Growing Your Craft Etsy SEO Guides

Best Keywords & Tags for enamel pins

Getting found on Etsy can feel like a challenge, but mastering Etsy Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is your best chance of getting traffic on Etsy. SEO is about using the right keywords to tell Etsy (and your target customers) exactly what you sell so you appear in the right Etsy search results.

Let me walk you through everything you need to know in this SEO guide, including:

  • Understand your ideal target customer
  • Discover high-impact broad and long-tail keywords for your listings
  • Analyse what successful enamel pins sellers are doing right
  • Learn how to use keywords to optimise your titles, tags, and description
  • 6 ways to find more keywords for your listings
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Understanding Your Ideal Target Customer

Before you dive into keywords, you need to understand who your target customer, including their needs, desires, and the language they use. Because when you know what they are looking for, you can target them with the same keywords that they would use in Etsy search. Here’s a closer look at your typical customer in the enamel pins niche:

The typical customer for Enamel Pins is a collector or enthusiast who uses these accessories as a form of self-expression, displaying them on backpacks, denim jackets, or cork boards. They range from pop-culture fans and hobbyists to activists seeking to display their beliefs.

What problems are they trying to solve or desires are they trying to fulfill when searching for enamel pins?

They want to customize generic items (like a plain bag or lanyard) to reflect their unique personality, fandoms, or aesthetics without permanently altering the item.

  • This can lead them to search for terms like: cute kawaii backpack pins

They are searching for an affordable, small, yet meaningful gift that feels personal to the recipient's specific interests, or they are looking for "filler" items to stock up a collection.

  • This can lead them to search for terms like: funny cat lover stocking stuffer
enamel pins is a pretty competitive niche with high demand and high competition, so it's important to use long-tail keywords to niche down and have a better chance of ranking on Etsy.

Top 10 Broad Keywords for enamel pins Sellers

Core keywords (also known as short-tail keywords) are the broad, popular terms that describe your main products. While they often have very high search volume and competition, they are the starting points for you to build your long-tail keywords for the next steps.

Here are 10 popular broad keywords for the enamel pins market:

Enamel Pins

The absolute core keyword. It is highly competitive, so it should almost always be paired with descriptive modifiers (like "cute," "vintage," or specific subjects) to be effective.

Lapel Pin

A slightly more formal term often used by older demographics or for pins intended for suits and blazers. It implies a singular, often higher-quality or commemorative accessory.

Pin Badge

This term is widely used in the UK and Europe. Including it allows you to capture international search traffic that might not use the American term "enamel pin."

Hard Enamel Pin

Refers to pins where the enamel is polished flat and flush with the metal lines. This keyword targets buyers looking for a smooth, high-quality, durable finish.

Soft Enamel Pin

Refers to pins with raised metal lines and recessed enamel. Buyers using this term often expect textured designs and a slightly lower price point.

Brooch

While distinct from modern pins, this keyword captures shoppers looking for decorative fasteners, often with a vintage, floral, or more elegant aesthetic.

Hat Pin

A specific use-case keyword. These buyers are looking for smaller, secure pins specifically designed to sit on the brim or side of a cap or beanie.

Kawaii Enamel Pin

A massive sub-niche keyword derived from the Japanese culture of "cuteness." It targets buyers looking for pastel colors, adorable characters, and sweet themes.

Backpack Pins

This keyword focuses on the *destination* of the product. It attracts a younger demographic looking for "flair" to cover their school bags or travel packs.

Aesthetic Pins

A buzzword that targets Gen Z shoppers looking for a specific "vibe" (like cottagecore, vaporwave, or dark academia) rather than a specific character.

