Author Topic: Does increasing # of keywords increase views/sales? (Read 8562 times)

helloitsme · « **on:** August 31, 2015, 08:51 »

Some of my bestsellers really don't have many keywords (only about 15-20), but I wonder if I increase # of keywords on under performing clips from like 20 to 40, it may increase views/sales. Anybody have experience in that?

Also, usually, I don't tag 1920x1080, 4k or 3840x2160 because it's obvious, are these keywords effective too?

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2015, 08:53 »

Quote from: helloitsme on August 31, 2015, 08:51

Some of my bestsellers really don't have many keywords (only about 15-20), but I wonder if I increase # of keywords on under performing clips from like 20 to 40, it may increase views/sales. Anybody have experience in that?

Also, usually, I don't tag 1920x1080, 4k or 3840x2160 because it's obvious, are these keywords effective too?

Well, if the keywords are actually applicable and not spam, there's no reason not to add them.

helloitsme · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2015, 10:10 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on August 31, 2015, 08:53

Quote from: helloitsme on August 31, 2015, 08:51
Some of my bestsellers really don't have many keywords (only about 15-20), but I wonder if I increase # of keywords on under performing clips from like 20 to 40, it may increase views/sales. Anybody have experience in that?

Also, usually, I don't tag 1920x1080, 4k or 3840x2160 because it's obvious, are these keywords effective too?

Well, if the keywords are actually applicable and not spam, there's no reason not to add them.

I usually add 10-20 directly related keywords, but Shutterstock often encourage to add many more. I usually can't think 30-40 keywords. Many of those keywords become more indirect keywords.

ccbcc · « **Reply #3 on:** September 03, 2015, 01:36 »

Keywording is still a bit of a mystery to me. What I have noticed is that you need sales to increase sales. I have made improved versions of my best selling clips but the old ones still sell better.
I did add a few keywords for the new ones so that didn't help, probably the search engines rank sales (and views?) above keyword matching.

helloitsme · « **Reply #4 on:** September 03, 2015, 07:23 »

Quote from: ccbcc on September 03, 2015, 01:36

Keywording is still a bit of a mystery to me. What I have noticed is that you need sales to increase sales. I have made improved versions of my best selling clips but the old ones still sell better.
I did add a few keywords for the new ones so that didn't help, probably the search engines rank sales (and views?) above keyword matching.

That's a good point. Some of my bestsellers on Pond5 have only like 10 keywords.

Hongover · « **Reply #5 on:** September 03, 2015, 10:38 »

If if you look at the SS sales insights, most images have less than 10 keywords that people search for. In some rare cases, it goes from 15-20. They encourage more keywords because it increases the chance that someone will find your image.

If you have a picture of a flower. There is a chance that someone will find it by searching it's scientific name, as opposed to flower or spring. 10 relevant keywords is better than 50 non-relevant keywords. If you do your research and you get the keywords right, you don't need 50 of them.

I personally like to fill in at least 40 because in some cases, I don't know what keyword will work best.

helloitsme · « **Reply #6 on:** September 03, 2015, 11:43 »

Quote from: Hongover on September 03, 2015, 10:38

If if you look at the SS sales insights, most images have less than 10 keywords that people search for. In some rare cases, it goes from 15-20. They encourage more keywords because it increases the chance that someone will find your image.

If you have a picture of a flower. There is a chance that someone will find it by searching it's scientific name, as opposed to flower or spring. 10 relevant keywords is better than 50 non-relevant keywords. If you do your research and you get the keywords right, you don't need 50 of them.

I personally like to fill in at least 40 because in some cases, I don't know what keyword will work best.

Thanks for your insight.

memakephoto · « **Reply #7 on:** September 03, 2015, 18:16 »

I hate keyword spammers.

I've seen photos on shutterstock, for example, that actually include the word image in the keywords. With over 50 million images in their catalog would anyone use the word image in a search? At least the search results would be relevant, they would all be images.

Keep your keywords tight and relevant. If you can legitimately come up with 40 "RELEVANT" keywords than by all means include them. I average about 20 and my sales are just fine.

Dave · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2015, 16:42 »

I think it all depends on your site.
ON DT you can look at anyones keywords and see by the Point size of the keyword the relevance to people using specific words when searching that particular image.

I personally use the least number of keywords I can, keeping them as close to the description of the image as possible.

no colour words unless they are relevant to the image, don't wander off.

Noedelhap · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2015, 18:56 »

Relevance is the only thing that matters, not quantity.

Difydave · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2015, 05:28 »

Quote from: Noedelhap on September 07, 2015, 18:56

Relevance is the only thing that matters, not quantity.

These words should be on a banner across the top of every site's keywording pages!

weymouth · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2015, 07:22 »

Depends a lot on the agency search algorithm. When a buyer search under relevance it often show up lots more spam then any other search.
I saw a picture of a car and the photographer had written every single keyword he possibly could find relevant to a car, even words like spanner, tork, wrench, sparkplugs and so on. Nothing of this could be seen in the picture.

This is why many buyers find it frustrating in some agencies having to go through page after page before hopefully finding the picture.

PinHead · « **Reply #12 on:** September 08, 2015, 10:27 »

Quote from: ccbcc on September 03, 2015, 01:36

Keywording is still a bit of a mystery to me. What I have noticed is that you need sales to increase sales. I have made improved versions of my best selling clips but the old ones still sell better.
I did add a few keywords for the new ones so that didn't help, probably the search engines rank sales (and views?) above keyword matching.

CCBCC, think u're right, the old ones sell better...my new approved clips (witch r better clips) have no views for almost 2 months. I've noticed that on all agencies.For a clip to be seen needs a sale at least. I want to mention that I have 50 keywords at all clips.