The following article has been extracted from a segment done on Etsy storque regarding tagging your goods on Etsy, hope you find it as interesting as I did:
TAGGING SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS
For your first tag, choose a main Category from the drop-down.
If the item is handmade or hand-altered by you, your first tag can by any category but vintage.
Don't use the tag commercial.
Handmade crafting supplies? Your first tag can be supplies or another appropriate handmade category.
If you're not sure, go to the Categories page, and see if your item is a Subcategory of any Category. Or, do a search for like items and see what Category most of the items are listed in. Eg. Does an apron go in Accessories or Clothing? Doing a quick check will help you find apron listed under the Accessories Category here.
If your item fits in two categories (eg. Children and Clothing), you may pick which one you use for your top category tag. Try to decide where might a shopper look first.
Only select vintage if the item is 20 years or older. See more on vintage items here.
Now you will choose your remaining 13 tags.
The order of them does not matter. Related tags will pop up as you add tags, remember these are only suggestions that *might* apply to your item. You may choose any that accurately describe your item.
You may also create your own tags based on what will be most accurate for your item. Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself:
1. What is it?
Tip: Don't pick any words that are related, but not what it is. Eg. Don't tag bracelets with "earrings".
Tip: If the word describes what something is, don't use that unless your item *is* that. Eg. Don't tag a tote bag with "clutch", even though you can clutch it in your hand. Don't tag anything but a dress with dress. Eg. Don't tag cookies with "tea" or "coffee", even though you can eat them with these drinks.
2. What is it specifically? What type?
Eg. Hoop (for earrings), v-neck (for sweaters), long sleeve (shirt).
3. Who is it for?
Tip: You may pick as many correct ones as you want. Eg. women, men, baby, children, boy, girl, adult, pets, dog, cat.
4. What is the main material?
Tip: Add the major material to your tags, if it is something you think a buyer might search for to find your item. Add minor materials or component materials to the "materials" box on page 1. Eg. leather, cotton, canvas, felt, metal, 14K gold, sterling silver, glass. If there are two words to describe a material, use them both, as separate tags. Eg. cotton, canvas. metal, 14K gold. mahogany, wood. merino, wool.
5. What is the main color?
Tip: Buyers are not likely to look for minor colors in your piece, so stick to the main color(s) or important color combos! Eg. white, black, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.
6. What method or technique did you use to make it? Only relevant for some items.
Eg. hammered (for metal jewelry), burned (for woodworking), appliqued, embroidered.
7. Where will the item be used? Only relevant for some items.
Eg. kitchen, hair, office, beach, garden, car, nursery.
8. What size is it?
Eg. small, extra large, 7mm, 18in, 8x10.
9. What style is it?
Eg. goth, victorian, hippie, punk, impressionist, post-modern, feminine, sophisticated, southwestern.
Eg. sweet, spicy, salty (for bath and beauty and food items).
10. Imagery or motifs that are on the item.
Eg. owl, landscape, nature, Marilyn Monroe.
11. Are there synonyms?
Tip: Use these if the word means exactly the same thing as the tag you already used, it is accurate for your item, and you think it will be an important search term that buyers will look for. Eg. Infant for young babies, handbag for purses and clutches, toddler for children 18 months - 3 years, drink for coffee, trousers for pants.
12. Mature content items must have the tag "mature".
Mature content is defined as: sexual activity or content, profane language or graphic violence. Artful representations of the nude human figure do not need the tag "mature".
13. Don't tag with potential uses for the item.
Eg. Don't use "stocking stuffer" or "gift" as tags. Do not tag a messenger bag with "backpack", even though you can wear it on your back. Don't tag a blank book with "poetry".
14. Don't put multiple words in one tag box, unless they are a phrase.
Eg. Do tag with "sterling silver". Don't tag with "silver earrings", these should be two different tags.
Helpful Tips
Feeling stuck? Look to your item description for keywords to use as tags.
Check out this list of colors to inspire using more than just a simple "blue" tag. What about "Cornflower Blue", instead?
Use a second browser window to navigate through the Categories and Subcategories that pertain to your item. This way you can be sure to include tags for all the Subcategories that relate to your item.
If you sell similar items in your shop, it is helpful to create a listing template on your desktop with your most commonly used tags. This way you can quickly pick and choose which ones are appropriate and just copy and paste them into place.
Using Google's Keyword Tool or Yahoo's Keyword Selector Tool will help you generate a list of the most popular related search words and phrases. This involves a good amount of time and research, but can be a valuable tool to help create a list of the most commonly searched for words to use as tags.
You do not have to duplicate words found in a compound tag. Eg. "sterling silver" does not also have to appear as "sterling, silver".
