artist-Focused Keywords

"My original painting" or "artwork by [name]" wastes space. Buyers search for subjects and styles, not artists (until you're famous).

❌ Too Broad or Too Narrow

"Art" is too broad (millions of results). "16x20 acrylic mountain sunset original from Colorado artist" is too narrow. Find the middle ground.

❌ Ignoring Long-Tail Keywords

"Abstract art" has millions of results. "Large blue abstract painting living room" has fewer — but those searchers are more likely to buy.

💡 The Long-Tail Sweet Spot

Combine 2-3 descriptors for long-tail keywords: [Color] + [Style] + [Subject] + [Room/Use]. Example: "Blue abstract ocean living room art." Less competition, more targeted buyers.

✨ Generate Keywords Automatically

Upload your artwork and get optimized titles, tags, and descriptions for Etsy and other platforms. Our AI analyzes your art's style, colors, and subject.

Try Keyword Generator

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I update my keywords?

Review and update keywords every 2-3 months, or when a listing isn't getting views. Trends change, and what worked last year might not work now. Seasonal keywords (like "Christmas gift") should be added/removed seasonally.

Should tags match my title exactly?

Not exactly — use variations. If your title says "ocean painting," a tag could be "sea art" or "coastal wall decor." This captures more search variations without redundancy.

Do descriptions affect search ranking?

Etsy says descriptions have "little to no impact" on search, but they do get indexed. Focus your SEO efforts on title and tags, but naturally include keywords in descriptions for buyers (and Google, which also indexes Etsy).