Top Long-Tail Keywords for enamel pins

While core keywords are important, long-tail keywords are how you can really get found on Etsy. These are longer, more specific phrases (usually 2-5 words) that buyers use when they have a clearer idea of what they want or are closer to making a purchase. They often have lower search volume than broad keywords but higher conversion rates because they target a more specific need.
How to Brainstorm Your Long-Tail Keywords
A systematic way to build long-tail keywords is by adding descriptive modifiers to your broad keywords. Here are the modifiers I recommend:
Style/Aesthetic Long-Tail Keywords
  • retro 90s nostalgia pin
  • pastel goth skull badge
  • minimalist gold line art pin
  • vintage floral botanical brooch
  • vaporwave aesthetic glitch art pin
Occasion/Use Long-Tail Keywords
  • cheap stocking stuffers for teens
  • bachelorette party favor pins
  • ita bag filler pins
  • denim jacket flair set
  • employee appreciation lapel pin
Target Customer Long-Tail Keywords
  • gift for nurse practitioner
  • book lover librarian gift
  • dungeon master tabletop gaming pin
  • plant mom gardening accessory
  • coffee addict barista gift
Materials & Finishes Long-Tail Keywords
File Type/Platform Long-Tail Keywords
  • gold plated hard enamel pin
  • black nickel soft enamel badge
  • rose gold metal finish
  • glitter epoxy resin pin
  • glow in the dark enamel
Technique/Production Method Long-Tail Keywords
  • screen printed detail enamel pin
  • die struck metal badge
  • epoxy dome finish lapel pin
  • double post pin back
  • cut out shape metal pin
Feature/Benefit Long-Tail Keywords
  • locking pin backs included
  • rust resistant zinc alloy
  • collectible limited edition pin
  • rubber clutch backing
  • spinning moving enamel pin
Theme/Subject Matter Long-Tail Keywords
  • black cat witchy pin
  • mushroom cottagecore aesthetic
  • lgbtq pride flag rainbow pin
  • mental health awareness semi colon
  • spooky halloween ghost badge
Size/Shape/Fit Long-Tail Keywords
  • mini filler pins for gaps
  • large statement lapel pin
  • chain collar pin set
  • 2 inch jumbo enamel pin
  • tiny 0.5 inch board filler
Problem Solved Long-Tail Keywords
  • secure locking backs for bikers
  • pin display banner for collection
  • non verbal pronoun indicator pin
  • ice breaker conversation starter
  • affordable art for students
To speed up the process and get even more relevant long-tail keyword ideas, consider using SEO research tools like Alura which you can get a big similar keyword list with information like estimated search volume and demand. Their free plan is pretty generous and you can sign up for free here.

Analysing Best Selling Listing Titles

One of the best ways to improve your Etsy SEO strategy is to see what's working for other successful sellers. By analysing best selling listings, you can gain valuable insights into what effective keywords they use, and how they structure the titles, so that you can apply to your own listings as well.

Let's look at the listing titles from two enamel pins bestsellers to see what we can learn from them:

Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 01:

Watermelon Palestine Enamel Pin Set Flag Enamel Pins Arab Muslim Palestine Support Gaza Keffiyeh Memorial Lapel Pin Backpack Pins Set by LalapodGiftStore

This title leverages "symbol search" strategies. By using "Watermelon" (a symbol of support), it captures users searching for visual identifiers rather than just literal text. It heavily stacks relevant keywords like "Flag," "Arab Muslim," "Support," and "Keffiyeh," covering cultural, political, and identity-based search intent. The inclusion of "Backpack Pins Set" at the end targets a specific use case and implies value (a set rather than a single item).
Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 02

Green Enamel Ivy Leaf Pin: Silver Elf Cloak Brooch by RaritysTreasureTrove

This title targets a specific fandom niche without necessarily violating IP (referencing "Elf Cloak" instead of specific movie titles). It places the descriptive keywords first ("Green Enamel Ivy Leaf"), ensuring that buyers looking for nature-themed items find it, while "Brooch" appeals to those looking for costume or cosplay fasteners. It is concise but hits the intersection of nature lovers and fantasy fans.
Click here to see more Etsy bestseller title inspirations

How to Use Keywords to Optimise Your Etsy Listings

Now that you have a list of descriptive long-tail keywords for your enamel pins, let's see how we can use them to optimise your Etsy listings.

How to Craft Highly Descriptive, Keyword-Rich Titles

Your listing title can make-or-break your Etsy SEO. Write your long-tail keywords to be highly descriptive. For example, compare these two:

Okay Title: Cute Cat Pin

Better Title: Black Cat Enamel Pin, Witchy Moon Lapel Pin for Backpack, Celestial Gothic Badge, Kitty Lover Gift for Her, Hard Enamel Gold


Then put your strongest, most descriptive keyword in the front. Separate each long-tail keyword with symbols like commas or dashes so that the title is easy to read.

