why audit before ads?
Etsy ads amplify whatever you already have. Paying for traffic to a listing with bad photos or a weak title just burns money faster. Fix the fundamentals first.
1. cover photo fills the thumbnail
The first photo shows as a square thumbnail in search results. Make sure your product is visible and recognisable at 200×200px. Dark backgrounds, small text, and cluttered frames all hurt CTR.
2. title uses all 140 characters
Check your title length. Most under-optimised listings have 60–80 characters. Research and fill the rest with secondary keywords, modifiers, and use cases.
3. all 13 tags are filled
Etsy gives you 13 tags of up to 20 characters each. Leaving any empty is leaving free keyword slots on the table. Use multi-word phrases, not single words.
4. description has a keyword-rich first paragraph
Google truncates your Etsy description at ~155 characters for search snippets. The first paragraph should include your primary keyword and a compelling summary.
5. all photos are at least 2000px wide
Etsy serves images to high-DPI displays. Uploading small images results in blurry previews that erode trust.
6. instant download is enabled for digital products
If you're selling digital downloads, confirm "instant digital download" is enabled and the file actually downloads. Test it yourself as a buyer.
7–12. additional checks
- Shipping times are accurate (affects search ranking)
- Return policy is clearly stated
- Price matches the competitive range for your category
- Shop announcement and About section are filled
- You have at least one 5-star review (get one early from a friend or past customer)
- Your shop sections are organised logically