Quick Answer
Open Etsy Shop Manager → Stats → Marketplace Insights, then search a phrase that accurately names your product. Compare Etsy’s recent search count, available listings, related terms and trends. Keep only phrases that match what you actually sell; apply them naturally to your title, tags, attributes and description. Etsy provides 15 free keyword searches per week; Etsy Plus offers unlimited searches.
This is a step-by-step companion to our Etsy Marketplace Insights tool profile. For a comparison with third-party products, see the Etsy keyword research tools guide.
Example product and evidence boundary
Imagine a handmade-to-order personalized birth flower necklace in 925 sterling silver. The buyer chooses one of 12 birth flowers, a gold or silver finish, and may add a name of up to 10 characters. This product brief is hypothetical. The phrases below are candidates to check, not actual Marketplace Insights results. We have not accessed a seller account or recorded search counts, listing counts, ranking changes or sales outcomes.
1. Pick seed keywords from product facts
Start with a plain phrase such as birth flower necklace. Add accurate details or shopping intent to make a short research list: personalized birth flower necklace, silver birth flower necklace, and birth flower bridesmaid gift. The last phrase is only suitable if the item is genuinely marketed for bridesmaids. Do not add an unverified gemstone, engraving method, chain length or delivery promise just to match a query.
Choose three to five seeds before opening the tool so the free weekly allowance goes toward meaningful comparisons.
2. Search inside Etsy
- Sign in to your seller account through Etsy Shop Manager ↗ in a desktop or mobile browser. Etsy says Marketplace Insights is currently available on web, not in the seller app.
- Open Shop Manager → Stats → Marketplace Insights.
- Enter the first seed in the search bar. Note the search count, available listing count, related terms and trend view that Etsy shows for that phrase.
- Repeat with the other candidates and record the date. The remaining free searches appear above the search bar.
Etsy says free results remain available for seven days after the original search, so save your own notes for later comparison. Check Etsy’s current access instructions ↗
3. Understand what the numbers mean
Buyer searches
Etsy reports the number of searches for a term over the past 30 days. It indicates recent buyer interest on Etsy; it is not a prediction of your listing’s views or sales.
Available listings
Etsy reports how many listings appear for the term over the past 30 days. Use it as a view of supply, not a guaranteed competition score or a promise that a lower count is easier to rank for.
Related terms can suggest more precise language. Trend information helps you consider timing. Etsy describes both in its Help Center. Neither replaces checking whether the phrase truthfully describes the item.
4. Compare candidates and form a shortlist
Make a simple worksheet with columns for phrase, relevance, Etsy searches, available listings, trend, and decision. Fill the numeric columns only with data shown in your own Marketplace Insights account. No numbers are supplied in this illustration.
| Candidate phrase (hypothetical) | Product fit | What to verify in Etsy | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| birth flower necklace | Direct product match | Searches, listings, related terms | Keep if buyers use it and it describes this necklace |
| personalized birth flower necklace | Matches buyer-selected flower and optional name | Searches, listings, recent trend | Consider for title or tags if relevant |
| silver birth flower necklace | Matches the silver finish | Demand and listing count | Use only for the silver variation |
Prioritize truthful product fit first. Then compare actual buyer demand and listing supply, and keep a few distinct phrases rather than a dozen near-duplicates. Etsy’s Seller Handbook also recommends comparing demand and available listings for relevant terms.
5. Apply the shortlist naturally to a listing
Put the clearest product phrase near the start of a readable title, choose the most specific relevant category and attributes, and use varied multi-word tags for other accurate buyer phrases. Describe the item naturally in the opening of the description. For example, Personalized Birth Flower Necklace in Sterling Silver is an illustrative title draft based on the brief, not a tested high-performing title. Verify that every word applies to the actual variation being sold.
Etsy’s Keywords 101 explains how titles, tags, categories, attributes and descriptions work together. Marketplace Insights does not change your listing automatically; make edits in the listing editor and review them before publishing.
Common mistakes and limits
- Chasing volume without relevance: a popular phrase that misdescribes the product is a poor choice.
- Reading listing count as a rank forecast: Etsy search considers more than these two figures; the tool does not promise placement or sales.
- Ignoring the time window: the displayed searches and listings refer to the past 30 days, so seasonal phrases need context.
- Assuming unlimited free access: Etsy states up to 15 free searches per week; Etsy Plus offers unlimited searches. Free results remain available for seven days.
- Treating every suggested term as allowed: Etsy says search terms can include things prohibited by its Seller Policy. Check compliance yourself.
For other free research and writing options, see our free Etsy AI tools workflow.
Sources and review status
This guide is based on Etsy Help: How Do I Use Etsy’s Marketplace Insights Tool?, Etsy Seller Handbook: How to Spot Trends and Keywords With Marketplace Insights, and Etsy Keywords 101. All were checked October 5, 2026. This is a documentation-based walkthrough, not a hands-on review. Check Etsy’s live interface and terms for changes.