Growing Your Craft Etsy SEO Guides

Best Keywords & Tags for keychains

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 keychains 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 keychains niche:

The typical customer for Keychains is searching for a small, budget-friendly item that serves as either a practical daily accessory or a sentimental, personalized token. They range from people organizing their own keys to friends and family members looking for "just because" gifts or stocking stuffers.

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

They want to organize their keys or identify their belongings (like a backpack or luggage) with a unique, visually distinct accessory that reflects their personality.

  • This can lead them to search for terms like: cute acrylic anime backpack charm

They are looking for a meaningful yet affordable gift for a specific person or occasion, often wanting something custom-made to commemorate a date, location, or relationship.

  • This can lead them to search for terms like: custom coordinates leather anniversary gift for him
keychains 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 keychains 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 keychains market:

Keychains

The primary, highest-volume keyword. While essential, it is too broad on its own and should be paired with specific descriptors (material, style, recipient) to attract the right traffic.

Custom Keychain

A massive segment of the market. Buyers using this term are specifically looking for personalization options like names, photos, or specific dates.

Leather Keychain

This keyword signals a desire for durability and a more classic, premium, or masculine aesthetic. It is often associated with gifts for men (Father's Day, groomsmen).

Cute Keychain

A broad aesthetic category often targeting younger demographics or those looking for "kawaii" styles, animals, or colorful acrylic charms.

Gift for Him

Keychains are a go-to gift for men because they are practical and understated. This keyword is crucial for driving traffic during holidays like Father's Day or Valentine's.

Bag Charm

This keyword captures the trend of using keychains as decorative accessories for purses, backpacks, and totes, rather than just for holding keys.

Personalized Gift

A high-intent keyword for shoppers looking to make a purchase that feels special. Keychains are often the entry-level price point for personalized gifting.

Wristlet Keychain

Describes a functional variation (often called a key fob) designed to be worn around the wrist. This appeals to busy parents or students needing hands-free convenience.

Photo Keychain

A specific type of custom product where a personal image is inserted or printed. This is highly popular for memorial gifts, pet lovers, or couples.

Stocking Stuffer

Keychains are the quintessential small gift. This keyword is a seasonal powerhouse, driving massive traffic during the Q4 holiday shopping season.

Top Long-Tail Keywords for keychains

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
  • boho macrame tassel keychain
  • minimalist brass key hook
  • retro motel style key tag
  • kawaii bubble tea acrylic charm
  • vintage leather key fob
Occasion/Use Long-Tail Keywords
  • new driver sweet 16 gift
  • housewarming gift new home keychain
  • long distance relationship gift set
  • groomsmen proposal gift leather
  • graduation gift class of 2024
Target Customer Long-Tail Keywords
  • gift for boyfriend anniversary
  • best friend matching keychains
  • dog mom personalized photo charm
  • teacher appreciation lanyard bead
  • gift for dad from daughter
Materials & Finishes Long-Tail Keywords
File Type/Platform Long-Tail Keywords
  • full grain vegetable tanned leather
  • hand stamped metal aluminum disc
  • gold plated enamel charm
  • clear acrylic photo insert keychain
  • soft silicone beaded wristlet
Technique/Production Method Long-Tail Keywords
  • laser engraved wood keychain
  • hand woven macrame wrist strap
  • custom embroidered fabric key tag
  • sublimation printed photo keyring
  • crochet amigurumi animal charm
Feature/Benefit Long-Tail Keywords
  • heavy duty carabiner clip keychain
  • airtag holder leather case
  • breakaway safety lanyard clasp
  • double sided photo keyring
  • glow in the dark resin charm
Theme/Subject Matter Long-Tail Keywords
  • zodiac sign constellation keychain
  • spotify code music song scan
  • latitude longitude coordinates gift
  • anime character backpack buddy
  • safe travels airplane charm
Size/Shape/Fit Long-Tail Keywords
  • large oversized wristlet strap
  • mini tiny heart padlock key
  • chunky beaded bangle keychain
  • slim pocket organizer key holder
  • long lanyard for neck
Problem Solved Long-Tail Keywords
  • find keys in purse easily
  • hands free wrist strap for mom
  • quiet no jingle key organizer
  • floating keychain for boaters
  • easy open clasp for seniors
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 keychains bestsellers to see what we can learn from them:

Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 01:

Crochet mini cat keychain,Crochet Cat Stuffed Animal, Cute Gift for Cat Lovers,soft chubby kitty, Car Keyring, Bag Decoration,Amigurumi by ZenEssenceStudio

This title effectively targets the "cute" and "animal lover" niches simultaneously. It uses descriptive keywords like "Crochet," "Stuffed Animal," and "Amigurumi" to define the technique and texture. Phrases like "Cute Gift for Cat Lovers" and "Bag Decoration" explicitly tell the search engine who should buy this and how it should be used, expanding its reach beyond just a functional key holder.
Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 02

Personalized Leather Keychain, Customized Keychain,Custom Leather Key chain,coordinates key chain longitude latitude keychain,Best Gift by HifaCrafts

This listing dominates the personalization market by repeating variations of the core keywords: "Personalized Leather Keychain," "Customized Keychain," and "Custom Leather Key chain." It then drills down into a specific, high-value niche with "coordinates key chain longitude latitude," which attracts buyers looking for sentimental location-based gifts (like where they met, bought a home, etc.).
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 keychains, 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: Custom Keychain

Better Title: Personalized Leather Keychain for Men, Custom Monogram Engraved Key Fob, 3rd Anniversary Gift for Husband, coordinates Groomsmen Gift


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 keychains:

Listing Description Example 01
Carry a little happiness with you everywhere you go with this adorable crochet cat keychain. Handcrafted from soft, high-quality yarn, this chubby amigurumi kitty is the perfect accessory to brighten up your car keys, backpack, or purse. It makes a delightful, unique gift for cat lovers, students, or anyone who loves cute, handmade treasures.
Listing Description Example 02
Celebrate a special memory with our personalized leather keychain, the perfect sentimental gift for him. Crafted from genuine full-grain leather, this durable key fob can be laser engraved with custom coordinates, a meaningful date, or a personal message. Whether it's for an anniversary, Father's Day, or a new home, this rugged yet elegant accessory is built to last a lifetime.
Listing Description Example 03
Keep your keys secure and your hands free with this stylish macrame wristlet keychain. Hand-woven with durable cotton cord and finished with a sturdy antique brass swivel clasp, this boho-chic accessory is as functional as it is beautiful. Perfect for busy moms or students, it loops easily over your wrist so you never have to dig at the bottom of your bag again.

6 Ways to Find More Keywords for keychains

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 keychains 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 keychains 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 keychains?
  • 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 keychains niche regularly to improve my SEO strategy?
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