Growing Your Craft Etsy SEO Guides

Best Keywords & Tags for mockups

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 mockups 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 mockups niche:

The typical customer for mockups is a small business owner, graphic designer, or creative entrepreneur, often running a Print-on-Demand (POD) shop or selling digital artwork online.

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

They need to display their apparel designs (like t-shirts or hoodies) on professional, realistic-looking product photos without the high cost and time commitment of organising their own photoshoots.

  • This can lead them to search for terms like: Gildan 18000 sweatshirt mockup

They are a digital artist or graphic designer who needs to help customers visualize how their art prints, posters, or templates will look in a real-world setting, such as a framed picture on a stylish living room wall.

  • This can lead them to search for terms like: gallery wall frame mockup
mockups 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 mockups 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 mockups market:

Mockup

This is the essential, highest-volume keyword for the entire category. It's used by anyone looking for a template to showcase a design on a product or in a scene.

T-Shirt Mockup

A massive and foundational sub-niche. This targets the huge market of print-on-demand sellers who need to display their t-shirt designs.

Sweatshirt Mockup

Another dominant apparel keyword. This is critical for sellers focusing on heavier garments like crewnecks and is often combined with specific brand names like Gildan or Comfort Colors.

Frame Mockup

This is the core keyword for digital artists and photographers. It helps them show customers how their art will look printed, framed, and hung on a wall.

Canva Mockup

A crucial keyword that targets a large and growing user base who prefer the ease of use of Canva over more complex software like Photoshop. It signals accessibility and ease of use.

Product Mockup

A broader keyword that can apply to a wide range of physical goods beyond apparel, such as boxes, bottles, or cosmetic tubes. It's used by sellers who need to visualize packaging or custom products.

Digital Product Mockup

This keyword specifically targets sellers of non-physical goods like ebooks, planners, courses, or templates. These mockups often feature iPads, laptops, and phone screens.

Lifestyle Mockup

This is a powerful descriptive keyword that signals the mockup is not on a plain background but in a styled, real-world scene with props or models to create a specific vibe.

Bella Canvas Mockup

This is an essential long-tail keyword that targets sellers using the popular Bella + Canvas apparel brand. Customers search for this by name to ensure the mockup accurately reflects the product they sell.

Mug Mockup

A core keyword for one of the most popular print-on-demand products after apparel. It's essential for any designer selling custom mug designs.

Top Long-Tail Keywords for mockups

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
  • minimalist neutral frame mockup
  • victorian book mockup
  • boho lifestyle t-shirt mockup with model
  • edgy streetwear hoodie mockup
  • coastal grandmother aesthetic sweatshirt mockup
Occasion/Use Long-Tail Keywords
  • christmas sweatshirt mockup bundle
  • bachelorette party group shirt mockup
  • etsy listing image template
  • easter wall art mockup
  • halloween kids t-shirt mockup
Target Customer Long-Tail Keywords
  • mockups for print on demand sellers
  • Canva templates for digital product sellers
  • mockups for surface pattern designers
  • t-shirt mockup for Etsy shop owners
  • mockup for procreate artists
Materials & Finishes Long-Tail Keywords
File Type/Platform Long-Tail Keywords
  • Canva drag and drop mockup
  • Photoshop PSD smart object mockup
  • Procreate mockup for iPad artists
  • PNG files with transparent background
  • video mockup for Etsy listings
Technique/Production Method Long-Tail Keywords
  • flat lay t-shirt mockup
  • hanging shirt mockup on wood hanger
  • 3D product rendering mockup
  • folded sweatshirt stack mockup
  • ghost mannequin apparel mockup
Feature/Benefit Long-Tail Keywords
  • whole shop mockup bundle
  • mockup with size chart included
  • front and back hoodie mockup
  • apparel color chart mockup
  • mockup with editable background
Theme/Subject Matter Long-Tail Keywords
  • fall theme sweatshirt mockup
  • beach lifestyle t-shirt mockup
  • nursery wall art frame mockup
  • home office desk scene mockup
  • kitchen scene mug mockup
Size/Shape/Fit Long-Tail Keywords
  • oversized t-shirt mockup
  • 11oz and 15oz mug mockup set
  • A4 DIN ratio frame mockup
  • square frame mockup for instagram
  • youth size hoodie mockup
Problem Solved Long-Tail Keywords
  • mockup for dark colored designs
  • full POD shop branding kit
  • mockup to show embroidery texture
  • no photoshop needed canva mockup
  • etsy video listing mockup template
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 mockups bestsellers to see what we can learn from them:

Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 01:

Pack of 15 Frame Portrait Mockup Pack | DIN A Bundle for Artists & Creatives, Customisable Wall Colour, Mid Century Simple Wall Art by emmarstudio

This title is highly effective because it leads with a clear value proposition ("Pack of 15") and product type ("Frame Portrait Mockup Pack"). It directly calls out its target customer ("Artists & Creatives") and includes crucial technical specifications ("DIN A Bundle") and features ("Customisable Wall Colour"). By also including a popular aesthetic ("Mid Century Simple"), it appeals to both the practical needs and stylistic preferences of art sellers.
Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 02

500+ Etsy Listing Mockup Bundle with Master and Private Label Rights, Digital Product Mockups to rebrand&resell, DFY Etsy Canva Templates MRR by DigitInspire

This title brilliantly targets a specific, high-intent buyer: someone who wants to resell digital products. It uses industry-specific, powerful keywords like "Master and Private Label Rights," "rebrand&resell," and "MRR." The huge number "500+" immediately conveys massive value, while terms like "DFY" (Done For You) and "Canva Templates" highlight ease of use and appeal to sellers who want a ready-to-go business asset.
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 mockups, 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: Sweatshirt Mockup

Better Title: Gildan 18000 Sweatshirt Mockup Black, Edgy Streetwear Model Mockup, POD Apparel Mockup for Etsy Shop


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 mockups:

Listing Description Example 01
Instantly elevate your print-on-demand shop with our best-selling Gildan 18000 sweatshirt mockup. This high-resolution, true-to-color lifestyle mockup is designed to stop the scroll and help customers envision your designs in real life, helping you boost sales. Simply place your PNG design on top to create stunning, professional listing photos in seconds.
Listing Description Example 02
Showcase your prints beautifully with our minimalist Frame Mockup, designed for digital artists and photographers. This easy-to-use mockup features a clean interior scene that makes your artwork the star, perfect for your Etsy shop or portfolio. It comes as a Photoshop PSD file with smart object layers and a Canva template for simple drag-and-drop use.
Listing Description Example 03
Create stunning listing images for your online course or ebook with our Digital Product Mockup bundle. This versatile kit includes iPad, laptop, and phone mockups set in a clean, modern desk scene, perfect for showcasing your digital offerings. These Canva templates are fully customizable, allowing you to create a branded, professional look that builds trust and drives conversions.

6 Ways to Find More Keywords for mockups

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