Use All 13 Tags with Specific, Long-Tail Keywords

Tags are another important place to tell the Etsy algorithm what your product is about. Use all 13 tags for your listings.

  • Focus on specific, long-tail keyword phrases
  • Tags have a 20-character limit
  • While it's ok for some broad keywords to appear in multiple tags, try to use a wide variety of descriptive terms across your 13 tags

Find Accurate Attributes & Categories

When you list a product on Etsy, you'll select a category and then be prompted to fill out attributes specific to that category (e.g., colour, material, size, occasion). These are just as important for SEO and helping buyers find your items through Etsy's filters.

Be thorough and fill out as many relevant attributes as possible and be accurate for your product category.

Write Description for Shoppers & Etsy search algorithm

Etsy now uses keywords in your listing description for SEO. What I recommend to Etsy seller is to write compelling short paragraph (1-3 sentences) at the very beginning of your listing description that naturally include 3-5 relavant long-tail keywords for the product. Clearly communicate what the product is, its key features, and the benefits it offers the customer.

Let's look at some listing description examples for enamel pins:

Listing Description Example 01
Add a touch of whimsy to your denim jacket or tote bag with this adorable strawberry cow enamel pin. Crafted from high-quality hard enamel with gold plating, this kawaii accessory features vibrant pastel colors that won't fade over time. It makes the perfect small gift for animal lovers or a sweet addition to your growing pin board collection.
Listing Description Example 02
Show off your love for retro gaming with this pixel art style controller pin. Made with textured soft enamel and black nickel plating, this nostalgic badge captures the 90s arcade aesthetic perfectly. It comes with dual rubber clutches on the back to ensure it stays securely fastened to your lanyard, backpack, or lapel during daily wear.
Listing Description Example 03
Embrace the dark academia aesthetic with this vintage-inspired moth lapel pin. Featuring intricate screen-printed details on a gold-finish body, this botanical insect brooch is an elegant accessory for blazers, coats, or hats. It arrives on a custom backing card, making it a ready-to-give present for entomologists, goths, or nature enthusiasts.

6 Ways to Find More Keywords for enamel pins

Keyword research is an ongoing process. I recommend these 6 ways to find effective long-tail keywords for your listings:
Etsy Search Bar
Start typing your core keywords into Etsy's search bar and pay close attention to the auto-suggestions that appear (guide here). These are real searches from actual Etsy shoppers.
Competitor Research
Look at the titles of listings that rank on page 1 (especially those with "Bestseller" badges). Don't copy directly, but use their keyword choices as inspiration for terms you might have missed.
Your Own Shop Stats
Your shop stats show you the exact search terms shoppers used to find your listings. Pay special attention to those that you are not directly targeting, and consider targeting them in listing titles.
Alura
One of my favourite Etsy keyword research tools. Alura speeds up the process of giving you a list of related popular keywords, and analyse which ones are the best for you.
eRank
Another popular tool among Etsy sellers, eRank offers robust keyword tools, trend analysis, grading your current listings, and checking keyword strength.
Everbee
Another great keyword research tool. I especially love Everbee's Chrome extension that shows you the estimated search volume directly on Etsy.

Your enamel pins Etsy SEO Checklist

Phew, that's a lot of information. Let's do a little recap:

  • Understand My Customer: Do I understand my target customer and their primary search motivations?
  • Core Keyword Research: Have I identified the top core keywords for the enamel pins niche?
  • Long-Tail Keywords: Have I brainstormed a diverse list of long-tail keywords using various modifiers?
  • Ongoing Etsy SEO: Am I using at least 2-3 methods (from Section 7) to regularly find new keyword opportunities for enamel pins?
  • Optimised Titles: Are my listing titles highly descriptive, front-loaded with strong keywords?
  • Maximised Tags: Am I using all 13 tags with specific, long-tail phrases?
  • Compelling Descriptions: Does the opening paragraph of my listing descriptions naturally include 3-5 important keywords and clearly state benefits/features?
  • Analyse & Improve: Am I reviewing my Etsy stats and competitor listings in the enamel pins niche regularly to improve my SEO strategy?
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